davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Milford chronicle., 1928-02-03
ROBERT G. HOUSTON
PRAISED In CONGRESS
Delaware Representative Lauded BY
Democratic Colleague.

Representative Robert G. Houston,
of Delaware, was praised on the
floor of the House last Friday by
Representative Ralph Gilber, Demo-
crat, Kentucky, for the work per-
formed by the Delaware member
while a member of the Gibson sub
committee last session in the inves-
tigation of District of Columbia
affairs.
At the beginning of the present
session of congress Mr.. Houston
was appointed to membership on
the rivers and harbor committee,
one of the most powerful commit
tees of the house which passes on
the expenditures of millions of dol
lars in river and harbor work
throughout the country.
During the first term of Mr..
Houston he was member of the
house district committee, and also
was member of the rivers and
harbors committee Delaware has
been represented on this committee
for several years with the exception
of the 69th congress.
The members of the House ap-
plauded the complimentary refer
ence to Mr.. Houston by his Demo-
cratic colleague from Kentucky.
Milford chronicle., 1928-02-03
WTLLBUTLDSLAUGHTER
BEACH ROAD THISYEAR
Committee Told That Highway
Department Expects To Take
Up This Work.

The State Highway Department
plans to build the road leading from
the Milford-RehOboth highway to
Slaughter Beach this year. This in
formation was given to a committee
of Milford citizens who summer at
the beach, when they appeared be-
fore the commission last week. The
project was put on the recommended
list last year and hopes were enter
tanned by residents of Slaughter
Neck that it would be built last
season. Other work consumed the
funds of the department, however, so
the work had to lay over. This road,
about four miles in length, is badly
needed. It will not only be a great
convenience to the cottagers at
Slaughter Beach, but it will also
give the residents of this rich farm
ing district better facilities for trav-
cling during the winter months
when the dirt roads are usually
bad. Just when the work will be
started is not known; but it is
thought that the highway authorities
will commence as early as possible
so that it can be completed early in
the summer. The right Of way has
already been secured from the prop
ertv owners along the route.
Milford chronicle., 1928-02-03
THIEF ENTERS STORE
TAKES $18 In MONEY
Cigarettes AlSoo StOIen Al HOustOn's
Candy Store Wednesday Night

A thief entered the candy store
owned by A. c. Houston, located in
the heart of. Milford's business sec
tion. on Wednesday night and stole
$500 in. money, a, quantity of Gig
arettes and possibly some cigars.
The store was closed for the night
about. 11!30 o'clock on Wednesday,
and Night Officer Davis discovered
that it had been broken into shortly
before four o'clock Thursday morn
ing It is Thought that only one
person. was implicated in the rob-
berry, for footprints left in the snow
in the rear of the store would in
dicate that one person only was in
volved.. Entrance was gained by
prying open window in the rear of
the building. An effort had been
made to gain entrance through a
back door, but this had been un-
successful. After rifiing the cash
register and taking the cigarettes,
the thief left the store by way of
the front door. In leaving he left
the door partly open, and it was
while making his rounds that Off
Ger Davis discovered the open door.
He Immediately got in touch with
Mr., Houston and reported the rob-
berry.
Milford chronicle., 1928-02-03
FORMER DELAWAREANS
DIE In NEBRASKA
Pioneers In Frontier County After
Leaving Sussex

Newspaper clippings recording the
deaths of two former Sussex cOun-
tians, who in early manhood mi
grated to Nebraska, settled in what
is now Frontier County, and pros
pered, have been received at the
Chronicle office. By a coincidence
these two men, who as adventurers
went west together in the spring of
1884, settled near each other, and
aided in building a wealthy county,
passed to the great beyond within
two days of each other. William
Thomas Roach died at his home in
haywood, Nebraska, on January 4th.
Nathaniel Young Davis, also of
haywood, died on January 9Th.
Roach was 70 years of age, Davis 81
years. The accounts of their early
struggles and pioneer work as told
in the Nebraska newspapers is in
teresting, and shows of conditions
faced by these sturdy Delawareans
who sought their fortunes in the
wilderness. They are praised as
being the two outstanding citizens of
Frontier County, whose efforts to
build up their communities had
borne fruit, and are credited with
having played the most important
part of any of its citizens in the
work they did. Each married in
Nebraska, and each had seven chill
dren.
Milford chronicle., 1928-02-03
SAY SOME APPLES
ARE NOT BRANDED
Fruit Taken From Storage For Mar
ket Must Be Marked

In an effort to make the new apple
branding law as near perfect as pos
sible, storage plants in Delaware,
where apples have been placed
awaiting a better market than pre-
vailed in the fall, have been visited
the past week to determine whether
all the apples stored there have
been properly branded.
Under the terms of the apple
branding law. apples do not have to
be branded unless they are offered
for sale. If the grower stores his
fruit in a storage house he does not
have to brand the apples if he does
not want to. As the storage house
,proprietors are not responsible for
the apples being branded it is be-
lieved that some fruit has gotten
out of storage houses with out the
owner complying with the Delaware
law. In order to protect the other
growers from this sort of invasion,
CCOEfisHed on page n
Milford chronicle., 1928-02-03
DELAWARE FARMER
is HIGHLY HONORED
Frank G. Bancroft OF Wyoming Sc
lected As One OF Twelve

Signal honor has come to the
Del-Mar-Va Peninsula in the selec-
ton of Frank c. Bancroft, of Wyom-
ing, Del, as one of twelve master
farmers selected for the year 1927, in
Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware
and Maryland. The selection was an
nOunced at the close of the meetings
connected with the Farm Products
Show, which was recently held at
Harrisburg, Pa, and was made un-
der the sponsorship of the Pennsyl
vania Farmer, one of the influential
Capper agricultural publications.
Mr.. Bancroft is prominent as
fruit grower, dairyman, and was for
mer Master of the Delaware State
Grange. He is on the advisory
council of the marketing bureau of
the DeI-Mar-Va Eastern Shore Asso-
citation.
AS a word of explanation, Master
Farmers are the outstanding figures
in their own line and in their own
day and generation. Each must
stand comparison with his contem-
poraries-not with the leading agri-
culturists of his fathers or grand
fathers day-but of his own period.
1t is a movement established in 1925
in Illinois, for the purpose of bring
ing recognition by the public to the
farm leaders. Clifford B. Gregory,
Editor of the Prairie Farmer, of
Chicago, who inaugurated the first
movement for this purpose said:
"The purpose Of the Master Far
mers movement is to recognize out
standing success in farming and ru-
raj citizenship. The nation should
honor its leading farmers as it does
it's scientists and its soldiers and its
captains of industry. It is an inspir-
alton to the boys and girls who are
growing up in the country to know
CCORfiEssd on page y
Milford chronicle., 1928-02-03
ODD FELLOWS PUT
ON DEGREE WORK
Hundreds OF Members OF The Order
Witness Fine Work

On last Friday evening Milford
was the mecca of Odd Fellows from
all parts of Delaware. The Com
munity Building was the scene of
the greatest rally in the history of
the Grand Lodge of Odd Fellows of
Delaware. Beginning at $50 with
a supper for the Degree Teams,
served by the ladies of the Carlisle
Fire Company, every minute was
full until IL o'clock. Every lodge
in Delaware was represented. At
7.30 Eden Lodge Degree Team of 80
men, with Degree Captain William
Beatty directing, opened the cere-
monies with the first degree in full
form. Their work was up to their
usual standard and brought forth
much praise.
Milford Odd Fellows had a very
agreeable surprise when the Degree
Team of Crystal FOunt Lodge ex-
'celled themselves in putting on the
second degree. in a manner that
brought forth round after round
OF applause. This was the Milford
boys first appearance, and they
were highly commended for their
excellent work.
The quartette of Crystal Fount
Lodge, Messrs. Bennett, Swain, Mes
sick and Bennett, with Fred Breme
at the piano, rendered a beautiful
selection, which was well received.
Grand Master Wagamon and staff
expressed themselves as being high
ly pleased with the success of the
affair
Milford chronicle., 1928-02-03
WILL HOLD MEETING
TO GET RIVER FACTS
Col. Howell Announces That Ship.
ping Interests viii Be Heard

Col. Howell, District Engineer,
will hold a meeting in Milford on
Monday, February 9Th at 2:15 o.
clock to collect facts and data in
reference to the need of improve
ment of the Mispillion River. His
report upon this project will depend
upon the information which is pre-
sented to him at the meeting and an
appropriation will depend largely
upon his report. For that reason it
is important that every one inter-
ested in the Improvements of the riv-
er should have all necessary data
and information as to the shipping
requirements to present to Col.
Howell.
The hearing on Monday is the re-
suit of the action of Congressman
Houston in having an item for a
survey incorporated in the last Riv-
ers and Harbors Bill. Congressman
Houston took this action after he
had been petitioned by Milford bus
mess interests to secure a deeper
channel at the mouth of the river
and an extension of the jetty there.
Milford chronicle., 1928-02-03
WILMINGTON PARTY
SNOWBOUND HERE
Officials Of On POnt Company
Find Refuge At The Home Of
George T. Macklin.

George Macklin was Good Samari-
tan to three men on Saturday night,
two of them well-known officials of
the du Pont Company, R. D. Wilson
of Wilmington, and Judge Charles
White of Pennsville, N. J. These two
men were returning through Milford
at about 1880 p. M, from Ocean City
where they had been on a ducking
trip. Their car got stuck in a snow
drift opposite the Macklin home. Mr..
and Mrs. Macklin, who had just fin
ished their dinner, had been watch
ing the road, fearing that one of the
passing cars would get stuck in
particularly bad drift. When they
saw the Wilmington car come to a
standstill, and the walking back and
forth of the passengers and switch
ing off and on of lights, they knew
their fears had been realized. Mr..
Macklin was on his way out to offer
assistance, when Judge White came
through the deep snow,
nearly exhausted, to ask for SHOW
ell. After working over the car for
some time, they gave up in despair,
however, and accepted the Macklins'
hospitality, having a fine dinner and
for the night. In the
morning their car was towed to
garage and they went on to Will
mingtOn in the afternoon. very
grateful to the Macklins for their
hospitality.
A Mr.. Nichols, who works for the
Simpson Brothers Feed Company,
was given shelter by the Macklins on
night also. Mr.. Nichols had
eft his car in Milford, believing
safer on such a night, but
gave out in front of the Macklin
nome. The next morning he was
aiken to his home some miles away |
IN horseback by J. X. Lambert, who |
delivered milk at the Macklins'
Milford chronicle., 1928-02-03
SIXTEEN INCHES OF
SNOW in FOUR DAYS
Fourteen Inches On Saturday
And Two Inches On Monday
And Tuesday.

Charles J. Holzmueller, official
weather recorder at Milford, states
that during the four days commence
ing Saturday last and ending on
Tuesday night a total of sixteen
inches of snow fell in Milford. Four
teen inches of this total snow fall
was measured after the heavy storm
of Saturday. Two more inches fell
on Monday night and like quantity
on Tuesday night. The lowest tenn
perature during this period was 10
below zero on Monday morning. Mr.
Holzmueller has been advised by the
recorder at Bridgeville that the gov
ernment thermometer at that town
registered IL degrees below zero on
Monday morning. The maximum
and minimum temperatures, from
Wednesday, January 25 to Tuesday
night of this week, as recorded by
Mr.. HolZmueller follow:
Milford chronicle., 1928-02-03
MILFORD CITIZENS
MEET THURSDAY
TODTSCUSS SCHOOL
All Citizens Of The Town Are
Urged To Attend Meeting In
Community Building.
WILL EXPLAIN PROBLEM
At, This Meeting All Questions
Will Be Answered And Sug-
gestiOns Entertained.

A meeting has been called for
next Thursday evening at 7.3O
O'Clock, in the Community Building
gymnasium, at which a thorough
discussion of the school needs of
Milford will be had Every citizen
of the Milford Special School Dis
trict is not only invited to be pres
ent, but is urged to take part in
the discussion. All questions per-
tanning to the schools of Milford
will be answered at the meeting.
This meeting is not called by any
one faction, but is to be held for the
expressed purpose of acquainting
the Milford people with the pres
ent school situation. Those who at
tend will be told just what the finan-
cial status of a new school building
program will be. They will be told
of the present facilities for educat-
ing the children in Milford.
A meeting of the Committee re-
Gently appointed by the Chamber of
Commerce, together with the local
school board, was held on Wednes-
day evening at which time the
oClAOOl p1ODlGn Mdo ulSCuSSGu. IL
was surprising to note that almost
every man present had a different
idea as to what was necessary to
solve MilfOrd's school problem. The
lasted for several hours,
and many valuable suggestions were
offered. One of the main difficult
ties in handling the school problem
in Milford in the past has been
the lack of knowledge as to the pro-
cedure to follow in order to Sc
cure favorable action by the State
Board of Education. The School
Board members explained to the
at Wednesday nights
the necessary procedure,
and wiped away much of the con-
fusion. At the next meeting next
Thursday evening the public will be
-old of all necessary work to be
lone to secure a new. school in
Milford. 1t is every citizens duty
10 attend this meeting.
Milford chronicle., 1928-02-03
DELAWARE BURIED
UNDER HEAVIEST SNOW
OF RECENT YEARS
Fourteen Inch Snowfall On The
Level At MiIfOrd...D Drifts Block
Roads And Stop Travel.
AUTO PARTIES SNOWBOUND
Coolest Weather Here In Fifty
Years---OfficiaI Thermometer
Registers Ten Below.

The entire State of Delaware was
buried under a blanket of snow to
the depth of several inches by the
raging storm of last Saturday. Re-
ports from all sections of the State
indicate that the storm was the
most severe in recent years. The
heaviest snowfall seemed to center
about Milford where it is officially
recorded as fourteen inches on the
level. A high northwest wind
which accompanied the storm blew
the snow into deep drifts and the
highways were quickly blocked so
that all travel had to be abandoned.
Hundreds. of automobiles were
abandoned throughout the state
when they became stuck in the
snow and the owners were unable
TO dig them out. In the vicinity of
Milford this was particularly true.
On all main highways leading from
Milford it was no unusual sight to
see a dozen cars stalled within a
very short distance. The heavy
drifts were unusual for this section
of the country. 1t is reported that
in many instances they attained a
height of nine to ten feet.
The State Highway Department
put their snow plOws to work just
as quickly as they could get them
in service, but even these were un-
able to keep the main roads open.
Milford was cut off from all high.
way intercourse with nearby towns
shortly after noon on Saturday, and
it was not until late Sunday after
noon that traffic was again re-
sumed. The first road to be opened
was that leading from Georgetown
to Milford. Streams of AUTOMOBILE
lists who had been caught in the
storm and who had been trapped
for hours came into Milford. They
were unable to proceed north for
the road at the northern entrance
ed This road was dug out late
Sunday afternoon so that cars
could again feel their way north
ward. The road to Harrington was !
not opened until Monday. The Re
hObOth road and the Shawnee road
were also plOwed out by the high
way department gangs on Monday.
The storm was not without its
beauty, for the snow hung on the
branches of the trees and shrubbery |
nntil Tuesday morning. 1t was a
beautiful sight No great suffering
was reported in the vicinity of Mil
ford, but in some sections of the /
State the residents suffered much |
from the storm. A party of three |
small children were rescued from |
CCOHfinHeG on page y
Milford chronicle., 1928-02-03
GRAPE GROWERS met
AT CAESAR RODNEY
Producers Are Told That Della
ware Is AdvantageOusly LO-
Gated To Grow CroP.

One of the most interesting agri-
cultural meetings ever staged in
the central part of Kent county was
the one held at the Caesar Rodney
School building, between Camden
and Wyoming, on Thursday evening
of last week when over sixty COM
mercial grape growers were present
to hear the diseases and insects in
furious to vineyards discussed by
DR.. T. F. Manns, plant pathologist,
and DR.. H. L. Dozier, entomolOgist,
of the Delaware Experiment Station.
This meeting was the second of a
series of agricultural meetings
which had been planned by George
Butler, vocational agricultural in
structOr at the Caesar Rodney
School, in cooperation with Kent
County Agent Russell E. Wilson, for
the benefit of those who are en-
gagged in the specialized types of
farming. Upon both occasions the
growers in attendance showed an
exceptional interest in the subjects
that were presented for discussion. |
The first meeting for this year was
llGlu Ol JduudIy IL dL WHICH, Llule
the subject of apple scab was dis
cussed by DR.. ]. F. Adams, plant
pathOlogist of the University of Del
aware and the State Board of Agri- |
culture, to a group of orchardists.
Previous to his discussion of the |
prevalence and control of the flung |
GUS diseases which attack the vine |
yards in this area, DR.. Manns pre- !
sented few facts concerning the |
economic status of the commercial |
grape industry throughout the Uni
ted States, which showed that last |
year this country produced approx
mately 100000 tons of grapes. OF
this vast tonnage of grapes almost
100000 tons are produced in Cali
fOrnia which supplies per cent of
,he markets in the United States.
and "a per cent of the New England
rs per cent of the trade in
he North Central States, and 20
per cent throughout the West Cen
raj states.
In 1909 the California grape grow
ers received on the ACREAGE of SIS
| ton in the vineyard for their crop,
ind in 1919 the price advanced to
'65 per ton, while in 1926 the mar
[COntinHed on page q
Milford chronicle., 1928-02-03
HEIRS CONTEST WILL
OF SAMUEL H. ARMOUR
1t Is COntended Deceased Was, Tn
able To Make VIII Because Old Age

Proceedings were started at Do
yer last Wednesday before Register
of Wills James T. Burrows, to have
set aside the will of the late Samuel
H. Armour who died at his home in
Houston in June of last year.
The will is being contested by the
following children of the deceased: ::
Stephen G. Armour, George B. Ar
mOur, Samuel M. Armour and Pearl
A Messick.
The will was drawn before Magis-
trate William A Truitt, of Milford,
on December IL, 1922. 1t is the con-
tention that the deceased was un-
able to properly make a will be-
cause of his age. He was 50 years
old at the time of his death.
Only the testamentary witnesses
were heard Wednesday. The wit
nesses for those opposing the will
are to be heard at a date to be Sc
lected later. Following this second
hearing, the register of wills will
render a decision providing that
further hearings are not desired by
counsel on either side. Thomas C.
Frame, Jr., represents those oppos-
ing the will while those who want
the will to stand are represented by
Arley b. Magee.
Milford chronicle., 1928-02-03
DIR. J. N. RHOADS
EYE EXPERT DEAD
Invented Medical Instruments; Once
Resident OF Milford

DR.. John Neely Rhoads, long an
authority in ophthalmology, died at
his home in Philadelphia, Saturday
night of cerebral hemorrhage. He
was 6S years old and had been i'll a
week.
DR.. Rhoads had given up his prac-
tice during the last year, but served
in an advisory capacity to his son.
DR.. S. Creadick Rhoads. He was the
inventor of more than thirty-tiVe
medical instruments and appliances,
most of them optical instruments,
and had written many technical ar
ticles and a novel, ga Thunder
storm"
He was born in Montgomery Coun-
ty, Pa; and attended high school IN
Milford, Del, and the New Jersey
State Normal School. In 1885 he was
graduated from Jefferson Medical
College and afterward became a lee
+urer there, founding the childrens
C4inic.
Later connections were with the
Lying-in Hospital, st. Agnes Hospl-
tai and the genealogical staff at
jefferson. He was the only American
ever invited to address the Ophthal-
mological Society in London, visiting
there in 1925.
His collection of relics of Ameri-
can Indians, extensive and valuable,
was exhibited by the Historical So
ciety of which he was a member.
He was also a member of the Acad-
envy of the Fine Arts and of the Ma
tional Geographic Society. His In
dian collection, together with his
personal library, is bequeathed to
the University of Delaware.
Surviving him are ten children:
Mrs. John G. Miller, Mrs. Albert
Schneider and Mrs. Reeves Hart, of
Miami; Mrs. Rollin Johnson, of Tenn
pleton, Mass; Mrs. Charles Sladen,
Mrs. William label and Mrs. A. G.
Aruffo, of Philadelphia; John Neely,
Jr., of Miami; DR.. Samuel Creadick
Rhoads and Jesse D. RhOads, of
Philadelphia.
Milford chronicle., 1928-02-03
STATE MAY BUILD
$l,557,OOO WORTH
OF ROADS THIS YEAR
This Amount Of Bonds Can Be
Issued According To Highway
Department Budget.
ROAD DEBT $IO,53O,OOO
Gas Tax And Automobile Fees
Pay Carrying Charges And
Retiring Funds.

The budget of the State Highway
Department for this year shows an
excess of estimated revenue of $1O9,-
900, which will warrant bond issue
of $1,557, 900, for the building of
roads during the year. These fig
ures are given in a report submit
ted to the State Highway Commits
sion at a meeting held last Thurs
day by w. w. Mack, secretary to the
commission.
The statement shows that it will
require 1921, 1000 to finish uncom-
pleted contracts. There is a balance
of federal aid of $24O,225.34, of
which amount $17,381.S6 is unalot-
ted. The total receipts last year
amounted to $3,731, ,3OS.7O and ex-
penditures $3,479, ,54S.96.
The report also shows that the
total of highway bonds outstanding
is $1O,530,OOO with annual interest
and sinking fund charges of $715,-
$40 There was paid into the sink
ing fund for the amortization of
bonds, $1,4O9,3OO.
The income from registration of
automobiles, gasoline tax, police
fines and Federal aid from 1917 to
1927, inclusive, follows: Registra-
ton fees, $5,3O5,O25; gasoline tax,
since 1928, $1,75S,S54.59; police
fines from 1928 S173,S66.1S; federal
aid from 1919 to 1927, $2,599, 1926.
Mr. Mack states in his report,
that during the past year, State
highway bonds, in the amount of
$750,000, were sold, the proceeds of
these sales together with State and
federal aid, and certain refunds and
amounted to ST.
S69, ,3O0.66. Expenditure for perman-
ent road construction during the |
year, totalled 9,00043, the diff |
ference between these amounts, |
$149, ,699.77, was paid out of the cur
rent revenues and surplus. By. de- |
ferring the sale of bonds until late |
in the year, substantial saving in |
was effected.
There was a surplus in January |
l, 1927, of $271 ,929.S9, available for |
secondary or permanent road con-
During the year there |
was expended of these funds, $780,
B23.4O for secondary road cOnstruc-
ton and, as previously stated, $149,-l
i99.7z for permanent road construc-
ton, the present balance available
for secondary roads being $234,256.-
II.
Legislation passed at the last ses-
sion of the General Assembly re-
Iuired the payment of the interest
On all outstanding county highway
bonds, from the revenues accredited
ICOntiBHed on Page y