Today is Monday, Jan. 26, the 26th day of 2004. There are 340 days left in the year. On this date in

Today is Monday, Jan. 26, the 26th day of 2004. There are 340 days left in the year. On this date in 1788, the first European settlers in Australia, led by Capt. Arthur Phillip, land in present-day Sydney.
In 1784, in a letter to his daughter, Benjamin Franklin expresses unhappiness over the choice of the eagle as the symbol of America, and expresses his preference: the turkey. In 1802, Congress passes an act calling for a library to be established within the U.S. Capitol. In 1837, Michigan becomes the 26th state. In 1861, Louisiana secedes from the Union. In 1870, Virginia rejoins the Union. In 1911, the Richard Strauss opera "Der Rosenkavalier" premieres in Dresden, Germany. In 1942, the first American expeditionary force to go to Europe during World War II goes ashore in Northern Ireland. In 1950, India officially proclaims itself a republic as Rajendra Prasad takes the oath of office as president.
January 26, 1979: Trustees from Howland, Warren and Bazetta townships, angry over the announcement that Warren will attempt to annex the "Golden Triangle," will join forces to fight the annexation.
"New Castle's pension funds are in shaky financial condition," City Council President Eugene DeCaprio warns. "In five years, there will be less money coming in than there will be going out," he says of the firemen's fund, which is said to be in the worst shape.
A 500-pound piece of history, a Civil War era cannon, is stolen from the yard of the Chalker High School in Southington. A witness said a white pickup truck hauled the cannon away about midnight.
January 26, 1964: Eighty-nine percent of the trainees graduating from vocational courses provided by Youngstown Manpower Development and Training Program are holding jobs in training-related occupations. All 16 graduates of a civil engineering course got jobs in the office of Mahoning County Engineer Sam Gould.
Dom Rosselli's Youngstown University Penguins win their 14th straight victory, edging out Buffalo University, 66-64, in a thrilling overtime basketball game.
Youngstown Police Chief John Terlesky promises harassment of Youngstown gamblers "without letup." He makes his statement in the wake of a grand jury report linking public officials to the breakdown of law enforcement.
January 26, 1954: Youngstown has a chance to get more federal money to improve Youngstown Municipal Airport, but may not be able to take advantage of it because there is nothing in the budget to provide local matching funds.
Mahoning County Welfare Director I.L. Feuer asks the Welfare Advisory Board to establish a work relief program. Relief recipients would be required to work at prevailing wage rates for the assistance they receive.
Housewives may be paying as much as $1.25 per pound for coffee by the end of February, the National Coffee Association of the United States reports. Drought and frost in Brazil are driving up green coffee prices.
January 26, 1929: The Mahoning Valley Sanitary District will not oppose handing over control of the new Meander Dam water supply to Youngstown and Niles once the project is completed, provided the cities desire control, says Fred A. LaBelle, district director.
Youngstown Councilman William Lamb says legislation is being prepared to sell the Central Fire Station property and build two new fire stations downtown.
Howard Thurston, the world famous magician and his charming daughter, Jane, will entertain crippled children, orphans and inmates of the Old Ladies Home at a matinee performance at the Park Theater sponsored by The Vindicator.