Days Gone By In Staunton

Thursday, March 1 , 1923 -- CONSOLIDATED COAL CO. OFFERS TO SELL CITY OF STAUNTON ELECTRIC CURRENT -- The Star-Times this week learned of a proposition submitted to the City of Staunton by the Consolidated Coal Co. which we believe to be worthy of serious consideration by our City Council and the residents of Staunton in general.

The Consolidated Coal Co. now have in operation their large new power plant at No. 15 mine and as the capacity of this plant is considerably greater than what the company needs for their own use, they have offered to sell the City of Staunton electric current at a very low rate.

The coal company proposes to deliver the current to a point to be agreed on at the city limits and let the City of Staunton make the distribution, just as they are at present doing.

Mr. W. J. Jenkins, vice president and general manager of the Consolidated Coal Co., has authorized the company's local representative, Mr. O.C. Jasper, to submit the proposition to the City Council. In a conversation with Mr. Jasper the writer learned that the company is willing to let Staunton have this current at a very reasonable figure.

Quite a few of our citizens are interested in this proposition for if it materializes it would mean that Staunton could buy current for lighting and other purposes at greatly reduced figures compared to the rates now prevalent.

Mr. Jasper stated that the plant is in continuous operation and that it will not be affected by strikes, so that the old bugaboo of curtailing service during periods of coal shortage would be done away with.

The Star-Times believes that this proposition is worthy of a serious consideration and investigation. One of Staunton's greatest handicaps towards securing industries in the past has always been the high power rate which prevails here. If the Consolidated's proposal is taken up, chances are our city could offer industries electric current at as low a rate as any community in the state, which would prove mighty beneficial for the development of our city industrially.

So far as the local municipal light plant is concerned, there would be no immediate need or dismantling or selling this. The machinery, after being properly prepared, could be allowed to stand idle and if for any reason the Consolidated's proposition does not prove satisfactory, the plant could again be put in operation.

Mr. Jenkins is in conference with the city officials of Mt. Olive today, that city at present having under consideration a proposition to buy their current from the Consolidated in preference to operating the municipal plant. Mr. Jenkins has stated that he will be glad to confer with the city officials of Staunton at any time they choose.

PRIVATE DANCE WELL ATTENDED -- The private dance given on Tuesday evening at the Struck Hall by Prof. N.H. Levy, who is at present conducting several dancing classes in our city; was very largely attended and proved to be a pleasing success.

During the course of the evening Prof. Levy, assisted by Miss Ruby Allen, gave a demonstration of the Parisian Waltz and the Valentino Fox Trot. Both numbers made a decided hit with all who saw them.

Out of town guests from Gillespie, Mt. Olive and Edwardsville were in attendance.

Thursday, March 8 , 1923 -- CEMENT IS THE DETERMINING FACTOR -- If sufficient supply can be secured, east road will be built soon -- A delegation of citizens from Staunton, Mt. Olive and Litchfield on Wednesday of the past week went to Springfield to confer with Gov. Small and the Highway Commission regarding the east hard road. Gov. Small and Mr. Sheets of the Highway Department both informed the delegation that if a sufficient amount of cement can be secured the hard road would be built this summer. If not, the road will lay over until 1924.

The governor stated that all the road for which cement was at present available had been contracted for and that in consequence it would be impossible to do anything on the Staunton-Paris road unless more cement can be contracted for prior to July 1, when contracts for the building of the road will be awarded. If this cannot be done, the bridge and culverts will be built this fall and the heavy grading done so as to permit laying of the slab early next spring.

The delegation also learned that the Highway Department is determined to build the road along the I.T.S. right of way from Cox crossing on into Litchfield. From Cox crossing to Staunton it is probable that the present road, with some few changes will be followed, it having been found that too many engineering difficulties will be encountered in attempting to build along the Interurban into Staunton. The road from Cox crossing east has been surveyed and the figures are now in the hands of the engineers.

ATTEMPTED BURGLARY -- Sunday morning at about 2:30 o'clock Patrolmen Dean and Neuhaus were notified that a crash, as if caused by breaking glass, had been heard at the D. Odorizzi grocery store on North Elm street. A prompt investigation revealed the fact that one of the windows had been knocked into and the door was open, but nothing had been disturbed in the store. It is presumed that the thief or thieves were frightened away before they had time to finish their job. Up to the present time no clue has been obtained as to the identity of the thieves.

FORD BURNED -- A Ford touring car belonging to the contractors who are at present fixing up the building to be occupied by the Kroeger store, early Thursday morning was consumed by fire.

Three of the men, John F. Clark, L.A. Wink and Elmer Hart, were returning from Gillespie when on the curve just north of Benld their machine turned over. Rud. Leistner came along shortly afterwards and towed the disabled Ford to Staunton and upon their arrival at the Eureka Garage it was found that the contractors' machine was afire. What started the blaze is unknown. All the combustible parts of the flivver were burned. The loss is covered by insurance.