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1924: Rock County residents give food for children starving in Germany

The following appeared in the Rock County Herald on March 28, 1924:
 
RELIEF FOR STARVING CHILDREN OF GERMANY
 
People of Rock county Asked To Help In Saving Two Million Kiddies Facing Starvation
 
COUNTY-WIDE DRIVE FOR FUNDS SOON TO BE MADE 
Mayor Leach Appoints committee, With A. O. Moreaux as Chairman to Conduct Mercy Work
 
A drive to raise a fund of $1,000 to aid in the relief of starving children in Germany, will be made in Rock county within a short time, according to plans formulated the first of this week.
Mayor George E. Leach, of Minneapolis, who recently returned from a visit to Germany, is heading the relief movement in Minnesota, and has appointed a committee in Rock  county, with A. O. Moreaux as county chairman to conduct the local campaign. Other members of the committee named by Mr. Leach are:
A. A. Anderson, Geo. Michaelson, Frank F. Michael, Paul K. Myers, W. H. Engleking, Mrs. J. E. Treat, Mrs. C. J. Martin, Rev. P. H. Ristau, City of Luverne; Henry Rolfs, Battle Plain; O. I. Godfrey, Julius Stoterau, Beaver Creek twp.; Nick Kahler, Beaver Creek village; Rev. Goehle, Steen; Ed Ackerman, Kanaranzi; Joe Willers, Luverne twp.; Rudolph Jauert, Mound; H. J. Hemme, Denver; Peter Burmeister, Rose Dell; Fred Rockman, Martin; Wm. Priez, Clinton; F. C. Nuffer, Hills; J. C. Johansen, Hardwick; Henrig Hass, Vienna.
Some of the above members of the committee have given notice of their inability to act, and it is expected that Mayor Leach will make appointments to fill these vacancies in a day or two.
At a meeting of the members of the committee held Tuesday afternoon in the municipal court room in the city hall, it was decided to make a house-to-house campaign throughout the county to solicit funds. Tentative plans were also laid for other activities and these plans will be completed at another meeting of the whole committee some time next week. The plans include an invitation to Mayor Leach to visit Luverne at an early date to tell of conditions he found in Germany.
In view of the fact that a house-to-house campaign in the county represents quite a task, it was decided at Tuesday’s meeting to ask Mayor Leach to appoint four additional members of the committee from each township. This request has been sent to Mr. Leach, and as soon as these additional committeemen selected by him and the vacancies above referred to are filled, another meeting of the committee will be held and final plans for the drive outlined.
It is proposed to raise $250,000 in Minnesota, and Rock county’s suggested quota is 10 cents per capita. Fifty cents, it is said, will feed one child for a month, and $5 will feed one child until the next harvest. Over two million children it is claimed, are facing starvation.
Donations to the Rock County Historical Society can be sent to the Rock County Historical Society, P.O. Box 741, Luverne, MN 56156.
Mann welcomes correspondence sent to mannmade@iw.net.

1924: Auditor reports 283 real estate transfers

The following appeared in the Rock County Herald on January 18, 1924:
 
REAL ESTATE TRANSFERS SHOW BIG DECREASE
 
Only Two Hundred Eighty-Three Conveyances Filed During Year With Sixty-Nine for Luverne
 
Two hundred eighty three transfers of real estate were made in this county during the year 1923, according to the records of County Auditor Olaf Skyberg. This is similar to the records of a year ago, but shows an enormous decrease since the “flush” years when everybody was buying or trading land, and the real estate business was at its height.
Of the total number of transfers, a consideration is stipulated in only 126. While 28 are final decrees handed down by the probate court. The city of Luverne leads by far all the other civil divisions of the county, having 69 transfers, in thirty-five of which considerations are mentioned, and six of which are final decrees.
The transfers of the other villages and townships of the county are recorded as follows:
         Battle Plain township, eight transfers, with six considerations and one final decree.
Beaver Creek township, seventeen transfers, four considerations, one final decree.
Beaver Creek village, twelve transfers, seven considerations, one final decree.
Clinton, fifteen transfers, eight considerations, and no final decree.
Denver, eighteen transfers, nine considerations, three final decrees.
Hardwick, five transfers, four of which had stipulated considerations.
Hills, nineteen transfers, with only seven considerations.
Jasper, ten transfers, having four considerations and one final decree.
         Kanaranzi township, twenty-three transfers, thirteen considerations and a final decree.
Luverne township, seven transfers, with three considerations and one final decree.
         Magnolia township, fifteen transfers, four stipulated considerations and two final decrees.
Village of Magnolia, seven transfers, with three considerations and one final decree.
         Mound, ten transfers, three considerations, one final decree.
Rose Dell, eighteen transfers, five considerations, one decree.
Springwater, eleven transfers, four considerations and four final decrees.
Vienna township, eight transfers, with two considerations and two final decrees.
Donations to the Rock County Historical Society can be sent to the Rock County Historical Society, P.O. Box 741, Luverne, MN 56156.
Mann welcomes correspondence sent to mannmade@iw.net.

1924: Auto Company lends vacant lots as hitching places

The following appeared in the Rock County Herald on January 18, 1924:
 
FARMERS TO BE PROVIDED WITH HITCHING PLACES
 
Home Automotive Co. Tenders Use of Vacant Lots for This Purpose to Luverne Commercial Club
 
Accepting the offer of the Home Automotive Co., to donate the use of the vacant lots at the corner of Lincoln and McKenzie streets as a hitching place for the teams of farmers, the Luverne Commercial club at a meeting held Tuesday evening completed arrangements for the installation of the necessary hitching posts for such a purpose.
First efforts of the club were directed towards ascertaining what arrangements could be made for providing barn shelter for teams of farmers while in town during the winter months, and to find out what hitching post facilities could be provided. A committee composed of Ben. Pelstring, Lloyd Long and Will Ellis was named to take charge of this matter.
This committee made its report Tuesday evening, to the effect that it was impossible to secure barn room on a scale sufficiently extensive to be of any value, but that the Home Automotive Co. had tendered the vacant lots as a hitching place. The offer of the Home Automotive Co., was accepted and the matter of providing hitching facilities was taken up.
The result was that the city of Luverne donated a supply of old boiler flues, which can no longer be used at the plant, which will be utilized as hitching posts; the Luverne Motor Truck Co., agreed to do the sawing and drilling on the flues free from charge, and Manager Harry A. Edgar, of the Northwestern Telephone exchange, will furnish the necessary cable, and the tools required for digging the post holes.
And last, but not least, thirty odd other members of the club have agreed to form a posthole digging bee, on a certain day, as early as will be convenient, when they shall undertake the task of digging the post holes and setting the posts.
Through arrangements made with the common council, it will be the duty of the street commissioner to see that the hitching places are kept clean.
Donations to the Rock County Historical Society can be sent to the Rock County Historical Society, P.O. Box 741, Luverne, MN 56156.
Mann welcomes correspondence sent to mannmade@iw.net.

1924: Assessors gather for annual meeting

The following appeared in the Rock County Herald on March 28, 1924:
 
ROCK COUNTY ASSESSORS TO MEET NEXT FRIDAY
 
Representative of State Tax Commission to be Present and fully Explain Assessment Requirements
 
The regular annual meeting of the assessors of Rock county for the purpose of receiving instructions and advice before taking up their duties for the new year, will be held next Friday, April 4th, at the county auditor’s office in this city, commencing at 10 o’clock in the forenoon.
All assessors of the county who can possibly arrange to do so, are urged to attend this meeting, for a representative of the Minnesota Tax commission will be present and carefully outline the proper methods of assessing the various kinds of personal property in accordance with the requirements governing such matters.
This representative of the tax commission will also endeavor to answer all questions submitted by assessors pertaining to their duties, and if there is any phase of the work which is not clear to an assessor, that will be the most opportune time to have the matter cleared up.
Assessors are entitled to pay for the time spent in attending this meeting, their remuneration being fixed at five cents per mile for each mile necessarily traveled in going to and returning from the meeting and to four dollars additional for each day in attendance of these sessions.
Donations to the Rock County Historical Society can be sent to the Rock County Historical Society, P.O. Box 741, Luverne, MN 56156.
Mann welcomes correspondence sent to mannmade@iw.net.

1924: Gas prices near peak at 24.8 cents per gallon

 
The following appeared in the Rock County Herald on February 8, 1924:
 
PRICES OF GASOLINE GIVEN ANOTHER BOOST
 
Standard and Independents Act in Unison in Boosting Prices 2 cents Throughout Northwest
 
SECOND 2-CENT RAISE MADE IN LAST 30 DAYS
 
Prices Now Near Peak in Minnesota—Rise In Price of Crude Oil Cited As Cause of Increase
 
Cost of gasoline to users throughout the Northwest took another jump Tuesday. This time the increase was two cents, making the selling price at service stations in Luverne 20.8 cents per gallon for what is known as common, and 23.8 cents per gallon for high test.
This brings the price well up towards the high peak of 24.8 cents per gallon for ordinary gasoline, which prevailed before Gov. McMaster, of South Dakota, threw a monkey wrench into the oil interests game of grab, thereby starting the gasoline price war in South Dakota that was reflected in other states.
This is the second increase in price put on gasoline within the past month, both increases being on a two cents a gallon basis, so that at present, the oil industry is picking up.
At Sioux Falls, where the reduced price war waxed the warmest, an increase of six cents a gallon was slapped on gasoline last week, and the general two cents a gallon increase was added this week, bringing the selling price up to 23.5 a gallon for common.
Independent dealers followed the lead of the Standard Oil Co. in adding the increase, which also applies to tank line deliveries. Independents sought to explain their actions by higher quotations at the refineries, and partly because still higher prices are anticipated with a stronger price for crude oil.
It is stated that Pennsylvania crude oil has been advancing at the rate of about 25 cents a week, and that western crude that sold at 60 to 80 cents in October is now sold at close to $2.50 per barrel. It is further claimed that while gasoline could be bought last week at the refineries for 11.5 cents, the price this week is 12.5 cents.
Donations to the Rock County Historical Society can be sent to the Rock County Historical Society, P.O. Box 741, Luverne, MN 56156.
Mann welcomes correspondence sent to mannmade@iw.net.

1923: County agent asks for homegrown seed

The following appeared in the Rock County Herald on December 28, 1923:
 
SHORTAGE OF GOOD HOME GROWN SEED IS INDICATED
 
County Agent Roske Seeks to Locate Good Local Grown Seed for Distribution In County
 
In consideration of the great shortage this year of good, clean, home-grown seed of many varieties of farm grains, County Agent M. P. Roske is endeavoring to locate and get a distribution, in as far as possible, of home-grown seeds throughout this county, which he considers will be far more profitable to the farmers than the purchase of seed from foreign countries.
This shortage of seed is especially noted in clovers, he states, and as a result, some of the large seed firms are shipping in great amounts of clover from European countries. Through numerous trials it has been found that seed from southern parts of Europe winter kills very badly in this part of the United States. This imported seed is therefore of very little value to Rock county farmers, unless it comes from the more northern countries of Europe.
In connection with his plan for distribution of home-grown seeds in the county, Mr. Roske is securing tests on all seed both as to purity and germination, in order that farmers may know just what they are purchasing. He asks that farmers who have any seed for sale or are desirous of purchasing seed for next spring, notify him as to the amount of the several kinds of grain which they might have for sale, or the amount they wish to purchase.
Donations to the Rock County Historical Society can be sent to the Rock County Historical Society, P.O. Box 741, Luverne, MN 56156.
Mann welcomes correspondence sent to mannmade@iw.net.

1923: County agent asks for homegrown seed

The following appeared in the Rock County Herald on December 28, 1923:
 
SHORTAGE OF GOOD HOME GROWN SEED IS INDICATED
 
County Agent Roske Seeks to Locate Good Local Grown Seed for Distribution In County
 
In consideration of the great shortage this year of good, clean, home-grown seed of many varieties of farm grains, County Agent M. P. Roske is endeavoring to locate and get a distribution, in as far as possible, of home-grown seeds throughout this county, which he considers will be far more profitable to the farmers than the purchase of seed from foreign countries.
This shortage of seed is especially noted in clovers, he states, and as a result, some of the large seed firms are shipping in great amounts of clover from European countries. Through numerous trials it has been found that seed from southern parts of Europe winter kills very badly in this part of the United States. This imported seed is therefore of very little value to Rock county farmers, unless it comes from the more northern countries of Europe.
In connection with his plan for distribution of home-grown seeds in the county, Mr. Roske is securing tests on all seed both as to purity and germination, in order that farmers may know just what they are purchasing. He asks that farmers who have any seed for sale or are desirous of purchasing seed for next spring, notify him as to the amount of the several kinds of grain which they might have for sale, or the amount they wish to purchase.
Donations to the Rock County Historical Society can be sent to the Rock County Historical Society, P.O. Box 741, Luverne, MN 56156.
Mann welcomes correspondence sent to mannmade@iw.net.

1923: Red Cross to canvas residents in Rock County

The following appeared in the Rock County Herald on November 2, 1923:
 
PLANS FOR RED CROSS ROLL CALL PERFECTED
 
House-to-house Canvass to be Made in Luverne Sunday, Nov. 11th, From 2 to 4 p.m.
 
At a meeting called Monday evening by Dr. C. O. Wright, as county chairman for the seventh annual Red Cross roll call, plans were perfected for the carrying on of the drive in Rock county. It was decided to make a house to house canvass in Luverne and the other towns in the county, while the children of the rural schools will conduct the drive in their own districts. This will be a Junior Red Cross service, and each pupil who secures one or more memberships, will be entitled to a Junior Red Cross button.
In Luverne, a canvass of the residence districts will be made from two to four o’clock on the opening day of the roll call, which will be Armistice Day, Sunday, November 11th. Announcement of this solicitation will be made in all churches of the city on Sunday morning, in order that all may make it a point to remain at their homes during that time. A committee to take charge of this work will be appointed in a few days by Dr. Wright, and the city will be divided into small districts in order that the campaign may be more quickly and satisfactorily completed.
A house to house solicitation will likewise be made in the smaller towns, with the Red Cross executive committee of each town acting as chairman for their respective precincts. The drive in Beaver Creek will be in charge of Mrs. Phil Crawford; Mrs. Carl Woodrow, at Hills; Mrs. Carl Olson, at Kenneth; Mrs. A. J. Tangeman, Jr., at Hardwick; Mrs. Alex Walker, Magnolia; Mrs. J. A. Baker, Kanaranzi, Mrs. Chester Linnell, Ashcreek, Rev. H. F. Rieke, Steen.
Red Cross membership in Rock county has dropped extremely low in the last two years, there being only 205 paid memberships at the present time, out of a population of approximately 12,000. There should be at least 500 Red Cross members in this county, and an earnest endeavor will be made to reach this goal before the close of the roll call, on Thanksgiving Day, November 29th.
The argument which is frequently raised, to the effect that the Red Cross is strictly a war-time organization, and that the war over, there is nothing left to do, is refuted by the statement of John Leslie, state director of the roll call for Minneapolis, who says: “While the last gun was fired five years ago, there are in Minnesota hospitals today 807 disabled men fighting their way back to health—a battle that holds none of the thrill of actual combat in which these men must have the continued service of the Red Cross. Under the charter issued by congress to the Red Cross we are bound to continue and carry on a system of national and inter-national relief in time of peace and to apply the same in mitigating the sufferings caused by pestilence, famine, fire, floods, and other great national calamities, and to devise and carry on measures for preventing the same.
“In disaster relief in the United States alone for the year ending July 1, the Emergency Relief service of the Red Cross was recorded in 110 disasters, in which the property loss totaled over $20,000,000.00. Flood, fire, and tornado swooped down; the Red Cross with a strong national organization was able to step into the breach.
“If only every citizen of Minnesota could realize that this vast work of mercy was made possible by membership dues, Minnesota would record its 100,000 quota of membership unsolicited.”
Donations to the Rock County Historical Society can be sent to the Rock County Historical Society, P.O. Box 741, Luverne, MN 56156.
Mann welcomes correspondence sent to mannmade@iw.net.

1923: Local money orders can now be sent to relatives living in Germany

The following appeared in the Rock County Herald on December 21, 1923:
 
U. S. AND GERMANY RENEW MONEY ORDER EXCHANGE
 
Under arrangements completed by the two governments, beginning November 1st, there again will be an exchange of money orders by the postal systems of the United States and Germany, according to announcement received this week by Postmaster Geo. W. Fried.
It has been impossible since the war to send money orders from the United States to Germany, much as this has been desired by people in this country who have relatives in Germany.
The new arrangement also provides that international reply coupons, costing 11 cents each, may be purchased at the Luverne postoffice and sent to correspondents in Germany, where they may be exchanged by the recipient for postage stamps with which to prepay postage on mail destined for the United States.
The same money order rates will prevail as those to other countries, and the exchange on the money orders will be figured at the exchange rate in effect on the day the money order advice is received at the Cologne exchange office.
Donations to the Rock County Historical Society can be sent to the Rock County Historical Society, P.O. Box 741, Luverne, MN 56156.
Mann welcomes correspondence sent to mannmade@iw.net.

1923: Health clinics set up at different locations

The following appeared in the Rock County Herald on September 28, 1923:
 
CHILD HEALTH CLINICS TO BE HELD OCT. 6-11
 
Specialist to Hold Clinics at Luverne, Ashcreek, Kenneth, Kanaranzi and Hardwick
 
Infant and children’s clinics, under the direction of the Rock County Public Health association, will be held at five different points in the county from October 6th to 11th. The first clinic will be held in Luverne on Saturday, October 6th; at Ashcreek on Monday, the 8th; Kenneth, Tuesday, the 9th; Kanaranzi, Wednesday, the 10th, and Hardwick on Thursday, the 11th.
Clinic will begin at nine o’clock in the morning and continue until four-thirty in the afternoon each day, and will be conducted by a doctor who specializes in children’s diseases. It is free to every one—all expense in connection with it will be paid from funds derived from the sale of Christmas seals.
The clinics are scientific in nature and the doctor will be there for the purpose of discovering physical imperfections and to give advice concerning them so that they can be corrected before they become permanent defects. The doctor will tell each mother the exact condition of her child, suggest the diet, make the diagnosis and leave to the parents the choice of any physician they may desire to do any prescribing or give the treatment necessary for the child.
Children of school age, if accompanied by their parents, will also be examined. The child’s weight for his height and age is the best index of his general health. If parents have boys or girls below the standard weight for their height and age, they are urged to bring them to the clinic and have the physician explain what each particular child must do to bring up his weight and grow to be strong and healthy. It will cost you nothing to find out what is troubling the child, and an examination in time may prevent a great deal of future trouble.
Donations to the Rock County Historical Society can be sent to the Rock County Historical Society, P.O. Box 741, Luverne, MN 56156.
Mann welcomes correspondence sent to mannmade@iw.net.