Days Gone By In Staunton

Thursday, March 29 , 1923 -- OPINION -- The thing that Staunton needs more than she does any one particular thing is a commercial club or organization of the business men and other public spirited and progressive citizens. During the past several days the Star-Times has received two communications from concerns which are seeking locations for branch factories. It happens that in each instance the inquiries came from people who employ female help in large numbers and as there is but little employment to be had for this class of labor in Staunton, our city should make an ideal location for factories of this kind. We have answered both these communications, but of course could not give the inquirers any definite information as to the inducements our city would offer to secure an establishment of this kind.

A commercial club could do much which would be of mutual benefit to the business and the labor interests of our city and such an organization should be formed and it should have the complete cooperation of all persons in our city.

Staunton has a large number of girls and women who would welcome an opportunity to secure clean honorable employment, such as a clothing factory or similar enterprise would afford. In many families where there are several daughters such employment would aid materially in a financial way and at the same time would make the girls independent and self-supporting.

With more than a hundred business men in Staunton, plus quite a number of progressive citizens who are not in business, It should not be difficult to maintain an organization which would be a credit to our city. There is no valid reason why Staunton cannot have a commercial club, neither is there any valid reason why our city cannot have industries other than that of coal mining. All that is needed is a bit of pep and cooperation and the trick can be turned.

We're ready to start 'er. Who'll help?

MET THURSDAY ON CONSOLIDATED OFFER -- W.J. Jenkins of St. Louis, Vice-President and General Manager of the Consolidated Coal Co., on Thursday morning paid a visit to Staunton and while here met with Mayor Paul D. Weiss and several aldermen regarding the proposition recently submitted by the coal company to furnish the City of Staunton with electric current. As in former instances, Mr. Jenkins went over the proposition in detail and according to information given us, repeated the price rates recently offered. Mr. Jenkins also stated that he would deliver the current either to the city limits or to the electric light plant direct.

A feeder line will have to be built from the city limits to the light plant and Mr. Jenkins stated that if the city felt that they could not at present finance the building of this line, his company would build the line and let the city pay for it in installments. The company, however, does not want to own this line permanently.

Naturally, no definite action was taken at the meeting Thursday morning and at the close of the conference Mayor Weiss stated that he would take the matter up with the Council at their next meeting.

Besides the direct saving which would result to the City of Staunton if the electric current were purchased at the rates offered, there is also the possibility of an indirect benefit. The operation of the plant at No. 15 entails a certain amount of overhead expense. The more surplus power the company can dispose of, the less will be this overhead expense, which might enable them to reduce price quotations on coal sufficiently to secure contracts which they are not now getting and consequently work would be better at the mines. This latter consideration might prove to be of very great importance to the men working in the mines.

PLAN MOTOR SPEEDWAY -- According to announcements made during the past several days a group of Edwardsville, Granite City and Alton men are planning the erection of a big motor speedway in Madison County, somewhere in the triangle formed by the above mentioned cities. Plans are to have this track excel the one at Indianapolis and at least four big events would be held each year. While no definite conclusions have been reached, it would appear that such an undertaking: could be made to pay handsomely, especially since the Indiana laws prohibit the big event which was held there each year on Decoration Day.

MINERS' 8-HOUR DAY -- Monday was observed throughout this portion of the state as the 26th anniversary of the 8 - hour day victory gained by the miners. In Staunton there was no official celebration of the day, although all of the mines were idle in observance of the occasion.

The 8 - hour day was established on April 1, 1898, by the Illinois Miners Union, following a strike of nine months' duration. By reason of the fact that the anniversary this year fell on Sunday, the celebration was deferred until Monday.

At Livingston and Williamson, celebration of the anniversary was held under the auspices of the miners' locals at the two places. A feature of the day was a big parade from Livingston to Williamson and return, after which a program of addresses took place in front of the City Hall at Livingston. Harry Fischwick, Vice-President of the Illinois Miners' Organization, and Charles F. Wells of Chicago were the principal speakers. Music for the occasion was furnished by the Livingston Miners' Band.

A.C. HASSE RESIDENCE DAMAGED BY FIRE -- Saturday at just about Noon, the residence of A.C. Hasse at 408 E. Pearl street was discovered on fire and an alarm promptly sounded. Only a few minutes elapsed until the fire department reached the scene and had a stream of water playing on the roof. The fire evidently had been smouldering under the roof for some time before it was noticed and as the windows on the second story were broken in, the flames burst out over the roof. Prompt and efficient work on the part of the fire fighters quickly placed the blaze under control with the result that the roof was burned off and the furniture, clothing, etc., in the second story destroyed. Practically all of the furniture on the first floor was carried out. Mr. Hasse's loss, which amounts to considerable, is covered by insurance.