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Image provided by: Suffolk Cooperative Library System
Sixty-Seven Fires Reported Last Year From the Selden Observation Tower A GREAT deal was heard this * ^ spring about the prevalence of forest fires , but very little was said about the efforts which are made to prevent them . These efforts are con- stant and unremitting and deserve some mention. In Suffolk county alone there are four observation tow- ers, the nearest of which is the Tele- scope Hill tower , a mile and a half south of Selden. This tower was built in 1918 by the Conservation department , and was the first one to be built by the de- partment on Long Island. George D. Pratt was commissioner of conser- vation at the time and John LePan of Saranac lake was the builder. The cab is about 400 feet above sea level and commands an unobstructed view for many miles in all directions. The tower is about 70 feet hi gh and is for the purpose of \ spotting \ forest fires. The. first observer was Al Lucas of Selden ¦ who served nearly two years. Then Frank Forsyth took the job when he cam e home from over- seas and has held it ever since that time. Visitors are welcome to visit the tower and last year 1 , 180 signed the register. Sixty-seven fires were reported from this tower last year. Since 1918 the Conservation de- partment has enlarged its work on Long Island and there are towers lo- cated at Dix Hills , Camp Upton , Flanders and East Hampton besides the one at Selden. Lithgow Osborne is the present Commissioner , W. D. Howard is the Director of Lands and Forests and K. F. William is the Superintendent of Forest Fire Con- trol. When a forest fire starts the ob- server notices the nearest ranger or fire warden and tells them the loca- tion of the fire. Anyone wishing to report a for- est fire can call the Tower , Selden 316-F21 or the Conservation office , Selden 480-F2. Clown ' s Caper s Amuse Children ¦ ' ¦ • ' At Sanatorium Pantomime , Juggling and An- tics Cause Laughter H. Ferrier of Bell port Gives Fine Performance and \Ooh-La-La \ Becomes Popular Cry_ C' -H RIE K S of laughter echoed *^ through the auditorium of the Holtsville sanatorium on Wednesday evening when a clown , in the pro- verbial pantaloons and chalked face , entertained the juvenile patients , and a few adults as well. From the time of his entrance carrying an umbrella and wearing a silk hat and gloves that came off by the yard , to the final showing of his \Thank U\ card , there was one burst of merriment after an- other. Juggling tricks and comic panto- mime kept the audience in gales of laughter. Perhaps the most popular trick was that involving four silk hats. Each one in turn was placed on his head while the other three were kept in the air. And then there was the one when a saucer , cup, spoon and lump of sugar were miraculously transferred, one by one , from the tip of his foot , to the top of his head . And there were the plates that sailed over the heads of the spectators , and the big ball that travelled up one of the clown ' s arm s , and down the other one. Altogether the evening was a great success and thanks are due to Harry Ferrier of Bellport who gave the per- formance. Mr. Ferrier played on the stage of the New York Hippodrome some years ago , and apparently he has lost none bf his skill nor any of his art as a comedian. His daughter , Miss Emily Ferrier , played some trumpet solos which were very much enjoyed. The entertainment was ar- ranged by the Rev, Newell D. Lind- ner, The Community Church At Middle Island Will Hear C.C.C. Glee Club 'THE Undenominational Community •* church on Yaphank road in Mid- dle Island will have a sp iritual song service by 25 members of Company 238 C C, C. Glee club on Sunday aft- ernoon at 3 o ' clock . Captain 0. D. Swank , chaplain , will be in . charge of this part of the afternoon service. These boys have already built up a fine reputation for-themselves ' as . singers of old time religious songs. Recently they sang before the Biblo conference at Stony Brook. Last week they entertained at the Yaphank Presbyterian church . They arc book- ed fo r. a number of prominent church- es on Long Island and elsewhere. The Rev, Walter D. Britt , pastor of the church -will use as his sermon subje ct , \Unity of- the Spirit?' All are invited to attend this spir- itual service arid will be assured oi! a; hearty welcome. - « . .. ' ¦ On Wednesday evening, August 21 , there - wijl bo tho usual mid-\veelc prayer arid song service , Everyone is urged to come arid bring a friend, Six To Seven Thousand Quail Raised Yearly At Game Farm ON the north side of the Middle Country road at Middle Island is an orderly-looking farm - which often arouses the curiosity of the passing motorist. It is the State Game farm and has . been operated/ since 1914 when the Game Conservation depart- ment purchased 100 acres . of land. The farm at first was used to raise ringneck pheasants. It was under the supervision of Harry T. Rogers , superintendent ' of Pheasant Farms. The foremen under Mr? Rogers were Harry Gordon , Harry Baker and Floyd R. Buell. All of these foremen did splendid work. ' Now bob white quails and a limited number of ringneck pheasants are reared exclusively by the electric brooder method. The eggs are secured from a breed- ing stock of , 500 quail which are maintained at the State farm. The eggs are hatched by electrically heat- ed brooder units. The farm , which is the largest in tho northern states , raises about 6 , - 00O . ( to 7, 000 quail annually. Over half of' the birds are distributed in Nassau and Suffolk counties , the bal- ance going South. They are distrib- uted to sportsmen of the state for liberation in suitable areas, Reports indicate that the quail hunting on Long Island has been ma- terially improved by the liberation of the birds from the state farm at Mid- dle Island. M. O. Poync-r , one foreman , one as- sistant and six helpers are employed at the farm. The men take care of the birds and also keep the farm in good order. The general aspect of the farm is one that suggests efficiency, neatness and large-scale production under modern , scientific conditions. Visitors are welcome. The only restrictions imposed upon them are moderate , and arc consistent with proper management and! protection of breeding stock and young birds. These restrictions are such as the foreman , at his discretion , may im- pose. The quail are distribute d through sportsmen ' s organizations registered ' with the department. Works Progress Pay - Increased in Suffolk \\TH E western section of Suffolk county has been changed from a rural county classification to that of a metropolitan area in connection with projects of the Works Progress administration , William E. Gormlcy, director for Nassau and Suffolk coun- ties , announced last week. The me- tropolitan area will probably extend east as far as Riverhead. The change means that men employed on projects will be allowed $55 a month of 130 hours instead of $48 , the scale tor rural counties. The board of supervisors voted last week to protest the original classifi- cation to both Mr. Gormley and the state and national directors. It was their contention that living- costs , in the western part of the county at least , were as high as in Nassau county, which was set as a metropoli- tan section. Supervisor William Watt of Huntington was the firs t to pro- test the rural classification. Samuel Mitman of Huntington war, appointed this week in charge of a. force in Suffolk county to change all projects which have already been ap- proved by the State T. E. R. A. to< the new lineup under the Federal W. P. A. This is expected to take some time , as there are projects in all parts of the county which must be transferred to the new forms before any actual operations can be under- taken. County Fair To Be Held Aug. 27-31 Horse Show and Automobile Races On Program 'Planned for Bi g An- nual Event at Riverhead Grounds \\THE annual Suffolk County fair , *• to be. held earlier this year , from August 27 to August 31 , will include a housing show and a food show as two new features. The housing event will be held in the large fireproof au- tomobile building at the north end of the grounds and it is being sup- ported by the Suffolk County Hous- ing committee, A program of horse races , vaude- ville acts and other amusements has ( Continued on page 8) Condon Smith Name d } B y D emocrats for \ District Attorney Joseph Kirk of Ronkonkoma Put Up For County Treasurer—Neuss Already Named for We/fare Pcsf i A TTY. Reginald Condon Smith of \* *- . Riverhead has been endorsed by the Democrats of Suffolk for tho nomination for district attorney this fall to oppose District Attorney I/. Barron Hill of Southold , -who has been endorsed by the Republicans for renomination. The Democrats have also endorsed Joseph Kirk of lake Ronkonkoma for county treasurer and Dr. W. C. Pendill of Huntington for coroner. Their proposed candidate for as- semblyman , second district , is Mi- chael J. Ryan of Babylon. County Chairman Charles H. Sul- liva n of Northport presided at the meeting of the Democrats held in Huntington Thursday nigh t at which much progress was made in lining up the slate. Dr. William H. Neuss of Yap hank had been previously en- dorsed for the nomination of welfare commissioner and Atty. Frederic Francais of Westhampton Beach had (Continued on page 7) LAKE CANAAN INN DRAWS LARG E SATURDAY CROWDS A specia l feature on the program at the Lake Canaan inn this Saturday night is the return engagement of Frank Duke and Ronnie Stewart in. the sketch \Laugh , Clown , Laugh. \\ Those two received quite an ovation when they played at the inn two weeks ago. Record crowds have been coming on Saturday nights when steaks , cooked oyer charcoal , prove a great attraction. These steaks can also be had to order , on -week nights. Observation Tower Locsted at Selden