Gas prices were up and a shortage of fuel oil raised concerns that manufacturing costs of cars would go up. Steel and iron foundries relied heavily on fuel oil so the shortage may have forced higher castings costs.
John Holloway of this city invented an adaptation to a car engine to allow it to drive using coal oil instead of gas. Since coal oil was cheaper than gas and the retrofit kit was user friendly, it was hoped that the invention would revolutionize the auto industry.
Certain Christmas trees were less available due to gypsy moth damage. Normal supplies were forbidden to ship to the areas not afflicted with the invasive moth. Canadian imports of spruce and balsam offset the shortfall of suppliers.
The big ticket Christmas present for mom was a kitchen cabinet. Cardinal, McDougall, and Hoosier Cabinets (link) were available in Lafayette stores. D.N. Foster Furniture offered the McDougall on Christmas Sale for $22.50 cash, 25$ credit, normally $27.50.
Silk scarves for ladies were available for 49 cents at Effroymsons. They also hired the first female manager for the ladies and children’s’ department.
In the Oakland School district, a home was offered for a 50$ cash and 12$ per month contract. An 8 room home on S. 8th sold for $3100.
Keep in mind, 1 to 2 dollars per day was a good wage in 1912, but there was no income tax. (There were use and land taxes.)
As 50 year remembrances of the Civil War continued, word was received from Washington that Greenbush Cemetery (Old Settlers) might receive a monument for Confederate soldiers. A number of Confederates at Camp Tippecanoe were interred at the cemetery. Several locations throughout the midwest were being looked at for the proposed memorial.
History buffs were able to purchase a set of Brady Civil War prints for 10 cents per installment or a $1.60 for a complete set.
A dozen IU students who cut up at the Purdue/ IU football game were expelled following an investigation.
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