State
80e.
moutlb
oiirna
SEMI-WEEKLY EDITION-FOUR PAGES
PLATTSMOUTII, NEBRASKA. MONDAY MAliCH 7, 1910
VOLUME XXIX
NO J
3
be
IP I,
A SPLEUDID GHAUGE FOR MAM
iZED.AVENUES LEADIHG TOTHISGITY
Prominent Citizen Offers to Donate Teams and Drivers if the City
Will Furnish Material and Workmen The Commer
cial Club Should Not Pass It Up.
The Journal is informed from sour
ces which are absolutely reliable that
a scheme Is shortly 'to be proposed to
the city officials for the paving or mac
adamlzing of at least one of the aven
ues leading into the city. Whether
both Washington and Chicago ave
nues are to be included in the pro
posal Is not known Just at this time
but there is small room to doubt that
the doing of the work on one of
the avenues would quickly result in
the others getting like work done.
The proposal looks as if it offered
the city an excellent way of getting
some mighty fine public work done
at a minimum of expense to. the city
itself. Public spirited citizens are
back of the deal and from informa
tlon which is given out, the bulk of
the ccst of the work will be borne
by them. This is the commendable
spirit in which all such matters
should be approached.
If ever any streets or avenues need
ed work on them and If any work can
do good for the city, the work pro
posed on Chicago and Washington
avenue fills the bill. Both of these
thoroughfares, the two most import
ant entering the city, are in a deplor
able condition. The Journal has been
told time and again by many of the
leading farmers of the county, that
these two avenues constitute the
worst pieces of road they encounter
between their homes and the busi
ness section of the city. This griev
ance dates back to last fall when the
long, continued wet weather left the
avenues a sea of mud of limitless
depth and which made-Uiem jill.but
Impassable.
, With the freezing up of the win
ter, the avenues again became pas
sable but with the passing of win
ter and the frost leaving the ground,
the condition which existed last fall
is being duplicated now.
Those who have to drive Into the
city over these two avenues are un
animous In their statements that
work must be done on these two
avenues if country trade is to con
tinue to come into the city. Foot
passengers who travel the two ave
nues are the best witnesses to the
condition in which they are now and
they all agree that improvement must
be made and at once. ,
The proposal which is spoken of
at the commencement is backed by
some of the wealthiest and most
influential men in the city, men who
are willing to go down in their own
pockets and put up the money to
make the avenues entirely safe and
convenient for travel. While the
name of the sponsor for the move
ment cannot be made public today,
it can be said In effect that a promln
ent citizen stands ready to furnish
the teams to do the grading on one
avenue at least and also furnish the
teams to haul all rock which may be
required for the wcrk if the city
will buy the rock and furnish a small
number of men with shovels to do
the hand work required. . This man
has the means to back up his offer.
Not alone has he the means but he
has had much experience in practical
road building and he is willing to take.
hold of the work and superintend it
and give Plattsmouth one avenue at
least which will be suited for any
kind of travel without charging the
city one penny.
In addition to his voluntary serv
ices, the Journal is assurea by otner
men of capital that they will go down
in their pockets and raise some money
to help the city pay out what may,
be required in the way of rock and
handwork. These men will all be
directly benefited and they appreciate;
it.
This relates to one of the avenues.
What the live men on that avenue will
do, the live men on the other un
doubtedly will do. The Individual cost
to each one will be small when the
measure of benefit is considered and
the worth of the projected Improve
ment to the business men of the .city
is inestimable. No city ever advanced
without some movement forward by
its influential citizens and without
the expenditure of money Jn its up
building. The first step in this city
to retain the country trade and add
to It should be the creation of suit
able' entrances "to the city and the
voluntary offers of the leading busl-!
ness men quoted above should be
taken up at once and accepted.
It will not do for the city to plead
poverty and inability to spare the
money for this improvement. If some
thing else must be postponed to se
cure good roads into the city, the
roads must be built. In addition the
cost of the rock and the services of
the men will bj so small an item that
the city will secure several miles of
excellent streets at an insignificant
cost to it. Although the treasury is
not overflowing at present, there is
considerable money which can be de
voted to this work and, with the aid
of the citizens spoken of above, it
can be accomplished.
Paving has been suggested as a
remedy for the state of affairs which
exists and if they can be paved the
scheme is admirable but if they can
not be paved then the thing for the
city authorities to do Is to take hold
of this proposition and accept it and
get the two avenues into shape for
spring trade.
It Was Some Fog.
Those who love dear old "Lunnon"
would have felt strictly at home this
morning If they had been in Platts
mouth. The heaviest fog In years
enveloped the city from seven to eight
o'clock and objects were entirely In
distinguishable at a distance of a few
feet. Trains entering the city moved
slowly up to a distance of a few
feet. Trains entering the city moved
slowly" up to the depot the engineers
being unable to distinguish the sema
phore until close to it and using due
caution in entering the station. The
fog lifted at eight o'clock. Weather
sharps are divided in opinion as to
whether it means clear weather or
snow or rain.
RAISE PROTEST
MISSOURI RIVER
IS BREAK! UP
6 1ST
RATES
R
But for the Timely Assistance of
Passersby, the Residence of
Amos Searle Would Have
Been Totally Destroyed.
A narrow escape from the destruc
tion of valuable property by fire was
had yesterday when the fine residence
of Amos Searle just beyond the city
limits on the southwest caught fire.
Fortunately the flames were discov
ered before they had gotten much
headway and were put out in time
to save the building and with prac
tically no loss aside from a bad scare
to Messrs. A. and Charles Searle and
Lested Mason who occupies the pre
mises. P. 11. Klnnamon and his nep
hew Lester Mason were driving along
the road on the south of the premises
when the former happened to notice
tire starting on the roof of the house
which is a fine two story structure.
Leaving his nephew to tie up the hor
ses they were driving, Mr. Klnnamon
ran to the house and Informed Mr.
Searle of the fire. As the latter
hesitated what to do, Mr. Klnnamon
told him to get some water and pass
It up to him on the roof, He then
quickly scaled the pillar of the porch
to the roof, Mr. Mason following
him. Klnnamon then worked his way
along to within a short distance or the
fire while Mason served to pass along
the buckets of water which Mr. Searle
handed up to him. . A few buckets
of water served to quench the flames
arid save the fine residence from
destruction. Mr. Searle was profuse
In his thanks to the gentlemen for
the valuable assistance they gave him
and for their timely help in prevent
in the SDread of the flames. The
residence la one of the handsomest
In this part of the country and a
comparatively new structure, having
been constructed but a few years
since by Charles D. Cummins. It is
valued at several thousand dollars
and, as it lies beyond the fire limits, It
must surely have been destroyed had
the flames gotten sufficient headway.
A Monsterous Gorge of Ice at
Mouth of Platte Can Be
Seen From the Burling
ton Station.
The old Missouri river is indulging
in a few preliminary stunts prior to
making its grand spring exhibition of
the wonderful power of water.
huge ice gorge has formed just above
the city extending from the point on
the Iowa side clear across the river
to the mouth of the Platte. This
gorge formed some time during the
morning hours and it has steadily
been Increasing in size and strength.
Great Ice floes are piled one on top
of the other In a confused, Jumbled
mass which towers above the water
surface to the height of many fett.
From the Burlington Btation the
gorge can be seen rearing its crest in
a ragged, broken line clear across the
stream and backing up the waters of
the big Muddy for miles.
The gorge starts from Just below
the point where the Burlington road
has been having so much trouble with
cutting banks in late years and there
Is grave danger that it may result
disastrously to the work which has
been done in the past. Should the
gorge hold, It must inevitably result
In causing the water of the river to
rise to a point where they will flow
over the rip-rap which the railroad
has put in and probably get In behind
it, carrying it out when the gorge
breaks and the sfeam starts to fall.
The railrond company will doubtless
make every effort to break the gorge
and protect the property of the com
pany from destruction.
This gorge is probably just a start
for serious trouble as the river above
here is full of floating ice which is
all very heavy and which is liable
to easily gorge. From this city south
for severaf miles, the channel of the
river is now practically open, Ice
having moved yesterday and there
being none running today below the
gorge. There is no means of telling
how long this gorge will hold and
residents In the lowlands opposite the
city have expressed considerable an
xiety over the outlook.
The Platte river is reported as ris
ing also and this ice is being thrown
Into the Missouri and Is adding to
the strength of the gorge. There is
grave danger of an overflow of the
Platte should the gorge hold as the
waters must inevitably back up that
stream and spread over the bottoms
on both sides If the gorge gains any
great heighth. There were quite a
number of people down to the Bur
lington station during the day looking
at what could be seen of the gorge
from that point. A better view of
the gorge can be seen from the hills
at the end of Third, Fourth and Fifth
streets and from Wintersteen hill.
Omaha Commercial Club Adopts
Resolutions That Hitjthe Nail
On the Head.
The Journal this morning received
a set of resolutions which were re
cently adopted by the Commercial
club of Omaha touching a' proposed
advance in the freight rates on pack
ing house products from that city to
the east. This proposed advance has
raised a great outcry among the bus
iness men of the upper Missouri Val
ley and will end In a fight before
the Interstate Commerce commission
on the raise.
There can be no doubt but what the
raise if put into effect will be a
severe blow to the packing interests
of Omaha and South Omaha and Is In
effect a discrimination against that
city and in favor of Kansas City
from which point the rates have not
been advanced. The commercial club
of other cities in this immediate ter
ritory have taken steps to assist the
Omaha body in fighting the raise and
in this manner It Is hoped to protect
the stock market at Omaha. The
advance It is claimed would result in
cutting down the price of live Block
In the Omaha market while It would
advance the price of the dressed pro
duct to consumers In this territory.
There is every prospect that a great
fight will be the result of Omaha's
protest against the advance and it Is
believed it can be defeated.
The Omaha club Is sending out
copies of the resolutions, states that
they are sent out as a protest against
an injustice to the stock raisers of
Nebraska. They also are Bent out
that every one In the territory af
fected by the raise may be informed
as to the increase In freight rates and
its effect on the live stock and com
mercial interests of the state. It is
thj desire of the Omaha Commercial,
club that the people of the state know
of the combination which has been
effected by the railroads against their
Interests. The resolutions are as follows:
Whereas, The carrying out of the
principle of "long haul" will force to
more distant markets the product of
"long haul" will force to more dis
tinct markets the product of the
great agricultural and stock-raising
section with which we are so closely
allied, and for which we furnish the
natural and logical market, would re
sult In Irreparable Injury and inevit
ably affect the prosperity of the farm
er aimed at the chief Industry of this
community must be fully recognized,
Be It Therefore Resolved, That the
commercial club of Omaha does here
by express Its sentiment that this In
crease In rates Is unfair and inadvis
able and unjustly discriminative, and
that our Influence shall be used in
every lawful way to attempt to se
cure the withdrawal of fair Increase
by the said railroads and falling in
this, that we prosecute such com
plaints before the Interstate Com
merce commission and take such pro
ceedlngs In court as may speedily se
cure Justice to this community and
to the farmer and stockraiser and
the reduction of any rates which may
be found to be excessive, as well as
the prosecution of any parties respon
sible for same If their acts shall have
been In any way collusive and con
trary to law.
ETHIC
L
HEW HOSE HOUSE
IS
II
Kt'KollldollH.
Whereas, All of the rallronds lead
ing eastward from Omaha and South
Omaha have, "by agreement" pub
lished and filed schedules advancing
the rates on meat products from
South Omaha to eastern markets
more than 25 per cent in spite of the
fact that a similar advance has not
been made from Kansas City, thus
signifying their Intention to Ignore
precedent, time-honored custom and
plain principles of Justice and equity,
all of which demand that the two live
stock markets, on account of their
well-known competition in the pur
chase of live stock In a common terri
tory and the shipment of the finished
product to the same eastern markets,
must enjoy equal freight advantages,
and,
whereas, The present adjustment
of rates on live stock from the great
'agricultural and stock-raising section
west of Omaha and South Omaha is
now generally favorable to the well
recognized desire of the Hill, Vander-
bilt and Moore lines to compel the
George liild and wife were among
those spending the night in the city,
being registered at the Perkins hotel
last evening.
Prof. J. Asch of Murray came up
last evening and spent the night in
this city, the guest of friends, being
a passenger for Omaha this morning
where he will Bpend the day.
Mrs. Wm. Puis, Mrs. Fred Engle
kemeler and Mrs Alfred Englekemeler
were a party from Maple Grove and
its vicinity who came In this morning
to take the early train for Omaha,
where they will spend the day Mr.
Puis, Sr., drove la with them and has
Contractor Wm. Miller Turns It
Over to Fire Chief Koubek
Today, in Fine Shape.
The Plattsmouth fire department
now has an other hose house. Con
tractor Wm. Miller this morning com
pletlng the new building at the cor
ner of Main and Fourteenth streets
and formally turning it over to Chief
Koubek and the department. A mon
ster American flag was Immediately
hoisted to the top of a staff which
yrmount. the. building and proudly
it floats to the breeze. The new
house is of the same dimensions as
the others In the city and it is a good
piece of work. Mr. Mllcr has done
a good Job on the building and the
officers of the department are weh
satisfied with the contract.
The building stands at the north
enst corner of the street intersection
at the highest point on Main street.
The streets slope away from It in
all directions. This makes the loca
tion an ideal one. Arrangments are
now being made for a new cart to
be Installed in the building and the
city council should at once got busy
and see that enough hoso is secured
to thoroughly equip the cart. This
will insure a good measure of fire
protection to one of the most thick
ly settled parts of the city. Not less
The Work Can Be Done Now in
Time to Save Money Let
The Commissioners
Get Busy.
The Journal's cail upon the coun
ty commissioners to exercise a little
good judgment and proceed to make
the repairs necessary on the county
building before it costs the taxpayers
a mint of money, is meeting with the
approval of the public. Practically
every taxpayer seen this morning had
words of commendation for the pa
per which takes up the task of hav
ing the county court house kept in
decent repair.
Especially does the public endorse
the Journal's protest against allow
ing the tiling on the floors of the
building to become loosened and kick
ed about. Already a large number
of the tile have been broken and
ruined by this thriftless and shiftless
policy. The point Is that it will cost
very little now to have the repairs
made while later It will be necessary
to enter Into a long contract with
some firm to relay the floor and hold
up the taxpayers for an extravagant
amount. The work ran be done now
in time to save money and If the
commissioners desire to make a real
ecord for economy they will get busy.
Another thing which Is cordially
endorsed by all who spoke of the
article was that part which calls at
tention to the pond at the rear of the
building. Besides being very un
sightly, this nole Is an actual menace
to the foundation of the building.
The water Is being allowed to stand
there and to percolate through the
ground under the founualion, loos
ening up the eart'n and causing the
huavy building to settle and crack.
This can all be obviated by turning
this water Into the sewer through the
manhole which Is now in place at the
northwest corr"r of the. building. v
The practice of throwing scrub wa
ter Into the pond at the back of the
building from the windows of the
upper stories Is also condemned by
the public. Custodian Svoboda speak
ing of this matter this morning stated
that the attention of the commission
ers had long ago been called to the
necessity for a sewer collection on
each floor of the building so that the
water could be turned directly Into
the sewer and not have to be thrown
out of the windows. Mr. Svoboda
states tnat he was assured by Com
missioner Frledrlch that the connec
tion should be made and that was
all the satisfaction he got. He states
thnt it is asking more than a man
can do to require him to carry a
bucket of water down stairs to empty
It everytlme they scrub as It would
James Is Pleased.
Jimmy Bulln, the tinsmith who Is
part of John Bauer's monster estab
lishment, la perhaps about the hap
piest man in these parts today and
his liberality toward all his friends
has been something wonderful. He
scattered cigars with a lavish hospi
tality which surprised the natives and
they were all some mystified until
the truth leaked out. It seems tho
Stork came Into town this morning
and proceeded to leave a mighty flno
young daughter with Jimmy and his
estimable wife. Tho young woman
is here to stay according to her an
nouncement and Jimmy says he Is In
favor of it too. He does not consider
that any of the other young ladies
In tho city are in It with her and la
this view his wife heartily Joins. The
entire family Is getting along very
nicely Including Jimmy who simply
can't be excelled as a model papa.
the workmanship is all that can be
asked. The job was also done In re
cord time and speaks volumes for the
energy which Mr. Miller brought to
the task.
shipment of all of the products of building is thoroughly substantial and
the said country to Chicago, sothnt
they may get the long haul and the
most money, and,
WhereaB, The proposed advance in
rates on said meat products from
South Omaha to eastern markets
without a coresponding advance from
Chicago and Kansas City to asld east
ern markets tends to "strengthen"
the scheme of said railroads and by
the same grace "weakens" to the
farmer and stock-raisers the value of
his market, because shipping live
stock means shrinkage and conse
quent loss, and
.Whorcas, In recognition of the
economic principal of saving this loss
by converting the raw material Into
finished product near the base of
supply, thero has been created at
South Omaha at a cost of many mil
lions of dollars an extensive system
of plants and equipment, employing
thousands of people who form a large
part of tho population of this com
munity, and through the distribution
of their income and by the large ex
penditure In our midst for nupplles,
building material, etc., by the live
stock Industry, and in the benefits
that come to every business Institu
tion on account of the circulation
among us of the proceeds In the sale
of live stock, and,
than f.00 feet of hose should be put!take an unreasonable l.-ngth of time
on this cart as It protects what is
almost the heart of the city.
The land whereon the house is lo
cated Is a donation for that purpose,
the department raised the funds for
paying for it. The department is also
having the cart repaired and put In
shape and the city owes It to a great
number of taxpayers to get busy ana
furnish the host for the cart.
Chief Koubek pronounces the work
done by Contractor Wm. H. Miller,
to be very good In every respect. The
Revival Services to bo Held.
Arrangement have been made to
open a scries of revival meetings In
this city commencing April 3rd, at
the Methodist church. Rev. W. L.
Austin this morning received a letter
from Rev. F. A. Campbell of Univer
sity Place, stating that he would be
In this city on that date which Is
Sunday, to hold the opening meeting.
They will continue for several weeks
and It Is hoped to make them very
successful. Rev. Austin Is enthusias
tic over the outlook for Borne great
work In the evangelistic field and
hopes that enough Interest can bo
aroused to insure the greatest revival
seen in this city In many years. Rev,
Campbell who will conduct the serv
ices is well known in this city, having
at one time occupied the pulpit of the
Methodist church here. lie Is an able
and powerful exhorter and thore Is no
doubt he will conduct the meetings in
such a manner as will win many souls
to Christ. The meeting will open at
the Methodist church on Sunday,
April 3rd.
and Increase the work vastly. In his
opinion the remedy for this trouble
will be to put in sewer conections
from each floor. No matter what
remedy Is finally adopted by the com
missioners, something should be done
and done now, to stop the ruination
of the handsome building.
As, to the crecklng of the building:
the opinion of the public seems to
differ. Many believe that an investi
gation should be made to ascertain
the cause of the cracking while
others are of the opinion that it is
caused by the settling of the build
ing and that little van be done to
stop It. It would seem the part of
policy' for the commissioners to at
least investigate the matter on theis,
own part even if they obtain no ex
pert evidence on It.
The necessity of cleaning the walls
is likewise a matter on "which the
public differ. Those who like a hand
some and tasty Interior favor the
Journal's Idea that the walls should
be cleaned while those who don't
care what the building looks like and
are living back In the middle ages,
favor letting them remain, as they
are, unsightly and unclean. The gen
eral opinion of the public however,
favors clean walls and a handsome
building.
Other improvements which have
been suggested is that some steps bo
taken this spring and summer to
keep the empty plat of ground north
of the building In some decent shape
and that the commissioners take steps
to have the grass kept as nicely there
as In the front of the building. This
Is urged with force by an ex-county
official today who commented bitter
ly upon the shiftless appearance
which the lot presented last year and
the general tumble-down and gone-to.
ruin aspect It bad.