Search the Newspapers Browse Newspapers by Date Articles Indexed by Topic About the Newspapers Valley of the Shadow Home

Franklin Repository: January 12, 1870 Go To Page : 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

The Severity of Winter and the Poor
(Column 01)

Summary: The paper calls attention to the extreme hardships that the poor face during the winter, and encourages all to give them aid.

The Governor's Message
(Column 01)

Summary: The Repository gives Governor Geary weak congratulations for his recent, annual address.

Full Text of Article:

We give the annual message of Governor Geary, in full, in our columns. Its great length compels us to sacrifice other interesting matter, still we prefer that our readers shall have it just as it was submitted to the Legislature. It will be regarded as a fair, mediocre document, we believe, full of interesting statements, spread out rather thin, and covering more surface than is necessary, but up to the average of such documents. The exhibit of State finances shows that we are gradually but surely approaching the time when there will be no State debt. During the three years of Geary's first term the State debt was reduced nearly five millions. At its commencement the debt was $37,704,409,95. On the 30th day of last November it amounted to $33,286,947,13. During this time also the real estate of the Commonwealth was relieved from taxation, which shows that to pay off the indebtedness of the State it is not necessary to burden the taxpayers. We claim that this prosperous condition of the State finances is due to the Republican party.

As the Chief of the Commonwealth should do, the Governor gives great prominence to the education of her youth. The common schools, the schools for soldiers' orphans and the Agricultural College all receive his attention. Good schools are a cure and preventive of nearly all vices, for nearly all vices grow out of ignorance. On the whole, the statement of the Executive on this interesting subject is encouraging.

The office of State Treasurer has been the fertile source of bitter fights, and of serious divisions in the ranks of the party for several years. At the opening of each session of Legislature everything else has been swallowed up in the contest to secure the Treasurership. Yet the salary is but $1,700 a year. Neither the salary nor dignity of the office are enough to justify the eagerness with which it is sought. The responsibility of the State Treasurer is immense and the unexpended balance in his hands is rarely less than a million dollars. It is this large fund which sends the vultures after the prey. Common rumor says that the office of Treasurer is worth $100,000 a year. If true, it can only become so by an improper use of the funds. To remedy this evil the Governor recommends that the salary of the Treasurer be increased to $5,000 a year, and the laws be so amended as to prevent the use of the State funds for the benefit of the Treasurer. It is the best and most vital recommendation contained in the message, and we are glad to see that a bill has already been framed in the Legislature to carry in effect the suggestions.

Having taken a prominent and honorable part in the war to subdue the rebellion, Geary devotes a large part of the message to the present militia law of the commonwealth, and recommends the publication of the military history. We don't believe that a large outlay in support of the military spirit of morale of the State would be justified by the people, and the publication of the military history has already been discountenanced by them.

The paper concluded with a history of the pardon business of the Governor. This is well enough. During the last canvass Governor Geary was bitterly denounced by the Democracy for exercising the pardoning power entrusted to him in an unwarrantable manner. This statement is a complete vindication of his exercise of this power.

A portion of the message is devoted to National affairs. Governors nearly all dream of the Presidency, and in their messages nibble at national politics. Though few of them are likely to be Presidents, and our excellent Governor as little likely as any of them, he must play his little game along with Hoffman and the others.

On the whole the message is creditable.

Meeting for the Poor
(Column 02)

Summary: The paper reports on a recent meeting for the purpose of collecting alms for the poor.
(Names in announcement: Dr. Schneck, Judge Black, Rev. I. N. Hays, J. L. Black, D. O. Gehr, H. B. Davidson, William D. Guthrie, John Jeffries, Col. Austin)

Full Text of Article:

On Monday afternoon last, in accordance with an announcement made from the pulpits on Sunday, a considerable number of persons met in the Central Presbyterian Church for the purpose of making some arrangements for the relief of the suffering poor in our midst. The meeting was organized by electing Dr. Schneck President and Judge Black Secretary.

At the request of the President, Rev. I. N. Hays stated briefly the object of the meeting, and submitted the following plan, which was adopted first, to appoint an Executive Committee of five, who were authorized to appoint sub committees, to endeavor to secure contributions of flour, wood, groceries, &c, and attend to all the business of the association, and secondly, to have the sessions or councils of the different churches who felt like joining in this commendable undertaking appoint one from each church, to constitute a visiting committee, to visit the poor, ascertain their wants and assists the Executive Committee in distributing supplies.

The following gentlemen were appointed the Executive Committee: J L Black, D O Gehr, H. B. Davidson, Wm D. Gutherie and John Jeffries.

We are authorized by these gentlemen to state that contributions of all kinds, such as flour, wood, coal, meat, groceries, &c, will be thankfully received. These articles are much needed and will be judiciously distributed. Any one contributing can leave his donation with any of the above gentlemen.

Whilst the meeting was in session, Col. Austin presented $65,30 as a donation from the employees of the Chambersburg Woolen Manufacturing Company.

An Evening of Sacred Song
(Column 02)

Summary: Philip Phillips, "justly celebrated as one of the sweetest singers of the age," will give a concert of sacred music in the First Methodist Church under the auspices of the Ladies' Mite Society. Mr. Phillips is just returned from a triumphant tour of Europe and has received many excellent reviews.

Lutheran Sabbath School
(Column 02)

Summary: The Lutheran Sunday School of Chambersburg held their semi-yearly meeting. Pastor Gotwald and Superintendent Messersmith spoke to the children. Two hundred and twenty dollars were raised in contributions.
(Names in announcement: Rev. Gotwald, Messersmith)

Donation to the Poor
(Column 02)

Summary: Columbus Lodge No. 75, I.O.O.F., requests that members donate food and other articles for distribution among the poor. The call has so far raised eight barrels of flour, sixty bushels of potatoes, one barrel of corn meal, $25 worth of meat and groceries, and a quantity of wood.

[No Title]
(Column 02)

Summary: The firm of Gen. David Detrich of Greencastle has manufactured 2,802 coffins between 1829 and 1870. The output exceeds the population of the town. The following are the statistics for deaths in Greencastle during the past decade: 68 in 1860; 61 in 1861; 77 in 1862; 143 in 1863; 88 in 1864; 81 in 1865; 78 in 1866; 58 in 1867; 103 in 1868; and 99 in 1869.
(Names in announcement: David Detrich)

[No Title]
(Column 02)

Summary: A promenade concert was given in Repository Hall on Monday by the Silver Cornet Band. Proceeds will go to benefit the poor. Prof. Wright, Prof. Pilsbury, and Prof. Hunting directed the events. The ladies furnished ice cream and cake. Mrs. William M'Lellan oversaw the entire event. It raised $150.
(Names in announcement: Prof. Wright, Prof. Pilsbury, Prof. Hunting, Mrs. William M'Lellan)

[No Title]
(Column 03)

Summary: Kearney Lodge No. 159, K. of P., met and installed officers.
(Names in announcement: A. H. M'Culloh, T. J. Grimason, D. A. Wertz, A. A. Matthews, Joseph P. M'Clintock, Frank Henderson, W. S. Roney, J. H. Aughenbaugh, William D. Guthero)

Franklin County Medical Society
(Column 03)

Summary: The Franklin County Medical Society will meet on January 18th. Officers and delegates to the state society will be chosen.
(Names in announcement: A. H. Senseny, William H. Boyle)

[No Title]
(Column 03)

Summary: M'Murray Lodge No. 119, I.O.G.T., met on Monday. A donation of $20 was made to purchase food for the suffering poor and a committee appointed to distribute it.

[No Title]
(Column 03)

Summary: Rev. D. K. Richardson of Ohio has accepted a call from the Presbyterian Church at Middle Spring.
(Names in announcement: Rev. D. K. Richardson)

[No Title]
(Column 03)

Summary: The Masons of Chambersburg raised a large sum of money for the benefit of the poor at a meeting on Tuesday.

Married
(Column 05)

Summary: Samuel Z. Maxwell and Miss Rebecca A. Seibert, daughter of P. W. Seibert, all of Chambersburg, were married on January 6th at the residence of the bride's parents by the Rev. Samuel Barnes.
(Names in announcement: Samuel Z. Maxwell, Rebecca A. Seibert, P. W. Seibert, Rev. Samuel Barnes)

Married
(Column 05)

Summary: Jeremiah L. Wilkison and Miss Armitta R. Foutz, both from near New Franklin, were married on January 6th by the Rev. M. Kieffer.
(Names in announcement: Jeremiah L. Wilkison, Armitta R. Foutz, Rev. M. Kieffer)

Married
(Column 05)

Summary: David Miller and Miss Mary Eckart, both of Mercersburg, were married in Chambersburg at the residence of Howard Hummelbaugh.
(Names in announcement: David Miller, Mary Eckart, Howard Hummelbaugh)

Married
(Column 05)

Summary: Cosmus Fortna and Miss Lydia Sleighter, both of Franklin, were married on January 4th at the residence of the bride's father by the Rev. J. M. Bishop.
(Names in announcement: Cosmus Fortna, Lydia Sleighter, Rev. J. M. Bishop)

Married
(Column 05)

Summary: Adam Bryson and Miss Clara Holden, both of St. Thomas, were married on January 4th by the Rev. A. K. Nelson.
(Names in announcement: Adam Bryson, Clara Holden, Rev. A. K. Nelson)

Died
(Column 05)

Summary: Dr. James Crawford died at his residence in Concord, Franklin County, on December 29th of consumption. He was 40 years old.
(Names in announcement: Dr. James Crawford)