Page 1 of 16 Mar 1933 Issue of Smethport M Kean County Democrat in Smethport, Pennsylvania

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Smethport Mckean County Democrat (Newspaper) - March 16, 1933, Smethport, Pennsylvania Mckean county Democrat volume 58 Russell Lindsley publisher Smethport pa., thursday March l6, 1933 terms�?$2.00 per year. No. La big Gas co. May bring offices to this Borough forge of Abs tractors work at court House it is understood that the Start of deep Gas Well drilling in the Smethport Anticline in this area this Spring will bring the head office of a Large Gas company to Smethport if the first deep Well tests in this Pioneer shallow Sand Gas Field prove As successful As anticipated. These offices would bring upwards of 75 employees and families to Smethport it is said. The Atlantic Seaboard company is understood to be preparing to sink a deep Gas Well near Marvindale in the near future. The first test of the Smethport Anticline near Oswayo Potter county recently brought in a 12 million foot Gasser for John Cunningham of Rixford and the Cunningham corporation. Another 13-million foot Well on the Smethport Anticline was struck about the same time by the Wittmer co. At Greenwood n. Y. A number of Abs tractors employed by Large Gas companies Are inspecting deed books at the office of Albert Anderson Mckean county recorder in the court House Smethport. The close approach of deep Gas Well drilling on the Smethport Anticline causes the companies holding leases in Smethport and Vicinity to Check their holdings and acquire new territory if any is available. The Atlantic Seaboard co. Which is reported to be preparing to Drill to the Oriskany Sand in the Vicinity of Marvindale has had an abstract or working in the court House for Over six months. The United natural Gas co. Has also had representatives looking Over the records of deeds for some time past. Geo. J. Bowers a Well known abstract or. Who was formerly stationed in Coudersport county seat of Potter county arrived in Smethport last week and will remain for an extended period or. And mrs. Bowers have leased an apartment in the Fry building on main Street. Ju06e Bouton Home condition is improved i judge j. W. Bouton of Mckean county was Able to return Home this week from Bradford where he was confined to the Home of his daughter mrs. Donald Bovaird last week by a severe attack of illness. Gratifying improvement is reported in the Well known Jurist s condition. County Home nurse Dies at Home near Warren miss Mary j. Bachop. Nurse at the Mckean county Home. Smethport for Many years passed away at her Home near Warren pa., monday night. Miss Bachop who was 76 years of age left Smethport about a month ago due to ill health. Deceased came to the county Home As nurse in 1914, shortly after supt and mrs. C. O. Taylor took charge of the institution and had been employed there Ever since. Previous to coming to the Mckean county Home. Miss Bachop was employed at the Warren state Hospital for a number of years. Miss Bachop was highly skilled in her profession and always ministered efficiently to her patients at the Home. Funeral services will be held at the Home near Warren this afternoon at 1 00 of clock and burial will be made there. United natural gis co. Reidt to acquire Rew co. Negotiations for the Purchase of the hew City Gas company by the United natural Gas co. Have been completed and the Pennsylvania Public service commission has been asked to officially approve the transaction. This latter action is Reg ded merely As a formality. The United natural company assumes the service in hew beginning March i according to the agree sent which has been pending for some time. A Large number of meters were connected with the lines of the hew Gas co., a Community Enterprise when it was organized several years ago but the Nur Riber of which has decreased rapidly lately. This loss was chiefly due to the fact that the company purchased Gas from the United natural at Coleville at a Cost of 65c per 1000 cubic feet. The Rew company was compelled to charge Consumers 90c per 1000 cubic feet and could not make expenses even at that rate. The United natural company will charge Rew City Consumers 65c per thousand cubic feet in addition to a service charge of 60c per month for each meter. Officers of the old Rew company were president j. B. Walker vice president Fred Rawson Secretary a m. Dunn treasurer e. J. Hyatt manager Homer Thomas. The United natural has also taken Over retail Gas systems in Duke Center and Rixford. Bill would provide Smethport Post office Washington mar. 3�?construction of More than a thousand new Post offices one of them in Mckean county under the plan of mass production similar to that developed by Henry Ford for automobile manufacture is provided by a Bill introduced in the House by representative Clyde Kelly r., a the new Post office in Mckean county under the Kelly plan would be at Smethport Kelly said today he has secured for his Bill the backing of the House committee on pos offices and Post roads As Well As that of a number of influential House members. Standardization would be the keynote of the program for which a $100,000,000 Bond Issue would be authorized under the Kelly plan. Buildings would be authorized Only for those cities which now have annual postal receipts Between $8,000 and $20,000 and the unit Cost of each Post office built would be limited to $50,-000, including a site. The Federal government has never owned a Post office building in Smethport. The present quarters Are leased from j. C. Looker of Bradford. Valley couple explosion victims severely burned by a terrific explosion of kerosene Oil at their Home at nearby Farmers Valley about 6 00 o clock last evening or. And mrs Ray Lushbaugh each aged about 40, Are in the Bradford Hospital the explosion occurred while or Lushbaugh was priming the fire in the Kitchen stove with fuel. The explosion sprayed the couple and their clothing ignited. They succeeded in extinguishing their burning clothing and stopped the fire communicating to the House which was not damaged. Or. Lushbaugh was burned about the face hands and leg while mrs. Lushbaugh was burned about the head bark arms. Hands and legs an ambulance was summoned from Bradford and the explosion victims were taken to the Bradford Hospital where the severity of their Burns had not been determined up to this morning. A the Lushbaugh live on the Dibble place on the Hill above Marsh Brothers store on the Bradford Road. A neighbor living a half mile away saw the Flash of the explosion. Tax league asks officials to Cut letter sent to every m Kean county employee pursuant to its program for Economy of government the Mckean county tax league on monday addressed a letter to judge j. W. Bouton All elected officers at the court House Smethport and to the county salary Board asking that All officials receiving More than $100 per month salary be Cut 20 per cent and those receiving less than $100 per month be Cut to per cent in keeping with the general drop in incomes and wages in All walks of civil life. The leagues letter which is self explanatory follows dear sir a at a meeting of District representatives of the Mckean county tax league and the county commissioners held at the commissioners office in Smethport on wednesday afternoon. March 1st, 1933, the following Resolution was adopted by the members and representatives of the league. Resolved that the salaries of the county officials under the jurisdiction or control of the salary Board or the court and which Are less than $100.00 per month should be Cut 10%, and those salaries which Are More than $100 00 per month should be Cut 20%. We believe this Resolution to express the opinion of a very Large percentage of the taxpayers of the county and that it is entitled to real consideration by you. We also believe that the voters of the county have a right to know How the officials in charge View this matter and ask your written expression on it addressing your reply to Bradford Pennsylvania very truly yours Mckean county tax league Acker s Beautiful restaurant open the new restaurant of Lawrence Acker in the Bacon building main Street which replaces the one destroyed by the recent main Street fire was opened for business monday. Or Acker has gone to great expense to provide Smethport with one of the finest restaurants to be found in this Section. The Interior of this attractive business place has been newly altered and decorated and a Beautiful equipment of mirrored Back bar counters seats Booths tables and chairs installed. The Model Kitchen is equipped with the last word in cooking ranges and electric refrigerators mrs. Burg Chadwick injured in falling mrs. Burg Chadwick suffered a painful sprained right ankle and foot in falling on a Slippery sidewalk near the Grange Bank Comer on main Street last thursday. The Well known local lady was attended by her husband or. Burg Chadwick it was found that mrs. Chadwick also suffered a broken Bone in the injured foot and will he incapacitated at her main Street Home for some time. Mrs Chadwick s condition has been serious. Leona Hogarth s new play has premiere Leona Hogarth. Smethport actress has the Femine Lead in a a far away which opened for a new York run monday night. Miss Hogarth and her new play were splendidly received. The local actress recently completed a two years engagement with Eugene of Neil s a mourning becomes Electra followed by a Short run in the theatre guilds production Quot the american new York newspapers this week have carried Many portraits of the Beautiful local stage Star. Moratorium on sheriffs sales not effective Here last week governor Pinchot issued a proclamation asking sheriffs of the various Pennsylvania counties to declare a moratorium on sheriffs sales until april 3 the matter was left entirely to the discretion of the officials no sales Are scheduled in Mckean county until March 31, and in View of the fact that this Date is Only three Days from april 3, sheriff Fred t Ludwick decided to conduct the sales. J they had been advertised before the i governor issued the proclamation extend period for paying electric and Gas Bills the Smethport natural Gas co. And the Borough electric department both of which ordinarily demand payment of Bills on or before the 15th of each month have extended the period this month five Davs until March 20. This Extension was granted on account of the banking Holiday and will be greatly appreciated by patrons of the Gas company and electric department postpone convention of township supervisors the annual convention of the Mckean county association of township supervisors which was to have been held on March 30, has been deferred according to an announcement. The session will be held probably at a later Date. Economic conditions was the reason Given for the postponement. W. L. Mix of Eldred township is president of the organization. Grade pupils of schools on daily milk ration Many of the children of the first five grades of the Borough schools have been drinking milk daily for the past few weeks one half pint each session and a decided improvement is being noticed in their health. Some have gained several pounds in the time. Those who can for the milk do so while the rest is furnished by the state Board of health. Senate refuses to modify Blue Laws by a vote of 26 to 24 the Pennsylvania Senate on tuesday killed the Bill to Amend the 1794 Blue Laws to permit sunday sports. Senator g. Mason Owlett of this District voted with the majority against the amendment. Death of Gus Langstrom gun Langstrom. Aged 68. Formerly of Crosby who had been a guest at the Mckean county Home in Smethport for about a year died in the Kane Community Hospital last saturday. He had been a patient in the Hospital since March 2. No relatives appeared to claim the body and it was buried at the county Home cemetery wound son held Bradford March 13�?gun shot wounds inflicted in a quarrel in his Home at Lewis run on february 20 proved fatal to Dominic Garibaldi bal Otta 49 he died in the Bradford Hospital at i p in. Yesterday. A lot to. According to testimony Given to investigators was shot by his son William 19, after he had wounded mrs. Balotta in the foot. He leaves his widow mrs. Anna Balotta a son William and a daughter Theresa. The body was removed to stills mortuary. Aim spoiled by son Balotta had been threatening to kill his wife police were told and on at least two previous occasions had shot. Both times his aim was disturbed by the son it was after the second attempt on the life of mrs. Balotta that he was arrested by Constable Bert Nolan under the new uniform firearms act when he had gone into the Street at his Home carrying a pistol. He was one of the first in the state to be prosecuted under this Law. Sent to the workhouse by the Mckean courts. Balotta returned about a month before the last alleged attack. The last affray occurred the son said. When Balotta Drew his gun to shoot mrs. Balotta while she was preparing lunch. William shoved the table at which he and his father were sitting against him spoiling his aim. The Bullet wounded mrs Balotta in the foot. In the ensuing struggle William was struck on the forehead by a Rifle Stock going upstairs to obtain an old shot gun. The son was returning to the first floor he told police when his l electric Gold i Keating school Board cuts salaries slightly the Keating township school Board at its meeting in Smethport last week voted a 5% reduction in the salary of teachers for the term of 1933-34 the reduction also applies to ail salaried employees of the boat with the exception of janitors who receive a very Small remuneration and includes the treasurer Secretary and supervising principal Keating township the same As All other school districts was faced with a grave problem of balancing the budget. It is the first in Mckean county to reduce salaries and will also curtail other expenses in every possible Way the saving from salary reduction of 5% amounts to $1100 per year at first thought some people May believe that a 5% Cut is insignificant but it should be remembered that the township teachers do not draw fat salaries like the moguls of education in county and state who Are still on a pre depression wage scale the minimum salary in the township is $100 per month for an 8-month term with the average recompense being $110 per month or $880 per year All contracts have been suspended 1 in the townships and new ones will be issued for the lower salaries those who Are in close Contact with the situation state that the township teachers Are taking their Cut with a True spirit of cooperation with the Board in its laudable Effort to make ends meet. Smethport Banks opened yesterday Smethport two powerful banking institutions were among the first in the state to qualify under the newly enacted banking Laws and reopened for the usual transaction of business following the nation wide Bank Holiday wednesday morning. The Grange National Bank is a member of the Federal Reserve. The Hamlin Bank and Trust co., Mckean county a oldest banking institution is under the jurisdiction of the Pennsylvania dept of banking. The local Banks did not close on March 4. When gov Pinchot declared a state banking Holiday but did on monday March 6 in compliance with president Roosevelt a Holiday order. The local Bank Holiday was in effect eight business Days local citizens cooperated splendidly in the emergency All Mckean county Banks Are now open for business and throughout the state and entire nation Hanking conditions Are just getting Back to nor-1 Mal stride. Hoarded Gold has come Hack to the j Hanks at an amazing rate and this end will Mark the end of the Hank crisis which was so ably and energetically met by our new president. The new banking Law rushed through Congress with unprecedented Speed completely reorganizes the banking system of the nation in such a manner that the country which has witnessed 2000 Bank failures in recent years will be assured that there will he no More Bank closings. Public Confidence in the nation la Banks has been restored. Treasurer Bouton improves Mckean county treasurer Edwin Bouton of Smethport who is a patient at the Johns Hopkins Hospital Baltimore where he recently underwent a delicate surgical operation to Correct a defect which developed by the breaking of a wedge of Bone which was grafted into his spine in a remarkable operation to which he submitted in Buffalo several years ago is improving satisfactorily. The popular county official who was left paralysed from the Waist Down by the recent serious turn of his condition before going to Baltimore. Is now Able to sit up daily. His rapid Progress leaves no doubt of his Complete recovery of full use of hts Back successful opening of Mccoy s new drug store the opening of the new Rexall drug store of mrs. Edna Mccoy and the Backus restaurant of mrs Lucy Backus in the former Munn Block on main Street we As largely attended and the attractive business stand was greatly admired souvenirs were Given to Over 600 visitors dancing was enjoyed during the j evening in the dining room music j being furnished by Coleman a orchestra the Munn Block was recently purchased by mrs Mccoy missionary to talk on chinese situation miss Judith Peterson who for some time has served As medical missionary in China will speak at the swedish Mission Church of Smethport next Friday evening March 17 at 7 30 of clock the friends of the Community Are cordially invited to attend this service. At present the far East is a spot of vital interest. The whole civilized world is wondering just what is Hap a pening Over there and what the final outcome will be. Through the press the average individual has. No doubt formed some opinion on these Questore but it is reasonable to believe that the most reliable information of 8 in Possession of the person who has viewed the situation first hand. First electric storm of Spring season a severe electrical storm the first of the Spring season swept this Section Early tuesday morning. Near summer warmth of temperature prevailed tuesday. We. Nellis wins Silver Star decoration win Nellis Well known local Oil Man and world War Veteran has been awarded the governments Sii j ver Star military decoration for conspicuous bravery in action during the Argonne offensive in France in 1918 or. Nellis served with c company 112th infantry of the Keystone division in France. Need another desk at emergency Relief office another desk is badly needed at j the Headquarters of the Mckean county emergency Relief Board in Smethport. Anyone having a desk they would loan the office 19 asked to Call Smethport 223. Mrs. Julia Thornton observes 97th birthday mrs Julia a Thornton one of the oldest residents of this Section of the United states celebrated her ninety seventh birthday anniversary last saturday at the Home of her son Frank Thornton with whom she resides in East Smethport a birthday dinner was served in Honor of the occasion a Large and attractively trimmed cake being a feature of the repast. Members of the family present in addition to the guest of Honor a son and daughter in Law. Or. And mrs Frank Thornton. Were her grandson. Lloyd Thornton or and mrs c. A. Canfield of Eldred the latter being a sister another sister mrs. E. C. Pattison of Smethport. And a great grandson Charles Vreeland of Bradford. A Large number of friends called at the Home during the afternoon to congratulate the esteemed lady and the Celebration was keenly enjoyed by mrs. Thornton although she was born in new York state on March la 1836, mrs. Thornton has spent most of her Long life near Here. She is enjoying Good health this Winter but stays in the House looking Forward with anticipation to the Advent of warm weather when she can enjoy Short Auto trips. Mrs Thornton is Alert mentally in spite of her advanced years and although her memory covers More than nine decades she is keenly interested in current topics of the Day. The Democrat is pleased to join with other friends in congratulating mrs Thornton on this auspicious occasion and Hopes this Good woman will be spared to enjoy Many More. Broke Arm in fall c m Benson Well known Cole Grove resident suffered a fracture of the left wrist sunday when he slipped and fell at his Home or. Robert Hamilton of Smethport attended the injured Man Comrade Sibert recovers from surgical operation Comrade James Siberts aged 90, of Smethport underwent an operation i for removal of appendix at the Kane j Community Hospital last thursday. In spite of his advanced years the j Well known local civil War veterans making a remarkable recovery a j cording to or. R. E. Hockenberry. Comrade Siberts refuses to remain in bed and will be Able to leave the Hospital in a Rew Days. A wild geese on Wing a huge flock of wild geese flew Over Smethport monday night returning North after the Winters migration to Southern climes. The honk Ings of the Eese were re mindful of the Early Day s of the automobile to address lenten service at St. Luke a miss Mary Rhodes of the Boyd fund of dioceses of Erie will be the speaker at the lenten services Friday evening at 7 30 of clock at St. Lukes episcopal Church. Paves streets helps Boro budget report for to or. Period reveals Smethport municipally owned electric Light and Power service providing splendid lighting of All Borough streets free and earning Large profits which Are not Only balancing the Borough general fund each year but Are helping to maintain streets and defray Cost of a steady paving program presents a powerful argument in favor of municipal ownership of Public utilities. A writer signing himself a Oil Man a used the graphic Story of the Smethport Borough electric department # remarkable earnings told in the 1932 Borough auditors report which was printed in the Mckean county Democrat last week showing How the earnings made possible a paving program of several important Street last summer to Aid unemployment in a communication to the Bradford Era monday to demonstrate to the people of Bradford who Are aroused Over a proposition of extending a perpetual franchise to an electric company what a municipal owned electric service Means to a town the electric system in Smethport was secured largely due to the Enterprise and foresight of the Tate j. C. Backus local inventor and owner of the Backus Novelty co. Or. Backus handled a mass of detail work in preparing preliminary surveys and plans and the continued Success of operation stands As a Monument to i civic spirit. The Smethport Conopa club the press and numerous individual citizens assisted the project then regarded As Radical by Many municipalities. Arrangements were perfected whereby the Keystone electric co., later absorbed by the West Penn Power system agreed to extend it transmission line from Ridgway through my Jewett and Hazelhurst to the Keating township line at Tbs Mckean farm. Smethport Borough built the line from this Point to Tho town a distance of about four Miles. This transmission line was used until last year when the Bradford electric co., which had taken Over the West Penn franchise Here a tend a its line from Farmers Valley and the old line was suspended but not abandoned. Original plans called for the installation of a Complete distribution system by the Borough which included erection of a modern sub station. The Borough was to have a Boulevard lighting system on main Street and bracket lights at each intersection of Side Street. The Boulevard lighting system on main Street was partly defrayed by property owners who paid $200 per Block. Borough voters approved a Bond Issue of $33,000 in the Spring of 1922 and the county commissioners advanced $12,000 00 to the Borough for service to the court House county jail and county Home. This made a total of $45,000.00 available. Electric service Here was inaugurated with a Celebration in the fall or 1922. The auditors report of Jan. I 1923 showed that there were 92 Consumers of electricity in the Borough. There were 47 ornamental lights on main Street and 99 bracket lights representing 17,750 Candle Power. Compare these figures of 1923 with those of january i. 1933. The end of the 10-year period. There Are now 565 Consumers 49 main Street lights and 130 Side Street lights producing 27,650 candlepower. The original Plant installation actually Cost $42,095.40. Constant improvements have been made in the past decade and probably the system is Worth $80,000.00 today in spite of continued on last Page col. I american legion will feast at 4-a Camp members of Bucktail Post american legion of Smethport will hold a social meeting at the a a a a Camp on the Marvin Creek Road next monday night. The regular business meeting will be held and refreshments will be served. A free will offering will be taken. Each member of the Post is in entitled to bring a world War Veteran guest. Ostrander ready to Start erection of new Block or. W. A Ostrander owner of the Corner drug store which was destroyed by the recent main Street fire informed the Democrat tuesday that he planned an Early Start on erection of a new 2-Story Brick Block at the Corner of main and state streets. He states that five tenants have already tentatively engaged offices and one living apartment in the projected Structure while Ray Dick clerk at the Mckean county sheriffs office will install a set of 4 Bowling alleys in the basement. There will be two store rooms on the main floor one of which will be occupied by the Corner drug store. Taverns to Coe Cucui univ

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