Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-02-22
Ehrntttg Gl1at

Secretary of the Commonwealth
Cyrus E. Woods. who is custodian q
the records of the commonwealth
and to whom are addressed numeI
GUS and varied inquiries for infoI
nation of an official character, ha
just received what is probably til
most unique request for facts eve
received at the Capitol. 1t cam
from man in an eastern count
VINO asked the secretary to pleas
search the records and ascertai
whether an ancestor of the man VIII
wrote the letter had been legally eS
ecuted by hanging. The lett IT ind
Gated that he desired the informa
ton for family uses and was exceed
lngly anxious that it be establishe
from the archives of the common
wealth. The execution took place /
1890, according to the secretary
correspondent. Search will be mad
and the information furnished IL
can be obtained. but in accordancE
with the rules of the department n
names will be made public. No
long ago Mr.. Woods was addresse
by citizen in western county VIII
as notary public to be signed b
the new governor and himself an
that to accomplish that desired an
he wished he would not have tn
documents made out until after tn
Inauguration had taken place.
Acquisition of over $500 acres O
forest land in Union, Lycoming an
Clinton counties by the State For
estry department this week wi
make the aggregate acreage of tn
Pennsylvania forest reserves oveU
1,050,000. These reserves are i
twenty-seven counties and it is ex
pected to add materially to tn
states holdings in the west thi
year. The acreage west of the Allez
ghennies is small and some of whaz
is sought will have to be bought sub
ject to coal and other under surfac
rights.
White rabbits bought in the Stat
of Maine for distribution to Central
Pennsylvania game preserves havH
been found not up to the mark and
several consignments have been sen
back. Investigations are being mad
to ascertain whether a better quality
can not be obtained in other state|
and also to get the reason why thl
Pine Tree State cottontails are mol
in better physical trim. Owing II
the fact that thousands of rabbit
in Central Pennsylvania died lasI
year from disease the State officialI
are disposed to be very careful abouI
imported stock and efforts are being
made to trace the cause of the I'M
fection which brought about thi
drop in the number of Dummies.
One of the reasons advanced is thai
the previous winter was eXtraordiI
narily severe and rabbits which surI
vived were weakened and fell an
easy prey to disease and that tho
young were poor in vitality. DrI
Joseph Kalbfus, secretary of thd
State Game Commission, who hal
been seeking quail in Mexico for disl
tribution to the central counties and
to restock some of the eastern pref
serves has had word that the quail
are being trapped and that some
will be shipped to this State as soor
as weather conditions are safe and
the food to be obtained is what the
birds are accustomed to eat. The
mistakes of previous years are moi
going to be repeated If the game Off
cials can prevent it. Pheasants are
being sent out generally bv the game
men. More deer will be bought In
Michigan and it is hoped to secure
some good animals in March.
'Well, Harrisburg is not, the only
place which is having it's trials and
tribulations as the result of police
affairs. Look at Chester and other
cities, and especially Philadelphia,
said our old friend Mr.. Observer to-
day. There are few police forces
which are ideal, but nine times out
of ten it all goes back to failure to
endorce discipline in little things.
Greater abuses follow. Take the men
just out of the army. They are COM
mencing already to exert an in
fIuence on daily life and some other
fellows look sick beside them.
Tt is improbable that any display
of cannon of various wars will be
made in Capitol park until after
the German cannon which it Is ex-
pected to secure for this community
through Congressman Kreider are
here. The State is moving to get
some of the guns, too, and eventually
there will be an interesting array
The cannon of the Revolution, the
three pieces presented by General
Lafayette. now at the State Arsenal
the cannon of the war of 1872, the
two captured Mexican cannon and
various Civil War and Spanish Wal
pieces will be available then. Most OF
these pieces of ordnance are now al
the State Arsenal and the State Board
of Public Grounds and Buildings will
arrange with .Adjutant General Beary
for the display.