The Conshohocken Recorder, February 22, 1918

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PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY
.-)092 CONSHOHOCKEN, PA., FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1918.
WATER USE DECISION
Public Service Commission Has
Reached a Decision Said to
be Favorable to People
SMALL USERS TO BENEFIT
Tin' Recorder is able to announce
upon unquestionable authority but tor
reasons 11 cannol make known- that
authority, thai the Public Service
Commission reached a decision yes-terday
In the case of tin Borough and
Citizens of Conshohocken against
the North Springfield Consolidated
Water Company In the long drawn
out fight against the increase ol wa-ter
rates to a minimum rate ol :is
Per \ear.
The decision was to be handed
down yesterday and given to the
newspapers las) nighl but for some
n the decision was not made
public.
As staled above the Recorder has
every reason tO believe that a decis-ion
has been reached and signed by
,|M members of the Conunisslon and
that the decision Is favorable to the
Water subscribers.
H. M. Tracy Bsq., attorney for the
people of Conshohooken, In his argu-ment
before the Commission last
November, argued the unfairness of
rate charged small properties which
before thl raise paid from $G to $9
per year nnd that ?1S is unreasonable
and unjust. It is believed the ceei-sion
gives a very great benefit to
such property owners.
1! la expected the decision will be
ini |e public either tonight or tomor-row.
History of the Fight.
The Whole community was Riven a
had shock in April 1910 when the
North Bprlikgfleld Water Compaq?
announced that the rates for water
service would be advanced In a min-imum
price of $18 per year. Many
small houses were at that time paying
from *t> to $'■* Per year anil the rates
being tripled and doubled aroused the
public Ire.
The Conshohooken Improvement
Association was then in existence end
the Association called a mass meeting
for the evening of May to, 1910 In G.
A. it. hall to pretest against what was
termed an "unjust ami unreasonable""
advance. The following committee
was appointed to devise means to
light the Company's proposed ad-vance:
D. H. Ross. Esq., H. C. Jones,
.1. ESUwood I'Oe, John A. HaiTOld and
Dr. C. F. Tegtmcler. Dr. George X.
Hlghley was later appointed a mem-ber
of the committee.
The committee recommended the
emplyoment of counsel, the raising: of
funds and to fight the company in the
cuorts. II. M. Tracy Esq. of this
borouKh and Nicholas [*s)rselere Esq.,
were retained. The light »
hut great obstacles soon appeared.
The courts placed the burden of proof
upon the water subscribers which ne-cessitated
the employment of expert
accountants and engineers to make an
Inventory of the property and place
a valuation on the system. id her
communities served by the company
Joint d In the light, and raised funds.
In this borough H426 were subscribed
by water subscribers the basis on
which contributions were askeil being
|l per house. This sum was soon ex-pended
and was entirely Inadequate
for the great work to be done. The
attorneys succeeded in securing a
ruling that the company could not
establish the new rat's as final and
should the rates be HOI upheld a re-fund
should be made to the subscrib-ers
of the difference between the new
rates and the rate established by
law. The case met obstacle after ob-stacle
and the people grew tired und
indifferent. They refused to contrib-ute
more money for the prosecution
of the case and the attorneys, repre-senting
the various committees, drop-ped
"in of the cases. Henry M. Tra-cy,
however, was convinced of the un-
JUStnesi Of the rates and had pr. par-ed
much data, lie decided he would
fight the Conshohooken cast alone.
William i:. Planer Bsq., of Phil del-phla,
was elSO deeply interested and
both he and .Mr. Tr.icy stuck to the
With the creation of the state Rail-road
Commission, the ease was trnns-ferred
from th< courts to the Com-mission.
The Commission had limited
powers and the case was again de-layed.
The Public Service Commis-sion
was later created and the case
was again transferred. Sevei tl hear-ings
were held but the meat obstacle
In the path of the people was that no
relief was given as to the placing Of
the burden of proof. Great amounts
■pent in securing and preparing
evidence, the testimony filling several
large books.,Chsllgea In the Commis-sion
brought further delays and In
Ol these vexatious delays, nei-ther
Mr. Tracy nor Mr. Fisher lost
their Intents and without remunera-tion
fought the people's case. They
not only were not compensated for
their services but paid much of the
costs of the case out of their Own
pockets.
Will Enforce Wheat Rules
I . dl fa! Pood Administrator of
Henry K. Boyer, if this county, re-ci
Ivi •'. yesterday ; tternoon a telegram
from the Btate authorities relative to
the strict adherence ol the "wheat
substitute" regulations by the gaaogfti
meat . ml it d< clai i ■ tbal a\ i ry bak-er
must after February 24th use 20
per cenl ( ' for n beat" In
bread and rolls and thai unless 'his
is possible ail bakers will he requir-ed
to close down. This telegram re-flects
the government's determination
to enforce this ruling and the atten-tion
of till who are effected In this
community Is c illed to this preemp-torj
order.
• • ■
Henry K. Boyer, Food Administra-tor
for Montgomery county, has ap-pointed
Burgess .lames B, Ray as his
assistant for Conshohooken. it will
be the duty of the Burgess to see thai
the onhis of the National Adminis-trator
are obt jri I and to aid In all
movements for the conservation and
i; -< d production .,f ( Is.
• • •
House wives In this vicinity are
now compelled to buy wheat flour
and wheat flour substitutes In equal
amounts. Retail grocers were noti-fied
by Howard Heinz, federal food
administrator of Pennsylvania, that
until further notice they will not be
permitted to sell wheat flour to their
customers unless an equal amount or
the BUbstitute Is purchased at the
same lime. It is said thai drastic as
the order is it „ >u be strictly enforc-ed
by the food administration.
While there is admitted a general
shortage in this section of the state
Of substitutes, 17 articles are named
by the loot, administration as coming
within the decription of wheat flour
substituti.-.
Many of the substitutes, dealers de-clare,
are never in the local market
in sufficient quantities to be food fac-tors.
Retail grocers are warned that
If they have not provided the ruostt-tutes.
"They will have to go dig them
up. for they must comply with the
regulation."
In his Statement, Mr. Heinz says:
"it is ordered that, beginning Mon-day,
February 4. and continuing until
lurcher notice, all dealers in wheat
(lour wholesale or retail—will be
permitted to sell it only In combin-ation
with other recognized wheat
substitutes in the minimum ratio of
one pound of wheat substitute to each
1 Of wheat lour sold, unless it is
; definitely determined thai wheal
substitutes in equivalent quantities
been ],i'. vlously purchased from
another tOUTCO. For the present a
written and signed declaration by
flour purchasers within the trade will
be considered sufficient evidence on
Which to has.- ibis determination .
"Cereals to be recognized as wheat
substitutes are corn meal, cornslarch,
corn flour, hominy, corn grist, borley
flour, rice, flour, oatmeal, rolled oats,
buckwheat flour, potato flour, BWeet
potato flour, soy bean flour, feterita
flours and meals and no others except
that rye may be used until March 8.
"All county federal food adminlstra
tion are charged with the duty of see-ing
that these "emulations are strictly
observed by the trade and will
promptly report violations to the
state administrator.
"This is a necessary war measure
and appeal is made to the public for
patriotic acceptance of the conditions
imposed, even though inconvenienced
In the purchase of any flour by fact
of temporary trade shortage of sub-stitute
materials."
The complaint that farmers will
find themselves short of fertilizers
this spring unless the federal food ad-ministration
help them was answered
by tin- administrator which said there
are now several thousand tons ot
fertiliser in and about Philadelphia
awaiting orders. It was also pointed
out that arrangements have been
made to provide the freighl cars in
which to transport It, and that the
farmers will do well to place their
orders at once. The embargo on
fertilizers and loud was lifted Friday,
February 1.
U. S. Grand Jury Found a True
Bill Against Him on Charge
of Misusing the Mails
NOW AT LIBERTY CN BAIL
A railed Stab Qi md Jury sitting
at Philadelphia lasl Tuesday found a
t rue bill against i 'eter Komorovi - kl,
of '.his i" rough, on the charge of mis-
■ the mails and he is held under
ti ill for trial in the Unit) d Btl ti I I ns-trlcl
court at Philadelphia next mo-nth.
Komorowskl secured a bonds-man
and is now at liberty.
Komorowskl was arrested here Jan-
23 by Postal Inspectors Ken i
and Jordan i nd taken before Commis-sioner
Long, at Philadelphia, who held
him in (6000 ball for the action of the
(irand Jury, charged with sending a
i Hack i fai d letter to Rev. A. Kula wy,
rector of St Mary's Polish Catholic
church here. The 'a tier dem need
that the priest place Jatlil under a
stone, which the It I ■• r Stated had been
", ill and pi LCed" at Elm and Ash
streets. Instead of placing the money
whir, demanded, thi priest turned the
lei ti •■ over to the po ital authorities
i>d Komorowskl was quickly arrested.
The Inspectors made arch of
Komorowskl's home, In Elm near \.-h
sir. its and also of his small station-ery
store at 11 West Elm
They found man) s,i cimena of his
writings and also found thai he had
i■■ ■ ■ ; ' ed a < !hlcago i 'ollsh publi-cation
for which he solicited subscrl-
:■ of bis Bt bscribi rs
olalmed they did not rect ive the pub-lication
after paying their money.
When Komorowskl was arrested he
stated to the Inapt ctors thai he did
not havi lo rorh hud for his living.
P. 0. S. OF A. TO CELEBRATE
WASHINGTON'S BIRTHDAY
A Fine Program of Entertainment Has
Been Prepared For fjfamp 121's
Annual Celebration Tonight.
Washingtno Camp No. mi will bold
its annual celebration of Washington's
Birthday, In P. ". S. of A. hall, this
evening and an excellent program of
enterb Inment has been prepared. Tbt
i i. tion will be participated In by
the members and their ladles and vis-itors
from other Camps.
Rev. Mr. Berger, of Bridgeport, who
mad. thl memorial address In the
Opera House lasl year, will deliver an
addre is on Washington.
The entertainment will consist of
recitations, vocal and Instrumental
music and Charles .Miller's orchestra
of tr. pieces, of Norristown, will give
a com ert.
After the entertainment, refresh-ments
will be served by the Camp
. arils.
The eel. i>r tion will be concluded
With dancing in the hall room of the
hall and music will be furnished by
Mllli r's orchestra.
Wants His Salary Reduced
TROLLEY FARES ARGUED
BEFORE COMMISSION'
SIX INJURED WHEN
AUTO TURNS TURTLE
Philadelphians Victims of Accident
C used By Break in Steering Gear.
On the way to Visit relatives in Nor-ristC
..i (1 ... alter,,,ii,n, an lill-tomob
containing six Philadelphians
turned turtle on the Ridge road near
the junction of the Bight Square
road. Plymouth township, and all were
thrown OUl -nd injured, one or more
of them seriously.
TI e injured were Isaac l'.ollnlek and
wife; Mrs. Minnie Rollnlck, of 4132
Paul street; Mrs. Bella Cohen and
daughter, Miss Minnie Cohen, of -IITf
Frankford avenue, and Mrs. s. Savoy,
m nd Margai etta streets. They
were ail removed to Charity Ha
Norrislown. Isaac Rollnlok, who drove
the automobile, la the least injured
be having a lacer ted forehead. .Mrs.
Cohen is In a serious condition.
The steering gear broke. Mr. Roll-nlck
says, as he was driving along the
hew concrete roadway toward Norrla-town
and he lost control of the ma-chine.
APPOINTED TO POSITION
IN WAR DEPARTMENT.
Miss Ly£la Jacobus, daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. Florence Jacobus, of
Fayotle street and librarian of the
Frederick (Md.) library, has been
appointed an index and catalogue
clerk in the war Department at Wash-ington,
D. C. Miss Jacobus will as-sume
her new duties next Tuesday.
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
"HOW I<arge is your Christ?", is the
Theme of the 1'aslor's sermon for
Sunday morning next. Service at
10.30 A. M. Prior to this, the gather-ing
of the Bible Sdiool at 9.16 A. M.
Meeting of the Christian Km'.ravnr,
6.46 in Upper Room. At. 7.30, the
i ill ii Sunday Night service, on this
■ ion in the Methodist Church.
Wednesday evening next, the Mid-week
service, to be held at the home
of Mrs. Kate Ruth, 118 East Fourth
avenue. AH aro' .cordially invited.
Allegheny County Solicitor Claims
Borough Get Right to Grant Fran-chises
from the Constitution.-
Railroads Dispute Claim.
One hundred representatives of
municipalities nnd street railway
companies attended a hearing before
the Public S.rvie. i i in
, i day on whether or not the com-mission
has jurisdiction in application
of electric companies asking for six-cent
instead or live-cent fares In cit-ies
and boroughs that granted fran-chise
rights with the understanding
that the fares were not to exceed live
cents.
The question is, perhaps, the most
important before the commission in
several years, and while, there were
thirty-three complaints bearing on
this question of municipal rights, the
argument © ntered about the situation
in Pittsburgh and adjoining boroughs.
M. W. Acheson, Jr., of Pittsburgh,
who, with David \J. Starr and Let C.
Beatty. solicitor of Allegheny County
represents the boroughs ofAllegheny,
was the principal speaker for them.
He asserted that the commission had
no jurisdiction.because the Constitu-tion
gives to municipaltics the right
to regulate rates of fares in granting
franchises. This right is vested
neither in the Legislature nor the
courts, he contended, quoting deci-sions
of Judges Mitchell. Frailer and
Shaffer and others.
'Mr. Acheson sail", the Legislature,
by the creation of commission, could
not abrogate that right and if the
right is conceded, the street railways
companies do not have the right to
raise fares and violate the agreement
they have made with a municipality.
If such action is taken, he argued,
the violation of the municipal rights
IS a matter tor the courts to decide.
John C. Bane, representing the l'lt-tsburg
Railways Company, spoke on
the validity of the company's applica-tion
for the right to increase fares In
the Pittsburgh district to six cents.
ili argued two points in particular:
il..- the commission the right to ap-prove
the application and would the
approval of the rates us asked be
violation of the State Constitution.
He said the'contention of the comp-lainants
that the commission does not
have the righl to Increase fares where
municipal franchise agreements inter-pose
is not founded in the law or
Constitution and that such granting
Of a reasonable increase would not
violate toe Constitution.
Asserting that the munclpalitles
and companies have the right to
make an agreement regarding rates,
he said that condition:- could so
change that these rates would have
to be changed to be reasonable nnd
adequate. The commission he said,
has the right to fix reasonable and
adequate rales, and. he added, this
means not only that it can reduce
. when they are found lo bo ex-orbitant,
but thai it can Inert ase
cites when it is found that the low
rates work a hardship.
COMING WEDDING
The marriage of Miss Maud L.,
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John C.
C.rennor, of 1-U East Eighth avenue,
ta Crank I,, (iresh. of Palmer, Mass..
will be solemnized In this borough on
Saturday, March :ioth.
County Treasurer John II. Rex, as
he reads the law, does not think that
he is entitled to a S.Miuu salary, claim-in'
thai he siioutd be paid at the rate
of $3000.
Accordingly he has addressed the
following letter to the board of Coun-ty
Commissioner:;: ,
Norrlstown, Pa., Feb. 20th, 1918.
To Messrs. Roy A. ilatfield. Win.
Warner Harper. Harmon Y. Bready,
County Commissioners Montgomery
county,
Gentlemen:
Within ;i few days after I took
charge of the o'ltice of County Treas-urer
a digest of ihe law affecting the
operation Of the said office was begun
and is now about completed. Amongst
other things, it bas been developed
that there is a probability that the
salary of the County Treasurer is but
S300D per annum, with an additional
.:' 1 "i'iU to cover extra expenses incid-ent
10 the collection of taxes outside
of the oiilce, and not *f>000. the basis
Upon which monthly payments have
tor some lime been made.
Inasmuch as the $1500 would not
be due until said tax-paying season 1
feel that all future payments should
be based upon the salary being $3000
per annum.
Trusting that this will meet with
your approval and aw ailing your fur-ther
iiutiuitloro,
I am yours truly,
JOHN H. RF.X.
County Treasurer.
No Action Taken.
The board of commissioners said
that they had, as yet, not taken any
action upon Mr. Hex's communication,
hut would give it due consideration.
Mr. Harper said that if Mr. KIN'S
contention is right then the Poor i >i-rectors
are entitled to but $250 in-stead
of -1500.
Mr. Rex. said to a representative of
the Herald that he wants to proceed
in his office legally and as this ques-tion
has arisen he feels duty-bound to
call attention to the commissioners
and have the question settled.
Local Pool Stars Are
Meeting Greenleaf
Ralph Greenleaf. the world's cham-pion
pocket billiard player, Is giving
exhibitions at the Midway pool par-lors
this week and his marvelous
handling of the cue is Ihe admiration
of all who gee him work.
i. si nit,in he played two games.
Louis Kelly was his first opponent and
managed to get "i balls. Kelly had
few opportunities but played a good
game making a high run of 1!. John
McMullen was Greenleaf*! opponent In
tha second -fame and managed to
pocket 2E balls and made a high run
of 12. Greenleaf gave art exhibition
of wonderful position playing and his
high run was 32.
Tonight Walter I.acy and John Kel-ly
will be given opportunities to try
their skill against the champion and
toiiu rrow afternoon William Robin-son,
one of the mosi expert players of
the county, will oppose Greenleaf.
Exhibitions will be given this .if i i
noon and evening and tomorrow af-ternoon
and evening.
HIGHWAY WORK PRAISED
Montgomery County Supervisors Dis-cuss
Road Problems
ENTERTAINED
Mrs. Harry Maker, of ins Powell
street, Norristown. and a former res-id'
in of this bOVOUgh, entertained ihe
r rii ndship Sewing Circle at her home
last evening. A large number of I
persons were present and art enjoy-able
evening was spent.
Good roads and their maintenance
WSJ the topic nl the twelfth annual
e jon of the Montgomery County
Association of Township Supervisors,
held In. the courthouse, Norristown,
Tia slay, at wliic.li the principal speak
or was District Attorney Anderson, of
uppi r Merlon, who said that it "was a
great tribute to the State Highway
Department thai during all this se-vere
winter they kept the Uncoin
Highway open to travel when all
other avenues of transportation were
crippled."
The supervisors were told by
County Commissioner Ilatfield that
they had no control over the assess-ors
of the county, except sitting as a
board of revision of taxes.
Other speakers were Fletcher
Slites. of Lower Merion, a member of
the last Legislature; Dr. D. w. Ben-nt
r. supervisor of Salford township;
Paul W. Longsdorf, engineer of Chel-tenham
township; Charles B. Mebus,
< ngineer of Cheltenham township,
and James Cresson. of Norrislown,
county engineer.
An election of officers resulted in
the re-election of the following; Pres-ident,
Roy Hatfielc", Norristown; sec-retary,
J. B. Krauso.
14 OF % DRAFTEES
FBflMlS T01
61 Per Cent of Men to Leave
District Next Monday Are
From This Borough
MEN RECEIVED SWEATERS
The last contingent or men to com-plete
the quota from the Thirl las
trlcl oi Montgomery County under
the first Selective Draft Law will
have tor Camp Meade on Monday
morning.
Like the other contingents to leave
this i.istrict. Conshohocken is again
hit hard In furnishing new soldiers
for the great unit) thai is being rais-ed
to crush Germany and win tor all
peoples a world democracy. The DIB-
>ric: is called upon to furnish twenty-three
men to complete the full quota
for the first draft and ot this number
Conshohooken will he compelled to
made another seerifice and furnish
fourteen young men which Is equal ra
sixiy-one per cent Of the number
furnished by the whole district.
The men have all received notices
to appear at the headquarters of the
i oca] Draft Hoard on Monday morn-ing.
It is requested by the officials of
the Hoard that all of the men who are
to leave should a« knowledge to the
B 11 ■•<". the receipt of their card and to
report at the Headquarters not later
than nine o'clock on Monday morning.
The men will march from the head-quarters
of toe Draft Bond of the
Third District which are located in
the Boyer Arcade. Norristown, to
Bridgeport, and there board the troop
train which Is scheduled to leave over
the .Main Line of the Philadelphia &
Reading Railroad at 11.45 A. M.
John Lucas, •'! Prospectvllle. who
was to have gone with this contin-gent
has been excused on account of
necessary occupation and in his place,
Ira C. Atkins, oi this borough, has
been substituted. Atkins appeared
at the Headquarters of the Board and
asked to be allowed to go on Monday.
Soldiers Received Sweaters.
The War Relief Workers of this
borough yesterday presented to each
in the twelve men who will leave
next Monday for Camp Meade with
the contingent of to men from this
the Third district, a well knitted,
warm woolen sweater
The War Relief and the Red Cress
have been sending sweaters to the
boys in the camps and it was decided
that it would belter for the soldiers
and would also be a saving in trans-portation
charges if the sweaters
were given to the boys as they leit for
n nip. They would have immediate
use of the garments which they will
greatly appreciate when they take up
the open air life of a soldier.
List of sweaters issued to Consho-hocken
soldiers:
lan Krupa, James J. Loughrcy.
Harry I'.arret, Thomas Hasson, Louis
Kelly. Matthew Nallcy, Leopold Bat-
Hky, Stephen Ingram, P. L. Murphy,
Joseph Bekara, .lames Btuba and Jos-eph
Clinton.
The liranch wishes to inform the
Conshohooken draftees that any of
them may obtain sweaters by apply-ing
to -Mrs. S. G. Smyth, chairman;
Rev. ii. i). s. Coates at the Balllgo-mingo
Baptist Church, or to any other
of the officers of the Red Cross In
Weal Conshohooken.
The list of men to go as announced
by the Draft Hoard this morning is
as follows:
Antonio Saiveiii, Philadelphia.
Joseph I.. Wallace. Conshohockeil.
Adam Woklechozki. Conshohooken,
Joseph L. Noble, Conshohocken.
Ira C. Atkins, Conshohocken.
.lames l-'uba, Conshohocken.
Joseph Ilumcockl, Swedesluirg.
Blmer B. Jacoby, Penllyn.
Thomas Itcttine, Conshohocken.
Vineenzo kosiello, Brooklyn, N. V.
Walter Jack Harris, Philadelphia.
Luigul Stefano, Conshohocken.
Fred A. Farrier, Conshohocken.
John L. Murphy, Conshohooken,
FlOrelflS Guila, Conshohocken.
Albert Armstrong, Bridgeport
Doolnlo Dl I'aoia, Bristol, Pa
Hen Kruppu. Consholiocken.
Joseph Clinton, West Consho.
Raymond n. Barnshaw, Bridgeport.
Qulseppe Provnt, Porl Kennedy.
James Darby. Consholiocken.
John McKlh. nny, Conshohocken.
METHODISTS TO
CELEBRATE ANNIVERSARY
M. E. Congregation Will Celebrate the
70th Anniversary of the Beginning
of Methodistism Here and the
10th Anniversary of the
New Church.
Tin- congregation of the Methodist
Church and their friends "ill hold a
double celebration lo the church next
Sunday ia commemoration of the 70th
anniversary Of the founding Of .Metho-distism
hern and Ihe luth anniversary
of the completion of the new church.
70 years ago a Methodist church
was established here and its need was
soon proven by the number of mem-ben
taken into the church. The con-i
ion continued to grow and a
Church building and parsonage was
erected a1 Payette and Bun streets.
This building was used for over 50
years when it was found necessary to
remove from the business section and
the new church building was started
at Sixth avenue and Layette Street.
The property is now a complete and
handsome church property, marking
the great progress and work of Meth-odlstlsm
in Conshohocken,
The anniversary services for Sun-day
will be: Bible study classes at :i
A. M.
10.30 A. M. Rev. Thomas A. Ar-mour,
the pastor, will preach the an-niversary
sermon. There will be spe-cial
music by the choir and the
Stephens family Instrumental Sex-tette
will render the following selec-tions:
"Hall Mighty Prince," "The
Song Thai Reached My Heart," "The
Heroine's Prayer.
7.30 P. M. Union services of the
Protestant churches. Rev. C. M. Bos-well,
!>. l).. will speak on "Over the
Top in Evangelism." •
A meeting of the local ministers
will be held ,il 7.1 r, p. M. in the study
of the church. Kntrance to study by
the Choir door on the north side of
thi church.
ANNUAL CONVENTION
OF P. O. S. OF A.
Lodges From All Parts of County in
Session at Pottstown Today.
The annual convention of the Camps
of Montgomery County, Patriotic Or-der
Sons of America, is being held
today in the lodge room of Camp 295,
at I'ottstown.
This morning the annual reports of
the various camps were submitted and
rules governing the Camps were
adopted.
This afternoon election of officers is
being held
Washington * Camp No. 121, of this
borough Is represented in the conven-tion
by Robert T. Potts, Walter Kisen-berg
ami William Bmallwood
Washington Camp No. 18. of West
Conshohocken, is represented by Roy
Huhr, Charles Markland and Howard
Gray.
HISTORICAL SOCIETY ELECTION
The annual election of Officers of
the Montgomery County Historical
Society was held at the hall of the to-ol
at Norristown yesterday. Those
elected were:
Rev. Thomas R. Berber, I). D..
President; Vloe Presidents B, Gordon
Smyth. B. L. Hooker. J, P. Hale Jen-kins.
Bsq..; Qeorge K. Breoht, Esq.,
lb cording Secretary; Mrs. A. Conrad
Jones, Corresponding Secretary; Mrs.
William M. Gearhart. Financial Sec-ret,
try; lir. W. II. Heed, Treasurer;
William Summers. Librarian; Miss
Prances M. Pox, Assistant Librarian;
Trustees—S. II. OlT, William H. Web-er.
Mrs. Taoy Cresson, Charles Shaw,
F. A. Stickler.
BAD TASTE OF WATER IS
NOT INJURIOUS TO HEALTH
Melting Ice and Snow Mixing With
The Drinking Water causes Oder
and Bad Taste.- Tests of Water
Beinp Made Every Day.
For the last week or so residents
of this borough, Chestnut Hill, Ihe
Main Line and all Ihe way down to
Chester have noticed a most disagree-able
taste In the water they drink. A
great number fear that the drinking
water is not the real aqua ptira which
is the pictured rarity, of every subur-ban
stronghold, but a breeded of
malevolent I' Accordingly,
they have been using bottled water
to slake their thirst. Meanwhile, the
indignant inhabitants never have
ceased lo pour .1 stream of complaint
into the offices of the Springfield
j Water Company, which serves tue
drinks to a large section.
An official or the Springfield Water
Company listened patiently to tne
recital of the water woes, assuming
the mien of one if whom a story lias
bean repeated thnei innumerable and
then, with smiling countenance, plead
ed guilty for the water to all that was
said about it by the anxious house
holi'.ers. He said:
"It is true that many complaints
have come Into our office Within ihe
last week, and they are entirely just-ified.
The cause of the bad taste In
the water is traceable to the melting
of the. Ice and snow. They enter In-to
solution with ihe drinking water
and take with I hem an unpleasant, ac-rid
taste. When the ice covers the
water gases collect and they cause a
bad o'dor.
"There is no t'.anger of the drinking
water being contaminated, because
we have a bacteriologist make a thor-ough
examination of It every morn-ing.
In general, there is little tear of
disease from the decomposition of
vegetable mailer. Inside of a week,
or perhaps less, the objectionable
taste will disappear.
"Perhaps another reason for the
protests may be found iri the CAcen-ent
service we have always rendered.
It has made the people so accurlomed
to first-class water that when it gets
a trifle off color they magnify its im-portance."
FISK RUBBER CO. HAS
GOVERNMENT CONTRACT.
Th*' Fisk Rubber Company's local
plant which is engaged exclusively In
the manufacture of solid rubber tires
for automobile trucks has secured an
older from the Government for tires.
Lieut. Weyher.of the ordinance de-partment
of th* army, has been as-signed
to inspection duty at the
plant, and ia now pn duty.
ILL WITH DIPHTHERIA
Arthur Freas. son of Francis Freas,
head of the Freas Glass Company, of
this borough, is confined to his home.
Last Ninth avenue, suffering from an
attack of diphtheria. The house has
bet n placed under quarantine. The
boy Is a pupil of the room taught by
Miss Elizabeth Markley, in the pub-lic
school and was in attendance on
Tuesday. As an act of precaution
Health Officer Samuel Roberts had
the room fumigated on Wednesday.
miiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiN
One WheatlSSS Meal
Every Day
= One Meatless Meal
Every Day
X Save Sugar Every Day s
= Save Fats Every Day —
MillllMR'iMllllllltlllllMIIIIIIIIIIIIM
-•---' -,«n
§1.50 PER YEAR
SCHUYLKILL RIVER
Downpour of Tuesday Caused
Rapid Rise in Stream on
Wednesday Morning
ICE 0M THE RIVER BROKE
The heavy, warm rain of Tuesday
afternoon and night caused tho
Schuylklll river to become a raging
torrent on Wednesday. The water
rose to nearly eighteen feet above
normal and in many places overflowed
|t| I, nks, causing great alarm to
manufacturers who have their plants
close tO the river.
The water began to raise early on
Wednesday morning and continued to
ralSt until noon when it reached its
In Ighth. Shortly after nine o'clock
the heavy ice on the river broke and
came down the stream reaching here
about ten o'clock. About the time tho
ebed here great alarm was felt
by the manufacturers. For a time
the water raised at the rate of twenty
; an hour and Hire, toned to do
great damage, but before this condi-tion
reached such a stage the water
had reached its highest and the dan-cer
bad pa
When the Ice began to come down
ill massive cakes great alarm was
[ell by the watchmen on the condemn-ed
Bohuylkill bridge, for fear great
damage would result. Between tho
abutment and Aral pier on either end
of the structure the trestle work plac-ed
there by the Dichl-Whittnker Com-pany
tWO years ago to strengthen the
bridge, is still standing (the rest of
the structure was torn down on Sat-urday,
January 12) and it was feared
that this would be caught in the jam
and forced down carrying part of tho
bridge with It. On the West side of
the bridge as the huge pieces 'of ice
would crash against it the eniir>»
i bled. Some of the %
bridge was torn loose at the bottom
but none of It fell into the water.
The John Wood Manufacturing
Company, which company now owns
the 'Old Water Mill" and uses it for
storage purposes had a number of
finished boilers stored in the place nnd
many Of these were submerged when
the water overflowed the hank and
rushed Into the building. It Is bp-.
Ileved that none of thtm were dam-agi
d to any great extent
At the Merion Worsted mill in West
Conshohocken, the water reached the
cellar and the employees were called
Into service to remove a great amount
i f -.lock which is stored there. Be-fore
the water reached sufficient
height to do any damage the entire
lot of stock had been carried to a
plnce of safety.
The two boat houses situated along
the West bank below the bridge were
placed in a perilous position. The
water raised sufficiently to cover the
floors of these houses by several inch-es.
In order to prevent them from
being swept away the buildings were
tied "to adjoining trees with heavy
rope.
At Spring Mill the water overflowed
the bnks and submerged the tracks
of the Philadelphia A Reading Rail-way
Company and came within a few
Inches of reaching the station. The
water backed up to such a hclghth
that many of the cellars along Kim
and ll'ctor streets were Hooded.
While Ihe water was at its height
a .ureat amount of refuse was swept
from the banks and carried down the
river. Several row boats had b
torn from their fastenings and were
e rrlt d away.
The water is the highest itjjas been
■ ■ i 19ML
The v.orl .<<■!] rimoWnfe "the! j»!»eckago
of Hi. tr.-rt, W(',ik iy,,m under the
bridge has been discontinued by Con-tractor
Kisenbergcr on account of the'
hich water and it will be several days
hi fore th« work can be resumed.
4
I'eMKinstration on Cooking
A meeting and demonstration will
bi I eld in the barren Hill school on
Monday morning nt 9.30 o'clock. The
meeting will be held under the aus-pites
oi the County Farm Bureau co-operating
with the Food Supply De-partments
of the Woman's Council of
National Defense and the Committee
Ol Public Safety. The speaker for
the occasion will be Miss Belle Hub-bard,
of Ihe xtension of Home Boon?
omics of the P<*nnsylvanla State Col-lege,
Who will ".IVI practical demon-strations
of how to cook In oraei to
save as much food stucs as possible
In order that the boys in the trenches
may be taken care of during the war.
She will also explain what clothing
materials may be used so that all of
the wool possible can be saved to help
ke.p the soldiers supplied with warm
clothing while exposed lo all kinds
of weather. These are essential
things for every woman to know and
it s to be hoped that alarge at!. D I-ance
be present at this meeting.
ten RANI
Henry J. Ilarrold, of Bnsl ''Urn
si reel and a Veteran of the Civil War.
received word from his son, Hen-ry
Jr., of bis safe arrival In France
with the American Expeditionary
Force. He is a member of the aero
squadron and said he had a safe and
pleasant voyage across the ocean.
With him was Joseph Ualley, son of
lalward Bailey, of West Seventh ave-nue,
who is a member of tho name
squadron.