Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-07-24
Eufntng Gf1at

July rains have cost residents of
Harrisburg thousands of dollars, ac-
cording to an observer of things in
the city. This man does not count
in the loss in wages due to inability
of men to work on outdoor Jobs,
but what would have been spent by
the people generally. There have
been hundreds of dollars lost by
contractors who had to hold their
people together on building opera
tions or on construction of various
kinds and dwellings that are sorely
needed have been held back for
days and even weeks. In some in
stances foundations that were newly
laid will have to be gone over. add
ing still more to the expense. But
where the observer says that money
| was lost by people not riding in
cars because they stayed at home.
for the same reason the store, the
movies, the railroads and various
| other lines of activity suffered
through people being prevented
from enjoying themselves. There
has unquestionably been food loss
through inability to get to markets
or when it did arrive not finding
! buyers. Even the ice cream men
say that they lost money, and as for
the peanut men they are in despair
The people who would naturally be
expected to make money, the UNI
brella and oVerShoe merchants, say
that the rain actually spoiled their
business because folks did not come
around like they do when there is
an occasional rain and they get
caught without protection against
the elements.
Harrisburg mothers would have
! gotten the shock of their lives if
they could have seen their young
sters slowing away a mans sized
meal at the "Y" camp the other eve
! ming. In spite of the fact that rain
had drenched the camp rather COM
pletely, the boys had managed to
acquire pretty successful appetite
and they proved it when the food
was set before them in the mess
tent. Many Of them were gathered
with mess equipment some time be-
| fore chow call was sounded and
! looked with longing eyes and sniff
| 1ng noses at the hardworking
cooks. And the next morning al
| most before daylight had arrived a
loud and insistent demand for more
food arose from many young throats.
The food was forthcoming and
youth once more was satisfied
! Mothers who have sons in the "Y"
camp need spend no anxious mo-
ments wondering if their sons are
getting their tummies full at camp;
they're getting them overfull!
Although Steelton is only fifteen
minutes from Pennsylvania State
! Capitol and Governor William c.
| Sproul has been the States Chief
Executive for almost seven months
at least one person in the thriving
steel town is not yet acquainted with
the fact that Martin G.. Brumbaugh
is no longer Governor. A letter
reaching the Department of Internal
Affairs to-day, dated July 10, and
containing complaint from one of
the borough's residents was ad-
dressed originally to Marian G.
Baumbauht, Harrisburge, Dauphin
county, Capitol, City, State, Pa"
When the plans of the State High
way Department for the improve
ment of main highways in this sec
ton are completed there will be
marked betterment on five of the
big arteries of travel into this city.
The stretch from the lower end of
Dauphin clear into Perry county
over Clarks ferry bridge will be a
modern road; the Cumberland VAL
ley, Lancaster pike and Reading
pike highways will be right up to
date and the road to PottsVille ma
terialiy improved
Oliver d. Schock, veteran news
papernan and attache of the State
Government. iy quite an observer of
nature, especially bird life in this
part of the Susquehanna Valley.
The other day he referred to the
time when many varieties of song
birds were regular visitors to Cap
itol' Park, where they built their
nests and reared interesting broods:
but, with the advent of gray sduir-
rels. it is now rare instance to find
a birds nest on any of the trees in
the park, because of the well-known
instinct of squirrels to destroy nests,
eggs and young birds 1t is because of
TINS fact he says that there has
been such a marked decrease of birds
within the parks precincts. The
strong pugnacious, purple grackle.
however reared a few broods this
season regardless of the SQUIRRELS
claim to supremacy and a pair of
hickers also triumphed in success
fully evading the squirrels destruc-
1--WE attacks. The frequent and loud
calls of these flickers have attracted
attention of many families living
adjacent TO the park for weeks past
and recently visits to the park were
rewarded by seeing the parent birds
feeding an interesting progeny and
also teaching them how to fly. These
hlckers are members of the wood
pecker family. Although robins visit
the park daily and regale MS with
their rich song. it is doubtful if a
single pair nested there this sum-
mer; but, on the other side" re-
marked Mr.. Schock, "the children
derive world of pleasure in feeding
the squirrels and watching their
playful antics"