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The Exeter Times-Advocate, 1932-07-28, Page 3THE EXETER TIMES-AD VO CATE THWISDAY, Jl’IA 2*i<h, W A Letter From Saskatchewan Ponteix, July 7, 1933 Mr, J, M, gouthcottr Exeter, Ontario Dear Editor; As an appreciation of the kind­ ness which the management of the “Times-Advocate” have shown, we felt that We should write a letter ex­ plaining conditions, here in the West which might be of interest to read-*- ers of your paper. Just a line or so regarding the crop of 1Q29, it was the beginning of the drought period, some people were hailed out and all in this area suffered more or less from the dry weather which cut the 'yield perf acre to quite ap extent . The 1930 crop suffered very lxeav- ily from drought, there being very little sub-surface moisture stored up and very little rain-fall to help on the surface, the general average yield per acre, where there was any crop at all, was about three bushels. While an odd one got a trifle over that a great marfy got considerable less and a number got nothing at all; as for- feed which can very -of­ ten be grown when wheat harvest fails because of being sown at a later date and cut green for fodder purposes, only an odd one was for­ tunate in securing a little green feed In this country oats can be sown as late as July 1st for feed, This short­ age of feed necessitated the Govern­ ment coming to our assistance by shipping in feed from other parts of the ProVince. ' 1 In the spring of 1931 we commenc­ ed seeding operations under difficult conditions. As a result of the two previous short crops the purchasing power of the farmer was limited which had a detrimental effect on all lines of business; Another ser­ ious condition, there was very li-ttlp moisture to start with. However the farmers were very optimistic apd put the crop in hoping for what are termed in Southern Saskatchewan as the June rains. As the season ad­ vanced, the crops, due to lack of moisture made slow progress and soon became quite apparent that conditions were growing more ser- jous every day. People were almost hoping against hape in that it would yet rain and give at least a little or some crop. „ Finally it be­ came quite evident there would * be no wheat crop whatever. As a last resort oats were sown hoping for a later rain or thunder'* storm which would at least result in some feed. However, by the middle of ’ July it was plainly to be, seen there would be no crop at all and the people al­ most gave up in despair. Another, condition which added greatly to the discomfort of all as well as be­ ing very detrimental to the produc­ tiveness of the soil was the intensive soil drifting which covered a period of fouy months, April, May, (June and July. -It is not necessary to go into detail as you, no doubt, had descriptions of this condition from- many' sources. Many perhaps felt that in sme instances this was exag­ gerated but it would be impossible Depression Prices!! z -------- on all kinds of lumber and shingles. Call and see for your­ self or phone 12 Matched White Pine $35.00 per M. ' A. J. CLATWORTHY Phone 12 rjUWOH. ONTARIO to realize Just what these dust­ storm's were like without seeing them but to go thrbugh one of them “seeing” would be ‘‘believing.’1 These extreme.conditions covered an area of 60 miles square but in ft lesser degree spread over a largb areg, many 'suffering from drought with t little or n.0 dust-drifting. Around June 1st the matter Of feed for stock became a considera­ tion, there being no feed carried over from the previous years and pasture dried up: after considering the matter from all angles we were adyised or persuaded to shipp all surplus stock to pasture lands in the north as they considered it more economical to* do this than ship the ■feed in. A suitable location iVas decided on a few mile® southeast of Battieford and 242 horses and 221 head of cattle were shipped out of our municipality, the railways re­ ducing. freight, one half and the Gov­ ernment paying the balance, this all being done as a measure of relief,. By the way our municipality is 18 miles square. Again in the fall another shipment of stock', <575 horses were shipped out for winter feeding. This stock was all shipped back this spring April 1st, Out of these 75 horses died, the cattle far­ ing better. Early in the Vail another move­ ment and one which cannot be for­ gotten or over-looked was set on foot. That was the splendid and sympathetic spirit shown by our friends in the East under the super­ vision of the United Church by sup­ plying many car-loads of vegetables also a large quantity of .clothing, I can assure you these donations were much appreciated. We noted by the paper' that Exeter and surround­ ing districts made- their contribu­ tion to this worthy cause. The Pon- tiex field of which we are a part re­ ceived theii* allotment of vegetables out of a car shipped from Preston, Ontario. It was a wonderful car of all kinds of vegetables and quite a quantity of preserved fruit and was filled to the* roof. This car was divided among some 350i families. Late in the fall the Government took up the task of caring for the people for the winter by supplying ’them with coal, flour/groceries, etc. An order was mailed to each family monthly according to condition and need, these orders being filled by lo­ cal -merchants as presented. On the whole our Western people have been well cared for up to the present time', so far this is more or less, past history with which you may be somewhat familiar This spring as seeding time drew near ■ the farmers were again won­ dering what steps would be taken to enable them -to put in the crop. It certainly was not an encouraging out-look. As a result of last seas­ on’s drifting the surface was -cover­ ed with what looked Tike white sand ■and a large portion of -the country looked like one vast desert. In due time the Relief Commission came forward with their program, sup­ plying seed wheat at the rate of one- bushel per acre and seed oats ,for ail fodder purposes also kerosene, one gallon per . acre for all land to be seeded and lubricating oil and greases in proportion for all trac­ tor work. Those using horses we-re supplied with hay and oats. This got the spring work away to a good start and with the people displaying a very optimistic spirit thing went along very nicely. . ' We had little wind during early part of season but as the land began to dry out the soil again began to drift.. Many hundreds of seeded land were blown ou-t and some for the second time. At this s-tage of the game, the cut-worm put in its appearance and as time advanced this pest cut off and completely destroyed hundreds of acres of wheat, some of which never got above the ground, while consider­ able of the- grain which was 2 and 3 inches high suffered likewise, which left many fields looking as though they had just been cultivated ready for seeding. -One of our neighbors .seeded over 600 acres and did not think he would have H00 hundred left which wou-ld be worth harvest­ ing. ! Around June 1st we had the -most rain we had had in years. Some of this land was re-See’ded to wheat and oats and just what the ou-tconj’e •will be time will tell. Now for another heart-breaking experience. The soil again -began to' get very dry and -crops came to a standstill for the want of rain, fi­ nally beginning to burn and go back People again began to reconcile themselves to the fact -there would be no wheat harvest. Another re*- suit of cut-worm damage wa# that the remaining crops were eo thin- ned out it gave the weeds a chance and its hard to say which will gain the situation weeds or grain. Again on July 4tjx and '5 th we had splendid rains. Under favor­ able conditions from now on we will get lots of feed but prospects are that the wheat harvest will be light. Etill a number of light land will have little or nothing at all, We note by Dri Margaret Strang’s letter she quotes eggs at JO per doz. and butter at' I5c. a 1-b, Here eggs are 4c, and butter 8c. Other farm products are much the same while anything we buy has not dropped to like proportions One can’t sell anything for cash. It all has to be taken in trade. It takes a great deal of pluck to keep on facing conditions like these for so long a time. Quite a number of families last year and more" this spring packed all their earthly possessions in cov­ ered wagons taking what little stock implements etc., they could and moved to the north and west a dis­ tance of 400 miles or over. Do not know whether any of them got as far west as Dr. Margaret Strang’s territory or not. All the assistance given by the Government through the Relief Commission is termed as Relief Measures and all is charged against the land or heads of families. Now this letter so far has been Qt worldly matters and for fear you may think we have become mater­ ialistic in our ways of living and tlijnking 'we will turn our thought^ to the other ‘side of life. PerhapB not only -the West but the whole world has drifted so far to worldly matters We have become lop-sided. Our S, S. lessons for the past three months have been, along the line of every day or practical experiences of life and while dating back so far in Bible history may in some re­ spects, be-very applicable to present day conditions and after two thou­ sand years it does, not look as though human nature - has changed so much. * Whi-le we here put for­ ward many causes of the present, period of depression we must admit that we have ourselves created this state of affairs. There never was a period in the history of -the human race when, individuals as well as Governments and nations are think­ ing also talking of co-operation and Iternational Trade relationships which is after -all the Brotherhood of Mankind. We read an article’ some time ago where Roosevelt said the only safe place for the U, S. was back to God and the Bible- and per­ haps that would be good advice for all of us. Possibly more than many of uS like to admit there is behind the present state of affairs a Divine Power of hoping and controlling the destiny of the individual as well, as of the nations. A few lines regarding Chlirch ser­ vices here. Three years ago this spring we built a community hall, fully equipped with stage, dressing rooms, cloak rooms, gallery across back end, electric light plant in the basement, kitchen, furnace and lighting plant, apartments. We did not -get it completed such as- paint­ ing, interior decorating, etc. as de­ pression set in. At this time- we had in mind a church, but thought this would serve all purposes until such time as we could' build a -church We have an ordained minister with three preaching points, at Gle-nvern Point, where we built the hall and with which' we are connected, we hold Sunday School at 2 p.in. ser­ vice following. We have a fairly well organized Sunday School with classes and all doing good work, average attend­ ance at S. S. was 50 but this year will be considerably below that. We had no services during Janu­ ary, February and March.due to the bad weather and roads. Until the end of last year we had a‘ splendid choir but none since that time. With the summer holidays the rural schools are closing until such time as ways and means of financ­ ing are arranged! The disorganization of and inter­ ference with all church activities as well as the social life including our educational system is due to finan­ cial conditions. With kindest regards. Sincerely Yours A. E. Andrew Ponteix, Sask. 25 YEARS AGO ■'* I Mr. Wm. Whitefordt of near Elim- vin has purchased Mr. Chas. Harri- son’s residence on the South Bound* ary, Exeter, and intends occupying it after the Ml. Mr. Abraham Dearing on Thurs­ day sold his 1’50 acre farm on the 5th concession of stephen to Mr. Henry Hamilton, Grand Rend. Mr. Dearing will retire from farming and will move 'to the house he pur­ chased on Huron StrteL Mr. John> Charlton is expected home on Thursday having partially recovered from fever. Mr. L. C. Fleming^ principal of the Exeter school is spending part" of the holidays at Clifton Springs while Mrs, Fleming is visiting in Cobourg, Miss Martha Carling returned on Saturday from Brantford where she has been attending High School. Her mother, Mrs, T, B. Carling returned with her. •Mrs. H. Buckingham and two sons Jack and Allan are spending a few days with friends prior tcu their leaving for the West where Mr, Buckingham has been for sometime. iMfs. (Dr.) Browning left Satur­ day for Caledonia, Minn., where she- will visit her son, Dr. D. Browning. She was accompanied as far as De­ troit by her daughter Mrs. George Hawkins, who will remain there on a visit. The many friends of Miss Vera Cobbledick, of Calgary, Alta., will be sorry to learn that she recently sustained a broken leg and other injuries in a runaway accident. 15 YEARS AGO During the severe electrical storm on Friday last during which rain fell in torrents, the dwelling of Mr. W. A. Clark and Mr. W. Kuntz on Main Street was struck but very, little- damage was done. Mrs. ^Wm. Passmore left Tuesday morning for Calgary, Alta., where he intends visiting for a -time-. Mr. A. J. Snell, wife and family, of Santa Monica, Calif., arrived last week to visit with Mrs. Jno. Snell. Mr. Snell leaves this week to re­ sume his travelling duties.-- Mrs. Wm. Hunter and children, of Usborne, left Tuesday morning for Salvador, Sask., where Mr. Hunt­ er has been for several months and where they intend making their future home. Mrs. Quance disposed of her houehold effects by public auction on Saturday and will move with her daughter to Toronto. Mrs. F. W. Ba-ker and Miss Ila Johnston left on Monday for Roches­ ter, where they will visit for a time. Friday evening during a severe thunder and lightning stqrm -the barn of Mr. Colin Moir, near Hen­ sall, was struck, and completely des­ troyed together with some hay and a few implements. RECORDS SHOW DRIVERS OF MOTOR VEHICLES DESERVE SEVERE CRITICISM Civilized nations engaged in war, protect children as non-comibatants. But apparently the drivers of auto­ mobiles in Ontario are less consid­ erate. In this- province last year, a total o.f 1,827 children were in­ jured by motor vehicles. Of this number, 8S4 were playing in the street. True, some of these acci­ dents were unavoidable; true, also that parents should be made to ac­ cept some of the responsibility, but none the less the record is a shame­ ful one. The trust of children in grown-up persons is proverbial. Apparently this trust is being violated more than a hundred times a month. DEATH OF MISS CHRISTIAN The death occurred recently of Miss Elsie Christian, sister of Mrs. J. C. Gaudier with whom she had made her home in Clinton for the past eleven year. IShe was only ill a very short time her passing com­ ing as quite a shock to her many friends. Two other sisters also sur­ vive. w unbelievably LOW Come in and see your size W. J. BEER Phone 109, , Exeter, Ont. hei’ home after spending a. couple of weeks in London. Mr. and Mrs. Ray Oliver, of Lon­ don, spent the week-end with their friends in town the l-aftter remain­ ing for a week. , • Mr. and Mrs. Russell Troyer, of Cleveland, visited recently with Mr. and J. W. Horner. Miss Melvina Schade has return-, ed at her home after spending some time in London. Mr. and Mrs. Peter Papineau, of Windsor, are visiting with relatives in -this . section. Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Aulerich, of Detroit, spent a .few days with the latter’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. L. A. Prang. MAJOR McTAGGART The death occurred of a member of one of Clinton’s best known families rin the person of Major Mc- Taggart. He was born at Kippen in 18.73. Later the* family moved to Clinton where his -father carried on a manufacturing business. To­ gether with his elder brother G. D. McTaggart he was in partnership in a private banking business under the name of McTaggart Bros. In 1927 Mr. G- D. HcTaggart withdrew and the business was continued by Majoi’ McTaggart’ until in April of this year owing to failing health he sold out to the Bank of Montreal. Major McTaggart is survived by his wife, one son and three daughters. She Woke Up Every Morning With A Thickly Coated Tongue Mrs. A. J. Lahsky, Albertown, Sask., writes:—“I had trouble with my liver, and would wake tip every morning with a thickly coated tongue, and would feel sb tired I could hardly attend to iuy household duties. <‘One .day I read about Mjlburh’s Loxa-Liver Pills, so got .two vials, and am now in the best of health, and able to do my wdrk without any trouble. ’’ Pri^e 25c. a vial at all drug and general stores, Or mailed direct oh receipt of price by The T. Milbum Co., Limited, Toronto, Ont, / PRESENTED AT ROYAL COURT friends in Hensall and district' will be interested to learn that Miss Lillian Lang, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Charles Lang, New York City, was recently presented to the Royal Gourt in London, England. Because of the fact, that she was the only Canadian born giri in the party, Miss Lang was presented - to tli,eir Majesties by Lady Cundiffe-Lister, wife of-the Minister for the Colon­ ies. Miss Lang’s mother, before her marriage, was Miss Mrytle Hod- gins^ of Hensall. Dr. Lang Will be remembered by many in this local- ity as a successful medical practit­ ioner in Granton, where Miss Lillian was born. Miss Lang and her mo­ ther are very close friends of Mrs. F/ Billet,, of London, a prominent authoress, ,who before her marriage was Miss Mabel McLean, of Hensall. ZURICH -Mr, Haist, of Carlo, Mich., is vis­ iting with his neice and nephews, the Williams family at present. Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Horner, of town, accompanied by Ml’. and Mrs. Noah Parent, of Bad Axe, Mich., mo­ tored to London one day recently and visited with Mr. George Hound­ tree who is confined to the hospital there-.' Miss Ida Rout-ledge was taken to Seaforth hospital on Tuesday and operated on fox' the removal of hex’ appendix. .She- is progressing fav­ orably. Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Hess, of Pon­ tiac, Mich., were week-end visitors in town. They were accompanied ■home by Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Hess three sons. Misses Lottie Turkheim anp Edith Klopp visited with, friends in De­ troit for a tew days recently. Mr. Arlo Pattison, of Cario, Mich., is Visiting with his brother-in-law, Mr, William Lamont. Miss Ruth Foster has returned to “It’s lovely honey- how much do you want?” Lorn evening rates on Statiou-to-Sta- Hon tails begin 7.00 pint. Still lower .night fates at 8.30 p.m. All her neighbors wonder how Ed. Baker's wife gets such good prices for her honey. But Mrs. Baker’s secret is simple. She sells by Long Distance telephone. , '‘It’s lovely honey this summer,” she* telephones to the hotel in town. “Yes —- I’ll deliver by the end of the week*” Long Distance is quick, easy to use«—4 and profitable.