May 20, 1904

Everyone should be interested in the prosperity of the town, and particularly in the safety and welfare of those who may soon be actively engaged in the summer canning business, and that is the River Canning building. I simply ask the fathers and mothers of Milton to go look at the building and answer to themselves, if they desire to risk the lives of their children and themselves, or at least the maiming of those they love for life, in that building. We have a Board of Health, why not have a building inspector?

This must be looked after, and we have had the matter under consideration for some time, but hoped that some move would be made that would either cause the building to be torn down and replaced with a new one, or an attempt be made before the canning season commences to make it safe. I have the consciousness of what is needed, and realize the danger, but now the matter has been called to the attention of those responsible, and should any accident befall a workman this summer by reason of the building’s insecurity, the stockholders will be unable to plead ignorance as an excuse at the suits to be brought for damages. Go see for himself, and if we are wrong, we will gladly retract our statement.

Benjamin Reed[i] left his wife about five years ago, and refused her maintenance. The wife made effort to locate her spouse all these years, and fortune favored her last week, when it became known that the festive Ben was within the environments of Broadkiln, It is said that he was scouting about after the children. His wife had him arrested and arranged before Esquire Collins on the charge of “desertion and non-support,” and in default of $500 bail he was committed into the custody of the Constable. With intent to lodge him in jail, the Constable had his team ready and Ben in it ready to start, but having thought of something he wanted, the Constable left for a minute to enter his house, when he returned the team was where he left it, but Ben was non-est, and so far as the Constable is concerned, he is relatively in the same position.

Mr. Charles Hones, of Dover, who has been catching sunfish in the Broadkiln with his […], has left Milton for a short time.

Fred Welch is building a pavilion near his home which is to be used as an ice cream garden.

The steamer Mary M. Vinyard, now owned by the Milton Steamboat Company, is having an upper saloon put on her, which has six staterooms on each side, and an after cabin. Each stateroom will accommodate two. John H. Davidson is doing the joiner work.

Elmer Simpler, a colored boy of ten years old, died from blood-poison last Monday morning.

Trout fish were never more plenty in Milton than they are this season.

Housecleaning season has been very apparent in Milton oil this week. In almost every house the women folks have turned everything upside down, excepting the men folks and they are sitting around on hoods boxes waiting patiently for the signs of peace once more, before attempting to venture to make any more remarks on any old subject.

Lemuel Hartman has removed his home from Federal Street to the residence recently occupied by R. C. Beardsley in North Milton.

A dog owned by Mr. C. H. Atkins was shot a few days ago because it had been bitten by a dog that was supposed to have been rabid. These is a report that one of the family had been bitten, but it is without foundation of fact.

Sadie, daughter of David Postles, who resides here and Georgetown, was sent to Farnhurst for treatment last week. The family are highly respected and have the sympathy of the public. They came from the vicinity of Barratts Chapel several years ago.

Coulter Street has been put in good condition.

Potatoes are looking well.

Prof. Brooks held an examination for teachers last Friday and Saturday, at which there were ten to be examined.

At a meeting of the Broadkiln Bible Society held last Sunday at the M. E. Church, Mrs. S. J. Wilson and Captain George E. Megee were elected delegates to the county convention held at Laurel on Thursday. Capt. S. B. Bennett, Sam. J. Martin and Mrs. Annie Hopkins were made life members of the society. The m. P. Church sent W. G. Ferren and Thomas Jefferson to represent them.

Isaac G. Nailor is remodeling the dwelling of Mrs. Ida Hughes on Union Street.

Fred Pepper is putting a pavement down in front of Mrs. Lydia Ellingsworth’s home on Federal Street.

Charles G. Waples has he engine in place and is putting up the building for his saw mill near the depot.

The cannery at Harbeson is contracting for corn at $8.50 per ton of 2000 pounds and is getting all the acreage they require.

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[i] Benjamin Reed was the father of Lillie Reed, one of the Sunday School girls in Fannie Leonard’s class.