Indianapolis Times, Volume 35, Number 197, Indianapolis, Marion County, 31 December 1923 — Page 16

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STATE DIVISION OF CONSERVATION REPORTSACTIVITY Lieber Describes Numerous Accomplishments of His Department, By RICHARD LIEBER director Department of Conservation. iXB of the outstanding features {j ! of the year’s work in conserva--—A tlon has been the results secured by the division of forestry, uner the direction of Charles C. Deam, State forester. A new' era in timber growing in hidima dates from the passage In he other hand. the M ‘.*2l of a law per- j cation of woodi.md as forest ‘ land, and pracically exempting i from taxes. jH Indiana uses ]•> less than three times as much v JMI timiicr as she r duces F h <3 .:■< uui.'h " •. • hardwood lumber, which for the greater part finds it way out LIEBER of the State. On lumber used In the building trades is cypress, hemlock, redwotod and pine, shipped in because it is cheaper and far less in value to our hardwood Millions of dollars go out of Indiana for freight on importing lumber into the State. It is also known that there are thousands of acres of abandoned farm land in Indiana which this typical forest land, which should be reforested. There are many areas in southern Indiana of 1,000 to 25,000 acres which are too hilly to be farmed successfully, which should be in permanent forest. These the State should buy at once. Then, too, more assistance should be given the owner of small forest areas in the management of his w'oodland. During the four and a half years beginning April 1, 1919 to Sept. 30. 5923. the department spent a total of $1,071,860.43 of which $452,113.15 was tax money. There was therefore earned $619,747.28. This shows that the per capita tax charge per year is 3 l-3c. The inventory of the department shows physical evidence represented by State parks, hatcheries and forests of $450,000 which is a substantial investment of all tax mbnies. The tremendous amount of work accomplished by the department in other lines such as publications, planting 45.000.000 fish ar.d discovery of $2,000,000 worth of State owned coal are a by-product. Following is a summary of the outstanding accomplishments of the di visions: • • • Geology | | ULFILLED many requests for I I I F eol °Fical investigations from L _J individuals, companies, corporations. cities and communities. Systematic survey of coal areas covering nine counties. Maps of two large oB fields. Continued study of oil shales. Issued the “Handbook of Geology." Determined 846 mineral and rock samples. Supervised plugging of 326 gas and oil wells. Issued monthly report of oil and gas activities. Secured logs of 600 well--. Register*! attendai.ee at State museum, 44,607. * * * Entomology SNSPECTED 252 nurseries having 1,600 acres from prevention of diseases and insect infestation. thus protecting thousands of purchasers. Issued 687 licenses to agents and dealers. Inspected 4,117 apiaries containing 36.216 colonies of bees for detection and prevention of foulbrood. Gave 527 demonstrations and held 70 special meetings on beekeeping. Inspected greenhouses having 3,000.000 square feet of glass, assisting materially in prevention of Insects and disease in greenhouses. This is a pioneer work and Indiana now has a reputation for greenhouses singularly free from insects and diseases. Stopped and condemned 5,000,000 tomato plants shipped from Georgia and infected with eelworm. Held frequent conferences with farmers, fruit growers and nurserymen to assist in their problems. • • •

Forestry p. LANTTNG 47,455> seedling trees. r* Inaugurated new experlmental plots at State forest. Sold to farmers of State, at cost, 29,454 seedling trees for woodlots. Planted In nurserv and now growing for next .season’s planting—2s4,263 trees. Inspected 231 woodlots for classification. Intensive survey of 'Warrick County shows deplorable condition of existing woodlands. Classified 4,192 acres of woodland under Forest tax law. • • • Lands and Waters C # “~” ON'TINTTED development and management of four State parks. Seventy thousand visitors to Turkey Run State Park. Ten thousand visitors to VoCor mick’s Creek State Park. Turkey Run has supported Itself for three years. A going concern paying huge dividends in health and happiness. Completed five miles of scenic road In Cllfty Falls State Park Including the largest timber highway trestle in the State. , Proved the possibility of making State parks self-supporting and the feasibility of a concession arrangement

STEEL DEMAND CONTINUES Usual December Slump Fails to Make Appearance. By United Pm* NEW YORK, Dec. 31.—As the year closed the steel trade was greatly encouraged by the manner in which demand had been maintained. Steel men had anticipated a decided decline in orders in December, due to in-ventory-taking and the holidays, which almost always have a slowingup effect. Demand, however, has been fully as large as it was in the previous month. If demand continued as well the consensus of the trade was that January would show a sharp upturn in orders. ship by the State of coal underlying the bed of the Wabash River in Vigo County. Proved $13,000 now payable and a future revenue of $200,000. ' Conducted Third National Conference on State Parka at Turkey Run. Through publications acquainted many citizens with the scenic beauties and outing possibilities of Southern Indiana which will one day reap a rich harvest from tourist trade. Is at this time engaged in preservation of the Tippecanoe River from the hands of those who wish to ditch it. • • * Fish and Game mSSUED 176,770 hunting and fishing licenses which furnished an income of $170,066.80. A gain of $21,101.74 over last year and practically double the receipts of $89,149.96 under the old regime before the Department of Conservation was organized. Carried on an effective campaign agiinst stream pollutioh. Made arrangements for taking over a large acreage of meander land along the Kankakee for the purpoao of maintaining a game and bird sanctuary. Made 1,698 arrests for violations of fish and game laws. The last year under the old system showed 369 arrests. Operated four fish hatcheries and building a fifth. Planted 1,862,937 fish in waters of State. • • • Engineering • STABLISHED fourteen stream gauging stations for measure- - ment of stream flow. Practically completed field work of State drainage survey which is of great value to farmers. Continued investigation of effect of drainage in the Kankakee Valley. Made field studies and reports on six large drainage projects. Carried on engineering work for State parks, fish hatchery and State forest. Carried on meander line surveys and investigation of lake levels. AUTOS MAKE BIG GAINS Low Prices and Demand Increase Production Figures. By United Press NEW YORK. Dec. 31. —Production reports totaling 326,125 motor cars and trucks made in November brought the eleven months output to 3.717,709. which indicated that the year’s total would reach 4,000,000. This represented a gain of more than 50 per cent over 1922, which waa in Itself the previous record year. Leaders in the automobile industry believed the increase to be due to the national need for more transportation facilities, to the rapid development of suburban areae, and to the fact that better ear values for the money were being of sered than at any previous time, due "o the economies of large-scale production. Amusement Plentiful There are more than fifty motion picture theaters and eight other theaters in the city. It is recognized as an important sports center, with the annual Speedway race and the numerous football and basketball games.

The big electrically operated AcmeEvans Mills are lineal successors of the first grist mill built in Indianapolis. From these mills, with their daily capacity of 3,000 barrels of wheat flour, comes the product on which so many Indiana housewives depend for suo cessful, good-tasting bakings— EVAN S’ F-z-BAKF ** FLOUR. 4 *

HISTORY IS MADE IN HOOSIER STATE DURING OLD YEAR . Indianapolis Is Scene of Many Occurrences Unrivaled in Importance by Happenings of Past — Politics Active.

SHE past year has been a momentous one in Indianapolis. Starting with the Legislature, State and civic events followed one another n close succession. In i olitics it was a stormy year. The courts and police were busy. Happ ;n----lngs unrivaled in the history of the city occurred. A review of events: Jan. I—Cortland Van Camp 111, member of prominent family, killed when his automobile plunged into Fall creek. Jan. 4—Legislature opens. Governor McCray asks for gasoline tax. Jan. 6—Terre Haute, Indianapolis & Eastern Traction Company authorized to sell electricity in Indianapolis. Jan. 9 —Primary repeal bill introduced in State Senate. Jan. 29 —House in controversy over “school book trust.” Feb. I—Chamber of Commerce committee asks for resignations of three members of the school board. Feb. s—Rockefeller foundation, gives Butler University $300,000. Feb. 9 —Democratic members of the House walk out as protest against “steam roller tactics." Feb. 13 —Harry S. New appointed postmaster general over opposition of some Indiana politicians. Feb. 17 Charles W. Miller, prominent attorney disappears. Later found dead in hotel room. Feb. 28—Inda Myers freed of charge of killing husband. March s—Governor McCray vetoes bill to abolish Memorial day races. March 9 —Local sugar prices soar. March 10 —Governor McCray vetoes soldier bonus bill. Legislature adjourns. March 12—Wind storm injures eight here. March 14—Seventy-five Lake County defendants go on trial in Federal Court on booze charges. March 16 —Floods here cause damage. March 17—Vincennes High School wins State basketball championship. March 31 —Gary mayor and fiftyfour others convicted of booze conspiracy. April 2 —Explosion at Mill St. plant of Indianapolis Light and Heat Company causes $700,000 damages. April 6—Highway commission plans 958-mile road program. April 20—Plan for State w*r memorial building adopted. April 23 —Big Four freight depot damaged by fire. Loss, $700,000. April 25 —Local gas rate cut 5 cents by public service commission April 28 —Gary booze case defendants sentenced in Federal Court. May 2 —Housewives Join sugar boycott. May 11 —Miss Sadie McOroarty, secretary of park board, disappears. Body found later in Niagara Falls. May 19—Stoughton A. Fletcher resigns as president of Fletcher-Ameri-can National Bank. May 22 —Clyde A. Walb named Republican State chairman. May 30—Tommy Milton wins 500mile automobile race. June 6—Richard Stegemeier disappears. June B—Stegemeier is found wandering on country road. June 12 —Carl G. Fisher resigns as president of Indianapolis Motor Speedway. June 28—Coal strike conspiracy cases dismissed by Judge Albert B. Anderson. July 10—Mayor Shank launches campaign against proposed increase in water rates.

THE INDIANAPOLIS TRIES

July 12 —Convention of Rainbow Veterans opens. July 16 —Edgar M. Blessing resigns from public service commission. July 18—Water rate hearing opens. July 23 —Petition containing 80,000 names protesting against increased water rates filed with the public service commission, Aug. 22 —Tax board approves school building bond issue. Aug 25 —Robert Watson is stabbed to death by assailant. Aug. 30—Warren T. McCray financial crash revealed. Meeting of creditors is called. Sept. 3—State fair opens. Sept. s—City joins in fund for relief of Japanese earthquake victims. Sept. B—Royß—Roy Couch, superintendent of building and grounds at Statehouse, sentenced for stealing State money. Sept. 13—Indiana National Bank robbed of 540,000. Sept. 15 —Increase in city tax rate ordered by court. Sept. 20—Suits filed against Governor at Kentland. Sept. 25—Grand Jury investigation of McCray’s affairs asked. Oct. I—Republican State committee meets to consider attitude toward McCray. Oct. s—McCray grand Jury investigation opens. Oct. 6—McCray creditors accept trust agreement. Oct. 13—Discount and Deposit State Bank of Kentland closes. McCray formerly was president. Oct. 16 —American Governors meet at Indianapolis in preparation for conference at West Baden. t Oct. 18 —State teachers convention opens. Oct. 22 —-David Lloyd George visits city. Oct. 30—Grand Jury at NoblenvlUe starts investigation of McCray’s affairs. Nov. 7—Clarence W. Nlohols named to succeed Charles W. Moores as special grand Jury prosecutor in McCray case. Nov. 15—McCray bankruptcy hearing opens in Federal Court. Nov. 23—Two Indianapolis banks robbed Nov. 28 —Mrs. Helen Whelchel murdered. Nov. 30—Governor McCray Is indicted on 191 counts. Dec. 2—John Thomas Shaw, colored, arrested in Whelchel murder case. Dec. 4 —Dr. E. E. Hodgin, president of city board of health dlee. Dec. 6 —Republican committee meets to consider McCray situation. Dr. George Edenharter and Dr. Wilmer Christian die. Dec. 7—Leo K. Fesler. county auditor, serves one hour in Jail on contempt of court charge. Charles W. Moores dies. Deo. B—William P. Evans resigns aa Marion County prosecutor and is succeeded by William H. R 'my. Doc. 11 —G. A. H. Shideler, superintendent of the Indiana Reformatory, dies. Dec. 18 —First snow of winter fall a Dec. 24—John Thomas Shaw, colored. convicted of murder of Mrs. Helen Whelchel and sentenced to death. Retailers Active e Though ranking twenty-second In population, Indianapolis ranks twelfth in retail business. The city serves 1,500,000 retail purchasers, who live within a radius of sixty miles of the city.

COPPER MARKET QUIET European Demand Is Absent—Business Slow. Bn United Press NE WYORK, Dec. 31. —Due to the absence of European demand, the qopper market, despite indications of large demand on the part of domestic electrical concerns, remained quiet as the year ended. The over-production by some companies had a depressing effect and prices in some instances were bid down. Most American producers as the year ended were unwilling to sell at the prevailing prices and W'ere content to await the usual January rise in prices. TEXTILE INDUSTRY BOOMS IN 1323 Cotton Consumption Is Extremely Heavy, By Tim?B Special WASHINGTON. Dec. 31.—Textile mills, dominating the manufacturing industries of the Atlantic seaboard, this year have enjoyed the greatest activity since 1917. Nearly 5,000,000 bales of raw cotton were consumed by these mills between January and September. Consumption averaged slightly more than 553,000 bales a month during this period, the highest monthly rate in six years. Last year consumption was 492,485 bales a month. In 1920 it was 534,987 bales and in 1918 it stood at 647,207 bales a month. Cotton prices received by growers have been high for more than a year. The supply of raw cotton, being low not only in the United States but throughout the world, indicates that prices probably will continue to rise. For the South, therefore, the outlook for the future is good. RAIL PROSPECTS GOOD Prosperity Ihaing New Year Seen by Directors. Bv United Press NEW YORK. Dec. 31. —Directors and officials of the northwesterr, roads predicted that the 1924 outlook for the railroads of that section was much brighter than indicated toward the end of the year by the cutting of the dividend of Chicago & Northwesterr. and the passing of the dividend on the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis Omaha Railway These roads suffered in 1923 from the same conditions as the farmers in that territory, but it w r ai declared that the northwest by no means present ed as gloomy a picture as portrayed in other sections of the country. It was held that ah agricultural territory is due for an improvement in 1924, the best indication being that car movement promises to be better. ,

INDIANA Motorists are offered the services of the exclusive Shock Absorber Service Station in the Country —in the Hassler-Indiana building at_; Meridian and St. Joe Streets. Drive your Car in or Phone Lincoln £825 | nasslers

ROADS IN INDIANA ARE BEING PAVED RAPIDLY BY STATE Highway Director Tells of Construction Program for New Year. By JOHN D. WILLIAMS, Director Indiana State Highway Commission. ’ l "2| ITH approximately 364 miles of VY7 all types constructed, com- ’’ pletion of more than half a hundred bridges, including the largest bridge on a State highway in the Middle West, and systematic maintenance on more than 4,00 P miles of roads, the 1923 SfiscaJ year closing the most consistent progress its creation.^ proximately 400 of the program i miles of pavement WILLIAMS by the fall of 1925, together I with improving surfaces on hundreds j of miles of lesser types. The 1923 program in all depart - | ments of the State highway commission called for a total expenditure of approximately $9,268,770. In the construction division there was completed 135 miles of pavement, a great deal of grading and sub base, while in the maintenance division there was ; constructed about 229 miles of lesser J types exclusive of the maintenance on i 4,128 miles of roads. 184 Miles Completed The construction division had completed Sept. ;0 approximately 184 miles of rpads of all types costing about $4,986,000, and had under contract 412 miles, to cost about $lO.700,000, These projects were Federal aid. meaning that Indiana pays the ; entire cost of construction and then Sis reimbursed ha f the cost by the Federal Government aiding States in i layin gout and constructing a national system of market highways. Concrete pavement was contracted in 1923 for about $27,000 a mile; brick pavement at about $43,000 a mile, bituminous macadam for about $21,000 a mile, grading and structures for about $9,700 a mile and gravel base for about $12,000 a mile. State roads, as all know are built about twice as ! wide as county and township roads, curves are straightened, grades eased and visions extended, in order to care for the greatly augmented traffic. The major work of 1923 was in 1

EXPORTS SHOW BALANCE Commerce in Both Directions Increase \ This Year. By United Press NEW YORK, Dec. 31.—Commerce for the year 1923 should reflect a favorable balance of about $263,000,000. Figures were expected to show substantial increases in both exports and imports over 3 922. On the basis of the Commerce Department's figures for eleven months, the total exports of the United States for 1923 were estimated at $4,085,000,000, its compared with the actual figures for 1922 of $3,831,000,000. Imports for 1923 on the same basis would reach $3,822,000,000,as against the actual total of $3,112,000,000 for the previous year. Lake, Porter, Laporte, Steuben, Allen, St. Joseph, Tipton, Hamilton, Hancock, Henry, Wayne, Hendricks, Boone, Marion, Vigo, Clay, Putnam, Vanderburg, Warrick, Gibson, Sullivan, Jackson, Scott, Dubois, Orange, Martin, Crawford and Perry counties. In 1924 pavement will be laid on State Rd. No. 1 between Peru and Kokomo, and from the Scott county line to Sellersburg. On No. 2, between Plymouth and pavement now out of Ft. Wayne. On No. 6, from Zionsyille through Lebanon to Lafayette, arid from New Bethel to Shelbyville. On No. 10, from Schererville to Boswell; Veedersburg to Clinton: Shelburn to Sullivan; from near Hazelton through Princeton to Ft. Branch. On No. 32, from Indianapolis to Martinsville. On No. 37, from Marion county line through Pendleton and Anderson to near Muncie. System Extensive At this time there are 4,128 miles in the State system. This includes 458 mile* of concrete, seventy of brick, 943 traffic and waterbound, 1,779 gravel and the remainder in other types. The bridge department completed seventy-two bridges costing a total of $386,773. It had under contract ninety nine structures at a total contract price of $1,154,000. Total expenditures of the maintenance division for fiscal 1923 were $2,959,000. of which $870,425 was for actual construction. This division buiit new arid reclaimed old worn out gravel and stone roads to a total 229 miles. In addition it maintained more than 4,000 miles by resurfacing with stone and gravel, widening ditches widening roadbeds, building small bridges and culverts, cutting clown grades and easing curves, constructing and maintaining warning guide and information signs. Total maintenance per mile including building bridges and culverts, general overhead, workmen’s compensation and misce’laneous was $546.95. SUICIDE 7 INVESTIGATED Man Drinks Poison While in Poolroom. Former Paul F. Robinson today made efforts to learn the cause for the suicide of Samuel Newhouse, 40, living one mile east of Lawrence, who drank poison late Saturday while in a poolroom at Lawrence operated by Vetmer Bros.

MONDAY, DEC. 31, 1921

LIVESTOCK PRICES! ARE LOW; MARKET’ CONTINUES ACTIVE Great Volume of Business Handled in Indianapolis Yards, While the year just closing may not have been the most successful for the farmer from the standpoint of prices received for his livestock, market-wise observers are agreeing that It has been a very encouraging one from the standpoint of his gross return, due to heavy marketing throughout the year. Prices for hogs at the present time are from $1 to $1.50 a hundredweight lower than on the first day of last year, but the large number of hogs to have passed through the Indianapolis stockyards during 1923 is believed by some statisticians to have offset fully any difference in price. More Hogs Raised Farmers have been raising hogs in greater number than for many years as the result of intensified effort in livestock production during the boon times of the after-war days when porkers on foot brought $23 and more al hundredweight at the local yards. The] farmer who has kept one or two sows have increrjsed that number te™ fold and the results of this increased breeding have Just been ushered Into the market. - For days during the late fall sea son the daily receipts of porkers ex ceeded the 20,000 mark and in one week 110,000 hogs were offered for sale. Such offerings naturally tended to shade prices, which at one time were periously near the $6 mark after beginning the year around the $9 fig ure. Cattle Market Unsteady As to the cattle market, It has suffered various fluctuations that have kept it from being what some trader* had hoped it would be, but prloea have kept fairly well, In line with other markets, though proximity to Chicago, where fancier prices 8-re paid and where fancier stock is recoil -d, haa tended to divert much of this trade to the Illinois center. Receipts of sheep and lambs locally have been rather light during the year, due to direct shipment to Chicago and other points, but prices have held up surprisingly well. The lamb market, for which the local yards enjoys more or less national prominence, has flourished and prices and competition have gone hand in hand. Receipts of late have been light and the eastern demand urgent and values have been well maintained. Altogether, the Indiana farmer who has marketed his livestock through the Indianapolis yards has received, good prices for his stock and has enfl Joyed the privilege of knowing thaP a ready market existed for his offerings.