davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1942-09-03
Business Peak was in 1913;
Declined Steadily Until
Elimination in 1882
History of Ohio Interurban
System Hobby of John kel-
ler, B. c. Graduate

With arrangements being made TO
remove the rails of the abandoned
Western Ohio interurban line run
ming the length of Buttons Main
street, residents here recall the sew
eral decades when the electric pas
senger car was a fiourishing insti-
tuition furnishing most of the trans
portation needs of the district.
John Keller, Bluffton college grad
uate in the class of 1881 and resi-
dent of Lima, probably knows more
about the interurban railroads OF
Ohio than anyone else, according te
an account appearing recently in the
Cleveland Plain Dealer.
LURE OF RAILRoADING
Following his graduation here kel
Ter attended Garrett Biblical lnsti-
tute at Evanston, ILL.,, but the lure
of railroading was too strong anc
he is now passenger brakeman or
the st. Louis train running thru
BIuffton nightly at 1922 o'clock. He
is married to the former Charlotte
Basinger, daughter of Mr.. and Mrs
d. J. Basinger, west of town.
Keller started his interest in rail-
roading at very early age and
students here recall that his room
at Lincoln hall was profuse with
pictures of engines and cars and
model engines, cars, tracks and
equipment.
He has made a hobby of collecting
material on the history of the cleo
tric interurban and has hundreds of
pictures and from back copies of the
Electric Railway Journal has amass-
ed endless statistics, charts, records
of management operating procedure,
ownership and litigation.
EXTENSIVE INFORMATION
He knows all about the capital in
vestment of the roads, the individu-
ais who organized them, the engin-
eers who designed them, crews who
handled them. There, seemingly, is
almost nothing that he does not know
about them.
Every Bluffton resident has many
pleasant memories about the old
Western Ohio interurban cars rumb-
ling through the center of the Main
street. These cars were as integral
a part of the warp and woof of life
here as any other institution in the
community.
All, except the VERY young, re
member riding the Western Ohio t,
Lima or Findlay for days outini
or shopping. We took them for Sun
day school picnics and all day ex
cursions to various nearby points o
interest the big cars rumbling alon,
at what seemed terrific speed, tn
weeds along the track swaying il
the wake of the car.
SPEEDING CARS
What a thrill it used to be t
stand on the back platform of tn
speeding car and see the rails swal
lowed up in the distance.
The Bluffton News files of bacl
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1942-09-03
Modern Hybrid White Corn
BY COL FAM WHITE KING,
Research Director of Archaeology
OF Kentucky a.

How many pounds Of synthetic
rubber will a bushel of corn pro-
duce? No two authorities seem to
agree. The oil industry claims con-
siderably more corn must be used to
produce grain alcohol and from 1t
synthetic rubber or butadiene than
the Farm Bloc estimates. The Dis
tillers' Association states that
thousand gallons Of high proof alco-
hol will produce a ton of butadiene.
Bernard M. Baruch has been ap-
pointed Chairman by the President
OF a committee to recommend the
best program to produce synthetic
rubber for the war effort since the
Presidents veto of the grain-rubber
bill. 1t is hoped that much OF the
confusion and varying estimates can
be eliminated as to the best method,
product, quantities and means Of
producing rubber. The public is in
serested first in securing a perma-
acnt and immediate source of rub
scr for the war effort, next for their
ears, vehicles and private uses, and
are not particularly interested in
The controversy between the Farm
Bloc and the oil industry in their
efforts to become the principal
source of this vital product, except
that the issue become more clarified
snd immediate results be obtained.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1942-09-03
Former Student Here
In u. s. Naval Reserve

Carl Vogelgesang, of Lima, stu
dent at Bluffton college 10 years
ago, was sworn into the Naval Re-
serve as lieutenant, junior grade,
on Monday. He will report Sept. 10
at Newport, r. /.
Vogelgesang, whose brother Joseph
was a casualty at Pearl Harbor, is a
graduate of Ohio State university
where he went to school after at
tending Bluffton college.
Buy more War Bonds and Stamps.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1942-09-03
Receives Seventeen Letters At One
Time At Australian Army Encampment

Seventeen letters from Bluffton
folks in one mail were received about
two months ago by George Wendell
Duffman, former Bluffton resident
and employe at the Steiner Chevro-
let Co., at his army post somewhere
in Australia, according to a letter
received here this week.
The letter was mailed on July 3
and was addressed to the garage
here with which he was formerly
employed. It reads in part as fol-
lows:
"Boy was I glad to hear from
you. Reckon you all haven't forgot
me yet. Yes it's true I'm mar
ried. / was married at Indiantown
Gap, Pa, on the End of May, so
thanks.
"Gosh the garage business must be
bad without cars but I sure wish /
troop will attend the joint meeting.
The following boys advanced in
rank:
Second class-Malcolm Basinger,
Gene Patterson, Paul Don Bixel,
James Harmon.
First class-Robert Fisher, Robert
Ramseyer.
Star-Gordon Bixel.
Life-Chas. Tripplehorn, Robert
Stratton.
Eagle-Robert Oberly, Bill Am
stutz, John Schmidt, Bill Mericle.
Explorer-Bill Amstutz, Robert
Oberly.
| Troop SO by David Stearns
The Monday night meeting was
enjoyed with pancake supper at
Fox's Hill. Scouts present were
Bob Coon, Maynard Pogue, Don
Fritchie, Harry Burkholder, Roder-
ick Nonnamaker, Calvin Dudgeon,
Karl Frick and David Stearns.
Visitors present were Wilbur Howe
and son Jimmie, Arthur Nonnamak-
er, Quinten Burkholder, Lamont
Diller and Ralph Stearns.
Tests passed were: Maynard
Pogue, and Calvin Dudgeon, 1st
class cooking. The meeting was
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1942-09-03

ended with song around the camp
fire.
The next troop meeting will be
Wednesday evening, Sept. at
o'clock in the Sportsmen's club room
in the town hall.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1942-09-03

was there.
Il can't help kill the Japs unless
they come here and if they do, God
help them for we will make the
fight at Bataan look like slow mo-
ton. They'd be biting the wrong
dogs tail, so / don't think they'll
attack us.
There's crap game going on in
my tent and it isn't so cent game
or even dollar game. l just saw
80 dollars raked in on one roll of
the dice. Just saw fellow shoot 80
bucks. Boy, this is no place for
me-I'm going swimming.
Well, I'll have to close now boys
good luck. So till the next time, so
long, your friend,
Pvt. Geo. w. Duffman,
Co. B, 148th Inf, A. P. o. 81,
co Postmaster, San Francisco. Calf
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1942-09-03

Buy more War Bonds and Stamps.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-03-27
Tyrone Power
ToAidRd||yHe

Movie star Tyrone Power will
play the lead in a sketch depicting
the heroiSm Of the Russian people
in the Russian Relief Rally in
Olympia tomorrow night, il was
announced today.
Power is returning 10 the city
following his appearance before 1he
Americans-All rally week ago
Also on the program are Joseph
F.. Davies, former ambassador 10
Russia; Madame Ivy Litvinoff wife
of the Russian ambassador 10 the
United States; r. J. Thomas.
UAW-CIO head; Frank Martel,
president OF the Detroit and Wayne
County Federation Of Labor: the
Rev. Benjamin J. Bush. president
OF the Detroit Council Of Churches.
and Councilman Henry S. Sweeny.
the City Of Detroit.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-03-27
Ferry Service Opens
Time. star Correspondent

LANSING. March Nearly
three weeks earlier than usual.
ferry service al the Straits Of
Mackinac was in operation today
on a regular schedule. The ice
crusher Ste. Marie was joined by
the Chief Wawatam. the state
department announced.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-03-27
Produce Strike
Halls Supplies
10 Naval Base

The movement OF 70 per cent Of
Detroit's supply of fresh fruits
and vegetables from wholesale
houses TO retail outlets was halted
today by a strike of 200 team
sters, produce statesmen, and help
ers. members OF Local No. 337 Of
the AFL Tteamsters Union.
The strike effected As wholesale
produce houses at the Eastern and
Western markets. which supply
food TO Detroit's smaller groceries
as well as to the hospitals and
other large purchasers OF food
such as the naval training station
at the Ford Rouge plant.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-03-27
FOOD PRICES Up

The strikers maintain that farm
erS from whom the wholesalers
buy their merchandise. have raised
food prices all along the line and,
. refore. a wage increase is due
rem
Daniel J. Tobin. national presi-
dent OF the TeamSters. issued a
statement yesterday in Indianapo.
lis. which declared that the inter
national office would not recognize
any strike by its locals. except in
cases where employers refused 10
negotiate or mediate.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-03-27
CHAINS NOT EFFECTED

The large chain stores. which
ship directly 10 their own ware
houses, are not affected.
The locals contract with the
produce merchants expired at mid
night. Al ) a. m. when trucking
of food normally begins. the truck
erS and inside employees failed 20
report for work.
Negotiations on new contract
have been under way for two
weeks. A tentative contract was
drawn UP Monday. but was re-
jccted by the union membership.
BENJAMIN V. Unwin. wholesalers
spokesman. said the tentative con-
tract privided for wage increase
Of SIS a week, and a cut of two
hours in the work-week.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-03-27
Health Blamed in Suicide

I'll health and domestic troubles
were blamed today by police for
the death of Mrs. Hattie Eve ALI
son. u. who they said shot herself
last night in her room at 500 West
philadelphia avenue.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-03-27
abuse of Power
By LABOR Hi by
Hcmer Martin

Organized labor holds more "un-
bridled power" than any other
group in the nation and its failure
TO shoulder its obligations consti-
tutes a real threat 10 our country
today. Homer Martin. one-time
head of the United Auto Workers
told members of the Dearborn
Optimists Club.
Breaking his public silence for
one of the few times since he was
ousted as president of the United
Automobile WORKERS. Martin
called for Legislative checks and
balances on labor, mot some day
but now"
RESULT OF ABUSES
81 am quite sure that the
food Of protest which IN now
pouring In upon Congress Ia not
the work of anti-union groups
alone. IL il the result OF abuses
Of its power by organized labor
itself"
Reviewing recent labor history.
Martin quoted figures during the
FIRST 10 months OF 1871, stating
enough man-hours were lost by
strikes 10 build 70 steel SUBJ
chaSers, ITO feet long each.
That was before Pearl Harbor.
he said, and might be under
Standable."
CRIMINAL. INEXCUSABLE'
He then continued:
what has happened since
Pearl Harbor- is-erimiHal- and
inexcusable, and anything short
OF an acknowledgment Of this
fact by the responsible leaders
Of labor constitutes willful
betrayal of our nation In Its
hour OF darkest peril"
Martin said there are three
groups within the country; those
who maintain labor has no rights
those who say that only labor has
rights: and. in between. the great
ma iority of the American people
who agree with neither OF these
groups.
Evening star., 1942-05-22

The grass is wanted on training
fields in some Of the Nations driei
areas, where clouds Of dust are re-
ducing the life Of airplane engines
To tackle the problem, 1t was an
nounced today. H. Burton Musser
professor of experimental agronomy
at the Pennsylvania State College
has been commissioned a major ir
the Army, reporting for duty this
week.
He will try to grow grass, thick
carpets of it, in one month, by using
method perfected In Is years work
on golf green problems at the Penn
sylvania institution. In Pennsylva-
mia it can be done in one month
Furthermore, a five-man crew can
do two acres a day.
The process starts with apparent.
ly complete ruin Of the existing soil
Evening star., 1942-05-22

1t is first ploughed up completely.
Then a shredder grinds the dirt to
powder so fine 1t is called floss.
Weeds. thistles, everything is pull
verized.
The floss is stacked in low piles
and mixed with lime, other fertin-
zers Is needed, and plenty of grass
seed. Next some good sod Is shred
ded, but not pulverized. The shred
ded sod is flne bits, each containing
living roots.
Shredded sod and floss are spread
over the area to be grassed, graded
and rolled. The problem Is how to
apply this method to semiarid areas
where nature, II left alone, usually
takes several years to spread even .
thin grass cover.
Experiences Of the dust bowl areas
indicate that quick grassing Is pos
Evening star., 1942-05-22
Nurseries 10 Aid Children
OF Parents Able 10 PAY

Day nurseries in Community Chest
Settlements. under . new policy, will
accept children Of working parents
who are able to pay the full cost of
day care, it was announced today
~ the Chest Budget Committee.
Nurseries in the seven Chest
ported settlements have hitherto
served the very low income or no
income groups almost exclusively, it
Evening star., 1942-05-22
was explained by Col. W. o. Tufts,

was explained by Col. W. o. Tufts
committee chairman.
The new policy will be tried first
at the Barney Neighborhood House,
which recently opened day nursery
quarters at 1919 Fourth street S.W.
under war conditions In Wash
ington the focus of need has shifted" !"
Col. Tufts said.
with the rapidly growing demand
for women workers in Government
and industry, day nursery care at
moderate rates has become a vital
community need in serving families
where children cannot be left at
Evening star., 1942-05-22

home while both parents ars d
work"
This will not curtail In any way
the service to families which can
afford to pay little or nothing" Col
Tufts added.
Evening star., 1942-05-22
Argentine Launches
Move to Suve Fuel

Buenos Aires, Argentina, expects
to save 100000 tons OF fuel . year
through its new order closing all
motion picture and other theaters
an hour earlier. suppressing Ger
tain street lighting and extinguish-
ing all lights in store windows.
Evening star., 1942-05-22
Coroner's Jury Frees
Driver in ChiId's Deuth

A coroner's Jury yesterday re-
turned q verdict of accidental death
In the fatal injury Of 4-year -old
Bobby Lee Warren, colored, 2414 N
street NV, who was struck by a
dairy truck near his home Thursday.
Witnesses said the boy ran into
Evening star., 1942-05-22

sible. But each area has its own
special problems and the grass
soldiers" have the job Of figuring
out the puzzles.
Evening star., 1942-05-22

the path Of the truck. The verdict
exonerated the driver, Lloyd D.
Martin, a, 923 L street NV.
Evening star., 1942-05-22
Golf Greens Experts
Will Grow Turf 10
Save Army Planes
Dust Damage to Engines
Provides Problem for
Gross Soldiers
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
STATE COLLEGE, Pa, May o.
Total war is calling on golf greens
scientists to grow grass under Amer
lean bombers and pursuit ships.
The daily monitor. (Mount Clemens, Mich.) 1940-1942, 1942-01-07
Rome, Berlin
|ScOrn FDR'S
Address

BERLIN, Jan. . (Official
Broadcast Recorded by (R-A
German radio commentators said
today that President Roosevelt
in his speech yesterday had add
ed nothing or little new to what
he has said in earlier and numer-
Gus speeches."
Although the speech was
fairly substantial it contained,
besides an admission of Ameri-
cas- military defeat, only Roose-
velt's usual hypocrisy" the COM
mentator continued.
Roosevelt enriched his ar
senal of phrases by the quotation
The world is too small to pro-
vide sufficient living room for
Hitler and God Obviously
Roosevelt believes there is suffi-
cient space for him to rule as
Gods Governor, with the uni
verse as his final goal"
He said the president had
warmed up again the old lie Of
the so-called German plan to de-
stroy all religions in the world"
The daily monitor. (Mount Clemens, Mich.) 1940-1942, 1942-01-07

only the normal, prescribed
maintenance, plus four changes
of spark plugs, three fan belts,
one valve reconditioning, one re-
placement of battery and igni-
ton cables, two brake adjust
ments, one carburetor overhaul
and one change of tires.
This may sound like a lot of
service work ON the car, but it is
worth noting that the total
mileage represented approx
mately nine years of average
driving and the car in appear
ance and handling actually was
las good as new"
A FEW TIPS
The normal, prescribed main
tenance, of course, included re-
gular chassis and body lubrica-
ton, tire initiation, battery care,
periodic replacement of the car
buretor air intake cleaner
screen, regular oil changes, min
or tune-ups, changes of trans
mission and differential lubri-
cants and general body care.
You will not be able to replace
the tires on your car with new
ones and YOU may have Difficult
ty obtaining some of the other
replacement parts under the i'm
pact of the war emergency. You
will be able to get most of the
service operations outlined
however, because many of the
dealers who heretofore have re-
lied on new and used car sales
for income are emphasizing
their readiness to repair and
service any vehicles.
Moreover, there are going to
be lot of backyard repair shops
operated by competent mechan.
les thrown out of regular en-
ployment by the suspension OF
car production.
But you can avoid much of the
expense and necessity for these
services by following a few very
simple practises in handling
your car from day to day. Grant.
ed that your car is in average
shape now, that your tires are
in fair shape and that you car
continue to get gasoline and oil
you can reasonably count upor
several years of essential use.
In succeeding articles of thi.
series, shall outline some Of
the things you can and should dc
to keep your car in operation anc
out of the repair shop.
Tomorrow: Engine Care).
The daily monitor. (Mount Clemens, Mich.) 1940-1942, 1942-01-07
Two Years Probation
is A6B Sentence
BY DAVID j. Wiki

Charles Butler, 35, of 1888
Pear, Roseville, was sentenced
to two years probation yester-
day after he pleaded guilty to
assault and battery upon ar
raignment before Circuit Judge
Neil E. Reid.
The plea came after Assistant
Prosecutor Herman L. .Brys
agreed to- a reduction of the
charge from Assault with in
tent to do great bodily harm.
The motion was made by John
Merrill, attorney for Butler.
Brys said Butler and h $
brother assaulted George Ham
ilton, of Roseville, and Erwin
Best, 1928 Chicago, Warren,
in the basement of the Best
home on Oct. IL.
Butler was enraged, Brys
said, because Hamilton, the
contractor, had completed work
on the basement after promis-
ing the contract to him.
The daily monitor. (Mount Clemens, Mich.) 1940-1942, 1942-01-07
Germany May Use ZepPelins
i'm East Coast Token Raids

many built q dirigible in the
first World War for the express
purpose of bombing New York.
This ship was the LZ-70, the
largest airship produced by the
Reich in that conflict. It had a
capacity of $500, 900 cubic feet.
much smaller than either the
Graf zeppelin or the I.Z-130.
but could have made the Trans
atlantic round trip with ease
without refueling. Germany was
beaten before the raid could be
made and the ship was destroy
ed.
The Graf zeppelin, by COM
parison, Is a ship of 1000, 900
cubic feet, and the LZ-130 has q
capacity of 1000. 900. The latter
probably could better the Hin
denburg'" Transatlantic cross
ing time of IS hours for II
cruises ut 70 miles an hour and
has q top speed o. IS. Moreover,
years Of Transatlantic dirigible
operations have given the Nazis
a corps of experienced zeppelin
men.
II Germany decides q Trans
atlantic dirigible raid is worth
while, one defense official here
said, the Nazis are not likely to
be deferred by their lack Of
Helium, the non inflammable
gas which only the United States
produces In quantity.
He pointed out that even i'm
mediately after the HindenbuiC
disaster, German airship men
showed complete willingness to
continue flying in dirisibles till
The daily monitor. (Mount Clemens, Mich.) 1940-1942, 1942-01-07
Study Group
Surveys Need
for Revision

LANSING, Jan. 7-(R-A 81
member study commission set
out today to est m a e what
might be done if the voters of
Michigan h oul d decide next
November they desire a revision
of their 33-year-old State Con-
stitution.
Twelve sub = committees, each
assigned a specific portion Of the
Constitution for study, were ap-
pointed yesterday at an organ
ization meeting led by Associate
Justice George E. Bushnell of
the State Court, chairman of
Governor Van Wagoner's study
group.
COURSE NOT INDICATED
The commission gave no in
dication whether 1t eventually
will recommend to the voters q
revision Of the Constitution.
Bushnell asserted the group
could recommend complete re-
vision, partial revision or sug-
gest a mum ser of possible
changes land leave it to the
judgment of the voters whether
a change Is needed"
(The Secretary of State is re-
quired to submit to the voters
at the November general cleo
ton the question of revising the
Constitution. If the voters ap-
prove such a move, a constitu-
tional convention to do the job
is elected at the following Spring
election.)
Pointing out that the electors
of Michigan turned down q pre-
vious revision proposal 285, 900
votes to 119 900 in 1925, Bush
nell declared "some think the
result at the forthcoming cleo
ton won't be much different but
that doesn't lessen the need for
study"
The subcommittee will re-
port from time to time, Blu: h.
nell declared, and their reports
may be published if the commits
sion endorses them.
Bushnell appointed as vice
chairman of the commission
Senator Joseph A. Baldwin, Re-
publican, Albion, and Leo ].
Nowicki, state budget director
and former democratic lieuten-
ant governor, L. B. Reid, Deputy
S tate Highway Commissioner,
was named secretary.
Sub : committee appointments
included the following:
Mrs. Paul Hirt, Mount Glenn
ems, chairman of the League OF
Women Voters, vice chairman Of
the judicial group and member
of the group on finance and tax
alton.
Herman G. Crow, st. Joseph
city manager and president OF
the Michigan Municipal League,
chairman Of the group on local
government and member of the
subcommittee on finance and
taxation.
w. G. Armstrong of Niles,
master of the State Grange,
member of the groups on emf
nent domain and division OF
powers.
F. Dean Morley of New Troy,
businessman and former legisla-
tor, vice chairman of the mis-
cellaneous" subcommittee and
member of the division of pow
erS groups.
The daily monitor. (Mount Clemens, Mich.) 1940-1942, 1942-01-07

ed with the explosively inflam-
mabile Hydrogen. He also recall
ed that the zeppelins which raid
ed London in the World War re-
lied on the more bouyant Hy-
drogen, despite its dangers.
The Hydrogen-filled zeppelin
admittedly is vulnerable to air
attack, and us ceiling Of $4,000
10 $4,000 feet no longer exceeds
that of the fighter plane, as it
did in the last war. However Q
zeppelin probably would have
greater chance of evading Bril-
tain's sea and air blockade than
would surface aircraft carriers.
The airship, moreover, would
have little to fear from subma-
rines and surface craft which
menace surface carriers, and II
weather conditions were appro-
pirate, would be most difficult
to locate AZ il lowered with 81
lent motors near or over it,
American objective.
The United States Adamant
refusal to give Germany Helium
put an apparent end to the
r e ich IS pre-war commercial
Transatlantic airship operations,
but the Swedish press carried 4
broad hint at the time of the
Moscow Berlin pact In 1899 that
the dirigibles were ready for
service. This was . story that
DR.. Hugo Eckener, famed Ger
man dirigible builder, had been
called to opernte IN airship car
60 line between the Soviet and
the Reich. Il was never con-
firmed.