Springfield weekly Republican. [volume], March 07, 1912, Page 16, Image 16

About Springfield weekly Republican. [volume] (Springfield, Mass.) 1851-1946

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16
LOCAL INTELLIGENCE
SPRINGFIELD AND VICINITY.
Word was received last week from Dr
A. M. Cushing, who is spending the win
ter at Sisco, Fla., that he bus been seri
ously ill for tlie past month, but at that
time was slightly improved.
Springfield Chinamen have not been be
hind those of other American cities in
sending money to help on the revolution
ary - cause in their home country. It is im
possible to discover how much they have
sent for that purpose, but it is fair to as
sume that it has been a considerable
amount. Practically all the Chinamen of
this city are real Chinese, and as such
they have been opposed to the Manchus.
Another auction sale of Main-street prop
ertv was made by Newrie D. A Dwight K.
Winter Tuesdai afternoon, when the
propertv of Dr Walter It. Weiser on the
west side of Main street, between Clinton
and Vine streets, was sold to Lyman M .
Besse and Arthur L. Besse. Die lapd
contains seven monitor stores, and it was
sold, together with a trnet on Vine street
containing the Blue Ribbon garage, for the
lump sum of $168,000.
Coal dealers of Springfield incline to
the opinion that even though the coat
operators and miners have not reached an
agreement and the present prospect is for
a prolonged controversy, there will not be
a strike. They believe that the operators
will not grant all the demands of the men
hut will make an adjustment a .httre
later. The supply of coal in the city Is
not large, but it is enough to meet the
demand.
Miss Claro. Pauline Schortmann, daugh
ter of Mr and Mrs Carl I’. S.-honmami
of 56 Lowell street, was married at her
parents' home on the Ist to Arthur M.
Cowles. Kev Dr O. W. Means of Em
manuel Congregational church performed
the ceremony, the wedding taking place
at. 7 o’clock. Two small nieces of the
bride acted as flower girls. About 25
guests were present. Mr Cowles is cash
ref of the Postal telegraph station in this
city. Mr and Mrs Cowles will live at 173
Wilbraham road.
A record-breaking business was done
through the Springfield port, of customs
during the month of February, according
to the report of Surveyor of Customs
Henry L. Hines, which shows that th»
amount exceeded that of any other month
■recorded by the office by al>out slo,<K)n.
The total for the month was $86,335,99.
Nearly all of the articles imported were
from Europe, no Chinese or Japanese ar
ticles being included in the .list. Mer
chants and manufacturers are evidently
looking forward to a big spring business.
The directors of the People's institute
met Tuesday in the settlement house on
Chestnut street for organization. The fol
lowing officers were elected: President,
Henry Lasker; treasurer. Miss Eleanor P.
Townsley: secretary, Miss Mary L. Bir
nie: auditor, Henry B. Bryant; chairman
of house committee. Miss Birnie: chairman
of entertainment committee. Mrs J. Blau
stein. The directors decided to hold a tea
at the house on the 18th, from 4 to 7,
Those who attend will have an oppor
tunity to see the equipment of the insti
tute and tire classes at work.
The sixth annual championship indoor
meet of the Siindaj - -school athletic league
was held at the training school gymnasium
Saturday. Memorial won first place with
19 points. Faith was second with 16. and
St Paul was third with 13. Olivet. Park
Memorial. State-street. Emmanuel. St
Peters, First-Highland and Asbury
churches came next in order. Three
churches, First Congregational. Christ and
Trinity, failed to get even a third place.
The federation events were won by Spring
field high school, it winning all points ex
cept first place in the high jump.
Frank L. Dunlap and Harry S. Baldwin
have bought from Harry S. Kelsey the
entire stock of the Waldorf lunch of New
York, incorporated, a corporation formed
under the laws of New York, with a cap
italization of slo*l.ooo. This company is
at-present operating restaurants or lunch
rooms bn Fifth avenue and Broadway.
The property at 311-313-315 Broadway has
been leased for 21 years, and the entire
seven floors will be used for the lunch
business, which, it is stated, when fully
developed, will be the largest chair Innch
in New York city and the United States.
The wedding of Miss Lottie M. Smith of
27 Bradford street and Ernest F. Cooper
of 72 Pearl street took place last Thurs
day in the chapel of the First church. Rev
Dr Neil McPherson performing the cere
mony. The couple were attended by Mr
and Mrs Bownc and following the cere
mony a wedding supper was served to a
small party of friends at Clinton Hall.
The groom is employed as a clerk by the
H. A. J. Brewer company, and the bride
is a monotype operator for the F. A. Bas
sette printing company. Mr and Mrs Coo
per will make their home at 34 Salem
street.
Former Chief Justice Marcus P.
Knowlton has consented to preside at the
board of trade banquet to be held at the
Hotel Kimball Wednesday evening, the
13th. The board is especially gratified in
having persuaded Springfield’s most distin
guished citizen to preside at this meeting,
as it will be his first appearance at a
formal gathering in Springfield since his
retirement from the bench. It will be
equally gratifying to Justice Knowlton’s
friends as evidence of his regained health.
The plans for the banquet are being rap
idly perfected, nnd it promises to be a
notable occasion.
A Polish row and an Italian shooting af
fray on Water street made police activities
seem like old times again Sunday, Sun
day used to be the gala day for disturb
ances in the foreign quarters, but for some
time few disturbances have broken out.
To make it all the more exciting Sun
day, both the Polish and the Italian tron
bles erupted at about the same time. The
Poles started things moving at 4 o'clock,
and while the police were attending to
their little episode the. Italians began to
cut up capers, so that all the belligerents
were hustled into police headquarters at
about the same time.
A deal for the taking over of the Spring
field metal body company by the Bright
wood motor manufacturing '-ompany.
with a combination and reorganization of
the business of the two companies, has
been under way for some days. It is
understood that the promoters of the
Brightwood company, which was organized
by New York men about two years ago to
manufacture the Orson automobile, plan
tri continue the manufacture of that ma
chine. making the bodies and other equip
ment for it and will in addition manu
facture a commercial truck. The truck is
said to be an Italian truck. It is said that
• large amount of capital is to be put into
the enterprise, which involves the enlarge
ment of the metal body plant.
It was learned unofficially yesterday
that the contributions of ;he oublie school
children to the municipal chimes fund
would probably exceed S9OO. The exact
amount could not be learned but it is be
lieved that it will almost reach SIOOO.
The fund will exceed SIOOO when the con
tributions of the parochial schools are re
ceived. It will probablv be some time be
fore these returns are in. though, and no
announcement of the receipts will be made
until the parochial school contributions
are counted. Considering that the amount
was raised b.v small contributions, the di
rectors feel that the school children did
well. It is expected that the contributions
from the parochial schools will add con
siderably to the present fund.
The wedding of Miss Gertrude Florence
Burleigh, only daughter of Mrs Ida A.
Burleigh, and Winthrop Coffin of 433 Wal
nut street. Brookline, was solemnized at
12.30 Saturday afternoon nt tire home of
tire bride, 82 Belmont avenue. Kev Ar
thur Coar. pastor of the Unitarian church
of Holyoke, and a family friend of long
standing, performej thg ceremony, and the
couple were unattended. Mr ’Coffill
Is a banker of the firm of
Perry, Coffin & Burr of Boston, anil
is the son of the late Mr and Mrs George
Richards Coffin of the old New England
Coffin family. He took special work at
the Mafsacbusets institute of technology
before entering business in Boston.
The superior court will be asked to de
cide whether a man who jumps from a
runaway street car in order to save him
self from an impending collision with an
other car is entitled to recover damages
for the injuries received by hhu in con
sequence of tile jump. This is the question
I raised by the suit of William H. Cava
naugh of Monson against the Springfield
} street railway company, which was among
; the March court entries filed Monday
i with Clerk of Courts Robert O. Moriis.
I Mr Cavanaugh says that be jumped from
a runaway car on Cemetery bill at Thorn
dike on August 26, 1911, and be was so
badly injured that he wants $10,009 as
damages. Murphy & McGowan of Worces
ter are prosecuting his spit for him.
The three-story block on the north side
of Harrison avenue, next to the Morgan
envelope plant, was sold Friday by
Charles O. Thompson of Boston to John
J. and Samuel K. Lester, proprietors of
Lester Bros’ bakery at 58 Main street.
The sale was made through Charles M.
Mather, real estate dealer. The land is
84 feet front and 78 feet deep and the
building on it is a substantial one of brick.
The price was about $90,000, a little over
SIOOO a front foot. The property is as
sessed at $61,200. The. building is num
bered 38. 40, 42 and 44 and is occupied
on the first floor b.v the Singer sewing-ma
cliine company, the hair store of Samuel
B. Tarraiite. Donahue Bros, plumbers, and
a tailor-shop. The new owners state that
they bought the property for investment.
Charles Nagei. secretary of commerce
and labor, will be the speaker at the an
nual banquet of tire board of trade, which
is to be held at the Hotel Kimball, ’Wednes
day. the 13th. The date of the banquet
was definitely set last week, when
word was received from Washington mak
ing it certain that Secretary Nagel could
be present on that date. The members of
the committee in charge of the banquet
have been working hard for the past sev
eral weeks making arrangements for the
affair. Charts have been prepared of the
tables and other details have been ar
ranged. Indications are that the banquet
will be one of the most notable events ever
held by tire board. Besides Secretary Na
gel there will l>e other speakers, including
Congressman F. H. Gillett. A musical
program will also be provided.
Eggs—thousands of them—butter, live
chickens, buttermilk, two horses, one dead
and one alive, a pile of kindling wood that
once was an express wagon, a wrecked
touring car and three much frightened men.
all in one pile, was the aggregate result
of a head-on collision just west of the Plain
field-street bridge about 10 o’clock Tues
day night, when an automobile owned by
a man named Avery of Worcester, and
occupied by Ralph S. Hall and Frank R.
Norton, both of that city, crashed into a
well-loaded two-horse wagon owned and
driven b.v George Short of 56 Montmorenci
street. One of Mr Short's horses was
killed, and Mr Short’s ankle was slightly
injured when he was thrown out of his
team, but there were no other casualties.
It is a wonder that all three men and the
other horse were not killed.
Judge Crosby Monday listened to the
arguments- on the motion for a new trial
tiled by the lawyers of Bertram G. Spen
cer on the ground of newly-discovered evi
dence. Judge Crosby announced at the
end of the hearing, which lasted an hour
and a half, that he would reserve his de
cision until some time in the future. The
hearing was held in the west court-room
of the court-house, where the trial took
place, but there were only a handful of
people present, including the court officers,
the reporters, and one or two lawyers who
happened to stroll in. Judge Henry A.
King sat with Judge Crosby during part
of the proceedings. Richard P. Staple
ton of Holyoke spoke in favor of the new
trial and District Attorney C. T. Calla
han of Holyoke opposed the motion.
Charles L. Young, junior counsel for the
convicted murderer, was not present on
account of illness.
The partv of high school students who
made the trip to Washington 'the past
week arrived in Springfield safely Thurs
day evening at tue appointed time. A
few of those who left this city with the
partv last Saturday were missing, having
stopped off at various points on the way
home to enjoy to the limit the vacation.
The students are extremely enthusiastic
about the trip. Those who have taken it
in other years say that this one is the best
ever in many respects. The weather was
perfect during nearly all the stay in the
capital, and the party enjoyed many priv
ileges not accorded it in previous years.
The students were very favorably im
pressed with both the president and vice
president, who received them graciously.
After meeting the boys. President Taft
asked his aid to show the boys over the
executive mansion, and they saw more of
it than any other party ever conducted by
Mr Knapp.
A big boys’ exposition, or a boys’ big
exposition, is being planned for Spring
field for the first week in May. and those
who are promoting it say that it is go
ing to be the important thing of the sort
ever held in New England. Similar expo
sitions have been held in Cleveland. 0.,
under the auspices of the business men.
and Toronto. Ont., is now carrying one
through. Tire Springfield exposition will
be open to all boys of 19 or under, and
every one is invited to enter the compe
tition with some article of his own man
ufacture. No limit will be placed upon
the kind of exhibit. The exposition orig
inated with tire Springfield boys’ club, but
the club will be the beneficiary only
through the waking up of the boys of the
city. It is not a money-making affair, and
hence there will be no proceeds for any
charity. It will be to a large extent self
supporting. but local business men are to
stand back of it and take care of any
deficit there may be.
Building plans are beinia filed and show
that with the advent of spring there will
be considerable work for the contractors
and the building trades. Plans for a five
story block, drawn by Architect W. B.
Reid for D. J. Toomey, were filed Sat
urday, the block to adjoin Mr Toomey’s
present block on Chestnut street. William
A. Pringle has tiled plans for a new
residence on Hillside avenue. The G. P.
B. Aiderman company are drawing plans
for the Albert Steiger hnngalow to be
erected on Northampton street and Ells
worth A Howes are preparing plans for
the residence of Probation Officer O, E.
Genest, which will Ire erected on the
Springfield road Plans have been com
pleted for an addition to the New York
and New England paper company. V. V.
Goddard has the contract. Plans have
been completed for the enlargement to the
National bank book company’s plant by
Architect 8. M. Green. This addition
will be four stories in higbt. 42 by 118.
and will add 20,000 feet of floor space,
to the mill.
The aldermen as committee of the whole
met Monday and talked over several
matters which have been hanging fire for
some time. Some of these were tinally
disposed of so far as they could be iii
informal session. As the result of the
discussion on the river-front question it
appears not unlikely that an order will be
introduced at next Monday night's meet
ing, the provisions of which will legislate
out of office the river-front advisory com
mission and the new bridge commission,
and cause the election by the board of
aidermen of a member of the city council
river-front advisory committee, which has
treen provided for by an order recently
passed by the city fathers, but which has
not been operative because of the fact that
the mayor being opposed to the committee
has failed lo appoint the aldermanie mem
ber of it. It was evident from Monday's
discussion that tne aldermen are in favor
of having the river-front question pushed
to sonic satisfactory solution or other. Tire '
aidermen decided to listen for half an hour '
next Monday night to A. W. Cobb, who i
has a river-front and railroad relocation I
scheme. This will Ire by both boards in I
convention: d- - - |
There was a good attendance at the'
meeting held last Thursday - in the rooms I
of the equal suffrage league on Hillman i
street for the women who are occupied |
during the day and therefore unable to at- j
THE SPRINGFIELD WEEKLY REPUBLICAN: THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 1912.
tend the regular sessions of the associa
tion. Tin- league vice-president, Mrs Hen
ry M. Phillips, presided and two addresses
ware given. Miss Emma 1.. Fall speaking
on "Massachusetts laws relating to sum
!eh and minors in industry,” and Mrs
। Henry M. Bowden on “The ballot,
; a social necessity.’’ The talks were
I preceded by a graphophone selection
I by the victrola which has been loaned to
I the league by the courtesy of Taylor's
I music house. Miss Fall told of the new
' 54-hour law which went into effect Janu
j ary 1 and other laws affecting the wage
j earning woman's working day. The pro
tection of machinery as governed by law
I was taken up together with the law
i which forbids children to clean machinery
in motion, and the penalties for the viola
tion of the laws regarding minors. The
law requiring a school certificate for chil
dren between 14 and 16, saying that they
can read and write, was mentioned as well
as those acts that relate to the provision
of drinking water, and adequate ventila
tion.
HAMPDEN COUNTY.
HOLYOKE,
Between 300 and 400 people attended the
hearing given b.v the Holyoke aidermen
in the Holyoke city ball on Friday on
the question as to whether the city should
sell its holdings in the Holyoke and AV est
field railroad at’ a price not to be less
than $350 for each share of stock. Hie
hearing resembled an old-fashioned town
meeting more than anything else and a
large share of the discussion was either
on matters not pertinent to the question
or in repetition of previous speeches. The
mayor wns on dock to answer questions
and was forced to answer a number not
concerned with the selling of the stock in
any manner. There were addresses by
about 29 in the audience and some rather
strange financial figuring was done, as
well as figuring that was along the line ot
the problem involved. The meeting ended
with a vote as to whether those present
favored the selling of the stock and a large
majority voted that in their opinion the
city should not sell.
The Holyoke board of aldermen held a
calm nnd peaceful meeting Tuesday night,
the members refraining from any oratory,
and as a result the business was transact
ed in a very short space of time. The an
nual budget passed the first reading, and
the order relative to the sale of the stock
in the Holyoke and Westfield railroad was
taken from the table and laid
back on the table again. Tire
annual budget this year crosses the
million-dollar mark and totals $1,023,600,
the sum not including the state and coun
ty taxes whicn will be in addition to the
amount named. Of this amount $895,396
is. to be raised by taxation on real and
personal estate aud on polls, of which sum
$565,506 is to be used for current ex
penses and $239,89<) for fixed charges.
The remainder, $218,204. is to be obtained
from general receipts. Tbe budget assures
a tax rate which will not be in excess of
sl7 on a thousand.
Dr Harvey W. Wiley, the government
pure food expert, preached the gospel of
business honesty to a large gathering of
men at the Empire theater in Holyoke
Sunday afternoon, illustrating his sub
ject with anecdotes and driving his points
home so that it will be some time before
they will be forgotten. In the audience
were business men. manufacturers and
merchants, besides an especially large gath
ering of physicians, and the lecture was
closely followed from start to finish. The
plans for a reception which the local med
ical association had made, had to be given
up as Prof Todd of Amherst college called
for Dr Wiley soon after the lecture, to
take him to Amherst, where he was to
lecture in the evening.
City Treasurer Pierre Bonvouloir has
prepared the circulars asking for bids on
the $16,000 water department bond issue
and for the. $140,000 bond issue for the
gas and electric department. . The statis
tics accompanying show that the assessed
valuation of the city is $51,510.756: the
gross debt, including this issue, $3,471,200;
the water department sinking fund. $156.-
946: the city sinking fund. $285,051. and
the Holyoke and Westfield stock. $226.-
500. The water department debt is $317,-
054; the gas and electric department debt,
$1,048,200. and the city debt. $1,437,449,
making a total net debt of $2,802,703.
Miss Grace M. Harkins, who died at
Holyoke on February 9, left $14,000 in
direct public bequests in addition to the
remainder of her estate, after the pay
ment of all other bequests, according to
the terms of her will, which was filed for
probate Tuesday morning. Miss Har
kins. who was the sister of Rt Rev Mgr
Patrick J. Harkins, who died in December.
1910. was for a long time the organist of
St Jerome’s church in Holyoke, of which
her brother was rector for many years’,
and she inherited a large amount from bis
estate. Her estate is thought to be about
$60,000.
The wedge has been cut through the ice
in the river above the Holyoke dam and
everything is now ready for the spring
freshets. With a snowfall up the river
considerably less than in former years,
it is probable that there will not be so
much high water as in some years, al
though the extra depth of the ice will flam
up tile river to a certain extent. If warm '
rains come on and tbe ice goes out there ;
will be trouble from high water for a
time below the dam. The ice this year is
almost a record, the workmen having to
cut through 2% feet in places.
WESTFIELD.
The negotiations which have been con
ducted for several weeks regarding the
locating of die Lawson Pink canning com
pany in Westfield are apparently to be
brought to a successful conclusion, for the
men composing the company are said to
have stated to local men that the com
pany will occupy the old Springdale paper
mill on which the company has nn op
tion. The mill is at present owned by the
American writing paper company. For a
time it looked as though the company
might locate elsewhere, as (he board of
trade conld not comply with the condi
tions desired by tire company in considera
tion of locating in Westfield. The pros
pect now appears brighter, however, and
appearances indicate that the company
will locate in Westfield.
Harold A. Kingsbury, son of Mr and
Mrs Herbert N. Kingsbury of Westfield,
has accepted a position as associate pat
ent counsel for tire New Departure manu
facturing company of Bristol, Ct., and be
gan his new duties on tbe Ist. This is
a big concern, employing 1500 hands and
has a capital stock of $1,500,000 with $2.-
000,000 in assets. Mr Kingshnrv has been
for the past four years in Washington. D-
C.. and has for some time been serving as
third examiner in tire United States patent
office. He goes to his new position at a
substantial increase in salary.
Edward I’, Morgan has sold bis farm
in Wybeu through the George M. Clapp
agency to C. H. Ferris of Middlefield, and
possession will be given March 15.
WEST SPRINGFIELD.
West Springfield’s town hall was crowd
ed to tbe doors on February 28th for "Ye
olde folks’ concert," which was given by
the brotherhood of the West Springfield
First church, under the direction of
Deputy Sheriff K. Arthur Deardon of
Westfield, a former West Springfield man.
The last concert of the kind was given 20
years ago. and at that time Mr Deardon
also wielded the baton and took part in
the quartets and as soloist. His tenor
voice was one of the most pleasing features
, of the. evening and his solo "Oh can it be,”
in tbe first part, and the duet. "Larboard
I watch.” sung with his son, E. B. Deardon
। in the second part, were both enthnsi
i astically encored. There were 60 people
I in the chorus and orchestra, all appearing
in old-fashioned costume. The chorus sing
[ ing was true, clear and the old favorites
: were sung with hearty appreciation of their
; beauty.
A fire, which seriously damaged tire in
; terior of the house on Elm avenue, Mit
, lineagne. owned by Thomas P, Whalen,
| and caused a loss of about $4500, oroke
: out iii the kitchen of the upper tenement,
I occupied by Mr and Mrs Edward Barnard,
I about 1.30 o'clock Tuesday afternoon.
I The fire was not discovered until it was
' well under way, and some trouble with
getting an immediate stream on tbe blaze
after the department arrived gave the
tire such a good start within the build
! ing that, although the walls were saved,
■ most of the interiof was ruined.
Plans tor the no-Jiceuse campaign which
I is to be.conducted by the ministers of West
Springfield, assisted b.v the more prominent
j church members, as an issue for the vote
of the people this year, have been pro
gressing more rapidly lately, and it is now
practically certain that the first mass
meetings will be held in the near future,
probably beginning on the week ot Mon
day, the 11th. Several well-known speak
ers on temperance subjects are in mind for
these meetings.
The marriage of Miss Ethel E. Day.
daughter of Mr aiid Mrs George Day of
97 Old Bridge street, nnd Willjam A.
King took place February 28th at tire
bride's home. The ceremony was
performed under a large bell of evergreen
and carnations, by Rev George H. Rogers,
pastor of the Merrick Methodist church,
in the presence of relatives and a few
immediate friends.
CHICOPEE.
Mrs John Eills, wife of Rev John Eills,
pastor ot the Chicopee Unitarian church,
who was committed to tbe Northampton
state hospital February 10th on papers
sworn to by Dr Cl H, Prindle of Chicopee
and Dr Bodfish, an interne at the West
boro hospital, and signed by Judge Luther
White, was released from the hospital
last week Tuesday and is understood to
be now at the home of her brother, C. J.
Cox of Revere. It is customary for the
superintendents of state hospitals to al
low patients to return to their homes when
they are apparently in good mental con
dition, but such- a release does not entire
ly free them from the legal coihmitment
aud a patient may be returned at any
time if evidences of insanity reappear;
Mayor Rivers stated Tuesday that
twice within the last 10 days a repre
sentative of the Connecticut Valley power
company has approached him relative to
the sale of the Chicopee municipal electric
power plant. Mayor Rivers said that the
preposition of the company is to pay the
city a sum sufficient to practically reim
burse it for tbe expenditure already made
upon the plant, nnd then to furnish the
city with electricity at a cost from 20 per
cent to 25 per cent lower than the present.
The Connecticut Valley power companv
is a large concern having electric plants
and transmission lines all through south
ern Vermont and New Hampshire, as well
as in various places in this state.
MONSON.
The open season for the hunting of rab
bits and white hares which closed Thurs
day was far from a satisfactory one from
the huntsman's point of view. This was
not because of the scarcity of these ani
mals in this section, for there has not been
a time for years when hares and rabbits
have been as plentiful as during the past
season, but on account of the extremely
bad weather. The huntsmen who for many
years past have enjoyed the hunting of the
white hare have had this year, on account
of the very severe weather but few days
when anything like enjoyment could be
gotten from tire sport. It not only re
quires moderate weather to enjoy the hunt
ing of the white, bare, but also a light
snow, on which the dogs can work well.
The light snows have been even more
scarce this winter .than favorable days.
Tbe snows that have come have been ac
companied with rain or sleet and the hunt
ing of these animals. after such storms
would be Useless. .
Rev G. A. Andrews, H. E. Kendall and
George W. French are interesting them
selves in no small way in the boy scout
movement in Monson: Considerable cure
will be used in ,tliC Selection of boyi who
-will make up’ tfie first troop of 24, the com
mittee feeling, that on the character of
tire first troop depends - the success of the
movement The coinmittee do not propose
to draft tire first company from any one
class or any particular denomination. If
they are successful in forming a company
of scouts in Monson their aim will be to
cover all classes.
PALMER.
Palmer has just passed its 100th birth
day as one of the towns of Hampden
county. Hampden county was incorporat
efl February 20. 1812, anti among the
towns taken from Hampshire county and
incorporated into the new county was tbe
town of Palmer. This town is composed
of sections of Brimfield, Western (now
Warren! and Ware, taken at different
periods, as well as the territory which
was included in tire original layout of the
so-called "Elbow Tract.” The early asso
ciations of its inhabitants were with the
settlements lying toward the north and
east rather than with those to the west,
and this intercourse was kept up, to a
large degree, until the building of the
railroad.
Palmer is to have a fish hatchery within
its borders, the Massachusetts commission
on fisheries and game having leased with
an option of purchase about 225 acres of
land at Palmer Center for the purpose of
establishing a fish hatchery and game
farm. Work has already begun on tire fish
hatchery and a temporary building has
been erected in which 290.000 brook and
brown trout eggs will be hatched during
the next month, besides white and pike
perch. Hatching troughs and jars are be
ing installed in tire building and later on
pools will be built outside to bold the fry
as soon as they are hatched.
AGAWAM.
The town reports are printed and ready
for distribution. The statistics for 1911
are 86 births, 65 deaths, 24 marriages reg
istered. The report of tbe treasurer, Jud
son W. Hastings, shows the following: Bal
ance in treasury February 1. 1911,
$6866.13; amount received during the year,
$62,798.32; amount expended, $66,296.81;
balance in treasury January 31, 1912,
$3457.6-1.
The report of tbe assessors, R. Mather
Taylor, Almon Jones and H. Preston Wor
den, gives: Property assessed: Horses, 586;
cores, 1198; sheep, 14; neat cattle, 346;
swine, 710; fowls, 2645; houses, 747; acres
of land. 14,272; valuation: Real estate,
$1,733,905: personal estate, $354,467; to
tal, $2,087,472, upon which taxes ’ have
been assessed to the amount of $35,965.79.
The Russell good government league has
been organized by residents and business
men of Russell and Woronoco, the organi
zation being completed yestard»y by the
election of George W. Heath president and
James Walkinshaw secretary.
Tbe vital records of Southwick for 1911
are: Births 20. deaths 18. marriages nine.
HAMPSHIRE COUNTY.
NORTHAMPTON.
The Plaza theater on Pleasant street,
presented its opening performance Mon
day afternoon at 2.15. The theater will
run the Keith vaudeville line for three
performances daily, and considers that the
name guarantees the best that con be had.
The Northampton Plaza, operated b.v tbc
Goldstein amusement company, proprie
tors of the ‘-pringfield theater of the same
name, is the Hampton hotel changed and
enlarged for the new purpose at a cost
of about $211,090. The enlargement of the
building gives good size, providing for the
seatinc of 1200 people, and attractive, or
namentation lias beeh secured, both at
the front and in the interior.
Miss Phoebe Gertrude Searle, daughter
of Mr and Mrs Holsey J. Searle, and
Merritt Walter Hnyden of Westfield,
were married, Tuesday evening at 7.30 at
the home of the bride on Park bill.
AMHERST.
■William H. Atkins of South Amherst,
who is the republican nominee for select-
man reports that tire chestnut tree blight
is plainly in evidence on South mountain
of the Holyoke range, and if it continues
unchecked tire whole range will be stripped
of fully half its covering. Many of the
larger trees have big blotches of the dead
ly fungus on their trunks, and ninny of
(he smaller trees are dead. Mr Atkins
also states that the peach crop in that
l section of the town at least is sure (0 bo
a failure this year. He has 2909 trees on
the mountain christened b.v Prof Emer
son of Amherst college, Mt Pollox, that
। were set a year prior to the starting of the
Bay road fruit farm, from which be har
vested over 900 baskets of flue peaches
last year, and a much larger yield was
promised for this season, but the extreme
ly cold weather froze the buds and no
peaches ape expected.
Dr Harvey W. Wiley, chief chemist or
the United States department of agricul
ture, spoke at Amherst Sunday night .in
connection wilh the Amherst college Chris
tian association meeting on the subject
“The public health, our greatest national
asset,” . He kept the crowd of students,
faculty and townspeople which filled Col
lege hall to overflowing, in continuous
roars of laughter, aud' incidentally told
them a great deal about what the couutry
is doing toward better national health,
what it ought to do and what it is likely
to do.
FRANKLIN COUNTY.
GREENFIELD.
A Boston dispatch states that the de
murrers of the investment committee of
the Greenfield savings bank, which was
closed by the bank commissioners several
years ago, against liability for losses on
investments, h ere overruled Friday by
tlie supreme court. Tire losses amounted
to $300,009, part of which was on a $409,.-
000 loan ou North Adams real estate. The
investment committee consisted of Robert
Abercrombie, Levi J. Gunn, William A.
Forbes. S P. Blake and Charles R. Low
ell, all of Greenfield. The last-named
died a year ago. After taking charge of
the bank, tbe bunk commissioner brought
suit against the committee in the name
of the bank for the losses covering a pe
riod of 18 years. With the overruling of
the demurrers the case returns to tbe
equity session of the supreme court to be
tried on its merits. ,
ORANGE.
Mrs Mary T. Alger, widow of Asnah
Alger, observed her 90»b birthday Mon
day at her farm in the northern part of
Orange. Though Mrs Alger has lost
her eyesight. she still retains all
her other faculties and attends to
many household duties. She is ca
pable physically and mentally and in
tends to enjoy many more years. She is
unusually independent and feels hurt if
some one gives the impression that, she is
growing old by waiting on her. She does
all the work about her home and does it
well. She comes from good New England
stock, and her mother lived to the age
of 101. Her maiden name was Mary Tabor
Pierce and she was born in Slatersville.
R. I. She was the eighth in a family of
12 children and is the last of the family.
When she was two years old her parents
moved to Chesterfield. N. H., and at the
age of 12 years, to relieve the crowded
conditions at home, sire was given 50
cents and sent out into the world to earn
her living. Sire was perfectly able (o do
this and in addition seut money home to
help her family. Since tbe death of Mr
Alger 50 years ago sire has carried on
the farm with the help of ope or two
boys at different seasons of the year, and
has made a success of it.
TURNERS FALLS.
A carload of horses to be usefl bv tbe
Bates-Rogers company of Turners Falls,
who have the contract on the canal
anfl dam improvements, arrived Fri
day. Some of the machinery has
also arrived, and many of the la
borers will arrive in town within a short
time. The company has a small force of
men at present, who are putting up build
ings to lie used for different purposes and
making arrangements for the starting of
rhe work. Most of the heads of the dif
ferent departments are already in town.
The buildings in the North Mill River
district of South Deerfield on the farm
known as the George Robbins place were
totally destroyed b.v fire Friday. Mr Rob
bins sold the farm in the late fall (o Albert
Mektar, who took possession about Decem
ber 1. Friday morning Mr Meklar was
wakened by his wife, who saw the fire, and
he hurried to the barn to save Iris stock, but
the barn fell in just as he reached it. The
house was also on fire and they were un
able to save any of the household goods or
clothing. Two little children were taken
out of the house and, stood on the snow in
their bare feet. Besides the household
goods and clothing, all fanning tools and
wagons, four tons of fertilizer, a horse, a
cow, four pigs and 12 hens were burned.
The buildings were insured for SI2OO. The
origin of the tire is not known.
Work has been resumed at the power
house at dam No 4, Shelburne Falls,
by Mason Hilton & Co. contrac
tors. At the dam near the cutlery
a cofferdam is being built across tbe
narrow channel leading to tire canal, pre
paratory to completing that portion of the
work known as the “headings.” that is.
placing tire gates, preparing for flash
boards, completing the spillway, efle. That
part of the power-house at No 3. known
as the substructure, has been completed,
and forms have been built readv for fill
ing the “belting,” which is similar to the
baseboard around a house. The coffer
dam is being taken out, anfl as soon as
the brick anfl steel have arrived the work
of completing the power-house proper will
be completed.
The house owned and occupied by Frank
S. Tilden at Leyden was destroyed by fire
Saturday. The fire started at about 9.39
from an overheated stovepipe and had
gained considerable headway when discov
ered by the neighbors. The house
and barn were together insured for
$590. The barn was saved, but the
house was totally destroyed. Mr Tilden
was alone at the time. This event recalls
the burning of the John Robertson house
exactly two years ago, under similar con
ditions.
BERKSHIRE COUNTY.
PITTSFIELD.
The Dope club held their third annual
“dopefest” at the Wendell hotel. Pitts
field. Thursday, entertaining 200 guests.
The charcoal was lighted at 8.13
anfl continued to burn until after
midnight, keeping the gridiron at a
sizzling beat throughout the evening. The
guests who sat upon (he gridiron were
kept jumping from time to time to avoid
the tongues of flames that shot toward
them. "Teddy" Roosevelt arrived, but after
looking the guests over expressed his re
gret at his inability to stay more than
five minutes, stating (hat be had held
the 20tli Century limited express at
the depot for 10 minutes that he might
express bis ’appreciation at having been
remembered by tire Dope club, which seut
him his first "lemon” of the 1912 cam
paign. A burlesque meeting of the board
of aidermen was held, at which much
money wns appropriated in bills railroaded
through the board.
Tire will of Dwight M. Collins, late of
Pittsfield. Was offered for probate Tues
day. Mrs Cornelia H. Collins, the wife,
and George H. Tucker are named as ex
ecutors, and are exempt from giving
bonds. The . following public bequests are
mnde: Proprietors of Pittsfield cemetery,
$500; First Congregational parish, $2500:
trustees of Berkshire atlreneum and
mitsctim, $2500: House of Mercy, $2500;
Berkshire county home for aged women.
$2500; Massachusetts home missionary so
ciety. $3000; American board of commis
sioners for foreign missions, $2000: Young
Men's Christian association, $2500. The
balance of the estate goes to Mrs Collins
and two sons, after one or two minor
bequests. No bond or inventory has been
filed indicating the value of the estate.
A horse belonging to Dr .1. D. Howe of
i Union street ran away on Newell street
Tuesday morning, throwing the physician
from the sleigh. The horse veered from
tire road, went over a steep embankment
and into the Housatonic river. Its weight
broke a thin coating of ice on the riyer
and it sank beneath the water, coming up
under tbe ice. People who saw the acci
dent ran to tbe spot and broke the ice over
(lie horse, and tire police were summoned.
By use of ropes aud tackle the animal was
dragged from the water at the end of 39
minutes, but was so chilled through that
it could uot stand. It was dragged to a
near-by barn and cared for. The sleigh
was smashed to pieces. Dr Howe was
uninjured.
The Pittsfield anglers’ club, which has
been trying to secure a consignment of
| wild turkeys for the Berkshire hills, lias
I received won! from'the fish and gnme com
। mission that when enough of tbe birds
have been reared the local club will be
I cared for.
Tire Pittsfield Italians have issued their
first Italian monthly paper. Its purpose is
to familiarize the Italian people with local
news and social activities. It is named
L’Opportunitn, and Rev S. P. Abbatte is
editor. It is educational, and nonreligious.
NORTH ADAMS.
It was announced last week that Presi
ideut H. \V. Clark of the hospital board
of management and Mrs Clark bad given
to the hospital at North Adams a kitchen
and other equipment in the form of ad
ditional room equipment. This will he an
addition of brick, three stories and 32 by
66 feet, built at tbe rear of the main por
tion of tbe original buildings. The plans
have been drawn by Architect E. T. Bar
low and. have been accepted by the board
of management. The basement is to be
for storage purposes and the first floor is
to contain the kitchen and more storage
room for food supplies. Tire second floor
will be devoted to sleeping quarters for
tbe women of the institution outside of
the nurses, while the third floor will have
similar quarters for the orderlies and oth
er male employes. There will be baths
nnd closets and all other necessary con
veniences on the two upper floors. It is
expected that the cost of the addition will
be close to $15,000. Work is to be started
on it May 1. at the latest.
George A. MacDonald, treasurer of the
North Adams trust company since its or
ganization in 1904, has tendered his resig
nation to the directors to take effect at’
once, and will immediately engage in busi
ness with Bodell & Co. bankers, of Bos
ton and Providence. Mr MacDonald will
make his business headquarters in Spring
field and for a time until his successor is
appointed and is familiar with the affairs
of the institution will devote so much of
his time as is necessary to the trust com
pany. President Frank S - . Richardson,
meantime, will take over .some of the
treasurer's duties.
John Cunningham, 24. is nt the hospital
at North Adams with probably a de
pressed fracture at the base of the skull.
He fell Thursday from a boatswain's
chair while engaged in gilding the cross
at tire top of the spire of St Anthony’s
church on Holden street. Dr W. F. Mc-
Grath. who is attending him. says that
his condition is extremely critical.
The electrification of Hoosac tunnel,
following the recent disastrous accident,
was completed Sunday afternoon. Soon
after both tracks were again in use in the
tunnel b.v electric motors, something broke :
on a freight train a mile east of Hoosac !
tunnel station, and for a couple of hours :
both tracks were blocked at that point.
This was cleaned up at 4.30 o'clock.
GREAT BARRINGTON.
A fatal shooting affair took place in the
farming section known as Monument Val
ley, about five miles east of Grpat Bar
rington, Saturday. In this secluded sec
tion Sylvester Love aud Luizi Carddeli,
an Italian, had a serious encounter, and
Mr Love is now in a serious condition with
two bullet wounds in Iris body,
and the Italian is dead. Early
Saturday evening Mr Love and bis
son started for Great Barrington, and
when near tbe Van Deusenville trolly cross
ing Carddeli was seen going toward the
home of Love. The appearance of this
man going toward his home made Love
suspicious, so be told his son to go to
Great Barrington and do the Saturday
trading, and that he would return home.
He followed the Italian along the road,
and as he approached his home the Italian
discovered that he was being followed.
Mr Love hurried up and overtook the man
and an argument followed. The ar
bument resulted in Uarddeli's draw
ing a revolver and shooting Mr Love
twice, once in the groin and again in the
shoulder. Mr Love, who is a powerful man,
was able to gain possession of the
revolver. He then shot the Italian
twice, one bullet entering the head and
the other the side. Mr Love then managed
to get to the home of Charles Comstock,
and from there Chief of Police Oschman
of Great Barrington and Dr J. B. Buzbee
were summoned. They hurried to the place
and found Mr Dive in a very serious con
dition. The Italian was found dead in
Love’s house, where it is supposed he was
carried b.v Mrs Love.
Louis Peck. 39. son of Elwin Peck, is
missing, and it is feared that he has been
burned to death in the fire which Tues
day night destroyed the large farmhouse
and barn of the latter, located about
three miles from Great Barrington in the
town of Egremont. The loss on the build
ings will amount to at least $15,900. The
family were in (he house when (he tire
was discovered. Some one. looking out of
tbe window, saw one of the main barns
in a blaze, goon after this Louis Peck
was missed and a search was made for
him. but no trace of the young man could
be found.
Omri S. Willis, who has served ns town
clerk and treasurer of Becket for 27 years,
has announced that, he is not a candidate
for re-election, and has held to that de
cision after repeated attempts on the part
of citizens to induce him to continue to
serve. Becket hag been especially fortu
nate in securing the services of Mr Willis
for so many years. The records on his
books for these many years are written
so plainly that “he who runs may read.”
and his service has been in every way
faithful and efficient. Mr Willis was
born in Belchertown and educated
in the schools of Ware, where his
father conducted a general store. He
was associated with his father, the late
P. D. Willis, in similar business in
Thompsonville. He went to Becket from
Thompsonville in 1879. buying the Rufus
Ames store, which he has since conducted
with success. He was postmaster for four
years, has been a member of the Second
Congregational church committee for a
number of years and is one of the trus
tees of the Becket atlreneum.
Scott Bradley Grand Army post at Lee
voted to disband at a meeting February
29. after a long consultation. The post was
organized in November. 1884. with 89
members, after some years, succeeding
Beauforfl post. At present there are
about a dozen members. They could se
cure other quarters, but at the present
death rate they could hope to retain
their organization but a few years longer.
Walter E. Patterson has bought of the
Albro W. Horton estate the place where
be lives on Church street. Stockbridge, con
sisting of a house, barn and one acre of
lend. The property is valued at $3090.
WORCESTER COUNTY.
The effort of the widow of Horatio N.
■ Slater of Webster to keep intact the se
curities in the trust estate for the benefit
of her sons failed in the supreme court Fri
day at Boston. The trust amounted (o
$11,236,536. of which $6,390,000 was in
vested -in stocks ami bonds. The court,
orders the trustees to sell the securities'
held by them in the mills in Webster, or
such proportion of them as will place the
control of the corporation in responsible
and competent hangs. Thia will reduce
the amount held by the trustees to •
small sum.
EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS.
William Scollay IVhitwcll, 3d, u Har
vard student who disappeared ou Febru
ary 26, 1903, is legally dead. In making
this ruling a week ago at Boston the su
preme court fixed the date of the young
num's death as the day ou which lie dis
appeared. A perplexing question of pro
bate had arisen regarding the disposition
of a trust fund left by his grandfather.
A share of this fund was to go to Whit
vvell if be survived an aunt. The aunt
died.in 1908. and the young man’s mother
put in a claim for her son’s share of tbe
fund. The court ruled that he did not.
survive his aunt and his estate could not
share in the fund. Whitwell was in his
senior year at Harvard when he dropped
out of sight. He belonged to a prominent
family and for mouths an active search
for him was made.
For the first time in Massachusetts
crtmimil procedure a Woman. Mrs Lena
Cusumano of Hull, was sentenced to
death in the electric chair by Judge
Joseph S. Quinn in the Plymouth su
perior court Tuesday nt Plymouth.
Enrico Mascioli. whose name has been
anglicized into “Harry Marshall” and
who was convicted jointly with Mrs
Cnsumauo for tire murder of the wom
an’s husband. Frank Cusumano, in
September. 1910. was also sentenced to
death. Both sentences are to be carried
out in the fOnte-prison at Charlestown
during the week beginning June 2 next.
A tire loss estimated between $159,900
nnd $209,000 was caused by a blaze that
broke out in the Imnliqr yard of C. A,
Pullen & Co in Attleboro, near the Paw
tucket line. February 29. The origin
of tiie tire is not known definitely, but one
of the theories is that sparks from a loco
motive fell upon dried lumber. Tire yard
is situated on South Broadway, the main
thoroughfare between South Attleboro and
Pawtucket, aud is about 100 feet on the
Massachusetts side of the state boundary
line.
CONNECTICUT.
Tbe seventh unnual banquet of the
Windsor Locks business men’s association
in Memorial hall Thursday night mny be
classed ns the crowning feature of the se
ries of midwinter feasts that’ have been
given by that association. The -nttend
anee was the largest in tbe history of
these events, and real enjoyment and mei
riment pervaded the building as it hardly
ever did before. The attendance was
192. and besides the large number of
local people there were big delegations
from all tbe neighoring towns and cities.
Tire hull decorations never looked better,
the light festoons of draperies studded
witli colored electin' lights making the ball
look very pretty. Previous to the gather
ing at tbe hall a social session fur a sort
of “warmer” was held at the Charter Oak
hotel parlors, and from there a special car
took the guests to the hall. Gov Baldwin
arrived there about 7.39 nnd. assisted by
officers of the association, he received tbe
guests in the women’s parlor of tbe
hall. The other speakers of the
evening also joined in the reception.
Attempts to get rid of “bmlding lots”
in “’Windsor Park." the tract of land in
Windsor Locks that a number of shrewd
tricksters have Imon “developing" for the
past 15 years, still continue. Scarcely a
week goes by in which Town Clerk Janies
D. Outerson does not receive at least one
letter requesting information about one or
more of tire “park lots” from some pro
spective buyer or from some unfortunate
person who has been inveigled into giving
up some of his money or valuable property
in exchange for "lots” that are sold, for
big sums, but are valued high at $1 apiece.
During last week Mr Rico, a farmer,
of Belchertown. Mass., made bis appear
ance in Windsor Locks, accompanied by a
Springfield attorney, prepared to investi
gate the value of lots which a man who
was negotiating to boy his farm wished
to give him in exchange. Mr Rice stated
that he had an equity of SIOOO in the farm
and a mortgage of S7OO on it. A number
of the lots were to be given in exchange
for the farm.
VERMONT.
M. J. Hapgood of Peru offers three farms
in that town free of rent, and firewood,
taxes and material for repairs free to
suitable tenants. The conditions are that
tire tenants arc to be respectable, eco
nomical and industrious. The hay is to
be fed out upon the premises. The ten
ants have tire privilege of occupancy for
five years. Each farm has about 100 acres
of land and a fair set of buildings. The
farms contain good sugar lots nnd are
smooth and easy of tillage. Option for
I final purchase is also given. There are
also three other farms of lower grade of
fered. Tenants must he from out of town,
aS increase of good population is tbe ob
ject desired. Families with children are
given the preference. Two of the better
places have rnra! delivery. Mr Hapgood
believes these inducements with a savings
bank deposit for each child born ought
certainly to produce the desired effect. In
Peru last year, with a population of only
390, there were 12 births with only one
death, and that from old ago. Mr Hap
good and his family are spending the sea
son at Boulder. Col., where Mr Hapgood is
looking after the interests of his Vermont
“addition” there.
Montpelier, tbe capital city of Vermont,
returned to tbe no-license ranks in the
annual election Tuesday. The city has
been in the "wet" column but one year.
Six towns also changed to no-ljcense. As
a result there will be but 22 of the 246
cities and towns in (he state where the
open saloon is legalized during the coming
year. The cities of St Albans. Burlington.
Vergennes and Rutland voted in favor of
license and Barre against it. In St Johns
bnry and Hyde Park tire small-pox quaran
tine prevented (he holding of elections.
Onjy two towns in Windham county vot
ed for license Tuesday and it is generally
thought that neither one of them will have
a license on account of tbe size and lo
cation of tire town. The towns going wet
were Marlboro and Somerset.
That (he New York. New Haven and
Hartford railroad company will immedi
ately proceed with the building of the
new links between South Vernon and
Brattleboro, Vt., and between Windsor
and White River Junction, is a semiofficial
statement coming from the offices of tire
company last week. The link between
South Vernon and Brattleboro is 19 miles
long and the other is 14. Their comple
tion will give the New Haven a direct
route northward free from any connection
with the Central Vermont, which is under
Grand Trunk control.
NEW HAMPSHIRE.
A petition to have tire residuary estate
of Mrs Mary Baker G) Eddy.fonnder of the
Christian science church, revert to the
state of New Hampshire will be tiled soon
in the Merrimack county superior court. In
making this announcement in the supreme
court. at Concord Tuesday Robert L.
Manning of Manchester, special counsel
for tbe state, said the petition would be
based on bis opinion that the residuary
clause of Mrs Eddy’s will, leaving the
residue of her estate, estimated at about
$2.009009. to the First church of Christ,
Scientist, of Boston, is in violation of
New Hampshire laws and therefore should
he declared void. The statute alleged to
be violated is one forbidding tire bequest
to a single church of a sum yielding an
annual income larger than an amount
specified in the statute. Mr Manning is
acting under authority given by tbe gov
ernor and council, who recently appointed
him as special counsel to ac( for the state
in connection with the litigation now
pending over the Eddy will.
Folk's are wondering at the hold Mis
souri's hound "dawg” song has obtained
over_tbe public. They seem to forget that
it offers (be best material for the news
paper parodists to work with since Mr
Kipling defied the suffragists and the laws
of euphony with his diatribe entitled “The
Female of the Species.”