Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1926-11-03

The old fiction of the finding of
a wrecked automobile and the
skeletons of three people az the foot
of a Navine has been revived This
year the scene is laid at the Whales
Back in Hancock county. Last year
it was somewhere up in Aroostook
county. The mystery is how such a
story started, and the wonder is
that it persists so long.
The State police have inaugurated
a vigorous campaign against VIC
lators OF the automobile headlight
law. The law requires that the
highest ray Of light from auto head
lights shall not reach more than
forty-two inches above the road
level at a distance of seventy-fve
feet from the car, as a higher light
has a tendency to blind the driver
of an approaching car. That this
law is f1agrantly abused, any night
driver of a car can testify. Chief
Field Of the State police says that
drivers of cars will be warned, and
instructed to have their lights ad-
justed If they disregard the warn
ing they will be brought into court.
Adjustment of the town poor
farm system in favor of the county
almshouse plan, as advocated by
John P Deering of Saco, retiring
president of the State Conference of
Social Welfare, may be one of the
bills before the legislature next
winter In the main, towns are not
niggardly in their provision for
their poor, but economy, and bet
ter care than many towns can give,
are urged in support of the county
farm idea. Another change sug-
gested by Mr.. Deering is that I'M
fortunate working men who have
been obliged to receive pauper aid
shall not be deprived of the right
of citizenship.
The special primary Monday for
of candidates for the
United States senate, to fill the va
cancy caused by the death of Senator
Fernald, resulted in the nomination
of Arthur R. Gould of Pressure Isle
as the republican candidate, in
four-sided fight. Mr. Gould had
plurality of approximately $500
over Ex-Governor Percival Baxter
Mr.. Gould's success is triumph for
modern methods of advertising, as
he placed his campaign in the hands
of a regular advertising agency at
the opening of the fight. Fulton j.
Redman of Ellsworth was made the
democratic candidate, without OPP
position. Mr.. Redman is to be COM
mended for his loyalty to party
which induces him to lead forlorn
hope at personal sacrifice. He will
doubtless receive large compli-
mentary vote in Hancock county
Gods Acres.
A reader of The American calls
attention to the neglected condition
of many cemeteries and small fam
ily burying grounds about the coun-
trvside. a sad reflection on the COM
munities in which they appear.
In our larger, public cemeteries
there has been vast Improvement in
this regard during the past few
wears. but many of the smaller fam
ily plots, scattered here and there,
are sadly neglected. Oftentimes 1t
will be found that the farm on
which one of these burying grounds
is located has changed hands, and
the present owner has no sentiment
regarding it. Often it is looked
upon merely as an obstruction to his
farming operations, and is allowed
to grow into an unsightly tangle.
Descendants of the people buried are
all gone, OF widely scattered, and
there is no one to take an interest
In the appearance Of their last rest
ing place This is hard situation to
correct The owner Of the farm feels
no obligation, moral or sentimental,
to keep the cemetery in slightly con-
dition, and no provision for 1t Is
made by descendants.
But in our public cemeteries, the
arrangement for perpetual care now
provides for the future care OF lots.
There are, however, many lots +or
which no such provision had been
made. and where descendants nave
been lost track of. These neglected
lots detract from the appearance OF
the whole. The cemetery associa-
lions do something toward keeping
these lots from becoming too un-
slightly, but this is merely voluntary
on their part, and most of the fund
available is needed for the care OF
driveways. We believe that pro-
vision should be made so that a sur
plus, if any, from perpetual care
funds, could be used for the care Of
lots the owners Of which are all
dead or cannot be located.