davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1943-12-02
Best Mahogany Grows In Central
America; Tree Cut By Light OF Moor

the big expense in marketing mahog
any.
The trees are cut in the rainy sea-
son. A huntsman climbs to the high
est limb that will afford him view of
the forest. He marks the mahogany
by its conspicuous yellow-reddish
leaves, then descends and leads the
cutters through the jungle, hacking a
roadway as they go until the tree is
found. Then, at the time of the wan
ing moon, the saws and the axes are
piled. The superstition that calls for
the cutting of the trunk by the light
of the moon is based on sound botan-
ical grounds, for experience has shown
that the mahogany tree is freer from
sap, sounder and of richer color at
that period. The cool of the night,
Furthermore, offers the best time for
the hard work involved in the cutting.
The hauling of the fallen trunk to a
stream is still the work of oxen and
must be done in the dry season when
the ground is hard. The logs are
foated down the stream in RATS and
hoisted aboard ships to avoid the bor-
ing teredo. London is the great maho-
gany market, which means that often
the wood worked up by American
manufacturers makes two trips across
the Atlantic.
Mahogany was present in the ships
built for Cortes and his companions
shortly after the discovery of the New
World. The uses of this hardwood
are so varied that despite the high
cost, it is relatively cheap. Musical
instruments, furniture and house fit
tings claim the great bulk of the wood
but the ease with which mahogany
can be veneered makes for its most
extensive use. When modern machin-
cry can saw a one-inch mahogany
board into 200 sheets, the inlaying
ing value of the wood is immensely
appreciated.
1t is to be regretted that much of
the country formerly growing these
valuable trees has been deforested,
but now that the principles of conser-
walton have spread to all the Latin
American Republics, measures have
been taken to protect the trees. In
Honduras, there are still thousands of
acres where mahogany grows in prim-
tive isolation, timbrer that means
much in connection with the future
development of that country.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1943-12-02
Bumper Soy Bean
Crop Is Harvested

Harvest of what is belived to be a
record soybean crop for this area is
virtually completed and only few is
olated fields remain to be combined
or threshed.
Some elevators in the district re-
port having already handled twice as
many soybeans as in any previous
year ,and ideal harvesting weather
prevailing for the last two weeks
found dealers hard pressed to keep
pace with heavy marketing.
Dry weather kept the moisture con-
tent at a satifactory level, most loads
testing between 13 and IA per cent.
Record acreage in beans and excep-
tionally good yields in most cases,
plus an ideal fall for harvesting, COM
bined to produce the largest crop in
history farm observers report.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1943-12-02
Farmers Income Tax
Report Due Dec. Is

Farmers who have sufficient in
come to require filing a declaration
of estimated 1943 income and victory
tax are required to file and make a
payment on or before December Is,
unless they compiled with this re-
quirement on the September 13 date
that applied to most other persons.
The farmers and any othrs who
make their first 1943 report at this
time will receive no declaration
forms thru the mail but must ask
for them.
Because of the difficulty farmers
experience in estimating their in
come in advance, they were allowed
until December Is to file declara-
tions. Farmers also are permitted
greater leeway in estimating 1943
tax, and are not subject to penalty
unless they underestimate by more
than one-third.
Others who must file declarations
on December Is include persons who
filed in September, but who under
estimated their tax by more than 20
per cent; and persons who did not
file in September because the Y
thought at that time their income
would not be sufficient to require
payment of tax.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1943-12-02

The Bmfton Neps presents
another in the series of interest
ing sidelights on South and Cen
trdl Americd.-EDIToR.
Nowhere does mahogany, the Tim
Der King of the Tropics, grow better
than in the small Central American
Republic of Honduras. Mexico, Pan
anna, Columbia, Venezuela, the is
lands of the Caribbean Sea and the
other countries of Central America
also supply the world market with
this precious wood, but the supremacy
of Honduras as far as quality is con-
cerned cannot be contested. The
country itself has in the forests where
mahogany grows, one Of its most inn
portant sources of revenue
Always springing up in splendid iso-
lation, the tree rears its branches
crown like above the surrounding ar
boreal growth. The fact that the ma
hogany forest or even the mahogany
grove is non-existant makes for the
high market value of the wood. A
mahogany lumber company that is
sure of two trees to the acre of land
will pay dividends if properly manag-
ed. True mahogany is the familiar
Il - IL. ,11o~oJ LaxJvuooJ Iorua1xy mead
for household furniture. 1t some
times grows to the height of 100 feet
with a diameter measuring IL feet or
more. Frequently trees are found
that five men joining hands cannot
encircle. A decoction made from the
bark was considered a remedy for
fever, while the Aztecs used the seed
as one of the ingredients of a cos
metic. It's period of growth covers
perhaps 200 years, which fact, in con-
nection with the limited area where
mahogar-. is found, makes difficult
the compilation of accurate data de-
scriptive of the botanical history of
the tres. Logging for mahogany is
carried .today in the same &ay that
served in collecting the wood in early
days. In the main it is the process
used in the forests of the United
States and Canada with minor modi-
fcations because of climatic condi-
tions. Fortunately the trees are
found near the coast, and if in the vi
cinity of stream that will serve as
a sluice-way the cost of transporta-
tion is naturally lessened. 1t is the
incidental labor and great difficulty of
this first transportation that causes
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1943-12-02
Christmas Season For Army In
North Africa Will Start Dec. 19

First of all, he wrote in part, "the
Christmas season will start for US on
Sunday, Dec. 10, with special Christ
mas services for both Protestant and
Roman Catholic men. Other divine
services will be held during the week
and on Christmas Eve. Our chapel
tent and club rooms will be decorated
IN the best possible way and the ia
miliar Christmas carols will be heard
over the radio, much the same as at
home.
"On Christmas Day we will work as
usual, except at dinner, and then we
will really work. The cooks and Uncle
Sam are planning terrific Christmas
dinner"
The chaplain's letter closed with
best wishes of the season from himself
and on behalf of the commanding of
ficer of Sgt. Green's group.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1943-12-02
Good TICias, Sc, Are
In Lima HOsDital

Abraham and Isaac Good, Sc,
Northwestern Ohio's oldest living
twins and former Bluffton men are
in Lima Memorial hospital. Their
condition is reported as fair.
Isaac is suffering from burns on
his face, neck and hands received
when a kerosene lantern exploded at
his home on the outskirts of Lima.
Summoned to the home of the two
men by report of the explosion,
police found Abraham suffering from
what hospital attaches said apparent
ly was exposure and hunger.
The twins who formerly resided
here are we'll known in this area for
their characteristic dress. In their
younger days they were expert gun
smiths and Isaac often related tales
of the days when he was sparring
partner for Jim Corbett when both
were employed on a southern Ohio
farm.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1943-12-02
Button In First World War

machine gun company.
Harry Amstutz, in France driving
truck in the supply service, writes
that he has driven thru the village
where Caesar fought and won his first
battle, and he has also seen Paris.
Harry writes the French girls are
proud to ride in trucks driven by
Sammies.
Cards announcing their safe arrival
overseas have been received from Cal
vim Deppler, Gordon Bixel, Garland
Basinger, Homer Kohl, Levi Gratz
and Homer Moser.
William Radabaugh has been sta
toned at Camp Decatur, Great Lakes
Training Station.
Martin Baumgartner is a member
of the brigade band at Camp Taylor
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1943-12-02
December 5, 1918

Corporal Edwin Stauffer, former
Bluffton College student, now in
France, may receive war cross in
recognition of unusual bravery. De-
tails of the reason for the action are
not known.
Marion Watkins writes to his moth
er that he is sitting in dugout with
shells whistling over his head. He
writes that if peace is not made soon,
1--WE will go until we get to Berlin or
bust"
Second Lieutenat, Walter Agin,
Orange townships first young man to
fall in battle, was killed in France,
according to word received by his par
ents, Mr.. and Mrs. Jesse Agin. At
Camp Sherman he was in charge of a
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1943-12-02

st Badertscheris barn Friday morning
with tractors, two shredders, wagons
and teams quickly cleaned up all the
work for their i'll neighbor.
Those helping from Jackson Grange
of which Badertscher is a member in
cluded b B. Hefner, w. L. Carter.
Orvan Writ, Homer Binkley, Ralph
Binkley, Clair Ballinger, c l.. Bal
linger, Oren Cant, Richard Hawk.
Leonard Crumine, Lewis Kohl, MerI
McCluer, Lloyd A. Truesdale, Howard
Helser, E. Hawk, Alfred McCluer
and Danny Long.
From Richland Grange were P. ".
Andrews, Otis Fett, and neighbors
Russell Harshe Peter Bucher, Billr
Kollars and Harvey Badertscher.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1943-12-02

How Csristmas will be observed by
men of the armed services in North
Africa was described in V-Mail let
ter received last week by Mr.. and Mrs.
Leonard Green, of Beaverdam, from
the chaplain of the outfit to which
their son, Staff Sgt. Robert Green :
assigned.
Last week the Beaverdam couple
were notified that their son had re-
ceived an air medal and oak leaf clus-
ter after serving as a turret gunner
in Flying Fortress on q flying mis-
sions. Mrs. Green is Bluffton tele-
phone operator.
In the letter from Capt. Veron n.
Burkhart, Sgt. Green's chaplain, Mr..
and Mrs Green were informed that
even tho the boys in North Africa
are far from home Christmas will be
fittingly observed.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1943-12-02
Tot Born Here Killed
By Auto In FindIdy

Connie Jean Lowell, five who was
born in the Bluffton Community hos
pital when her parents, Burdette and
Mildren (Baum) resided in Mt. Cory,
was injured fatally when she was run
over by an automobile in Findlay last
Friday evening.
The five-year-old child sustained a
skull fracture ,and died two hourse af-
ter the mishap in the Findlay hospital.
The accident occurred when the girl
fell from an automobile in which she
was riding with two uncles and was
run ever by car approaching from
the ether direction.
Her father in the Army, is station
ed in California.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1943-12-02

Floyd Woods writes to his mother
that ne was recently thru a lenghthy
drive and miraculously saved. None
of his company were killed, but many
were wounded.
Rene Klay, son of Mr.. and Mrs.
Andrew Klay, in a letter dated Nov.
3rd states tha. Rene has been wound
ed in both hands by shrapnel. The let
ter was from a representative of the
Red Cross.
Raymond Stauffer, son of Mr.. and
Mrs. Isaac Stauffer, who is stationed
at Piccatinney Arsenal, y. j., was well
remembered on Thanksgiving day at
the home of Mrs. Gerald Hopkins of
Green Village, y. j.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1943-12-02
Former Col. GrOUe
Horse Buyer Dies

VIM. j. Porter, 50, former Column
bus Grove resident and widely known
as horse buyer before his retire
ment several years ago died Mon
day at his home. in Lisbon, Ohio.
Funeral services will be held at
the Harris funeral home in Columbus
Grove, Thursday afternoon at
o'clock. Interment in Truro ceme-
terry.
He was born in Col. Grove, the son
of James and America Porter, Oct.
%, 1861.
Surviving are one son, E. J. Porter
of Col. Grove and three daughters,
Mrs. Glenn Mckenzie of East Liver
pool; Mrs. Peter Smith, New York
city and Mrs. S. F. Deford Meffley,
Chicago.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1943-12-02
Former BiuftOn
Man Dies In West

Amos Bender, 50, former Bluffton
resident, died at mis- home in Haven,
Kansas, November 10, according TO
word received the first of the week
by j. E. Steiner of Thurman street,
a relative.
He was the son of Martin and
Catherine (Hilty) Bender, the family
living on what is known as the
Santschi farm south of Bluffton on
the Dixie highway. They left here
ga years ago and settled in Kansas.
He. is survived by his wife. They
had no children. Burial was at Mt.
Hope, Kansas. Bender was half
brother of the late Alex Steiner of
this place.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1943-12-02
Congressman Jones
Condition Is Serious

Congressman Robert Jones of this
district is in a serious condition in
the hospital at the Naval Medical
Center, Bethesda, Nd, with an in
fection resulting from a fractured
ankle.
He received the injury on the eve
of the Lima municipal primary, Nov
ember 2, when he returned to vote
and was injured as he alighted from
a moving train.
After a week in the hospital he
returned to Washington, but was
taken to the hospital to have the
bone reset. Infection followed.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1943-12-02
Troop 81 by Dean Ferguson

A potluck supper was the feature
of Mondays meeting, with scouts,
scoutmasters and troop committee
men in attendance. Since the session
marked the second anniversary of
the troop, new leaders were named
as follows:
Senior Patrol Leaders, Roddy Non
namaker and Bob Coon; Coyote
Patrol, Kenneth Bracy, patrol leader;
David Stearns, assistant; M 90 S e
Patrol, Maynard Pogue, leader; Earl
Frick, assistant; Black Bear Patrol,
Jimmie Howe, leader and Bobby
Neiswander, assistant.
Troop Scribe is Dean Ferguson;
Morris Groman, librarian; Karl
Frick, quartermaster; Keith Kirkland,
archery leader; Don Fritchie, bull
letin board and collections; John
Bracy, hobbycraft; Burl Meyer and
Bernard Fish, shuffleboard; David
Frick, bugler; Harry Burkholder,
song and cheer leader; David Frick,
signal officer.
Woodrow Little, scoutmaster, is
assisted by Eugene Benroth, and a
troop committee made up of Ralph
Stearns, chairman; Wilbur Howe, A.
J. Nonnamaker, Fred Ferguson and
Ralph Badertscher. Rev. Ernest
Bigelow is neighborhood commission
er.
Troop membership includes: Coyote
Patrol-Kenneth Bracy, Davi d
Stearns, Robert Coon, Keith Kirt-
land, Don Fritchie and David Frick;
Moose Patrol-Maynard Pogue, Earl
Frick, John Bracy, Dean Ferguson,
Burl Meyer and Morris Groman;
Black Bear Patrol-Jimmie Howe,
Bobby Nonnamaker, Harry Burkhold-
er, Roddy Nonnamaker, Karl Frick
and Bernard Fish.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1943-12-02
Coaches Champ Army
Basketball Team

Sgt. George Swank, former
Bluffton High mentor, was coach of
a championship basketball team in
the army air corps at Greensboro,
N. Carolina, it was learned this
week.
This was the second title captured
by teams coached by Sgt. Swank.
Last summer ne directed an outfit
which won the post baseball champ
ionship.
During his schooldays Sgt. Swank
was a star athlete 1T Bluffton High
school and later at Blufftcn colleges.
News want-ads bring results.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1943-12-02
% Do Corn Shredding
For Bedfdst NeighbOr

Neighbors of Peter Badertscher,
who has been bedfast for two weeks
at his home seven miles south of
Bluffton, turned out in force last Fri
day morning to do his corn shredding.
A crew of % men who showed up
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1943-12-02

Each Ohio farmer pays an aver
age of $50 annually to feed rats.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1943-12-02
BIuffton College Nofes

Buttons basketball team will
open its 1943-44 season Wednesday
night, December l, when Ohio North
ern invades the home floor for the
first of four tits scheduled thus far
for the Beavers. Three lettermen,
Ellwyn Hartzler, Howard Baumgart-
ner, and Ellis Gutherie are back with
Earl Lehman, senior, and Roger
Berkey, Elton Beery, Floyd Herr,
David Smucker, and James Landes,
freshman, filing in the team, and
affording strong reserve section.
The radio chorus, "Wings Over
Jordan, appearing in concert at the
high school gymnasium, Friday even
ing, is the second musical program
in the college concert series this
year. Members of the chorus will
be guests of the college at dinner in
the college dining hall that same
evening before the concert.
Recent announcement has been
made of scholarship honors bestowed
upon three Bluffton college students.
Miss Eleanor Berky of Bluffton,
college senior; Miss Lois Sommer of
Pekin, Illinois, junior; and Miss
Willadene Hartzler of Adrain, Mich.
sophomore, have been awarded honor
scholarships on the basis of highest
scholastic attainment, charact r,
leadership ability, and attitudes as
demonstrated in college life and
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1943-12-02

work, for their respective classes.
A group of Bluffton college pro-
fessor will attend the second annual
Rural Life conference at Manchester
college, Indiana, Friday. DR.. |. w.
Bauman, professor of sociology, will
serve as one of the discussion leaders
at the conference, which is being
sponsored jointly by the three his
toric peace churches, Brethren,
Friends, and Mennonite.
y
Thanksgiving visitors on the Bluff
ton college campus included several
former students, and severel Bluffton
alumni. William Keeney, ex-'45, re-
turned to the campus from a Civilian
Public Service camp in Luray,
Virginia; and Pfc. Harold Lehman,
ex-44, returned to the campus from
Bloomington, Indiana, where he is
cilSdgeu III army HleulCdl training.
Miss Bridgette Schneider, graduate
with the class of '43, returned from
the University of Pittsburg, where
she is now doing graduate work;
David Yoder, graduate with the class
of AZ, returned to the campus also
from Civilian Public Service camp
in Luray, Va.
Howard Baumgartner, sophmore at
Bluffton, who recently left college
for induction into the army, has re-
turned to his studies for the re-
of this school year.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1943-12-02

Troop 56
BY Malcolm Basinger
Monday nights meeting was open
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1943-12-02

The Blufton Necs presents
another in the series of interest
ing sideights on South and Cen
trul Ameyica.-EDIToR.
The sub., 1943-08-26
Union To Correct Learner Promotion

In recent weeks large number of cases have come to the atten- tion of Union officials which. in- dicate that the company has Vio- lated it's agreement with the Union on the subject of learner promo tions. In June 1942 when the Un ion and the Management re-nego- tiated learner rates it was express ly agreed that all learners and oth- CTS in similar classifcations who were receiving rate of 95c per hour as their normal rate were to be advanced above that rate then they should be advanced to third class mechanics rates. Third class mechanic rates call for $f.05 per hour in all trades where the base first class rate is $1.20 per hour. Therefore as to all these crafts those who have leafner ratings, when promoted from 95c should go to $1.05 per hour.
 It now appears that there are numerous instances where men were advanced from 95c per hour to $1.00 an hour. The Union claims that all these men must go to $1.05 at once and receive back pay for the difference involved all the way back to the date of promotion and requests all workers who find themselves in this position to i'm mediately contact Union represen- tatives or officials.
 There should be no $1.0O rates in the case of any of the follow ing crafts:
 Angle m ths, BOilermakers, BIacksmiths, Carpenters, Caulkers, Clippers, COremakers, Drillers (Machinist), Electricians, JOiners, Machinists MOlders, Painters, Pipe filters, Riggers, Sheetmetal Work CTS, Shipftters, Tool Room Grind CTS, Crane Operators Locomotive and gantry).
 If your classification has been changed from learner to helper this will not prevent you from obtain ing your adjustment, as it Is mere ly subterfuge.
The sub., 1943-08-26

The face of ''The Subs Manag- ing Editor-Roy Perry-is fanil- jar one to Victory Yard workers; his special Job is that of Safety Engineer in the yard
 The other day, while at the company hospital, we caught a glimpse of Roy through the white curtains exchanging a few words with one injured employee. He says Safety work is mighty inter- esting - gives one a real human feeling for men and women and sincere concern for their welfare" !"
 Roy has been with the boat com- pany for nearly ten years, the first six of which were spent as an electric Welder His work on the Sub" commenced with Its organi- zation in 1888. He then served as Sports Editor for four years.
 It is to his credit that the Sub" expanded and achieved profession al status as a newspaper. Roy also conceived and carried out the idea of a series of Sub radio programs featuring the Electric Boat orches- tra, The Rand Trio and Tiny Watts and his Swingsters, but was forced to curtail this activity with the advent of the nine hour day.
 He's a chap who's full of fun likes all sports-eapeciall baseball, which is reminiscent of his days as player.
 He's married and proud of his wife, with whom he recently cele- brated his fifth wedding anniver- sary.
 So, watch the Sub" and as you note it's progress, remember the name of Managing Editor-"Roy Perry"
The sub., 1943-08-26

Who owns the chatty feminine voice that we hear through the open north windows on any summer day? When we get the chance, we peek out to see what nice lady is talking, but see no- body. She is not around the en- trance. She is not in the alley. She just ain't no place. Still the voice comes, via the window, all day long, and tantalizes Us with the queries: Who is she?" Where is she?" What Is she saying?" And to whom?" One of the un- solved mysteries of the North yard, this!
 Many times each day I hear the plaint, Heck, it's tough to tum- ble out so earlyp Of course it is; Harry Lauder and his song, Its Nice to Get Up In the Morning. to the contrary. But once we get the habit of rising early, it's not too tough. Remember, at six o'clock we used to have our eyes full of sleep. Now, at six in the morn ing, we have completely winked the sleep out, and are physically ready for a nine-hour stretch. Fur thermore, when and If the eight hour day returns, it will seem like the Lords Prayer, In comparison. Truly there are compensating fac tors.
 Any old odds and ends of steam which anybody can rustic up around the boiler-room at this time, they can take away abso- lutely free, and no questions asked. August seems to have plenty of steam of its own. However, good reliable steam again will be in de- mand in few short weeks, so get the cream of our steam by getting your order in early.