| YEARS GONE BY ARCHIVES |
| Pottsville Republican of September 1, 1911 SCHOOL NOTES The school board met in an adjourned session to elect a teacher for the new school, Number 11, South Ward. It took twelve ballots to decide the matter, Miss Carrie Rehrer being finally elected to fill the position, she receiving seven votes on the twelfth ballot. The secretary reported that the had the contracts drawn up for the teachers. President Jones reported that the stones in the old pavement at the North Ward building were used to lay a walk to the lately acquired schoolhouse. The principal requested that an extension of the telephone in the High School room should be made to his office in the basement. It was so ordered. The principal's office in the high school building will hereafter be in the front room of the basement, where people can meet and consult with the principal. The supplies have been brought down to the basement, where a room was fitted for them. A number of pupils who failed for promotion in May were given special examinations last Wednesday and promoted to their respective grades and classes. Some necessary repairs and changes have been effected in the main building. The schools opened on Monday with 830 pupils in attendance, a half dozen less than the first day last year Pottsville Republican of September 6, 1911 WANT "T" RAILS AT SCHUYLKILL HAVEN In answer to several notices served on the Eastern Pennsylvania Railway Company by Chief Burgess Hartman of Schuylkill Haven, R. H. Koch, solicitor for the company, appeared before the members of the Schuylkill Haven Council last evening and attempted to explain why the condition of the roadbed in that town, from Brown's corner to the paved street was in such a horrible condition. The speaker stated that it was the intention of the company he was representing to put down a new line at some future time, but at the present time the company could not see their way clear. He requested that Council grant them permission to lay a "T" rail instead of the girder rail at present, claiming that the "T" rail gives better service. He requested that members of the council investigate at places throughout the state where the "T" rail is in use. The speaker acknowledged that this piece of road was in bad shape and claimed that once the company sees proper to repair this stretch, it will put down one of the most substantial pieces of road in the entire system. Dirt roads, stated the speaker, are one of the hardest kind to keep in repair, and although repairs could be made to the stretch of road, it would only be for a short time. The speaker stated that in case the company should repair this stretch at an early date, he would ask that they be given permission to place "T" rail and that at a slight elevation, as in case Council decided to pave this section, they would find that all opposition would be removed. Chief Burgess Hartman then stated to Council that Superintendent Rockwell and himself had gone over the road very carefully and had found things just the same as had been reported on several occasions. The Burgess stated that he had been informed by the Superintendent that there was a question as to whether the relaying of the tracks in Mount Carbon would be done this year, and if it was not, all the rails and sills at Mount Carbon would be located on cars and taken to Schuylkill haven and the work of laying this stretch started and completed before the winter months. Several of the members of Council wanted to know whether Council would be responsible for any damages that might occur from this piece of roadbed. It was the opinion that they would not as they had done their part in notifying the company and had proof that they had done all in their power to have the defect remedied. Although no committee was appointed to investigate the "T" rail, the members of Council will look into the matter and will most likely report back next meeting. Pottsville Republican of September 6, 1911 COUNCIL NEWS The special water committee reported that a representative of the Water Company had met the committee and had shown them plans of a new contemplated storage dam that when completed will have a capacity of 11,000,000 gallons or about twice as much as the present reservoir. The representative of the committee gave no assurance that the new storage dam would be constructed but simply showed them the plans. The committee then took up the matter of rates with the representative. At the present time the consumers are receiving their bills every three months when the reading is made and not yearly, as according to the statements of the members of Council the agreement calls for. As the bills are being rendered at the present time the consumers are not getting advantage of the ten cent rate. It was decided to allow the company to present the second bill and then have the court decide on the question. Councilman Weiss requested that an arc light be placed on Paxson Avenue, another at Felix's corner and still another on Oak Street. This motion brought Chairman Saul, of the Electric Light Department, to his feet with the assertion that his department was not quite ready for the installation of more lights and before there could be a new piece of machinery, probably costing about $200, would have to be installed and then his department would be ready to handle anything that came its way. He advised Council to look into the matter carefully and see if lights could not be placed around the town to a better advantage. he claimed that few, if any, of the approaches to the town were lighted and that the people living there should be taken into consideration. The installation of more lights, stated the speaker, would prove of advantage of the Electric Light Department but an expense to the borough. Mr. McKeone, of the East Ward, stated that an electric light was ordered placed in his ward two years ago and up to the present time, he has not seen anything of it. As a result the owner of an automobile went the wrong road the other evening and was forced to back his machine. The question was finally settled by referring the matter to the proper committee. The statement was made that the County Commissioners had viewed the bridge crossing Broadway and had promised to send the bridge examiner down, but up until yesterday he had not arrived. As a result the bridge is still in the same unsafe condition as it was several years ago. The appropriation to the several hose companies of $75 was ordered paid last evening, it being stated that the companies were badly in need of money. A new boiler at the electric light department was reported installed and in service. |