Days Gone By In Staunton

Thursday, Nov. 15, 1923 -- TAKING STEPS TO IMPROVE SERVICE -- Gas Company will Connect Tanks Directly with Wells to Give 24-Hour Service -- Officials of the Staunton Gas. Co. are making preparations to improve the service in our city, which since the advent of cooler weather has not been satisfactory.

According to statements made to the writer at the office of the company Tuesday morning, steps are now being taken to make several changes which will result in a material improvement in the service. As is known, the company last winter placed several booster tanks at the north end of Wood street and installed pumps so that sufficient gas could be delivered during the day time. These pumps draw the gas out of the distributing system and create a vacuum, making it impossible for patrons to secure a sufficient supply of gas during the time that pumps are in operation. As some patrons have teen using the gas day and night, this arrangement is unsatisfactory and in order to overcome the difficulty the company will lay a new pipe line from the west end of Pearl street to the booster station on Wood street and after this is installed will be enabled to pump the gas directly from the fields and then force it into the distributing system. This will do away with the vacuum and permit 24-hour service.

The company also has plans at the present time for the construction of an artificial gas plant which will be built on their property on North Wood street. This plant is expected to be ready for use shortly after the first of the year and will be put into service just as soon as the supply of natural gas proves to he inadequate or gives out.

All of the above will prove to be welcome news to the users of gas in our city. The company during the past has hooked up quite a few patrons and there are still many others who would like to get the benefit of this convenience if a dependable source of supply is once assured.

GAS NOW 15c -- Effective Monday morning, the price of gasoline at the Red Crown filling stations went to 15c per gallon in our city. This is a reduction of 1.2c per gallon from the previous price. At Edwardsville the prevailing price is 13.9c per gallon. Just why the difference in price between two towns as close together as Edwardsville and Staunton is a bit more than most of us can figure out. Perhaps keener competition at the latter city has something to do with it.

STATE'S ATTORNEY NABS "SOUSE" -- An automobile in a ditch and an owner who arrogantly admitted that he was drunk led State's Atty. L. M Harlan to turn himself Into a temporary deputy sheriff Monday afternoon. Consequently, J. H. Smith of Litchfield is reposing in the Mt. Olive jail, where his auto and five quarts of alleged booze are in custody of the officials. Smith's companion fled.

It all happened while Mr. and Mrs. Harlan were returning over the hard road from the Gillespie Country Club. They came upon a machine in a ditch with a large crowd assembled. A man was sitting on the bank of the ditch.

Attracted by his condition, the state's attorney stopped and said to him, "You're drunk."

"I know it," the man snarled with an oath.

"Shut up," came the command from a younger man, who also seemed to have been in the wreck. Then the prosecutor began an investigation which disclosed the five quarts of alleged mule and a small amount of brew. As he brought the liquor to light, the younger man took to his heels, and since he was unarmed, Mr. Harlan was unable to give chase.

However, he placed Smith under arrest, put him in his own auto and carted him to the jail in Mt. Olive, where he was booked on charges of transporting liquor.

BOUGHT CONFECTIONERY -- John T. Talbott on Thursday evening of the past week bought the confectionery store of Aug. Ahlswede and has since been in charge of the business. Mr. Ahlswede left Saturday for Detroit. Mich., where he plans to locate. Mr. Talbott is well known in this community and should make a success of the business.

FIND STILL NEAR GILLESPIE -- Alleged white mule peddled from wagon through the streets of Carlinville, accommodating home customers, was stopped Friday, authorities declare, when the still of W. B. Morgan, down by the Gillespie reservoir was raided. Authorities say that Morgan was found in the basement of his little one story shack taking off the purported "brew." A copper still, a coil and a big jug of mule were confiscated and Morgan, who is known as "Grub," was taken to jail. The raid was made by Chief Deputy Wm. Bloomfield. The fire was still burning and it was very evident the deputies said that Morgan was getting ready to put on another kettleful to cook.

Two large barrels of mash were also found. Just as the raid was being made two citizens from Plainview drove up in their automobile. They were the ones who it is believed have been doing the peddling of the alleged liquor, but as they had not received their load there was no proof to hold them.

State's Atty. L. M. Harlan expressed his satisfaction at the results of the raid and he believes this is the source of the supply that has been brought to Carlinville and sold so openly.

HUNTING SEASON OPENED SATURDAY -- The hunting season opened Saturday and local hunters have been actively on the job since then, taking advantage of the double holiday afforded by Sunday and Armistice Day. Some report game as being plentiful, while others did not meet with so much luck.

Under the new law it is unlawful to hunt without license, and hunting is defined to mean to hunt, overtake, pursue, kill or attempt to kill any fowl or animal. Licenses will not be issued to a person under age of sixteen years, without written consent of parents, and will not be issued to foreign born persons unless they have procured and shall show their final naturalization papers.

It is unlawful to hunt, kill, take or destroy any bird, rabbit, squirrel or fur-bearing animal from any automobile, or with the lights of or from any such vehicle.

Under the law effective last July it also is unlawful for any person to hunt, or trap with any dog or gun, or allow a dog to hunt upon the land of another, without first having obtained consent to do so. It is unlawful to hunt with ferrets or to set fire to any brush heap, peat, grass or other inflammable material to drive game therefrom.

One may kill fifteen rabbits daily, twelve quails a day, eight brants, fifteen coots, fifteen ducks, eight geese, three prairie chickens or two pheasants.