davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1939-07-20
POSTAL RECEIPTS
SET new MARK
Record Year With Sales of
S25,737 Reported by
Post Office
Aggregate Receipts Show Gain
For Fifth Consecutive
Year Here

Postal receipts in Bluffton reached
a new-all-time high during the last
fiscal year, when the local office tran
sacted business amounting to $685.
1878.
The aggregate represented a gain
of $1,356.68 over the preceding year
when the previous high.mark of $24,-
5000 was establishzd. 1t marked
fifth consecutive year in which postal
receipts have shown a gain since
Postmaster Ed r. Reichenbach took
office in 1884.
Sales were heaviest in the second
quarter of the last fiscal year, Post.
master Reichenbach reported. This
represents the months of October
November and December, a period in
which receipts aggregated $7,720.06.
The complete breakdown was as fol
lows: First quarter, S5,442.73; Sec
ond quarter, $7,72O.06; third quarter
$6,761.64; and fourth quarter $5,812.-
|95.
That the gain in receipts is contin-
uing was seen in the postmaster's re-
port that June, 1889, the last month
included in the fiscal report, showed
a gain of $190.16 over June in the
preceding year. This years receipts
in June aggregated S1,913.97, ano
those of last June $1,723.81.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1939-07-20
AL ASK A
Land of Midnight Sun-Glacers Bathing Beaches-Busy
Industrial Centers and Ghost Towns-Visted by
Newspaper Publishers
Bg B. F. BrERY

Alaska strange land of contra
dictions-land of the midnight sun
of glaciers and bathing beaches-of
thriving industrial cities and ghost
towns, gaunt specters of the day of
the '98 gold rush--a land abounding
in fish, game, minerals, a veritable
treasure trove of natural resources
which has only in comparatively re-
cent years been appreciated by the
public which previously thought of it
as barren, inhospitable and desc
late region.
This was the country in which
Mrs. Biery and myself were privi-
legged to visit during the past month
with members of the National Edi-
torial association comprising some
$50 newspaper publishers and their
wives. The trip, twenty-three day
tour, covered more than 10000 miles.
The special invitation for the COM
bined cruise and convention to Alas
ka was extended to the National
Editorial Association at their annual
convention at Sulphur Springs, West
Virginia, last year by the newspaper
men and officials of Alaska. The in
vitation was heartily endorsed by
Alaska's governor, ]. w. Troy.
Continued on page q
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1939-07-20
Announce Addition
To College Faculty

DR.. M. c. Lehman, instructor at
Goshen college, Goshen, Ind, for sew
eral years, will be member of the
Bluffton college faculty this fall, it
was announced last week by the col
lege administrative office.
DR.. Lehman will serve as professor
of philosophy and psychology, and
in addition may teach in the depart
ment of Biblical education.
DR.. Lehman received his Ph. d
degree from Yale university, with q
major in philosophy. His past ex-
perience also includes several years
as a missionary in India.
Two members of last years staff
already have left the college, it was
announced. Harvey Beidler has gone
to Celina as chief engineer of th'
municipal power plant, and Rev. G
T. Soldner is affiliated with an in
vestor's syndicate. -.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1939-07-20
Buttons City and Rural Car
riers Cover $4,000 Miles
In Twelve Months
Nearly Twenty Tons of Mail
Delivered Annually on
Buttons City Routes

Carriers on Buttons two postal
routes walk approximately 5000
miles year year to deliver nearly 20
tons of mail to residents of the town,
it was learned this week.
In addition to the distance COW
cred in town, mileaverage on the
two rural routes served from the
local post office is about $4,000 miles
every IL months.
In covering the two town routes
mailmen walk total distance of
about % miles daily. Two trips are
made each day with the exception
of Saturday when afternoon deliver
les are eliminated. Each carrier
walks about IA miles per day on
these two trips.
Computed on yearly basis Bluff
tons postmen trudge we'll over 5000
miles to deliver mail to patrons.
AVERAGE LOAD 80 POUNDS
The average load of mail taken
from the post office by Buttons
carriers is seldom less than 80
pounds per bag, and the weight is
much greater during the Christmas
season.
In a year it is estimated the two
Continued on page 81
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1939-07-20
Births

Mr.. and Mrs. Alfred Hart of Pan
dora are the parents of a son born
at the Community hospital, Thurs
day.
Announcement has been made of
the birth of a son James Harry to
Mr.. and Mrs. Harry Whittemore of
Birmingham, Mich, Saturday. Mrs.
Whittemore will be remembered as
formerly Miss Gladys Devier of this
place.
Announcement is made of the
birth of a son Samuel, to Mr.. and
Mrs. Erwin Schrag of Pretty Prai-
RE, Kansas, Friday. Mrs. Schrag
was formerly Miss Frances Mussel-
man, daughter of Mrs. S. NJ. Mus
selman formerly of Bluffton. Her
father, the late Rev. S. NJ. Mussel-
man was pastor of the First Men
MONTE church here for number OF
years.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1939-07-20
TOWNSHIP AGAIN
IS RELIEF UNIT
Four Cases Now i'm Richland,
Clerk of Board of Trustees
Reports
Total to be Cared for Expected
To be More Than Double
In Winter


After seven years of relief ad-
ministration that passed in turn thru
the hands of the federal government,
the state and the county, response
bility for the care of the INDECENT
came back again to the hands of
Richland township trustees last
week.
When the townships relief loae
was taken over by the trustees, they
found there were four cases fof
which they were to be responsible
according to N. w. Basinger, town
ship clerk.
This figure undoubtedly will rep
resent the low point of the year,
Basinger said. During winter months
relief cases are usually double or
triple this number. OF the four now
Continued on page 81
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1939-07-20
Hold Model AHpIane
Flight Contest SuHiday

About Is gasoline powered model
airplanes will compete in a Bluffton
district contest at p. m. next SUM-
day at the Homer Gratz farm, south
west of Bluffton.
Rubber powered smaller planes
also will be flown in the air show,
the first of its kind to be held here.
Description of the flights will be
made over an amplifying system.
Prizes to be awarded winners in
the contest have been made possible
through the cooperation of IL busi-
ness men sponsoring the air meet.
No charge will be made for those
wishing to view the events.
Bluffton has an aggressive group
of model airplane enthusiasts num-
bering more than 80 and there are
more gasoline powered planes in the
town than in either Lima or Find
lay, both of which are much larger.
The prize list, announced this
week by James Basinger, is as fol-
lows: First prize, Howard DGS gas
model kit; second prize, Comet Zip
per kit; third prize, Sevison coil;
fourth prize, pair of Volt wheels
fifth prize, Austin air timer.
Sponsors of the contest includes
Midway Fountain, Sidney's Drug
shop, Bixel Motor Sales, Kib's News
Stand, Fett's hardware, Steiner &
Huser, Lape's Dry Goods, Neu Art
Studio, Citizens National bank, Cred
ings hardware, and Basingers Fur
niture store.
Entrance in the contest is restrict
ed to residents of Bluffton or vicin-
ity. Marion Burkholder is is charge
of entries.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1939-07-20

Mishap Near Beayerdam Fatal
To Chicago Mother and
Her Daughter
Father In Bluffton HOSPITAL
After Car Crashes Into
Concrete Abutment

A Chicago mother and her 12-vear
OLD daughter met instant death at
z:3o o'clock last Friday afternoon
when the automobile in which they
We're riding crashed into concrete
abutment mile and one-half east Of
Beaverdam on the Lincoln highway.
Rose Rifkin, IL, was killed instant
ly and her mother, Mrs. BENJAMIN
Rifkin, 3S, died soon after, before she
could be moved.
Benjamin Rifkin, so husband and
father of the two victims, was serious
ly hurt and will be confined in the
Biuffton hospital for at least another
week with decorations on the head and
body and three fractured ribs.
Enroute Home
The mishap occurred on the Lincoln
highway, one-fourth mile east of the
Phillips school, six miles southwest
of Bluffton, as the family was return
ing to their home in Chicago after
visiting relatives in Philadelphia and
Newark, N. j., and viewing the New
York Worlds fair.
Rifkin, who was driving, is believed
to have lost control of the car, and
report by the state highway patrol
indicates the vehicle struck a guard
rail and skidded go feet before crash
ing into the concrete abutment of the
bridge.
Coroner Burt Hibbard reported that
State Highway Patrolman Charles
Cain stopped Rifkin about five miles
from where the crash occurred and
warned him to "slow down. This,
Cain said, had occurred only few
minutes before the fatal crash.
Car Demolished
After the mishap the car was turn
ed around and headed east, with the
right side demolished. All three oc-
copants were thrown from the vehicle.
Coroner Hibbard said Mrs. Rifkin
suffered a crushed chest and broken
right thigh. Her daughter received a
fractured skull, broken right jaw
and her left arm was severed, being
found in ditch almost 100 feet from
the automobile.
Bodies of the two victims were re-
moved to the Diller funeral home here
and then taken to Toledo and cremat-
ed at the Woodlawn cemetery Sunday.
The bodies were accompanied to To-
ledo by Mr.. and Mrs. Dave Stein, of
Philadelphia, Mrs. Rifkin's brother
and wife, and her sister and husband
of Newark, N. ].
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1939-07-20

Radio Interference? Radio Club
Here Will Help You Eliminate 1t

Radio interference = that pesky
trouble that arises in the most inter
esting part of your fayorite program,
may be eliminated If you will notify
the Bluffton Radio club which is
making campaign to eliminate in
reference caused by faulty electrical
connections.
The local radio club, consisting of
a group of amateurs, many of whom
could qualify as experts, has offered
its services without charge to elm
mate as far as possible interference
in Bluffton and vicinity.
Harold Solt, president of the Radio
club here has named Maynard
Geiger chairman of the committee to
handle this work and any radio, set
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1939-07-20
Former College
Students Married

Announcement has been made of
the wedding of Miss Margaret Ber-
ger of Amherst and Richard Thutt
of Elida, former Bluffton college
students.
The wedding took place at Am
herst, Saturday in the presence of
immidate families and close friends
The bride is graduate of Bluff
ton college in the class of 1886. Mr.
Thutt, a member of the same class
spent three years in college here
and then transferred to Ohio State
university where he was graduated
He is the son of DR.. and Mrs. B. F.
Thutt of Elida.
The couple will reside in Lima
where he is employed at the plant OF
the Solar Refining company.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1939-07-20
ShOU Pictures Here
OF HaIUaiian Islands

William Geiger, of Hawaii, form
erly of near Bluffton, who is spend
ing the summer here will show pic
lures of the islands at the First Men
MONTE church on Thursday night,
July 27 at 8:15 o'clock.
Showing of the pictures will be in
connection with a meeting of the
Mems Brotherhood of the church
and the public is invited.
Mr. and Mrs. Geiger who arrived
here last month will leave the first
week in August, returning to Hawaii
where he is an instructor in the
schools. Mrs. Geiger the former
Miss Magdalene Frankhouser of Dali
ton is Bluffton college graduate.
Preceding the showing of pictures,
members of the Mems Brotherhood
will enjoy hamburger fry at the
outdoor grill at the home of Paul
Diller on South Main street. :
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1939-07-20
Woman Badly Hurt In
Fall DOLUn StdirIUdy

Mrs. George Howe, of Tippe-
canoe City, was seriously injured
about one o'clock Saturday morning
when she fell down stairway at
her LONE.
In the mishap she suffered a pos
sible skull fracture, a broken collar
bone and body bruises, and her con-
difion is reported serious by attend
ants at Troy hospital to which
she was taken.
Mrs. Howe is the former Margaret
Kimmel, of this place, and her hus-
band, brother of Mayor Wilbur
Howe, is well known in Bluffton,
where he attended college.
After the Howe family had retired
for the night last Friday, Mr.. Howe
was awakened by crash, and upon
investigation he found his wife lying
semi-conscious at the foot of the
stairway.
Mrs. Howe is the mother of a
baby born May 25, and it is pre-
sumed she was walking to another
room where the child was sleeping
Perhaps not being fully awake she
may have made misstep anC
plunged down the stairway which Is
adjacent to the bedroom door.
Mr.. and Mrs. Homer Bracy, OF
this place, were called to the Howe
home following the accident, and re-
turned to Bluffton the first of the
week. Mrs. Bracy is sister Of
Mrs. Howe.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1939-07-20
MISSIONARY TO
SAIL FOR CHINA
Rev. ]. f. Steiner to Spend Day
With Pandora Relatives
EnrOute West
Will Return to Mission Station
On Island Recently Taken
Over by Japs

Returning to missionary service in
the war-torn island of Hainan, re-
Gently wrested from China by invad-
ing Japanese forces, Rev. j. F. Stein
er, we'll known in the Bluffton area
and a native of the Swiss Settlement
will sail for the Orient early in Aug
ust.
Rev. Steiner has been associated
with a Presbyterian mission on the
island for the last 25 years, but he
and his family were forced to return
to the United States about year age
because of the fierceness of the fight
ing as Japanese battled to take Hal
nan from the Chinese.
On Febrauary 10 the Japanese
gained control of the island, and al
tho considerable damage was report
ed to have been done the mission
buildings escaped harm.
During the last year Rev. Steiner
and family have made their home il
Wooster, where Mrs. Steiner and dau
ghters, Geneva and Betty, expect tt
stay while Rev. Steiner returns tc
China.
Enroute west, Rev. Steiner will stoE
off at Pandora on August 5 to visit
his brother-in-law, Rev. Armin c
Steiner. On August he will leave
Lima by rail enroute to Chicago anc
San Francisco.
He will sail on the steamer, Presi-
dent Pierce, on August IL, enrouts
for Hainan unless further fighting
breaks out there in the meantime.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1939-07-20
SCHOOL DEADLOCK
STILL UNBROKEN
Action to be Taken by Orange
Group After Rejection of
Compromise"
Conference to be Held with
Findlay Attorney; Case
May Go to Court

With the Orange township school
situation still deadlocked and no
compromise in sight, the controversy
appeared the first of the week to be
heading for the courts.
This was the situation as group
of Orange township residents seek
ing transfer of their territory from
the Union township INT. Cory)
school district to Bluffton viewed the
matter after the Hancock county
board of education had failed to
take action at its meeting in
Findlay, Saturday, relative to trans
fer of the territory.
Leaders of the Orange township
group which have been at odds with
the county board of education stated
that a meeting will be held this
week with Attorney A. G. Fuller of
FindIay when course of action
would be determined.
In Previous School Case
Attorney Fuller, retained as legal
counsel by the Orange township pro-
testers, previously represented a
group of Marion township residents
in Hancock county whose suit to
compel the county board of educa-
tion to transfer portions of that
township to the Findlay school dis
trict was recently upheld by the
Ohio Supreme court.
Atty. Fuller, together with Jesse
Anderson and a number of other
Orange township residents seeking
the transfer of territory to Bluffton
We're present at the meeting of the
county board in Findlay, Saturday.
Following the meeting it was re-
ported that Attorney Fuller is max
ing a detailed study of the case
pending a conference the latter part
of this week.
At the meeting of the county
board Anderson, together with other
Orange township associates sought a
revivor of action on petition denied
by the board in May 1888. The
petition has sought the transfer of
nearly six square miles of Orange
Continued on page 81
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1939-07-20

owner troubled with this type in
reference is invited to notify Geiger
or any member of the club or drop
postal card addressed to the club.
The municipal electric light plant
is cooperating with the radio club
in the project and the Board of Pub
lie Affairs has loaned the club a di-
rectional type radio receiver to To-
cate the source of interference which
has recently reached major proper
tions.
Any interference found in city
lines will be corrected by the muni-
cipaI plant here. If interference is
caused by privately owned equip
ment recommendations will be made
to the owner as to how it may be
corrected.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1939-07-20
Argentine Youth At
Meter Plant Here

Teo DeGrand Pre-, of Buenos Aires,
Argentina, twenty-year-old son of T.
C. DeGrand Pre-, sales representative
for The Triplett Electrical Instru-
ment Co. in Argentina and Brazil,
arrived in Bluffton last week to work
at the plant of the company for a
short time.
After obtaining working knowl-
edge of the products of the concern
he will return to South America
where he will be associated with his
father in furthering the sale of
Bluffton-made instruments and test
ers.
He was accompanied here last
week by his father, who has been in
Bluffton on several previous occa-
sions. Mr.. DeGrand Pre-, senior, also
expects to visit in Bluffton again
before returning to the southern
continent.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1939-07-20
Stand in Bluffton District Ter
Days to Two Weeks Ahead
of Schedule
Corn Cutting will Start Next
Month on Farms i'm North
western Ohio

A bumper corn crop from ten days
to two weeks ahead of the usual grow.
ing schedule, is maturing in the Bluff
ton district. The yield this year is
Title for the largest wheat yield
per acre claimed last week by
Orange township goes to Rich
land township this week. Melvin
HiIty, residing west of Bluffton
turned in yield of 81 bushels
per acre, topping the seasons
previous high mark of 33 bushels.
expected to be equal to last years
banner crop, according to present
prospects.
With the corn now in tassel and
shooting ears" farmers here are con-
fidently predicting that corn cutting
Continued on page 81
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1939-07-20
Kohl Named State
Fair Sheep Judge

Hiram Kohl, residing north of
Bluffton has been named one of the
Judges of sheep exhibits at the Ohio
State fair this summer. He will
Judge exhibits in the Merino class.
Kohl is one of the leading breed
ers of Merino sheep and has for
many years been an exhibitor in
state and county fairs. He has also
exported breeding stock to South
American sheep raisers.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1939-07-20
Orphans Home Band
To Present Concert

Appearing in an evening concert,
a band from the orphans home main
tanned in Ft Wayne by the Reformed
and Evangelical churches will play
on the Emanuel's Reformed church
grounds at p. III. Thursday Of
of next week.
The band will be presented here
under auspices of the Brotherhood
of the st. Johns and Emanuel's
churches. Members of the congre-
cations of both churches are invited
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1939-07-20
Sons Fly Plane Here To Get
Mother Visiting In Orange Twp

the Stratton home the Morrison bro
theirs few quite low over the neigh
borhood and residents of the district
were fearful that the airship was in
difficulty and might crash.
Unable to sight suitable landing
field, the brothers flew to Findlay
where they left their plane at the
air port and came to the Stratton
home by automobile.
On the following day they took
their mother to Findlay, and she
went by plane with them to Salem
ILL.,, where they are engaged in drill.
ing for OIL From Salem Mrs. Nor.
rison went on to her home in Tulsa
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1939-07-20

An airplane fight made by two
Illinois brothers to see their mother
who was visiting in Orange town
ship led residents of that area to
think the plane was in trouble and
was in danger of crashing, last
Thursday evening.
Myron and Denzel Morrison, of
Salem, H., were the co-pilots of the
plane, which they flew here to visit
their mother, Mrs. Harry Morrison,
of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Mrs. Morri-
son was guest at the home of her
brother, Myron Stratton, in Orange
township.
In seeking landing place near
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1939-07-20
ENRoUTE HOME

Supt. and Mrs. A. j. B. Longs
dorf, Misses Levada Balmer and
Sevila Bixel and Sidney .Stettler,
teachers in the Bluffton schools, are
expected to return the latter part of
this week from motor trip to
California.
They left the latter part of June
for San Francisco where they atend-
ed the National Education associa-
ton convention, visited the fair and
other points of interest enroute.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1939-07-20
LEAVES FOR ARKANSAS

Chas. F. Miller of South Main
street who was recently employed by
the Bigley Electric company of Find
lay left Thursday morning for
Blytheville, Ark, where the Findlay
firm is constructing a rural electrifi-
cation project.
They also have three other REA
projects under construction in that
part of the country.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1939-07-20
Lions Hear Talk
On Photography

Amateur photography, its phenom-
email rise and significance were dis
cussed by Prof. H. j. Singer of
Bowling Green university in an
after-dinner address before the
Lions club here Tuesday night at
the Walnut grill.
The meeting was first in the new
year of the Lions club and the in
coming president Fred Gettles out
lined policies and objectives of the
organization.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1939-07-20
Will Teach In City
Schools At Marion

Miss Mae Belle Amstutz of this
place has been employed as home
economics instructor in the schools
at Marion, according to word re-
ceived here from c. A. Hudson,
superintendent of that place.
Miss Amstutz has resigned her
position at Eden Centralized school,
Upper Sandusky, where she has been
employed since graduating from Ohio
State university two years ago.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1939-07-20
Union Services
Sunday Evening

Union services will be held at the
st. Johns Reformed church, Sun
day night at 1880 o'clock, it is an
nounced by the Bluffton Ministerial
association. The sermon will be de-
livered by Rev. J. A. Weed of the
Methodist church.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1939-07-20
Friday Night Coolest July
Weather Here In q Years

You probably were cold last Fri
day night--so was everyone else.
The reason was that it was the
coldest July weather in twenty-one
years. The minimum temperature
reading of 48 degrees equalled the
record for July cold weather set in
1918.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1939-07-20
Band Concert On
Sunday Afternoon

An open air band concert will be
given on the Bluffton college campus
Sunday afternoon at $3.50 o'clock.
The band directed by Prof. Sidney
Hauenstein will consist of about 35
members and is composed of college
and high school students ard others
home for the summer vacation. The
public is invited.