The Princeton union. [volume], December 24, 1914, Image 1

About The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976

Image provided by: Minnesota Historical Society; Saint Paul, MN

                
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B. C. DUNN, Publisher. Terms $1.00 Per Year.
District Engineer Cooley's Report of
Work Performed on State Roads
in County during Year.
Total Amount Expended on State
Roads Was $42,413 of Which $7,-
000 Was for flaintenance.
Mr. R. M. Cooley, district -en-
gineer for Mille Lacs county, has
made his report of work performed
on state roads for the year, and it is
an intelligent and comprehensive
report. Mr. Cooley gives details as
to the amount of clearing and grub
bing, ditching, grading, gravelling,
macadam, concrete culverts and cor
rugated metal culverts on each of
the state roads, but the mass of
figures would weary the reader.
The total road mileage of the
county is given as 655 miles, of
which J83 miles are improved, and
200 of total semi-impoved. Number
of safe railroad grade crossings, 20
unsafe crossings, 9 no accidents or
no lives lost on account of crossings.
Number of bridges over 30-feet span,
27 in good condition 13 in bad con
dition 14 no accidents or no lives
lost on account of poor bridges. The
county levy for road and bridge fund
for next year is $10,000the maxi
mum amount permitted by law.
Of ditching there were 19 miles,
grading 24 miles, 7 miles of gravel
ling, 2 miles of macadam, 2 concrete
culverts, 55 corrugated metal cul
verts. For maintenance $7,000 was
expended. The total expenditures
on state roads was $42,413.
More good road work was done in
Mille Lacs county during the year
than in any previous two years.
The maintenance feature was a new
thing this year. Next year this im
portant part of the road work can,
we believe, be improved upon. This
year too much territory was assigned
to each of the maintenance crews.
But, as Engineer Cooley remarks in
the text of his report, "unless a
person goes over the whole system of
roads^ in the county, it is impossible
nfor^h^fm'^olreallze^where^^rie'^n^y
has been expended." All the state
roads in the county cannot be im
proved in one year it will require a
series of years but a good start has
been made this year. It should also
be remembered that the county and
state must provide for the improve
ment and the upkeep of the 126
miles of state roads the towns are
relieved of that burden town road
taxes can now be expended on other
roads in the town. It should also be
borne in mind that the roads now
designated as state roads were and
are the main traveled roads, and
were the most expensive to keep in a
passable conditionlong stretches
were at times impassable. Later on,
when the present mileage of state
roads is permanently improved, other
state roads will be established.
Annexed hereto is the text of Dis
trict Engineer Cooley's report:
"In order to determine which was
the cheaper method to follow in
order to get the best results in mak
ing a system of npermanent and sub
stantial highways in Mille Lacs
county, the county board, at their
annual meeting in January, decided
to let some of the work out by con
tract and to execute some of the
work by day labor. It was discovered
that the more economical in one case
might be the more costly in another,
and that each job would call for the
exercise of extreme care and the
most careful consideration of soil,
location of work and the exigencies
of the local market. In other words,
you might say that the decision lay
with the facility with which the
county board and the engineer were
able to diagnose the local conditions.
"The ten mile stretch of general
construction, called job No 1, in the
northern part of the county, was ad
vertised and let to the lowest bidder.
The county attempting to do this
work by day labor would have neces
sitated the purchase of a large
amount of machinery, camp equip
ment, the entire time of one of
the county commissioners or another
competent road builder besides the
engineer. Owing to the difficulties
encountered in the weather, drainage
and soil conditions, there is no doubt
that the work has been done better
and a great deal cheaper under con
tract than it could have been done
toy day labor.
"The macadam and surfacing work
done on the road leading* west from
Princeton was done by day labor.
The men took a great deal of inter
est in the work and it was done very
cheaply, and might ha~ve been done
even more so but there was no regu-
awiiMiii
larity in the shipments of the rock,
and consequently there were many
teams idle at some times.
"There were about ten other jobs,
their appropriations ranging from
$200 to $700. These were done by day
labor under the supervision of the
local county commissioners, who ap
pointed a person who wa*s especially
interested and competent to take
direct charge of the work. I found
all of these men anxious to follow
my suggestions as regaids the proper
draining, grading and rounding up
of the finished roadbed, and in mak
ing the money appropriated reach
as far as possible, not forgetting for
a moment that what work we did
was to be permanent and substantial
and a model and incentive for jture
road building in Mille Lacs county.
"From a road building standpoint,
the soil and topographical conditions
divide the county into three distinct
parts.
:y: _.''-' '._
"The Southern Part: In this sec
tion the soil is sandy and the country
is comparatively level with adequate
natural drainage. This obviates the
necessity for much ditching and
grading, and makes it necessary that
a great deal of stress be put upon
the proper surfacing of the road.
Where there is clay to be had within
a reasonable distance, it has been
found possible to make very good
surface by making what is called a
sand-clay surface with diligent care
in the intial stages and adequate
maintenance during the first few
years, this makes a very good road.
However, the best and by far the
most economical in the long run is
the surfacing with the St. Co'ud
granite. The three roads surfaced
in this manner, running out* from
Princeton, can well be taken as ex
amples of what is possible with this
granite, under the aforesaid con
ditions.
"The Central Part: This section
is rolling and the soil is very heavy,
having a great deal of clay in its
makeup. Gravel is to be had at
comparatively short hauls. The pits
contain a great many stones too
large for use in the gravel and if a
samll portable crusher were added to
the equipment, they might be well
utilized in surfacing the road. How
ever, owing to the rough contour of
the land, grading is the most im
portant factor in this section, with
drainage coming next. Surfacing
can be taken care of later, as with
proper drainage and grading a road
in this section, composed of this
clayey soil, if properly maintained,
will be in a very passable condition
all the year round.
"The Northern Part: Drainage is
the main feature of the roadbuild
ing in this district. The soil is of a
heavy clay composition and there are
many large swamps with very little
fall. In some cases a good road can
be made by making, good side and off
take ditches and proper grading, but
in many instances it is necessary to
provide for the adequate drainage, of
the whole swamp or system of
swamps, before a road can be had that
will be passable at all seasons of the
year. Gravel is to be had here at
very short hauls, but as yet the sur
facing is not the important feature
in this newer settled portion.
"There is plenty of good surfacing
gravel to be had in close proximity
to all the portions of the various
roads with the exception of those
in the extreme southern part of phe
county. At present the county- is
the owner of only one gravel pit, but
if the board intends to continue
their present policy, it would be ad
visable for them to purchase the
most conveniently located of these
pits as soon as possible.
"The maintenance crews of each
district have been supplied by the
county with a good set.of tools, ad
equate facilities for the storage of
which have been made. It will be
necessary to purchase more next
year, however, if the county board
intends to do the work on the con
struction iobs by day labor. On
some of the smaller jobs this year
work was delayed at times owing to
the fact that we had to wait until
the various town boards had, com
pleted their work before we could
get the use of their tools.
"Mille Lacs county claims to have
built one of the best pieces of road
in the state during this last year.
This is a stretch of macadam stretch
ing west from Princeton, giving a
smooth, hard, well graded surface
where before there was an uneven
i sandy surface, marred with deep ruts
'at all times of the year. The sur
facing material used was St. Cloud
granite and was put on under ,the
personal supervision of Mr. R. C.
Dunn. The extreme care taken and
the time and energy expended by Mr.
Continued on Page 4
YULETIDEEXERCISES Fitting Exercises to Commemorate the
Anniversary of Our Saviour's
Birth to Be Held Here.
Various Local Churches Arrange Ap
propriate Programs of Songs and
Recitations for Occasion.
Appropriate exercises will mark
the observance of Christmas in the
various houses of religious worship
in Princeton.--^.^X^t'^-:'^^
The sacred anniversary. of OUT
Saviour's nativity will be observed
this year at St. Edward's church
with special solemn services befitting
the~sacred character of such a promi
nent festival. Many flowers and
evergreens will mark the decorations
of the edifice. A quaint old cave
with representations of the Divine
Infant, His mother, Fr. Joseph and
the adoring shepherds have been put
up in the church, recalling to mind
vividly the wonderful scene of ishat
first Christmas night at Bethlehem
1900 years ago when the promised
Redeemer came into this world: A
new mass of the immaculate con
ception has been selected by Mrs. C.
A. Caley and under her efficient
leadership will no doubt be ren
dered as artistically and sweetly as
is in keeping with the occasion.
Twenty mass boys will carry lighted
torches in procession- The hours for
the services are as follows: At 6
o'clock in the morning, high mass
and sermon. At 8:30 low mass dur
ing which the Angels' choir of 25
voices will sing in the vernacular.
At 10:30 high mass with sermon and
benediction of the blessed sacrament,
A most cordial invitation is hereby
extended to anyone who wishes to
attend these services.
This evening programs of songs,
dialogues and recitations, voicing
the real Christmas spirit, will be
given at the German Lutheran, Con
gregational and Methodist churches.
The program at the German Lu
theran church starts promptly at
6:30 o'clock. The Congregational
iKogram commences at 7:30,
the Methodist services will begin at.
8 o'clock. The Swedish Lutheran
church will have its program next
Saturday evening.
Hereunder are printed the Metho
dist, Congregational and Swedish
Lutheran programs:
Methodist.
Prelude ^.Miss Ruth Brlgga
Song Haste, Haste Prom Alar School
Recitation .Welcome.,.. Cart Larson
Dialogue.The Christmas Crown.Primary Boys
Song.... Jesus, Gentle Saviour...Primary Girls
Recitation. Be a Santa Claus to Someone
Margaret Pitmon.
Recitation...... I Wonder Grant Mahaffey
Song The Christmas Song
Mrs. Piunon's Class.
Dialogue Immanuel... .Mrs. Larson's Class
Dialogue-Christmas Newsboys..Primary Bojs
Recitation One Christmas Eve
Mildred Howard.
Song Ring, Ring Christmas Bells
Boys and Girls.
Recitation.The Christmas Story.Claire Nelson'
Song Christmas is Here Primary Girls
Recitation The Dream .Phillip Bayier
Dialogue The Christmas candles
Primary Boys.
Recitation When the Son of Man Cometh
Gertrude Bishop.
Song..'..- While Angels Sing..... School
Trombone Solo Allen Ross
Recitation The Prescription
Robert Hylander
Dialogue The Arrival of Santa Claus
Boys and Girls.
Congregational.
Song.......... Ring Sweet Bells School
Recitation Grandma's Mistake
Florence Miller.
Recitation Firefly Laurence Johnson
Violin Duett.....
Irene TJmbehocker, Chester Cooney
Recitation .First Christmas Song.
Margaret Homander.
Recitation........ A Wish Esther Iverson
Song Christmas Story. r.:r.Grace Gibson
Dialogue..Christmas Bells.Miss Dickey's Class
Recitation.... .The Best Man..... Ruth Johnson
Recitation A Secret..... Yvonne (Moulding
Vocal Solo Ttuth Douglas
Recitation Leara Veal
Duett. ChristmasLullaby
Myrtle Dickey and Anita Davis With
Piano and Violin Accompaniment.
Recitation A Cross Examination
Vivian Starfl.
Recitation..Mrs. Santa Claus. Myrtle Wicktor
Song Nights of Nights.... Miss Davis* Class
Recitation.. A Stitch in Time
Helen Busch.
Reeitation. S Tardy Santa Claus
Macy Veal
Song. Shine on Blessed Star
Florence Iverson.
Recitation..:... His Stocking..... Harold Young
Recitation Santa Clans' Substitute
Charles Moey.
Song......... At Christmas Time.... .School
Recitation .Beth Fox
Recitation.... .Christmas Tree..... .Roy Busch
Reading. .Santa Claus'
Iverson.
Swedish Lutheran.
Song..... CongregationPetitio
Bible ReadingFlorence and Prayer ......Supt. Olson
Song......... choir
W elcome Greeting Roy Sternquist
Son 8 .Sunday School
Recitation^...............,f .WalterOlson
Dialogue..,'.. .Grace Lundblad, lone OseH. Ida,
Edwin and Smil Anderson.
Recitation.-. Carolina Mattson
Song Choir
Dialogue.FredaZatterstrom. Marion Lundblad
Soue Girls'Class
Dialogue Elsa and Albert Mattson
Recitation Grace Lundblad
8nf GirlB' Class
Recitation. Ephraim Anderson
Recitation.......r.~ Alma Mattson
Recitation.. Walter Olson
Dialogue. ....Alma Mattson, Marion Lundblad
and Freda Zatterstrom.
Recitation. Roy Swanson
Recitations Helen and Ruth Westman
Solo. .1....,. Nathan Peterson
Recitation..:...?. y.. Carl Swanson
Song .Sunday School
Report...: r^^^irSuperiLtendent Olson
Scng.4 sfo^,.....: Choir
Remarks.... -~.f3K Rev. Peterson
Sang.[ t|.. Quartet
Benediction.
I Assessable Valuation Increased.
JFrom -figures obtained from the
state tax commission we learn that
thp $6tal assessable valijyptiion of
tfcie state lor the year lMlir$l,503,-
033,066, itn increase of $133,082,764
over the figures for 1913. In 1913
tllte valuation of Mille Lacs county,
reial jtnd personal, was $3,336,122,
this year the figures are $4,374,933,
an increase of $1,038,811 "Isanti
county for year 1913, $3,475,327 for
yeara914, $4,169,759, an increase of
$694,432 Sherburne county for year
1913,' $3,083,473, for year 1914, $4,014,-
819, an increase of $931,346 Kanabec
county for year 1913 $2,426,758, for
year' 1914,~$3,217,825, an increase of
$791,067- Benton county for year
1913, $4,133,210, for year 1914, 84,800,-
449, an increase of $677,239 Anoka
county for year 1913, $4,987,836, for
year 1914, $5,798,754, an increase of
$810,918.
-Y--..J
The above figures are for real and
personal property and do not include
moneys and creditsthe latter pays
a gat tax rate of three mills on the
dollar.
The Original Split Log Drag Han.
D. Ward King,--the original split
log drag man, has been lecturing in
Brainerd. Little Falls and St. Cloud,
seating forth the advantages of the
diiag. His talks have been very in
teresting. At Little Falls he said
titat the half mile section of the
rqkd along his farm in Missouri has
o^er 18 inches of hard baked surface
that would shed two weeks of solid
rain and not get a mud hole in it,
and there was not a cent spent on
tr^e -making or the maintaining of
that particular half mile of road in
whitejtfe"las 18 years, and all work was
done' by the use of -the split -log
It took Mr. King's neighbors in
Missouri from six to eight years to
realize what Mr. King had accom
plished on the road in front of his
farm with his little split-log drag.
This year the state of Missouri paid
out $220,000 for dragging roads.
In some localities in this state it
seems to be as hard for people to
"catch on" as it was for the Mis
sourians a decade ago.
A Happy Celebration.
Hon. H. E. Crais and wife cele
brated their golden wedding at their
home in Orrock Tuesday evening of
this week. There were many friends
present from around about, and it
was one of the most happy events
that has taken place* in this county
for many days. __
Mr. Craig is well knolvn through
out the state, and while Mrs. Craig
is not such a public character as her
husband, those who know her.esteem
her as one of the most lovely women
among their acquaintance. Her
name before marriage to Mr. Craig
was Hattie G. Orrock^ and she and
Mr. Craig were married in Durham,
Canada, in 1864, and they have four
daughters and one son, all of whom
we understand were present at the
celebration, when the marriage cere
mony was again performed.Star
News.
Had some of Mr. and Mrs. Craig's
Princeton friends known of the
"wedding" they would have been
there, too, to pay. their respect to
Sherburne county's grand old man
and his estimable wife.
Notice.
To those that are indebted to me
I would advise that they should not
call' and settle until I starve to
death, for then they can settle their
bill with the angels.
I also have a lot of goods to dispose
of on the same terms. Please call
and inspect them and secure what
yon need. My pencil is not worn out
yet, and you should take advantage
of this opportunity before I starve
or before my pencil wears away/
Wm. Neely,
l-2tc The Harness Man
Unclaimed Letters.
List of letters remaining unclaimed
at the postoffice~at Princeton, Minn
on December 21, 1914: Rev. 6. F.
Johnson,^S. L. Sveris, Rev. Martin
H. Olson, James .Brinks, Miss Hazel
Duglas.:
:r,Please call for advertised letters'.
4 M. M. Briggs, Acting P. M..
nFFECTlVE PAGE
ST. CLOUD DEFEATED
Local Basket Ball Tossers Defeat Elks
Squad of St. Cloud at Princeton
-x
Armory Friday Evening.
Speedy National Oaurd Quint of Min-
neapolis Will Oppose Locals Here
Next Saturday Evening.
The basketball game at the armory
last Friday evening was witnessed
by a large crowd of enthusiastic fol
lowers of the great indoor game,.
Company was opposed by the Elks'
quint of St. Cloud, and the contest
was a thriller throughout. The final
score was 32 to 21 in favor of Prince
ton.
Play started at 8:30 o'clock with
a gentleman from St. Cloud as ref
eree and Wm. Roos as umpire. The
teams were very evenly matched
during the first half, with the visi
tors having an edge on the locals.
The felks took the lead at the outset,
and from then until the conclusion
of the first half the result was in
doubt. Oftentimes the score was a
tie. The visitors, however, had the
long end of a 13 to 11 score when
time was called. Vondemarus/ Smith
and Heinz figured in the scoring for
the militia boys.
In the second half the locals went
into the fray with more determina
tion-and energy, with the result that
they literally swept their opponents
off the floor. "Vondemarus alone
threw five field baskets, while Smith
is credited with three field baskets
and one free throw, and Heinz and
Doane each threw a field basket. This
made a total of 21 points for the
representatives of Company G, while
the Granite City athletes were forced
to be content with eight points in
this half.
The local basket ball team is dis
playing exceptional form, and the
contest last Friday was ample evi
dence of their prowess in this line of
sport. Some fast contests will un^
doubtedly be witnessed by local
lowers of the game this season.
fol-
:--:^,..-i ...NOT|lS.
'Only friendly rivalry existed
tween the opposing-sides,_ and
contest passed off without the slight
est friction. The visitors were a
gentlemanly lot of young men and
will be accorded a hearty welcome by
our citizens at any time.
Doane and Morton in the guard
positions played particularly strong
defensive games. Both are stars, in
these positions.
Princeton has a well balanced team
and the individaul members play
their positions in a creditable man
ner.
Although Princeton won by a sub
stantial majority, they were not
playing in what might be termed
luck, as several times what appeared
to be a perfect basket throw, on the
part of a local representative, would
by some perversity of fate result in
a failure.
Manager Hofflander informs us
that he has scheduled a game with
the powerful National Guard quint
of Minneapolis, to be played at the
Princeton armory next Saturday
evening, commencing at 9:15. This
contest promises to be a real thriller,
and a good turn 3ut is expected.
be-
the
Baird-Gennow. _
Jos. Craig, jr., departed for St.
Paul Saturday morning to be in at
tendance at the marriage of Mr.
Wm. Baird, director of athletics at
Hamline university, to Miss Mabel
Gennow, which occurred in that city
that afternoon. The bride is an ac
complished young lady, being a
graduate of the Princeton high
school and of Hamline university.
She has numerous friends in Prince
ton and vicinity who wish her a
married life of only happiness.
Those who enjoy the acquaintance of
the groom have.onls ,words of praise
for him, and he, as well as the bride,
has the well wishes of numerous
friends.
Potato Association Bankrupt.
The following item taken from the
columns of the Minneapolis Journal
may be of interest to local readers, as
the Bernardy referred "to was formerly
employed by W. H. Ferrell & Co., as
bookkeeper _*-
Fergus Falls Minn. Dec. 22.An-
other chapter in Barnes.ville potato
litigation was added today when
Referee Field declared the Red River'
Potato Growers' association bank
rupt.. Mr. Bernardy acted, as mana
ger for the association and purchased
a Jot of potatoes, which were frozen
in transit... There were also other
losses.- ,-i~^-'iJ'~ v-"',
Dozens of suTts'followed, and" Ber-
nardy finally asked that the associa--.-^
Won be thrpwn into bankruptcy.'^
jrhe association, which is a farmers' \,S
oragnization, resisted, contending ^?-f
that Bernardy was never legally em
ployed as its manager and that what:
ever business he transacted was in
dividual business, for which the as
sociation was not responsible.
The opiniorr today means that the
association will be held liable for the
debts incurred.
Schools Close for Holidays.
The Princeton schools closed last
Friday for the annual Christmas va
cation of two weeks. Appropriate
exercises were held in the high
school Friday afternoon, one of the
pleasing features of which was a
vocal solo by Mrs. S. P. Skahen, who
also responded to an encore. The
following teachers have departed for
various places as follows to pass the
holidays. Supt. Marshall, Kenyon
Miss Hull, White Bear Miss
Yancey, Grand Rapids Miss Stem-
-peV^t~ Peter^ Miss Benda, Brain
erd Miss Robarge, Buffalo Miss
Foley, St 4^ Paul Miss Fellows,
Sioux Falls, S^D. Mrs. Stevens,
Owatonna Miss Pollard, Robbins
dale Miss Davis, Delano, and Miss
Lindsay, Anoka. The schools will
reopen on Tuesday, January 5, 1915.
A Seattle Party.
On Friday evening, December 11,
1914, Leon Whitney gave a "stag"
party at his home, 7516 Sunnyside
Avenue, Seattle. A chicken dinner
was served at 7 o'clock, covers being
laid for twelve. The table and din
ing room was beautifully decorated
with holly and English ivy a bouquet
of carnations and ferns forming the
centerpiece of the table. The even
ing was pleasantly spent in cards
and-music, several members of the
Metropolitan theater orchestra being
present. A crab supper was served
at midnight. Thu guests departed
at 2 a. m. each expressing himself as
haying passed a very-enjoyabe even
ing. Among those present were
Frank Gouldihg and Gunnar Hof
flander of Princeton, Minnesota.
Birthday Surprise.
Mrs. A. Wicktor was the victim
of a most pleasant surprise party
last Saturday evening, when about
thirty of her neighbors and friends
invaded her residence unasked. The
occasion was the 55th anniversary of
Mrs. Wicktor's birth. The evening
was pleasantly passed in playing
cards, flinch, and stoiies were also
told. At midnight an appetizing
luncheon was served, and the party
did not disband until 1:30 o'clock.
Before leaving the self-invited guests
presented to Mrs. Wicktor an Elite
carpet sweeper. A truly enjoyable
time was had by all present and all
wished the guest of honor many
happy returns of the day.
5
A
Sylvester Russell.
comes from Port Orchard,"
of the death of Sylvester
which occurred at that place
12th inst. Mr. Russell's
News
Wash Russell,
on the
health had not been the best for a
year prior to his demise, but he had
been confined to his bed but a short
time.
Deceased was born' in Geoga
county, Ohio, January 6, 1828. He
removed to Princeton, this county,
about 52 years ago, and resided at
this place continuously for over 40
yearsr He left here for the
west about 12 years ago, and the past
few year's, with his wife, resided at
the veterans' home at Port Orchard,.
Wash.
Mr. Russel is survived by his wife
and six children, viz: John G., of
Camano, Wash. Mrs. May Town
send of Salem, Oregon Ollie of
Toit, Wash. George A.,ofNyssa,
Oregon HenryC, of Seattle, Wash.,
and Mrs. Lou Annabel of Port Or
chard, Wash.
Sylvester Russell was a good citi
zen, and in this vicinity his friends
were numbered by his acquaintances.
He had the respect and esteem of all.
fe$*
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Thief Visits Riverside Hotel.
The basement of the Riverside ~:3~
hotel has been entered four times J* ~|g
the past two weeks "and numerous ^.^j|
vegetables, such" as onions, potatoes,
squash, etc., have been purloined. ^J^f
As the door to the basement is bolted
from the inside, the thefts are en
shrouded in mystery. The culprit ^''Tf
undoubtedly hides in the basement
during the^day.
some time Mr
Bringleson, of the hotel, has beent
keeping a close watch'of late, and||g
Tuesday evening he chased the thief
downjto the river bank. One even
ing last week a wagon -Toad of food
stuffs was taken. The thief OT^SS
thieves, appear to be particularly*#
jbold, and may yet be apprehended.
J-s4
'"-wef^