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Newspaper
Pella Chronicle
Location
Pella, Iowa, United States of America
Date
Jan 31, 1957
Page
3
A short meditation on how well meant guidance is heard but rarely heeded. The author notes that people feel competent to advise others yet overlook the point behind good counsel. The piece from M. J. Monaghan in Observations laments the tendency to seek a barb rather than absorb the core message.
In an excerpt from the February Reader's Digest, Stuart Chase argues for zoning and urban planning to curb unchecked expansion. He recalls Connecticut towns that rejected zoning yet saw smelly factories move into residential areas, prompting adoptions. The piece links planning to orderly growth and cites the Nautilus refueling in 1955 as a lesson in progress and technical confidence.
Senator Arch McFarlane of Waterloo proposes a reapportionment plan with one senator per two counties plus two for Kossuth, totaling fifty. Each county would have one representative, but five populous counties would gain additional seats under 1910 census figures, raising the House from 108 to 116. Polk would have eight, Black Hawk, Lynn, Woodbury and Scott three each. The Senate remains geographically based, while House representation follows population.
The writer argues for a population based reapportionment, claiming rural opposition would be unfair and city voters have been disenfranchised for forty years. The Legislature should consider McFarlane's plan earnestly, setting aside political bias, as reapportionment is overdue.
Craig Beer of Iowa State College reports irrigation of cropland in 1956 more than doubled 1955 totals with 26 897 acres irrigated. 1956 saw 401 farmers irrigating versus 101 in 1955. Average corn yield gain was 40 bushels per acre. 60 percent used sprinkler systems, 40 percent surface methods. Water sources and rights become a focus as irrigation grows.
Editorial laments groundwater depletion as farmland cover is stripped and water drains into tile and streams, risking desert-like land. editorial also criticizes the rise of Sunday and night shopping, arguing rest on the Sabbath is beneficial and retail hours should not expand despite shorter hours in other sectors.
A weekly digest revisits noteworthy items from The Chronicle across the decades. It highlights events, people, places, and moments remembered from 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 years ago in a compact nostalgia column.
A Des Moines Tribune reprint highlights Sam Sherman of the Pella Banner story about his flirtation with a wife candidate who fled Des Moines. Other notes include Mayor Vander Zyl fining boys for improper language, Rev S P Shaw becoming Central College chancellor, Pella Stacker seeks a downtown Postal telegraph office, railway promoters eye a Knoxville to Waterloo line, and city postage stamp talk. The Pella Chronicle becomes county paper, Alethian dinner at Todd Hotel, local petition drive for a city light plant, play A Daughter of the South to run at the Opera House, Klyn Van Gorp ice harvest, and a 7 below zero January 30 morning.
The Male Choral Club presented its ninth concert with a women’s chorus, featuring soloists Eleanor Thompson Joanna Van Duren Marie Lautenbach Carl Byers Lon Wormhoudt Tunis Kempkes and Peter Groet directing The Columbus cantata by Dudley Buck was performed. Floyd Gambell planned to expand his grocery by acquiring adjacent buildings. The Birth of a Nation drew large crowds at the opera house producer D W Griffith. Pella High beat Monroe 21 to 12 with Rillihan and LeCocq stars Kald enberg fouled out. Harry De Cook on leave to attend his sister’s funeral. he may not return to the border National Guard discharge eyed. Mr and Mrs P H Van Gorp moved into a new bungalow on North Main Interior by Harris-Emery Co. James Rhodes sold the Lynnville Star to Mrs Bufkin publisher of the Lynnville Leader after three years. Henry Wormhoudt and son visited G H Wormhoudt. Rev L A Garrison of Caldwell Idaho, former Central College president, visiting.
30 Years Ago De Jong Floral Co issued 10 000 seed catalogues and ordered 6 000 more. Farmers view International Harvester tractors near Van der Meulen store. Pella Legion Aiders promote joining in Harvey with oyster stew. Quip in Kuyper’s Corner jokes about a farmer’s clothes mishap. Produce Co packs 2000 tons ice. Chevrolet Sport Cabriolet advertised at 715 dollars f o b Detroit. Flor Geurts survives a near truck wreck near Thunder Creek hill. China revolt worries mission helpers Hilcout Arthur and Lelia Droz.
In a lead story, Cooperative Electric Association REA plans 70 miles of new line—two in Mahaska, 22 in Jasper, remainder in Marion. John Hoeksema cites floods across eleven states affecting nearly a million people with vast property losses. 250 refugee camps created. Pella residents raised 1800 for Red Cross relief. Abe Den Adel chairs.
A partial transcription mentions Rev A G Dros as pastor of the Pella Baptist Church and a community action connected with heart health and labor activities such as shoveling and mowing.
A retrospective notes the school board mailed tuition bills to outlying districts as part of state funded costs. County basketball finalists saw Van Wyk and Pippel top scorers while Pella beat Knoxville 35 to 21. Legion plans to enlarge Memorial Building were outlined by Ben Kuyk and Tunis Kempkes. Central beat Penn College 49 to 40 with Ottens and colleagues noted. A South Bend Guttersnipe street sweeper debuted downtown. Farmers Union lock er plant expanded at $25,000 with 900 patrons. Walt Disney’s Make Mine Music shown at Holland Theatre in technicolor. Tulip Time host John Res promised return. Pella overalls advertised. croquet played by four at Home for the Aged.
An experiment in Gallatin Tennessee by Yale and Towne shows employees took home children’s books and read aloud, with many parents reading to their kids nightly. The program sparked broader reading, including books for adults, and highlighted parental responsibility in teaching reading.
In the heart of winter, Bill Lubberden and Gerrit Gosselink are noted for an unusual occurrence. The brief item highlights their names and the odd timing of the event.
On January 15 1839 Colonel Thomas Cox urged inserting the words to be called Towa City in a bill before the House of Representatives to locate the territorial seat of government in Johnson County.
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