davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Milford chronicle., 1926-03-19
INFANT DEATH RATE
IN STATE TOO HIGH
Enteritis Partly Blamed On Bot
tie Milk Took Twenty-six Per
Cent Of Victims.

Analysis of the health records OF
Delaware for the past year, Whlch
has Just been completed, show some
of the reasons why every enort
should be made to improve the milk
standards and which activity mas
been in progress for the past elgh-
teen months with remarkable sue
cess in rural sections.
OF All children who died under
one year of age last year. there were
five ailments which caused tataltles
to occur to rs per cent of the babies.
Enteritis of which there was 1OS
victims, comprising more than rs per
cent of the deaths, might have been
avoided in a majority Of instances, II
pure milk had been used, according
to officials of the State Board OF
Health.
Years ago, all babies were nour-
ished by mothers, but statistics OBJ
tanned by the state officials show
that practically all of the victims
last year were bottle-fed babies.
Pure milk with intelligence in prop
er feeding methods, might have saw
ed most of their lives, DR.. Arthur l.
Davis, executive secretary OF the
State Board of Health stated in dis
cussing the high mortality.
Premature birth, which in many
cases might have been prevented
with proper instruction in the care
of the mother was second highest
with 19 per cent.
Pneumonia took 10 per cent.
Congenital debility, meaning ba-
bies born too weak to fight to con-
tinue living, was third with 1877 per
cent. The other ailment, which went
to make UP the five embraced IN the
more than rs per cent OF fatal Ills
was malformation with 4.S.
Other causes were whooplng
cough, 2.6 per cent; meningitis, Z
per cent; influenza, IL per cent; tu.
berculosis,- 5 per cent; bronchitis, 4
per cent; convulsions, z per cent
other causes, ia per cent.
With the work which DR.. G. A
Sargent will inaugurate during the
spring and summer, giving advice tt
mothers and aiding them as far al
suggestion goes with the ills that be
set their children, a big improve
ment, will be developed, it is belieV
ed this year.
He will tell the mothers what the!
need to do, but will not treat an!
of the children, or mothers, that be
ing a matter for the family physi
| oiau
Milford chronicle., 1926-03-19
JOSEPH ROGERS in LUCK
WHEN OIL STOVE EXPLODES
Hundreds OF BrOilers Escape SuffO-
cation From Smoke

Last Monday night was one OF eX-
citement at the home Of Mr.. and
Mrs. Joseph Rogers, at the north
eastern part of Milford and for
time a red glare of fire lighted up the
heavens for a few minutes.
AS he returned to his home he
saw the large brooding house eXud-
ing smoke from several places, so he
Immediately sought to learn the
cause. He found that the oil heater
had become clogged as to the venti-
lator pipe, which caused the flame at
the burners to throw out dense
black smoke, which had caused the
young chickens, which weigh about
two pounds each, to drop from the
roosts to the floor of the roosting
room. He threw open the doors to
ventilate and clear the room from
smoke and thus save the balance OF
the chickens. AS soon as the air
reached the heater the entire room
flashed into fire and the oil and
SCOT burned fiercely for a short time.
By using water literally on the
roof about the blazing smoke pipe
and on the floor where the chickens
were, they were able to check the
fire and confined it to the oil heater
and a part of the roof.
The glare could be seen for sew
eral blocks but the firemen were not
summoned; for the simple reason
that Mr.. Rogers and his neighbors
had all they could do to check the
flames, which would have required
but very few minutes to have de-
stroyed several hundreds of dollars
worth of young broilers.
He resusitated all the chicks but
nine. which seemed to have been
burned rather than smothered.
Had the fire gotten even five min
utes more headway, the damage
would have been heavy, as the Other
buildings adjoin it and the residence
were only a few yards away.
Milford chronicle., 1926-03-19
SUNDAY FIRE DAMAGES
PRESBYTERIAN MANSE
Water And Fire Damage Amounts
To Over $l5OO--.WiIl Immedi-
ately Repair Place.

Fire, which is supposed to have
started from a defective fue in the
rear of the building, damaged the
Presbyterian manse on South Wal
nut street last Sunday afternoon.
Rev. and Mrs. Henry L. Bunsuein
had just returned home from the
church where he had conducted the
morning services when the flames
were discovered burning on the rear
roof of the dwelling. A quantity of
inhammable materials, consisting OF
magazines and books were stored in
the attic and they quickly caught
fire. When the Carlisle Fire Com
pany arrived on the scene they found
the fire gaining rapid headway, but
all indications were that the flames
could be extinguished without any
serious damage to the house. Un-
fortunately, however, the first three
lines of hose laid burst when pres
sure was applied. 1t was necessary
to run additional lines during which
time the fire gained headway rapid
ly. When the new lines were in oper-
alton the firemen very quickly sub
dued the blaze. The unavoidable de-
lay, however, made it necessary to
pump more water with the addition
al water damage resulting.
The entire roof of the building
was so badly damaged that that
portion which remained was not
burned, but will have to be removed,
and replaced with new roof. Water
soaked through all the floors and
ceilings in the building, and the en-
tire interior will have to be repalnt-
ed and papered. The damage will
probably be from $500 to $4,000. In
all fairness to the firemen an eXpla-
nation of the cause of the hose trou-
BILE is due. Through some unknown
source nine sections of hose on one
of the trucks had been damaged by
acid. The fabric and rubber had
been badly injured by the action OF
the acid, with the result that when
pressure was applied the hose burst.
All of the damaged sections of hose
we're practically new, and had been
tested under 200 pounds pressure
very recently, as had all of the hose
owned by the company. Every sec
ton of hose used by the firemen
was put under a severe pumping
test Immediately after the apparatus
was brought back to the fire house
from the manse fire Sunday after
noon, and all weak sections were
thrown out.
Milford chronicle., 1926-03-19
STATE GIRLS MAY
WIN $21OO in PRIZES
Delaware Girls In National Contest
Study OF Meat

Delaware high school girls are
bent on securing their share of the
university scholarships and casE
prizes offered in the Third National
Meat Story Contest. According to
first reports of entries made public
by the National Live Stock and Meat
Board, the contest sponsor, high
schools in five cities of this state al
ready have entered contestants.
These are at Delaware City, LAUREL
Lewes, Milton, Milford and Smyrna.
The contest annually interests
thousands of schools throughout the
country, says the boards statement.
It is held as an aid to the study OF
meat in high school classes. Con-
testants are required to write
story or theme on some phase OF the
meat subject and submit with it
three tested recipes.
A university scholarship, together
with $4,000 in cash, is the major
prize in each Of the four districts
into which the United States has
been divided. The young lady chosen
as national champion will receive a
scholarship and $4,000 in cash.
Other prizes bring the total to more
than $2,100, it is said.
The contest will come to a close
on April Is. Stories then will be
judged by a committee Of prominent
home economics authorities, and the
names Of winners will be made pub
lie on or about June 1. DR.. Louise
Stanley, Chief Of the Bureau OF
Home Economies, U. s. Department
of Agriculture, served as chairman
of the judging committee in the two
previous contests.
Milford chronicle., 1926-03-19
CLAIM MARYLAND
COMPANY HAS EVADED
THE STATE GAS TAX
Under Plan Followed, Outsiders
Are Said To Have Sold Gas
Without Tax.
MAY FINE CONSUMER
Investigation Now Being Made
To Ascertain Extent Of The
Scheme.

The State Highway Department,
with the assistance of the State PO-
lice, has found that many automO-
bile owners and dealers in gasoline
in the state are evading the pay
ment of the cents a gallon tax.
imposed by the state on gasoline.
The law specifies that 2 cents tax
of gasoline sold in Delaware must
be paid the state and the returns be
made by the dealer, the revenue to
be for the maintenance of the roads.
To ascertain if this law was being
observed an investigation has been
in progress for several months. 1t
was found that certain dealers in
Maryland were selling gasoline in
Delaware to dispensers and also di-
rect to consumer and making no re-
turns of tax collected to this state.
In fact they were selling the gasO-
line without adding the tax, saving
the dealers and consumers 2 cents
a gallon on the purchase.
The penalty for this violation of
the law is $1,000 fine. The State au-
thorities planned to take action
against the oil companies with head
quarters in Maryland, but found that
they would be unable to prosecute,
as the Maryland company could sell
oil in Delaware without making any
return to this State under the rul-
ing of the Interstate Commerce
Commission. This condition made
competition unfair for the gasoline
concerns doing business in Della
ware. The standard price Of gasoline
as retailed by dealers in Delaware
has been 20 cents or 21 cents a gal
Ion. The dealer bought the gasoline
for II cents a gallon, plus the cent
tax, making it cost him 10 cents a
gallon. The Maryland company, ac-
cording to the State Highway De-
partment, has been selling gasoline
direct to consumers in Delaware for
II cents, and in some instances US
eYs have told the Investigators they
have paid as low as 16 cents gal
lon, the Maryland company telling
the buyer, according to the State
Highway Department, that the Mary
land concern did not have to collect
the tax.
Many farmers near the Maryland
Delaware line having their own tank
and having them filled regularly by
the foreign company, are getting the
gasoline less the tax.
Fearing that this practice would
spread all over the state, thus rob-
bing this state of the tax on gaso-
line, the Delaware authorities have
obtained a legal opinion setting
forth that the dealer is the one who
buys the gas, and that if the tax is
not collected by the retailer the pur-
chaser is liable for the tax, and if he
has failed to pay, either to this state
or to the dealer who sells it, the
consumer is liable to fine Of $1,000
Milford chronicle., 1926-03-19
WHIPPING POST REDUCES
RISK INSURANCE RATE
Announcement Says Post Is RespOn-
sible For Big Reduction

The whipping post in Delaware
and rigid enforcement of strict laws
in Connecticut are responsible for
the lower rates on hOld-ups, burg
larry and theft insurance which went
into effect on Monday, according to
a statement by the National Bureau
of Casualty and Surety Underwriters
which is composed of casualty lnsur-
ance companies throughout the
country.
Because of the whipping post, the
rate in Wilmington has been reduced
SO 1-3 per cent. There has been 40
per cent reduction in New Canaan,
Norwalk, Greenwich, Stamford and
Darien, Conn.
The statement gave the following
explanation of the Is per cent in
crease, which has been announced IN
New York, Kings and Queens coun-
ties:
"In so far as New York is concern
ed the increased rates are to be TAX
en- as any reflection upon the present
nolice administration. The new rates
are based upon scientific study or
the experience of insurance compan-
les over a period Of approximately
three years, which period ended with
the close Of 1925. 1t is declared that
when an improvement. in experience
is noted, the companies will take
steps to make rates conform to the
newer and better conditions. This
statement may be made confidently
because it is a policy Of the National
Bureau to compile the experience OF
its companies periodically and to re-
feet the indications Of the resulting
statistical information in the rates
for insurance"
The greatest increase in rates
throughout the country was in Palm
Beach and some other parts Of Flor
ida. An so per cent rise affected the
counties of Broward, Dade, Duvall
Hillsborough, Palm Beach and Pin
elias.
: other rates increased were: Allan
ia, 25 per cent; Des Moines, Iowa.
so per cent; all counties in Missouri
except Jackson, st. Louis and St
Louis City, so per cent; all counties
in Tennessee, except Shelby and
Davidson, so per cent; Salt Lake
City, Utah, II IL per cent.
Milford chronicle., 1926-03-19
MILFORD new SEWER COMPLETE
And PROPERTIES MUST TAP
Statement Shows That Work Was
Done Within $14S OF Bond Issue

The new sewer system for Milford
has been completed, and many Of the
properties along the several lines
have already tapped it. In a state
ment published on another page Of
the Chronicle Town Council sets
forth information to the effect that
the work was completed within
$148.00 of the authorized bond issue.
After the original contracts were
let for the sewer work many addi-
tions were made and sections Of the
town not included in the original
survey were incorporated in the
sewer program. Council has an
nounced that every property facing
on a sewer will be compelled not
only to pay a tapping fee but to
empty its sewage into the sewers.
With the completion Of the new sys-
TEN, Milford has the best sewage
facilities of any town in Delaware.
Practically every property within
the incorporate limits is provided
with sewage facilities.
Milford chronicle., 1926-03-19
STATEWIDE SPELLING
Bee TO BE HELD BY
THE EVERY EVENING
Wilmington Newspaper Will Give
Away $4,000 In Prizes To The
Winners.
EACH COUNTY COMPLETES
Elimination Contests Will Be Held
At Georgetown, Dover And
Wilmington.

Everything is set for the Every
Evening Statewide Spelling Bee.
State Superintendent Of Public In
struction, DIR. Harry V. Holloway, OF
Dover, David A. Ward, superintend-
ent of Wilmington public schools,
and Prof. William A. Wilkinson, or
the Department of Education, Uni
yersity of Delaware and president OF
the Delaware State Education Asso-
citation, conferred recently and final
plans were made for staging the bee.
There will be elimination bees for
Sussex county, Kent county, rural
New Castle and the city Of Whining
ton, with the final to select the State
Champion also to be held in Viii
mington.
The Sussex county final will be
held at Georgetown, the Kent county
final at Dover, the rural New Castle
final at St. Georges.
Twenty spoilers will compete IN
the Statewide bee. There will be
four representatives from Sussex
county, four from Kent, four from
rural New Castle and eight from
Wilmington. These numbers are bas-
ed on the proportionate number OF
children in the city and rural
! schools. The Delaware campaign
will compete in the national bee'
where more than $4,000 in prizes
will be distributed. Many other
prizes will be awarded in the state.
The rural schools will conduct
their spelling bees under the dlrec-
tion of the supervisors. The super
visory districts are as follows: Nor
thern Sussex, including Greenwood
Bridgeville, Lincoln City and Ellen
dale, and the rural schools OF that
section under Supervisor b. Paul
Burkholder.
Southwestern Sussex includes
Laurel, Seaford, Delmar, Bethel and
the rural schools adjacent thereto
under Supervisor Calvin E. Affler-
bach.
Southeastern Sussex includes
Georgetown, Lewes, Millsboro, Days
boro, Selbyville, Lord Baltimore, and
Continued on page seven)
Milford chronicle., 1926-03-19
SIXTY CHANGES In
PASTOR ASSIGNMENTS
MAY NOW Be MADE
Indications Before Conference Con-
venes Are That Many Changes
Will Be Made.
JACOBS WILL RETURN
Milford Pastor Has Decided To
Accept Invitation For Another
Year.

With the annual session Of the
Wilmington Methodist Episcopal
Conference only one week away in
dications point to many changes in
pastorates. A week ago at least
thirty of the ministers had signified
their intention Of asking for a
change this year. Since that time
the number has been considerably
increased, and it is now predicted
that at least sixty pastors will make
a change this year.
While such is the indication at
this time many changes may take
place in a week and some of those
that had indicated a desire for a
change have since announced their
intention of remaining at their pres
ent charges for another year.
The situation is such that many
of the churches have already made
a survey of the field in their search
for available pastors in the event Of
their pulpits being made vacant, and
a number of the ministers are de-
batting as to the wisdom Of accepting
calls elsewhere.
The many announcements Of prob
able changes has kept the district
superintendents busy for the past
week or two, and while there is a
tentative slate made up for this
years appointments, it is only ten
tative, and doubtless alterations will
be made before the opening of the
conference on March "a, in Wesley
Church, Dover.
The district superintendent will
hold at least one cabinet meeting
this week, and another the first of
next week prior to the opening OF
conference. Bishop William F. Nc
Dowell is expected to go to Dover
next Monday and take up his resi-
dence at the Hotel Richardson. He
is expecting to meet with the dis
trict superintendent either Monday
night or Tuesday morning, when the
list of appointments as made up by
the superintendent will be submit
ted. After the Bishop and his cabi-
net are agreed upon appointments,
the usual revising of the list will
begin, as at every session of confer
ence the laymen are given hear
ing, when such is requested, and Of
ten the bishop is inclined to agree
with the laymen and makes the
changes that are suggested, when
such changes seem for the best
interest of the church and pastor in
volved.
While the list Of appointments has
been made up, or at least is nearly
complete, no announcements can be
CONTINUED on page q
Milford chronicle., 1926-03-19
GRAPE GROWERS
PLAN COOPERATIVE
MARKETING this YEAR
Kent County Vinyard Owners
Will Pool Their Crops For
Selling Purposes.
GOVERNMENT INSPECTION
it's Probable That All Grapes
Shipped This Year Will Have
U. S. Approval.

Additional interest in the proposed
plan of recognizing the Kent Grape
Growers Association was shown last
wednesday evening when another
meeting of the members and other
growers was held in the Office of the
state Farm Bureau to further dis
cuss the proposed changes in the
methods of handling the crop this
year.
This meeting was attended by
thirty-two growers from the grape
producing districts of the county,
and one of the chief points discussed
was the advisability of selling the
cranes through one of the local fruit
brokers if a satisfactory arrange
mant can be made between the mem-
hers of the association and the SELL
ing agent. At the previous meeting
of the growers, the executive COM
mittee of the Kent Grape Growers
Association was instructed to inter-
view the various fruit brokers in the
Dover and Wyoming areas in an eff
fort to learn if any of these brokers
would be interested in handling the
grapes of the association members
this coming season. AS not all the
brokers had been interviewed re-
garding this proposition, the growers
decided to hold another meeting on
Wednesday evening of this week at
which time a more definite co-opera-
tive marketing plan was presented.
The question Of government in
spection of all cars of grapes loaded
and sold by the association was also
an important matter of business for
discussion at the last meeting of the
growers. It seemed to be the opin-
ion of the majority of the growers
present, however, that this form OF
car inspection was one of the vital
factors necessary to the success OF
the organization, and according to
present indications the members Of
the Association will have govern
ment inspection again this year
This work is conducted under the
direction of the United States De-
partment Of Agriculture in co-opera'
CONTINUED on page y
Milford chronicle., 1926-03-19
PLAN TO BEAUTIFY
DU POINT BOULEVARD
New Castle County Group Will Or
ganize This Week

For the purpose of cooperating
with the State Highway Commission
and other organizations in an effort
to beautify the State Road, known as
the du Pont Boulevard, from one end
of the state to the other, an organ1-
cation will be formed in New Castle
county within the next week or so.
A large number of persons have CIV
en- their consent to become members
and when a date is set for the hrst
meeting, organization will be per-
fected and officers selected.
Kent and Sussex counties have
such organizations, and when SINH
lar group is formed in New Castle
county, the three will work together
to carry out their plans.
The plan is to plant trees and
flowers along the boulevard so that
automobile tourists through the
state may admire the scenery along
the roadway as well as the perfect
condition Of the road upon which
they are travelling, thereby giving
them a better idea of the State OF
Delaware from standpoint OF beau
ty.
1t is the intention of many who
have given the matter considerable
thought to have, if possible, fruit
trees planted along the highway Sc
that tourists may, while passing
through the state, alight from theil
machines and partake Of the fruit
which would keep them from going
on private property and robbine
fruit trees, as is now often done.
The State Highway Commission is
in favor of beautifying the highway
if it can get the cooperation of the
residents of the state.
Milford chronicle., 1926-03-19
PUPILS MAY NOW ELECT
BIBLE STUDY in SCHOOL
State Board Of Education Gives Per-
mission To Study Bible

After quite an agitation on the
mart of those who desired to see BIZ
BILE study introduced into the public
schools of the State, the State Board
of Education has made the subject
an elective one. In recent instruc-
tions sent out to the superintendent
and principals of high schools, John
Shilling, in charge Of high schools
throughout the state, advises just
what procedure to take in selecting
the course. The letter sent to pr1n-
cipals follows:
Because there was request for
high school credit for unit Of Bible
Study, took the matter up with the
State Board Of Education. am now
authorized to add this unit to the
electives in our high school curricu-
la.
The conditions are that it will be
an elective and receive the same
amount of time as another unit
namely, a minimum of forty min
utes of prepared work daily. If a
smaller amount of time is given to
it it would be better to make it so
that the credit could be one-half
unit. In other words, an hour a
week for a semester or three days
a week for a year. We have found
that credit less than a half unit is OF
practically no value.
The teaching should be in the ma
ture of instruction in the content OF
the Bible as Literature and as His
tory without any religious emphasis
Be very careful in telling your stu
dents that the work is entirely elec-
tive and not compulsory in any
sense.
shall take up the matter with the
University of Delaware and if I can
get it recognized as College en-
france unit I shall notify you.
Milford chronicle., 1926-03-19
ACCREDITED FLOCK DRAW GOOD
RETURNS FOR POULTRYMEN
Those Who Don't Comply With Re-
Ouirement Lose Their Certificates

The chicken Matching season in
lower Delaware is in full swing. For
more than a month hatcheries which
depend largely on the thousands of
day-old chicks they dispose of
throughout the country, have been
going strong and sales reported have
been the most encouraging Of any
spring since the raising of poultry
became an important industry in
this state
The Delaware raisers advertise
largely in poultry magazines to OBJ
tain their prospects and this year
for the first time for many of them,
they are able to advertise accredited
fiocks and pure bred stock.
One Sussex county raiser whose
stock is as near pure bred as it is
possible to have it, has been reaping
a splendid increased profit this year
for his day-old chicks. At the begin
ming Of the Matching season he fixed
a price for his chicks and advertised
the fact that his flock was not only
accredited by the State Board OF
Agriculture, but that the chicks
CONTINUED on page y