The Star Press from Muncie, Indiana • Page 4

How a $1,000,000 Bee Industry Was Built on a $1 Investment By Burnett K. Maxwell. Betiding up A 81.000.000 bee Industry from an one sliver dollar la the achievement of A. I. Root, pioneer bee raiser and honey merchant, who died recently his home in Medine, O.

Starting his career as an epieultriet: in August, 1865., Mr. Root was the fret man to make a business of bee raising on a large scale, and he made such great strides that twenty elpal years later him company a was the prinindustry of thriving city of 6,000. Mr. Root's entrance into the bee and hopey business WAR largely an celdent. A few months after the Civil War opened he established himself A Jeweler in Medina, having paid $25 for a two weeks' course in jewelry and His company became the largest manufacturers of ver jewelry in the country, employing a dozen and girls and making $200 to 8500 "Into chains and rings every week.

While Mr. Root WAN chatting with a fellow workman in front of his place of business one day a swarm of bees new overhead. Mr. Root Was manifestly interested. 80 his friend asked how much he would offer for the swarm.

Mr. offered dollar, conof humor, dismissed further gratulated himself on his de keen sense thought of them from his mind. To use Mr. Root's own words: "I did not dream that he could by any means call them down. To my astonishment, he returned in a short time with the bees in a rough box he had hastily picked Starting Manufacturing Supplies for Beekeepers.

This little Incident started Mr. Root the way to become one of the wealthy men of Ohio. His rapidly growing bee and honey business was expanded in 1869 to include a plant for the manufacture of bee supplies. A few years later he was manufacturing them on a large scale and deriving a considerable income from this sideline. After rebullding or moving to larger quarters half a dozen times, Mr.

Root had the business established firmly on its feet in 1885 and retired from active management, leaving his son-in-law, J. T. Calvert, In charge of the business end, and h's son, E. R. Root, in charge of the publication, "Gleanings From Bee Culture." Branches of the firm have been "Service" Is More Than a Mere Slogan With Us Service with us means a real interest in the merchandise we sell, even long after the sale is made.

If in spite of the care we exercise in selecting our stocks and the severe examination to which we put everything before it goes on our floors, anything which we sell fails to make good for you, we stand ready to make good to you. Unless you are thoroughly satisfied with what we sell you and our merchandise emphasizes its sterling quality as time goes on, we want to know it. You can buy furniture at this store with absolute confidence that it is "right" in every respect. Beautiful Axminster Rugs We are offering a choice of a lot of the most attractive patterns and coloring we have ever shown at this attractive price. $4375 Terms $1.00 Down and $1.00 a Week THE MUNCIE SUNDAY STAR.

MAY 20, 1923. established In all parts of the counAt the headquarters in Medina, honey flavored with clovers of the Eastern Middle states arrives to be blended with honey from the sage of Western plains. Honey from the orange groves of Florida and California arrives to be blended with he rich dandelion-flavored honey of the bee farm in Medina County. These honies are blended to suit any prescribed tastes, and the blending formulas were evolved by Mr. Root, an expert himself, considered honey an art.

The Importance of the bee industry can a be easier understood through fact that the government, during the World War, when sugar prices were soaring, made a preferential price on that commodity for the bees. They must subsist through the winter on either honey or sugar, and sugar was the cheaper of the two. Built Up Large Trade in Foreign Countries. An example of the good fortune which attended Mr. Root's ventures from the first to the last is the way in which his large foreign trade was by a missionary in a Medina church built up.

He attended el lecture given one evening. The plate was passed. Mr. Root, then a poor man, did not feel he could spare the money, so he offered to send a copy of his magazine to all the missionaries working in pagan lands. provided the lecturer would provide the list.

The two struck a bargain. A short time later the list arrived. The list was long, and the postage in some cases as high as 48 cents. Mr. Root nearly went "broke" postage.

But his amazement. the mails were soon floodorder from the foreign missionaries for bee colonies. The missionarles had hit upon the Idea of impressing the natives, with the greatness of God by showing them how bees could be handled by mere human beings who belonged to the faith. The most remarkable feature of Mr. Root's bee plantation is the Seen bee breeding farm, which every year draws thousands of writers and naturalists.

Mr. Root bought his first queen bees at $25 each. Now his company ships thousands of dollars' worth of them every year to all parts of the globe. The farm is located in an eightacre grove of trees, some fifty feet high. They are basswood, planted by Mr.

Root forty years ago. Basswood is the best diet in the world for queen bees, and Mr. Root wanted to accommodate his royal insects as much as possible. Medina County Is noted for Its dandelions. In some sections of the country are pastures, scores of acres in extent, of dandelions growing kneehigh.

Mr. Root found that Dandelions are better the working bee and produce more honey than any other plant native to Ohio. While his dandelion pastures drew down the imprecations of his Medina neighbors, Mr. Root has been frequently blessed by the thirsty thousands of Cleveland and Akron, each fifteen miles away, who make Sunday pilgrimages to the dandelion grounds when the blossoms are out. It 18 not an uncommon sight on an early summer day to see every available parking space on a road passing one of these pastures occupied.

Became Devout Christian Through Bees' Influence. In his earlier days, Mr. Root was an enthusiastic follower of Robert Ingersoll. Finally he became devout Christian, attributing his change in faith to the influence which his bees had upon him, and contributed many thousands of dollars in the last twentyfive years of his life to promote varlous religious and humanitarian undertakings. The motto, "In God Trust cut In stone above the entrance of the factory by Mr.

Root at the time he was converted, still stands. William Jennings Bryan, a close friend of Mr. Root. was given photograph of the inscription on one of his visits to Medina and still tells audiences about it ocasionally in his lectures. Although few prohibitionists know it.

A. I. Root was one of the organizers of the Anti-Saloon League. His son, F. R.

Root. was attending one Oberlin College with Howard H. Russell, now Dr. Russell, national famous reform leaturer. Dr.

Russell, recognized as a promising young orator. was advocating local option as a method of attacking the liquor traffic. He wanted to organize, but had no money. After considerable hard work, the younger Root persuaded his father to contribute $500 for Russell to work with. A simllar amount was given by an Oberlin man.

Then the Anti-Saloon League was born. "Father" Root, as known to his friends, was born December 9, 1839, In a log cabin two miles north of the present company's plant. Mechanics. chemistry and gardening were his youthful hobbies. He spent his early twenties teaching school.

He was frail and of slight figure, and had a furious temper when aroused. He in subduing a crowd of rowdies in a country school where the big boys boasted that they could "kick out" any teacher the directors might send. Mr. Root was the author of an encyclopedia on bees, entitled "The A and of Bee Culture." The book is ar large as a Bible and has been translated into French, German and Spanish. Amos Ives Root is known In sixteen languages as "Mr.

Root, the bee man." PRIEST SUES MAN WHO SAID HE WAS MARRIED Ottawa, May -Charging slander, the Rev. Frank Saloven, pastor of St. Roch's Roman Catholic Church at LaSalle, filed suit for 000 here against Matt Kemp, an exparishioner, whom he claims circulated the priest was married. A Real June Bride When you start out on life's greatest adventure--the establishment of a new home- -give eration to the furniture you are going to place in it. You will live with your furniture come, and it will largely determine the atmosphere of that home, to which you will invite pride.

Good furniture need not necessarily be costly. The complete, four-room June above, is a striking example of the economy in selecting your new furniture here. It necessary to completely furnish four rooms, exactly as pictured, and just a small initial ance on convenient credit terms, delivers it to your home at the attractively low price of- Moth Protection in Cedar Chests Those winter woolens need the tection of a good cedar chest. cedar chest is both decorative useful, as it provides ample storage space and yet makes a very fortable boudoir window seat. our special at- Unique Four Poster Bed Combining the features that made the four poster so popular in the pro- days of.

the Pilgrim Fathers, with A period design features that smack of and the furniture craftsmen of the old world American designers have procom- duced beds that are a positive delight See to behold. See the many different designs we are showing in solid hogany or mahogany finish. $1675 $2950 of a big, massive, genuine at a price less than you This rocker, for an imitation rocker; top. in both the seat and the back. drawer, Leather Rockers Porcelain Top Kitchen Table sturdy table has a genuine porcelain white enameled base, and a utensil and note the low price- $2950 $950 KEL LEYS CANADIAN FARMERS' HEAD WANTS U.

S. RECIPROCITY Calgary, Alberta, May 19. Reci-1 procity the mutual banishment of tariff barriers between the United States and Canada, as advocated before the house of yesterday by the minister commander would be the greatest thing that ever could happen for a H. W. Wood.

president of the United Farmers of Alberta, an organization politically powerful, asserted here. "Reciprocity bound to. come he declared. am pleased to note that the first steps have been taken by Minister of Finance Felding. I believe, however, that it would better affect the prosperity of the West to have the tariff on cattle removed.

rather than the tariff on wheat. The United States is our logical market." NEVER TOO OLD TO LEARN Kay, 60 years old, and who has been a factory worker almost all his life, believes it is never to late to learn. Kay is in his fourth year of training in the South high night school, and he says he is in earnest about getting an education. He began attending night school when he wanted to learn something about woodworking. He learned it In one year, and then became interested in other classes Kay is employed in the J.

W. York Band Instrument Company plant. 060 A Wicker Rockers of new designs Very ers and with spring There is a large Convenient and some of as $9.85. Terms 45-lb. Mattress Featuring our fiber furniture Buy your mattress tomorrow at a real saving! Made of pure, clean cotton, with handsome art tick, at.the low price of- $985 We Trade New Goods for Old Our Trucks Go Everywhere Outfit the fullest considfor many a year to your friends with Bride outfit pictured includes everything payment, the bal- 60-Inch Davenport Table showing of reed is a great and finishes in comfortably padded filled cushion variety for them are priced $985 Genuine Just think leather ordinarily has springs and collection rockbacks seats.

selection as low This beautiful Library Table in Queen Anne style will lend an air refinement and comfort to your ing room. This is an exceedingly popular and will go well with your furnishings. Actually seeing it will convince of its worth. $1975 REFRIGERATOR Standard size refrigerator, has full ice pacity, spacious white enameled chamber with removable drain other features found in high priced See this special tomorrow $1875 We Trade New Goods for Old Our Trucks Go Everywhere the of 11v- table other you food and reat.