Herald and Review from Decatur, Illinois • Page 3

Saturday, August 13, 1938. PAGE THREE DECATUR HERALD CROWDS JAM DRY TAVERN ON OPENING NIGHT BLAZE WRECKS RESCREENING PLANT ivuiK snakes and lemonade were favorite beverages at A spectacular blaze early Friday morning wrecked the rescreening plant at the Macon County Coal company plant. The top photo shows the flames shooting high in the air. Below is a picture of the wrecked struc- '(Herald-Review photos) SELL SCHOOL BOND ISSUE ATPAR Davenport Concern Takes Paper at 2 Per Cent Interest The $125,000 bond issue for the gh school gymnasium-auditorium yesterday was sold to the White- Phillips Co. of Davenport Iowa, at par value on a 2 per cent interest rate.

The action was taken at a spe cial meeting of the board of education yesterday morning. William Harris, school superintendent said. The Decatur banks were offered the chance to meet the White-Phillips offer but declined. The rate of interest is the lowest Decatur school bonds have ever been sold, Mr. Harris said.

The previous low was 3 per cent. Board Saves $400 The bond issue for the building being constructed by WPA, was voted May 17 by a seven to one majority. The structure when completed will greatiy alleviate crowd-, ed conditions in the high school. Selling of the bonds at par value ill enable the board to save in the neighborhood of $400, Supt-. Harris said.

In this manner the board is not obligated for the cost of printing the bonds or other incidental expenditures. Retirement of the bonds will start in 1941. it was understood. Planned To Sell To Banks Board members had previously expressed themselves as being in favor of selling the bonds to the three Decatur banks if the interest rate offered by the local concerns pproximated offers of regular bonding companies. The offer of White-Phillips however, was fully one per cent lower than any other quoted.

It was understood the Iowa company was purchasing the bonds for immediate delivery to an unnamed buyer. The fact that the bonds are tax exempt was believed to be a factor. The federal government has been considering all future bond issues. Garfield Concession Returns $397 to Club Receipts of $397:73 from the con cession stand was reported in a meeting of the North Side Parents club in Garfield park last night. The concession has been open 43 nights during the summer season.

Mrs. Zola Heinz, who presided at the meeting last night, said that part of the receipts had been spent for soft ball masks, for handicraft materials for classes at the park and in the erection of a permanent concession building at Garfield avenue and Broadway. The club voted $10 for prizes in contests to be given the children on the closing night, 20. Com mittees on arrangements for the program were named and are Joe Oglesby, chairman, assisted by Mrs. Ruth Johnson, Mrs.

Ada Bun- dy, Mrs. Mabel Carter, John Wil liams. Rosa McMorris and Bernie PoweU. Arlie Holmes, Ancil Younger and Mrs. Dorothy Cutler were named on the nominating committee for officers for the next year, the election to be held the first Friday in September.

Ice Fund Totals $875; $150 Needed to Sept 1 Donations totaling $6.38 yester day brought the Salvation Army's Penny Ice fund to $875.38. Brigadier W. R. Conway reported last night An additional $150 will be needed to continue the project to Sept. 1, the scheduled closing date.

Brigadier Conway said. During the re cent hot weather daily delieveries totaled five tons. Latest contributors are: Leo Hayes. Mecca Shrine, A Friend. Iron dog at he Minois-Iowa Power office, Young Married People's Bible class.

First Baptist church, $3 and Group First Baptist church, $2. Police Tell How Youth Helped Catch Criminals Don Eberle, Dennis school pupil living at 132 Park place, aided Decatur police in capturing two fugitive criminals last week, it was revealed yesterday. Young Eberle working at his pop stand near his home di rected Woodrow and Russell Fer-rell, of Elgin, who had stolen a car in Kane county, to a grocery store. Police, investigating, asked the boy if he had seen the men and he directed the officers to the' store on South McClellan avenue. Schmeling, Louis Show- Wins Puppetry Tourney Scovill playground won the fi nals of the puppetry tournament held under the direction of the Recreation board with a portrayal of the Schmeling-Louis fight, it was announced last night by Freda Combs, assistant superintendent of KOPENS NEGOTIATIONS FOR SITE Meet With I.

T. S. Officials, Henson; Board Meets Monday Officials of Decatur taxing bod- jes seeking site property to extend she County building across South Water street, opened negotiations Friday with owners of the Illinois Terminal property and the Henson building. Acting Mayor Walter E. Hugh announced last night.

Mr. Rugh declined to announce oegotiating prices of the land but said the bargaining will be contin- city hall that owners are asking 5,000 for the Henson building. County Gets Proposal Officials of the city, sanitary district, park board, school board, and Decatur township, delivered their civic center site proposal to the county Friday. County Chairman Harry Shambaugh ordered a special meeting of the board of supervisors at 9 a. m.

Monday to ratify the proposal and agreement. Notices for the county board meeting were mailed out last night by County Clerk Laurence Tangney. The proposal submitted to the county yesterday was worked out in a joint meeting of all county and city governmental units Thursday nieht and orovides that the county shall submit a supplementary application to the PWA for a grant to aid the Decatur taxing units in the purchase of site property. Plan New Application County officials and members of the county building committee belief the board will approve the proposal of the city and lownsmp Taxing units. The county committee also will esk the board to empower it to submit a supplementary application to the PWA immediately.

Architects will then be instructed to proceed with final floor plans for the building, and make provision for the city and other governmental units. Funeral Rites Sunday For Mrs. Ida Cloney, 69 Funeral services for Mrs. Ida Bell Cloney, 69. widow of J.

J. Cloney, who died at 6:05 a. yesterday in her home, 504 South Crea street will be held at 2:30 p. tomorrow in the Dawson Wikoff funeral home. Burial will be in Salem cemetery.

Friends may call at the chapel. Born in South Wheatland township. Oct. 14, 1868, Irs. Cloney was married near tiwin to Joseph J.

Cloney. He died June 16, 1932. She leaves three sons. Earl, of Decatur, Homer, of Elwin, and Walter Cloney of Springfield and cne daughter, Mrs. Bonnie Johnson Decatur.

There are two brothers. Charles Lowery, Dayton, Ohio, and George Lowery, Newkirk, Ohio, also two grandchildren. Young Negro 'Dreamer' Taken to Boys' School Alex Facin, Negro youth who has been a problem for police for many months, yesterday was taken to St. Charles School for Boys at St. Charles by Sheriff Emery Thornell.

The boy frequently was found wandering on Decatur streets late at night, and occasionally told police fantastic stories of crimes he had seen committed. Investigation usually disclosed there was no foundation for his yarns. He was entered in the state school for boys as a delinquent child. 1928 D. H.

S. Graduates To Hold Reunion Sunday Members of the Decatur high school class of 1928 and their families will assemble for a reunion at noon Sunday, Aug. 28, at the north side of Fairview park, Mary Novellino. general chairman, stated last night. Games and prize contests are scheduled to follow a picnic dinner which will be served at 1 p.

m. Each class member is requested to bring sandwiches and a dish, with table service for himself and family. $45,576 Villa Grove Street Grant Allotted Presidential approval of allocation of $45,576 in federal funds for a street improvement project at Villa Grove, Douglas county, was received here yesterday by Decatur district officials. The work will emnloy 72 men for 12 months. Also approved by the President was expenditure of $6,497 for a similar project at Camargo, Douglas countv.

The Camargo project will employ 18 men for seven months. Son of Wayne Williams Becomes College Pastor Rev Dan Williams, of Denver. son of Wayne C. Williams, formerly of Decatur, has been appointed to the faculty of Colorado college, at Colorado Springs. Colo.

He will be dean of the college chapel and will teach courses in religion. His father, Wayne Williams, formerly attorney general in Colorado, is now assistant to the U. attorney general at Washington, D- C. BLAME WIRING FOR MINE FIRE Rescreening Plant to Be Rebuilt; Resume Work Tuesday Defective wiring leading to an electric motor was blamed yesterday by Fire Chief Will Piatt for the midnight fire at the Macon County Coal Co. which destroyed the rescreening plant.

Although the plant was no' in op eration at the time of the fire. Chief Piatt's investigation of the blaze indicated that the current was on and that electric sparks started the fire. He did not know the location of the switch governing the flow of electricity to the motor. D. W.

Beggs, manager, revised his estimate of the loss to the plant to $10,000 after surveying the dam age Friday morning. He said that the loss was covered by insurance His first estimate of a $35,000 to $50,000 loss was based on the as sumption that motors in the plant were a total loss. Plans for rebuilding the re screening plant were underway Friday. Mr. -Beggs said last night that reopening of the mine next Tuesday would not be affected by the destruction of the rescreening plant, as the mine had another one that could be used.

Thomas Abrams, deputy state fire marshal, was a spectator at the fire and said last night that Decatur firemen should be praised for their efficient handling of the blaze which kept it from spread ing to the tipple. He made no in vestigation. LACK OF OXYGEN KILLS FAIRVIEW PARK LAKE FISH Decatur park district employes, headed by Joe Frazier, superinten dent, last night thought they had solved the mystery surrounding the death of approximately 40 fish in the Fairview park pool. The death of the fish, including bass, crappie and catfish, probably was due to a lack of oxygen in the water, Mr. Frazier said.

"Water under some conditions will 'turn over' with the water on the bottom of the pool going to the top and that on top, con taining a minimum of oxygen, to the bottom," he explained. This is what caused the death of the fish, Frazier believes. To create additional oxygen in the water, park employes yesterday afternoon poured a quantity of salt into the pool. Of the dead fish, one of each species was sent to the Natural History Survey at the University of Illinois and the remainder buried. Four Dewitt Teachers Pass State Examination By Staff Correspondent CLINTON Mrs.

May Porter, county superintendent of schools, received word from Springfield Friday that the four Dewitt county teachers who wrote on the teachers' examinations July 14 and 15, had received passing grades. All have schools for this term. The superintendent said it was unusual for all who wrote to receive a passing grade. Name Mine Inspector To Plug Oil Well Here Decision to plug the oil well near Bearsdale Wednesday demanded the services, of a county mine inspector. Investigation disclosed Macon county had no mine inspector, the office having been abolished several years ago.

Harry Shambaugh, county board chairman, appointed P. R. Beggs as temporary inspector to see that the well is capped in proper manner. Thieves Take Radio In Dalton City Robbery Thieves broke into a Dalton City filling station operated by Ed Hous sometime Thursday night according to a report received by Sheriff Emery Thornell Friday. They took 24 quarts of oil.

a radio, a box of tobacco, and 15 gallons of gasoline. The property is owned by Mrs. Gertie Manship. 0. B.

Wilson, Former Policeman Here, Dies O. B. Wilson, 57, who served seven -years on the Decatur police force under Chief Herman W. Koeppe, died at his home in Clinton, at 3 p. m.

Thursday, according to word received here by his sister, Mrs. J. H. Sanderlin, 724 East Lawrence street. WITH THE SICK Mrs.

George Blue, 1595 North Church street, was reported recovering yesterday in St. Mary's hospi tal, where she underwent a major operation Thursday. She is un able to receive visitors. Betty Sallee, WPA switchboard operator, will undergo a major op eration today in the Decatur Macon county hospital. Mrs.

Earl Reiter, wife of a Ma con county deputy sheriff, under went a major operation in St Mary's hospital Friday. Last night she was reported as "resting easily." 9- Betty Barker, Gus Spaeth enjoy rhythms of dance band. Decatur's dry tavern. groups than usually seen at enter tainment places of this kind. Patrons were predominantly of high school age, but there were many perspns present who were more than twice that age.

Probably no less than 1,000 per sons visited the place during the evening, many of them being served in their cars. Obviously many of those who stopped at the inn were merely curious. C. Roy Evans is the owner of the business, which is located at the north approach to the Lost bridge TAX WRIT GRANTED Terminal Railway Gets Temporary Injunction Temporary writ of injunction re straining 15 Illinois counts, in eluding Macon, from attempting to collect 1937 taxes from the Illinois Terminal Railway Co. was issued yesterday by Circuit Judge L.

E.j Stone of Sangamon county. The writ is returnable for hear ing Sept. 12 before Judge Stone who at the same time will hear the corporation's plea for a per manent injunction. In Macon county the railroad has already paid about 62 per cent of its first instalment taxes, amounting to approximately 000. The remainder of the amount, approximately $6,000 is being withheld by the corporation and a simi lar amount will probably be with held from the second instalment payments due Sept.

1. One of five attorneys fighting the case for the 15 counties will be Roy B. Foster, assistant state's attorney of Macon county. Others who will work on the case are William B. Roberts, Sangamon; L.

G. George, Madison? Charles McEl- wer, Peoria, and Michael F. Sey-fret, Macoupin. Counties affected by the re straining order in addition to Macon are: Dewitt, Champaign, Jersey, Logan, Macoupin, Madison, McLean, Montgomery, Peoria, Pi att, Sangamon, St. Clair, Tazewell and Vermilion.

teen-age lads riding power scooters. But it was only for a short time. The boys had no sooner begun to enjoy the sensation of zooming over the course's rolling fairways until a park employe at the wheel of a careening truck set out in pursuit After a chase of several minutes the two scooter riders were flagged down and escorted off the course. Crowd Jams Dry Tavern For Opening Decatur's first liquorless tavern. the Anchor Inn, which opened last night in the old Nightingale club with a dance band and floor show, was given an enthusiastic reception by a more than capacity crowd.

The tavern has been indorsed by the Decatur Church council. By 8:30 p. approximately 50 cars had iUed available parking space at the inn, and later arrivals were forced to park alone the old Lost Bridge road. Jack Price's orchestra furnished music for dancing and the floor show opened at 9:30 p. accordion numbers by Miss Cora Henson.

Other floor acts included a song and tap dancing by Miss Antoinette Karelas and juggling by P. J. Wilson. Miriam Nash Floor Manager Miss Miriam Nash, president of the Decatur Christian Youth council, was floor manager for the evening and announced the various acts. "This enterprise is one of the most worthwhile projects started here in a long time," Miss Nash declared last night.

Jack Price and his orchestra will play again tonight, Roy Ball, operator of the inn, announced last night. "After that it's up to the crowd. Lots of the young folks like his music and if they want him here, we'll keep him on. There always will be plenty of entertainment," the proprietor asserted. Root beer, drawn from an imposing keg on the counter, seemed to be the favorite beverage of the patrons.

Hamburgers and milk shakes sre specialties of the place, the proprietor indicated. Dance Floor Large More floor space in proportion to the size of the building is set aside for dancing than in practically any other establishment in the county. An electric phonograph has been installed to furnish music for pa trons at times when there is no orchestra. The entertainment place is spon ARMY PLANS FREE CAMP Three-Day Outing to Start Monday Approximately 100 Salvation Army young people, members of the organization's Character Building groups, will take part in a free, three-day outing at Camp Kiwanis starting Monday, Army leaders said last night. The camp, to be under the direction of Mrs.

W. R. Conway, is the first of its type to be sponsored in Decatur by the Salvation Army. Leaders of the organization hope to make it an annual event. Assisting Mrs.

Conway as director will be Mrs. Thelma Erlen-busch. Other leaders include Mrs. Finita Gallagher, Mrs. Ruth High.

Mrs. Billie Wikle, Mary Marches-chi, Charles Cassidy and Mr. and Mrs. Harry Armitage. 30 Attend Dinner of Royal Arcanum Society Thirty charter members of a proposed Decatur chapter of the Royal Arcanum, young businessmen's organization, last night attended a dinner meeting in Harristown, according to Harold Brintlinger, temporary chairman of the group.

Don T. Swain of New York City, assistant to supreme vice regent and Joseph Perry of Chicago, grand regent, were present for the meeting. "The council here will not be formally organized until 50 members have been secured," Mr. Brintlinger said last night TO CHECKER MEET Guy Hawkins, 1019 West Macon street, and his son, Guy Curtis Hawkins, 16, will attend a combined picnic and checker tour nament in Salem Sunday, given by the State and Dorwnstate Checker associations. ture.

County Gets 16 Million InU.S. Funds Federal funds toaling $15,958,585 of which $9,352,568 were outright grants have been expended in Macon county during the two years and one half ending Dec. 31. 1937. according to figures released yesterday by the Illinois National Emergency Council.

The repayable funds included various loans and allotments under PWA. FHA and other government agencies. Total funds loaned under the FHA was $1,514,518. Principal items in the none-re-oayable list included: WPA federal emergency relief ad4 ministration, AAA rental and benefit payments, $1,020,105: CWA $755,827 and social security board $273,437. The list of repayable grants includes $2,547,262 in land bank and commissioner loans; $2,033,873 in home owner's loan corporation loans and PWA.

$354,201. Expenditures of CCC. bureau of public roads, 1937 SCS payments, loans of the commodity credit corporation and production credit association are not available upon a county wide basis. Paddle Tennis Tourney Winners Are Selected Winners in the finals of paddle tennis" last tournament of the summer playground season, were announced last night by Russell Hoendorf, supervisor of athletics. Donald Creager and Marvin Oglesby.

Northside, won the senior boys' division. In the junior boys division, Walter Billerman and Herbert Milligan, Jasper play ground, -were first, and Jack March and David Rodrick from Garfield made up the second place team. Senior girls division winners were Alice Hudson and Jean Can non, of Garfield. In the junior bracket, Garfield's team composed of Audrey Neal and Clella HarUey took top honors. Open Oreana-Oakley Roads Bids Aug.

19 Bids for spreading a bituminous mat surface on five and one-fourth miles of county highway extending north from Oakley to a point east of Oreana will be opened Aug. 19 by the county highway committee The road was graveled two ago and now has a traffic-bound surface, it was said in the office of Alan N. Buck, county superintend ent of highways. The bituminous mix top will be 18 feet wide with six-foot earth shoulders. BOARD MEETS TOMORROW Board of directors of the Macon County Dairy Herd Improvement association will meet at 1:30 p.

m. tomorrow to plan a tour cf some of the dairy farms enrolled in the organization. The tour is scheduled for Aug. 26. CUT VALUE OF MANSION Downtown Owners Enter Protests Macon county board of review clashed the assessed valuation on the old Powers mansion.

357 West Decatur street to $7,500 Friday The valuation was formerly $14,000 Chairman Harry Shambaugh of the board reported the valuation on the land was set at $3,200, and S4.300 for the improvements. The reductions were ordered after com plaint was made by C. N. Gorham agent for John F. Weiser, Cleveland banker.

The assessed valuation is set at one-half the total value, indicating the board believe the Powers man sion to be worth only $15,000. The mansion was built 29 years ago at reported cost of $80,000. Mr. Gorham last year said the property could be bought for $25,000. His real estate firm now is offering the mansion for sale at $13,500.

Mr. Weisner came into posses sion of the property in satisfaction of a deficiency judgment granted in liquidation of indebtedness upon Florida real estate. First assessment complaints in volving downtown Decatur business properties have reached the board during the last two days. A large number of complaints of this char acter are expected in view of the supreme court decision several months ago ordering 50 per cent reduction of the valuation of group of buildings in the vipinity of Merchant street and the 100 block East Main street. List Complaints.

Among the owners of business properties who have filed com plaints are R. DuFay and Richard Jay Montgomery, the estate of H. Spotts. Mrs. John Spotts, J.

P. Smallwood estate and Neustadt Sons. Accountants' Tourney Won by David Jones David Jones of Murphey, Nash Jones, won the golf tournament which featured the all-day meet ing of the recently organized Central Illinois chapter the National Association of Cost Accountants. R. V.

Hopkins, of the Williams Oil-O-Matic Bloom ington, placed second and C. Clark, Sangamon Electric Co. Springfield, third. Trophies which were to have been presented at last night's session failed to arrive and will be awarded later. PICNIC TODAY Annual picnic of the East Park Baptist Sunday school will be held Saturday at 2 p.

m. in Fairview park. LOCAL NOTICES Dance tonite Macon, half half. Ladies 10c. Gents 25c.

and Hlini Dance Tonight, Lee Home-brook Orchestra, 25c. sored by the Decatur Church council, but that organization has no financial interest in it, E. J. Muf-fley, president of the council, stated last night. "The council was given the opportunity to run the enterprise, but we did not want to get into business in competition with other businesses." Mr.

Muffley said. Ministers Attend Opening Several Decatur ministers and church leaders were present for the In general, the crowd was made up of more diverse age Along The Newsfront Short Shots From Herald Reporters' Scribblings George Nalefski, bailiff of the circuit court, invited guests to supper Thursday night and then went fishing as soon as he finished his meal. Commissioner Ralph G. Long is attending a credit union directors meeting at Madison, Wis. Mr.

Long will return Sunday. The task of making copies of the proposed agreement between the county and Decatur taxing bodies on the new County building was too big for office help in the state's attorney's office Friday and Eliza beth Jones moved to the auditor's office to secure help. Pedestrians along North Franklin street at 3:15 p. m. yesterday heard the flapping rumble of a truck running on a flat tire.

Closer scrut iny proved that the red truck had not merely one flat tire but two Lettering on the side cf the rum bling machine proclaimed that it belonged to the A. E. Tire of 629 East Eldorado. Robert Thornell, son of Sheriff Emery Thornell, Deputy Ed Doyle and Oral Davis will be among those leaving this morning to witness a baseball game between the Decatur Grays and a nine representing Chester penitentiary. On the request of Lawrence Hey- nen, manager of the Grays, Sheriff Thornell made arrangements for the game with the penitentiary officials The game is creating considerable interest among Decatur baseball fans and "Bob" Thornell has prom ised to bring back the lineup of the prison team.

Golfers at Nelson parR were treated to a new type hazard yesterday morning in the person of two recreation. Torrence placed second with an original puppet play, and Warren playground was third. GETS PACKAGE LICENSE A package store liquor license was issued Friday to Fred Frees to operate a store at 744 East Eldorado street, Charles P. Housum, license investigator, announced. The new license brought thA oitv'c tic rtf lipCTtcri narlraff stores to 10..