17 Feb 1936
Page 1
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Newspaper
Washington Evening Journal
Location
Washington, Iowa, United States of America
Date
Feb 17, 1936
Page
1
A Muscatine column notes the Rebekah lodge skipped its regular meeting due to a coal shortage, marking a rare 80 year event in the town since the lodge’s 1858 organization amid the coldest winter in 117 years.
Des Moines report notes Mrs Ede Silvers of Batavia uses hickory nuts in her stove to extend dwindling fuel supply. Nearby farmers discuss using soybeans as supplementary fuel to cope with shortages.
In Burlington One Des Moines county a pheasant wandered from its enclosure and ventured into a backyard. Mrs. E N Flynn reported seeing the bird eat the breakfast she had placed outside for birds, seeking cover as it ate. The sight surprised her as the pheasant claimed the yard for breakfast.
A fragment notes Iowa temperatures in February 1935 with highs around 48 degrees and lows near 34. It recalls a week when thermometer readings stayed above freezing and four days reached into the forties.
Bert Johnson aged 22 of Yorktown received eight years at Anamore Reformatory and a $200 fine after being convicted of manslaughter in the death of his father on a lonely country road New Years Eve. Defense begged for clemency but District Judge GG W Brown pronounced the sentence. Neighbors had circulated petitions with 1,009 signatures asking for leniency.
Ice delivery to Cetetoy Emmetsburg was blocked by snowed roads and temperatures have dipped to 36 degrees below zero. Homes faced two days without ice but residents improvised by placing food outside to preserve perishables.
A College Avenue Church of Christ resolution urging the closure of liquor stores and similar institutions during the full crisis was passed unanimously. Introduced by Charles D. Reed, a U S meteorologist and church elder chair, it will go to the Des Moines Ministerial Association for immediate action.
Iowa City Prof A C Tester of the Iowa Geological Survey announced gravel samples from the A M Houser farm near Centerville taken December 15 1935 showed no gold of commercial value after analysis in three laboratories.
University of Iowa astronomer Prof. Charles Wylie urges residents to report any meteor sightings over the next ten nights. He notes a unusual, nearly periodic meteor visitor has appeared between the 19th and 25th of nine months, with no known cause.
Reports from Clinton indicate the Mississippi River at Mle Uso measured 86 inches deep the thickest in fifty years. The extreme rise sparks concern for nearby towns and local authorities as crews monitor levees and shoreline changes.
London reports that Great Britain dismissed Italy's note of protest against the mutual aid pact with Mediterranean countries. Britain stated there is no purpose in prolonging discussion and affirmed the pact as a protective measure surrounding Italy.
Addis Ababa reports a southern front victory and denies a northern defeat. Ethiopian spokesman says Italian claims of occupying Dessye are unfounded and insists Makale area conditions remain unchanged.
The state liquor control commission set store hours from 1 PM to 7 PM amid a coal shortage. Local rules apply where in effect. otherwise the six hour afternoon limit governs state stores.
A mob stormed Madrid central prison amid election defeat fears. A boy was killed and 17 injured as guards fired. Police did not intervene to stop other riots calling for political prisoners release. Reports claimed a revolutionary committee formed with unconfirmed headquarters.
Washington churches led a fuel conservation effort by keeping three houses of worship unheated yesterday. An evening union service at United Presbyterian followed morning gatherings with Methodists and Baptists. Rev. D Chalmers Fulton presided and ministers from Baptist Evangelical and Methodist churches spoke, advocating moral renewal and unity.
Des Moines reports a heavy snow blanket across Iowa with up to five inches in Sioux City and widespread disruption to rail and highway traffic. Federal officials forecast colder weather and snow moving east tonight, with 30 below in northern Iowa and 20 below in the south. Roads remain blocked in many counties as county WPA workers clear drifts and primary routes stay open only with plows.
Madrid reports that the red left coalition won a decisive victory in yesterday's general election and the government proclaimed a nationwide state of alarm. Premier Portela was authorized to declare a state of siege if the situation requires it.
Baptist young people led a Happy Hour program with David Fulton directing and William Hesseltine reading scripture. The program featured soloists Charles Murdock and Paul Campbell, a vocal duet by Kathryn Vacha and Lucille Hesseltine, a humorous reading by Lee Moore, and readings by Dale Carstensen with Mrs. M. Carstensen at the piano and Bertha Leichert as trombone accompanist. Next week the Presbyterian young people will run the program and the Washington community players the following week.
Harold Mangold reports his 502 South Fourth avenue home a total loss after a daytime blaze. Firefighters fought freezing hydrants and broken hoses amid unclear origin, with upper floor furnishings destroyed and contents likely covered by insurance. Neighbors alerted by Mrs Mangold as crews investigated attic or roof chimney causes. Five at Swift Farm Home roof blaze reported Sunday morning, contained to a small area.
Miss Laura Binspalk of the public school system announced that the diphtheria toxoid treatments scheduled at the YMCA tomorrow have been postponed again. The new date is two weeks hence on March 3, believed to ensure better weather and a higher quality vaccine administration.
Two cars of the Golden State Limited derailed near Seymour Iowa, but passengers escaped injury as the Rock Island train wreck disrupted the fast service this February.
Oskaloosa Iowa Feb 17 Frank C Porter 58 locomotive engineer on the M and St L railroad was killed today when another engine backed into his as he worked beneath his locomotive He leaves a widow and a son.
Insurance covers the incident as neighbors were summoned by telephone and quickly fought the blaze with a few buckets of water. The Farmers' Mutual truck could not reach the scene due to heavy snow, but neighbors prevented the fire from spreading.
Des Moines reports penalties for delinquent property taxes set by the state auditor to be added by county treasurers. Rates range from 3.45 to 42 percent, with higher levies for earlier years: 1930 to 1929 show rising percentages while 1935 late half taxes incur 3.75 percent, and 6 percent if full-year taxes stay unpaid.
Des Moines Iowa Feb 17 recurring turnover in retail firms averages once every four years. T C Hutchinson state sales tax director reported annual 16000 in new sales tax permits. He noted about fifty new permits daily and 66000 retailers overall, with 661,568 currently active permits issued since April 1934 totaling 99182 permits.
Old timers boast of colder winters as records show the mercury at 42 below zero during the winter of 1884 85 in Fort Dodge. The prolonged cold spell marks one of the coldest periods on record for the era.
Delphos marked the 400th anniversary of the first English Bible with a Bible printed in 1797 owned by Mrs. Cora Fisher. The event highlighted historic printing and local heritage as residents gathered to view the relic.
The U S Supreme Court held TVA law constitutional in a case from minority stockholders of the Alabama Power Company challenging the sale of transmission lines. The ruling applies only to Wilson dam at Muscle Shoals and does not settle TVA broader powers or future actions.
The senate voted a direct appropriation of 1.73 billion to redeem bonds issued to veterans for adjusted service certificates.
Washington February 17 the rules committee reported favorably a resolution authorizing a congressional investigation into the financing of the Townsend plan indicating an inquiry is likely to proceed.
Professor Edwin Kurtz of the University of Iowa electrical engineering staff predicts commercial television will arrive within five years. He says cheaper sending and receiving sets and further experimentation will bring sets into common use as current models quickly outmoded.
The United Presbyterian prayer meeting will be held at Shenman's funeral home on Wednesday evening at 8 o'clock.
Kenneth White of the Jones Funeral Home intended to attend an Iowa basketball game in Iowa City but traffic delays prevented him from reaching the venue before the game ended. He had left at 6 20 and encountered heavy one way traffic en route.
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