davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1940-08-02
FIRES in STATE INCREASE

John B. Centrum, State Insurance
Commissioner, recently issued tables
showing the fire losses in the Mary
land counties for 1889 and the
causes of fires in 1889.
Mr.. Centrum stated: Despite the
increased activities on the part OF
the firemen and the State Insurance
Commissioner Office along fire pre-
vention lines, the number of fires in
Maryland continues to increase. We
are endeavoring to analyze the reas-
ons for this increase. Although the
number of fires rose from 3044 to
1884, the increase in property dam
age was only $160,571.01 which
would indicate increased efficiency
on the part of the volunteer firemen.
Furnace, boilers and their pipes head
the list with TAT fires. Matches and
smoking, resulted in 443 fires for
1889. Lightning played big part,
resulting in 405 fires. Chimneys,
fiues, cupolas and stacks overhead
ed resulted in 436 fires"
at is hoped that during 1910 with
the increased cooperation between
the Insurance Department and the
volunteer firemen, the number of
fires in Maryland can be materially
cut down and property loss reduced"
The report shows the number OF
fires in Cecil county in 1898 were
"a, and in 1889 there were 11S fires
in the county, an increase of "a. The
amount Of loss paid in 1888 in the
county was $54,O32.27; in 1889 it
was $74,S91.15.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1940-08-02
Hare Runs Circles, Then
Gives Hounds the SIip

The story of European hare
which played rings around the
rosy" with pursuing beagles is told
by William H. Bennett in a recent
issue of the Canadian Field Natur-
alist.
"An interesting experience which
happened one winter in the Caledon
Hills Of Ontario was the loss of a
hare in a cedar swamp" says Ben
nett. "After about an hours run
over billy country, the hare had
entered the swamp and immediate
ly had proceeded to make a large
oval of about a mile in circumfer-
ence.
1.-THE hounds carried the line
about six times around and finally
came to a loss. Tracks in the snow
told the story. What had happened
was quite simple. The hare had
completed the oval three times and
was part way around for the fourth
lap when, with bound, it had left
the oval and waved farewell for
parts unknown. The hounds had
continued to run the oval until all
scent had been lost.
"Time and again when a hare
had been run for three hours or so
and was beginning to tire, another
hare would come in from the side
and follow it. Invariably, after a
short time, it would become aware
of its plight and leave the trail of
it's weary neighbor, What would the
hounds do? They almost always fol-
lowed the newcomer, and the tired
hare escaped.
"Some days we would travel 10
or 20 miles in nearly straight line.
because hare running in big cir
Gle would pass on its trail to another
hare at the extreme of its territory;
and the same thing would happen
repeatedly, one hare after another, +"
says Bennett.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1940-08-02

In order to Danish any possible mis-
conceptions that may exist in the
minds of the voters concerning the
Constitutional Amendment authorized
by the 1889 session of the Legislature
for submission to the electorate in No
vember, Reuben Oppenheimer, General
Chairman, and w. Clinton McSherry,
Frederick attorney, State Chairman
of the Non-Partisan Citizens Commit
tee for the Adoption of the Peoples
Court Amendment, has issued the fol-
lowing joint statement:
"Chapter 1853 of the Acts Of 1889
makes a real court out of the Peo-
pies Court of Baltimore City, presided
over by three judges whose terms of
office, in the first instance, are for
two, four and six years, respectively,
and who thereafter hold Office for a
term Of eight years. After their in
itial term, each judge can run for cleo
ton or reelection for full term of
eight years. Each judge will run
against his own record. He will not
have to go through any party pri-
mary, and his name will go on the
ballot with no party designation and
with no opposing candidate, so that
the voters cast their votes for or
against his continuance in office on
the record he has made.
"The Amendment eliminates politics
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1940-08-02
Tree Can't Hide Age

A woman's age may be her secret,
but any good dendochronologist can
date a tree, says an article in the
Field Museum News.
Dendochronology, or tree ring
chronology, has been used by DR..
Paul S. Martin, chief curator of an
thropology at the museum, during
archaeological expeditions in Colo
RADIO and New Mexico.
Basis of the science is the fact
that trees add a ring for each year
of growth. Rings vary according
to the moisture supplied to the tree
by rain and snow. Wet years pro-
duce broad rings; dry years, mar
row rings.
By careful study Of hundreds Of
trees a graph Of weather conditions
for more than 1900 years has been
worked out. When log beams are
found in ancient ruins, comparison
of the rings with the mastergraph
will show what year the beam was
cut.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1940-08-02
Swiss Navy, a Kitchenette

Wearied of answering questions
about a barrel-like structure they
are building in one Of the American
Airline hangers at LaGuardia field,
New York, several airplane me-
chanics posted sign over 1t read
ing:
"Mock-up for submarine Of Swiss
Navy"
The authors of the sign enjoyed
the joke thoroughly although they
found that they had more questions
to answer than before because Of
the term "mock-up," which is avia-
ton slang for form or pattern.
What the men are doing is build
ing an experimental model of a new
Douglas transport in which it is
hoped meals can be cooked. At
present meals served in the air are
prepared on the ground.
"We're just trying to make all our
mistakes beforehand" N. K. Will
son, supervisor of passenger serv-
ices for the airline company, ex-
planned, when asked about the
model.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1940-08-02
FsA in SAFETY DRIVE

Active in the drive for prevention
of accidents is the Farm Security
Administration of the Department
of Agriculture, with field men work
ing with all families on the Farm
Security program to reduce acct
dents on farms. They survey each
farm, locate hazards, and warn the
farm families about them. They dis
cuss safety practices and point out
unsafe handling of machinery, home
accident prevention, and safe hand
ling of animals.
In industry, accidental deaths have
been reduced greatly by education
and safeguards. Farm fatalities still
number about 4,400 a. year. The
country's total cash loss from acct
dents, including death, injury, loss
of time, etc., has been estimated at
21s billion dollars annually, with
from 81 percent to 35 percent OF
this loss on the farms.
Farm Security officials decided to
add the safety program to the agen-
cy's activities after finding that
accidents constitute one of the large
"1eaks" in farm income. They point
out that many costly accidents are
due to carelessness or thoughtless-
ness, and could be avoided. An old
ladder likely to break, or condi-
ton in the home that could cause a
fall is often overlooked. Most acct
dental injuries in the home result
from conditions which can be rem
edied easily.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1940-08-02

THE average American citizen is
= a canny individual. He may be-
lieve for little while what he's told
by the propagandists, but pretty
soon he gets to thinking things over.
That's just about what is happen
ing to the alcohol question. John @.
Public has heard from every propa-
ganda source about what rereal has
done to boost America out of the
depression. But when he starts real
i2ing that he has spent mole for
liquor (Which is money thrown down
the sink as far as any net economic
benefit is concerned) than he has
for government relief, he ges to
wondering about it.
On Jan. l, 1910, John Q. Public's
tippling had cost him SIS, Sc. 500, Oj2.
exceeding the total spent for relief
by 10 billion dollars and far exceed
ing the 10000, 100000 increase in
the national debt since 1882.
When the indirect costs of drink
:ng alcohol are figured, John @.
Public's schnapps have just about
cqualled the national debt. All told
these costs reached $33 1884, sos, 062
on Jan. l, 1899.
With all this money paid out it
dismayed John @. to find out there
wasn't much consolation on the
credit side of the ledger.
Included in the gross costs of bot
tied spirits and beer from 1889
we're public revenues totaling 81, 4O8,-
$3.50, less than IS per cent of the
total drink bill. The liquor indus
try paid John @. an estimated five
billion dollars in wages, 1,700, 000,-
900 for raw materials, and half
billion for transportation costs. and
miscellaneous, a total return of $l2,-
2OO,OOO,OOO.
In addition to swelling the liquor
industry's Golfers, John @. Public
when he drinks is contributing heav-
lily to the Is billion dollar annual
crime bill each time he buys drink.
His contribution to crime cost is
based on the estimate that liquor is
responsible for 16 per cent of the
annual crime bill. To avoid over
statement, this is per cent has been
charged against liquor only for 1885,
SO with an average of less than half
that total figure for 1933-35.
Looking at these colossal totals,
John @. has started scratching his
head and wondering if maybe he
isn't paying too big a price for his
liquor in alcohol-bred hospitaliza-
ton, in broken homes, in disease,
in poverty, in highway deaths, in
many social evils, lowered efficien-
cy, and in actual cash.
sponsored by W. c. 7. UJ
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1940-08-02
GRASS HUMBLE BUT MIGHTY

1t is only recognizing the truth
to say that in the past we have been
lured by the Delilah of profits to
destroy recklessly the grass cover
ing of the soil. We have not under
stood what grass means as source
of strength for agriculture. We are
only now beginning to understand.
Millions of our people today are tree
conscious but as yet only few are
grass conscious. A tree is easily seen;
we think of it as an individual thing.
A grass plant is small and humble,
lost in the multitude, and unnoticed.
Hardly one person in a hundred
thousand realizes what is going on
in the growth of grass. But, for pro-
lection of the soil, grass is just as
important as trees--and for build
ing deep soil, rich in humus, hold
ing water like a sponge, it is much
more important.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1940-08-02
CONDITIONS INCREASE INTER-
EST in COOPERATIVE
INSTITUTE

Interest in the first annual Co
operative Institute, which will be
held at the University of Maryland
on August 10 to Is, has been greatly
increased by the changing economic
conditions and the new problems
confronting all lines of business, in
Guiding cooperative marketing organ
izations, according to DR.. T. B.
Symons, Director of the Extension
Service.
Farmers are certain to encounter
new, and probably difficult, pro-
blems in marketing some of their
products and in purchasing the need
ed farm supplies. There are in Mary
land some fifty organizations selv-
ing farmers in the sale of their pro-
ducts and the purchase of materials
required on their farms. The Cooper
alive Institute is sponsored, DR.. Sy-
mons states, by the cooperatives and
the University, with view to pro-
viding an opportunity for obtaining
up-to-the- minute information and
ideas from those who have made
outstanding successes in that field.
1t is expected that approximately
800 will attend the three-day ses-
sion, and that members of boards of
directors, managers, and employees
of many Maryland cooperative or
CARNATIONS will be present, as we'll
as those who are leaders or espec-
tally interested in farmers cooper
atives.
The program provides for discus
sion by recognized authorities such
practical questions as the respon-
sibilities of members, of managers,
and of directors of cooperatives;
building patronage; sound cooper
alive records and accounts; retail
credit policies; and many others.
Among the more general topics are:
"Can Cost of Distribution Be Low
ered?"; "Cooperatives and the Pub
lic"; "The Challenge of Under-Con-
sumption"
Moderate rates have been arrang-
ed for meals and lodging, and furth-
err information can be obtained from
the University of Maryland Extern
sion Service.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1940-08-02
What The Peoples Court Amendment Provides
w. Clinton McSherry, State Chairman Of NonP Partisan
Committee Issues Statement

from the election of judges and from
the appointment of constables and
clerks. The constables and clerks are
placed under the classified City Serv-
ice of Baltimore. The Chief Con-
stable is given the right and duty to
supervise and direct the work of other
constables and clerks. The number
of constables and clerks will be deter
mined by the volume of business to be
done and not by the number of wards
in the city.
"The Amendment empowers the
Legislature to establish similar Peo-
pies Courts in other cities or in the
counties of the State. AS practical
matter, this means that any county
or any city in the State which desires
to have such Peoples Court can,
through it's delegation in the State
Legislature, obtain the passage of
local Act establishing such a court.
The Amendment does not require the
establishment of Peoples Court in
any city or county outside of Balti-
more City, but, in effect, gives them
the option to obtain such court if
they want it. The establishment of
the new Peoples Court of Baltimore
City by the Amendment does not i'm
pose any expense or taxes of any sort
upon either the State or any county"
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1940-08-02
Women Run Hospitals

For many year, women have
claimed as their own the high execu-
tive positions in the profession Of
hospital administration.
DR.. Malcolm T. MacEachern, di-
rector of the American College Of
Surgeons, pointed this out recently.
"The reason for this" said DR..
MacEachern, sis the close relation
ship between nursing and hospital
administration. Nurse executives
are concerned with the problems of
hospital administration and thus are
prepared for the duties Of hospital
management"
The high percentage Of women in
the profession, believes Miss Nellie
G. Brown. superintendent Of Ball
Memorial hospital, Muncie, Ind,
the famed "Middletown," Is due to
women who started as head nurses
in the small hospitals, which total
rs per cent of the nations general
hospitals. A "small" hospital is one
which has fewer than 100 beds.
"Often, a superintendent of one of
the smaller hospitals is simply a
head nurse with some idea of menu
making, X-ray and the workings of
the laboratory" said Miss Brown.
I'm time, the small place becomes
larger. Her own abilities increase
and she finds herself an important
administrator Of a thriving hos
pital."
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1940-08-02
TRAFFIC OFFENDERS FACE RE-
VOCATION OF THEIR
LICENSES.

Among a number of steps recon-
mended by Governor Herbert R.
O'Conor's Maryland Traffic Safety
Committee looking towards reduc-
ton in traffic fatalities in the State,
immediate interest centers around
the announcement from the Com
missioner of Motor Vehicles of a
plan of denomination and possible
revocation of license, for drivers
who are involved in serious acct
dents.
In making the recommendation to
Commissioner Elgin as part of the
Committees enforcement program,
A. Burton Metzger. Chairman Of
the Enforcement Committee, de-
clared TOO many careless and in
different drivers are now operating
on our highways, and If arrest,
fines and occasional Imprisonment
fail to deter this type of operator,
then he must be removed from the
roads for the safety of others.
IAN intensive patrol of accident
reducing roads Is now being made
in order to render the highways safe
tor those who use them in their
daily pursuits. Rigid enforcement OF
the law is necessary to apprehend
those individuals, who by some Pc
culiar complex think that traffic
laws are made only for the other
fellow and not for them"
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1940-08-02

American farmers can make good
use of eroding hillsides by growing
more trees and shurbs that will
thrive without ordinary cultivation
and yield crops other than timber.
Even where commercial varieties do
not thrive, some old-fashioned va
rieties have the vigor to grow and
yield fruit acceptable for home use,
for jams and buffers, and for feed.
Many wild fruit plants, such as up
land BURBERRY, help control erosion
and can be improved for domestic
use by selection. In favorable eli
mates holly and laurel grow on
rough lands and annual cuttings
sell well as Christmas green's.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1940-08-02

Strangers to the Conowingo scene,
vending their way across the Susque-
hanna on u. S. Route No. /, need
no longer wonder what It's all
about" A program Of Identification,
recently completed, including massive
food-lighted roadway signs for each
approach, anticipates for the speed
ing tourist what lies Immediately
ahead. Econ signs affixed to the roof
of Turbine Hall, on the dam itself,
lend further identification.
The approach signs, located stra-
logically within quarter Of a mile
Of the dam on either side, are so
feet In length, with a height Of IA
feet, 6 inches. They carry a design
in color that easily attracts the atten-
ton of the daylight tourist while at
night a battery of 300-watt lamps
provides Aood-llghtlng Of high In
tensity.
Facing the easterly approach Il
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1940-08-02
THE TH1RTY.TH1RD PRESIDENT
BY j. E. Jones

Washington, D. c., July--The peo-
pie of the United States will devote
great deal of time and measure
less conversation in the next three
months to the quadrennial problems
relating to electing the thirty-third
President of the United States.
One phase of Presidential elections
is that voters seem to agree with
the politicians each four years that
"this is the most important cleo
tion," and that it is 'again necessary
to save America"
In the first election in this Re-
public each elector voted for two
candidates for President, and at that
time George Washington received
So electoral votes to "a electoral
votes for John Adams. The Elector-
al College named the person receiv-
ing the largest number of electoral
votes as President, while the candi-
date in second place was chosen for
Vice-President That's the way
Washington and Adams started out.
But Saint Thomas Jefferson had
10 Republican votes in the Electoral
College and Sinner Aaron Burr had
70 votes. That threw the election
into the House of Representatives
where 10 States voted for Jefferson,
and 4 States for Burr.
In the Chicago Convention the
other day Vice-Presidential candi-
dates were so numerous that White
House correspondent news-casted
the suggestion that the Government
of the United States really ought to
step-up in line with the banks, and
name a lot of Independents in
stead of limiting the choice to only
one favorite of the Convention.
Be it remembered, that in this
midsummer month there are loud
threats of a ''mud-slinging cam
paign." Senator Barley as Chair
man of the Chicago Convention re-
ferred to the Republican "Kilowatt
convention" and next day in Wash
ington some of the newspapermen
who hadn't gone to Chicago spoke
of the Democratic gathering as the
"Job-holders convention. Well,
that's all useless and "obsolete"
stuff. After more than century and
half of struggle ito form more
perfect Union, establish justice, in
sure domestic tranquility, provide
for the common defense, promote
the general welfare, and secure the
blessings of liberty to ourselves and
our posterity," the fact should be
recognized that the two old parties
have gone to bat on the genuine
issue which is: Shall the New Deal
be approved by the voters and con-
tinued for another four years, or
shall it be replaced by policies of the
Republican Party?
One of the grand old fathers Of
this Nation was Henry Clay, and he
declared in the sunset of his life,
ninety years ago, II would rather be
right than be President. That is good
philosophy today, which every Amer
lean voter might take home to him
self and recast in this individual
platform: 81 would rather be right
than be mental slave to either one
of the old political parties"
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1940-08-02

the larger Of two Econ signs, which
has an overall length Of 65 feet and
a height Of u feet. Its letters range
from FIVE and one-half to six and one
half feet in height. A smaller Econ
is installed at the official entrance to
the development on the westerly
side. Both carry the legend-"Cono-
wingo Hydro-Electric Plant"
"By far the most attractive night
view Of the Conowingo development
is from the highway on the easterly
side" according to ]. A. Purcell,
General Manager of the Conowingo
Power Company. From an ufi-
usually high elevation, the traveller
gets a sweeping, long-range vision of
a panorama embracing the green Of
the Econ, the bright red illumination
on the face Of the dam and ribbon
Of incandescent lights marking the
crest of the dam for its entire length.
The effect is one Of vivid color and
exceptional life and beauty"
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1940-08-02

In New York City. 1t has been
announced that the four city-run col
leges would limit enrolment of al-
lens to those who themselves or
through their parents, have taken
out first naturalization papers. Over
crowding, not anti-Fifth Column
protection, is the reason given.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1940-08-02
Egg State

Pennsylvania ranks first in the
United States in the dollar value of
it's egg crop and second in the num-
Der of eggs produced, the Pennsyl-
vania Chain Store council reported
in opening a .producer-consumer
campaign to move heavy surplus
of eggs into consumption in behalf
of the states sos, 100000 poultry in
dustry.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1940-08-02

Coyotes on the outskirts of Spo-
kane are increasing, according to
Floyd Priest, trapper and cattle
man. Last winter Priest bagged
214 of the animals, % of which he
got within six miles Of the city linn
its. Priest has been trapping for
years and said his catches close to
the city were not so good as a decade
ago.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1940-08-02

The British Farmers Union can
take German bombs with British
fortitude, but souvenir hunters are
getting on the unions nerves. One
farmer member reported, at a pro-
test meeting, that souvenir collect
ors, rushing for bomb fragments,
had trampled down far more grain
than the bomb had destroyed.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1940-08-02

The acreage of barley in Mary
land continues in increase, being
estimated at 10000 acres this year
compared with $4,000 acres last
year and an average of $1,000 acres
from 1929-38.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1940-08-02

The condition of apples in Mary
land on July l was above that of a
year ago and above the average. An
excellent peach crop is in prospect.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1940-08-02

Politicians are people who stop
to hold their ears to the ground and
thus let the people get six months
ahead.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1940-08-02

The United States, to improve its
war bases, highways, ETC., is import
ing hydraulic cement at speed OF
1900 pounds minute.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1940-08-02
NATIONAL SECURITY

Recent advices from Washington
indicate that contracts for building
military defenses, and for increas-
ing the size of the Army and Navy
have reached costs far above bill
lion dollars--maybe it will be 2 bill
lion before you read this item.
The purchasing departments OF
The Army and Navy are not placing
all their contracts with large indus
tries, and it is perfectly legitimate
ambition for small business enter
prises to seek contracts for supplies,
products and materials wanted by
the Government. The Department
of Commerce, at Washington, has
issued a business mans guide
book" which explains the needs OF
Government preparedness. Any per-
son who wants a copy of this guide
book should write to the Department
at Washington, and the bulletin will
be sent to them upon request.