davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1949-08-04
SEWAGE PROBLEM
HERE is HEADING
FOR SHOW DOWN
New Ohio Law Will Back
Health Departments Clean
up Policy
Project Without Federal Aid
Will Be Heavy Financial
Burden

With indications that state legis-
lation will soon bring to head Bluff
toms long-deferred action on con-
struction of sewage disposal system
and plant at time when large fed
eral grants for municipal improve
ments apparently are on the wane,
Bluffton's projected sewerage hand
ling measures are taking on the as.
poets of heavy financial burden fol
the town.
New Ohio laws prohibiting the dis
charge Of untreatedt sewage into
fstreams of the state will abhcome eff
fective in August, and officials of tn,
state department of health already
have announced that action to insure
compliance with the legislation will
come just as soon as possible after
the law is official.
At the same time Bluffton property
holders can look back with a twinge
of regret on rejected proposals to
Continued on page 81
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1949-08-04

don Dearth, J. D. Garlinger, Joe Bo-
CART, Joe Mumma, z. T. Mumma,
Jeff Watkins, ". M. Murray, Med
Murray, c. G. Fenton and Jos. Ste
pleton.
Around the "nineties" when COM
plete roster of fremen was not list
ed, names appearing in the book
include, in addition to others who
have been named:
L. Clippinger, William Clymer,
M. S. Mumma, Herman Wittkofski,
Lloyd Murray, William Bogart, E.
E. Garau, Jacob Fillhart, David
Newland, William Thomas, Lank Ca
hill, William McHenry, Oscar Kib-
ele, David Highland, Harry Patter-
son, John Buck, Charles Yerger,
Dan Conrad, Albert Barly, John Nc
Henry and others.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1949-08-04
MOVIE FOR KIDS.
STORES HERE CUT.
PRICES FOR EVENT
Children to Get Free Matinees,
Frosted Cones, Gum and
Candy
Bluffton Stores Cooperating I'm
Big Town-wide Sales
Movement

All roads will lead to Button on
Friday and Saturday as stores here
join in sponsoring their biggest Doll
lar Days observance, a semi-annual
event laden with bargains for thrifty
shoppers.
Not only will there be attractive
bargains for the elders, but ample
l~ovision for entertainment of the
children has been provided with two
free matinees at Bluffton's Carma
theatre at 2 o'clock and 3:15 on
Friday and Saturday afternoons.
The shows are sponsored by the
Bluffton Business Mea's association
and all children Of Is years and
under will be admisses free. +Films
consist of 10 tartoon tomedies suit
able for children 80
In addition to the matinees {
number of business places are spon
soring treats of frosted cones, gun
and candy to all children. A barre
of candy, to be given away during
the two dollar days was flown in
at the airport here Tuesday.
ATTRACTS CROWDS
Buttons Dollar Days, with spec.
tacular values, have invariably at,
tracted shoppers here from a 80
mile radius and the sale is always
one of the largest merchandising
events of the year.
This years bargains are greater
than ever, participating merchants
pointed out, "for most stores will
be clearing shelves of goods that
normally would be carried over tc
the following winter"
'These goods are price-tagged low
enough to be outstanding bargains
and the smart shopper has an op-
portunity to effect considerable saw
ings."
Stores which ordinarily do not fiji
into the seasonal clearance classifi-
cation also are joining with others
in offering special values for the
two-days' sales event.
Regular store hours will be OBJ
served during Dollar Days.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1949-08-04

two year period is not disclosed,
but it is assumed that citizens
handled the duties during the in
terim, for reorganization did not
come until two years later.
On Dec. %, 1891, the reorganiza-
ton meeting was held, with Joe
Mumma being elected chief; David
Highland foreman; George Werlich,
secretary, and John Werlich, treas
urer.
LIST UNUSUAL FIRES
In 1894, the record book for the
first time begins a listing of fires
The initial entry showed loss of
s400 in a fire at the John Emerson
home on Poplar street. Firemer
were paid 81 each, and Wilson Hawk
received So for furnishing a team
to pull the engine to the fire.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1949-08-04
$12,544 TOWNSHIP
ROAD PROGRAM TO
START In AUGUST
Richland Trustees and County
Commissioners Announce
Plans
To Close Bridge on Schifferly
Road; New Phillips Road
Bridge

Major road Improvements in Rich
land township at an aggregate cost
of $12,544 will get under way in
August, in program worked out
between the township trustees and
Allen County Commissioners.
In the summer program, resurfac-
ing projects will be completed on
1212 miles of county highways in the
township and also on about nine
miles of township roads.
Richland townships share of cost
of the improvements will be S3,500
and Allen county will contribute
S9,044.9S. OF the oounty's contribu-
ton, however, $4,000 is earmarked
for work on county highways in the
township.
County roads to be top-sealed will
include portions of the Col. Grove,
Phillips and Allen-Hancock county
line roads.
To Complete Plans
Township roads to receive new
top seal coating will be selected at
meeting of township and county
representatives early in August.
In the county road improvement
campaign four miles Of the Col.
Grove road will be re-surfaced from
Bluffton city limits west to the Hilty
school.
Five miles of the Phillips road will
be resurfaced from the Allen-Putnam
county line to the Lincoln highway.
In work on the Allen Hancock
county line road, three and one-half
miles of the south half of the road
will be resurfaced.
| New Bridge
In addition to resurfacing the
| Phillips road, the county will also
build a new bridge where the road
spans a tributary to Little Riley
creek near the Swiss Inn d shor,
distance from the Dixie highway.
The bridge is located near the
junction with Schifferly road where
there is another bridge over the
same stream.
A corner tract of land has been
purchased from Cal Luginbuhl at
the junction of the two roads which
will permit routing Schifferly ROAD
Continued on page 81
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1949-08-04

on March %, 1896, which destroyed
roof of the Stearns and Greding
elevator. The record comments,
There was no damage, as the build
ing needed a new roof anyway"
Familiar names, still common
here, and many unfamiliar to the
present generation appear in the
roster of firemen.
Over the period to 1902 covered
by the old book, fire chiefs were Joe
Mumma and D. S. Beeshy. Secre-
taries included w. A. Triplett, A. E.
Temple and G. F. Werlich.
Among the iremen listed around
the turn of the century were A. L
Conrad, Bert Watkins, Henson Good
S. A. Fett, W. S. Dearth, Ira Trox
Ell, Charles Fl. Sweet, c. S. Yerger
s. L. Kimmel, Lemuel Black, Shell
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1949-08-04
Former Local Woman
Coming From Scotland

Mrs. w. N. c. Todd, the former
Barbara Hauenstein, of Edinburg,
Scotland, is expected here Thurs
day to visit her mother Mrs. Sidney
Hauenstein of Campus Drive. She
made the transatlantic trip by
boat, landing in Boston the first
of the week. She expects to remain
here until fall.
Mrs. Todd who left here four
years ago to engage in mission work
in the Near East under the Presby-
terian board of foreign missions
was afterward married and for the
past three years has been living in
Scotland. Her parents, Mrs. Hau-
enstein and the late Mr.. Hauenstein
visited at her home in Edinburgh
two years ago.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1949-08-04

attaches pointed out this week.
It's hard" water, TO be sure, as
hard as any in the state in mineral
content, but from a standpoint of
purity there's never been any ques-
tion. Regular analyses of samples
tested by the state department of
health always have shown it to be
entirely free from all contamination.
Deep-Strata Wells
High quality of the Bluffton water
partially can be attributed to the fact
that it all comes from deep sub
strata wells, sunk from 100 to 300
feet into rock.
To further safeguard purity of the
drinking water, small amount OF
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1949-08-04
Allen County Farmers Now Receiving
Individual Wheat AllOtments For 1850
Total Acreage For County Dur
ing Coming Year Is Set At
25,777, Agent Announces
Notices of Individual AllOtments
Are Being Mailed This Week
To Farmers

Individual wheat allotments for
1850, based on reduced national
acreage, are being mailed this week
to Allen county farmers, according
to an announcement by Clair A.
Patterson, chairman of the county
agricultural conservation committee
A 1850 wheat allotment of 25,777
acres for Allen county farms repre-
sents the county's proportionate
share of the national wheat acreage
allotment of $50 million acres.
Patterson said the national allot-
ment is the acreage which at nor
NAL yields will produce an amount
of wheat which together with the
expected carryover next July | will
supply contemplated domestic and
export requirements, and also pro-
vide for an adequate reserve.
NOTICES MAILED ii
Individual county farm ailot-
ments, based on acreage and ipro.
duction data collected over the past
several months have been estab.
lished and notices now are being
made to growers, Patterson said.
Acreage allotments are not an en-.
forced limitation on production, but
provide a limitation on government
expenditures for price support, the
county agent explained. Only those
farmers who seed within their al
lotment will be entitled to price
supporting commodity loans or pur-
chase agreements on their 1850
crop.
1949 YIELD REDUCED
Although adverse conditions dur
irg the growing season have result
eu in a smaller 1949 wheat crop
than originally expected, this years
harvest still will be the third largest
on record and the sixth successive
wheat crop in excess of one billion
bushels, Patterson explained.
Average domestic consumption of
wheat is only 700 million bushels
and abnormally high exports sup
ported by ECA allotments and army
purchases for occupied countries
have been required to prevent the
accumulation Of price-depressing
surpluses.
Patterson emphasized in his an
nouncement that if wheat growers
comply with acreage allotments il
may be unnecessary to use market
ing quotas for future crops.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1949-08-04
Orange TWp. G. o. p.
Names Candidates

Ray Marshall and Kenneth Dearth
were renominated as candidates for
Orange township trustee at a Re-
publican caucus held last Friday
night in the township house.
Both are completing four-year
terms as members of the board of
trustees.
Also nominated by Republicans
was Wade Marshall for justice of
the peace. He was appointed justice
last year to fill vacancy occasioned
by the resignation of Enos Steiner
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1949-08-04
No Shortage of City Water in Bufton Use All You Want

additional wells for the regular city
supply, and it is difficult to forsee
an emergency which would make it
necessary to restrict the use of water
because of hot weather.
100 Gallons Person
With 250,0O0 gallons of water
used daily in households, Buttons
hot weather water consumption adds
up to 100 gallons each "A hours for
every man, woman and child. The
quarter-of million gallon daily con-
sumption is nearly double the low
mark of mid-winter, which drops to
about 10000 gallons.
Bluffton's water is tops not only
in quantity but also in quality, plant
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1949-08-04

Finally on October 10, 1889, mo-
tion carried to present the bill of 50
to the council, and on Nov. 10 spe-
cial meeting was called, with the
secretary noting Council did not
allow the bill of 50. Speeches were
made by H. Won Gunten, Joe Num-
ma, A. E. Temple, H. Steiner and
Others"
On Dec. A, 1889, another meeting
was held, with the minutes recording
Moved and seconded that we as
members of the fire department do
this evening tender our resignation
in body to the council of the said
village of Bluffton, and turn over
all books and keys to the clerk of
the council, Motion carried"
How Bluffton functioned without
a fire department for the ensuing
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1949-08-04

Bluffton is one of the few cities
in the state where you can use all
the water you want, even in the midst
of protracted heat wave, such as
experienced here during the last two
weeks, according to survey made
at the conclusion of the hot spell.
Altho the municipal water works
pumped in excess of half a million
gallons of water daily during the
summers hottest weather, the heavy
drain did not begin to tax the towns
facilities, which plant officials say
are as good as any in Ohio.
"Use all the water you want
There's plenty for everybody" was
the word that went out from the
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1949-08-04
DriUer Bound OUer On
MdnsIdughter Charge

Henry Grismore, 43, of Jenera,
Route i, driver of one of the cars
in a crash in which two persons
lost their lives two weeks ago at
the Riley Creek Baptist church cor
ner in Orange township, was bound
over to the Hancock county grand
jury Friday on a charge of second
degree manslaughter.
State Highway Patrolman Robert
Ruddock filed the charge in the
court of Findlay Mayor Clifford E.
Glathart. Grismore furnished $1,000
bond.
Robert B. Ginger, %, Williams
town, and his two-year-old son, John
Franklin, were the fatalities in the
mishap.
Earlier last week, Ralph M. Cling
er, administrator of the estate of the
Williamstown man, filed a 100000
damage suit against Grismore.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1949-08-04

industry, and the record also shows
that at one time the department
Haunted the fancy name of "Bluffton
Cataract Fire Co. Mo. IL
The two dances which led to
wholesale resignation by fire depart
ment members were held on October
18 and on Christmas night in 1888.
On the dance committee were M. s.
Mumma, F. M. Marvin and Joseph
Mumma.
5000 IN DEBT
No other details of the dances are
given other than to list deficit OF
5000, and for most of the next
year the minute books show discus
sion indulged in by fremen in ar
effort to raise money to pay the
debt.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1949-08-04

chlorine is added, not enough to be
noticeable to taste but sufficient for
assurance of the highest quality
water.
Bluffton's stepped-up consumption
of water during heat waves adds
materially to the flow of Big and
Little Riley creeks during a time
when the volume of water in the
streams otherwise would be at low
ebb. With the exception of water
used on lawns and gardens, it is esti-
mated that approximately the same
amount of water pumped by the vii
lage plant is discharged into the two
streams from tn towns extensive net
work Of sewers,
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1949-08-04

Shades of old-time Fourth of July
celebrations are indicated in a minor
roof fire on July 4, 1895, at "the
Mrs. Scott home on North Main
street. when a sky rocket fell on
the roof. On Feb. s, 1895, there
had been $500 fire at the L. E.
and W. water house.
The most disastrous blaze came on
August 13, 1896, when the Town
send and Swinehart mill on Main
street was destroyed in a midnight
fire. Loss was estimated at $4,000
The mill rebuilt, was visited by fire
again at $50 p. m. on October q,
1902. but damage was minor at
that time.
NEEDED ROOF ANYWAY
An unconscious bit of humor is
revealed in the account of a fire
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1949-08-04

plant during the peak of the heat
wave.
100000 Gallons Daily
At that time the plant was pump
ing in excess of 100000 gallons
day from four wells, with two wells
in reserve for unforeseen contingent
cies.
approximately half of the 100000
gallon total represented household
consumption, and the other 250,0O0
gallons are used by the Page Dairy
Co. for cooling purposes.
Two wells are pumped to supply
regular city demands, and two other
wells are pumped for the dairy con-
Germ. In addition, the plant has two
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1949-08-04

How Bluffton lost its force of
volunteer fire fighters back in 1889
when the group resigned enmasse
because village councilmen would
not pay a 50 deficit incurred in two
firemen-sponsored dances was one
of a series of interesting highlights
of pioneer fre-fghting activities
here before the turn of the century.
Resignation of the fremen was
not a passing whim either, for the
fire department was not re-organized
until 1891, two years later-accord-
ing to a musty old record book
discovered recently in the mayors
office.
There are other interesting items
of historical interest in the book !:
Details of disastrous fires, one of
which destroyed the towns principal
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1949-08-04
Television Cable Laid Near Bluffton
Is Outstanding Feat OF Engineering
Former Bluffton Man, Veteran
A. T. & t. Employe Ex-
plains Operation
Ingenious Alarm System Re
fleets Any Trouble in
Underground Line

EDITORS NoTE: Because of
the widespread interest in the
coariaL cable laid this Summer
by the American Telephone e
Telegraph company near Bluff
ton, Ue are proViding oar read
ers aoith the folloWing article
By Elmer Lora, aoho for 81
gears has been employed by
A. T. &c T. and is thoroughly
familiar acith technical details
of construction and operation of
the cable. He also proUided O
cross section of the cable noW
on display IN the Blufton Neps
aUindoao.
Last link in thereoaxial television
and telephone cahie between Toledo
and Dayton, which passes at ths
west edge of Bluffton in this area
was installed last week at Maumee
Approximately two weeks splic
ing work remain, after which +;
permanent gas pressure of min,
pounds will be placed inside th,
cable sheath. Dry nitrogen, non-in
fiammable gas is used to provide
the pressure.
The cable will be ready for use
early this fall, following tests by
transmission engineers.
Use of gas in the cable sheath
enables maintenance crews to de-
tect and locate small leaks OF
breaks which might occur in the
lead covering of the cable. Sec
tional cablemen can then make re-
pairs to the lead sheath before the
cable becomes damp or wet on the
inside, a condition which could cause
a failure of tubes or wire. Posi-
bility of conductor trouble caused by
moisture is greatly minimized by
use of the gas pressure.
In the event of serious damage
to the cable from any outside
cause, the gas pressure is of no val
ue, for immediate tube failure will
Continued on page s.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1949-08-04
Men To Organize
Garden CLUB Here

Organization of the Bluffton
Mems Garden club, started last
month will be completed at meet
ing this Wednesday night at s
o'clock at the high school building.
Officers will be elected for the COM
ing year.
Membership in the club is open to
all men whether Bluffton residents
or not, who are interested in gard
ening, trees, landscaping, birds and
nature subjects.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1949-08-04
Push Plans For Allen County
Fair To Be Held August 23-27

% to 27, inclusive, at show grounds
in Lima, it was announced this week
by Wayne Liable, fair manager.
Day and night events are plan
ned for the enlarged fair program,
which marks removal of the fair
from Delphos to Lima for the first
time in many years.
An extensive prize-list is offered
for livestock and other farm pro-
ducts showings, and there will be
many industrial displays.
One of the fair features will be
the All exhibits and complete
junior fair, Liable said.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1949-08-04
DEMOCRATS name
SIX CANDIDATES AT
SUMMER CAUCUS
Democrats Have Candidates For
Bluffton Board of Education
and Twp. Trustees
Republicans Will Name School
Board, Township Nominees
This Wednesday Night

Three Democratic nominees for The
Bluffton board of education, two
Richland township trustees candidates
and one justice of the peace We're
named Friday night at a lightly at
tended caucus meeting in the high
school building.
Democrats failed to complete their
ticket for next falls election, how
ever, for a second justice of the
peace nomination was not made and
there We're no candidates for the two
constable offices.
Republican candidates for the
school board and township posts will
be named at a caucus in the council
room this Wednesday night, to COM
plete prediction activity by the two
parties.
School Board Candidates
Democratic nominees selected las,
Friday for the Bluffton board of
education included Willis Amstutz
DR.. Gordon Bixel and Nelson Steiner
None have served on the board
previously.
Fred c. Badertscher and Jesse
Yoakam were named as Democratic
candidates for the Richland township
board of trustees. Badertscher, is q
candidate for reelection; Yoakam is
seeking his first term.
Albert Winkler was nominated as
justice of the peace, marking the
first time in the last six years that
the north half of Richland township
has had candidate for the post.
Two justice of the peace berths
are open on each party ticket, ane
at last Fridays caucus no cand date
was found from the southern par
of the township, and Winkler's name
will be the only one filed.
With two constables to be elected
this fall, no nominations were made
by Democrats.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1949-08-04
Real Estate Deal

Sale of the residence of Mrs.
Helen Wells of South Main street
was announced the first of the week.
Identity of the purchaser was not
disclosed. She will hold a sale of
household goods Saturday afternoon.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1949-08-04
Day and Night Events to
Feature Attraction-Studded
Program
Junior Fair and All Exhibit
Will Be Major Attraction
This Year

Arrangements are nearing COM
pletion for an attraction-studded AL
len county fair to be held August
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1949-08-04

Installmentpl an buying in Eng
land is known as the "hire pur-
chase" system.
The Lexington advertiser. [volume] (Lexington, Miss.) 1904-1985, 1949-12-15

The captain of Aberdeen's team
turned out to be a well knit col
ored boy from the West Indies,
an old timer in his third year of
basketball. Neither team had a
coach. A couple of bystanders
were chosen as referees and they
did a bang-up job without dis
carding coats or ties. At no time
was a referees decision disputed
in fact, the most amiable of
spirits prevailed on both sides
even though the lads played fast
and furiously. Only occasionally
did the ball reach the vicinity of
the basket. Glasgow led at the
half Ga, but pulled away as Aber-
deem wilted to win easily at about
1879. At the half, one of the re-
ferees kindly explained to the
grateful audience that each bas-
ket brought two points and the
fouls one apiece. Afterwards we
all repaired to Steathdee's for tea
and a discussion of the finer
points of the game
AS suggested in the beginning,
such a game made me aware of
my own potentialities. Here 1
was in the land of the heather
with a well nigh unlimited oppor-
tunity of spreading the gospel. l
flexed my muscles and listened
to my bones creak.
My boys only practice once a
week (when they car find an
available GYM so l had to wait in
breathless anticipation until the
following Tuesday night to dis
play my wares. Outfitted in a
strange garb, l sneaked through
the back streets to the scene of
execution. For an hour ! demon
strated the miracles of the feint,
the slow-motion pivot, and the
screen play. Believe it or not,
these fellows listened to me. My
enthusiasm even carried me into
a slight scrimmage without fatal
ity.
We're going to practice again
next week, provided we come
across a day without rain so that
we can run the grammar school
boys outdoors while we take over