New Britain herald., 1919-09-15

dends has been omitted for several years as the company made nothing on their sales and the stockholders were about ready to turn over the homes for almost anything as long as they could realize something on the original dollars invested.
 This year everything has changed, due to the exorbitant rents in the cities. Everyone is going into the suburbs to buy and East Berlin felt the change. All property jumped 25 to 50 per cent. in value and even more. The building company has become once more a paying proposition, hav- ing disposed of nearly all their homes al better prices than they could have obtained many years before, proving that perhaps after all the waiting pol icy is the best. The homes which they now have left they are improving by painting, shingling and generally remodeling inside and out. When these houses are sold the old East Berlin Building company will prob ably discontinue, unless the new, con- cern maintains a growth which will necessitate new construction. It has been reported that the company will declare a dividend this year, which will be the first one in a number of years.
 Suit Tried This Afternoon.
 The suit against the town brought by MT. Ritchie, former grocer here for groceries sold to the town during the past smallpox epidemic, was tried this afternoon at o'clock in the Berlin court before Judge George G. Grisw old. Mortimer H. Camp is Ho st. 1f hor rlx rupt estate of MT. Ritchie against the town, and W. I. filling is representing the town of Berlin.
 Autoist Gets His Bumps.
 The traffic on the main highway was extremely heavy yesterday. so much so that one aUtoist ran into another one In an nndeavor to keep within the fifteen foot srace allotted him ill the procession. This particu- lar automobilist was the third in the procession of three cars and the first one stopped short at East Berlin hill to allow car coming up the hill to swing onto the highway. The second in line brought up short to avoid hitting the first machine, but the third fellow was not quite as handy at the brakes and consequently hit the second fellow who had stopped short. The lenders on the last ma chine were badly bent and the head lights smased. Beyond the dana ge mentioned nothing serious occurred
 Ledge School Opens.
 The Ledge school opened this morning with registration of 35 pu- pills. It was found necessary to open this school to take care If .he over crrxvSirp oS ha Kensins+on school. The fourth and fifth grades where the overcrowding was the worst has been taken care of by opening the aG0ed room in the Ledge school. This does not relieve all the overo rowdirg however, which still remains in the upper grades It is hoped to take care of this condition later in the year if possible. Miss Ruth Slaght, who has had several years experience in Ohio schools, Is the new teacher at the Ledge school
 Will Salary Be Raised?
 There Is discussion in town con- corning the advisability of raising the salary of the first selectman The pay at the present time is but $500 which IS considered too little for the amount of wo-i1 expected or '-'~~ The present selectnan gives practi- cally his whole time to the position and any other incun1b ben will find that 1t will take nearly his whole time. The figure set by those discuss ing the matter, is $500. which prob ably will be the new figure.
 Memorial Meeting Tomorrow. Due to the republican caucus to be held this svening, the naAettnE ef tha