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About The Alliance herald. (Alliance, Box Butte County, Neb.) 1902-1922 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 12, 1919)
VOLUME XXVII. ALLIANCE, BOX BUTTE COUNTY, NEBBKASKA, Fit l DAY, DECEMBER. 12, 1919. NUMBER A CITY COUNCIL SUGGESTS NO RESTRICTIONS PUBLIC DISCUSSION OP THE FUEL SITUATION Matter Left In Hands of Mayor, With Power to Take Action When ever It Is Necessary A number of business men attend ed the Tuesday evening session of the city council, drawn there by the announ.-en.9nt In papers of that date that Mayor Rodgers would propose certain rest -lotions in regard to the use of fuel and lights. The gather ing was a representative one, prac tically e ry business in the city be ing represented by .one or more persons. Mayor Rodgers opened the discus sion by stating that the fuel admin istration had requested that more strict measures be taken to conserve fuel. The city authorities had taken over the matter of distribution and had doled out such supplies as they had received in a way to take care of all needs, but the situation was desperate and he desired the council to suggest ways in which the matter could best be handled. Alliance has been more, fortunate than many other cities, due not alone to its strategic location. The potash plants had a large supply of coal billed to them, but were declared to be a non-essential by the administra tion and this coal became available. This city has had coal sufficient to supply all reasonable demands, while other cities have been forced to adopt shorter business hours, close the schools and churches and some lines of business. Fuel Administrator Smith was asked as to what plan he would rec ommend, and stated that he was will- ing to follow the wishes of the coun cil. If possible, he believed that the theater and pool halls should be kept open, inasmuch as there are a number of people who have no other place to go, but in the final analysis, it was desirable to keep the homes warn even if it were necessary to cIof,:1 churches, schools, pool halls and theater. He would hesitate to say just where It was best to clamp the lad on, but believed that greater economy was necessary. Even if re ports that the strike was virtually settled should prove true, it would be two weeks at least before a suf ficient supply would be forthcoming from the mines. Available supplies at some of the mines were diminish ing, and he doubted very much whether the city would be able to se cure as much coal in the next two weeks as in the two weeks Just past. Councilman Highland suggested that he thought the matter was one for Superintendent Griggs, division fuel administrator, and believed that any restrictions Bhould come from his office. Mr. Highland said that the superintendent was in closer touch with conditions and knew more of the supply than any other man and thought him better qualified to impose whatever restrictions were necessary. Councilman F. W. Harris suggest ed that instead of closing the busi ness houses an hour in the forenoon, it would be better to leave all closed until, say, 10 a. m., and then keep open the rest of the day. He thought the same amount of coal would be saved by taking the closing hours out of the morning, and believed that it would prove less of a hardship ou the merchants. Mayor Rodgers then called on a number of the merchants present and aBked their opinions . C. A. Newberry assured the mem bers of the council that he would be glad to co-operate in any way that was desired, and was willing to keep only such hours as might be designated. E. O. Laing said that he was will ing to do whatever was right in the matter. He held to the opinion that the retailers were getting It from all sides, and rather figured that it was their low voting power that was re sponsible for the lack of considera tion they received. He cited the ad vice given by President Wilson to the consumers to quit buying where prices are high and buy only where prices are reasonable; to the retailer to quit trying to gouge the public an to cease hoarding, and to whole salers to quit selling to people who charge too much. It seemed to him that all this advice was aimed at the retailer, and be was inclined to strongly resent it. So far as fuel conservation was concerned, he was only too glad to co-operate. He bad not been operating his electric sign since the strike, and he bad cut down on lights in bis establishment. His Idea was that it was a poor rule that didn't work both ways, and be in sisted that nil business houses should close the same number of hours that any did. If ho lost four hours, it was only fair that the banks should do the same. - Dr. Mahaffy gave an instance of fuel conservation as it applied to him personally. Harry Thiels said that he believed there should be no discrimination in the matter of restrictions. So far as ha was concerned, the afternoon and evening business was greater than the morning, and he would prefer to remain open at those times, but that he could be counted on to give his full co-operation, no matter what was decided on. F. E. Holsten stated that he be lieved a big saving in fuel could be effected by closing a part or all of the morning. In other cities, drug stores had not been affected by restrictions, but he was willing to do his bit, and would close with the rest of them. R. T. Morgan said that morning closing would hit the groceries quite a jolt, as a good share of their busl- (Continued on Page 6.) CLUB DISCUSSES EXPRESSSERVICE Discuss Wayiuand Means of IVtter . ing With the Local Agent Jesse Simpson, local express agent, was present at the meeting of the board of directors of the Community club Tuesday evening, and several matters of Interest to the city's busi ness men In general came up for dis cussion. Among these was the ques tion of tariff schedules, brought up by A. T. Lunn. Mr. Lunn pointed out that there were no published tariffs of the express company avail able, and consequently wnen a ship ment was received, there waB no way In which the received knew whether the charges-he paid were correct or not. Mr. Simpson said that there were tariffs of the company available at certain places, such as Chicago. Kan sas City and San Francisco, but in asmuch as the nearest was Kansas City this didn't seem to. help matters much. Several of the members com mented on the quality of service that Alliance patrons have received in the past few months, with especial ref erence to inefficient men and inef ficient men and Instances of discour teousness on the part of employes. Mr. Simpson explained that be had been working for some time to get the kind of a force that he wanted, and that he believed a greater Im provement could be expected. He said that it was difficult to get the right kind of men, and that the ex press companies were no different than other businesses in this regard. J. S. Rhein brought out the need for a better system of receipts than the company furnishes these days. A new system of records has lately been adopted, and the customer gets no - receipt at all unless be asks for it, and even when be requests one, be is furnished with a mere state ment of the amount paid. Mr. Rhein (Continued on Pags 6.) LOWERED RATE ON SAND AND GRAVEL Secretary Jones of Community Club Secures Important Concession From the Burlington Through the efforts of Secretary Rufus Jones of the Communlt yclub, 1 he Burlington railroad has agreed 0 publish a new rate of 4 cents on sand and gravel from Bridgeport, Neb., a reduction of one cent a bun Ired pounds from former rates. As 1 Here are 2,700 pounds in a cubic ri of these materials, it will be o(n that the reduction will result in ' 1 -a c rial saving. At 27 cents a .T.',, considering the number of rl.i -f these materials brought into r'lkni , the concession becomes an pori.i t one, and a feather in the U of Secretary Jones and the or- t. ion he represents. Wlih the city of Alliance ready to . . .1 tremendous amount of pav t :.h Boon as spring opens, and the uunty planning considerable road i.i. !) cement, to say nothing of the I'liU:;;. i: -hway, the taxpayers of the ity t i d county stand to save a whole 'ot of money that will go directly 'nto their pockets as a result of the new rate. Some of the folks who have been taying outside the Community club. nd wondering just why they shoul upport the organization, may stoi tight here and reflect. ASK FEDERAL AID FOR IRRIGATION INBOX BUTTE Community (lull Revives Scheme to IUtluiin Arid IjukI in Tills County About ten years ago, irrigation en thusiasts In this region conceived the Idea of irrigating arid land in Box Butte county by means of a ditch from the Niobrara river. At that time the ditch, some fifty-six miles In lenRth, could have been construct ed at an expense estimated at about $600,000. At that time the project, which was backed by private individuals, was believed to be perfectly feasible, and had the approval of the state en gineer. It was allowed to dlo by fr action. The Community club has revived the proposition and Secretary Jones has taken the matter up with Con gressman Kinkald, asking htm to present the project to the depart ment of the interior, or indicate whether he desires the club to do so. It is believed that an irrigation sys tem of this kind will rank as a recla mation project of sufficient Impor tance to merit the support of the de partment, and the club is awaiting Mr. Klnkald's reply with interest. FIREMEN PLAN A CHARITY BALL Now Two Paid Men on the Truck City Manager Smith Attends Wednesday Meeting At a meeting of the Alliance Vol unteer Fire Department, held at the department's rooms in the city hall Wednesday evening, the fire boys dis cussed the proposition of holding a big charity ball, the proceeds to be used in relieving the condition of the city's poor. The firemen believe that (he dance should be held, and have offered to donate the hall, and give every assistance and help, sell tickets for the event If some other organiza tion wishes to sponsor it, but if no other should appear willing, in all probability they will do it them selves. The trustees of the depart ment have been selected as a com mittee to arouse interest in the pro ject or to carry it through, as may prove necessary. City Manager Smith was present at the meeting, and discussed the needs of the department with the members. He announced that there are now two paid members of the department, Carl Rockey and Carl Anderson, whose duty it is to man the city's fire truck and care for the city hall. The rooms occupied by the fire department will be put in better shape and kept in a condi tion to make the men comfortable. A commltttee of five members, consisting of Frank Abegg, Carl Rockey, Roy Trabert and two others was selected to make arrangements to take care of the entertainment of the firemen of the state on their re turn from the annual convention to be held in Scottsbluff on December 21, 22 and 23. If the coal situation has improved sufficiently to make it possible, the department plan sto secure a special train o ftwo cars to carry the fire men and their families to the con vention. The volunteer firemen are strong for the city manager and the coun cil, and are perfectly willing to ex press themselves freely on the sub ject. Members of the department say that it has been some time since so great an interest has been taken by city officials, and then mention, aside from the two paid members on the truck, the purchase of new nozzles and the new fire hydrants that have been purchased for in stallation when the paving goes in. COLLISION IN YARDS Considerable excitement was caused in the railroad yards this morning when two engines collided. Firemen Cop and Gales received Blight injuries and the switchman was quite severely cut about the head. The escaping of surplus steam from the engines gave the collision a rather more dangerous appearance than the facts warranted. Yesterday's State Journal makes mention of the death of P. H. Ly man of Lincoln, a passenger conduc tor who was well known by many old Urn railroaders in Alliance. Mr. Ly nan worked for the Burlington for ty-five years. His last illness was brief, h naving missed but one trip before, bis death. TWO BUILDING ASSOCIATIONS F0RMA UNION Home lluililcrs Absorb Old Com ; launity Organization, Taking Stock nt Face Value At a meeting held at the Com munity club rooms on Wednesday afternoon of this week, members of the old Community Building associa tion met with those of the new Home Builders' association and agreed on a plan by which the two are merged. Under the terms of the agreement, the Home Builders absorb the old association, taking the stock at face value and Issuing stock in the new company to the same amount. There has been some slight delay in pushing the sale of stock in the Home Builders' association pending a disposition of this matter. All of the stockholders in the former or ganization agreed to come in one the new one, and in many instances in creased the amount of the holdings. Under the terms of the merger, the stockholders in the Community asso ciation make a profit of about 20 per cent on their holdings, which is most reasonable. The property they sell to the new concern is worth much more. . It has been decided to issue two kinds of stock in the new associa tion, the preferred to draw a guar anteed dividend of 7 per cent, and the common stock, to draw whatever Is left after the preferred stock divi dends are paid. Both kinds will be sold at par. A new board of direc tors will be elected at the annual meeting, to be held the first Monday In January. Sales of stock in the Home Build ers' association have been going on steadily the past week. Purchases may be made of J. W. Guthrie or M. 8. Hargraves, and an active , cam paign may be expected within a short time. A, number of men have come in unsolicited and made purchases during the past week. The list of stockholders, including those of the ctfrf Community association, is as fol lows: Glen Miller, A. G. Isaacson, Fred J. Peterson, M. S. Hargraves, Lee Moore, J. W. Guthrie, John J. Rior- dan, H. P. Coursey, A. D. Rodgers, J. S. Rhein, Ben. J. Sallows, Harry Thlele, J. H. Vaughn & Son, Roy Beckwith, J. D. Emerick, Dr. Ken nery, Earl D. M allery, George A. Mollrlng, Edward Banks, Robert Reddish, William King, W. W. Nor ton, Dr. Slagle, Charles Brittan, Marcus Frankle, F. W. Harris, F. E. Holsten, Forest Lumber Co..,Dlerks Lumber Co., C. A. Newberry, F. M. Knight, R. M. Hampton, Robert Graham, Dr. F. J. Peterson, F. W. Hicks, H. A. Dubuque, F. J. Bren nan, John Hodgkins, J. M. Hughes, E. F. Shields, II. P. Torhey, A. J. Nelson, Otto Zamzou, E. G. Laing. FORGERS HELD TO DISTRICT COURT John Fought and John Gill Bound Over in the Sum of $1,000 in County Court Thursday At a hearing held in county court Thursday morning, John Fought, fifteen-year-old Bon of Mrs. Hattle Dumond, of this city, pleaded guilty to forging his mother's name to a check for $15 and also to passing a forged check. He was bound over in the sum of $1,000 to district ocurt. Young Fought has passed other checks signed wit hhis mother's name during the last week or two, amounting to some $60, but these were made good by Mrs. Dumond. The lad promised, It is said, not to repeat the offense, but within a short time after giving his word, passed another check for $15 on Hugh Beall at the Alliance hotel. John GUI, who was arrested last Monday evening by Chief Reed, was also bound over in the same sura on a similar charge. Gill cashed a forged check for $45, drawn on M. Nolan & Co., at the Alliance National, and was arrested at the Eagle barber shop within a short time after the offense was committed. When searched at the police station, an other forged check, diawn on the same firm, was found in one of hit pockets. The check he cashed wae dated November 20, and the othr November 10. Gill had been em ployed at the Nolan coal yards for some time previous to the oifensr He bad served three months In t" army. Men show better ta?t .- 1' : v in at least one refi' t ' that they never kic.-. -u " Buckshot. "HELL HATH NO FURY" "Hell hath no fury like a lady scorned" or something like that. Jessie Brown, former cook at the Manhattan hasn't got the force of the little truism yet but wait and trust your Uncle Sam! Jessie fllrpeJ quietly from the side door of his home last week and left nothing for his wife but the mem ory vt his past cussedness. Home desertion isn't the only Incidental she has checked against him. The minute he played crooked on the matrimonial field Friend Wife pro ceeded to extract an eye for an eye. She reported to Chief Reed that her spouse had deserted the United States army In September of 1919. Chief Reed considered that rather careless of Jessie and has gone to speak to him about it. If be finds the gentleman, Mrs. Brown's Uncle Sammy is very apt to speedily avenge her matrimonial difficulties. Your business might be worse. Suppose you owned a corkscrew fac tory. Buckshot. WANT TO INSURE A FAIRCENSUS Community Club Is Interested in Se curing a Complete Enumera tion of City's Population At a recent meeting of the board of directors of the Community club, the matter of the coming census was discussed at some length, and the sentiment among the business men present was decidedly in favor of seeing to it that a complete and cor rect enumeration was secured in 1920. , The members present expressed their conviction that Alliance bad been short-changed in the 1910 en umeration, and to guard aealnst a repetition, instructed Secretary Jones to take the matter up with District Supervisor J. J. Tooley at Broken Bow, offering the co-operation of the club. In communicating with Mr. Tooley, the secretary not onlv nroferrd the assistance of the club but indicated that the club was willing to add extra pay to the government salary an an inducement to competent en umerators, and suggested, if govern ment, regulations permitted, that ad ditional enumerators might be furnished. Mr. Tooley's reply, which is print ed in full, shows that there is little that the club can do save sound a warning to every Alliance citizen to see to it that his or her name Is In cluded. The letter follows: "BROKEN BOW. Neb., Dec 8. 1919. Mr. Rufus Jones. Sec'y, Alli ance Community Club, Alliance, Neb. -Dear Mr. Jones: I am in receipt of your letter of the 2nd tendering the co-operation of your organiza tion with a view to effecting a cor rect and fair census of your city. Mr. T. J. O'Keefe has also forwarded to me your letter to him of the date of Nov. 27 th. "You are no doubt aware of the fact that all government work is sur rounded by much red tape. That of the census is no exception to the gen eral rule. Under these regulations, enumerators are not permitted to ac cept any additional remuneration from individuals or local organiza tions, neither can they receive any assistance in the actual enumeration. Your organization can help, howev er, through a campaign of publicity calling special attention to the time when the enumeration will begin and when finished, also to the Importance of every citizen being included in the census. In this campaign it is ad visable at the close of the period of enumeration that a request be pub lished in your local papers asking anyone who knows or has reason to believe that he has not been includ ed, to make report to the enumera tor of his district or to the super visor. You have no doubt been advised that the city has been devided into iwo enumerated districts. To dis trict No. 10, comprising wards 1 and 2. Mrs. Ida Fernald has been desig nated. District No. 11. comprising wards 3 and 4, Mrs. Mary M. WleBe. The test papers of both of these women indicate first class qualifica tions in addition to which they have been recommended by Mr. O'Keefe. Both John and T. J. O'Keefe have .')en assisting roe In the organixa ioj of Box Butte county and in the ?vent that you have any further sug rcstlons to make, you may confer Ith them or wrl'.e n direct I appreciate very hlr.Lly indeed the .(crest which you : i'e .nanifested nd assure you tlm I um myself oncerned in scurtiu e j jfI and fair nsus of the enriir 1 -irku Yours mly, J. J. TOOLliY, Supervisor. SETTLEMENT OF : COAL STRIKE JSREACHED I1UT SOME RESTRICTIONS GO INTO EFFECT AT ONCE President Wilson Succeeds in Estab lishing a Dasia for End ing Contest The coal strike, affecting 400,00 bituminous miners of the country, was settled at Indianapolis Wednes day with the decision of the general committee of the United Mine Work era of America to accept the plan proposed by President Wilson. The plan provides that the mtnerfl shall return to work at once at aa Increase of 14 per cent in wages; that a commission of three person be appointed to Investigate and de termine within sixty days, if possible, a basis for a new wage agreement' The conference was made up of in ternatlonal and district officials and members of the executive board and scale committee of the organization. It will be some time, however, be- fore coal production reaches the nor mal and until such time, the follow Ing restrictions have been placed in effect by the national fuel adminis tration. Herald readers will not that ornamental lights, signs and th like are not to be operated. ' Store may use light six hours a day, draff stores, restaurants and groceries be ing exempted from this restriction. Other restrictions are placed on the use of coal. , The order follows: i The ' United States fuel adminis trator hereby orders and directs that the director general of railroads and his representatives acting by and under his authority be and they hereby are authorized and empow ered to make and prescribe such local or general regulations restricting; the delivery, use and consumption of coal, coke, or other fuel, or power generated or produced by the use or consumption of coal, coke, or other fueU as my, from time to time, be . necessary In the present emergency. Regulations Light produced from bituminous coal and coke; 1 No ornamental lights, white way or other unnecessary street light, outline lighting, electric signs, or illuminated billboards, show win dow or show case lights are to be operated. This does not affect street lighting necessary for the safety of the public. 2 No cabaret, dance hall, pool hall or bowling alley shall be per mitted to use light except between 7 p. m. and 11 p. m. 3 Stores, including retail store and warehouses (but excepting; stores selling food), must not use lights (except safety lights) over six hours per day. Stores selling food exclusively and only that department selling food exclusively and of other stores may use light their regular number of hours and days per week. Drug stores and restaurants may re main open according to present schedule; but must reduce lighting (Continued on Page 6.) ANIMAL PLAY AT IMPERIAL TONIGHT "Back to tJod's Country" Has So Less Than Sl&teen Animal Actors in Cat The bill for tonight at the Im perial is a real feature photoplay, "Back to God's Country," adapted from James Oliver Curwood's story, "Wapl, the Walrus." which made a decided impression when published as a serial. Motion picture fans who are slightly tired ot the commonplace films will find In tonight's screen drama something entirely new. There is something fascinating about animal actors and tonight you'll have a chance to see no less than elite n, including a big cinna mon bear and two clever cubs, a couple of Urns, a wildcat (how'd you like to act in the same cast with a wildcat?), an otter, lynx, wolf, deer, raccoon, goat, owl, porcupine and last but not least, a donkey and maybe one or two others. The story is an interesting one, filmed in an interesting place the arctic circle and Is full of villainy and love, icebergs. It deals largely with a great Dane dog, Wapi, and the loyalty of the brute. The swim ming star, Nell Shlpman, takes the lead and is ably supported bya strong cast. The picture is filled with scenes that make real chills chase up and down your spine. No dull mo ments in tonight's bill.