davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1947-09-18
TOWN TO COLLECT
TAX
BEGINNING OCT. 1
Levy VIII Be Continuation OF
Tax Previously Collected
BY State
Income from Tax Will Help
Relieve Financial Straits
of Town

A three percent admissions tax
on all amusements operated inside
the Bluffton corporation will be-
levied by the city government be-
ginning October l, under a new ordi-
nance passed at Monday nights
meeting of the municipal council.
No new tax on amusements is in
volved in council action, the only diff
ference being that a three per cent
levy which previously went to the
state will in the future be collected
by the town.
Approximately S1,500 annually will
be netted from the amusement tax,
according to estimates by village of
ficials. Collection will be on month
ly basis, with reports being made to
Town Clerk Sidney c. Stettler.
Licenses Required
Licenses will be issued by Mayor
w. A. Howe at a cost of 81 each to
operators of permanent or temporary
forms of amusements, as the first
step in the tax collection setup.
Thereafter, they will file reports as
prescribed by law on their operations.
Those without license are subject
to fines of $25 to 500, and each day
of violation is deemed separate Of
fense under the ordinance. Failure
to making a return monthly will add
interest of one per cent per month
to the tax.
Assessment of the amusement tax
was provided by the council as a
means of obtaining relief from a fin
ancial impasse which has had Bluff
tons general fund in strait jacket
since the settlement of two sewage
damage suits four years ago.
Virtually all Ohio cities are enact
ing similar ordinances providing for
continuation of the admissions tax,
as means whereby additional in
come can be obtained.
Altho Financial relief for cities
was indicated as part of the state
legislative program early last spring,
the only tangible move so far has
been the waving Of state collection
of admissions taxation, in favor OF
local municipality levies.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1947-09-18

On the hill back of Ripley, Brown
County, there. is. an old, rambling,
one-story house reached by long
flight of stone steps. 1t was the
home of Rev. John Rankin and the
first station on the Underground
Railway to Canada. To that house
Eliza climbed when she floundered
off the ice flows in her escape across
the Ohio River from Kentucky. That
was 20 years before the Civil War
began.
In 1887, with funds provided by
the State legislature, the house, un-
der auspices of the Ohio State Arch
geological and Historical Society, be-
came museum in honor of Rankin
and the Underground Railway. You
can get into it for a dime.
Rankin only furnished shelter,
food and care for the colored run
aways. His nine sons did the actual
transporting. Ripley, then second in
size to Cincinnati in Southern Ohio,
was seething with abolitionists,
Thousands of escaping slaves came
ashore there and were forwarded
station to station on the Under
ground Railway until they reached
Canada.
Light Guides Fugitive
In the Rankin home a lantern hung
in an attic window every night and
it's light could be seen for miles a.
cross the Ohio Rivera beacon of
promise to runaway slaves.
AS early as 1886 Rankin was Civ
ing lectures for the American Anti
Slavery Society and once at VIM
chester, Adams County, was mobbed
, by 200 men. In his travels he was
frequently mobbed and once hit by
thrown goose egg which did not
break until it fell to the ground
then a gosling ran out of it. He died
at SO in 1886.
From the Rankin house Eliza Har-
ris and her two-year-old boy were
taken to the home of Levi Coffin,
Newport, Indiana; then to Sandusky
and finally to Chatham, Canada,
where the fugitive met her husband,
George Harris, who before her es-
cape had managed to secure enough
money to purchase his own freedom.
To his owner George had been
worth $1,250; Eliza $1,000 and the
boy, 5000 The Harris owners were
kind to their slaves and but for the
fact that she was to be sold down
river Eliza would have been content.
Underground Railway
The Underground Railway had no
trackage, no roadbed, no equipment
nor definite route. There was nothing
| material about it. 1t just was an in
tangible thing-a scheme of pro-
cedure in assisting fugitive slaves.
The runaways went ashore at Rip
ley because Cincinnati, 80 miles down
river, was intensely pro-slavery.
Nearly all of the Queen City's trade
Continued on page 81
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1947-09-18
Prof. Ld1tz Talks
On Lions Contention

His experiences last summer at
the 30th annual Lions club conven-
ton in San Francisco were describ-
ed Tuesday evening at a dinner
meeting of the Bluffton club by
Prof. Russell Lantz, delegate of the
local organization.
Prof. Lantz was one of 1000 del
egates representing 4s states and Is
foreign countries at the interna-
tional meeting. One of the conven-
ton features was a parade of 5000
persons
Discussion at sessions featured
present-day problems including con-
sideration of The United Nations,
Postwar economics and juvenile re-
lations.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1947-09-18
Re-Dec0ratiOn Of
Post Office Starts

Re-decoration of the Bluffton post
office interior is under way this
week by the Bexley Decorating Co.,
of Columbus, on a $4,000 contract.
In the Improvement program, all
plaster surfaces will receive two
coats of light ivory paint, and will
be repaired where needed. Two
coats of varnish will be applied to
some woodwork and other woodwork
will be waxed.
Repairs to the roof of the build
ing are completed. Work is to be
done in 120 working days.
Employees of the company which
also had the contract for interior
decorating of the First Mennonite
church, have completed their work
at that location, it was announced.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1947-09-18

At a candlelight service at the
Mt Cory Evangelical church, Sun
day afternoon at o'clock, Miss
Eileen Hartman, daughter of Mr..
and Mrs. Erwin Hartman of Mt. Cory
and George Hurlburt, son of Mrs.
Della Davis of Lima and Dewey
Hurlburt of Lafayette were united
in marriage.
Pink gladioli and zinnias formed
the background for the ceremony
which was lighted by candelabra. A
prelude was played by Mrs. Lois
REM of Lima and vocal numbers
Because and / Love You Truly were
sung by Miss Joyce Kline.
The bride chose a poudre blue
street length dress with black ac-
cessories and carried a bouquet of
orchid gladioli and a white Bible, a
gift of the groom.
Miss Donna Hartman, sister of
the bride was maid of honor, wear
ing a grey dress. Ted Hurlburt of
Ada served as best man. Usher
was Paul Coffman of Lima.
A reception was held at the home
of the brides parents with a three
TERED wedding cake with pink and
white rose buds centering the table.
The bride is graduate of Mt.
Cory high school in the class of
1945 and has been employed for the
past two years at the Woolworth
store in Lima.
Mr.. Hurlburt attended Lafayette
school and was 81 months in the
service. He is employed at the
Superior Coach Corp, Lima.
The couple will occupy their new
ly furnished home at SIT Hope St.,
Lima.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1947-09-18
ALL-TIME RECORD
WHEAT ACREAGE IS
IN PROSPECT HERE
Acreage Expanded AS Govern
ment Officials Predict 81
Bushel Wheat Next Year
Farmers in Favorable Position
Have More Land Available
Than Normally

Spurred by the prospect of wheat
at 81 a bushel sometime within the
next year, and with more land avail
able for planting than in normal fall
seasons, Bluffton area farmers have
plans for an expanded program of
wheat acreage that viii set an all
time record locally.
Indications that acreage devoted to
wheat during the coming year will
be even larger than anticipated two
weeks ago became evident this week
in the culm'nation of three new
developments:
Press reports that govern
ment officials in charge of our
export grain program are "re-
signed to 81 a bushel wheat,
probably as early as next year,.
2-Rapid progress in maturity
of the corn crop will make corn
fields available this fall for
winner Wneat planning.
2-Unplanted acreage on nearly
every farm which was not i'm
production this year because wet
weather last spring prevented
seeding now is virtually all pre-
pared for fall wheat seeding.
81 Wheat In Prospect
Farmers already planning an ex-
panded wheat program this fall,
stepped up their acreage even more
within the last week as predictions
of 81 wheat came from government
officials, for at that basis wheat
would be the best cash crop of the
season.
Most farms already show an early
start in preparing land for fall
wheat, for acreage untitled during
the last season because of delays in
spring planting has been pIowed and
disced, ready for seeding.
From present outlook there is
reasonable certainty that corn will
be off in plenty of time to disc the
land for fall wheat, and this makes
available on most farms increased
acreage represented by corn land
that normally would be devoted to
the crop, plus the untitled fields
that stood idle this last summer.
Because of plans for increased
wheat acreage, Bluffton dealers are
anticipating a shortage of fertilizer
this fall. In ordinary wheat seed
ing fertilizer is applied at the rate
of 200 pounds per acre, and it is
feared that stocks on hand will not
be sufficient to fill the demands.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1947-09-18
Usual Varieties Of Late Corn Look
Better Than Early-Maturing Types
Regular Varieties VIII Provide
Bumper Yields if Frost Holds
Off Until October
Midsummer Dry Weather Cut
Into Prospects of Those Who
Planted Early Corn

Despite apparently unsurmount-
able handicaps that faced the corn
crop last spring, farmers who plant
ed early-maturing corn in the hope
of getting 1t ripe before frost ap-
parently are not faring as we'll as
those who put out their usual varie-
ties of seed, it appeared in survey
Of the current local crop situation
this week.
Vagaries of the weather, which
plagued farmers at corn planting
time, also hit the early-maturing
corn in midsummer, just at the time
it. should have been developing, and
as a result many stands may moi
produce more than half crop.
LATE Corn Looks Coon
On the other hand, the usual va
rieties of late corn has been the
wonder and marvel of farmers, and
bumper yield is. expected if. the
big hurdle of maturity before frost
can be cleared.
One farmer in the corn area north
of town said this week that if kill
ing frosts hold off until the first of
October, his crop will be better than
last year, when pear-record yields
were harvested locally. Other grow
ers have voiced substantial agree
ment.
Farmers say the stand has had
sufficient moisture. Most growers,
in fact, would welcome a dry spell
which they say would benefit the
corn crop by Fastening it toward
maturity.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1947-09-18
NeIU Gamble Store
To Open This Week

Further expansion cf Buttons
retail business activity will be
marked this Friday and Saturday
with official opening of the new
Gamble store in the Hankish build
ing on South Main street formerly
occupied by the Allen Farm Bureau.
The room has been remodeled and
redecorated to fit it up for modern
merchandising and sales.
Souvenirs will be presented to vis-
itors on the opening days, it was
announced by the proprietor, Ralph
Smith, formerly Of Richmond, Ind.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1947-09-18
Urge Early Buying
Of Drivers Licenses

Lagging sales of automobile driv-
ers licenses during the first half of
September brought warning this
week that purchases should be made
soon to escape the last-minute rush
before the September 80 deadline.
Licenses are sold locally by Clay
ton Bixel, deputy registrar, at the
Bixel Motor Sales on Cherry street.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1947-09-18
En,nranuePs Church
Homecoming Sunday

of the Home for the Aged at Upper
of the Home fo rthe Aged at Upper
sandusky will be guest speaker at
the annual harvest home and home
coming festivities at Emmanuel's
Reformed church, Sunday. Dr.
Zechiel was formerly a pastor in the
Evangelical and Reformed denomina-
ton.
Services viii be held in the morn
ing at 10:45 and afternoon at 2
o'clock with basket dinner at noon,
it is announced by the pastor, Rev.
Y. c. Oppermann.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1947-09-18
Morris Fett viii
Head Legion Post

Morris Fett was chosen commander
of Bluffton Legion post for the
coming year at the annual election
of officers held Monday night. Other
officers are:
Adjutant, Gerald Swank; treas,
James Fett; sgt. at arms, Herman
Schmidt; service officer, Stanley
Basinger; historian, Robt. McCune;
chaplain, Rev. Paul Cramer.
Officers will be installed at the
next meeting, October 6, at which
time the question of raising the
present dues will be considered.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1947-09-18
Real Estate Deals

Wilford Geiger has purchased the
John Maxon property on East Kibler
street and will take possession next
month. Maxon and his family ex-
pect to move to California.
Clarence Henry of Lawn avenue
has purchased the Wilford Geiger
property on Washington street and
will take possession next month.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1947-09-18
BLUFFTON MARKETS
Wednesday Morning

Grain (bushel priees) = Wheat,
$3.50; corn, $3.50; oats, s1.15; soys,
$500.
Poultry-Heavy hens, 25c; leg
horn hens Ice; heavy rock fryers,
30c; heavy red fryers, 29c; leghorn
fryers, 26c.
Eggs-Large white, &c; large
brown, Soc; medium white, Soc;
medium brown, 55c; pullets, 40c.
Butterfat, s9c.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1947-09-18
Gun Club to Hold
Trap Shoot Sunday

Bluffton Gun club viii hold trap
shoot Sunday afternoon at 1890
o'clock at the Gossard filling station
on the North Dixie highway. Mer-
chandise prizes viii be awarded, it
Is announced by officers of the club. :
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1947-09-18
BLUFFTON NEEDS
NEW STORM WATER
DRAINAGE SYSTEM
Existing Sewers, Some Is Years
Old, Too Small for Volume
of Water in Storms
Handling Drainage Major Prob
lem As Streets and Base
ments Flood

The problem of handling surface
water drainage, as important to the
village as its sanitary sewage i'm
passe, is becoming increasingly
troublesome and acute as Bluffton's
corporation limits expand, Mayor
w. A. Howe pointed out this week.
Water backing up into easements
and standing on streets after heavy
rainfall is evidence in many sections
of the fact that the village has out
grown its network of original Storm
water sewers, and a replacement
program likely will prove the only
remedy.
Much of the surface water is
being carried off in drains installed
in the early days of the village, and
some of the principal sewers are
square box-Lke contraptions made of
fagstone about rs years ago.
Sewers Too Small
Occurrence of flooded easements
and streets more frequently over the
last several years is attributed by
town officials to the fact that exist
ing sewers either are too small or
have become partially filled with silt.
Often it is combination of the two
circumstances that leads to trouble.
Additional complications enter the
picture in the fact that many private
storm sewers and some sanitary
sewers empty into the towns storm
sewers, adding to the volume of
water that must be carried away
during heavy rains.
In addition, no one knows where
many Of the existing sewers are
located. No map was made of the
network of sewers in early days, and
pioneer workmen who installed the
lines and who during their lifetime
knew where to dig, now are dead
the mayor stated.
Many residents blame clogged
catch basins for flooded streets, and
distractions in sewer lines for water
in Easements the mayor added, when
the trouble generally is that the I'D
sewer finally has become too small
to carry an increased volume result
ing from the continual addition of
more outlets.
Work Is Temporary
During the last summer the towns
street department has worked or
trouble spots which developed into
emergency situations, but that pro
cedure is admittedly temporary ir
nature, the mayor said. What is
needed is complete revamping and
a new system of storm water drain
age.
According to the mayor, engineers
say that storm water drainage is
more difficult to plan than sanitary
sewers, because of the uneven flow
A huge volume of water must be
handled during storms if trouble is
to be prevented.
Some of Buttons most trouble
some areas at present so far as
floods are concerned are on South
Main street near the Bentley roaC
intersection; Riley street at the foo
of Spring street and Jackson street
South Spring street near the foot Of
Franklin street; College and Lawr
avenue intersection; East Jefferson
street; South Main and Collegt
avenue intersection; and Cherry
street east of the railroad.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1947-09-18
f2ggf&Ig8;E|;. &Ig8;E;
1&1zessS:5{;esG11o']
81 HARRY L. tiAlh

81 HARRY L. AAla
EDITORS NoTE-This is one
of q series of articles 10 appear
IN the BEufton NeaUs dealing
Nth early Ohio history. Others
wiu appear in forthcoming
issues.
Evening star., 1947-09-26

after conviction Of conspiracy in ar
attempt to extort 81 900, 900 from the
motion picture industry.
D'Andrea Denies Extortion.
D'Andrea, asked concerning the
amount of money he had received
from extortion, said: Il never re-
ceived penny from extortion." He
added because Of a legal mixup he
had been unable to take the stand
IN his own defense in the New York
extortion trial in 1914.
Earlier, Daniel M. Lyons, new
chairman Of the United States Pa
role Board, testified ne would rot
intervene in the paroles granted the
four men until after the Federal
Bureau of Investigation completes
its investigation.
Mr.. Lyons said all four PAROLES
had splendid prison records" and
that only Campagna had a previous
record Of convictions for felonies.
Evening star., 1947-09-26
Corcoran 10 Exhibit
Sketches by German

Sketches made by German
artist during the war will be or
exhibit for month, beginning to-
day, at the Corcoran Gallery of Art
The sketches were lent by Arthur
B: Holmes OF Alexandria, who pur-
chased them from the artist. Fritz
Bley, an official combat artist of
the German Wehrmacht.
Bley was born in 1902 in Greifs-
wald, Germany, and his earliest
professional pursuit was architec-
ture. Financial considerations, how
Evening star., 1947-09-26

in the neighborhood but there is
need OF grocery store.
Deane Liquors is seeking to trans
fer the license held by Samuel
Walkin. at 2406 Fourteenth. street
NV. to the Kenilworth avenue ad-
dress and to their name. The hear
Ing was begun yesterday afternoon
and adjourned until today.
w. j. Marcus, president of the
Deanewood Civic Association, told
the ABC Board his organization
held special meeting on September
l and voted to oppose the granting
of the license because the area is
residential. Bernard P. Nelson, 4424
Hunt place NE, said the store
would aggravate traffic congestion
on Kenilworth avenue.
Mrs. Elsie c. Johnson, 424 Meade
Evening star., 1947-09-26

ever, forced him into the business
world, and he was able to study
art only as a sideline. Eventually
he received commissions for mural
paintings in Berlin, Oslo. Bucharest
and Athens and later did landscape
painting.
During the war, he served as an
Official war artist. His activities
took him to Russia, Norway, France,
Greece with the paratroopers) and
to North Africa with Rommel and
the Afrika Korps.
In 1914 he covered the German
retreat in Italy. and in l945 he was
captured by the American forces
or the Western front. He was
Evening star., 1947-09-26
THE EVENING STAR Washington, D. c. A-27

street NE, music teacher and Mrs
E. j. Scott of the National Trade
and Professional School, Fiftieth
and Grant streets NE. also OBJ
jected.
Attorney Nathan Lubar appeared
for the Deane Co.. while Attorneys
Robert E. Lynch and w. E. Magee
appeared for residents.
Evening star., 1947-09-26
Board Hears Protests
In Liquor License Case

The, Alcoholic Beverage Control
Board today Is hearing protests
against the granting of license to
Deane Liquors, Inc, 1913 Kenilworth
avenue NE.
The protest is being voiced by the
residents of the area, who say there
is no need of package liquor store
Evening star., 1947-09-26
Capone Gangster Says
He, Didn't Know Who
Paid $4,000 Tax Lien
by the Asseeisisd Press

CHICAGO, Sept. 2e.-A House
subcommittee investigating the
parole Of four former members Of
AL Capone's gang had in its record
today that one Of the ex-convicts-
who said he believes in Santa Claus
did not know who had settled the
Governments income tax claim of
nearly $5oo,o00 for $4,000.
Louis Little New York; Cam
pagna, one Of the four Chicago
men psroled from Federal prisons
after serving the minimum Of 10
year sentences, was one of the wit
nesses called yesterday as the con-
gressional group headed by Repre-
sentative Hoffman, Republican, of
Michigan opened the investigation
Campagna told the group he did
not know who made the settlement
on an income tax lien Of s468, ,877
against him for the years 1895 to
1941 nor did he know how much
had been paid.
Lawyer Settled Claim.
DO you believe in Santa CLAUSE"
Mr.. Hoffman asked Campagna,
yes, I do," he replied.
Eugene Bernstein, attorney for
Campagna, volunteered the infor-
nation that he had paid the $4,000
to settle the tax lien. He said
Eight or nine persons came into
my office at different times and
plunked down $4,000 or so on my
desk and said, this is for Louie.
gave them receipts but I don't
know who they were"
Philip d'Andrea, former bodygusrd
for the late AL Capone, was the
second Of the four men who testi-
fled at yesterdays hearing, while
Paul CThe Waiter) Ricca and
Charles CHERRY Nose) Gioe, were
expected to testify today. All four
were paroled last August IA after
serving three years and four month
Evening star., 1947-09-26
School Sets Registration

Registration Of new children for
the Religious School Of the Wash
ington Hebrew Congregation will
take place at II am. tomorrow and
Sunday in the Temple vestry, 816
Eighth street NV.
Evening star., 1947-09-26
Dummy Accident Stuoed

MEMPHIS. Tenn. [Rl.-A woman
reported seeing some boys toss a
fully-clGd, life-sized form into the
path of an oncoming car. A tele-
phone call to police brought two
Evening star., 1947-09-26

Africa has a virtual monopoly on
diamond production.
Evening star., 1947-09-26

squad cars, one wrecker and an am.
bulance. During the commotion, the
boys left hurriedly-with the
dummy.
The Chronicle-star combined with the Moss Point advertiser., 1947-08-01

Rev. and Mrs. G. E. Allen of
North Biloxi Methodist Church
left Monday for North Carolina
to be gone two weeks. Rev.
Thomas Carruth of Main ST.. BIZ
loXi, will preach Sunday in Rev.
Aliens absence.
Mr.. and Mrs. George Mcqueen
of Biloxi visited Mr.. and Mrs.
Howard Holley Sunday.
A meeting of the w. S. c. 5.
was held FRIDAY afternoon at
the Methodist Church and final
plans for the vacation Bible
School were made. The school
will open Monday, August II at
3 p. m. and continue for two
weeks.
The M. T. A. met Saturday af-
ternoon at st. Martin School and
made plans for a Political Rally
to be held on the school grounds
on August l6.
Mr.. and Mrs. Leonard PoWnell
and two children Of Mobile are
visiting here for a while with
Mrs. Pownell's parents, Mr.. and
Mrs. Henry Letort.
MI. and Mrs. Woodrow Sey-
mour were dinner guests in the
home of Mr.. and Mrs. Arthur
Saucier Thursday night.