Friday, 14 September 1917, Vol. 31, No 24--Will Longdon left Tuesday for Springfield, Ill, to visit relatives and to attend the big state fair. Friday, 14 September 1917, Vol. 31, No 24--Robert Llewellyn writes us from Oak Creek, Colo: Enclosed find $1.50 for which please send me the NEWS. Would have sent it sooner but was not located. I am on the organizing staff of the U. M. W. now. My wife and little girl are much better in health than they have ever been before, the latter never knowing what it is to be sick any more. She will graduate from the 8th grade this year. We live right in the mountains. In the winter the snow gets twelve feet deep here. But the summers are beautiful, and all of us think this is a wonderful country. Give my best regards to all of my old friends. Friday, 14 September 1917, Vol. 31, No 24--KIMBALL-KEENE--Mr. Edgar Kimball of Columbia and Mrs. G. A. Keene of this place were married in the parlors of the Randolph Hotel Saturday noon, September 8, Rev. W. C. Gibbs, pastor of the Christian church, performing the ceremony. It had been the intention of Mr. and Mrs. Kimball, we learn to locate in Burlington, Ia., but the party to whom Mrs. Kimball had recently sold her hotel, having failed to show up to close the deal, caused their plans to go awry, for the time at least. And their many friends hope said plans will remain in that condition permanently, and that they will stay with us and continue to make the Randolph what it has been for many years--the best hotel in the state for the size of the town. The NEWS joins other friends in congratulations and best wishes. Friday, 14 September 1917, Vol. 31, No 24--CALLS THREE HUNDRED MORE--The Randolph county Board of Exemption has made a second call of 300 men, and it is believed that from this number enough will be secured to fill out Randolph's quota of 220. The first hundred appeared before the board yesterday for examination, the second hundred will be examined today and the third hundred tomorrow. The following from Higbee were effected by the call: Victor Creson, Arlando Thompson, Everett Chesser, Ignazio, Ceresero. Robert Duffield, Samuel Whitmore, Joe Palfrey, Clarence Walton, Lesslie Robb, Jas. Daggs, jr., Leroy Harris. Wm. A. Arney, Clarence Cable, Jas. Check, R. A. Jones, Geo. Jobson, Orla Spurling, G. C. Walker, Otha Robb, Wm. Colley, Valentine Cappi, Minnazo Sebastina, Orville Richardson, Jas. Lee, Lyle Cubbage, Ernest Lewis. Will McGrath. Friday, 14 September 1917, Vol. 31, No 24--PAINTED FLAG ON HIS HOUSE--Jeff Dougherty who lives near Bunker Hill, believes in showing colors. He recently painted the entire front of his house in red, white and blue, designed like the American flag. The house can be seen for miles, displaying old glory and its effect is striking to the passing motorists--Fayette Advertiser. Friday, 14 September 1917, Vol. 31, No 24--Rev. W. C. Pitney was regularly ordained a minister of the Baptist church at Mt. Ararat last Saturday. The ceremony was conducted by a council of nine ministers and several deacons. The examination of the candidate was conducted by Rev. N. B. Green and the Ordination sermon preached by Rev. G. O. Vannoy. Rev. Pitney's many Higbee friends join the NEWS in the hope that he will develop into one of his church's biggest men and that he may accomplish the good he longs to do. Friday, 14 September 1917, Vol. 31, No 24--Dr. and Mrs. G. M. Nichols and daughter, Miss Frata, and Mr. and Mrs. Joe Burton attended the funeral of Mrs. B. W. Jacobs, a niece of Dr. Nichols, at Columbia Sunday. Friday, 14 September 1917, Vol. 31, No 24--Elmer Fainter and wife and two children of near Elliott, while returning home Saturday evening, had their buggy wrecked near the Terrill school house, it being run into by an automobile driven by Ed. Thornburg. All of the parties received several cuts and bruises, but none was seriously hurt. John Cooper, who was passing, took the parties to Moberly in his car where they received medical attention. Friday, 14 September 1917, Vol. 31, No 24--Armstrong came very near having another disastrous fire about 9:30 Friday night of last week, the store of S. D. Evans &. Co. being discovered on fire at that hour. The fire was at first thought to have been caused by lightning during the storm, but when three large open jars of gasoline covered with gunny sacks were discovered in the rear of the building after the fire had been put out, the opinion obtained that some fire bug had attempted to destroy the town. The Evans stock of goods and fixtures, on which an insurance of $2400 was carried, was almost a total loss. Friday, 14 September 1917, Vol. 31, No 24--The barn on the farm of J. F. Brown of near Myers, said to have been one of the largest in Howard county, was destroyed by lightning during the storm Friday of last week. Besides a big lot of feed, vehicles, harness, etc., one horse was burned. Mr. Brown's loss was about $2500. Friday, 14 September 1917, Vol. 31, No 24--The home of F. M. Randolph of Moberly, a brother of J. T. Randolph of this place, was destroyed by fire Tuesday morning and the residence of S. B. McCully adjoining was saved only after a hard fight. Friday, 14 September 1917, Vol. 31, No 24--Born, on the 9th, to Mr. and Mrs. Lester Bray, a daughter. Friday, 14 September 1917, Vol. 31, No 24--Born, on September 10, to Mr. and Mrs. Grover Robb, a daughter. Friday, 14 September 1917, Vol. 31, No 24--A daughter was born on the 5th to Mr. and Mrs. Howard Miller of Macon. Friday, 14 September 1917, Vol. 31, No 24--A LETTER FROM CARL DUNCAN--Camp Mille, NY, Sept 8--We entrained from New York Sunday, Sept. 2, and arrived at Mineola, NY, Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. after being on the road 69 hours. We left Topeka on the Rock Island and came to St. Louis by way of Windsor and Versailles. At St. Louis we were transferred to the Pennsylvania line and came direct to Long Island. It was a trip of approximately 1400 miles, but we were comfortably placed in tourist Pullmans and the trip was not at all tiresome. We passed through Kansas City at 1:40 a.m., and were met in the yards by quite a number of people, mostly related to the fellows in the Train, who lived in Kansas city. "Goodbye, God bless you," was frequently heard. We were unloaded in St. Louis for an hour and a half hike over a part of the business section. this was quite a relief after being on the train nearly ten hours. Our next stop was at Indianapolis, Ind., but it was early in the morning, so I didn't get to see much of the city. We reached Columbus, Ohio, at 10 o'clock Tuesday and took another hike. Ohio has a beautiful capitol building, but the thing that amused me was a market along two sides of the state house square. Vegetable and fruit dealers drive upon the streets and sell their products in front of the state building. Our next stop was Pittsburg, Pa. This is undoubtedly the smokiest and dirtiest city in the U. S. We passed mill after mill and foundry after foundry. I saw the Westinghouse Electric Co. where the Edison submarine destroyer is supposed to be in the process of making. It must be a wonderful plant, and covers an enormous acreage. Pittsburg has the world "beat" for children. We passed through the foreign labor district and the children fell out of every hole in sight. they are miserably housed and it makes one's heart ache to see the conditions under which these people live. Judging from the cheering they must be in sympathy with the American issue. They seem to be mostly all Russian. Along the Susquehanna river between Pittsburg and Harrisburg is the most beautiful scenery along the route. the river and the railroad wind around through the Allegheny mountains. there is a striking difference between these mountains and the Rockies. They are for the most part covered with grass and trees, rocks being almost totally absent. Our next hike was in Philadelphia. There is something about the "Quaker town" that makes it look different from any of the rest. The houses have a peculiar style of their own that I am unable to describe. We did not get to see much of the business section. If I ever get back I am surely going to visit Philadelphia and view some of the old historic places. Leaving Philadelphia, we passed through a part of West Virginia, Trenton, NJ, Newark, NJ, reaching Pennsylvania station, New York City, about 5 Wednesday afternoon. New York is built on a very narrow strip of land. It is mostly built in the air, and it is said the buildings are built on hinges so they can be lowered to let the sun pass by. To get to Long Island from New York we were pulled by an electric engine through a 2-mile subway tube. Above us was the East river. It is certainly a remarkable engineering feat in tunneling under the river. We are now located about 25 miles from the coty and 15 miles from the ocean, and in getting on the island we rode on land all the way. I am hoping to be allowed to go to New York before leaving. The Alabama Infantry went over not long ago and killed a few negroes. Since then it has been hard to get camp leave but I hear our company will be allowed to go next week. There are about 20,000 encamped here now and about that many more to come. We are living in tents now, from eight to twelve assigned to a tent. It is warm through the day, but it is sure chilly at night. The Missouri Signal Corp is located north of our quarters and the Oklahoma Ambulance Corp south of us. The first morning I was here I woke up and heard something buzzing around. I jumped up and discovered the air was full of airplanes. I thought sure the Germans were making a raid. Each machine had an eight cylinder motor and is capable of making 90 miles an hour. The tail is painted red, white and blue which will distinguish it from the other machines in Europe. Flying is rather fascinating and I sometimes think I would like to try it. It pays from $100 to $500 a month. Most everyone is commissioned a second Lieutenant at least. The Ammunition train of 800 soldiers was brought to New York in two sections of fifteen cars each. It cost Uncle Sam approximately $56,000 railroad fare to bring us here and $336 a day to feed us. Nearly everyone along the road cheered us until our train was out of sight. The East certainly has the railroads. The Penn. Line is double tracked all the way from St. Louis and the road-bed is as level as the floor. This accounts for the enormous speed the trains make. From Philadelphia to New York there are four tracks and to give you an idea of the business done, there were nine passenger trains passed us between three and four o'clock Wednesday, one following another every five or ten minutes and most of the cars are crowded. In New Jersey and New York the Pennsylvania runs electric trains of six or eight cars. In New Jersey City trains were running under us, over us and along the side of us. Everything is business in a rush. We are expecting to embark for France before October 1st. There seems to be a race on between the 26th and the 42nd to see which goes first. We will be quartered in wooden barracks in France for winter training. We have plenty of clothing and I feel we shall live comfortably. The trip across is expected to take two weeks. There is hardly a week but what there is a troop ship goes over and by Christmas Uncle Sam will have a pretty good army in Europe. The Guards will get most of their training in Europe. Camp Mills will be occupied by the draft army when we leave. People in the East are of the same opinion about the end of the war as Western people. It was the general opinion all along the road that this winter would end it up. I would like to get over there but I am not very anxious for the amusement on the battlefield. The camp is fitted up with shower baths and water fountains on every Company street. there is quite a force of carpenters at work. One hundred seventy kitchens have been built, an average to twenty being completed in a day. A carpenter gets $7.50 day. Pretty good money. Several buildings are being put up on the aviation field and wooden barracks are being erected for the draft soldiers. I have had several letters from high school pupils since I wrote to the NEWS last and I wish I had the time to write each of you a letter, but I simply can't do it. I shall be glad to hear from any of you at any time. I send my regards to everybody. Kathy Bowlin, Additions, corrections, comments welcome.