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Show Argument Buzzes in Indiana I Over New Population Center 1 , , . . ' ' (Dy Hal M. Cochran, N. E A Staff Cor respondent.) I NEW CENTER ()I- POPULATION 'of U. S (Maybe). It may be that J L Skirvln, Monroe county farmer, waa the firs! one to "admit" that the 1920 confer of population la going to fall right on his form, but he's getting :i heap of argument, even bo! The 1910 center was located in i Bloomlngton, and they do say the officials of-ficials ot the town that many a vis ; itor ha walked all ihe way from ,v-.e tai Ion to the "spot'' (throe blocks) to get a slant at the divfdln' line of this hereeeountry's folks. The "spot" Is ; marked by a small monument with a ; flag pole on it And on the poL is a large electric light HE'S WILLING But, In the meantime, while waiting for official figures: "Jus' you llssen to me," says Ora Shields, farmer, located about eight miles from town. "You Icaio tell v lerybudj thai if they wants to see thai 'spot' durin' the next 10 years, they've gotta lake a jitney out to my plrce My land's full of rocks and I can juB' as well build me a monument as onn Ibudy I'll have some prlnlin' on my monument and it'll read. 'tientei 1 I Population ol the P. 8. -1920.' " And then. Bcdn Stephens sin owns la farm a biv easi ot Ora's sayd ber neighbor is all wrong. "Maybe I ain't !got so man rocks as Ora, hut I'm a woman, nnd everybody knows BB how ia woman makes a bctier jidstess to visitors than a man. I reckon Phi right. Whadda you think?" And while He da and Ora were hawing it out, a mere mite of u school tpai her, Ruth Robertson, added her claim. She teaches 17 backwoods children in an old-time rural shack AT SCKOOLHOUSE 7 "You better snap my school house," , piid Ruih "Next term I'll be nngin' the bell on tho top of the placi to let folks know that this ia Ihe new cen- tor of populaton. as well as to call my j children to class " The children- barefooted Ring- bamed or overalled didn't just know what the center of population was all about, but they were willing to wel j come ihe distinction of going to school on that 'Vpot." And there you hav the new center of populaton anywhere you want it. In Monroe county, Indiana, jusl so It's not over the Brown counly lln |