The Mail-Journal, Volume 20, Number 3, Milford, Kosciusko County, 2 February 1983 — Page 1

Phones: ‘t 1 T 11& 25 c Consolidation of THE MILFORD MAIL (Est. 1888) and THE SYRACUSE - WAWASEE JOURNAL (Est. 1907)

VOLUME 29

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HILER AT NORTH WEBSTER — Third District Congressman John Hiler held a town meeting on Saturday morning in the North Webster Fire Station. There were 20 persons attending. Hiler was asked about decontrol on natural gas, the 10 per cent tax on savings and increase for federal employees. Hiler also answered questions concerning federal revenue money, how many people were on his staff and assisted several people with problems with the federal government, such as the food stamp program and small business administration. (Photo by Deb Fox)

Natural gas, taxes, pay increase Hiler topics

By DEB FOX Third District Congressman John Hiler was in North Webster on Saturday to hold his first town meeting in the area. There were approximately 20 constituents present with the main topics of discussion being decontrol and control on natural gas. the proposed tax equity and fiscal responsibility act of 1982, and the recent pay increase approved by Congress. Explaining why the government authorized the purchase of ' foreign gas and closing down less expensive domestic gas, Hiler stated, “It all started years ago, when they decontrolled they should have decontrolled all gas,” remarked Hiler. Commenting on the decision Friday, Jan. 28, by the government, Hiler stated it was because the Pipeline Company had entered into a contract with Algeria and those contracts could not be broken. He remarked it costs three to four times as much to drill for natural gas 15,000 feet deep than it does at 5,000 feet, but the incentive has been to drill for the deep gas, even with a partical control on deep gas. Hiler feels the law was structured wrong when the controls were put on and those laws on control and decontrolled gas need to be changed. “I don’t think anything will happen this year,” remarked Hiler who added he did not think the current

Search of old classifieds reveal interesting facts

With the recent changes on The Mail-Journal’s classified pages, our reporters decided to check on ads which appeared in back issues of both the Syracuse and Milford newspapers. A search of old issues at the libraries in the two communities revealed the sought after information. Ads at the turn of the century were different than the advertisements of today — most were from businesses, listing services. Garage sales were unheard of events. January 2, 1896, was the date of the earliest classifieds found. They appeared in The Milford Mail, not under a classified head but under the business personals. One ad read: Wanted — 2,000 cords of wood, green and dry. Schafer & Brown. Both business and personal ads were found in the 1896 issues of the Syracuse Register, a forerunner of The Syracuse-Wawasee Journal. On September 24, 1896, the following ad was printed: We respectifully invite you Esaus to come in and see us. We will treat you right and give you a good shave for 10c. Haircut 20c. At Kindig’s old stand. Yours for good work, Chas. Bachman. Taken up — One male hog, weight about 100 pounds owner can have same by calling on Jerry

action would effect those in the Lakeland area. In answering a question about natural gas vs fuel oil, and the monopoly of natural gas, Hiler stated the problem in the production of energy is the production of oil at the well head, which is one of the most com petitive businesses. He went back to 1954 when the control on price and demand went up with the incentives aimed at the oil companies purchasing foreign import oil, since there was no control on import oil. By the mid 19705, according to Hiler, over 50 per cent of the oil was from OPEC. When the government started decontrolling domestic petroleum, approximately 1982, the price of imported gas went up to where the controlled and decontrolled gas prices hit and started falling. “Most of the problem is price of energy laws we’ve written in an effort to protect consumers. It’s very difficult to put a control price on commodity’s to meet the price and demand. We have to be very concerned.” 10 Per Cent Tax “We re getting taxed enough without having it put on our savings,” commented one of the meeting goers who brought up the question concerning the 10 per cent tax on savings as part of the 1982 tax reform bill. Hiler remarked he voted against the bill and explained

Fackler and paying damages. This ad appeared in The Register on October 1,1896. Prices too proved interesting. An ad which was placed in the January 4,1900, issue of The Milford Mail reads: Hindo Headache Cure, 15 cures, 10 cents. Milford Drug Co. History of the communities also comes to light through the classifieds. The May 28, 1908, Syracuse Journal carried ads for Viers and Syracuse Electric Tablet Co. The ads reveal the town also had two drugstores and one bank at that time. They follow: Eyeglasses in smoke and blue colors at Viers. Electric Cathartic Tables 25 cts. ZA-MIA pile Cure 50 cts., at either drug store or at our office over the bank. Money refunded if not satisfied. SYRACUSE ELECTRIC TABLET CO. News papers got in the act too, taking advantage of the space in their papers. One ad sought wood. Why? We don't know.

there are a lot of exclusions in the law giving examples of: over 65. have below $l5O of interest, the amount of income you expect to pay, and so on. He stated he received 3,000 complaints about the tax in one week, 5,000 in two weeks. He explained that the department of treasurer submitted the amount of income from dividends and interest not reported and came up with away to get it reported by instituting a withholding tax. The Internal Revenue Service personnel feels if this is done the possible $4 billion not reported would be paid. To implement this program, if passed, would cost the IRS $l- - billion. “A billion dollar loss to the IRS for implementing is incredibly bureaucracy. The IRS has the information already on dividend and interest people get already, ” was one comment from a concerned citizen. Hiler said there were 23 pieces of legislature to repeal the bill and stated he has not cosponsored any of these but wants to look at each one closely. He added he is not sure it would be repealed because Tip O’Neal, Speaker of the House and Senator Howard Baker, do not want it repealed. “I’ll work to get rid of it,” stated Hiler. Pay Increase To set the record straight. Hiler stated he voted against a 7 pay

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2,1983

increase for himself, adding that the news media misrepresented what happened before the House. He went on to explain anytime a cap comes off for pay increases they get the full amount of increase, which recently totaled 27.2 per cent. From 1979 until now Congress had capped its pay while the others in the government went up. “When the bill came before the House, the bill said the cap be removed, but it had two amendments. One in lieu of the 27.2 per cent Congress accept an increase of 15 per cent. Hiler voted for this. If you voted for that you voted for the 15 per cent increase and if you didn’t you were in favor of the 27.2 per cent increase. However, Hiler mentioned five minutes later another vote was taken on the second amendment which stated in lieu of the 15 per cent increase the cap be put back on. The outcome was a 208-208 vote, killing the amendment. Hiler voted to cap the pay increase. He remarked his salary as of December 18 was $69,000 a year and he was asked how many “secretaries,” he had. Hiler stated he had 13 people working for him, both in Washington and in Indiana, adding he would not, consider them as ‘ secretaries. ” / Hiler added he is allowed to have 15 people, but has cut his staff. He continued he could cut his staff down to five but the (Continued on page 2 >

An interesting ad in the November 15,1900, Milford Mail sought wood for the newspaper. Wood is used in newsprint but even in 1900, newspapers did not make their, own newsprint, maybe they used it to heat their building, If anyone knows we would appreciate hearing from our readers on this one. The ad follows: 1 Wood Wanted If you expect to pay subscription to the Mail in wood, you should bring it in soon. Now is when we need this commodity, and you will confer a favor upon us by bringing it in now. Early ads in both papers were not limited to classified pages. They were found on the front page and on pages four or five. On September 17, 1908. an ad in The Syracuse Journal sought a home for two boys. It read: Wanted: Home for two boys — one 13 and the other 9 years old. Would prefer country homes with Christian people. Inquire of the JOURNAL. As the years passed people found more and more uses for the classifieds. Lost — Between town and Shaffer’s residence, a black pocketbook. A suitable reward will be paid if left at The Mail office, reads a Milford Mail ad on December 23,1915.

fire truck parts come from Dana

What could have been a major problem for the Syracuse Fire Department was averted with the help of Dana Corporation. According to Robert (“Hap”) and Doug Ruch, Dana Corporation recently supplied and assembled parts for a fire truck and donated them to the department. It all started around the middle of January when Ruch Mobil Service, Inc., Milford, was contacted concerning a fire truck problem. It was found two axle shafts in the rear differential Robert Rater dies when car slips off blocks Robert A. Rater, 48, r 1 box 70D Milford, was pronounced dead on arrival at Kosciusko Community Hospital Tuesday evening after being taken there by the Milford Emergency Medical Service. Rater was changing a transmission in a car at his home on CRIOOE, with the help of his son-in-law, Terry Nine, when the car slipped off the blocks which were holding it and pinned him under the car. Nine and his father-in-law were putting the transmission back in the car when it slipped from the blocks. When the car fell on Rater, his son-in-law yelled for help and the Milford EMS was called at 5:58 p.m. When the EMS arrived the car had been jacked up and they transported the patient to the hospital where he was r pronounced dead on an ival. Funeral arrangements were imavailable at press time. Augsburgor's to expand John B. Augsburger, president of Augsburger’s Super Valu, announced plans for a major expansion at the North Webster store. Plans call for a 5,000 square foot addition which will include a new bakery and delicatessen. They will also add new equipment and shelving for a larger variety of groceries, frozen, dairy, produce, meat and nonfood items. Completion is scheduled for later this year. Other changes scheduled for both of Augsburger’s locations (North Webster and Syracuse) include electronic scanning for more accurate and faster check out service. Because of other savings derived from scanning, Augsburger’s will be phasing in the “Price Stopper” program, a major new discount pricing policy. Augsburger’s will continue to offer their senior citizen discount and double coupon program along with new discount pricing structure. Augsburger also announced the store will be open 24 hours a day beginning early this spring and all stocking will be completed at night to make shopping during busier days more convenient.

were broken on a 1970 Dodge pick-up four-wheel drive truck. Chrysler Corporation was contacted. The wrong parts were received. Later it was found the necessary parts were obsolete. Joe Anderson, fire chief, was contacted. A decision on what to do would have to be made. Finally Dana was contacted and agreed to supply the internal parts. Dick Rice, Syraucse plant manager who was instrumental in helping out, stated it was a matter of changing the different gears, putting two new axles on the old truck, coming up with a new spline and using a substitute shaft. Rice stated it was all “minor repairs,” but to the fire department it was a “major repair.” All of the work was done at Dana’s Sample Office in Fort Wayne and Ruch Service took care of the removal of the old system, installation of the assembly and trips to Fort Wayne. The cost of Dana’s contribution, according to Rice, was around S2OO.

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HONORARY WARRIOR — Wawasee High School is pleased to announce that Jeanne Gardiner of Syracuse has been presented the special Honorary Warrior Award. The Honorary Warrior Award is presented to a citizen of the community who is not employed by the Lakeland Community School Corporation and is based on that person’s contributions to Wawasee High School. Jeanne is employed at the State Bank of Syracuse and is the president of the Vocational Secretarial Office Laboratory Advisory Committee at Wawasee. She recently coordinated the drive for donations from businesses to help purchase a word processor for business students’ training. Because of her efforts, the students in the secretarial office lab will have the opportunity to be better prepared for employment by receiving this training. Pictured above are: Pat Huber, business teacher at Wawasee; Jeanne Gardiner: and Dr. Howard Hull. Wawasee High School principal. ( Photo by Gail Widmoyer >

Local news items drew classifieds for a time. It was popular even a few years back to have your classified ad placed in the locals instead of in the classified section. Most papers have not abandoned this policy although a few still allow such placement. Local news items also drew advertisers for a time. On January 7, 1937, want ads were taken out of local columns and were put together in The Syracue and , Lake Wawasee Journal. By the March 25 issue, when the newspaper was in its 33rd year, all want ads were placed under a heading towards the back of the paper. The Milfdord Mail’s ads were not classified until the August 10, 1939, issue. A heading in the August 3 edition “classified department" was found over out of state ads. By December of 1940 classified advertising had increaseed. People stopped using their names and included telephone numbers instead. One ad read: For Sale — One pair of white sho skates, size 2 — like new. Call telephone 7 Prices of classifieds were first found in The

Anderson said the small truck is very essential to the fire department, noting, “It’s a piece of equipment we can’t do without.” s The truck is used at grass fires, accidents, setting up relays with

Kiwanians hold telethon

The Wawasee Kiwanis Club held a local telethon on Saturday, Jan. 22, starting at II: 30 p.m. and continuing until 7 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 23. The telethon was in conjunction with the National Week End With The Stars telethon that was aired on over 120 stations coast to coast and in Canada. This was United Cerebral Palsy's fifth national network broadcast to raise funds and inform the public about Cerebral Palsy. Last year UCP realized more than 16 million dollars from viewer pledges and sponsor contributions. The local telethon center was set up at the State Bank of

Syracuse-Wawasee Journal in 1943 and in The Milford Mail on August 3, 1944. The price: one cent per word with a 25 cent minimum. The classifieds were put under headings in The Syracuse-Wawasee Journal in 1944. In August of 1959 a tabloid paper was published in Syracuse and a complete section of classifieds was found under the heading of Wawasee Store News. In one issue, four pages of advertising, classifieds, etc., were found. At the close of the 1950 s the style of classified ads changed tremendously with all ads being put together to make it easier for the reader to find. Twenty years ago, in January of 1963. The Syracuse-Wawasee Journal and The Milford Mail were consolidated and the newspaper was named The MailJournal. Ads which appeared after the merging of the newspapers were in a section at the back of the paper. Looking at classified advertisements in old issues is like taking a step back in the history of the community — it’s fun, it’s educational and it can be rewarding. Readers who have a few minutes to spare should pay a visit to one of the libraries in the community and check out the classified ads around the turn of the century — what you find might be surprising.

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the other trucks in pumping water and pumping water from the lake. And, in the case of the 1978 blizzard, it was used extensively to take groceries, medication and other necessities to those snowed in.

Syracuse and a total of 26 members of the Wawasee Kiwanis Club manned the telephones during the 20 hours that the show was on the air. A |Otal of $253 in pledges was received from Wawasee area residents during the telethon. Channel 21 in Fort Wayne was the local headquarters of the telethon. Funds raised on the telethon will go to support research and community services for cerebral palsy, the disabling condition affecting 700,000 American men, women and children Os the proceeds collected, 75 per cent will remain locally for support of the agency’s services (Continued on page 2)