Newspaper Page Text
GRACE A. DUNN, Publisher
NEWS SUMMARY
OF THE CAPITAL
X
Majority of Agriculture Committee
Votes to Reject Ford's Offer
for Muscle Shoals.
OPPOSE HIGH WOOL DUTY
National Emergency Declared Inter-
state Commerce Commission
Assumes Control.
Henry Ford's offer for the power
and nitrate plants at Muscle Shoals,
Ala was bitterly attacked by Senator
W Norris (rep. Neb.) in a speech
the senate last Thursday, after
which he advocated his plan for gov
ernment operation of the wartime
projects. The Nebraska senator de
clared that if congress accepts the
Ford offer the taxpayers of the na
tion will lose the 100-year-lease
period $14,500,000,000, or more than
half of America's cost in the world
war. Senator Norris stated propa
ganda had been carried on to mislead
the people in regard to Ford's offer
and that there was no truth in the as
sertions that he had guaranteed to
reduce the cost of the fertilizer by
one-half or that he could furnish the
consumers with electricity at a re
duced price. Senator Norris declared
the mighty power of the Muscle
Shoals would be devoted entirely to
the use of the great corporation which
Mr. Ford would organize. Vigorous
objections were also raised to Ford's
insistence that the lease be granted
for a period of 100 years.
The soldiers' bonus bill cannot be
passed in the senate over President
Harding's veto, according to claims
made by some senators who are can
vassing the situation to ascertain the
outcome the event the executive
refuses to accept the bill in its present
form The canvass, it is stated, dis
closed 30 senators who will vote to
sustain a presidential veto. That
three additional senators who will join
them can be found is the expectation
of this group. If 33 senators vote to
sustain a veto it will be impossible to
obtain the necessary two-thirds to
pass the bill. The president has not
discussed the bonus situation recently
with the senators, and until the pend
ing coal and railroad strikes are out
of the way there is no expectation of
his doing so.
Secretary Mellon will announce this
week the government's program to
take care of financial obligations due
August 1 On that date about $259,-
999,999 of treasury certificates ma
ture At the same time the treasury
is expected to take the first step in
its program for refunding about $4,-
500,000,000 of the nation's short
dated debt maturing during the pres
ent fiscal year. It is understood the
treasury plans to begin as quickly as
possible to spread these issues in
longer maturities.
Steps to establish a "national posi
tion of readiness" for the army as a
development of the national military
policy are forecast in a memorandum
recently submitted by General Persh
ing to Secretary Weeks and made pub
lic today at the war department. De
tails are not disclosed The general
nature of the project, however, con
templates assignment of national
guard divisions to specific defensive
positions on coasts and borders to
which they would be rushed in event
of war. General Pershing lays stress
on the assertion that the "system of
training young men" ultimately to
replace the present war trained of
ficers, perpetuating the supply of
necessary officer personnel, is a vital
factor in the whole subject.
In order to comply with the request
of congress that the army officers'
corps be reduced to 12,000 by January
1, it will be necessary to eliminate or
demote about 2,500 officers. The
board of general officers appointed to
do the "plucking" held its first meet
ing Tuesday.
Claims of clothing manufacturers
that the proposed duty of 60 per cent
on coarse wool will mean substantial
increase in the cost of clothing are
justified in the opinion of some of the
senators Supporters of high duties
on wool were plainly worried by the
attack from within republican ranks,
being fearful that many of the eastern
republican senators will join in a move
to limit the rates on the new wool.
President Harding, on the recom
mendation of Colonel Charles R.
Forbes, director of the veterans' bu
reau, has selected the site at St. Cloud
on which the hospital for veterans suf
fering from mental disorders will be
erected. The plant decided upon by
the hospital board and Mr. Forbes pro
vides for a hospital to accommodate
only 350 patients instead of 500 as
originally announced. The cost of the
hospital will be about $1,500,000. The
site contains 280 acres and is located
between two and three miles from the
city proper The city will be required
to extend its sewer and water sys
tems to the hosptial site and it also
will be obliged to build roads and
pavements to the hospital grounds.
President Harding has been de
voting himself chiefly to a study of
the strike situation during the past
week. Seemingly but little has been
accomplished in the numerous con
ferences with the coal operators, rep
resentatives of the miners, members
of the railroad labor board and the
heads of the seven organizations in
volved in the shopmen's strike. The
president insists that provision will
have to be made for mining and dis
tributing the coal so that the people
of this country will not be obliged to
undergo unnecessary hardships during
the coming winter.
On Tuesday it was stated that the
immediate policy of the government in
the coal strike situation was to con
tinue to furnish protection to men
willing to work in the mines and to
put in motion machinery decided upon
for distribution of the dwindling sup
ply of coal.
Senator Kellogg had stated early in
the week that he believed it would be
impossible now to avoid a coal short
age in the northwest. The situation
demanded action and Wednesday a
national emergency was declared.
The interstate commerce commis
sion has assumed sweeping control of
railroad rolling stock and taken over
the direction of distribution of food,
fuel and other necessaries. The gov
ernment is now busy building up an
emergency administration.
CORNER STONE LAID.
Masons Lay Corner Stone of the Isle
School Princeton Masons and
Others Assist.
Upon invitation of the school board
of district 18, of the village of Isle,
Herman Held, grand master of the
Masonic lodge of Minnesota, assisted
by Grand Secretary John Fishel, con
ducted the ceremony of laying the
corner stone of the new school house
according to the ancient customs of
the order.
Representatives from the lodges of
Milaca, Crosby, Hinckley and Prince
ton, 23 members of which lodge had
motored to Isle for the-occasion, as
sisted in this most impressive cere
mony.
Upon the arrival of the lodge mem
bers at noon, they were invited to the
pavilion where the ladies of the East
ern Star served a dinner which was
enjoyed by all. After this the Masons
retired to the lodge rooms where
preparations for the rites were made
The members of the local lodge and
the visiting members formed a proces
sion that reached from the lodge
rooms to the school house site. The
corner stone, which is a beautiful
piece of Isle granite, was cut and
polished by the Hilder Granite com
pany of St. Cloud who donated it
Within the stone was sealed a box con
taming a copy of the local news
paper, names of the present school
officers, and history of the school to
this date, names of teachers for the
past year, names of village officers,
list of members of the local lodge,
names of other local societies, and
current coins of the realm. A short
address was delivered by O. C. Myron,
acting as grand orator.
Carl Johnson.
Carl Johnson was born in Goten
borg, Sweden, October 15, 1840, and
came to America in 1872. He took up
his residence in Minneapolis 48 years
ago, where he engaged in the carpen
ter trade. In 1893 he moved to the
neighborhood of Princeton where he
resided until his death. He married
Miss Betsy Olson. The deceased is
survived by four children and five
grandchildren.
Mr. Johnson greatly enjoyed being
with his grandchildren. Almost his
last wish was to see his six-months
old grandson.
Three days before his death he ap
peared to be in excellent health and
in a cheerful frame of mind, but the
end came very suddenly on the morn
ing of July 19. He passed away about
noon that day, after having been ill
with bronchitis for only a few hours
He was in his eighty-second year.
Mr. Johnson was a charter member
and builder of the Swedish Methodist
church of Minneapolis.
Funeral services were conducted
from the home by Rev. S. Ainsworth
Lumb, and special music was rendered
by a quartet consisting of Mrs. Geo
Schmidt, Mrs. M. M. Briggs, Rev
S. Ainsworth Lumb and Maurice
Henschel, accompanied by Mrs. Anna
Ewing.
Mr. Johnson was a quiet, kindly
man, a good neighbor and a loving
father.
We wish to thank all our kind
friends and relatives for the floral of
ferings, and for their sympathy and
willing assistance during the obse
quies of our father, Carl Johnson.
Edith A. Johnson and Brothers.
Returns From Sweden.
Mrs Beth Nasstrom of Los Angeles,
Calif., stopped here, on her way home,
after a year's visit in Sweden. She
brought with her a young Swedish
girl, Esther Johnson, who will mstke
her home with her great-aunt, Mrs.
Mary Johnson, who lives in Wyanett.
Mrs. Nasstrom reports that money is
scarce in Sweden, especially in the
northern part where she traveled ex
tensively and where her parents re
side. All commodities are high and
traveling very expensive. She can
not imagine how anyone would want
to return to Sweden except for a visit. hauling is being done by trucks.
THIEVES AT WORK
IN THE_VILLAGE
Office of Filling Station of Princeton
Oil Company is Looted Early
on Monday Morning.
BURGLARS LEAVE NO CLUE
Many Petty Thefts Have Been Com-
mitted in the Village During
Past Few Months.
Early Monday morning thieves
looted the office of the filling station
of the Princeton Oil company and
made away with about $35 of cash.
-They entered the office by the back
door, partly removing the lock and
forcing out the key. The theft was
committed after midnight because the
office was not closed until that tune.
The burglars were evidently inter
ested only in securing all the available
money. None of the automobile ac
cessories or tires were taken. There
was a valuable camera and several
gold watchcases in the desk which
the thieves examined but did not take.
The cash register was rifled and a
bag of money was taken from a
drawer in the desk. The total amount
of the plunder was approximately $35.
The evidence available indicates
that the burglary was committed by
someone who was familiar with the
office and T)y an amateur. A skeleton
key was undoubtedly employed in
forcing the lock of the door and the
keys of the three doors in the building
were removed. It would seem that
the thief was collecting keys for fu
ture use. Also no attempt was made
to tamper with the safe. If it was an
amateur he was clever enough to at
tempt only that which he could handle
and to leave no clue as to his identity
The burglary was also well timed,
when it could be expected the receipts
of Saturday evening and Sunday
would be in the office.
Just a week previous to this theft,
on the evening of July 16, $100 was
stolen from the apartment occupied
by Mr. and Mrs. Max Kruschke. This
burglary was committd between the
hours of 7 and 11, when Mr. and Mrs.
Kruschke were busy at the theater.
It is thought the same party may
have committed both thefts, because
here as'in the office of the filling sta
tion, only money was taken and the
thief gained admittance to the apart
ment by means of a skeleton key.
There was some silverware and a few
trinkets, which might have been re
moved but which were left untouched.
The time of the burglary would indi
cate that it was committed by some
one who was familiar with the habits
of Mr. and Mrs. Kruschke.
These are only a few of a series of
petty thefts that have been committed
in the village during the past four
months. As has been stated the indi
cations are that it is the work of some
local individual or individuals. It was
thought for a time that there would
be a better chance of catching the
thieves if no publicity was given to
the burglaries, but it seems now that
it would be wise to issue a warning to
the citizens of the village.
If it is possible to avoid it, no
large sum of money should bo kept
in any place of business or dwelling,
unless it is in a substantial safe or
vault. It is a prudent policy to pay
all bills of any size by check. Since
Princeton is on one of the main trunk
highways, just 50 miles from Minne
apolis, it would be well for the resi
dents of the village to exercise a live
precaution. There may not be a burg
lary here for months or years, and
then some night a gang may come in
and attempt to clean up the town.
Mrs. J. W. Eppisch.
Mrs.J.W.Eppisch, a resident of Or
rock for the past 40 years, died at the
home of her daughter, Mrs. Christ
Yven of Excelsior, last Monday, aged
71 years 7 months and 15 days. Death
was due Jo a stroke of paralysis that
she suffered on Thursday and from
which she did not regain conscious
ness. The remains were brought to
Princeton Monday evening for inter
ment in Oak Knoll cemetery. The
funeral services were conducted in St.
Edward's church Wednesday morning
at 10 o'clock. Father Mayer officiated.
Helena Moeger was born on Decem
ber 9, 1850, near Cologne, Germany.
At the age of 30 years she married
John W. Eppisch. Two children were
born of this union, Joseph, who was
drowned in infancy, and Mary, Mrs.
Christ Yven of Excelsior. More than a
year ago Mrs. Eppisch left Orrock, be
cause of failing health, to make her
home with her daughter, Mrs. Yven.
She leaves a large number of friends
and acquaintances in Orrock who will
miss a kindly neighbor and a helpful
friend.
Modern Methods of Farming.
Odin Odegard is shipping a carload
of rye, raised on Dr. Cooney's farm in
Blue Hill, to a Duluth firm. The rye
is of an excellent quality and yielded
better than 20 bushels to the acre,
from a field of 50 acres or more. The
woTk of plowing, cutting and thresh
ing, was done by a tractor, while the
PRINCETON, MILLE LACS COUNTY, MINNESOTA, THURSDAY, JULY 27, 1922
Picnic Date Uncertain.
Plans for the community picnic
mentioned in last week's issue of the
Union, are progressing favorably.
The soliciting committee has been
working and a very gratifying amount
has been subscribed by those ap
proached. There seems to be some
sentiment in favor of changing the
date, as some of the business men
said they would support a weekday
picnic but declined to give for cne on
the Sabbath. A meeting of the Com
mercial club will probably be called to
determine the will of the majority.
The picnic is assured though the date
may be changed.
ELECT DELEGATES.
Fremont Woodcock Post and Legion
Auxiliary Elect Delegates to
State Convention.
The American legion and the Legion
auxiliary will hold a joint state con
vention at Virginia, August 21 to 24.
The members of the Fremont Wood
cock post met last Thursday evening
and elected the following delegates
to represent them at this convention:
Sydney Berggren, Fred Schilling and
Reuben Norberg. Mrs. Mattie Mal
lette and Mrs. Carl Orstrum were
chosen as delegates by the auxiliary
members. Mrs. C. H. Nelson and Mrs.
Ina Bergh were selected as alter
nates.
Elaborate plans are being made for
the joint convention at Virginia. A
complete entertainment program has
been provided for the four days the
delegates will be in session. It is ex
pected 6,000 legion delegates and
guests will be in attendance. Hanford
MacNider, national commander of the
American legion, will address the con
vention.
A large attendance of auxiliary
delegates is also expected. Mrs.
Lowell F. Hobart, the national auxil
iary president will address their con
vention.
COUNTY DAIRY RECORD.
Dairy and Food Commissioner Fur
nishes Creamery Statistics for
Mille Lacs County.
The state dairy and food commis
sioner, Chris Heen, has compiled a
table showing the comparative cream
ery statistics in Mille Lacs county for
the years 1920 and 1921. If the fig
ures are correct, there was a decrease
in the number of creamery patrons in
1921, although ti&sfe was Jn increase
in the amount of dairy products mar
keted. It is also worthy of note that
although more butter was made in
1921 than in 1920 the receipts for the
sale of this product were less than in
the previous year.
Mr. Heen states that it has been
difficult to compile exactly accurate
figures for some of the counties be
cause the secretary of the local asso
ciation has not always supplied the de
partment with all necessary data.
While the receipts for the butter
were less in 1921 than in 1920, it
should be remembered that the cost
of producing the butter had also been
materially reduced in that time.
The following is the table compiled
by Commissioner Heen:
Report for Mille Lacs County.
Number of patrons
Number of cows
Pounds of milk received
Pounds of cream received
Pounds of butterfat
Pounds of butter made
Received for butter $1,301,733 $1,057,954
Paid patrons $1,200,469 $946,690
The total butter production for Min
nesota in 1920 was 139,229,843 pounds
in 1921 it was 169,574,872 pounds,
showing a gain of 22.79 per cent.
The Legion dance at the armory last
Friday night was not overly well at
tended. Forty-seven tickets were
sold and a royal good time was report
ed by those who were present. A
dainty lunch was served by the Legion
auxiliary from which the sum of $19
was realized. Those in attendance
were largely out-of-town people.
There is a marked decrease in the
number of local dance devotees al
though these dances may well be
patronized on their own merit. Music
was furnished by the Hand's orchestra
of St. Cloud. This orchestra will also
furnish the music for the dances dur
ing fair week.
Baptismal Ceremonial.
A baptismal ceremonial will take
place next Sunday, July 30, at 2:30
p. m. The rites will be performed in
the west branch of the Rum river, two
miles northwest of Foreston. There
will be arrows marking the way from
Foreston to the Macue farm where the
services will be held by Herbert An
derson, "The Soldier Evangelist."
The evangelistic services conducted
by Rev. Herbert Anderson have been
well attended. It is expected a large
number of people will be present at
the baptismal ceremonies next Sun
day.
Will Exhibit at State Fair.
P. W. Jensen returned from a 10-
day motor trip in the southern part of
the state. Mr. Jensen is the inventor
of the "Jensen Adjustable Chain-Hal
ter" and was signing up agents for
the sale of the article. I is being
manufactured by the American Chain
company. Mr. Jensen will advertise
his invention extensively at the state
fair where he will exhibit it this fall.
DATE FOR COUNTY
FAIR APPROACHES
Time to Begin to Prepare Exhibits
Lay Aside the Best Speci-
mens Now
WILL MEET OLD FRIENDS
Management Will Provide First-CIass
Entertainment Fireworks in
the Evening.
The dates for the Mille Lacs county
fair are August 26, 28, 29 and 30. The
opening day is Saturday, the 26th.
All entries except live stock must be
made on that day. Live stock may be
entered until 9 o'clock on Monday, the
27th. All parties desiring to enter
stock for exhibit should notify the
secretary, Ire G. Stanley, as early as
possible so that pens and stalls may
be reserved.
The sum of $1,700 will be awarded
in premiums this year. The premium
list will be ready for distribution in a
couple of weeks. It will pay for those
who intend to exhibit to read it care
fully. Everyone should begin to plan
their displays now. Growing condi
tions have beej? good in Mille Lacs
county this summer and there should
"Be some wonderful displays at the fair
next month.
Too much emphasis cannot he laid
on the advisability of beginning to
pr ep ar
son
1920
2,036
15,359
116.492
1921
1,838
17,098
172,534
7,040,612
1,857,933
2,299,294
8,221,901 2,254,518
2,786,191
Legion Dance.
the exhibits early in the sea
If a woman plans'to have a dis
play of canned fruit or vegetables, it
would be well for her- to use the same
size and type jars for all the speci
mens which she intends to exhibit.
The use of uniform jars will improve
the appearance of her display and the
judges take this factor into considera
tion in their scoring The women
who are preparing canned goods for
display in the township exhibits
should also pay strict attention to the
specifications in the premium list. In
the township exhibits, the list states
that the canned vegetables and fruits
shall be in pint jars. Last year some
excellent displays were not given a
high score because they were in quart
jars.
Some changes have been made in
regard to the rules for township ex
hibits. All clubs exhibiting will re
ceive $15 except the first prize win
ner. The first prize will be $20. Ev
ery club north of Page or Hayland
townships will be paid an additional
sum of $10, besides the $15, to help
defray its expenses.
The fair officials have secured some
unusually good entertaiment features.
One of these is an animal circus in one
act. There will also be some clever
vaudeville and some good trapeze
work. At the evening performances
there will be a splendid display of
fireworks.
This is our own fair and let us
make it the best in the history of the
county. We have a wonderful county
and we can have a wonderful fair.
Let us all boost together and make the
Mille Lacs county fair famous for
miles around.
All former residents of Princeton
should make the week of August 27 to
September 2 home-coming week.
Come back and visit Princeton then
and meet all your old friends at the
fair.
Dr. and Mrs. Wetter Enjoy Trip.
Dr. and Mrs. C. H. Wetter returned
last Friday evening from a visit at
Leland, 111., where Mrs. Wetter's par
ents, Mr. and Mrs. L. H. Olson live.
They made the trip by auto making
the distance, 505 miles, in two days.
They took trail No. 12 through Wis
consin, and found it a very beautiful
route. The crops in northern Wiscon
sin were only fair while those in the
south were good. Crops about Le
land were wonderful as to wheat and
corn the latter standing 9 to 12 feet,
while the former is the best crop in
several years. Oats and barley were
poor Mrs. Wetter says they use both
tractors and horses on her father's
farm, and though they raise stock they
still market several thousand bushels
of corn.
Picnic at Elk Lake.
The joint picnic of the Blue Hill
Farmers' club and farm bureau unit
held at Elk lake was well attended.
Mr. Corwin of the university farm,
who was the principal speaker, gave a
very interesting and practical address.
During the afternoon there was boat
ing, bathing and other sports. Re
freshments were served. Everyone
thoroughly enjoyed the outing.
"These two organizations will hold
their annual meeting at the home of
M. B. Mattson on Tuesday evening,
August 1. Various reports will be
presented and there will be the annual
election of officers.
Unit Serves Ice Cream.
The Greenbush farm bureau unit
gave an ice cream sociable at the
school house in district 4, on Tuesday
evening. The yard was lighted with
rows of Japanese lanterns which made
a very pleasing sight. Automobiles
lined the roads and filled the grounds,
showing how well the affair was
patronized. The ladies at the counter
were kept busy serving the enthusi
astic patrons who showed their ap
preciation by frequently returning for
a second supply of ice cream and
cake.
The members of the boys* and girts'
club had a candy booth and dispensed
delicious homemade confections. A
liberal sum was raised for the treasury
of the Greenbush unit and for the
boys' and girls' club.
A considerable number of people
from the village attended the sociable.
Princeton Picnic on July 29.
The annual picnic of the Princeton
club of Minneapolis will be held at
Minnehaha park on Saturday, July 29.
It is to be a basket picnic this year.
The guests are expected to assemble
at the park about 4 o'clockJmt some
of the company will probably not be
able to arrive until later. The in
formal, impromptu entertainment will
begin at 7 o'clock.
A cordial invitation is extended to
all former residents of Princeton and
the vicinity. It is hoped a large dele
gation from Princeton will make ar
rangements to attend this picnic. Our
old friends now residing in Minneap
olis are expecting us and we certainly
would enjoy meeting them again.
CIVIC CLUB IN SESSION.
Cemetery Committee Urges Prompt
Payment of Subscriptions to
Maintenance Fund.
The Civic Betterment club held its
regular meeting Tuesday afternoon
with just a sufficient number of mem
bers present for a quorum.
The secretary reported that only
$369 had been paid into the cemetery
fund this year. If all the lot owners
will respond to the notices sent them,
the club will have sufficient money to
complete the work outlined for the
summer. If no more subscriptions are
received, there will be a deficiency of
about $200. The club does splendid
work in maintaining the cemetery in
such excellent condition, but worthy as
this work is, it cannot be continued
unless all the lot owners are willing to
assume their portion of the financial
burden. Subscriptions to the cemetery
fund stiould be made payable to Mrs.
John F. Petterson- at the First Na
tional bank.
Favorable reports were made con
cerning the condition of the tourist
camping ground. Electric lights have
been installed there by the order of
the village council.
It was voted that the club should
take a few weeks vacation during
the remainder of the summer. The
next regular meeting will be held on
September 19. If any matters of im
portance demanding immediate atten
tion arise at any time, a special meet
ing can be called.
Benjamin Stark Dies.
A telegram was received this morn
ing stating that Benjamin Stark died
Wednesday afternoon, July 26, at a
hospital in Miles City, Mont. Ben,
as he was familiarly known, was taken
to the hospital in Miles City about a
week ago with a ruptured appendix.
He seemed to progress nicely after the
operation and then complications de
veloped. He became suddenly worse
and the end came at 5 o'clock Wednes
day afternoon.
Benjamin Stark was the son of
Mr. and Mrs. William Stark who for
merly resided in Spencer Brook. In
1912 the family moved to Carlyle,
Mont., and has resided there since
that time.
Ben and his brothers have for sev
eral years been engaged in farming.
He was a most industrious young man
of sterling character. His untimely
death is greatly to be deplored.
He is survived by three sisters,
Lucy, Lydia and Janet four brothers,
Ralph, Hugh, Thomas and Edward.
Deep sympathy is extended to the
brothers and sisters.
Festival and Band Concert.
The ice cream sociable given by the
Methodist Ladies' Aid society on the
court house lawn, Monday evening
was well patronized. Over 350 people
were served and the sum of $50 was
realized from the sale of ice cream
and cake.
The band concert rendered on that
evening made the affair more enjoya
ble. The boys are certainly develop
ing an excellent musical organization.
Christian Mothers Give Sociable.
The Christian Mothers of St. Ed
ward's Catholic church gave a lawn
sociable on the church grounds Satur
day evening. The place was prettily
lighted with Japanese lanterns, which
helped to make a very festive appear
ance. A large number of people at
tended and partook of the refresh
ments, consisting of ice cream, cake,
coffee and lemonade. The ladies rea
lized $52 from the affair.
Motorists Return.
Mr. and Mrs. Ed. Evens and Mr.
and Mrs. Ddbbin of Excelsior just re
turned, from a 10-day outing. They
carried a full camping outfit. The
tourists visited Mille Lacs lake, Brain
er, Grand Rapids, Bemidji and Itaska
state park and returned by the same
route. They made their longest stay
at Hakensack. Mr. Evens said they
caught plenty of fish,-and enjoyed a
delightful trip,
VOL. 46, NO 31
THE LOCAL ROAD
TAXESJECREASE
State Maintenance of 7,000 Mileg of
Trunk Highways Relieves the
Counties of Expense.
OUR HIGHWAYS IMPROVE
Mille Lacs County Road and Bridge
Appropriation Reduced From
$60,000 to $45,000.
Reductions of more than $1,500,000
in road tax levies by counties and
townships in Minnesota followed the
first year after adoption of the Bab
cock plan for state improvement and
upkeep of 7,000 miles of main roads^
which always had taken a large part
of local road and bridge funds, accord
ing to the state highway department
bulletin today.
Official figures from the state audi
tor's abstract show that last year for
the first time in state annals the coun
ty road and bridge levies dropped to
$10,022,488 from $10,843,682 and those
of the townships to $6,139,673 from
$6,862,560, making a total decrease of
$1,543,000. The current fundsavaila
ble during the past year for^local
roads and bridges were $19,811,271.
This amount included the appropria
tions of the counties, townships, cities
and villages. None of the $19,811,271
was spent on the heavy traffic roads,
those which are always the more cost
ly to build and maintain. Those roads
are included in the trunk highway sys
tem which has been taken over by the
state.
Figures have not yet been Compiled
to show the total road and bridge ap
propriations made by the counties this
year. In Mille Lacs county, however,
there was a reduction of $15,000 in
that appropriation this year. In 1921
the county commissioners voted an ap
propriation of $60,000 while this year
conditions were such that it appeared"
the necessary work could be done for
$45,000. The Scenic highway in past
years has taken a large portion of
our county road money, but now ail
the money spent on this road comes
from the state funds and the federal
aid.
Current revenues in the trunk high
way fund this year probably will ap
proximate $7,500,000. This is about
$500,000 more than last year but still
far below the $10,000,000 annual aver
age expected, and due in part to a 50
per cent cut in federal aid whieb cost
the trunk fund nearly $3,000,000 this
year and last. Motor vehicle tax reve
nues for 1922 have passed the $6,000,-
000 mark, compared with the 1921
total of $5,616,000. Rates are un
changed but a larger number of cars
are registered.
The state highway bulletin states
"Larger automobile receipts are more
than offset for car owners in better
roads savings and car upkeep, tires
and gasoline. Even in large cities"
which cannot share in trunk highway
funds, automobile and ruck Owners
express willingness to pay higher
licenses to speed the highway program
and increase savings."
In spite of the increase in road
funds up to this year and the reputa
tion of the state for good roads, it is
reported, Minnesota is being topped in"
highway expenditures by many states
which have sold large issues of road?
bonds.
Girl Drowned at Wahkon.
A sad accident occured at Wahkon
last Friday when Gladys, the 16-year-
old daughter of John M. Nelson, was
drowned while bathing in Mille Lacs
lake. Gladys and another girl about
her age were playing together in the
water with a boat. The boat floated*
out of their reach, and Gladys at
tempted to bring it back. She became'
exhausted and called for help just as
she disappeared under the surface of*
the water. Her little companion raw
for help that arrived too late.
A searching party was organized,,"
and about 4 o'clock in the afternoon
the body was found in almost six feet
of water.
The funeral services were held onr
Sunday afternoon from the communi
ty church at which the deceased was ar
faithful attendant. Interment was iir
the Eleanor Foster cemetery.
The sympathy of the entire com
munity of Wahkon is extended to the
bereaved family.
Joint Picnic at Spectacle Lake.
The Fremont Woodcock post and
the Legion auxiliary will hold a joint
picnic at Spectacle lake on Sunday
Aug. 6. The Legion and auxiliary ex
tend a cordial invitation to the fam
ilies of all former service men. A
basket dinner will be served.
In the afternoon it is /planned to*
have a program of sports with prizes
for the winners. There will be a
horseshoe-pitching tournament, volley
ball contests, swimming, boating and
bathing.
Bog Fire Near Milaca.
A bog fire is burning near the
railroad right-of-way two miles out
of Milaca. It is several acres in ex
tent but a ditch has been dug around
it, so that the fire may not spread. Ifc
will take a good rain to extinguish it-
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