Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 27, Number 32, Decatur, Adams County, 6 February 1929 — Page 1

WEATHER probably ,nO ' A 10 Coid* r -

FIRE CAUSES $75,000 LOSS AT BERNE

CONGRESS votes !U MILLION FOR (j NEW CRUISERS Sign This Week J'lJ and 11 cruiser bill went to the house £i tf for ratification of two undisameniltnents. ‘ Republican leaders are confident ,h. house will accept the amendments nd that the hill will be laid on Mr. Midge’s desk for signature before l he ell d of the week in the same (« in which it was passed late yesterdav by the senate. Their information is that Mr. Coolidge will sign it. To Start Building Soon With the swift passing of these orents. in the next few weeks there till be launched the largest peace time national defense program this ntion has ever experienced. None nt the building plans of pre-war days rproximates it. The bill calls for construction of 15 new speedy 10,000 ton cruisers which can outface and outshoot the lumbering battleships and an aircraft earner built in modern style at a cost oi $19,000,000. The cruisers are to cost $17,000,000 each. Under terms o( the bill, their keels must be laid it the rate of five a year during the next three years. Mr Coolidge wanted to eliminate the three year time limit so lw siteeeisor President-elect Hoover could Mgotiate for further disarmament Wore starting to build, but the senile was adamant and refused to accede to his wishes just as the house refused a year ago. The senate voted down all objectionable amendments as fast as they «w> offered before it passed the hill by a majority of 68 to 12. Only one amendment was accepted, the ReedBorah amendment suggesting the exeattire department should negotiate treaties with all the principle maritime powers to protect the property «Cn\Ti¥fFn nV V4GV? TW**J * IBID DAY OF PRffiRFEB. 15 Decatur Christians Plan To Join In World-Wide Prayer Services Friday, February 15, has been set a»e as a World Day of Prayer. On "« day, prayer services will be held never;-city town, and country of the •arid. h . T ?i. prayer service in this city will «n at the Presbyterian church and . B l r . at o’clock in the afterS The Council of Womern for Home m 1 ‘"’ 8 and the Federation of WoNorth « ’ Of Forei K>i Missions of world Ji?"’ 0 ? are sponsoring this SL * ,?“• A proßra, » is »*ing that all 7 lhe service and it is hoped tains Cau wiU join with chr ‘«- Pray»r ** anda tll ° Worl(1 I>ay Os Queen Mother Os Kpain Dies Today Mother'Christi' G ~ (U ' R) ~’ rhe Queen lt a ,° f , n Spaln diedat thP the a ee f ' at 3 ’ 3 ° a - m - today at 111111 her son' earß ’ For 17 years downed ki n ; Klng Alfonß( > Xni - was r6Knl «f Spain” 19 ° 2, Chriatina was Juh f s Rosenwald Aiding ’ hn D. Rockefeller. Jr. enwa Jd a m i lhn b < 6 '~ 4U,R) ~ Ju,Uus Ros ’ Muck in e llead of the Searsday that h Doration > announced to«ce to aid tT 1 £ xertin S his infillln hu attenmi » hn D ’ Rockef eller Jr., T Ste *art from ,T St C ° lonel Ro,bert t e of the! chairnia nship of “7 of Indiana Standard 011 com--116 WaS not a Btock ’ ' J* n Y b "t adm ttla”? Standard com- , P * l ' Bonal letter* d le had bitten n ™, 10 sev eral large eir Proxies to r g / y*? 1 to glve 1 to Rockefeller j r .

DECATUR D AILY DEMOCRAT

Vol. XXVII. No. 32.

Stimson Admits He Is Leaving The Philippines Manila, P. 1., Feb, 6. —dJ.P) —Governor General Henry L. Stimson admitted today that he was leaving the Philippines at the request of Presi-dent-elect Hoover to take up another duty, but he preferred to let Mr. Hoover announce what the duty was. The statement was regarded here as confirmation of the general understanding that Stimson will be secretary of state in the Hoover cabinet. Q Decatur Bank Allotted $5,000 Os State Funds Indianapolis, Ind. Feb. C (UP) — The state finance committee today allotted banks over Indiana $16,819,000 of state funds and funds of state institutions. They included Citizens Stale Rank of Hartford City $50,000: First National bank ,ts Hartford City $10,000; Union Trust company of Hartford City $20,000; Union Savings and Trust company of Bluffton, $10,000; Wells County State Bank, of Bluffton, $10,000; and the Peeples Loan and Trust company of Decaur, $5,000. ROAD PETITIONS TO BE PUBLISHED Hearings On Three Proposed Improvements To Be Held On March 5 Three road petitions were ordered published yesterday by the hoard of county commissioners, the date of formal hearing being set for March 5. The petitions for the proposed road improvements include the Andy Zeser road improvement, beginning at the intersection of Mercer avenue and running south on High street to the Nickel Plate railroad tracks. The petition asks that the road be constructed of concrete. It is in Washington township and runs west of the old fair grounds, back of the Adams County Memorial hospital. The second petition is for the Theodore Hendricks macadam road in Wabash township. The proposed improvement is about one mile in length. The third petition is for the Hockemeyei and Fuhrman road in Root and Preble townships. The petition requests that the road be improved with stone. Viewers were appointed on the five roads allowed by the commissioners in January. No objections were offered at the hearing Tuesday. Ralph Roop, county surveyor was appointed engineer on the five roads. The viewers on the different roads are: John Wechter and David Ha begger, on the Homer Winteregg road, Monroe township, to meet February 7 and report February 21; Ernest Conrad and Gus Busick. on the William Yager road, Kirkland township, to meet February 11 and report February 21; Oscar Mesh’oerger and Everett Banter, on the Debolt road, Jefferson township, to meet February 6 and report February 21; David Dilling and Louis Worthman on the Hoffman road in Blue Creek township, to meet February 12 and report February 21; Beu Eiting and George Geels on the My-ers-Oakley road in Blue Creek township, to meet February S and report February 21. The commissioners will meet in continued session Thursday. Col. Lindbergh Nearing End Os Southern Flight Punta Arenas, Costa Rica, Feb, 6 — (UP)—Near the end of his pioneer air mail flight from Florida to the Canal Zone, Col. Charles A. Lindbergh left here at 10:30 E S. T. for David, Canal Zone. After a brief halt there, he will "ontlnue to Christobal, terminus of the flight • Lindbergh and his two companions remained here only a short time while their sikotsky Amphibian was refueled. The distance to David is approximately 180 miles and they expect to make it in about 2 hours. ———————o Twenty-two Killed In Riots At Bombay Bombay, Feb~ 6. —(U.R>— Twentytwo persons had been killed as rioting continued between Pathans and Hindu millhands here today. Three Hindus were killed and several were iwounded when Mohamedans joined Pathans in the local area in an attack on the Hindus. Troops fired three rounds into a crowd of Mohamedans, wounding six. at Bhendy Bazaar, a notoriously lawless section.

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

*'•»». Nalloaal And lalrraailoaal New*

Contemplate Big Church Merger t. z - OssMiF Leaders of Presbyterian and Methodist Episcopal denominations are discussing informally a merger of these two great Protestant churches at Pittsburgh, Pa. Dr. Lewis S. Mudge, left, clerk, of general assembly of the I Presbyterian church, and Dr. Eugene M. Antrim, secretary of Methodist Episcopal committee on relations with other denominations, discuss ways and means of bringing about the proposed merger.

John Barnett Plans To Get Off “Water Wagon” This Summer ( John Barnett, who has been on the ' "water wagon" for more than 25 years is figuting on climbing off. His is a i real water wagon and not the kind as- . sociated with the fellow who takes the New Year’s pledge to drink only I water. Mr. Barnett has operated th a city sprinkling wagon for more than a quarter century 1W This city and is now ready to retire. Joe Cloud is figuring 1 on purchasing the wagon from him. ' Last evening, at the regular meeting 1 cf the city council. Mr. Cloud appeared before the meeting and asked that ’ he be given a contract to sprinkle the ■ streets, the city furnish the water. ■ The matter was turned over to a comi mittee and a contract will be made with Mr. Cloud. 0 OPERETTA CAST IS ANNOUNCED Friday Night Is Date For Entertainment At Pleasant Mills School Building ’ The cast for the operetta, "Pickles,’’ ■ to be presented at the Pleasant Mills i high school auditorium, Friday night, • February 8, by the members of the ■ glee club of that school, was announce ed today. Mrs. Harry L. Fortney is 1 directing the production. Admission ■ will be fifteen and twenty-five cents. I The public is invited to attend. I The same operetta was presented ■ in Decatur, recently, by the St. Marys i Chorus Choir, and evoked much favorable criticism. The story deals with ■ an American millionaire pickle manufacturer, Jonas H. Pennington, who, with his daughter, June, arrives in ■ Vienna amidst preparations for the annual carnival. To his consternation, he finds Jones, his advertising expert, advertising Pennington’s Peter Piper ■ Pickles too well. An old acquaintance, Lady Vivian, aweathy Englishwoman, also arrives on her annual quest in search for her daughter, who was lost near Bienna at carnival time when a baby. Kinski, the Pompous police chief, plots to substitute the lost child of Lady Vivian and marry her for the fortune. A band of gypsies visits the carnival, led by the chieftain and his supposed daughter, Ilona. Events lead all to the gypsy camp, where a magic pool reveals the face of Lady Vivian’s daughter. Arthur Crefont, a poor artist, wins recognition of his art and also the hand of June Pennington. Lady Vivian consents to become Mrs. Pennington, Kinski’s plot is exposed, Ilona is restored to her mother and Jones is rewarded with success in his campaign for the hand of Ilona. The characters of the play, in the order of their first appearance, are: Hans Maier, proprietor of Wurtzelpraeter Inn Herman Patterson Louisa, a waitress Cecil Edgell Captain Kinski, chief of detective bureau of Vienna Austin Merriman (CONTINUED ON I’AGE FIVE)

Decatur, Indiana, Wednesday, February 6, 1929.

MRS. SPUHLER DIES SUDDENLY Aged Decatur Woman Found Dead In Bed This > e Morning Mrs. Barbara Spuhler, 87, native of ’ Switzerland, but for the past fitty- ’ seven years a resident of Adams ’ county, was found dead in her bed at her home here at 6 o’clock this : morning. Wednesday, February 6, 1929, death having ensued some time previous. Mrs. Spuhler had been up and about as usual on Tuesday, and had not complained of feeling ill She retired as usual, but was lifeless when members of her family attempted to awaken her this morning. Death is believed to have been due to old age and heart trouble. Barbara Spuhler was born October 26. 1841. in Switzerland, the daughter of John and Anna Blumm. In I<S66, she united in marriage in her native country, with John Spuhler, who preceded her in death four years ago. When she was thirty years of age, to- > gether with her husband and three children, she came to the United States and settled in Adams county where she spent the remainder of her days. For several years, she has re- ’ sided at 522 St. Marys street. Since <<■«»> ri m eo nx page twoi , _ 0 MONROE WOMAN DIES AT HOSPITAL — Mrs. J. J. Hofer, 66, Dies Os Heart Trouble Here This Morning Mrs. Rosa Hofer, 66, wife of J. J. Hofer of Monroe, died at 9:15 o’clock this morning, Wednesday, February 6. 1929, at the Adams County Memorial hospital. Death was due to chronic heart trouble with which the deceased has been afflicted for the past two 1 years. She was transferred, Sunday, from her home in Monroe to the hospital here, when her condition grew 1 critical, and all efforts for an improvement proved in vain. Rosa Ray Hofer was born March 6, 1862, in Adams county. She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Hofer. She has always resided in Adams county and for the past fortyfive years has lived in Monroe. She united in marriage with J. J. Hofer the surviving husband. No children were born of this union, but a foster daughter, Miss MarfTia Hofer, died four years ago. The following brothers and sisters also survive: Mrs. Catherine Davy, of Decatur; James H. Ray of Cleveland, ’ Ohio; David S. Ray, of Portland; and Mrs. Martha Tricker, of Marion. i Funeral services will he held at 1 o’clock Sunday afternoon, at the rest- I dence in Monroe, and at 1:30 o’clock at the Monroe Methodist church of i which she was 'i member. The Rev. i E. M. Foster will officiate and burial 1 will be made in the Decatur cemetery, i

COUNCIL FAVORS | RESURFACING OF MARSHALL STREET Notice To Property Owners Is Ordered; Other City Affairs Discussed ORDER CABLE FOR ORNAMENTAL LIGHTS The stieet and sewer committee of the city council in session last night reported favorable on the petition of R. E. Stucky for the resurfacing of Marzhall street, west from First street to Fifth street. The next step towards the advancement of the improvement will be to give notice to property owners and hear or receive objections against the proposed improvements. John S. Bowers, who owns considerable frontage along the street, attended the council meeting last evening and indicated that he would object against the resurfacing of the street. The purchasing committee was ordered to purchase the cable necessary to install ornamental lights on Third street beginning at Adams street, north to Monroe street. Property owners along the Nuttman avenue improvement signed waivers i totaling $3,048.22 and the city clerk was authorized to issue imurovemepnt bonds in that amount to the contractor. City affairs were discussed by the council and it was deckled to hold a continued session Thursday evening at 7:30 o’clock, at which time matters pertaining to electric rates will be taken up. Bills were read by the chairman of the finance committee and allowed. o Former Decatur Woman To Reside In Honolulu Mr. and Mrs. E. R. Comer will sail Saturday on lhe Steamship Honolulu, for Honolulu, from the Wilmington H-itbor near Los Angeles, California, Mrs. Comer prior to her marriage last fall, was Miss Ruth Mayer of this city. Mr. and Mrs. Comer will be located in Honolulu for an indefinite period, the former being a mechanic in the United States Navy. PREBLE UGHT LINE IS SOLD Indiana Service Corporation, Insull Concern, Buys Line In Adams County The stockholders of the Preble Light and Power company, operating an electric line of about 30 miles in length in the northwest part of Adams county, voted last night to sell the line to the Indiana Service Corporation, an Instil concern. The purchaser bid $20,000 for the line. The City Light and Power department, of the city of Decatur, offered $18,900 for the line. The city of Decatur has been furnishing electric current to the Preble Light and Power company for the past 11 years, the current being delivered as far west as the city limits. The meeting last evening was held at the school house, north of Preble, and was attended by about 100 persons. Dr. J. C. Grandstaff, president of the company, presided at the meet’ng. There were 296 shares, par value SSO a share, in the company. The vote to sell, in favor of the Indiana Service corporation, was about 260 to 36. The Preble Light and Power company constructed the overhead line and furnished the distribution system. The city of Decatur sold the electric current to the Preble company at five cents per K. W. H. for the first 1,000 K. W. H., and three cents per K’. W. H. for all over 1,000. The deal, subject to the approval of the Indiana Public Service commission, will consist of the Indaina Service corporation taking over the electric line and furnishing power to the 200 or more customers. The stockholders in the old company were patrons of the line. Noah Arnold was secretary of the company. One of the future possibilities of the electric line is to furnish power to the Standard Oil pumping station in Preble, in the event that company decides to purchase power from an outside source. The company now manufacturers its own power.

Farnlahed By I ullril Preaa

FACTORY OF NUSSBAUM NOVELTY COMPANY COMPLETELY DESTROYED FOLLOWING AN EXPLOSION TODAY Spark From Electric Motor Believed To Have Ignited Fumes In Finishing Room; All Employes Escape Injury; Blaze Prevented From Spreading To Other Buildings Nearby Fire, resulting from tin explosion in the finishing room of th'* Nussbaum Novelty Company's factory’, at Berne, completely destroyed the large two-story building owned and occupied by the Novelty concern, at 10:30 o’clock this morning and did <lamage estimated at more than $7a,000.

■■ —— | COUNTY ATTORNEY IS REAPPOINTED 1 I —— ( Henry B. Heller Rehired By Commissioners; Board ( Adjourns Tuesday Henry B Heller was reappointed ' I county attorney by the board of coun- , ty commissioners in session late ' Tuesday afternoon. Mr*. Heller has 1 i served as county attorney for the i past 10 years. He is a member of the : law firm of Ijenhart, Heller and : Schurger. In Commissioner's Court > The county commissioners adjourni ed last evening until Thursday, when t awarding of contracts for road and < bridge material, furnishing metal - counters in the county treasurer's office and for furnishing seed and f fence material at the county infirmary will take p’ace. Bids for furnishing one car of white aslr lump coal at the county infirmary and one car of West Virginia ‘ white ash lump at the court house building in this city will be received 1 by the board on March 5. Bids for furnishing 11 tons cf 1 410-16 fertilizer in 125 bags at ’he ’ county infirmary, delivery to be made by March 10. will also be received by ’ the board on March 5. 1 Proof of service in the matter of ‘ the Peter Braun drain was filed and the cause docketed as pending before the board. The bond of Miss Bernice Nelson, as county clerk, in the amount of SIO,OOO was filed and approved. A ' surety bond was provided. The an- ' nual report of the county auditor was filed and approved and the same ord- ' ered published. o “Wild West” Gunman Holds Up Train In East Herkimer, N. Y.. Feb. 6.—;U.R) —A “wild west” gunman held up a New t York Central train near here early . ( today, perforated a car roof with bul- ■ ( lets, fought a gun duel with a baggageman, robbed passengers of SBO , and then leaped from the train as it slowed to 35 miles an hour, approaching this station. , He was caught later and was treated in jail for a wrenched knee, a broken nose, and face and scalp lacer- 1 > ations received in his spectacular , jump from the train. ’ o Lincoln Address To Be : Given At Teachers’ Institute I 1 An address on the life of Abraham ’ Lincoln will be delivered at the month- 1 ly instiute of the rural school teachers 1 • of Adams county at Monroe next Sat- 1 ’ urday by B. F. Geyer, of Fort Wayne. 1 1 Mr. Geyer, who is a business man, has ' 1 one of the most complete list of Lin- 1 > coin books in his library of any in this 1 part of the country. His address will 1 ■ be delivered during the forenoon ses- 1 i sion of the institute. The regular group '• . meetings of teachers bwil be held I : during thef orenoon, also, and the ex- 1 i tension classes will meet in the after- 1 i noon. o New Cold Wave Due To Hit Midwest Tonight Chicago, Feb. 6 —(UP) —After the ; first brief thaw of the new year, an- i other intensely cold wave will strike I the midwest tonight, extending south- ' ward into Kansas and eastward across i lowa and Wisconsin, the Wether bur- . eau predicted today. 1 Temperatures will continue low through Thursday, the forecast said, i In Western Kansas this morning the mercury dropped to zero. The lowest I temperature last night was 22 degrees below zero at Havie, Mont., and Willis- i ton, N. D.

Price Two Cents

The building was a frame structure and the flames swept to all parts of the building quickly after the explosion. Berne firemen were unable to cope with the blaze and the entire structure was burned completely to the ground. Some of the office fixtures and equipment were rushed out of the burning building when the fire was first noticed, but the large supH’y of novelties and material were destroyed. Officials In New York Homer Schug, superintendent of the concern, stated that he did not know how much insurance the concern carried. Sam Nussbaum, president and njanager of the company and the other officers are in New York at present attending the national toy exposition. At the time of the explosion there were about 35 persons working in the building. One of the employes in the finishing room at the Ume of the explosion spread the alarm and all employes were able to escape the flames. Dan Zuercher, an aged employe of the company, who was working in a room by himself whan the fire started, was the last man out of the building. Firemen Rescue Employe Mr. Zuercher stated that he had heard the call of “fire,” but was unable to get out immediately because of the dense smoke. Two volunteer iiremen forced their way into the room where Mr. Zuercher was and carried him to safety. Several of the employes were working in tile finishing room and the foreman in charge had changed the finishing operation from a varnish to a lacquer finish. It is thought that a short circuit in the motor ignited the fumes of the varnish and lacquer and caused the explosion. The fire followed. All employes of the company assembled at once and with their owu fire equipment made an effort to (COtVTIXVKn OV ftvr, SCHOOL BUYS ELECTRIC MAP New Device At Central School Attracts Interest; Local Man Inventor Pupils in the Central grade school now have something which rivals Isaac, the famed skeleton which has reposed within the walls of Central for years. The school board purchased an electric map of United States which is designed to create interest in the study of geogiaphy, It was invented by William G. Griffith, a teacher in district number 2 school of Kirkland, township. The map is about six feet long and four feet high. It is portable and can be placed on any blackboard in the building, as all have been wired for I'ghts. The states on the map are painted in colors, and in each are a number of small contacts, representing the state capitols and the important cities. Along the side is a double row of names of cities and beside each is another contact. The teacher, then, is provided with an electric pointer which is placed against the name desired. The pupil, who is likewise equipped puts his pointer on the proper position if he is correct a light wil Iflash above. It can be reversed the teacher pointing to the city. For Washington, D. C. there are two lights. Mr. Griffith, the inventor, originated the project a few years ago when he saw the need for a more interesting way to teach United States Geography. Last year. Principal Guy Brown saw it at Fort Wayne while it was still in an experimental stage. And on his suggestion the school board bought it a few weeks ago in iYs more compact size. It is one of the first in this region. The map may be used by pupils during intermissions or at the noon hour. It is one of the most popular places tn the building. As it is educational, they are encouraged to use it frequently.

YOUR HOME PAPERLIKE ONE OF THE FAMILY