.................. ............. BLUFFTON NEWS The Advertising Medium for Bluffton Trade Territory VOLUME NO. LXIV COLLEGE OPENS FOR FALL TERM Class of 85 Freshmen is One of Largest in History of Local School Enrollment Figure is 187 at Noon Wednesday with More to be Added Enrollment at Bluffton college this fall will be somewhat heavier than last year, it was indicated Wednes day as registration for the first se mester was nearing completion. At noon a total of 187 students had registered, an increase of 15 over last year’s record at the same time. Of the students, 102 were upper class men and 85 were freshmen. This fall’s freshman class is one of the largest in the history of the school and with a number of upper class men expected to enroll within the next few days there are prospects that this year’s student body will approach the 200-mark. Dormitories Filled Increased enrollment is reflected in the situation at men’s and women’s dormitories. Ropp hall, the girls dormitory, is entirely filled and four women are living in Campus Cottage, formerly occupied by Ralph Blosser, who moved last week to the Babione residence on Jackson street. Mrs. Metta Dean is resident matron of the cottage. Lincoln hall, men’s dormitory, is filled to capacity, the first time in re cent years. The dormitory situation indicates a large number of out-of town students, most of whom come from outside the state. Classes Open Thursday Regular classroom work will be started Thursday morning with final details of enrollment to be completed by the close of the week. Upper classmen registered Tuesday and fres classmen registered Tuesday and freshmen enrolled Wednesday. The one faculty vacancy, the philosophy department occasioned by the resig nation of Dr. M. C. Lehman will be filled by Prof. N. E. Byers, former dean of the college who retired last year from regular classroom work. Opening social function of the school year was a freshman mixer Tuesday night in the gymnasium to acquaint the members of the first year class with each other. Wednesday night an all-college meeting will be held in the chapel to introduce student campus leaders. Mixer Thursday The annual all-college mixer is scheduled for Thursday night in the gymnasium, and Friday afternoon to the Big and Little Sister tea sponsor ed by the Y. W. C. A. will be held at Ropp hall. Closing a week of busy activity, an all-college party will be held Satur day night in the gymnasium. Bluffton students this year will pretty largely be a working group, with about 125 of the 187 assigned to student work projects, the N YA program, campus maintenance, the dining hall staff, etc. School Bus Hired By Orange Twp. Patrons Although part of the Union town ship school district, a bus is making the rounds in Orange township transporting pupils to the Bluffton schools it was announced the first of the week. The bus, one of those discai ded by the Bluffton board of education when they purchased new equipment, was purchased by Walter bommer who has been hired by Orange township residents to transport their children to and from school here. Thirty-one children, it is said, are riding on the bus. Sommer, one of the drivers employed by the Bluff ton board last year, was dropped when the board decided to operate one less bus during the current year. The decrease in the number of busts operated was effected thru the purchase of three larger buses to gether with a decrease in the num ber of pupils in the rural districts. 235 Here Obtain Drivers Licenses A total of 235 drivers’ licenses have been issued to Bluffton motor ists, it was stated Wednesday by Robert Lewis, deputy registrar of motor vehicles, who is in charge of issuing the permits here. All persons driving cars must have new licenses by October 1. Lewis maintains an office at Steiner Chevrolet salesroom for the issuing of licenses. TV W. Cunningham, former Bluffton banker, who died at his home here Monday night. Funeral services were held at the Presbyterian church. Wednesday afternoon. DEATH CLAIMS N, W. Funeral Services Held in Pres byterian Church, Wednes day Afternoon Former Bluffton Banker Suc cumbs at Home Monday After Long Illness N. W. Cunningham, 83, former Bluffton banker, founder of the Bluff ton News and for many years promi nent in political and civic affairs died at his home on South Jackson street, Monday night at 10 o’clock. His death, following several years of failing health, was due to compli cations which kept him confined to his home during the greater part of the past year. Funeral services were held Wednes day afternoon at the Presbyterian church with the pastor, Rev. Chas. Armentrout officiating. Interment was in Maple Grove cemetery, with the Masonic lodge of which he was a member for more than fifty years as sisting with his ritual at the grave. Long Prominent For more than fifty years he was influential in the commercial and in dustrial life of Bluffton and North western Ohio with many business in terests. He was president of the Commercial Bank & Savings company, pioneer Bluffton financial institution when it closed its doors eight years ago. His death brings to a close a color ful and many sided career in which he was known as a public speaker, author, traveler and political figure, almost as well as in the field of bank ing. He was born near Lima, February 24, 1856, the son of Col. James and Martha Kennedy Cunningham, the youngest of eleven children. The farm on which he was bom is now part of the city of Lima. Learns Printing Trade He began learning the printing trade at the age of fifteen in the of fice of the Lima Democrat, one of the pioneer newspapers in this section. His first appearance in Bluffton w’as at the age of nineteen when he came here to establish a newspaper after several previous attempts had ended in failure. With an old Washington hand press and few cases of type the Bluffton News made its appearance in the spring of 1875. He continued as ed itor sixteen years when he sold the paper to the late Jesse Huber and became associated with the Commer cial Bank & Savings company. Besides his banking connection here he served as director in banks at Findlay and Toledo as well as being interested in smaller institutions in Rawson, Mt. Cory, Lafayette, Van lue and Butler. He was also for a time a member of the board of direc tors of the Ohio Pennsylvania Joint Stock land bank with headquarters in Cleveland. Following the closing of the bank here he retired from active business affairs. Mell Known Speaker He was much in demand as a pub lic speaker and took an active part in politics. In 1914 he was nominat ed for congress by the Democratic party of the Fourth Ohio district, be ing defeated at the election by a small majority. Two trips which he and his wife made abroad, one to Europe and the other around the world were follow (Continued on page 8) 77 o Bluffton Pastor On German Liner Dodging British War Ships At Sea Rev. Robert Maher of St. Mary’s Church on Cruise As War Breaks Lifeboats Ready as Sub Warn ing Sounds Passengers Landed in Cuba Rev. Robert Maher, pastor of St. Marys Catholic church of this place, was one of the 800 aboard the Ger man luxury liner, Columbus, which spent several anxious days last week dodging about in Caribbean waters after the European war had been declared. Rev. Maher, together with several other ministers of his denomination who were in New York City on va cation, had taken the boat for a short cruise down the east coast. They had expected to be gone only a few days. When war broke out, officers of the large liner were fearful of re turning to New York because of the danger from British submarines and warships. Instead, they set their course for a Dutch island off the north coast of South America, but upon arrival there found they were unable to land the passengers, as the United States had notified port authorities that it would be necessary the Co lumbus return the vacationists to New York City. After zig-zagging around the West Indies off regular‘ship lanes to avoid encounters with French and British vessels, the Columbus even tually succeeded in landing its pas sengers at Havana. From there they were taken to Miami, Fla., by a United States ship. Passengers were on the water a week longer than they had antici pated, and in addition they exper ienced all the thrills of the hazards of war-time travel by water. On one occasion while the ship was dodging about in the West In dies a submarine alarm was sounded and passengers were ordered to be ready to take to the life boats, which had been stocked w’ith food and water. However, the alarm was false and the boats were not low ered. The German steamship company paid the fare of all passengers from Havana back to New York City, or to other destinations. Leaving Lima where he resides, on August 16, for a two w’eeks’ vacation, Rev. Maher did not return until last Saturday. Older officers on the German boat made no comment about the war, Rev. Maher said, but younger offi cers were enthusiastic and their at titude bespoke full confidence in Adolph Hitler. The boat Columbus is one of the finest in the Atlantic service and Rev. Maher said that with the excep tion of anxiety there was no discom fort and everything possible was done to make the passengers at ease. Bluffton Couple Married In Lima Wedding of Miss Dorothy Tripple horn of Bluffton and Walter King of Dayton, formerly of this place was solemnized at Lima, Saturday morning in the presence of the im mediate families. Rev. J. Norman King, of Dayton, father of the groom officiated, using the single ring service. The bride, daughter of Mrs. Ross ’trippiehorn was a member of the Bluffton high school ’senior class. The groom was graduated from Bluffton high school last spring and since that time has been employed in Dayton where the couple will re side. With The Sick Oliver Locher who is showing some improvement following an ex tended illness from complications, left Wednesday for Cleveland where he will undergo an examination at St. Luke’s hospital. Ray Kern living on the county line who has been in Findlay hos pital for several weeks has been re moved to the University hospital in Columbus for treatment. Kern un derwent an operation for a stomach ailment last spring. Frank Dray residing east of Bluff ton who has been seriously ill in Findlay hospital with a blood clot on the brain has been removed to a Cleveland hospital. Mrs. Katherine Badertscher, Bluff ton nurse, is in Berne, Ind., assist ing in the care of her brother Hi ram Sprunger who is ill at his home at that place. THE BLUFFTON NEWS A NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE INT ERESTS OF BLUFFTON AND VICINITY BLUFFTON, OHIO, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 1939 Schedule of Charges Here are Among Lowest in this Area, Report Shows Bluffton, Ada, Lima, have Low est Minimum Findlay Less In Quantity Blufftons electric current rate, since the July 1 revision compares favorably with any town in the area and is considerably less than the schedule of charges for the ma jority. The comparison has been made on the basis of a report made by the Federal Power Commission, covering WHEAT ANO HOG MARKETS LOWER Prices Appear to Have Stabi lized Temporarily Under Peak Levels Wheat Quoted at 78 Cents Top Hogs $7.60 Here Wednes day Morning After ten days of skyrocketing prices stimulated by an hectic de mand for foodstuffs, livestock and grain markets appeared to be sta bilizing at least temporarily, at levels somewhat lower than the peaks reached the latter part of last week. The wide swings of prices, how ever, have resulted in no increase in normal volume of selling, dealers stated. The principal reason as a scribed for this lack of selling is the fact that the spring hog crop is not yet ready for market. No Wheat Sold Wheat sales have dropped to neg ligible proportions, dealers stated Wednesday morning when a price of 78 cents per bushel was quoted. This is five cents under the market peak established last Thursday and one cent lower than Tuesday’s price. With harvest-sales of wheat com pleted during the threshing season more than a month ago, the lack of offerings now in the face of a strong to rising market would in dicate a prevalent belief among growers that still higher prices, pos sibly dollar wheat, are in the of fing, dealers said in sizing up the situation Wednesday morning. Methodist Pastor Is Returned Here Rev. J. A. Weed, pastor of the Bluffton Methodist church during the past year has been assigned to con tinue his pastorate here, it was an nounced Tuesday evening following the close of the annual Ohio Metho dist conference at Delaware. A number of changes were made in assignments throughout the dis trict as a result of merger of the Methodist Episcopal and Methodist Protestant churches into one denom ination. The Mt. Cory-Dola charge, form erly M. P., will continue its former pastor, Rev. E. I. Obee. Rev. F. W. Obee was also returned as pastor of the Gilboa church, formerly M. P. Bluffton’s Electric Rates Are Low, Federal Report Discloses Many Graduated Last Spring From High School Enter College Hogs which went to a top of $9 per hundred pounds last Thursday were quoted at a top of $7.60 here Wednesday morning. The current market Wednesday represented an advance of 40 cents per hundred from Tuesday’s top. Rev. Valentine Hainen, former pastor of the Bluffton church has been returned to Forest and Rev. W. R. Burton, also a former pastor here has been assigned to Ottawa. Other assignments in this district include: Beaverdam, E. J. Arthur Cairo, J. Williamson Lafayette, T. Clark Davis Pandora, C. O. Good. Rev. W. H. W. Webster, former Arlington M. E. pastor was named pastor of the new Houcktown circuit formed by combining the Mt. Zion and Jenera churches formerly of the Arlington M. P. charge and Houck town and Center Chapel churches, formerly of the Mt. Blanchard M. i E. charge. CUTTING OF BUMPER CORN CROP STARTS the charges made by all towns in Ohio. Bluffton’s rates very closely paral lel those in force in Ada and Lima, which are among the lowest in the area. Findlay’s schedule is slightly lower in higher brackets. Beaverdam Rate Higher Rates are a little higher in other surrounding towns including Arling ton, Beaverdam, Columbus Grove and Rawson. Bluffton, Ada and Lima have the lowest minimum rates, 50 cents a month, and in each case the bill cov ers 10 KWH. For other towns in the district minimum charges vary from 80 cents to $1.00. For the home using 40 KWH, which covers lighting principally and a limited use of electrical appli (Continued on page 8) Twenty Continuing Studies in Advanced Institutions This Fail Eleven Enroll in Bluffton Col lege Freshman Class 9 Go Elsewhere Of the 58 members of the senior class graduated last spring from Bluffton high school, 20 are continu ing their schooling this fall a check up of records at the high school office revealed the first of the week. Of the 20 continuing in school, 11 are registered at Bluffton college while 9 are enrolled in other insti tutions. Those attending Bluffton college enrolled Wednesday in the freshman class. Most of those enrolling else where are leaving this week for their various schools. Attending College Attending college are the follow ing: Case School of Applied Science, Cleveland—Richard Wenger. Ohio Northern university, Ada— Wade Huber, Joel Kimmel. Mary Manse college,, Toledo Adelaide McGinnis. Ft. Wayne Bible institute—Ivan Agin. Moody Bible institute, Chicago— Elias Augsburger, Jr., Mark Nis wander. Warner Bros. Beauty school, Toledo—Hope Kincaid. Tiffin Business university—John Lloyd. Bluffton college—Wm. Holtkamp, Fernan Loganbill, Darwin Luginbuhl, Paul Soldner, Jason Trippiehorn, Herbert Oyer, Zitella Getties, Mary Lape, Bettye Lewis, Magdalene Oyer and Lora Schultz. Couple Wed In Van Wert To Reside Here Miss Lamoile Salsbury and Russell Amstutz were married Sunday morn ing at 9 o’clock at the home of Rev. L. C. Davis of the Church of Christ at Van Wert. The wedding vows were received by Rev. Davis using the single ring ceremony. The bride is the daughter of Don ald Salsbury of Ada. Mr. Amstutz is the son of Samuel Amstutz of Bluffton. ,i The couple will reside in the Mrs. Martha Flick apartment on South Main street. Births The following births at Bluffton Community hospital: Mr. and Mrs. Max Blosser, Colum bus Grove, boy, Friday. Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Niswander, Auburn, Ind., boy, Saturday. Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Boehm, girl, Tuesday. Traditional gridiron rivalry be tween Bluffton and Pandora High schools will be further intensified for this Friday night’s game under the Harmon field lights by the fact that coaches of the opposing crews were team mates in high school. Yield Expected to Run Consid erably Above Average Fodder Heavy Crop is Expected to Form Basis of Extensive Stock Feed ing Program Harvesting of a bumper crop of corn, whose value has been en hanced by rising markets of the past ten days is well under way in the Bluffton district. Prevailing hot, dry w’eather has rapidly matured the crop and an av erage yield of from 40 to 45 bushels thruout this section is anticipated. Avci.ge corn production over a leriod of years is usually from 35 to 40 bushels. Production, however, from some sections favorably situated for corn growing which escaped damage from last months tornado is expected to be considerably above the district acreage. With a steady to strong hog market anticipated during the com ing months as well as a good price for cattle, the large corn crop with unusually heavy fodder, will provide the basis for what is expected to be one of the largest livestock feeding programs in recent years, during the coming year. FOOD SHORTAGE FEARS ON WANE Volume of Buying on Bluffton Markets Rapidly Approach ing Normal Decline Anticipated in Prices Of Foodstuffs Still at High Marks Fears of flour and sugar shortages because of the European war wOT definitely on the wane in Bluffton, it was disclosed in a survey of the local food markets here the first of the week. Volume of buying of food stuffs was rapidly approaching nor mal. Prices, however, are holding at the high mark they reached last w’eek on the crest of a nation-wude buying wave that all but depleted sugar stocks of retailers. European war conditions, together w’ith false rumors that sugar could be purchased only in limited amounts, were credited as the underlying causes for heavy buying of sugar last week. Canning Demands Aggravate Situation The condition was aggravated by the fact that the war-scare came when the home canning season was at its height, a time when a considerable increase always is noticed in sugar buying. Purchases of foodstuffs for hoard ing, however, now definitely appear to be on the w’ane, and altho prices are holding at the high mark estab 1 lished last week a decrease is antici pated, altho no one is in a position to indicate when. Former Teammates Are Coaches Of Opposing Squads Here Friday Dwight Diller, who is starting his third season as coach at Bluffton, wras a player at the same school from 1929 to 1932. A calming influence in the flury of buying were announced by President Roosevelt and other ranking govern ment officials to the effect that the United States has a surplus of com modities generally, and that ordinary law’s of supply and demand in most cases do not warrant increases in prices. BUMPER TOMATOES Two bumper tomatoes, one weigh ing two pounds and two ounces and the other one and three-fourths pounds are attracting attention in the New's window. They are raised by Carl Young, Bluffton gardener, who is growing some unusually fine tomatoes this season. He will be matching wits this year with Jim Miller who wore Bluffton High football togs from 1931 to 1934. Both were backfield aces in their high school days, and in college play later they each won additional honors. Diller earned his collegiate laurels at Missouri State Teachers college, and Miller was one of the main stays of the Bluffton college grid team for four years. A Good Place to Live and a Good Place to Trade NUMBER 20 2.30 MILL SEWER LEVY ESTIMATE ounty Auditor Submits Figure For Twenty-five Year Bond Issue Bonds Would be Issued to Meet Town’s Portion of Pro posed System If Bluffton electors vote favorably this fall on the $80,000 bond issue to finance the major portion of the town's cost in construction of a pro posed $400,000 municipal sew’age sys tem and disposal plant, the tax rate to retire the bonds over a 25-year period will average 2.30 mills annual ly. That was the estimate last week of County Auditor Floyd Griffin, who based his figures on bonds hearing five per cent interest. It is expected however, that the bonds may be sold at a rate of interest materially less than that figure. This would in turn be reflected in a lower tax levy. Griffin’s report on the tax rate marked the final step in prarping the bond issue for submission to the vot ers at the regular November election. Preliminary Work Finished His estimate was submitted to the town council to permit the completion of preliminary action required in making arrangements for including the bond issue on the ballot. With an average rate of 2.30 mills, the tax assessment would be an av erage of $2.30 per $1,000 of taxable property included on the tax dupli cate. During the first twelve and one half years the tax would be higher than $2.3», but it would be less for the second twelve and one-half year period. In addition to the 2.30 mill average levy to retire the bond issue, each property owner also would pay an es timated average flat rate of $6 each year to retire $20,000 in special rev enue bonds, which would be required to complete the town’s share of $100, 000 in the $400,000 project. ^»The $6 special revenue assessment, however, would be the same on all properties, irrespective of valuation. In construction of the town-w’ide sewer system and the disposal plant, the town would pay $100,000, with the balance of the project’s cost, $300,000, being provided from federal funds thru the WPA. Leaving This Fall To Attend College A number of Bluffton young peo ple are leaving this fall to attend various colleges and universities. Included in this number and the institutions which they will attend are: Ohio State university, Columbus— Harriet Balmer, Barbara Carr, John Romey, Evan Sommer, Wayne Yoak am, Paul Rhoads. Bowling Green State university— Letha Niswander, Annabelle Weed, Mary Marshall. Miami university, Oxford—Ethel Jean Marshall, Neil Baumgartner. Eastman School of Music, Roches ter, N. Y.—Nelson Hauenstein. University of Cincinnati—Morris and Ropp Triplett, Chas. Schu macher. Oberlin college—Roberta Biery. Heidelberg university, Tiffin—Jo sephine Niswander. Western Reserve university, Cleve land—Milburn Diller. St. Joseph’s college, Collegeville, Ind.—Chas. Hankish, Jr. Wheaton college, Wheaton, Ill.— June Burkholder. Kansas City College of Osteo pathy—Jeanne Diller. Cincinnati Conservatory of Mu sic—James Bixel. Residents Drawn For Term On Jury A number of residents from this part of the county have been drawn for service on the Allen County grand and petit juries. A panel of twenty grand and sixty petit jurors was drawn from the jury wheel at Lima, Saturd^’ by Commissioners R. R. Schryer and B. B. Harsh in the presence of Judge Neal Lora and other officials. Among those drawn were: Grand jury—Fred Zehrbach, For est Mumma, Bluffton Marion Green wait and Geo. Heiser, Lafayette. Petit jury—Agnes Amstutz, Bluff ton Laura McCleary and W. W. Craig, Lafayette. The grand jury is scheduled to convene September 25 to consider more than a score of cases.