davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Alma record., 1921-05-26
TAX RATE HERR:
IS MUCH LOWER
GREAT INCREASE IN VALUA-
TION AND SMALLER BUDGET
ARE THE REASONS.

The taxable property in Alma has
increased S75l,370 since the city
taxes Of last year were levied, and
this in spite Of the fact that business
conditions have been exceedingly dull.
The dali business condition, however,
has something to do with the in
creased valuation, strange as it may
seem, as the Alma plant of the Mich
igan Sugar company will pay a tax
on about S250,000 worth of sugar that
is usually disposed of before this
time.
The budget this year being smaller
than the city budget Of a year ago,
and the fact that the valuation has
increased during the year from
S13,O44,295 to S13,795,665, allows Al
ma tax rate this year TO S11.35 or
Sl.65 less than the $1,000 rate per
thousand of last year
Last year the budget for the city
was STA, 4,46O.70, and this year it is
only $156, ,38S.43, or nearly $4,000
less than in 1920.
The first ward, in which the Re
public plant is located, has a total
valuation that is more than half Of
the entire valuation of the city. It's
valuation is SS,351,275, divided as
real estate, and $1,712,95O as person
al property.
The second ward, in which the sug-
ar factory is located shows a big in
crease over year ago, because of
the sugar on hand at the plant. The
real estate in that ward has valu-
alton Of $2,56l 500, and the personal
property a valuation of $56S,575, or
total of S3,130,175.
The total valuation of the third
ward is $990,515, divided as follows
real estate S75l,600, and personal
property S235,915.
In the fourth ward the real estate
is valued at S9S9,l50 and the personal
property a t$374,55O for total valu-
alton of $1,364,7O0.
Alma record., 1921-05-26
MEMORIAL DAY
WILL Be WELL
OBSER HERE:
EXERCISES WILL BE HELD AT
STRAND THEATl-G AT 1000
A. NJ. MONDAY.
ReU. Ames MdylUOOd
GiUeS the Address

Memorial Day will be fittingly OBJ
served in Alma, on Monday, May so,
plans having been completed for one
of the best programs that the city
has had in years for this day. The
Rev. Ames A. haywood OF. the Cass
Avenue Methodist Episcopal church
of Detroit will be the speaker.
Departing somewhat from the Gus
tom that has been held to for years
in this city, the exercises this year
will be held in the morning. The pro-
gram will be given at the Strand
theatre at 1000 a. m. Monday, and
following these exercises the parade
will form in front of the theatre and
march to the cemetery where the
Continued on page two)
Alma record., 1921-05-26
Vestdburg Has
A Bad Blaze

One Of the worst fires that the
village of Vestaburg has experienced
in years took place Sunday, the blaze
being discovered first in the Emery
Howard store about 80 a. m, and
which caused loss of several thou
sand dollars worth of property be-
fore the flames were extinguished.
The Emery Howard building, the
Dewitt Murtaugh building, across the
street, which caught from sparks; the
McDole barber shop building, and a
tool shed and barn belonging TO Will
liam Carts, were totally destroyed
by the flames. The telephone central
office, located in the d. Murtaugh
building, belonging to Mr.. Howard,
a quantity of household goods on the
second floor of the Howard building,
belonging to Mr.. Carts, the furniture
Of Mr.. Murtaugh and b. Rhodes on
he second floor on the Murtaugh
structure, the barber equipment Of
the McDole shop, and the tools and
contents of TIE Carts shed and barn,
were also destroyed by the fire.
1t was only by heroic efforts that
the flames were kept from spreading
Sill further and inflicting a still
heavier loss. Sparks set several other
structures on fire, but prompt work
on the part of volunteer fire fighters
extingushed these incipient blazes
before they caused much damage.
Alma record., 1921-05-26
NE " TRIAL FOR
COLLINS SOUGHT
SENTENCE WITHHELD PENDING
MOTION TO BE MADE IN
COURT SATURDAY.

Oscar Collins, convicted ten days
ago CT the murder lof Ellen Grove.
was taken before Judge Monet this
afternoon. when motion for new
trial was held up, because of lack
of timc TO prepare the motion, and
was sentenced to life Imprisonment
at Marquette at hard labor.
Attorney Clark today filed an
affidavit asking for a transcript of
the court record in order to prepare
his motion for a new trial. As the
motion for the new trial could not
be ready by Saturday Collins was
called before Judge Moinet and Civ
EN- sentence. In giving sentence
Judge M0inet told Collins that he
had had very fair trial and that in
his opinion that the verdict rendered
by the jury was a righteous one. He
told Collins that his story of the
marks On his face was feeble ex-
planat;on Of how he received them.
and were cne of the main factors
against him.
Alma record., 1921-05-26
RESERVOIR WILL
cost CITY MORE
INCREASED EXPENSE DUE TO
THE NECESSITY OF A FIRM
FOUNDATION.

The concrete reservoir, which has
been planned as a portion of the pure
well water system, by which the res
idents of Alma are to be supplied
with pure drinking water in the very
near future, will be in the neighbor-
hood of 200,00 gallons larger than at
first planned.
Due to the fact that a considerable
amount of water sand has been found
just uader the surface in Waterworks
park, where the tank is to be con-
structed, il has been found necessary
to increase the depth of the excava-
tion for the tank about three feet and
six inches, in order that a solid foun-
dation may be secured, to insure the
tank against cracking at some future
date.
This extra depth will be put into
the tank, which will increase its ca
pacty about one-fifth. and. instead
of giving it an inside depth of twelve
Continued on page two)
"The Son Of Tarzan"-June 2nd
ond Ord Ctropd od,,
Alma record., 1921-05-26
GrdtiOt County
Is the Best

Last week Mr.. w. G.. Heydenberk,
who is auditor for the state farm bu
roau, was in Graiot county. After
driving around to the different banks
he had good idea of the agricultural
conditions in Gratiot. From his work
he is also familiar with nearly all the
other counties in Michigan. Without
being asked, Mr.. Heydenberk freely
expressed himself that from an agri-
cultural standpoint Gratiot county
was the best in the state.
OF course Gratiot county farmers
have known that for years, but it is
pleasant to think that an expert far
mer from another county, who is now
spending most of his time riding
through the different counties, should
come to the same conclusion.
The graders for the Michigan Farm
Bureau wool pool will be at the Mid
dleton elevator June 9th; at Ithaca
June 7th, and at the ST. Louis CO.
operative Shipping Association June
Sth. In Ithaca, the wool will be
pooled in Walter Spooner's fertilizer
warehouse. Members will receive an
advance of about one-half the market
price when The wool is graded. At
present, the wool pool is advancing
10 to l5c according to grade. Wool
may be delivered few days ahead
Of the graders if the members prefer
TO do so.
Mrs. Louise Campbell of the Home
Economics Department at NJ. A. c.,
will be in the county Friday, June 10.
In the evening. she will be at the
North Shade Farmers Club meeting
at A. Frasier's-(From Gratiot Farm
Bureau.)
Watch for "A Tailor-Made Man"
--0l -3w
Alma record., 1921-05-26

Oscar Collins, convicted Of the mur-
der of Mrs. Ellen Grove Of this city
on the night of February 5, has not
yet been sentenced, Judge F.. j. Moin-
ct continuing the case Monday on the
plea of Romaine Clark, attorney for
the respondent, on the grounds that
he desired more time in which to pre-
pare a motion for new trial.
The action has been continued un-
til Saturday morning, May %, at 10
o'clock, when the motion for the new
trial will be made and the arguments
for the new tria made before Judge
Moinet.
Il is not known on what grounds
the motion for a new trial will be
based upon, but the supposition is
that Clark will set forth to the trial
Judge that new evidence tending to
show the innocence of Collins has
been discovered. That this will be
the ground upon which he will see
new trial for the alleged murderer,
is not certain, as the st. Louis at
torney has made no intimations as to
the grounds that he will base the mo-
tion upon.
Expectations are that if the motion
for the new trial is refused by Judge
Monet, Collins will be sentenced i'm
mediately after the arguments Sat
urday.
Alma record., 1921-05-26
ATHLETES Of
COUNTY WILL
COMPETE HERE
BASEBALL TOURNAMENT TO BE
HELD IN BOTH CLASSES
FRIDAY MORNING.
Interest IN Track
EUeRts Very Keen

The track and field meet Of the re-
organized Gratiot County Athletic
Association, will be held here Friday,
commencing at 900 a. m, when the
preliminary events will be started.
The baseball tournament for the
county baseball championship, in
both Class 4 and Class b will be put
under way at that time also. Alma
will clash with the Middleton high
school team for the Class A cham
pionship Of the county, and Pompeii
and North Star will fight it out for
the championship OF the Class B
schools, the schools Of the county
with only ten grades being in this
class.
Immediately after dinner on Fri
day the finals in the various track
and field events will be started, in
both classes, and it is expected that
the Glass A schools Of the county,
have well balanced teams of about
even strength.
Middleton, Breckenridge, st. Louis,
Ithaca and Alma high schools will
have teams in the Class A track and
field events. In the Class B eyents
the ten grade schools That will be
represented are Bannister, North
Star, Wheeler, Pompeii and others.
Only the first four had sent in en-
tries the first of the week.
Coach Edwin Steele of Alma Col
lege will act as starter for the meet.
Medals for first place winners in
the various events have been pro-
cured, and will be awarded to the
winners Of the honors in each event.
Alma record., 1921-05-26
Construction of
MausOIeuin Starts

The Flowers Construction Company
of Toledo, has been busy. for sew
oral days, getting material on the
ground for the construction of the
290-crypt mausoleum which the con-
cern will build this summer in River
side cemetery.
Nearly all Of the material needed
for the construction work except for
the Bedford stone and the marble
has arrived and work has already
been started on the foundation. 1t is
expected that the construction of this
handsome $4,000 structure will take
greater part of the summer. 1t is
hoped that the building will be COM
pleted early in September.
a
Alma record., 1921-05-26
Arcadia Pioneer
Died on Tuesday

Henry Clark, aged II years, a pio-
neer farmer of Arcadia township and
for many years a member of f. K
A. M. Lodge No. 244, of this city,
died after few hours illness Tues
day morning, following a trip to AL
ma. The funeral will be held from
the residence of his son, II. b.
Clark, of Arcadia township, today, at
1880 p. m, Rev. Gelston officiating
Masonic services will also be held.
Burial will take place at Sumner.
He is survived by his son II. B. Clark
of Arcadia township and by one son
who lives in Oregon.
Alma record., 1921-05-26
BEATS BRYAN'S RATIO

Crippled by the loss of several men
the Alma high school baseball team
went to Mt. Pleasant, Friday, where
it suffered a IL to defeat at the
hands of the high school team there
The locals took the Mt. Pleasan,
hurler for seven hits. Mt. Pleasant
got ten from Chaffin's delivery, er-
rors in the infield being mainly re-
sponsible for the way in which the
Isabella lads ran the sacks.
Alma record., 1921-05-26
Stores to Close
Memorial Day

Post cards have been sent out by
the Merchants Bureau of the Alma
Chamber of Commerce requesting
the stores Of the city to close on
Monday, May 30, Memorial Day, as
a fitting recognition Of the soldier
dead. 1t is expected that practically
all stores in Alma will close.
Alma record., 1921-05-26
WILL LECTURE HERE

DR.. Walton Hubbard, C. S. B., of
Los Angeles, California, will give a
lecture on Christian Science at the
|. o. o. f. hall, South State street,
on Sunday afternoon, May 20, at 3
o'clock. The public is cordially in
yited to attend.
Alma record., 1921-05-26
NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC

Monday, May 80, Decoration Day,
being a legal holiday, the Alma post
office will be- closed all day. There
will be no city or rural deliveries.
Lock box patrons will have access
to the front lobby all day. Let the
public be governed accordingly.
V. T.. Cash, Postmaster.
Alma record., 1921-05-26
ANNUAL MEETING HELD

The annual meeting of the Frances
Willard Union was held at the home
of Mrs. S. A. Vliet, Wright avenue,
May 18th, at which time officers
were elected for the coming year, as
follows:
President-Mrs. Mart Smith.
ice-Pres.-Mrs. Minnie Crandell.
Corr. and Recording Secretary
Mrs. Dora Iutzi.
Treasurer-Mrs. Nellie Bildson.
Yellow Taxi prices cut.--01-eowtf
Alma record., 1921-05-26

Watch for our opening. Music and
flowers free. Friday, May 20. De-
Luxe Candy Co.-adv.
Alma record., 1921-05-26

Lots TO eat-Arcada Grange Hall,
June 3.-01-2w
Alma record., 1921-05-26

"The Son of Tarzan"-June 2nd
and 3rd, Strand.-adv
Alma record., 1921-05-26

Yellow Taxi prices cut.-Ol-eowtf
The Topeka state journal., 1921-02-26

From Paris to Topeka is quite a
jump, but Nellie and Sara Kouns are
coming to Topeka from Paris, to sing
for the home folks at the auditorium
on March IS. The reports of their sue
cess in Paris would indicate that the
Parisians will be as sorry to see them
go as we Topekans will be glad to have
them with US. Their success in Paris
has been sensational, besides appear
ing in concert ten times, they were in
vited to sing in opera, which is an
honor and distinction to any artist
but more so do we feel that Nellie and
Sara Kouns have achieved a signal
honor
In the short space of time since they
left Topeka to embark upon their pro-
fessional career, their name has been
entered with the others whose fame is
world wide, in short, were they not
from Topeka and known to all of US.
we would have admit that their ascent
has been most rapid. Their progress
has been watched with keen interest
by all ofus at home and we are justly
proud of them and proud to say that
they are from Topeka.
In addition to their Europeans sue
cesses Nellie and Sara Kouns have
been heard as. so1oists with the leading
orchestral and choral Organization in
the middle west and on the occasion of
The Topeka state journal., 1921-02-26

consequently, the fact that the
Sweet Swan of Avon and the witty
lark of Oklahoma have Joined together
to- amuse the American public should
surprise no one. Mr.. Shakespeare
story has a working title Chats movie
parlance) of Romeo and Juliet"
Possibly the title isn't unfamiliar TO
you. 1t deals with a lot OF foreign
ers who are divided by a good old
fashioned kentucky feud spirit and of
the daughter of one colonel and son of
the other colonel who love one another
despite the carryings-on of their fami-
lies, until death unites what life kept
apart.
Mr.. Elmer Rice, himself the author
of several successful plays, has COL
laborated with Mr. Shakespeare in the
motion picture transcript of the
Romeo story by Goldwyn. In the new
version, Rogers plays the part of a
cowboy who is scorned by the Only
Woman because he lacks a spirit of
romance. Her lover. she .proclaims,
must be a Romeo. Rogers goes out to
find who the guy is, and a kind friend
lends him a copy of Mr.. Shakespeare's
work; which has already appeared in
print by the way.
The cowboy reads the play and falls
asleep and dreams of a curious world
in which he moves, bandana-throat-
The Topeka state journal., 1921-02-26

The New York Winter Gardens S
most stupendous production, THE
Passing show" will be the attraction
at the Grand theater, matinee and
night. Saturday. February 26.
For bigness and variety of entertain
ment the Winter Gardens annual re-
vue has come to hold a place all its
own. 'The Passing Shows which
preceded the present one were SO vast
and novel in their scenic equipment,
and so bewilderingly diverting. that it
might well have been thought that
this wonderful style of entertainment
had reached the limit of bigness; how
ever, this Passing Show is, accord
ing to all accounts. superior and even
more vast than its predecessors.
1t seems almost incredible that SO
many scenes as are Incorporated in
the present show could ever be dove
tailed toether so that the action would
be lively and continuous. In the first
act there are six scenes, and in the
second-nine; a huge whirling extrava-
ganza of monumental proportions.
It's a laughing show, too, for there
are many comedy scenes with bright
lines galore.
Practically the same company which
was at the New York Winter Garden
will be seen here, while prominent in
the cast are such headliners as Roy
Cummings. VIII Philbrick, Klein
Brothers, Edward Basse, Edward Gut
The Topeka state journal., 1921-02-26

their introduction to the New York
public, duplicated their western tri-
umphs. Engagements in the principal
cities followed and they have been
heard repeatedly in New York, Chi
cago, Boston, Philadelphia, Washing
ton, st. Louis, San Francisco and Los
Angeles.
At the height of their success they
gave it all up to go to France under
the auspices of the Y. NJ. c. A. as en-
terta1ners of the American doughboys-
There they became the idols of the
American army and sang in all the
important centers, including the leave
areas and gave recitals at the Paris
Opera, in Nice, Cannes, Monte Carlo
and for the army of occupation on the
Rhine. A professional season in Eng
land followed and after manv public
and private engagements in London
they visited Manchester. Liverpool,
Bradford, Edinboro, Glasgow and
other important cities of the British
Isles.
And with this behind them they are
coming home to show how much they
have improved since singing in the
choirs of Grace Cathedral and other
churches here.
The concert is scheduled for Fri
day evening, March IS, at the audi
torium and is under the management
of Ralph S. Holland.
The Topeka state journal., 1921-02-26
ROGERS is ROMEO
Cowboy Actor Latest to Take
Up Shakespeare.
OF Course the Divine Love
Story Is Rewritten.

Shakespeare has written a play for
VIII Rogers,
Not that there's any particular rea-
son for that exclamation point. At
one time or another, authors natural
ly write a play for some particular
mime.
George Bernard Shaw, for instance,
wrote, How He Lied to Her Hus-
band for Arnold DAILY; William
Archer, too, wrote his THE Green
Goddess for an actor-the late Sir
Henry Irving; destiny intervened and
George Arliss became the star of his
successful play.
The Topeka state journal., 1921-02-26
SCREEN TESTS ARE COSTLY
Paramount Official Says $500 to $1,000
Each Required to Pick Screen Actors.

Paramount Official Says $500 to $1,000
Each Required to Pick Screen Actors.
A week seldom passes in motion
picture studio that a person, eager to
enter pictures. does not appear and
ask that a screen test be made OF his
or her features. = Speaking of this
practice, Hugh Ford, veteran director
of the stage and screen, and now
under contract with Paramount,
recently computed the cost to the pro-
ducer of a single one Of these tests.
"The average screen test costs the
company making it from $500 10
$1,000 Such a test always consum es
an hour, and that means an hour IS
wasted of the company's time when
the director, assistant directors. cleo
tricians, property men and everyone is
kept from working on a production.
When you consider the salaries of
these people, then add the lighting
and laboratory work, it is not difficult
to see the above figures are conserva-
tive"
The Topeka state journal., 1921-02-26
GRAND OPERA FROM FILM.
'sThe Cheat Opened as Song Produc-
ton in Paris February Z.

Paris, Feb. 26.-For the first time
in history a grand opera has been
adapted from a moving picture. This
unusual distinction belongs to the
Paramount picture, The Cheat" by
Hector Turnbull, which was directed
by Cecil B. DeMille with Fannie Ward
as the star and was first released in
December, 1915.
The premiere of the opera, the
music of which was composed by the
late Camille Erlanger, was given at
the famous Opera Comique here on
Friday evening, February Z, the work
bearing the title, "Forfaiture" The
French librettO was written by Paul
Millet and Andre Lourde, and the
principal male role, that of a Japan
celebrated stars of the French operatic
stage, Vanni MarcouX.
Making photoplays from popular books
this practice is being reversed in some
quarters and they're publishing books from
successful photoplays. One of the latest
pictures to receive this treatment is Con-
stance Talmadge First National vehicle,
Good References" which is now enjoying
big success in the cinema. houses of the
country. Good References" was produced
from a story written by E. J. Rath. And
now w. J. Watt and Company announce
that they will shortly publish Good Refer
ences" in book form.
Altho Lloyd Hamilton. star in Mermaid
Comedies released thru Educational, claims
that he has never failed to shave every
other day he offers the anomaly of havin z
worn a mustache for some 6.432 hours, of
PCS full days-practically q year, counting
off Sundays and holidays. This was while
he was appearing in the 1874 Ham and
BUD comedies in which a huge upper lip
covering was part of his Makeup. Since
becoming a star in Mermaid Comedies he
depends on facial EXPRESSIONS alone
Tho old fa Sbiopad risto1 onoo ,,rad tn
photoplays seems to have been automatical-
ly replaced.
The Topeka state journal., 1921-02-26

Ter, Helen Darlington, Alexandra Dag
mar, Dolores Suarez, Peggy Brown,
Florence Cummings, Billie Shaw,
Thelma Seymour. Bobbie Boies, and
Clara Lind.
An important feature of the VIM
ter Garden show is the chorus which
is eestumed with great artistic effec-
tiveness- The Passing Show is said
to be as big as a three-ring circus. the
performance requiring three hours and
fifteen minutes, and everything is new
hut the electric elevated runway, a
feature of Winter Garden shows.
Tom Moore, the Geldwyn star. has had
moving pictures taken Of his little daughter
and will keep them to show the little lady
when she grows to be a great big lady.
The Topeka state journal., 1921-02-26

Rent asunder by banana split"
Made drunk by matted milk"
The Topeka state journal., 1921-02-26

ed Romeo, among Montagues and Cap
ulets, all strangely mixed up with
motion picture stars he has seen; other
weird effects create an atmosphere in
which he still manages to preserve his
dignity as a cowboy, with the aid OF
his wit and his Colt. How he finally
evolves from his sweet nightmare
truly romantic spirit which overcomes
mis- sentimental Adored One, furnishes
a bappv climax to this variation of an
old theme.
The Topeka state journal., 1921-02-26

Los Angles, in the title role of Pen
rod"
The play will be put on for an in
definite run and rehearsals will be
started Immediately under the direc-
ton of Ed Rose, playwright and au-
thor of the stage presentation of Booth
Tarkington's famous boy stories.
The Topeka state journal., 1921-02-26
A Terrible Dream.

Carpenter and Dempsey are having some
eight-reel film.
The Topeka state journal., 1921-02-26
|neWESQulBS|
Cleaned y 'V;;)
DRINKlN6.LI Al
FISH QUENCHESI
No THIRSTS

If photoplays were
consistent in these
bone-dry days IL in
ebriates would be soda
fountain addicts. When
the victim OF carbon
ated moisture stag
gered out of g. candy
store subtitle remarks
like these would be
f ! a S h e d. upon the
screen:
He could not resist
pineapple temptation"
Driven mad by nut
-
The Topeka state journal., 1921-02-26
.FRECKLEs, ON THE STAGE.

Wesley Barry, Marshall NeiIan's
popular little star, will shortly make
his debut on the speaking stage. By
special arrangement with Mr.. Neilan,
the freckle-faced youngster will ap-
pear at the Egan Little theater in
The Topeka state journal., 1921-02-26

California picture makers have been de-
layed on exteriors this week on account Of
the drenching by spring rains.