Newspaper Page Text
i i 4 S.B.SMITjTS LETTER Written to His Numerous Friends in Foreston and Other Parts of County of Mille Lacs. He Describes Bremerton, Wash., and Uncle Sam's Extensive Navy Yard at That Place. In my last communication I gave a short historical sketch of Bremer ton, past and present. In this article I will write of its future plans and prospects, but I do not want to be understood as booming Bremerton. I write nothing but the truth. Every thing I write can be substantiated. Neither do I wish to be understood as going back on Minnesota. I was a resident of Minnesota fifty years and always wrote and spoke in its praise. Although not now a resident my opin ion is unchanged, but I will say that the man who speaks against his own country, or that part of it where he In es, is not worthy of a place to live unless the truth demands that he denounce such territory. Bremerton is a young town and in many respects is yet in a compara tively wild or wilderness state, but its future prospects are very promis ing. In proof of this statement I will state that'the government has appro priated $1,385,000 and this amount in cludes only the larger appropriations. There are a number of smaller appro priations that will increase this amount to about $1,400,000. The above amount is to be expended this \ear in making repairs and improve ments in the navy yard and on war ships, and of the latter it is estimated that the Dix, a government transport now in the dry dock, will cost $92,850 to repair. The Oregon, it is estimated, will cost $1,000,000 and will take three years or more to complete. There are several other vessels upon which smaller amounts will be expended. The new dry dock to be built is one of the greatly needed improvements and the most important work in the yaid. Its cost will be over $1,000,000 and it will take two or three years to con struct. This year's appropriation is $100,000. The new dock will be much larger than the one now in use. The government has upon its payroll over 1.200 men, and 90 per cent of this number are skilled workmen who re ceive from $2.50 to $6.00 per day. They work eight hours a day and are paid semi-monthly, but there is a large amount of the work in the navy yard that is done by contract, and the contractors in the several depart ments employ about 600 men at the present time. This makes the working force about 1,800 men. The improve ments to the navy yard now planned and contemplated by the government will cost, approximately, $7,000,000. There is no piobability that the present force of men will diminish very ma terially for the next decade. The prospect is rather that it will increase, for aside from the impro\ements in the yard, vessels are arriving every few months that require some repairs. I will state for the benefit of the read ers of the Union that the statements I have made and the figures showing the cost of the yard and all the im provements, repairs, estimates and plans of the government were obtained from the records and officials of the na\y yard, and must necessarily be accurate. There are a large number of eastern peopleand we consider Min nesota eastthat do not have any idea of what the Puget Sound navy yard at Bremerton is or the amount of work and business that is trans acted there. Bremerton will never be a large city, but it will not be many years be fore it will have double its present population. One of the most interest ing sights here is to see the manner in which the work is done in the navy yard. All the hard work and heavy lifting is done by machinery. Cranes are used for this purpose. They are of different sizes, some stationary and some portable. One large crane, called the locomotive crane, is capa ble of hoisting 40 tons at one time. It is built on wheels like car wheels, but heavier, and the hoisting and propel ling power are all in the same car, which is a great iron box. It is on a track of heavy rails in the shape of a horse shoe which runs around the dry dock and is very similar to a traction engine. The diameter of this circular track is 170 feet and it is 20 feet be tween rails. I have described only one of the powerful machines used in the navy yard, but all the machinery used is constructed on the same prin ciple. Iron is the principal material used in the yard, and it is very inter esting to a tenderfoot like myself to see with what ease these machines do the work. But it would weary the patience to attempt to describe them, and it can be realized only by being seen. Sometime in the future I will at tempt to give a little history of Wash ington, its past, present and future prospects, but it will take time, pa tience and study to gather facts, and it is nothing else that I wish to pre sent to the people in the east. I will now give the Union readers a rest while I go fishing and rusticating. S. B. Smith, Bremerton, Wash. A Hale Old Veteran. Rev. J. S. Staples of Geneva, Ne braska, arrived last week and will visit relatives here and at Princeton for a month or more. Mr. Staples is 82 years old and appears to be hale and hearty. He was editor of the old Elk River News at one time and also preached here. It is about ten years since he was here last.Elk River Star-News. CIRCUS DAY. Golliuar Brothers' Show Attracts ast Throng to Princeton. Friday last was one of those days upon which the small boy jumped out of bed without being called at 5 o'clock in the morning. It was circus day and the elephants were scheduled to arrive at 5:13 a. m. Sad were the little fellows who gathered at the rail road station, however, when they dis covered that the train which was bringing in the pachyderms, the mon keys and the growly vvowlies had been delayed and would not arrive until 9:30. But the most of them awaited patiently without breakfast until the train pulled in. It is not often that more than one circus visits towns the size of Prince ton in a year, and the day upon which it arrives is usually observed as a general holiday. On Friday this was the case. The farmers ceased their labors, the farmers' wives and children donned their Sunday clothes and all came to town in time to see the '"longest parade on earth" and listen to the inspiring music of the calliope. Many of the business men closed their stores in the afternoon, and everybody who could possibly get away hurried to the circus, drank wep-milion lemonade and sweated down their collars. Despite the ex cessive heat prevailing the big tent was crowded. There were many featuies in the performances worthy of praise, and especially good were the statuary groups, the acrobatic feats and the clowns. In the evening a crowd equally as large, if not larg er, than that which attended the after noon performance, was present. Gollmar Bros.' circus will not visit Princeton again for two years. CANADA MISREPRESENTED Albert Korthals and Wife Return to Min nesota Disgusted With Canada. Among the many Minnesotans who have gone into Canada with the ex pectation of finding it a country flowing with milk and honey, and who have returned disappointed and dis gusted with the prospects in that much misrepresented country, are Mr. and Mrs. Albert Korthals. of whom the Sebeka Review says: Mr. and Mrs. Albert Korthals re turned Monday afternoon from New Moosejaw, Sask., Canada, where they went last spring to take a home stead. Mr. Korthals stated when he returned that he wanted no part of Canada for his home. Mr. Korthals has looked over the country very carefully and found that the reports sent out by the Can adian agents are very false. He got the Canada fever by reading the cir culars sent out by these agents stat ing the wonderful crops Canada is raising, no crop failures, and every thing sold as cheap there as here. Mr. Korthals says that the existing conditions are not so. Machinery, lumber, flour and nearly everything is much higher than here. Lumber, for instance, is much higher, common lumber selling for $45 a thousand. Near Moosejaw the farmers have been hailed out for seven successive years. When he first arrived there the coun try was dry and all vegetation burned and dried up, and a little later on it commenced to rain, and Mr. Korthals says it was raining yet when they left last Saturday. The grass was only about three or four inches high. Mr. Korthals talked with many who came from Minnesota, and the major ity of them were anxious to get back, but they couldn't, as they spent all they possessed to get there.^ When a settler goes to Canada it is difficult for him to get away unless he is a person of means. An immigrant is not allowed to sell his property until he has lived there one year. Minne sota is a good stock and agricultural country and its citizens should think seriously before leaving. R. C. DUNN, Publisher. Terms 1.00 Per Tear. PRINCETON, MILLE LACS COUNTY, MINNESOTA, THURSDAY, JULY 19, 1906. THE PRINCETON UNIO ITS GOLDEN JUBILEE The Princeton Congregational Church Will Celebrate Fiftieth Anni- versary of Existence. Observances Will Commence Tomor- row Evening and be Contin- ued on Sunday Next. Tomorrow (Friday) evening will commence the exercises in celebration of the golden jubilee of the Princeton Congregational church, and the fol lowing Sunday services will be held both morning and evening in honor of the same event. On Tuesday, July 24, the Sunday school classes of the church will picnic at the beautiful Elk Lake park. The Congregational church is the pioneer of Princeton churches, having been established here fifty years ago, when this country was not much better than a wilderness and the red man roamed the forests in considerable number. Rev. Henderson has prepared a program for the celebration which will prove particularly interesting, es pecially to the oldest inhabitants, the sturdy pioneers who with saw and ax cleared the jungle and made possi ble the building of the pretty village in which we live. The program of the exercises fol lows: Friday Evening, July 20, 8 clock Hymn and Prayer Greeting from the E Church Rev E Cathcart Historical Statement Rev Henderson Reminiscences Anniversary Poem (Original), Miss S Huse Anniversary Address Rev Hulbert of Minneapolis, a former pastor of the church Theme "Fifty Years of Re ligious Progress Sunday Morning July 22 Annnersary Sermon Rev Henderson Theme, The Church Triumphant Ex odus 3-3 (The same text used at or ganization of church) Sunday Evening- Musical Program Sermon,' The Key Note for the Church of the Twentieth Century', Re\ S S Fisher of Minneapolis Letters from Former Pastors and Members Tuesday, July 24 Sunday School Picmc at Elk Lake BURGLARS GET EIGHT DOLLARS. Office of Culey Lumber Company Entered Oaring: Thursday Night. Some time Thursday night burglars entered the office of the Caley Lumber company, near the Great Northern depot, and carried off eight dollars in cash. A sack of oats was also ap propriated. The depredators effected an entrance to the building through a window on the west side and then forced the door leading to an inner room where Mr. Chase, the manager of the company, kept his money in a trunk. Mr. Chase has a safe in the business office ad joining this room, but never left any money in it over night. From the fact that the burglars ap parently went direct to this trunk Mr. Chase deduces that they were familiar with his methodsthat they had watched him when he deposited his money preparatory to locking up his office for the night. He believes, furthermore, that he has the rascals spotted. They are not yeggmen or strangers. The next fellow who gets his hands into that trunk or goes prowling around the lumber company's prem ises at night is liable to come in con tact with something that will make him wish he never were born. AIRS. BURKE DEAD. Funeral This Moraine at St. Edward's Catholic Church. Mrs. William Burke, died at her residence, about one mile north of Long Siding, on Tuesday, July 17, at 9 a. m. Mrs. Burke had for several months suffered from a complication of dis eases and her death was not unex pected. A husband and family of small children survive her. She was a lady highly respected by the many who knew her. The funeral services were conducted by Father Levings at St. Edward's Catholic church this (Thursday) morning at 10 o'clock. mark's Bear Goes Into Society. Emmet Mark's fat black bear vis ited its skinny brothers and sisters in the circus menagerie on Friday and showed them some tricks theretofore unknown to them. Mr. Mark's bruin is one of those sociable fellows that is not particular whether it drinks beer with the men or hugs the women. It is fond of both. Dogs do not appear to take kindly to the animal, however, and horses have been known to get out of its way by dodging into an alley when it is being led through, town. Notwithstanding this the bear is as harmless as Bill Bryan v*ul be to Theodore Roosevelt in a presi dential race between them. PROFESSORJI. BLAIR An Authority on Educational Work Delivers Two Lectures Before the Summer School. Compares Schools of Germany With Those of America, flaking a Feature of Geography. Two very interesting talks were given to the teachers of the summer school by Prof. Herbert Blair of the Duluth normal school on Tuesday morning and afternoon. He spoke most entertainingly of the Germans, their schools and their methods of in struction. During the past year Mr. Blair has been in Germany for the purpose of investigating the schools of that coun try generally, but more particularly to study their work in geography and nature study, for which the German schools are famous. His impression of the work in the German schools was that it was more thorough than in ours. This he attributed to two causes: First, the German teachers are better trained and their courses of study attempted less than do the American courses of study. Second, the German teachers, even down to the primary grades, are men who make a business of teaching, following this line of work for a life time, and not as a stepping stone to something else, as is so often the case in our own country. The spirit of all the school work in Germany is expressed in the quotation "Deutschland, Deutschland, Cber Alles"Germany, Germany, above all else. In no subject is this exemplified so well as in the study of geography. Over half of all the time devoted to this subject is given to the study of Germany. Foreign countries are studied only as they are related to Germany. A page and a half only in their text book is devoted to the United States and over half of this is given to the Chicago stock yards and the wheat fields of the northwest. This is due to the fact that the Ger mans buy so much meat, wheat and fr&n:" from us. Much mpre space is given to South America because of the German colonies there. In this way an intense patriotism is sought to be developed. Boys and girls are taught to think of the fatherland as the one and only point of vital inter est. The children in the national schools pf Germany begin their school day at 7 a. m., the normal schools be gin their work at 6:15 a. m. For hours the children sit and work. The instruction is not so much from the text book, but is given by the teacher and repeated by the pupil until mastered. To us it seems that the German boy and girl have a pretty "hard row to hoe" and the American young ster, though he sometimes groans and moans over his hard lot in school, is rather fortunate as compared with his German cousin. Mr. Blair is a pleasing speaker. He talks directly to his audience, using a conversational style. He left a most favorable impression upon his hearers. THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS Prof. Farmer Writes of Common School Sj stem of Minnesota. The state of Minnesota makes gener ous provision for the support and im provement of its public schools. Be cause of the special aid given to high and graded schools it has been able to evolve a system of the former which is not only the pride of our own state but the wonder and admiration of our sister states. It is no uncom mon thing for school men from Mas sachusetts, New York, and other of the leading commonwealths of the country to come to Minnesota to study our high school system. But while we may take pride in high schools we feel regret that the common schools of our state are back ward and lack the efficiency possessed by the country schools of many of the eastern states. The state of Minne sota has recognized this weakness, and, to encourage districts in im proving their schools by providing suitable buildings,well ventilated, properly lighted and equipped with library and other necessary appara tus,it gives special aid of $50 to $250 to all schools which are entitled thereto. During the last session of the legis lature another law was passed look ing to the improvement of the country school. This law provides for meet ings of the school directors of the county with the county superintendent and other school men, that they might confer together and discuss the prob lems of the common school. Such ^PSfgJP^ "lyTr7*-eF~-i}-~'?psr meetings have been held in many parts of the state and already great good has resulted therefrom. The law also provides that every school board member who attends be allowed $3 a day and five cents per mile. This is a wise provision, since it brings out board members who otherwise would not come to these meetings. Such a meeting has been announced and called for by Supt. Ewing for Aug. 1, the close of the summer school and just preceding the teachers' ex aminations. State Supt. Olson will be present to advise with teachers and board members. Other men of experi ence will also be here to assist in making this meeting helpful. Many directors have already signified their intention of being in attendance, and there is no doubt that the meeting will be a great success and that much benefit will result to the schools of the county. A detailed program will be published next week. TWO FIRES. Dwelling House of John McPherson and Barn of C. J. Pmkham Destroyed. On Monday afternoon at about 5:30 o'clock the dwelling house of John McPherson, situated in north Prince ton, with its contents, was totally de stroyed by fire. The cause of the fire is attributed to the disjointing of a stovepipe while Mr. McPherson was absent in the yard. The fire company arrived promptly upon the scene, but its efforts were futile. The loss is estimated at $1,200, which is partially covered by an insurance of $800 in the Connecticut Fire Insurance company, for which Guy Ewing is agent. On Tuesday night the new barn of C. J. Pinkham, valued at $800, was consumed, with a quantity of hay therein. It is supposed that the fire was the work of tramps, who were likely sleeping in the barn. An in surance of $500 was carried upon the building in the Connecticut company. Roosevelt Praises Congress President Roosevelt makes the fol lowing statement concerning the work of the first session of the Fifty-ninth congress: "In the session that has just closed the congress has done more substan tial work for good than any congress has done at any session since I be came familiar with public affairs. The legislation has been along the lines of real constructive statesman ship of the most practical and efficient type, and bill after bill has been en acted into law which was of an im portance so great that it is fair to say that the enactment of any one of them alone would have made the session memorablesuch, for instance, as the railroaderate bill, the meat inspection measure, the pure food bill, the bill for free alcohol in the arts, the con sular reform bill, Panama canal leg islation, the joint statehood bill and the naturalization bill. I certainly have no disposition to blink that there is evil in our social, industrial or political life of today, but it seems to me that the men of genuine patriotism who genuinely wish well to their country have the right to feel a profound satisfaction in the entire course of this congress. I would not be afraid to compare its record with that of any previous con gress in our history not alone for the wisdom, but for the disinterested high mindedness which has controlled its action. It is noteworthy that not a single measure which the closest scrutiny could warrant us in calling of doubtful propriety has been en acted, and, on the other hand, no in fluence of any kind has availed to pre vent the enactment of the laws most vitally necessary to the nation at this time." Malicious Offenders. A couple of miscreants on Monday night climbed over the rail which pro tected the new cement sidewalk along side of Mr. Ferrell's residence and deliberately walked over the soft com position, one of the fellows going the full length of the pavement and the other turning out when about half way across. Several of the cement blocks had to be replaced in conse quence of this abominable proceeding, and it was also found necessary to patch up others. There is no man more despicable than he who wilfully destroys the property of others. Runaway. While Henry Sorge, Al Richow and Wm. Bandimer were driving to their homes in Germany from Princeton on Saturday evening their buggy turned over when rounding Manke's corner and the occupants were precipitated into a potato field. The horses ran away and smashed the vehicle to smithereens. Al. Richow received a sprained ankle and was otherwise disorganized, while Bandimer and Sorge escaped with a few scratches. The horses were captured by the Thoma boys. -^-^f^^-^^z.-^^-^^. VOLUME XXX. NO. 32 MISS DAVJSMARRIED Anfin Rockstad, Formerly Druggist at C. A. Jack's, Leads Esteemed Young Lady to Altar. Bride Taught in the Princeton Public Schools for Number of Terms in Successful Manner. At 8:30 o'clock in the evening of Sat urday, July 14, Anfin Rockstad of Minneapoils was married to Miss Zilla Davis at the home of the bride's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Leander Davis, in Anoka, Rev. F. R. Leach conduct ing the ceremony in accordance with the rites of the Episcopal church. Relatives and intimate friends only were present at the solemnization of the wedding. The bridal gown was a pretty crea tion of white net over white silk with German valenciennes lace, and the bride carried a nosegay of white sweet peas. On Sunday morning Mr. and Mrs. Rockstad departed for Minneapolis, where they will be at home after Sept. 1 at 2900 Washington avenue north. Mr. Rockstad conducts a drug store at that address. Both bride and groom are well known to Princeton people, Mr. Rock stad having for several years been employed as pharmacist at C. A. Jack's drug store, while Miss Davis was for many terms a teacher in our public schools. They were both highly respected young people and the bride was especially popular. As an instructor she was one of the best that ever taught here. The Princeton friends of Mr. and Mrs. Rockstad tender to them their hearty congratulations. ANNUAL SCHOOL MEETING. Two School Directors to be Elected on Saturday Evening Next. The annual school meeting of inde pendent school district No. 1 will be held in the high school building on Saturday evening next, July 21, at 7 o'clock. At this meeting will be elected two school directors, for a term of three years ea*ch, to succeed E. L. McMillan and A. W. Woodcock, whose terms of office expire on the 1st of August next. The retiring members are good men, capable and interested in the progress of our schools, and it is hardly pos sible that two better representatives of the people upon the school board could be selected. The Union there fore feels confident that the re-elec tion of these gentlemen for three-year terms from August 1, 1906, would prove highly satisfactory to the peo ple of Princeton. Lawyers Say Women Ma* ote. Attorneys of Fergus Falls who have been looking up the primary election law are not inclined to agree with the attorney general in his opinion that women may not vote for school officers at the primary elections. That the lawmakers fully intended that women should vote is shown by the provisions of section 195 of the new code, which says that the judges of the primary election, in canvassing the election returns, shall certify as to the number of ballots cast by men and the number cast by women. The provision upon which the law yers rely in large part to substantiate their view of the case, however, is section 190 of the code, which says that all provisions of chapter 6 (the general election law) shall, so far as applicable, apply to primary elec tions, "except that only one ballot box for men and one for women shall be required." Several of the attorneys there say that the courts will readily grant a writ of mandamus to compel county officials to prepare ballots for women if the matter is brought before them. Lacerates Foot Bennie Soule is one of the most un fortunate little fellows in town. Not only has he ai various times fractured arm and leg bones, but last week stepped upon a rusty nail and sus tained a severe puncture. At the same time he was carrying a broken arm in a sling. Little matters like broken bones or rusty-nail lacera tions are not sufficient to prevent that boy from participating in the daily frolics of his small companions, how ever. Parlor Talk. "Good morning," said the piano stool. "By the way, I observed that you started to smoke last night when Miss Yerner was entertaining Mr. Sloman." Yes,'' replied the parlor lamp. 'c I saw she was waiting for an excuse to turn me down. "Philadelphia Press.