Punxsutawney Spirit, 1908-03-14

              DIGGING FENCE POSTS FOO PENCILS Snri Canal. Will Tlit'll Come Homo by Wuv ot VOL II—NO. 155 1" •  Capitol Grafters Are Found Guilty Alter Long Deliberation Motions for New Trial Made by Attorneys—Thirty Days to File Reasons. FLEET Tl VISIT AOSTIUIM THIRTEEN EASES N LIST m TM AT APRIL COURT TERM THE 6N1M0H% IS SROSSLr MALIGNEO BY NEW YORK SON MUNICIPAL WATER WORKS SUCCESSFULLY CONDUCTED PA,, SATURDAY EVENlNti, MARCfr 14, 1906 Punxsutawney Man Has Case Against Insurance Company of Pittsburg. now Cleared Away. Oil City Has Well Equipped Flam —Water Rate I .<>«•—I ndebted- STItili ANOTHKIt K«IHTCTIO\ The Farmer of Today Suffering For Follies of the Past Generations PRICE TWO CENTS P. M. MOVEMENT Mayor McCreight Details Caus- es of Timber Famine at < ... n,„u « s. Farmers- institute. \rv Anions the 2,0<7 I'rcwoni at llio International Convention. . No Winter In Florida and the Woodchuck Is Labeled a Monster Fake. THF. WKATIIKH POOR MISGUIDED ISUHDERS OPENS MONDAY APRIL 11 HnimHilSMNNLEIICH Maximum Penalty for Conspiracy Is Two 'Years With Fine of $60,000. STONE SUBPOENAED "For a town of its population Oil City has the most perfectly equipped water plant in the country. The capacity of the pumping machinery .and of reservoirs are far in excess of the daily needs of the people and the piyity of the supply, coming from drilled wells on the Seneca farm, is unquestioned. The mammoth pumping engines and the improvement in the qualty of the water have been paid for out of the earnings of the plant and without any Increase in rates for previous years. All of which speaks in most flattering terms of the business ability of the men forming the board. And now they are in a position, according to apparent facts, to give the consumer the benefit of a liberal reduction in rates that were a 1 rea d y r ea so n a b I e." "A reduction in the present liberal rates of water is highly probable. This department has wiped out all its outstanding bonds and floating indebtedness and has $23,000 in its treasury. Last night a communication Was received from the board asking councils to sanction the collection of 1907 rates for 1908. A communication was read from Controller Mu'.laley setting forth the wry satisfactory financial condition of the water department and suggesting a reduction. The argument was effective and a resolution that councils non cuncur in the request of the water board was passed. That a borough or city ran .successfully and economically operate a municipal water works. Is demonstrated practically by the following excerpt from tiie Oil City Derrick: MUST HAVE BOOM limn DELEGATION The visit of the battleships to Puget Sound will be made some time between the conclusion of the grand review in San Francisco Bay, on May 8, and the date qjl the sailing over the Pacific. Leaving Australia the vessels are to go to Manila, and while in the Philippines the annual fall target practice will be held. Thence the return will be made to the United States by way of Suez, stopping only at such ports as are necessary for coaling purposes. The date of their return to the United States is dependent entirely upon the amount of time required for the target practice in the Philippines. Seeretary Metcalf announeed the future movement of the fleet after the Cabnct meeting yesterday. It will leave San Franclseo on July (J "for our Pacific possessions," as Mr. Metcalf style it. The vessels will first touch al Hawaii, where they will eoal. After that they will go to Samoa, following this up by a visit to Australia, where they will stop at the eities of Melbourne and Sydney, the invitation from the Australian government to visit that country having been supplemented by a more cordial one from the British Ambassador, Mr. Bryce. WASHINGTON, D. t\, March 14.— Admiral Evans' battleship fleet, after leaving San Francisco, will visit Hawaii, Samoa, Melbourne and Sidney, Australia, the Philippines and return to New York by way of the Suez Canal.BANK HAS IADT CASHIER MuHsnrti imrtl* I I'hh'd us to I'rrslckmllal lanili(lllH-—Til ft or lltiglifs. T. S. McCoy and W. F. Nugent, copartners under the firm name of Mc- Coy & Nugent, vs. The Miller Construction Co., a corporation. Assunip- Trr "■ H. C. Carrier, F. H. Carrier and Walter Carrier, partners as Summervllle Supply Co., vs. Grant Seheafnocker. Trespass. William Sohuekers and Fred Smith, doing business under the firm name of Schuckers & Smith, vs. \Y. T. Cox. Assumpsit. Charles Teic'iiert vs. The Rochester £ Pittsburg Coal & Iron Co. Trespass.Lena Dinger vs. Borough of Reynoldsville. Appeal, etc. Jennie J- Shaffer vs. Borough of Reynoldsvllle. Appeal, ete. Jacob L. Dunmlr«> vs. Charles W. Dunmlre. Ejectment. G. W. Fuller vs. Edward Mulhol- U n. Assumpsit. The Ullman-Einstein Co., a corpora tion, vs. \V. H. Neal anil T. S. Neal. Assumpsit. Asa W. Sykes vs. Cascade Coal & Coke Co., owner or reputed owner, and J. P. Kennedy, contractor. Sci. Fa. Sur. Mech. Lien. K. M. Blose vs. R. H. Miller. Trespass.Clifton G. Hughes vs. Central Accident Insurance Company, of Pittsburg, Pa. Trespass. • Louisa Cowley vs. The Rochester & Pittsburg Coal & Iron Co. Trespass. Cyrus H. Blood, prothonotary, this week issued the Court Calendar for the April term of the Court of Common Pleas which will begin Monday, April 27. The thirteen cases listed for trial are as follows: I Hutii M. Hykrs Ik filwlwl lo I 'ilJ Vacancy Chiiwh! by Howard** Itesiftnation In Kykcsvillc Hank. "NOODLES" LECTURE t row<!<•<! House Hears king of Xowsie*—Twelve I.eeluiTs During Miss Kuth M. Sykes, of this place, was elected cashier to fill the vacancy of O. L. Howard, resigned. The directors of the bank met in the bank is ItapUlly IU'Iiik Organized, Ami Present yimHers ure liiiul<M|UUt<-. Work of It. H. the Week—Ton in Schools. With (he Jefferson Theater crowd- Miss Sykes has been the assistant cashier at our bank for over a year elected the cashier. building Wednesday afternon ant. "The truth is that the groundhog 1* u stupid and inconsequent animal. Ho "Prom Baltimore south the weather since February 'd has been more than normally beneficent. There have been ugly days, of eourse, as might be expected at this season, but in the main there were mild winds and pleasant skies and gracious landstapes. At Alexandria, Va., for example, this dispensation was especially obvious. From the neighborhood of Richmond. Charlottesville, Danville, Charlotte. Greensboro and so on down to Augusta and Atlanta, the U'S lm:»ny is overwhelmingly concurrent. The groundhog has been discredited. The prophecies based on the absurd old superstition are set at naught. No longer need we give them serious or respectful audience. "The postulate is that on February ; of each year the groundhog emer- t ges from his winter retreat and takes' a look around. If the skies arc j Clear and bright lie sees his shadow, hustles back into the hole, and for ; six weeks there is a succession of ; sleete, snows, rain and so on. If ; the sky is overcast the groundhog sees no shadow .»n earth or elsewhere, and the weather during the prescribed period is exceptionally beautiful. The superstition is essentially Southern, I and from Atlanta to Baltimore it has ruled with an iron hartrt since I the days of pur grandparents' Infancy, if not longer. Season after season unthinking thousands have hailed the groundhog as a prophet of infallible virtue. In Greenville, S. C., or Charlotte, X. or Lynchburg, or Richmond, Va., or all over the South-  ern circuit, the faithful have found confirmation, have celebrated it with' grear noise and called heaven and earth, to witness tin- impressive and ' unanswerable miracle. Hut this year the watchers have been busy all along | the line and the groundhog is at last exposed. "Nearly six weeks," says the Sun, "have passed since groundhog day, the second day of February, and we think it safe to say that as a weather prophet this ridiculous animal is discredited in the house of his friends. It is a serious matter, we know, to attack an ancient and honorable superstition. Here, however, is a peculiarly flagrant instancy. Head the following. Oh y»> disciples of the only long-distance weather prognostleator! and, having in mind what we have just seen the past six weeks, bear witness to the traducements of the mast Brobdingnaglan blunder that was ever couched in cold ink: The rays of the New York Sun have pene!rated, beneficently, and otherwise, most of the problems that concern the inhabitants of the earth, hut we are prepared to affirm or swear, either or both, that they never insinuated themselves into the irregular cavity in which are sheathed the convolutions of a Cano© Ridge woodchuck.BOSTON, Mass., Mar. 14.—Massachusetts has recently received personal visits from both Taft and Hughes, the results of which has been to make more manifest the probability that the old Bay State will send an uninstructed delegation to the Republican national convention. The State appears to be pretty evc/nly divided in regard to its preference for the Presidential nomination. Between the Secretary of War and the Governor of New York the Republicans find it hard to make a definite choice. This section of the State is inclined toward Taft, while the western half of tjie State, probably because of its proximity t<» New York looks with increasing favor upon tlie Hughes boom. The same division exists between the two Massachusetts Senators, Lodge favoring Taft, while Crane, who is the most powerful Hepublican leader of Massachusetts so far as the western portion of the State is concerned, is an avowed Hughes man. Senator Crane is making a hot light for an uninstructed delegation. If his advise is followed by Massachusetts the effect in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont may be of consequence. Continued on page two.) Sll DEATHS II MOUTH MODE MONEY FOR JOHN The Sykesville bank is one of the Very fe"w ftanks in this section to l,»ave a lady cashier. The directors will have another meeting soon and an assistant cashier will be elected.— Sykesville Post-Dispatch. Miss Sykes is a graduate of the l)u- Bpis College of Business, has a higli ambition, is honest and industrial, always watchfiful and far-seeing in the interest of her employers. Wo know that Miss Sykes is well qualified for the position she now holds and will keep the institution constantly in its onward and upward move in importance and high standing.banking institution. She has been the bookkeeper for the lumber firm of A. W. Sykes but will soon resign from her duties at that office. and has become well acquainted with the duties of ;i cashier and with the management of the business of a The Family ol' Mrs. Catherine Spain* Is by (lie Cjrim K<*ti|x»r. Oil King IUmjoIvos *3,750,000 as His Share of Dividend* For Past 81 x Months. BUTTE, Mont., March 14. — Mo a- 1 gre advices received last night from Big Timber state that the losses resulting from the destructive tire there in the afternoon will probably exceed 1 $100,00.0. A high wind seriously hampered the work of the tire lighters and at times the (lames had free rein. Big Timber is the county seat of Sweetgrass County and a thriving town of 2,500 inhabitants. A number of businnoss blocks and residences were consumed. MONTANA TOWN IflltK LAYS WASTI. Huston originally Intended the suite for the use of the judges of the appellate courts, but they Were never needed. One of the rooms vat occupied by the State Board of Charities until the Railroad Commission was organised; the* the Board of Charities moved across the corridor to one of the House committee rooms. The Board of Public Grounds and Buildings has arranged to give the Commission more room. At present the ofllces are located In the east wing on the third floor. The suite consists of four rooms, connected by a blind corridor running alongside the main corridor of the wing. The commission is continuing the work of getting its office force into shape and Is listing the corporation** over which it has supervision. In addition to tin- circulars which are being sent opt to the railroads, similar communications are being mailed to trolley, steamboat, canal. pipe line, express, steamboat, canal, pipe line, express telephone and telegraph companies. So far the communications sent out from the offices of the commission merely cite the provisions of the law and ask that the commission bo furnished with the names of the corporation officials with which it will deal. This is because the railroads are not doing the business which they do at normal periods. If business was at a high tide the commission would undoubtedly be recievlng many more complaints of discrimination in the matter of cars, rates and similar phases of the business. HARRIS BIT RG, March 14.—While the State Railroad Commission has not yet got its affairs arranged so that It can go ahead with public hearings, it is known that the complaints received are not nearly so many as it Was anticipated would be the caije. The death of her husband occurred February 14, and other deaths followed closely. Mrs. Spahr is completely prostrated from grief, now that her father, husband and four children have been taken away from her. Willis, one-year-old son, died this morning from measles; yesterday Mrs. Spahr's son Jesse died of spinal meningitis.PITTSBURG, March 14. — Again death visited the home of Mrs. Catherine Spahr here, making six deaths In the family within fou rweeks. By United Press. MERCY ItECOMMENHEl) " VEAKS" IN* THE PEN I "YVe cry against the predatory I rjcjj—we rail against the trusts — j we .seek n remedy for all the ills in the making of desregurdcd laws — already we are burdened to suffocation with obnoxious laws, and not In the distant future we shall rise up and repeal nil laws and begin over by making fewer and simpler laws for the regula.iou of our commonwealth.""Wo have the authority of the U. S Forester that the farmers are digging up fence posts to sell to help : supply the shortage that exists Id material for pencils anft cigar boxes; he also says the wagon industry it nearing its end for lack of hickory* and that the cooperage trade is In like condition for lack of oak. Newspaper pulp ha>? advanced 33 per cent, in the past year and will advance, and what Is being done to prevent it? States. ' Tii secretary of agriculture has told us that the scientists show that when the trees are nil gone, human life iMiiiint e\ st and the Pnlted States Forester fallows lately with the statement that the forests will be exhausted in twenty years, from which I Rather that we can only see about t\\ent> years of future to live in; on top of this 1m the authority of the State of Pennsylvania to the effect that unless the natural Increase of plant lice is curbed in some way— human life will be impossible in ten years; this is still less comforting, especially to those of us who have children who must face the day of reckoning. We know how our own section was stripped of trees in a day. and we have the authority of Hon. S. H. Klliotl that the destruction here is even l«-s appalling than in other sec-ions of the United "flow man behaved when once Installed in this provincial home, is writ in regions of reckless ravishment; the tragedy is told in treeless tracts terrible to contemplate; in millions of acrew <t' burnt and barren wastes and miles of charred and twisted trunks. mu> sentinels of the nwful desolation Inflicted by the hand «»f man; hideous skeletons of the once proud pariarchs planted there by the Parent of us all. "Mother Nature turned us loose In her great domain of field and forest, already stocked with furs and fins and feathers, and bid us welcome; she posted rules on every hill and vale and rock and tree that man might know his limitation-; laws she proclaimed in every season and signs she swung to every passing breeze, ihat man might know the price to pay, and the penalty for violation. when undertaken with ;i vigor—wo overdid it; and now we IInd that wo have to reverse ourselves and must expend the same energy and enthu- Hiams to recover our forests, that we one expended ro destroy them. "Woods and water are the subjects of most Importance to the farmer, yet few of lis appreciate them. Tim© wa.s when the tree destroyer was considered the best -citizen and the fanner who was most successful In that direction, was the best farmer. For several generations past it was our ambition to rid ourselves of the forests—any way was good, so it was done —- and the quicker the better. This policy was pursued until successfulWe havt> accomplished that end — but like everything else that we do w eek terday by Major McCrelght before tho Clearfield County Farmers' Institute, which is in session in Duftois this a few with compunction, the following address which was delivered yes- The pioneers of Jefferson, Clearfield and Elk counties, now living, and in fact the yeomanry of a much later date will read with Interest, and not ADVANCE IN PRICES Rev. C. H. Clarke, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, anu Rev. \V. S. Wilson, pastor <»f the United Brethren Church, returned yesterday from Plttesburg. where on Thursday, they attended the International convention of the Young People's Missionary movement: The cost of holding tho convention amounted to >8.500. $5,000 of which was furnished by the Pittsburg convention committee. The total registration of tho convention was 2,07 7, and tho total average session attendance was 3,000. Thirty-one states were represented and Pennsylvania with 1.255 delegates had the largest representation of the convention. One hundred and twenty-five delegates attended from Canada, placing it in the lead of the foreign countries represented.The statistics show that there were present at the sessions of the convention 656 pastors, 76 missionaries, 73 board secretaries, 27 editors of religious periodicals, 68 superintendents of local Sunday Schools. 151 teachers of local Sunday Schools. 5". local church officers, 176 local young people's society leaders. 35 leaders of district and state young people's societies. is colleges and seminary processors and presidents, 30 mission board officers. 61 officers local church women's societies, 53 district and general officers of women's societies, s V. M. A. secretaries, 19 V. \V < A. secretaries, 39 students in theological seminaries outside of Pittsburg, 'i.2 district and State church lenders. 10 general church officers, 14 general i Sunday school officers. 12 general of! ticers of other organizations and 8 I secretaries of the Y. P. M. tnovemen In the Abscense of Trees Human Life Cannot Exist. Nearing That End. Tonight there will be an entire change of program of the vaudeville acts. At the Jefferson Theater last night a. good sized crowd witnessed the vaudeville and the amateur performance which followed. Three acts for thirty minutes convulsed the audience. Miss Larinka sang "Be My Honey Hoy" in good voice and pleasing stag«- manner. "Bob" Deiblebliss, the booti black, did a turn that made a distinct | hit. In Arthur Deming's makeup he, | brought out laugh after laugh. His | ; songs, though not of a comical turn. j | brought the laughs and results, for: "Bobby" won the prize. Vicing wjth "Bob" for hours, was Henry Marsh, who. in a rube regalia, sang two songs fresh from the farm, and cracked several Jokes, not quite so fresh. During the week "Noodles" has de- | llvcred twelve lectures, ten in the schools, one at the barracks of Troop I). State Police, and the one this morning In the theater. His advice throughout has been excellent and with his breezy twentieth century manner of giving It, much good snould be the result. "Noodles' concluded his two-hours' talk with several songs of a comical and instructive nature. The audience was appreciative and the thunderous applause several times kept "Noodles" silent for three or four minutes, and those who arc acquainted with him will appreciate the fact that that is going some. He Impressed upon the minds of the children the necessity of an education. and their opportunity for gaining one here under the excellent school system. Ills advice against alcoholic liquors and cigarette smoking was especially strong. Ho dealt at length upon Chlna'own in New York, under tire in the (Ihett.» district, sweat shops, the New York schools, the newsies of Now York. th«' advantage children in small towns hold over their city kindred, and the great men of today who started life as newsboys. ed to the doors this morning. "Noodles" talked to the school children and their parents. AUAIX SHOUT AND UGLY WASHINGTON, D. C\, March 14.— President Roosevelt yesterday added to the Ananias club Jesse B. Hoote, a Salt Lake attorney. Hoote called on the President a few days ago to intercede for a man named Shepherd sentenced to prison for sending obscene matter through the mails. The President forcefully expressed himself regarding the Shepherd class of men. Hoote repeated the remarks, but a White House statement today says in doing so he Indulged in many falsehoods. "All but Mr. Mathues and Mr. Shumaker," said Lyman D. GLlbert, counsel for Snyder and Mathues. "But. of course, this is a misdemeanor case and their presence is not necessary." Clerk' Worden ttfen asked the jurymen to rise and he again read the verdict to them and asked them if it was so rendered. All the jurymen answered that it was and Judge Kunkel, before dismissing them, said: "We congratulate you upon having reached the end of your labor. It has. been one of great length and we thank you for your attention." Mr. Ro*hermel for Sandereson, Mr. Gilbert for Snyder and Mathues and P. A. Hose for Shutnaker then in turn made motions for new trials for their clients, asking for thirty days In which to file their reasons for another trial. "We fyave no objections," said District Attorney Weiss. "We will grant the request," replied Judge Kunkel. Mr. Weiss then said that he believed the bail of the convicted men was large enough and need not be increased. defendants are al! under about $80,000 bail, or about $2,000 In each case. It was (Announced yesterday that; the next case to be tried will be No 229, involving an alleged fraud of $17,789.70 In bills for metallic furniture. In this action, which is a cfiarge of conspiracy, Congressman H. Burd Camel, Architect Huston and Snyder, Mathues and Shumaker are named as defendants, w\th Frank Irvine, the traveling auditor for 8nyder .made the measurementa or the metal casing. Thla morning the C.ourt listened to applications for severance, which V' were made on behalf of Huston by a. Continued on page two.) HARRISBUKG, March 14. — The jury in the Capitol graft case rendered its verdict at 8:55 o'clock last night, after being out eight hours and thirty-six minutes. Only Sanderson and Snyder were in the room, but the other defendants were represented by attornys. As conspiracy Is a misdemeanor the defendants were jiot compelled to be present. The maximum penalty for conspiracy is two years and a fine of $1,000. The minimum penalty is left to the discretion of the Court, but there must be both fine and imprisonment.John H. Sanderson, of Philadelphia, the trimmer; William L. Mathues, of Media, the former State Treasurer; Dr. William P. Snyder, of Spring City, the former Auditor General, and James M. Shumaker, of Johnstown, former Superintendent of PubUc Grounds and Buildings, were found guilty of conspiracy to defraud the State in the furnishing of the new Capitol. ' umbrella and Snyder chewed Vigorously on a bit of gum, his son, Dr. Thomas Snyder, who had been an almost constant companion during the trial, being close beside him. The room was crowded, many wo-y men being in attendance. Sanderson sat alone at one side of a table with both hands clenched tight about When the jurors had been seated Clerk of the Court James H. Worden arose and said: "Gentlemen of the jury, have you agreed upon a verdict?" "We have," said the jurymen, Foreman Dunkel handing the indictment upon which was written the verdict to Mr. Worden. He read the verdict and then said:. "You say you find the defendants, John H. Sanderson, William L. Mathues, William P. Snyder and James M. Shumaker, guilty in the manner and form In which they stand indicted?" "We do." "Your honor," said P. Fred Rothermel, of counsel for Sanderson, "are you prepared to hear motions?" "Are all the defendants here?" Inquired the Judge. NEW TOKK— (Special)— Admiral Theodore F. Kane, of the United States Navy, retired, died suddenly in the Park Avenue Hotel this morning. CAN* OK RIDGE (Office of the Weatliworks) — Rain and warmer tonight. Sunday showers. OREEfcamma Pa.—'The Qreensbutf committee o fthe Anti-Saloon league has arranged to form a local option club. The profits of the company »ince 1882 amount to >pproxipiateiy,$900,- 000,000, of which 11670.000,000 have (jeeh paid in divldendx. The net earnings of the company for the last nix year* are entlmated at over 1488,000,- 000. The total paid out in dividends by the company during the last six months it* approximately $25,000,000. Fifteen men own 80 per cent of the stock and in the last ten years have , received in cash as dividends 9389,- j 000,000. Of this ilohn D. Rockefeller [ received $117,000,000. NEW YORK, Mar. 14.—Out of a total of $14,750,000 paid out in dividend by the Standard Oil Company today at the rate of $15 a share, John D. Rockefeller, who owns 25 per co«t of all the stock, received $3,750,000, bringing up the, total of his returns from the Standard Oil stock for the past six months to $6,250,000. PITTSBURG, March —(Special), Thomas G. Penn, the negro who wa* convicted thlq week of abusing young white girls, was this mornig sentenced ti pay fines which aggregate $200, and serve twenty years in the penitentiary.BEAVER. Pa., March 14.—(Special—The Jury In the cMse against Thomas Hughes, who was on trial charged Iwth the murder pf Stephen Ward, at Shannopln, brought In a verdict of manslaughter today. The jury made recommendation!) that the Judge exercise leniency a.« much as possible. f;' - v," iCKi : ffiyt ti Wm m i