davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1919-06-05
LEASES PLACE
John Luchlni Will Open Pool Room
in the 'Old Liberty Theatre.

John Luchini, for the past sixteen
years engaged in business in this
city. has leased the old Liberty
theatre building from tho owner, f.
H. Weese of Buffalo, y. Y, and ex-
poets to open a modern pool room
and bowling alley within the next
two weeks.
Mr.. Luchini closed for the lease.
which is 10 run for nine years, last
Friday and workmen Immediately
started to tear out the old front
which had been used for the theatre,
and also the slanting floor and stage,
in order to make the place conform
with the needs of the business which
he will start there.
Mr.. Luchini expects to continue
the lodge rooms over the pool room
for the time at least, and il is more
than possible that he may soon open
a barber shop in connection with the
pool room and bowling alley Tables
for the pool room bave already been
secured, as has other equipment for
the place. This will be- installed at
the earliest possible moment.
Mr. Luchini has been in this city
for the past sixteen years and dur
ing this time has been engaged al
most constantly in business. For a
number Of years he was the owner
Of the Luchini candy store. and then
part owner. Later he sold out en-
tirely and shortly after went into
partnership with Frank Rudick in
the Republic Billiard hall. A few
weeks ago he withdrew from the
partnership, selling his interests e
! Mr.. Rudick.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1919-06-05
MADE A
STRIKE THREAT
Desired More Money and Short
er Hours on Duty il is
Reported.
NEW FORCE IS ON THE JOB
Services of Old Men Were Dispensed
With by Chief Nibber on
Wednesday.

Feeling that they were not beng
paid enough, and perhaps they telt
that they had other grievances, the
members of the Alma police force let
the city officials know Tuesday that
they were through working as police
men. unless more money was coming
their way, and now Alma has new
police force with the exception OF
Oscar Vibber, chief of police, VINO
felt that the men were being well
paid for their work.
The matter was taken up by the
citv commission and William +.
Rogers. city manager, Tuesday even
ing and while no motion was made
TO give Vibber a free hand, because
-it was felt that he did not need H.
the commission was unanimous IN
it's belief that the men were getting
money enough.
II was made clear that II the city
officials asked the patrolmen to re-
main for fifteen days and break IN a
new force, that the men would re-
main for this length of time, but the
opinion was that if the men were not
satisfied, they were not needed TO
break in new force, as the men
might become infected with the radi-
cal opinions which the police hold, IN
the minds of the members OF the
commission at least.
Vibber told the members OF the
city commission that he had letters
from various police chiefs in larger
places around the state, and that IN
his opinion, the Alma force was one
of the best paid in the state.
BY the recently adopted salary or
dinance of the city there is not
member of the police force that
draws less than 100000 per year
The salary is on a sliding scale from
$4,000 per year to $4,000 per year
Given a free hand, and backed by
the commission and the city manager
Nibber dispensed with the services OF
the policemen Wednesday morning
and Immediately started breaking II
new force, which will be on dut,
/ i'm the future.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1919-06-05
LAD DROWNED
HERE MONDAY
ElwOOd Willet Seized With
Cramps While Enjoying
Swim.
IN WATER ABOUT AN HOUR
Body of Boy Recovered About an
Hour After He Sank from
Sight.

Pine river claimed its first victim
Of the 1919 season Monday, shortly
after noon, when Elwood Willert,
aged Is years, the son Of Mr.. and
Mrs. Elmer f. Willet, COS Bridge St,
was drowned while swimming near
the State street bridge.
The lad was in the water swim
ming with some others, when sud-
denly he shouted for help, and
then sank from sight under the
water. The lads, who were swim
ming with him, endeavered to aid
him, but were fearful of being
caught in the embrace Of the drown
ing boy. The lads also shouted to
some men on a nearby building for
aid. but when they arrived the lad
had gone under for the last time and
they were unable to aid him.
Help was quickly summoned from
the city and every effort Fwas made
to locate the body of the lad as
quickly as possible so that his life
might be saved Sluice boards were
pulled from the dam so that the
water would lower rapidly and aid
the men who were searching for the
body. In spite of the heroic efforts
of a dozen men, il was almost an
hour before the body of the lad was
finally located, and brought to the
surface by means Of pike pole.
1t was quickly taken TO the shore
but in spite of the heroic efforts that
were used resuscitation was fail
ure.
On Wednesday the body Of the lad
was shipped to Woodstock, Lenawee
county. for burial.
While Elwood Willet had lived in
Alma for but a year he had a wide
acquaintance, made possible through
his connection with the Republic and
the Genesta theatre, where he had
been employed for some months, and
where he had proven capable, pain
taking employe
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1919-06-05
WILL MOVE STORE

Frank f. Smith has rented the Del
avan building on East Superior ST.,
just opposite his present location in
the A. X. Smith shoe store, and will
within the next few days, give Alma
a frst-class music store at the newly
acquired place Workmen have been
busy all week remodelmg and re-
decorating the interior Of the store
and putting it in shape for the bus
mess. Mr. Smith is in hopes of
being able to open the store at that
location Saturday. He will continue
his present lines of musical instru-
ments. and in the near future will
probably add other lines to his bus
mess
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1919-06-05
EXERCISES GOOD
Decoration Day Exercises Among
the Best Ever Held Here.

The annual Decoration day eXer-
cises which We're held here Friday
were probably the best. and drew the
largest crowd that has ever attended
such exercises locally.
During the forenoon of Friday the
boy scouts. under the supervision of
the W. r. c. decorated the graves )f
the departed soldiers, remembering
those of three wars.
Shortly afternoon the exercises
We're held in the high school audi
torism. being without question the
finest that have been given here in
years. Especially interesting was
the singing and the recitations Of the
school children, and the singing Of
the college quartet Rev. Duffy of
the Methodist Episcopal church gave
the address of the day. which was
remarkable tribute 20 the departed
heroes, who had so nobly aided their
country in time of need. In spite Of
the fact that the auditorium was
iammed 20 the doors, and the wealth
er extremely warm Tor the time of
year. the room was quiet all during
the address, so well did he hold the
attention of the audience.
Following the exercises the parade
was formed and it wended its way
, to the cemetery. where the ritualistic
exercises were held From this point
the parade returned to the river in
commemoration of the nations sail
or dead.
The exercises this year were under
the charge of Company 81, Michigan
State Troops, at the request of the
c. A. r. veterans, who with the
weight of time on their shoulders,
felt that they were no longer able
to carry on this work. II is due to
the persistent efforts Of the state
troops that the exercises were of
such a high class, and to them the
entire city owes its thanks for the
way that the day was observed here.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1919-06-05
FRED {. ELY DIES
Pioneer of Alma Passed Away at
Petoskey.

Fred c. Ely died at Petoskey Sun
day morning, June /, after a long
illness with Bright's disease. Mr..
Ely was pioneer citizen Of Alma
and well known to many readers of
The Record. He was deputy post
master for several years and also
held the office of city treasurer and
township treasurer at different times.
lie moved north about twenty years
ago and at Petoskey held the re-
sponsible position Of city clerk and
city treasurer at different times. His
numerous friends regret to learn Of
his death.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1919-06-05
BETTER ROADS BY
COUNTY SYSTEM
Makes Possible Centralized
Authority and Responsible
ity in the Work.
MANY OTHER ADVANTAGES
County as Whole Assessed, Relieving
Special Districts and Townships
Greatly.

The many advantages Of operating
under the county road law have been
repeatedly enumerated, but 1t would
be well to call attention to some of
the new features of the law, as well
As to show how a county which is
working under its provisions is IN
"a better position to build and main
tain its roads than a township trying
TO do the same thing The fact that
the county roads are the heavy traffic
ones often makes il necessary 70
place better surfaces on them than
the average township feels able 10
do. A road commission in charge of
county roads could be trusted to
make such improvements as might
be necessary in an economical and
satisfactory way
The County Road Board
Three commissioners are elected
or appointed for terms of six years
each. The tenure of Office is so ar
.Aranged that new commissioner
comes on the board every other year.
tie takes Office January lst. There
are always two experienced men on
the board and no sudden reversal Of
policy is possible. This board has
already prepared a definite plan for
the years work approved by the
State Highway Commissioner. Sur
veys having been made the previous
year for the new work, plans can be
drawn up and specifications pre-
pared. Bids can be received early IN
the season, contracts awarded and
the work actually be under way be-
fore the township authorities can
organize and decide where the work
is TO be done In fact, all arrange
ments can be made 10 have the
necessary work begun as soon as
weather conditions permit.
The board of county road commits
sioners is administrative only. II
bears the same relation TO county
road matters that a board of direct
ors does "A bank or corporation. 1t
engages a competent superintendent
skilled in road building. This man is
left in charge as long as the board
is satisfied with his work. The su.
perintendent engages, subject to the
approval of the board. such employ.
es as may be necessary to carry OF
the work. and may discharge then
as soon as they are not satisfactory
Responsibility and authority are
centralized. If anything is wrong
the blame can be placed where i
belongs.
Covert Act Roads
a good many roads have beer
petitioned for under the Covert Act
In counties not under the count.
road system, these petitions all ha'
70 be made TO the State Highwa.
Commissioner and all procedures 70
letting the contracts and construct
ing the roads are directly under tn
supervision of the State Highwa.
Department. Although the Stat
Highway Department would Civ
value received for expenditures, new
ertheless, the petitions under tn
county road system can be file
directly with the board Of count
road commissioners, except in cas-
of inter-county roads, and it can &C
upon them in the place of the Stat
Highway Commissioner.
There are two advantages i
building roads under the Covert Ac
in counties operating under the cour
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1919-06-05
EXPRESS APPRECIATION

The c. A. r. and the w. K. c. wish
to express grateful appreciation to
the citizens of Alma for their untir-
ing efforts TO make Decoration day
exercises a success. Especially do
we thank the school children for their
songs, recitations, etc, Rev. Duffey,
the speaker Of the day. for his fine
address, the Alma college quartet
and Lieutenant Donald Smith for
their music, and all others who in any
way assisted. IL was very comfort
ing to the old soldiers to know that
the observance of this day is not To
lapse now that they are no longer
able to carry il on.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1919-06-05

" road system First the county at
large is assessed a portion of the
cost of the road, thus materially re-
lieving the townships and the special
assessment district. Second, the
State Highway Department should
only give its attention TO roads that
are of major Importance and conse-
quently roads which are naturally
considered as important county roads
might not always be considered AS
important roads by the state. Of
course all roads petitioned for 10 the
State Highway Department, If ne
cepted, will be constructed, but there
will undoubtedly be considerable de-
lay in constructing the less import
TEN were operative, the Covert Act
petitions would come directly to the
board Of county road commissioners;
as they are not burdened with the
vast amount of work that the state
necessarily is, they could give all
the roads petitioned for within the
county special attention and immedi-
ate action would result.
Township Bonds
Townships. which have already
bonded TO construct roads and still
have outstanding bonds are helped TO
reduce these bonds by the operation
Of the county road system. The law
provides that townships so bonded
may have their county road taxes
returned in case the county road
commissioners have not expended
more money in any township than
its county road tax amounts to, to be
used for paying off bonded indebted
ness for road improvements and this
/ law is operative in every township
thus bonded until the bonds have
been all paid.
Township Maintenance
Il has been found that while it Is
comparatively easy at this time tC
secure the necessary funds for build
ing highways for state reward in
township, it is an entirely different
matter to insure that these same
state reward roads will be kept ir
reasonably good repair One year
the swnship board and highway
commissioner may see the need OF
have everything working well; the
next, for some reason or other, there
is a change. Either the township
board or highway commissioner, OF
both, may be new. The roads de
teriorate and large expenditures art
needed to restore them. If the worl
could have been continued under th'
original board and commissioner,
substantial Improvement could have
been shown and the roads still be II
good conditions all the time.
County Maintenance
Under the county organization
such conditions are not likely to oc
cur. In fact, where counties have
large mileage of roads. improved un
der the township system, the bes
thing that could happen would be tn
adoption of the county road system
if only for the purpose Of maintain
ing the old township roads.
As mentioned before, the board o
county road commissioners mus
submit an outline Of the propose
county systef to the State Highwa
Commissioner for his approval. i
so doing all state rewarded road
covered by this outline become coun
~ roads automatically and th
county is responsible for their up
keep. This places responsibility 70
then repair in the hands Of a cor
tinuous organization based on meri
(. and business principles which ca
/. hardlN fail in innnrnNn. conditions
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1919-06-05
REGULAR SNAKE CHARMER

While a small medicine show was
here last week two bull snakes es-
capped from the boxes in which they
were kept and made their way TO the
basement Of the Ford garage. One
"Frenchy' Labart of this city in true
snake charmer fashion went after
them, and finally managed to catch
them both.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1919-06-05
BONDS WANTED

will pay New York quotations for
United States government bonds.
99-tf-c Clarence Wheeler.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1919-06-05

Best candies. DeLuxe.-77-tf-e
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1919-06-05

Deluxe candies.-77-tf-c
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1919-06-05
NtcHIcAa
STATE HIGHWAY OCPART TMENT

NfA > mo
.>e.-~4 cts..af.os arc r<-o4.1s7 l4-1ae| Re
cc,.azy ssr4a ss-sts'7s
Hsf 4 fsls
Evening star., 1919-04-15
.PINEY BRANCH CITIZENS
OPPOSE ZONE CAR FARES
Association Also Takes Action on
Other Subjects Now Before
the Public.

Resolutions asking that the request
Of the Washington Railway and Elec-
trio Company for an increase in fare
should not be acceded to were adopt
ed at meeting of the Piney Branch
Citizens Association in the Iowa ave.
nue. Methodist Church last night.
'If. in the judgment Of the Public
Utilities Commission an increased
fare should be granted, it should not
be based upon the zone system" the
resolution stated. Fear was expressed
by members that II fares were raised
on the Georgia avenue line of the
Washington Railway and Electric
Company overcrowding would result
on the 18th street line OF the Capital
Traction Company.
A recent resolution OF the Connecti-
cut Avenue Citizens Association in ia :
vor Of various changes in trackage OF
the two systems was approved by the
Piney Branch body. A resolution was
adopted asking the Public Utilities
Commission to reconsider its action OF
several years ago denying a request
of the Capital Traction Company to
construct a doubletrack line on 18th
street from U to / street, and east
ward on I to Union atatton.
The law and order committee was
asked to look into the local milk sit
uation. and another committee ap-
pointed to investigate the case Of Miss
Woods, recently disciplined by the
Evening star., 1919-04-15
WAGE ADVANCES GRANTED
TO WORKERS ON RAILWAY
Express Company and Pullman Car
Employees Awarded Substantial
Increases by Director General.

Approximately 5000 employees Of
the American Railway Express Com
pany are to enjoy wage increases
averaging about SIS q month. accord
Ing to an announcement Just made by
Director General Hines. The in
crease represents an advance Of S25
q month above the wage scale in ef-
feet January /. 1918.
At the same time the director gen
eral also announces increased wages
for $4,000 sleeping and parlor car en-
ployes.. This increase is stipulated
at SIS a month above the basic mini
mum in effect January !. 1918. Since
approximately half OF this sum was
awarded by the general wage in
crease of last year. the net addition
OF this order will be the remainder,
or about $3.50 a month.
Evening star., 1919-04-15

board Of education for alleged indis-
Greet utterancee to pupils.
George 4. Finch was appointed dele
gate to the Federation of Citizens
Associations. A special committee was
appointed to prepare a plan for har-
ping OF boundaries Of the local citi-
zens' associations. The committee is
composed Of g. l. Shorey, Mr.. Finch.
E. S. Clarkson, E. B. Henderson and
L. G. Julihn.
william A. Bennett, J. A, Hartman
and William q. n. Clarkson were ad-
mitted to membership. Mr.. Julihn,
vice president Of the association. pre-
sided in, the absence of President e.
B. Henderson.
Evening star., 1919-04-15

e51st Transportation Company, a
large number of casuals and two Of
fcers and $50 men of the Navy.
Further detachmentS of the 91st
Division arrived on the steamship Ed
ward Luckenbach. which brought a
total of 2.1S5 troops. The details in
cluded thirty-four officers and 1888
men of the 362d Infantry, comprising
Regfmental Headquarters, Battalion
and Companies A. 3. c and D; 1st
Battalion Headquarters and Companies
A. b and c of the 361st Infantry: the
316th Mobile Ordnance Repair Shop
and asuals.
2,4S2 on Mexican.
Arriving from St. Nazaire with 2.4S2
men. the steamship Mexican had
aboard the following units of the 261st
Infantry: Headquarters. I'd and Sd
Battalion. Machine Gun Company and
Companies, d, Z, +. G, Fl, ], II, l.
and NJ.
Lieut.. Fred 3. Smith. jr.. of Detroit
returned on the Rochambeau yesterday
with his bride. who was Miss Elise
Baldwin of Washington. D. C. They
met fifteen months ago in Paris, where
Mrs. Smith was a secretary of the
American Library Association. Fred
3. Smith, sr., who came from Detroit
to meet his son and his bride, was in
troduced also to Fred B. Smith. I'd.
four months old.
Evening star., 1919-04-15
TUITION FREE TO SOLDIERS.
Six Colleges, Including Gallaudet,
Make Offer to DISCHARGED Men.

AVER. Mass. April 15.-Six colleges
have offered free tuition for dis
charged soldiers. it was announced at
Camp Devens today. They are Mas
sachusetts Agricultural College. which
offers a six-week course in agricul-
ture: Columbia University Wentworth
Institute at Boston, Shaw University
for negroes at Raleigh. N. c.; West
Virginia University and GalIaudet
College at Washington, an institution
for the deaf.
Evening star., 1919-04-15
BIG STEEL SHIP YEAR SEEN.
Four Million Tons Predicted by the
Shipping Board.

Total of at least 100000 tons of
steel ships built in American yards is
the shipping board. which would ex-
ceed by more than 100000 tons the
Combined construction of steel and
wooden bottoms last year.
Chairman Hurley expects to see his
prediction fulfilled of steel merchant
marine under the United States flag
comparing favorably with the best
merchant vessels afloat. and capable
Evening star., 1919-04-15
Cotton Linters in Paper Making.

Production Of a high grade whit =
paper from cotton linters after many
months of experiment by the bureau
of standards has been announced by
Secretary Redfeld. 1t is believed the
process can be commercially profit
able. opening an important new
source for the production of paper
and saving many thousands of pounds
or material for which there has bee n
small use hitherto. except in the max
ing of explosives. The government is
said to have on hand several million
hounds of linterS.
Evening star., 1919-04-15
Of competing with the merchant

of competing with the merchant
navies of all nations.
The great production in steel ton
mage this year will be the result Of
the tremendous preparations started
under the impetus of war. Making
ready for the possibility of pro-
longation of hostilities, the shipping
board developed building ways by the
score to offset the destruction by sub
marines. Many new ships were turned
out. but the new yards Were unable
to demonstrate their capabilities i'm
mediately. AS the work has been or
ganized and experience gained the
output has grown steadily, with the
full results becoming apparent only
just now.
Evening star., 1919-04-15

corporation, which British syndi-
cate previously desired to buy.
That Great Britain has the right
to requisition the feet at any time.
and that the United States government
does not wish to acquire property
with the control virtually resting s
with some other nation was learned
today.
Some doubt has also been raised
as to the legality of the shipping
board acquiring stock, although there
Is no doubt as to it's authority to puy
or to build ships.
Evening star., 1919-04-15
Is NURSES, I'LL OR
WOUNDED, RETURN
Forty-Eight Brides on Troop
ships, Including D. c. Girl,
i Who Wed in Paris.
SIX VESSELS REACH U. S.

By the Associated Press.
NEW YORK. April 10.-Twenty-six
nurses, one Officer and one enlisted
man, all convalescing from illness or
wounds, arrived here today on the
steamship Garrillo from Bordeaux.
Also there were q few casuals, making
altogether ffty-thre Army and Navy
men and women aboard.
The steamer Canopic arrived last
night at quarantine from Marseille.
bringing 1.45S troops. including the
remainder Of the 332d Infantry, a de-
tachment of the 1920 Base Hospital
and eighteen casual officers.
Evening star., 1919-04-15
FAILURE TO BUY EXPLAINED,
Reason for Withdrawing o. s. Of
fer for Marine Tonnage,

It was owing to conditions SURF
rounding the International Mercantile
Marines contracts with the British
government that the United States
government withdrew its offer to pur-
chase the American-owne interests
in the British tonnage owned by that
Evening star., 1919-04-15
Brings Forty-Seven Brides.

Forty-seven brides of American
soldiers and sailors landed here yes
teriay from the transport Plattsburg.
which arrived from Brest late Sunday
night The Piattsburg also carried
42z6 officers and men, including the
lo9th Telegraph Battalion. 49Sth Aero
Squadron, 497th Aero Squadron. 18th
Aero Service Construction Company,