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About The Plattsmouth journal. (Plattsmouth, Nebraska) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (June 29, 1931)
MONDAY. JUNE 29. 1931. PLATTSMOTTTH SEMI - WEEKLY JOFENAL PAGE FTVE Old Timer Writes of Early Railroading Dr. Gafford of Wymore Tells of the Early Days and the Accidents Along the Lines Winn I neean as Mirgt'on -th t'u Bvliutoi railway flfty yours a0 June te railway was m r I tied into V ymorn troni il.e north 1 ut te nvin line. Kan.-:-.;. City to 1 't nver, was only btltts si 8 lx.i n t a few miles eas' of Wymore. WM1 my v. ork may only a Mnall thiu in th" buildiii:?. main taining and operating of the rond, it is one of the essertia's. I have ;.iways fel". irouti of it. Mi the , building o: these railroads "iru this i v est of ouiv; has n.aUf it passible fjr tins country to settlo up with nappy, ipiosperous, contended peiple. it Las carried their COnOKHTOe r.atl shoi--tened distances, and mada It possiMe for people rving la th? umry as well as ciues, to get their mail, bringing daiiv papers, an 1 i:--rs fr-'in loved ones, the daily panors being the great t ducators if i3 uiusbes, and keejiing them in lour-h with do ings of the world. Ka- it not been worth our labors? And is it not tvi dtnt that Wt have not liv d In vain? Variety Store Specials for Wednesday, July 1st Celebrate with Our Fireworks All 5c Firecrackers. 2 fci 9r ', 6 or 25c Globe Jlash Salutes. 9c pke.. 3 pkgs. for 25c Spa:kleis. 2 boxes fci Be Bantam Toipedoes 9c Laigs 5c Sparkler, 2 ior 9c : 6 for 25c Devil pa the Walk. 6 for 5c Pin Wheels, each 5c. lOc. 15c Dago Bombs, each 5c and lOc Night Works, Roman Candles, Sky Rockets Camp Jugs, crockery lined, gal. size. . 98c Candy Special, Gum Drops, lb 10c Wax Paoer. 100 sheets for 9c Ladies pure thread Silk Hose, firsts, pr. . 3Sc Men's Shorts . . . . 25c Men's Shirts ...... 25c Bathing Caps 10c, 15c and 2.5c Knorr's Popular Variety Store Plattsmouth, Nebr. oscooocoGOsoooseoossoscoeocoocoooeisogooooso Real Paint Bargains I High Grade Enamel Choice o 18 Colors You buy a can (any size) at the fPf F regular price and we give you one Our Guaranteed House Paint For a Few Days Only $1-90 per gallon in FIVES 8 HEAVY BODIED BARN PAINT n Red or Gray. Per gallon Cue Gallon White Trim FREE with Every 10 Gallon Purchase $ J3 5 Paint and Wall Paper Store 541 Main St.. Plattsmouth Wednesday Special I Children's Cxfords, Pumps and Strap Patterns 83 pair, in patent and dull leathers, root-form lasts, with rubber heels and good leather soles. A most unusual bargain ! Sizes 8V2 to 2 Pair Full Line of Boys White and Sun Tan Keels Lace-to-toe patterns, at 90c pair About 40 Pair Women's Oxfords - Strap Pumps Mostly low heeis in Patent and Satm. Sizes 312 to 6. Pair $1 In tliose days we bad a r?ater number of accidents, in;iny 01" :he-u serious. We had the 3'd liuk and pin coupled, and n air brakes; or clactrtc lighting 01 train-? The lia bility of rainmen harias iinii.s maimed, or ut ofi. being fctahcd between dayiqatiOii. or luppiiig and falling l"i iVLv 1 -"irs wut. gic t er. It made no difference how cold icy or stormy the weutUr. trainmen had 10 be out on top. slaul and net brakes by band, and noi infrefpieni 1 they would be blown off tin' top ot the train, or step between cars. It was extremely diihcul: lor the surgeon. There were no hospitals vuh trained nurses as today. In jured persons were cared for in pri vate hoves or improvised hHHJllil1n It always kept us anxlou.i for we know there was no one to le! us '.'now ;i anything was going wrong, as eom-r-ared wih r,t ientific advances of to f'ay. I am glad to say that I have never been called into court to ofl cr testimony, either for or against the lailway co'apany. in the Meuleraeni of any case that I have taken care of. We made it a rule, tin t when a man was able, we gave him some- i tiling to do that would not iTtitrt-rc ' v. ith his mmry but would ke 1 fhim busy and on the payroll untfl lv I was able to perform his regular t'uties. and if a man was left per Imanently injured we would tell him 'that the company wanted to pay his ; damages and expenses, and we found thai we could come to an understami I ing. and I have always found the railway willing to play fair and set It le for just amounts. I am glad that the department ( lor which I have worked has not shirked in its dutv but had kei.t 'abreast of the times with other de- ! ;:..rtments of the railway. In those early days there were ; many severe injuries to employes, hut with the advance of safety ap- 1 pliances to keep men off t ie top of trains and from between cars. I and with the constant teaching of safety first in all work, and sur- ! rounding the men with more sani tary conditions, the forbidding of !the use of alcohol, that great de- ' stroyer of health and efficiency of man, train work of today has be- I'.'ome one of the safe employments. Personally I feel about the same i physically as 1 did fifty years ago. , I never used alcoholic drinks or to- I barco in any form, but the palsy of itime has made my left hand so shaky That I no longer attempt delicate urgery. This great structure has never been in the hands 01 receivers, but has always been able to pay all of its obligations when due. the inter est on the money used in its build ings as well as the wages of its thou sands of employes, and the taxes that have been levied against it. Being economically built and open. led. to day it is the best railroad west of the Mississippi river, and we had hoped to hand it down to posterity as a memento of our accomplish ments, hoping that they would main tain it at the standard in which we left it. Now, the question arises, "Is this a permanent structure?" It went thru the country building its physi cal conditions well, making substan tial improvements, paying its full Khare of taxes to state, county and community, helping to support our schools, as well as aiding in the building of good roads, that are cost ing the state heavily, while these very roads are being used by trucks and buses, and used free, to haul the pal -enger and profitah!ffreight busi ness, that rightfully belongs to the railway. It does not look to mo as tho the railways can long main tain this kind of unfair competi tion. It has already caused them to lay off scores of men with twenty years of service to their credit. The public cannot get along with out railways, and when so much of the best business is given to bus and truck lines the public has to pay and maintain the two systems instead of one. The only way out of it is efficient and sensible legislation. Railway employes must be sober and alert on duty. They must con tinually pass rigid physical examin ations, and must know and obey fix ed rules of safety, insuring safety and speed for the passengers and car goes that they may have muter their charge. Railway accidents are few now-a-days as compared with truck and auto accidents. Truck and bus lines pay no license or taxes, or main tenance expense as do the railways to the communities thru which they run. and finally these drivers can op erate on our highways, handling human life, and coming in contact with streams of human life, with ut ter disregard for a federal hours of service law. This law requires rail way employes to have eight hours rest before each trip, thus securing a higher grade of safety for passen gers, and costing the railways more for the increased number of em ployes required. CHARLES C. GAFFORD. Wymore, Neb. fci WILL START PAVING SOON Fetzer Shoe Co. Home of Quality Footwear Store open Wednesday Evenings throughout Summer The paving on highway No. 75 between Union and Nebraska City will be started very soon, informa tion from Union states, a representa tive of the Western Asphalt Co.. of Sioux City, visiting that place to day to arrange for a location on the tracks of the Missouri Pacific where their equipment can be handled. The project is one of the largest in the state for the present year and will afford employment 10 a considerable number of men for some time. The extensive grading and bridge work that was necessary has taken up a great deal of time, but leaves ample time for the completion of the pav ing work and another step forward in the good roads program of tne state of Nebraska. Celebrate the Fourth of July with a fine line cf night fireworks. Call i. at the Bate- Book & Gift Shop and look over their large line. &ead the Journal Want-Ads. A Clearance of Finer Quality Frocks 450 Models Taken From Our Exclusive Stocks And Offered At Sensational Reductions The Most Exciting Fashion News o a Decade Better Chiffons Better Crepes Better Prints Better Workmanship Better Styles and Ycu will buy these dresses Wednesday because you are get ting exceptionally good bargains. $7 .Sizes for Juniors, Misses and Women WSr Selling of Over r A Sensational 200 Smart New Hats Every Hat Offered is a Style Success Every Hat Represents Tremendous Savings SALE HOSIERY South Side Main Street Genuine full fashioned, service weight pure thread silk. Sandal foot, French heel. ... These are not left-overs or seconds- Every pair perfect. Our stock includes all the wanted shades. Sizes Sy2 to 10. Don't neglect this opportunity. Ladies Toggery PLATTSMOUTH 75? Open Every Wednesday Evening TFFFprrr? 7 nine