ONE FIVE WETTENGEL PAPERS IN OKLAHOMA SUCCESSOR THE RUSH SPRINGS LANDN Vol. 40 No. 9 Rush Springs, Oklahoma, Thursday, April 7, 1932 Wettengel Brothers, Publishers BUILDINGS VALUED AT $60,000 DESTROYED BY FIRE MONDAY AND TUESDAY 0 Fire Destroys Potato Storage April Fool PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE Grade School Building Burns Houses Here Tuesday Night Burn To Ground Within Two Hours Fire which started at 7:30 o'- clock Tuesday evening from an origin that has not been determined destroyed the two Rush Springs sweet potato storage houses owned by A. I. Stiles and W.
F. Dorman. The fire started in the south house owned by Stiles, and the high wind from the south quickly carried the fire to the house a few yards to the north, owned by Dorman, in spite of all efforts of the local fire department to extinguish it. Both buildings and their contents had burned to the ground within two hours. The buildings were of frame The original cost of the buildings and fixtures is estimated to been $14,000, and they were insured for $4,000.
Stiles also carried a $1,000 merchandise policy on potato baskets. The houses contained between 3,000 and 4,000 bushels of sweet potatoes that had been stored in them by growers, on which there W83 no insurance. Stiles had $600 or $700 worth of garden seed stored in his building, which was not insured. Stiles states that there were no fires in his building at any time Tuesday. No other buildings were endangered by the fire, as the cemetery is north of them.
The Marlow fire department was called, but said it would take them 15 or 20 minutes to arrive at the scene, and the speed with which the fire spread made it seem certain that they could have done nothing to save the buildings, so they decided it was best for them not to leave Marlow unprotected when they could be of little practical assistance here. Stiles constructed both buildings, and a few years ago sold the north one to Dorman, but when the fire tion with Dorman to regain occurred was engaged in court possession of it. All of the insurance was carried by Stiles. The Stiles storage house was entered by prowlers Monday night and a quantity of garden and flower seed taken. Underwood Is New School Board Clerk Announcement has been made of the resignation of R.
E. Dunn A9 clerk of the Rush Springs, board of education, which has been accepted. Claud Underwood ha3 been appointed by B. O. Lindsey, presient, and Louis Leverett, vice president, to succeed Dunn.
Dunn was elected clerk of the board in 1928, and re elected in 1931. He has been a valuable member, taking care of the duties of clerk in a conscientious manner, working always for the good of the schools. His resignation resulted from illness that has kept him a- way from his business and confined to his home during most of the past year. Underwood is 8 local mail carrier who also has demonstrated on many occasions that he has the welfare of the school and communIty at heart, and his appointment to succeed Dunn will no doubt meet with the approval of the patrons of the district. CATTLE SHIPMENT L.
W. Long had a shipment of 40 steers on the Oklahoma City market the first of the week, which averaged 1244 pounds and sold at $6.10 per hundredweight. See the Ford reel Thursday night, Friday night, and Saturday night, at the Home Theater. Mrs. Mary Walker, who has been 111 with influenza, is on the road to recovery.
Society. Sunday was April Fool's day for four Rush Springs ladies, members of a local ladies' quartet, who 1 had been requested several times by the management of the Central Oklahoma District Singing association to render a number on its convention program at Chickasha, Sunday afternoon. The joke of it is that while the ladies sat through the entire gram Sunday afternoon, they were never called on to perform, even after a Rush Springs gentleman had called the attention of the program announcer to the fact that they were present and ready to render their number! The ladies had practiced diligently for a week on the number they expected to render, and they were 60- much put out by the slight that they declare they'll never promise to take part in another convention program. But they'll probably get over that. The quartet is composed George Denton, Mrs.
Raymond Gibbs, Miss Alma Jane Randolph, and Mrs. Waldo Wettengel. A Rush Springs orchestra composed of Shaw Lindsey, Henry Combs and Lee Murphy played during the convention program Sunday, which was attended by quite a number of local people. COMMISSION CHAIRMAN IS VISITOR HERE TUESDAY Paul Walker, chairman of the state corporation commission was here on business for, the commission Tuesday. He' stated that a hearing will be held soon on this town's suit for 8 lower gas rate.
The commission's engineers, the one employed by the town, and those of the State Fuel Supply company have been making an appraisal of the gas compny's assets here this week, which will be used In the rate bearing. Local Lads Score High In Contests Word has been received that the Rush Springs F.F.A. boys tied the Yukon boys for first place in crop judging at the, Southwestern Judg-1 ing contest held at Comanche Friday, March 25. Comanche won the dairy judging contest. The three high teams in crop judging were Rush Springs with a score of 1698 out of 3 possible 1800, Comanche 1698, and Union City 1659.
The three high teams in dairy judging were Comanche, Yukon and Union City. Other teams entered in the contests were Grandfield, Chickasha and Temple, The local boys who ranked high in crop judging were Allen Cook with a score of 569, Joe Compton with 566, and Alton Savage with 563. The highest possible score was 600. The high scoring Rush Springs boys in dairy judging were Huston Cox with a score of 435, Spencer Bernard with 417, and Clifton Manning with 404. First Bulldogger Dies At Ponca City Bill Pickett, 72-year-old Negro cowboy, who Was the first man to do the steer-bulldogging stunt, died Saturday in a Ponca City hospital from injuries received while lassoing a horse in 8.
101 ranch corral recently. He originated the stunt in a Mexican bull fight arena in 1908. It 30 enraged the Mexicans when he jumped from his horse onto the steer and quickly threw it that they tried to do violence to him and members of the ranch show, with whom he was trouping. Mrs. Calloway was returned to her home three miles west of town Wednesday by a Callaway Mullican ambulance, from a Chickasha hospital where she had undergone 8 minor operation, Monday Morning; Loss Is Great STATION RWW BROADCASTING- This issue of the Gazette should have been printed on red paper; $60,000 worth of fire damage in 48 hours is something out of the ordinary for Rush Springs.
The old red demon left 113 alone for several months, but certainly has made up this week for his inac- It now is undoubtedly safe to wager that when Governor Murray becomes president he will loudly praise Lew Wentz for donating the salary he received while highway commissioner to the crippled children of Oklahoma. Just about the time that. Okla-, homa Democrats began to breathe easier in the belief that the sentiment for Wentz had died down considerably, along came something that again makes him the most dangerous Republican in the state if he ever chooses to run for ofrice. The school board now has a job before it that I don't envy. No ter what it doe3 it will be cussed.
If it uses the old bricks in the new building it will be cussed for going to all that expense. If it doesn't use them it will be cussed for -not providing work for the unemployed. I've heard it cussed right and left already, since the fire, for not hav-, ing grade school the rest of the term. The important thing for the rest of uS to do is to remember that the boys on the school board are plain, honest taxpayers, suffering during these times just as we are, doing their best, just as we would, for the good of the district. A mighty good rule to adopt just now in regard to the school board's activities during the coming months is to get all the facts before we criticise.
Too often criticism is based on false rumors and active imaginations. Now I'm going to speak right out in meetin'. Recently it was rumored that the chaperon of my Terrible Noisy Trio was "running" for school board member. We first heard about it at noon on school election day. There is something wrong with the head of any person who would "run" for that job, and it's hard to consider that rumor as anything but an insult.
I give you my word, there wasn't a thing to it. I wonder if everybody who cusses the school board actually knows that its members draw no salary? And dia you ever really know anyone who "ran" for that job and wasn't drafted? Believe me, when I get ready to "run" for an office it will be something like postmaster, so I'll get paid for being cussed. So look out for me, Mr. Coyle, if Roosevelt is elected! Back to seriousness again, for one, sincerely appreciate the work done by school board members. If they do something I don't like I'm going to them and talk it over in 8.
friendly way, -not howl about it to somebody else. They're human beings, working without pay for the rest of u3, and the fact that they have agreed to take care of the school's business with full knowledge that they have nothing to gain from it but the personal satisfaction of doing their duty to the best of their ability should make the rest of us withhold our criticism of them until we get the facts, and then take our suggestions directly to them instead of engaging In jeering gossip. Governor Murray finally ordered Lew Wentz out of office as highway commissioner, after itching to do (Continued on last page.) About A New Building Rush Springs people, now are interested in knowing what plans are being made for a new grade school building. It i is not necessary to state. that a new building will be erected befor the opening of the next term of school.
Most patrons are fearfully wondering if a bond issue will be necessary to erect a new building. In that connection, the first thing to consider 13 that the district will pay off $20,000 of its present bonded indebtedness next year. The next is that the district will no doubt receive in the neighborhood of $27,000 insurance: on the burned building. Therefore, it a bond issue becomes necessary, it will not result in a higher tax rate than patrons of this district now are paying. The old building cost about 000.
Win the $27,000 insurance money, and the present reduced cost of labor and materials, what bond issue may be necessary certainly will not be large- nothing near the $20,000 indebtedness that will be paid next year. And it is not belleved likely that taxpayers would pay taxes 011 such a new bond issue until after the aforementioned $20,000 indebtedness is retired. Members of the school board state that it is probable that they will call a mass meeting in the near future to frankly discuss the situation with the patrons. H. K.
Ellis Is In Treasurer Race H. K. Ellis of Chickasha was a visitor here this morning, and while here authorized the Gazette to announce his candidacy for county treasurer, subject to the Democratic primaries. He is a brother of H. P.
Ellis, who years ago was cashier of the First National bank here. Ellis made the following statement: "In making my announcement for the office of county treasurer of Grady county, I wish to give a short history of my life. I was born in Mississippi in 1872 and moved to Grayson county, Texas in 1882. where I served the people of that county as deputy sheriff for two years, resigning the position to accept one as a deputy in the county clerk's office, where I served for four years. While working in the clerk's office I acquired an interest in a grocery business which I sold in 1905 to move to Verden, Oklahoma.
There I was engaged in the grocery business until 1919, when I moved my business to Chickasha, where I established the Crescent grocery, which I sold in 1929. "As to my standing I am glad that I can refer those who care to know, to the people where I have lived and also to those with whom I have been associated in business. "As you are to select someone for this position I am earnestly soliciting your favorable consideration." 367 Gallons Whiskey Seized 3 Miles South Deputy sheriffs Jim Bond and Abe Evans and Constable Dan Williamson made a raid Saturday three miles south and a quarter east of Rush Springs, in which they seized 367 gallons of whiskey and arrested two men, D. Mobley and Wiley Mobley, who made bonds for $1,000 each Monday when they were arraigned before U. S.
Commissioner Cabeen at Chickasha. Bondsmen wre J. M. Pendley and W. E.
Cook. Term Closes For Pupils In Six Grades tivity. Governor Albert C. Ritchie of Maryland, who is a candidate for the Democratic nomination for president. On account of his strong stand for state's rights he will not have the support of the country's dry forces.
Drive For Jobs Is Begun By Legion A campaign that is backed by business men here and sponsored by the local post of the American Legion has been started to provide miscellaneous jobs for worthy unemployed persons in Rush Springs. A committee of Legion members will thoroughly canvass the town within the next few days to list work citizens need to have done. At this time of year most residents have a day or so of work that should be done, such as clearing up the premises, painting buildings, garden and yard work, miscellaneous repair work, and so forth. The Legion plan is to list this work, register the unemployed here, and gee that the work is done in a satisfactory manner at a very reasonable price. Unemployed persons may register with any member of the local Legion post or at the Gazette office, and the work listed will be distributed among those registered.
Further information about the cam may be found in the advertisem*nt elsewhere in this issue of the Gazette. RUSH CROQUET PLAYERS DEFEAT CHICKASHA, 3-1 Rush Springs croquet conquered a Chickasha team at that place last Thursday night, the 10- cal boys winning three games out of the four played. Those repre: senting this metropolis were Terrell Hutchens, Bill Pendley, W. M. Pendley, Graden Combs, Cayce Dunn, and Eddie Fox.
Caddo Agent Speaks At Growers' Meeting About 25 truck farmers heard E. A. Nutter, Caddo county agent, discuss "Tomato Growing," at the city hall Monday night. Nutter, substituting for County Agent J. B.
Hurst, who was unexpectedly called out of the county, gave some valuable information on tomato growing and other truck crops. The next meeting, Monday, April 11, will be used in discussing "Harvesting, Grading and Packing Truck Crops." A. Heilman, who had charge marketing of most of the local association's products last year, will discuss this subject. He states it is very essential that the crop be harvested, graded and handled in order to obtain the best prices, and it is hoped that a large group will attend his meeting. N.
E. Rowley may also show a film bearing on this subject. Besides the regular business and educational features of the last meeting the group discussed the possibility of exchanging products. Some farmer having 8 surplus of some product may exchange for the things he needs. After the meeting mung beans were traded for baled oats, watermelon seed and similar articles.
Fire of an undetermined origin. burned to the walls and the ground the of the Rush Springs two-story brick grade school building shortly after midnight Monday morning. The loss is estimated at between $35,000 and $40,000, of which $27,000 was covered by insurance. The fire, which was discovered at 1:45 Monday morning, was first seen burning through the roof from the attic near a flue on the south side of the building, a little east of the center door. The fire boys arrived on the scene with the fire truck within five minutes after the alarm was turned in, but the fire spread so rapidly to all parts of the building that nothing could be done to save anything inflammable within it.
A high wind from the southwest carried showers of sparks to the houses north of the burning building, and for some time concern was felt for their safety, but the strong brick walls of the school building stood throughout the fire and prevented the burning wood from being carried by the wind. Wires Had Been Cut There is one mysterious circ*mstance in connection with the conflagration. It was at first thought that the fire resulted from defective electric wiring, but R. J. Croy, local manager of the Southwestern Light Power company, who arrived at the scene on the fire truck, states that when he walked up to the building to cut the electric wires he found that those wires and the telephone wire had been cut.
No trace has been found of the person who cut the wires. The electric switch is in the high school building, and the fuse was not blown out. Croy states that if there had been a short in the wires the fuse undoubtedly would have blown out, cutting off the electricity in all the buildings before anything could have ignited. First Section Built in 1908 The main part of the grade school building, the east section, was built in 1908, at a cost of between $30,000 and $33,000. The walls of this section stood intact throughout the fire, only the north wall bowing to any noticeable degree.
The west section was built in 1916, at a cost of about $17,000. Parts of the walls in the newer section crumbled. Among the losses were a $150 library borrowed from the state library commission and an estimated 80 per cent of the children's books. The fire, coming as it did at the end of a six weeks' period, few of the pupils had taken any books home. Most of the report cards and some other records were saved, the teachers having them at their places of residence.
Six Grades Dismissed Superintendent E. E. Geeslin and the school board tried to make arrangements Monday to continue the grade school through the nine months' term, but they state it was found impossible to locate sufficient books they might borrow for the 350 children, and decided purchasing new books for the remaining six weeks would be an expense many parents could not afford. The children in the first six grades have been dismissed for the term. The seventh and eighth grades will be continued this week and next in a period of review to round out eight months of school, it having been decided that it was more important that those two grades complete their year's work than for any of the others.
Principal Windle is teaching the eighth grade and Mrs. Perry Estes the seventh, in the high school building. Mrs. Marjorie Cochran is substituting this week for Superinten(Continued on last page.).
