The State News

A very severe storm of rain and hail, intermingled with vn id lighting and deafening thunder passed over the state. At Harrisville the dam above town broke, flooding the streets and carrying away outhouses and about 50,000 feet of logs; crops and gardens along the stream were washed out. Port Huron was pelted with hailstones f our inches in circumference. breaking many windows and skylights and causing several ruaaways. Au Train reports many dangerous washouts along the D., S. S. & A. railroad, causing at least one wreek. Kalamazöo lumber yards and trees suffered from the wind. Mason, Traverse City and other points report damage to crops. etc. Lightning killed a nephew of George Popewell and severely injured a man by the name of Potter at the farm of Popewell at Greenville. A horse was also killed. Sleighlng in May. A wild snow storm raged at Alpena on the 19th and eight inches of snow feil on the level. Several sleighs and cutters were out. All vegetation was completely covered, trees were borne down to the ground under the weight of the heavy snow. Fruit blossoms were knocked off. Marshall: There was a change of 60 de?rrees in temperature in Ü4 hours, follo,ed by a heavy snow storm until the ground was completely covered with the "beautiful."' The heavy rains have swelled the Kalamazöo river to an unusual depth f or this season of the year. Cadillac reported three inches of gnow, as did East Tawas, Cedar Springs and several other localities. Many correspondents fear that great damage has been done to fruits, especially the early varieties. Pine Barrens no fïood for Farmln?. For the past, five years the state board of agrioult.ure has been spending money received from the United States governmeiit for an experiment station at Graylingf. A determined endeavor has been made to render an 80-acre tract of barren pine lands productive. All the ingenuity of the skilled agriculturists employed by the state, howevsr. has been a success only in illustratinj the fact that barren pine lands are a poor investment if purcha.sod for agricultural purposes. The board at a meeting held at Grayling decided to abandon the experiment, and to let the eighty acres lie idle for the purpose of demonstrating whether or net nature will do anything toward increasing its fertility after having been given a boost. Michigan K. P. Oftleeri Elected. The grand lodge oí Knights of Pythias of Michigan was held at Benton Harbor. The reporte showed a full attendanoe of representatives of the 163 lodges, net increase of nine lodges during the year. The membership has increased 972. The balance in the treasury is 83,291.90, a decrease of 8676.20 during the year. Eleven lodges have applied for charters. Election of officers: G. P. C, George A. Reynolds, Saginaw, E. C. G. C, F. M. Douglass, Ionia; V. G. C, W. D. Clizbe, Birmmgham; G. K. of R. and S., James W. Hopkins, Lansing: G. M. exchequer, Henry C. Hall, Hudson; G. prelate, James Gray, Detroit; G. M. A., E. F. Woodcock. Nfles; G. I. G., O. D. Jones, Marquette; G. O. G., Dan P. McMulien, Cheboygan. S. T. Gage was re-elected trustee. CongregatlonalUts Congrégate. The annual meeting of the Congregational association of Michigan convened at Kalamazoo. Officers elected: Moderator, Dr. James Gallup, Grand Eapids; assistant moderator. Honorable C. A. Gower, Lansing; scribe. Rev. E. S. Shaw, Benzonia; assistant scribe, Rev. B. F. Aldrich, Pontiac. The total number of churches in the Michigan association is 344. The Sunday school growth has also been very large, the membership now being about 40,000. The treasurer's report showed a balance on hand March 31, 1894, of 811,033.64. The report of the home missionery society showed that during the past year nine churches were organized. There have been added 1,396 to the membership. Homeopathie Fhysiilims. The following officers were elected by the state organization of the Homeopathie Medical society in their meeting at Battle Creek: President, Oscar Le Seure, Detroit; first vice-president, Professor D. A. MacLachlan, Ann Arbor; second vice-president N. B. Sherman, Kalamazoo; general secretary, R. S. Copeland, Bay City: corresponding secretary, VV. M. Bailey, Detroit; treasurer, C. S. Mack, Ann Arbor; necrologist, J. S. Ayres, Kalamazoo. V. M. Bailey was elected a meraber of the board of control, vice Porter, whose term expired. The Boiler Bursted. The boiler in Moses Howe's planing mili at West Bay City exploded killing George L. Slosson, engineer; fatally injuring John T. Scarth, wood turner, and severely wounding John Gregg, Stephen Alyea and Foreman Henry Neal. The mili was demolished. Loss over $6,000.