ARCHIVESNOV15

YEARS GONE BY
ARCHIVES

The Call of November 12, 1915

BOROUGH DADS HAD MONTHLY MEETING

The monthly meeting of Town Council was held Monday evening of this week.
A discussion was held to notify the fire chief of the fire department to have all the old hose of the three companies properly
repaired. The repairing of the old fire hose will greatly increase the efficiency of the fire department as it will give each company a
greater amount of fire hose fit for service. At present considerable hose is almost useless because of worn out gaskets or gum
bands in the couplings which are worn out and cause much leaking. A controversy arose over the repairing of these gaskets about a
year ago and although the hose companies had at the time been instructed to take the hose to a Mr. Crossley who was to repair
them, the request was not complied with by the companies and the hose never repaired. This year the matter has been placed solely
up to the fire chief and he is to use his own discretion in having the hose placed in proper order.
The matter of compelling persons to make pavements who have been notified to do so a number of times by the Burgess but failed
to comply with the notices. It was stated the ordinance in cases of this kind covers the matter fully. That it is up to the chief burgess
to go ahead and make the pavement and collect from the property owner. It was stated the Burgess had failed to do this. Instances
were given where every property owner on certain streets had made pavement excepting possibly one or two and because these
one or two property owners refused to make pavement, everybody on the street was compelled to walk through mud and dirt at
these properties without pavement. Examples were given where the condition has existed for two years. A lengthy discussion was
held by the council.
Solicitor Noecker stated that the Dock Street church paving cases which had been decided against the borough early in summer
would now have to be taken up if the borough decided to do anything in the matter. The case is the outgrowth of liens filed against
the Episcopal and Trinity Evangelical churches for the amount of the Dock Street paving bills. These tow churches refused to pay
and the matter was brought to court. The court decided the churches could not be assessed for street improvements for the ground
upon which the church stood. The balance of the church property could be assessed and the paving bill paid for. The amount of the
two liens still owing is about two hundred dollars. At the time of the decision by the county court, council thought best to wait and
see whether the same point would be raised in some other case in the state and where the matter would be taken to the Superior
Court for a decision. The point has not been raised and if it is desirous that council have a decision it must take the matter to the
higher courts itself and action to this effect would have to be taken at this meeting as the Superior Court will sit in December. There
is simply a point of law involved as to whether one act of the legislature repeals another but until the same is decided by the higher
courts the borough cannot collect for the street paving for the ground upon which the churches proper stand.
The matter of plans, bids and specifications for the Town Hall, and the matter in the delay of the opening of bids was explained to
council by Mr. Hoffman, chairman of the building committee. On account of sickness in the family of the architect, Mr. High, he was
unable to send in the plans in time to have bids made and received at the date set at the last council meeting. Mr. High has
everything in readiness now.
The old "Borough Limit" sign on the highway near Connor's was said to be a disgrace because of its bad condition and unsightly
appearance. The solicitor stated it was not a legal sign and that one in its lace had been erected. The supervisor was therefore
instructed to remove this old sign immediately.
Dr. Moore brought up the subject of endeavoring to protect the school children from automobiles and wagons by having the drivers
use more care and exercise a greater amount of precaution when passing school property or school playgrounds. He called to mind
the death of a lad at Pottsville Sunday morning caused by being struck by an automobile. The president thought special signs
erected on poles in the vicinity of schools and school playgrounds, calling attention of drivers that the same existed a short distance
ahead would have a tendency for them to exercise greater care and to run slower, thus possibly avoiding a serious or fatal accident.
The idea seemed to strike favor with the councilmen. It was stated that there are towns where such signs are erected. On motion of
Mill and McKeon special signs for this purpose be procured and erected.
The matter of the bad taste and odor to the water was brought up. Various reasons were assigned for its cause. It was stated that
the local health officer intended to notify the State Health Department about the matter. Council thought best to also notify the State
Health Department on the subject and at the same time to get after the local health board. A motion was therefore in order
instructing the secretary to communicate immediately with the State Health Department and to notify them of the condition of the
water.
In relation to the repairing of the Main Street brick paving, it was reported by the Road Committee that the Burgess who was
instructed to take this matter up with Manager Rockwell of the trolley company, had failed to do so or that he had been unable to
secure an interview with Mr. Rockwell. On motion Solicitor Noecker was instructed to inquire of the trolley company whether they
intend to pay for the relaying of the brick on their portion of the street that will have to be torn up.
A communication was read from Mr. Shirley in reference to repair of Eaton Row. The secretary was instructed to notify Mr. Shirley
that this street is a private one and the borough has no jurisdiction in this matter. That if the property owners desire the borough to
take it over they must take the necessary steps to have it adopted by the borough. The report of the Road Committee on this matter
was to the effect that this street had never been accepted by the borough. It was an alley at one time. The Lehigh Valley Railroad
Company in building the railroad cut off communication and the connecting street near the cemetery, between Garfield Avenue and
Eaton Row was then in order to give an outlet to the Eaton Row residents.

HUNTER SHOT IN EYE

James Conley, the well known baseball twirler, had a narrow escape from losing the sight of one of his eyes while hunting this week.
One of his companion hunters shot at a rabbit when close to him. One of the shot glanced from a stone and struck James in the eye.
Although the sight will not be destroyed or impaired the escape from serious loss was said by Dr. Moore, who dressed the injury, to
be very narrow.

AUTOISTS SAY STREET IS BAD

Autoists for the past several weeks have been complaining that Centre Avenue from Dock Street to the First Reformed Church and
the borough limits is in very bad condition and that sooner or later the borough will have a damage claim for a broken spring or two.

TO PURCHASE NEW INSTRUMENTS

The Bressler Band has recently purchased a saxophone and will shortly purchase the second instrument of this type. The price paid
for each instrument including cases will be one hundred dollars each. These instruments will be a valuable addition to the band as
they are especially prominent and add to the musical effect and harmony, particularly in the concert selections.

REVIVAL MEETINGS IN PROGRESS

The revival meetings being conducted in the Grace United Evangelical Church are well attended and growing in attendance and
interest. The prospects for a successful revival effort is promising. Services will be held every night next week. The sermons will
be short, pointed and practical. The services Sunday will be as usual.

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN SCHOOL NOTES

In order that more time may be given to actual class teaching, the monthly marks in the future will be based on written lessons and
weekly estimates. The work passed over is to be constantly reviewed in connection with the daily recitations. The monthly reviews,
it has been found, take up too much time and the daily review of essentials, in the end makes for greater thoroughness. The eighth
grades are expected to cover all the work leading up to high school. This is the plan in force in ninety five percent of the school
systems in the state. To do this classes must move a little more rapidly than heretofore and more time must be spent in actual
teaching. By reading the monthly formal reviews and examinations, much time will be saved.
It has been decided to provide additional supplementary readers in the first four grades. By supplying a different text for each room
for the grades additional supplementary texts can be secured for each grade at the price of one set for grades. This will greatly
increase the efficiency of the work done in reading. The best schools now read between four and nine books per year in the primary
grades. In some schools when the whole term is taken up in reading and languages an even larger number of texts are read.

The Call of November 19, 1915

COMPLAINTS OF PARENTS TO BE MADE TO PRINCIPAL

Parents are requested to deal with teachers through the office whenever misunderstandings occur. While it is highly desirable that
parents and the teachers of their children should become personally acquainted, no parent should feel that he has the right to
rebuke a teacher in her room or in the hallway of the school of this building when she may be teaching. All complaints made at the
office will be investigated and the teachers have been requested to give no time nor attention to personal criticism. It is felt both
parent and teacher will be better treated under these circumstances.
Measles have invaded many homes and quite a number of pupils are quarantined. The general public is requested to cooperate with
the school authorities in getting the disease under control so that as few children as possible need be kept out of school. Parents
ought to feel sure, however, that when their children are kept out because of sickness the schools will be liberal. No child will fail of
promotion because of sickness, if he does good work in his grade while in school.
When the monthly report cards of the third month are brought home, parents should take care to examine them critically. One third
of the school year will have been passed at that time and whatever subject seems to be neglected, attention should be called to that
fact. Just a little attention of that kind in the home will be productive of the greatest amount of good. To become solicitous about
promotion at the end of the sixth or seventh month is in most cases too late.