anaheim-gazette 1923-07-12

VOLUME LII BROCK REPORTS ON WORK OF INSECTARY COUNTY INSTITUTION MADE GOOD DURING ITS FIRST YEAR Millions of Insects Have Been Released Within a Year in Groves of the County for the Destruction of Scale and Mealy Bugs—First Year's Operations Shows a Surplus of Over Three Thousand Dollars in the Treasury. Following is a report of Horticultural Commissioner A. A. Brock on the work accomplished by the county insectary at West Anaheim: The insectary of the Orange County Pest Control association has been in operation since July, 1922. The organization was perfected, however, over a year ago. We believe that from the following report it will be seen that the organization has justified its existence and that the growers of this county have been saved a considerable sum of groves have been kept commercially clean. We have in this county about twenty-five hundred acres where this parasite has been able to keep the grove in fair commercial condition, which would have meant in dollars and cents for artificial control measures about seventy-five thousand dollars. Where a considerable percentage of the scale were too small for the Aphycus to attack while they were multiplying rapidly early in the fall the scale have been carried over and have increased in size so that they are now conspicuous and the infestation is severe. We tried in all cases to get the growers to fumigate where there was a large percentage of small scale left after the Aphycus had killed off those that were large enough for them to attack. By this method we have been able to keep most of the orchards in fair commercial condition. Some of the groves, however, after fumigation are badly infested with black scale. The big thing that has been accomplished by this parasite has been the evening up of the scale hatch which has made it possible with groves infested with red and purple scale to time our fumigation with better results. This evening up of the scale, we think, is worth at least a dollar an acre to the orchardist which would mean in the neighborhood of thirty or forty thousand dollars in the county. There are about eleven secondaries or hyperparasites which work upon... Following is a report of Horticultural Commissioner A. A. Brock on the work accomplished by the county insectary at West Anaheim: The insectary of the Orange County Pest Control association has been in operation since July, 1922. The organization was perfected, however, over a year ago. We believe that from the following report it will be seen that the organization has justified its existence and that the growers of this county have been saved a considerable sum of money by the liberation of the natural enemies that find a suitable host in a number of our citrus pests. The following liberations have been made in the groves of the county for the control of black, red and purple scale, and mealy bug: Aphycus Lounsburyi, 159,885; Chilocorus Bivulnerus, 25,585; Cryptolaemus Montrouzieri, adults, 50,262; larvae, 20,295; Orcus Chalybeus, 7,056; Rhizobius Lopanthae, 107,375; Rhizobius Ventralis, 4,432,900; Cepmnus Binaevatus, 10,980; Tanaomgstix Abnormus, 21,300. The first and most important function of the insectary has been, of course, to try to keep under control the various species of mealy bug found in this county. There are three species of the mealy bug, namely: The citrophilus mealy bug, Psuedococcus gahani, the citrus mealy bug; Pseudococcus citri, and the Baker's mealy bug. Pseudococcus maritimus. These species are named in the order of their importance and there are now about six hundred acres of orchards infested with citrophilus mealy bug. This species is very hard to control due to the fact that at egg-laying time they seek hiding quarters which makes it rather hard for some of our best predators to do as effective work on this species as some of the other mealy bug that attack citrus, as the Cryptolaemus oviposit in the egg sacks of the mealy bug. We have, however, with the splendid co-operation of the growers in trapping this species by the banding method, been able, with our production of natural enemies, to hold down fairly well this pest in most of the groves where ahe infestation has been known to exist for any considerable length of time. We are finding new infestations daily and it is just possible that it will be necessary in a very short time to increase the size of the insectary and our force in order to be able to cope with the increase and spread of this pest of citrus against which there are The big thing that has been accomplished by this parasite has been the evening up of the scale hatch which has made it possible with groves infested with red and purple scale to time our fumigation with better results. This evening up of the scale, we think, is worth at least a dollar an acre to the orchardist which would mean in the neighborhood of thirty or forty thousand dollars in the county. There are about eleven secondaries or hyperparasites which work upon the Aphycus. A number of these were prevalent and numerous last fall owing to the disappointment of the work in Ventura county, it was decided this spring that it would be better to save our funds to be used for other biological work rather than attempt to collect or rear Aphycus for distribution because the few distributed this way would soon be destroyed by the secondaries. There is only an occasional grove where the Aphycus have been found to be numerous this spring, and we feel without an accident, the secondaries will so cut down their numbers that it will be necessary to fumigate to hold the black scale under control. Another thing that is of considerable importance in the way of preventing the Aphycus from becoming a dependable and efficient parasite is the fact that they destroy the larger scale and leave only an even hatch of very small scale which fails to furnish a continuous food supply on which the Aphycus can increase, which reduces their numbers to almost nothing and makes it impossible for them to increase fast enough to be able to destroy the scale before they begin to hatch in the late spring and early summer. It is deplorable that we have met with these obstacles in handling this parasite and the only hope that can be held out is that the secondaries will die off when their food supply runs out and then the Aphycus will have a chance to increase again and help to even up the scale hatch. We have been collecting and liberating as many as possible of those predators like the two-stabs, Chilocorus bilvulneres, and the steely blues, Orcus chalybeus, and liberating them on blocks set aside to test out the efficiency of these predators and to see if they can be acclimated in this county, and thus determine whether or not taey can be depended on from a commercial standpoint to destroy red scale. We have also liberated 107,375 Rhizobius Lopanthae for the control of purple scale, but thus far it seems It is now definite that the contemplated hotel, mention of some weeks ago, is will be no unneress ning the structure. have been complete heim Building corp finding capital to b communication with firm of contractors s struction work. Ye president of the coe the Bay city for th contracts and pavin mediate work. Mr. Siegel recent ground on Broadway. The site is between Lemon streets, we the dimensions be The entire site will five-story, fire-proof The ground floor w business rooms, aniness firms with th spacious lobby for t end, third and fourth devoted entirely to with an amusement fifth floor. The cost not yet made public to be in the neigh million dollars. It finest hotels in th costliest building in Some weeks ago nounced that he w bungalow court for Plans have been begun on this huge and before many w ready for the tenant lows will contain all possible to put into will be commodious beautiful providing fortable homes for Many other buildings contemplated by which, in all probes be consummated. WEST COAST THE TO Theatre Costing $20 for Co Furthering the bu ing through Orange Theatres, Inc., oper photo-play houses ern California, anno really representative theatre project invlure of $225,000. species by the banding method, been able, with our production of natural enemies, to hold down fairly well this pest in most of the groves where she infestation has been known to exist for any considerable length of time. We are finding new infestations daily and it is just possible that it will be necessary in a very short time to increase the size of the insectary and our force in order to be able to cope with the increase and spread of this pest of citrus against which there are no effective known artificial control measures. In addition to the damage done by this species, the citrus mealy bug is found in a number of orchards but we can in a very short time destroy severe infestations of this pest by the liberation of Cryptolaemus and Tanaomastix. The other species of mealy bug, commonly known as Baker's mealy bug, is distributed over a large acreage in the county, but is seldom serious enough to cause noticeable damage to the orchards. We have been liberating natural enemies for this species in a number of districts. We believe the work alone last year in holding down the various species of mealy bug has meant a saving to the growers in the way of artificial control measures of at least twenty or thirty thousand dollars. An effort was made last fall to distribute the Aphycus in all of those groves where this parasite had failed by natural spread to establish itself. This little parasite accomplished some good results in the way of destroying the rubber ridge scale on the entire acreage of the county last fall. In orchards where black scale was the only pest present and where a large percentage of this was suitable for the Aphycus to attack early in the fall. Sixty days in the county jail and a fine of $150 was the sentence meted out to Ben Chapel, 18, an employee of the McPherson packing house by Justice of the Peace G. W. Ingle. Chapel was arrested by Night Marshal Pulley, charged with writing upon and defacing a wall in the public rest rooms in the city hall at Orange. He entered a plea of guilty to cutting the wall with a knife, but denied the authorship of the offensive writing. Testimony to the contrary caused the justice to find him guilty. He is lodged in the county jail at Santa Ana. AHEIM GAZETTE Anaheim, California, Thursday, July 12, 1923 BROADWAY HOTEL BUILDING NOW ASSURED JOE SIEGEL GOES TO SAN FRANCISCO TO SIGN CONTRACT FOR CONSTRUCTION WORK Structure to Be Five Stories in Height and to Cover Site 130x140 Feet on Broadway West of the City Library—Cost Estimated in the Neighborhood of Half a Million Dollars—Siegel Begins Work on 40-Bungalow Court on North Olive. It is now definitely announced that the contemplated five-story Boardway hotel, mention of which was made some weeks ago, is assured, and there will be no unnecessary delay in beginning the structure. Architects' plans have been completed, and the Anaheim Building corporation, which is finding capital to build it, has been in communication with a San Francisco firm of contractors relative to the construction work. Yesterday Joe Siegel, president of the corporation, left for the Bay city for the purpose of signing road in Anaheim, the Union Pacific will expend $2,026,000 in completing its branch line into Orange county as far as Anaheim. de Brabant states that the company has made additions and improvements to its lines, including the Orange county branch, totalling $10,801,000 since July, 1921, when it took over the Salt Lake and Los Angeles line. The itemized expenditures since that date revealed, according to the statement, that the right-of-way and station ground of the company on the branch to Anaheim cost $988,000, while construction of the 18 miles of road, and erection of stations at La Habra, Fullerton and Anaheim, cost $968,000. The La Habra station has been completed. Stations at Fullerton and Anaheim, according to latest advices, will be completed within 30 days. The company spent $75,000 for a spur on the Bastanchury ranch, $34,000 for service tracks at the Anaheim packing house and 11,000 for a spur at the La Habra packing house, it was shown. Indicating what the company has done in preparing to give high class service in Los Angeles, and incidentally in southern California, it was revealed that $2,076,000 has been spent on the Alameda street terminal in Los Angeles, including $1,650,000 for right-of-way and station grounds. The company purchased in three tracts 957 acres near the city, the average purchase and costs being listed as JEALOUS WOMAN SLAYS MAN IN QUARREL CHARLES L. THOMPSON SHOT TO DEATH BY HIS WIFE AT FULLERTON Woman Violently Insane, Taken to the County Hospital, Where She Kills Herself By Hanging—Couple Separated Two Months Ago, Since Which Time Husband Has Been Living in Anaheim—Was a Member of Anaheim Carpenters' Union. Quarrels of a husband and wife ended in tragedy at Fullerton Friday evening. The man is dead from a pistol bullet fired by his wife,and the woman in a raving fit was taken to the county hospital, where she succeeded in hanging herself early Sunday morning. Charles L. Thompson, prominent contractor, well known in Anaheim, where he has been making his home for some months, is the dead man. He was a member of the Anaheim Carpenters' Union. In reative provaluationingly his report rate is pality o In the valuation 541,590; heim. $210; Fr. $923,777. A fac It is now definitely announced that the contemplated five-story Boardway hotel, mention of which was made some weeks ago, is assured, and there will be no unnecessary delay in beginning the structure. Architects' plans have been completed, and the Anaheim Building corporation, which is finding capital to build it, has been in communication with a San Francisco firm of contractors relative to the construction work. Yesterday Joe Siegel, president of the corporation, left for the Bay city for the purpose of signing contracts and paving the way for immediate work. Mr. Siegel recently purchased the ground on Broadway for this building. The site is between Los Angeles and Lemon streets, west of the library, the dimensions being 130x140 feet. The entire site will be covered by a five-story, fire-proof modern structure. The ground floor will be divided into business rooms, and occupied by business firms with the exception of a spacious lobby for the hotel. The second, third and fourth stories are to be devoted entirely to hotel purposes, with an amusement hall occupying the fifth floor. The cost of the building is not yet made public, but it is supposed to be in the neighborhood of half a million dollars. It will be one of the finest hotels in the southland, and the costliest building in the county. Some weeks ago Mr. Siegel announced that he was planning a 40-bungalow court for the north side. Plans have been completed and work begun on this huge pile of buildings, and before many weeks it will be ready for the tenants. These bungalows will contain all the conveniences possible to put into a dwelling. They will be commodious, convenient and beautiful, providing up-to-date comfortable homes for forty families. Many other building enterprises are contemplated by this corporation, which, in all probabilities, will soon be consummated. WEST COAST THEATRES TO INVADE ORANGE Theatre Costing $225,000 to Be Built For Company Furthering the building boom surging through Orange, the West Coast Theatres, Inc., operating a string of photo-play houses throughout southern California, announced through its reality representatives, plans for a theatre project involving an expenditure of $225,000. BAND CONCERT Following is the program for the band concert at municipal park tonight: March—Liberty Forever, Crosby. Selection from Alda, Verdi. Trumpet Solo—Llewelloman Polka—Llewellyn, W.H. Bradford. Quarrels of a husband and wife ended in tragedy at Fullerton Friday evening. The man is dead from a pistol bullet fired by his wife,and the woman in a raving fit was taken to the county hospital, where she succeeded in hanging herself early Sunday morning. Charles L. Thompson, prominent contractor, well known in Anaheim,where he has been making his home for some months, is the dead man. He was a member of the Anaheim Carpenters' union, and was one of the foremen who superintended the carpenter work at the last orange show. Jealousy, it is said, was responsible for the tragedy. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson separated some time ago,and the woman had made application for divorce. In an effort to secure evidence to support her claim for divorce Mrs. Thompson visited her husband's room during his absence Friday. In a trunk she found three letters from other women,which she immediately delivered to her attorney,F.H.Lyon. When Thompson returned in the evening and found the letters gone,he went directly to his wife's home and demanded them.Mrs. Thompson came out with a revolver in her hand and declared her intention of shooting herself.Her husband attempted to take the gun away from her,and a rough and tumble struggle ensued,as Mrs. Thompson was a large and strong woman.In the struggle the gun was discharged, whether intentionally or accidentally is not known,the ball entering Thompson's abdomen.He staggered out o'fthe house,falling unconscious on the lawn,and the woman followed up and fired two more shots at him.She then re-entered the house and came out with a large butcher knife with which she attempted to stab herself,but was seized and overpowered by neighbors who had rushed to the scene on hearing the shots. The wounded man was taken to the Fullerton hospital,where he died several hours later,without regaining consciousness.Mrs. Thompson was taken to the county hospital,where it was found necessary to put her in a straight-jacket to prevent her doing violence to herself. After she became quiet the straight-jacket was removed,但她 was constantly under the surveillance of two nurses.Early Sunday morning the nurses were called away on an emergency case,and fifteen minutes later Mrs. Thompson was found dead,having hanged herself with a bed TO INVADE ORANGE Theatre Costing $225,000 to Be Built for Company Furthering the building boom surging through Orange, the West Coast Theatres, Inc., operating a string of photo-play houses throughout southern California, announced through its realty representatives, plans for a theatre project involving an expenditure of $225,000. The theatre building, which will probably be two-story, is to be located at the corner of Glassell street and Maple avenue on the property owned by Harry Z. Adams, local capitalist. For years a horseshoe pitching grounds, then a croquet court, the property now will soon vanish as a famous landmark—giving place to a modern cinema palace in the onward march of progress. A ten year lease on the property and also the building, which, according to the contract, will be built by Mr. Adams, has been negotiated by the theatrical concern. Seating one thousand persons and embodying everything to be desired in modern theatre appointments, the play house will be made one of the most magnificent in Orange county, according to plans of the West Coast people. UNION PACIFIC IS TO SPEND MILLION New Transcontinental Line Has in View Many Improvements for This Section. According to an itemized statement made by M. de Brabrant, Los Angeles official of the Union Pacific railroad, and received by the local agent of that their home in Los Angeles, where the groom is engaged in business. BAND CONCERT Following is the program for the band concert at municipal park tonight: March—Liberty Forever, Crosby. Selection from Aida, Verdi. Trumpet Solo—Llewelloman Polka—Llewellyn, W. H. Bradford. Popular—Lonesome Mamma Blues, Brown. Grand Sacred Potpourri—Joy to the World, Barnhousen. Vocal Solo—Crying for You, Feist, Wm. Steadman. American Patrol, Meacham, Request. March—I Love You California, Frankenstein. BERT LITTEN KILLED Bert E. Litten, 31 years old Santa Ana mechanic, died at 8 o'clock Saturday at the community hospital as a result of burns sustained when a gasoline tank on which he was working exploded several hours earlier. Litten was treated by Dr. H. Miller Robertson and at first it was expected that the man would live, but later developments showed burns to be very deep and general over the body. The body was removed to the Smith and Tuthill undertaking parlors pending funeral arrangements. Litten was married and lived on West Fifth street, Santa Ana. He formerly operated a garage at Garden Grove and is a well known automobile mechanic. "It pays to advertise"—but not your fallings. HERE'S AN ISSUE The national industrial conference board reports a greater number of wage increases recorded during the month ended June 14 than in any similar previous period. The board reports increases in 287 occupations. ZETTE Number 39 WOMAN IN REEL PISON SHOT TO WIFE AT BTON ne, Taken to the Where She Kills Couple Sepa-ago, Since Which Beef Living in Member of Ana-ion. and wife end-erton Friday evad from a pistol and the woman, taken to the coun-ute succeeded in by Sunday morn- prominent con-Anaheim, where his home for dead man. He Anaheim Carpen- FULLERTON BOASTS OF ITS GREAT WEALTH State Controller's Report Gives Town a High Standing The annual report of financial transactions of municipalities and counties of California for the year 1922, a bulle-tin just issued by the office of the state controller, discloses that Fullerton in natural resources and personal property valuation ranks among the first cities of the state and has a tremendous lead on cities many times its size. The most startling revelation of the report is the announcement that in personal property valuation Fullerton is rated at $11,541,590, almost seven times richer than Santa Ana is in this respect, ten-time richer than Anaheim, and far out-stripping such cities as Long Beach, Berkeley, Fresno and Stockton. In real estate valuations, inoperative property, and other phases of city valuation Fullerton ranks on an amazingly high level. At the same time the report disclosed that Fullerton's tax rate is lower than any other municipality of its size in the state. In the matter of personal property valuation Fullerton is rated at $11,-541,590; Santa Ana, $1,786,555; Anaheim, $904,375; Long Beach, $8,370,-210; Fresno, $9,094,070, and Stockton, $9,237,779. ORDER LUMBER FOR PIONEER OIL RIG STANDARD, IT IS REPORTED, PREPARING TO DRILL ON PLACENTIA AVENUE Billy Wagner Place, Opposite the City Dump, Selected for Test Well, It is Stated—Company Secures Leases on a Thousand Acres, and Will Now Hasten Development—West Side, Also, is Being Tested for Oil—Other Companies Trying to Get In. It is now announced on good authority that the Standard has ordered material for a rig, and is making rapid preparations to sink a pioneer well on its oil territory in East Anaheim. On the Billy Wagner place on Placentaia avenue, at the junction of Broad street, just opposite the city dumping ground. When agents of the Standard Oil company came into this territory some weeks ago, they announced their intention of signing up a thousand acres before beginning operations. They had and wife enderton Friday evaded from a pistol fire, and the woman taken to the courthouse succeeded in by Sunday morning. prominent connaissance Anaheim, where his home for dead man. He Anaheim Carpenter one of the foredeed the carpenter's large show. was responsible and Mrs. Thompson came ago, and the application for secure evidence for divorce Mrs. husband's room holiday. In a trunk was from other, woodyly delivered H. Lyon. When at the evening and he went directive and demanded him came out with hand and declared lying herself. Her to take the gun rough and tumble as Mrs. Thompson strong woman. She was discharged or accidentally the ball entering. He staggered unconscious woman followed shots at him. The house and age butcher knife adapted to stab her and overpowered and rushed to the shots. was taken to the here he died seventh regaining Thompson was hospital, where he put her in a recent her doing quiet the straightout she was surveillance of Sunday morning dead away on an fifteen minutes was found dead, if with a bed property, and other phases of city valuation Fullerton ranks on an amazingly high level. At the same time the report disclosed that Fullerton's tax rate is lower than any other municipality of its size in the state. In the matter of personal property valuation Fullerton is rated at $11,-541,590; Santa Ana, $1,786,555; Anaheim, $904,375; Long Beach, $8,370,210; Freano, $9,094,070, and Stockton, $9,237,779. A fact more generally known is the high real estate valuation in Fullerton, which is set in the state reports at 4,777,590, exceeds Santa Ana by more than $250,000. Anaheimvaluations are totaled at $1,945,780. Fullerton in this respect also outranks such representative cities as Riverside, Redlands and Vallejo. Some indication of the great potential wealth waiting development is found in the total value of inoperative property, which is set in the report for Fullerton at $17,674,690. Santa Ana reports $9,717,875, and Anaheim $5,-194,580. In the matter of sanitation and health conservation work Fullerton is shown by its expenditures to hold an exceptionally high rank, having spent more than other city of its size and many cities twice its size for the promotion of cleanliness. During 1922 Fullerton spent almost twice as much as Anaheim in work of this nature, and spent considerably more than such cities as Vallejo, Santa Barbara, Riverside and Pomona. Fullerton spent $28,748.98 for sanition work, whereas Anaheim spent only $15,630.49. Also Fullerton spent $2,-595.75 for the conservation of health while Anaheim spent $1,552.45 and Santa Ana only $1,135.30. For the protection of persons and property, (fire police) Fullerton spent $23,477.95, as compared with Anaheim's expenditure of $15,937.38. During the period covered in the report Fullerton achieved another high record in the statement of money spent for street paving and repairs, lighting. Fullerton expending $62,-661.15, while Anaheim spent only $22,-006.55. In the course of this great development, startling when considered with the fact that Fullerton ranks fifty-ninth in the state for population, and despite the expenditures for sanitation and protection, Fullerton's tax rate for 1922 as shown by the state report, was only $1.10, as against Anaheim's rate of $1.45 and Santa Ana's rate of $1.60. According to the controller's figures it is now announced on good authority that the Standard has ordered material for a rig, and is making rapid preparations to sink a pioneer well on its oil territory in East Anaheim. on the Billy Wagner place on Placentia avenue, at the junction of Broad street, just opposite the city dumping ground. When agents of the Standard Oil company came into this territory some weeks ago, they announced their intention of signing up a thousand acres before beginning operations. They had little difficulty in securing leases at $25 per acre and a one-sixth royalty, although two or three ranchers hesitated for a time. But the thousand acres have been signed up under the terms offered by the company, and development work will soon begin. Before seeking leases in the neighborhood geologists, scientists and expert oil men looked over the field and pronounced it good. These men are supposed to know what the bowels of the earth hold by looking at the surface, and the company had faith in their reports. Its agents hastened to secure a substantial block of leases, and now preparations are making to immediately begin sinking a test well. Other companies, it is said, stimulated by the action of the Standard are bidding for leases on the outskirts,and speculators have been endeavoring to purchase the oil rights from ranchers who have leased. Should the Wagner well prove to be a good one there will undoubtedly be vigorous bidding for leases in this neighborhood, and in all probability Anaheim would soon find itself surrounded by a forest of derricks. There is also much activity in the Cypress neighborhood, seven miles west. Should a well be brought in there leases will probably be taken up to the city's gates, and the entire territory developed. Undoubtedly Anaheim is destined to become an oil town. authorized to discuss with the board of supervisors and the Orange county harbor commission plans for preventing control of harbor frontage by private parties or corporations. Operation of a belt railroad line under control of harbor authorities has been suggested as one of the possible means of preventing monopolization of the frontage by private interests. Wallace announced that the supervisors had declined to discharge the harbor commission, following presen- WANT UNION PACIFIC TO BUILD TO HARBOR Newport Boosters Think Our New Road Should Be Extended Harry Welch, new secretary of the Orange county harbor chamber of commerce and advertising man for Newport Beach, is preparing to meet officials of the Union Pacific Railroad company to extend an invitation to the company to extend its lines to Newport harbor and to ascertain from the officials methods by which the chamber may assist the company in a program of building to the harbor. The secretary's instructions to arrange for the conference were given him at a meeting of the chamber held at the Newport Harbor Yacht club house, where a dinner complimentary to Mr. and Mrs. Welch was given by the boosters of the beach city. The invitation is to be extended in accord with the recent suggestion by Maurice de Brabant, of the railroad company, that his company be invited to build its line to the harbor. Lew H. Wallace, as chairman of the harbor committee of the chamber, was of supervisors and the Orange county harbor commission plans for preventing control of harbor frontage by private parties or corporations. Operation of a belt railroad line under control of harbor authorities has been suggested as one of the possible means of preventing monopolization of the frontage by private interests. Wallace announced that the supervisors had declined to discharge the harbor commission, following presentation of its final report. The harbor chamber will entertain the Orange county associated chambers of commerce at its August meeting, at the community club house at Costa Mesa. Plans will be made for giving delegates a ride over the bay. The invitation will be extended to the county body at its meeting this month at Orange. Under plans the harbor chamber will take over direction of the annual Balboa tournament of lights. The date was set for Saturday evening, August 25. With the advent of the present fiscal year this month, County Auditor W. C. Jerome is inaugurating a new system of counter books in his office, the aim being to curtail time and effort required in handling the business. With the affairs of his office rapidly increasing in volume, and no relief in the way of extra help afforded under existing laws, the auditor, like other county officials, is "hard put" to cope with the situation, he intimated. The new books would relieve the strain to some extent, it was hoped. "We had to do it." Jerome said. "These days we have to cut all the corners to get out the work."