The Alliance Herald
READ BY EVERY MEMBER NEBRASKA STOCK GROWERS ASSOCIATION. ALL THE NEWS OP ALLIANCE AND WESTERN NEBRASKA
OFFICIAL OP" TEBRASKA VOLUNTEER FIREMEN'S ASSO CIATION. FT REACHES HEADQUARTERS FOR 15,000 FIREMEN
Leading
Newspaper of
Western Nebraska
12 Pages
2 Sections
VOLUME XXIV
ALLIANCE, BOX BUTTK COUNTY, NEBRASKA, JANUARY 25, 1917
NUMBER 8
LEGISLATURE
PASSES BILLS
Dry Committee Holding Open Ses
sions In Legislative Hall to Give
Opportunity to Express Views
MONDAY LAST DAY FOB HILLS
House Masses Hill Giving Lincoln and
Omaha Municipal Employes
Eight-hour Day
Lincoln, Nebr., Jan. 24 Limited
suffrage will bo given to the women
of Nebraska if House Roll No. 222,
Introduced by Representative Nor
ton, becomes a law. The act per
mits women to vote on president,
municipal officers and all others ex
cept those mentioned in the state
constitution, which restricts the
right of suffrage to males. United
States senators and congressmen are
not Included in the list for whom the
women may vote, as they are men
tioned In the constitution.
House Roll No. 229, offered by
Representative Lloyd Thomas, de
clares pipe lines to be common car
riers, puts them under the state rail
way commission, and gives them the
power of eminent domain. This re
fers particularly to potash compan
ies and others engaged in handling
alkali and salt brines through pipe
lines. A companion bill, introduced
by Thomas, would permit oil pipe
lines to be classed In the same way.
Another bill, introduced by Thomas,
would require railroad companies to
haul passengers on freight trains to
points at which they stop, excepting
ful lrefrlgerator and stock trains.
This bill would benefit traveling men
particularly, as well as people living
In small towns, such as Hemlngford,
at which through passenger trains
do not stop. A bill introduced by
Thomas of Box Butte and Naylor of
Dawes would require railroad com
panies to provide full crews on
switching engines.
Representative Murtey of Cass
county proposes to amend the state
banking law. In explanation of his
proposed amendment he says:
"This bill will take our guarantee
law out of the realm of politics and
place it on a permanent business bas
is. The cold facts are our guaran
tee, yet many of our bankers have
been permitted, or at least they, do
advertise it in such a way that the
depositor Is lead to believe he is ab
solutely guaranteed.
"If we remove the work of the pro
moter from our midst, prohibiting a
man who opens up a new bank from
telling the people that all other state
banks are going on his security, we
will place some responslblity on the
depositor. The people in a commun
ity soon take the measure of a new
banker in their town. The result
will be If he cannot say that the de
posits will be guaranteed, the man of
small caliber will have small depos
its that he can handle to octter ad
vantage, and the man of larger cali
ber will receive the larger deposits,
and he will be able to place them on
a conservative basis.
"I am opposed to the idea for our
banking board to assume the right to
say . who shall go into the banking
business, and who shall .not. It
would soon create a giant monopoly
that should be opposed by all our
farmers and business men.
"The guaranteeing of interest
bearing certificates of deposit at 5
per cent at a time when our reserve
banks are offering an unlimited
amount at 4 per cent is entirely
wrong. No insurance company of
any kind and our guarantee, law is
only insurance guarantees a man
his principal and also a large profit.
If a man wants to loan his money at
a high rate, he should assume part
of his responsibility.
."This bill does not Interfere with
tbe checking account or the nontn
terest bearing certificate of deposit.
It would in reality almost practically
guarantee two-thirds of the deposits
in our banks.
"If we take the guarantee off of
interest-bearing certificates of depos
it and prohibit the advertising of our
guarantee law, It will remove the
bank promoter It will keep our
banks from being flooded with east
ern deposits when money is plenty
and the skies are clear, to be quickly
withdrawn at the first sign of a cloud
In our financial skies. We are ap
proaching the general slump in busi
ness as peace in Europe appears not
far remote, and we should place our
banks now and forever on a perman
ent buslno basis. Those eastern
deposits from outside our state are
only fair weather deposits that come
when we don't need them. They
will quickly vanish when we do need
them."
The Sheridan county delegation
vifeited the senate Wednesday of last
week. Rev. Walter C. Rundin of
Crawford and Senator George Adams
were speakers.
County Agent F. M. Seidell of Box
nutte county was a visitor at the
House Tuesday of this week. John
O'Keefe of Alliance and E. O. Laing
of the same city were recent callers.
Tbe House was apprised Monday
(Continued on page 8 this section)
STATE MEETING OF
COUNTY ASSESSORS
legislature Will He Asked to Make
Some Radical Change in Meth
ods of Assessing Property
Secretary O. E. Berfrecker of the
State Board of Equalisation has sent
out a request that all county assess
ors meeting In Lincoln for a confer
ence, on Monday and Tuesday, Janu
ary 29 and 30.
Some radical changes In tho pres
ent system of assessing In Nebraska
are contemplated. Mr. Bernecker
wants the date for commencing to
assess changed from April 1 to
March 1, so as to give assessors long
er time to do their work. Ho would
have real estate assessing begin in
January. It Is also planned to great
ly Increase tho powers r.nd duties of
county asscFEors nnd provide that
they shall visit the different precincts
of the county and help In assessing
the land. The mailing of blanks for
personal property schedules from the
county office to each tax payer, In
stead of the present method, and
many other changes will bo consider
ed. All proposed changes In the law
that may be agreed upon by the con
ference of county assessors will be
presented to the legislature with the
request that they be enacted.
Box Butte county will be repre
sented In tho conference by County
Assessor J. A. Keegan, whoso fund
of practical information on the sub
jects to be considered will be helpful
In adopting a courso of procedure.
HILL WILL FILED FOR THORITE
The will of William Hill, deceased,
has been filed here for probate. The
court Is asked to name Mattle A.
Cooper as administratrix. February
17 Is the date set for hearing.
SIXTY TOOK THE
TEACHERS EXAMINATIONS
Number Swelled because All Mem
bers of Ninth tirade at Acad
emy Took Examinations
A total of sixty took the teachers'
examinations given at the court
house Friday and Saturday by Coun
ty Superintendent of Schools Opal
Russell. The number taking the ex
amination this time was swelled con
siderably by rearon of -the fact thaJ.
the members of the ninth grado at
tending St. Agnes Academy took the
examinations. The academy is not
an accredited school and those desir
ing to teach must take and pass a!'
examinations. The capacity of the
superintendent's office and the as
sembly room was taxed.
Those from out of town who took
the examinations were as follows:
Florence M. Delhi of Belmont, Dawes
county, and Alma Rosenberger of the
same place: Harry Schmoker or
Hi n phalli. Sheridan county; Marie
and Lenna Annen of Dunlap, Box
Butte county; Louis Van Buskirk of
Long Lake, Sheridan county; Rus
sell R. Wyland of Ellsworth; Anna
Carter of Hemlngford and Dora Ma
bin, also of Hemingrord.
The examination papers have been
sent to the office of the state super
intendent of schools for correction
and all arc corrected Miss Russell
will be advised as to the grades made
and she will then report to those
taking the examinations.
KNOWLES TO GIVE
ENTERTAINMENT MONDAY
Christian Church to Give Vurled Pro
gram at Plu-lun Opera House
mi January 21
With the help of Evangelist
Knowles a number of live wires in
the Christian church have planned
an excellent entertainment to be giv
en at tbe Fhelan opera house Mon
day evening. All tho money taken
In on admissions will go to the
church and will bo used by them in
helping to finance the revival meet
ings that have been In progress at
the Christian church for the past
month.
The following Is the program for
the evening:
Cornet solo, "Melody in F" Mrs. J.
O. Walker.
Illustrated song, "You're the Bright
est Star of All My Dreams", with
18 slides Mrs. Rheln.
Illustrated quartet, "Abide with Me"
Messrs. Irvin, Young, Reeves and
Truman. 14 elides.
Fifteen minutes of double dissolving
art selections II. CJ. Knowles.
Illustrated boIo. "Tho Holy City"
Mrs. Rhcin. 20 slides.
Illustrated solo. "The Old Cross
Roads" Mr. Truman. 18 slides.
Illustrated quartet, "Swanee River"
Messrs. Irvin, Young, Reeves
and Truman. 10 slides.
Part 1. "In His Steps", reading by
H. O. Knowles. 30 slides.
Cornet solo, "Tho Lost Chord"
Mrs. J. O. Walker.
Fart 2. "In His Steps" H. (J.
Knowles. 30 slides.
Office supplies at Tbe Herald of
flee Thone 340.
WILL SPEND
$100,000.00
Nebraska Telephone Company Con
sidering Proposition of Build
ing New Toll Line
ALLIANCE TO' BROKEN HOW
Would Connect Twent y-four Towns
Not Now In Communication
With Each Other
Never In the history of all west
ern Nebraska has there ever been a
time when prosperity was so general
as it Is now. Every day almost is
seen the evidence of this fact. Farm
ers were never as well fixed. They
never were better able to enjoy life.
More farms are being sold and the
great Influx of. farmers from eastern
Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois and Missou
ri is settling up the country to such
a nextent that new facilities are nec
essary. Line 200 Miles Ixmg
But few of the towns In this sec
tion of the country, of which Alli
ance is one, have the advantages of
long-distance telephone service.
There Is a great area some two hun
dred miles In length between Alli
ance and Broken Bow where tbe mul
titude of small towns have to con
tent themselves with communicating
with the outside world by mall o
telegraph. There are no toll lines
in this section.
To Build of CopiM-r
Now comes tho Nebraska Tele
phone Company, ono of the compan
ies owned and controlled by the Bell
system. This company proposes to
build some two hundred miles of new
copper toll line out of Alliance to
Broken Bow connecting these many
towns that have never before had the
advantages afforded by long-distance
telephone communication. The dis
tance between Alliance and Broken
Bow is, according to the railway time
table, 190 miles, but the distance
these long lines of copper will have
to cover will probably be, somewhat
greater.
Gleaon Made Tour
I. D. Gleason, manager of the Al
liance exchange, recently completed
a tour of the territory between this
city and Broken Bow. to determine
In advance what amount of business
could reasonably be expected to or
iginate in these towns and to what
extent a toll line connecting these
towns would bo patronized. The
proposed telephone extension repre
sents the expenditure for material
and labor of between 180,000 and
$100,000. It is a sum so large that
the company must know In advance
pretty much what revenue It can ex
pect. The telephone company fig
ures years ahead, and anticipates
the growth of the country, knowing
that if they can do no more than
break even now they have a good
thing that, in years to come, will de
velop as the country devciopes.
Make Recommendation
Mr. Gltason, after making the
tour, was firm in his belief that the
time was now opportune to build this
extension. His report and recom
mendations were sent to the district
manager at Grand Island some days
ago. It will probably bo a couple or
weeks before the Grand Island office
sends the report on to the general of
fices at Omaha. How soon definite
action will be taken on the new pro
ject is said to depend entirely on how
busy the officials are at Grand Island
and Ouiaha. However, it Is expect
ed that the matter will come up with
in a reasonable time and that favor
able action will be taken.
.Means (ireatcr DeveIoHiient
The expenditure of between $80.
000 and $100,000 in telephone im
provement between this city and Bro
ken Bow means the starting of a
new era of development for the coun
try between. There is a demand
and will be a demand for telephone
connections through this territory,
that is evidenced by the fact that a
big corporation is about to pour
funds inio the proposition. The
next few years will without question
see a remarkable change in this ter
ritory. Connect 21 Towns
The proposed telephone extension
from Alliance will connect twenty
four towns, as follows: Alliance.
Birdsell where the new $100,000
potash plant Is to be built Hoff
land, Antioch, lakeside, Ellsworth-,
Bingham, Ashby, Hyannis. Whitman,
Welr, Mullen, Seneca, - Norway.
Thedford, Natlck, Halsey, Dunning,
Llnscott, Gavin, Anselmo, Merna,
Ernst, and Broken Bow.
Alliance Is "Turn Point"
Alliance is now what Is known as
a "turn point" for the "Bell" sys
tem. All calls from the east of Al
liance to points west of this city go
ing through the local exchange, are
handled as local business. The lo
cal office bundles all Its own tickets.
Tho long-distance business that orig
inates la Alliance is very small, con
sidering what a city of this size gen
eii'M yaveraes, according to a man
clo'-i-ly identified with the company.
Thf railroad offices have no great
need for long-distance telephone
communication from here because
tUey use their owu telegraph wires.
()' Dan nou Brothers perhaps have
the largest average toll bill, with
WHO IS TO
IBUILDHOTEL?
Two Outfits Planning Erection of
Four-story Modern Hotels
In Alliance
WOULD COST $80,000 TO 9 100,000
J. M. Miller Plans Erecting New Hos
telry OiiiaIia Concern Huys
Option for Site
As was announced some weeks
ago, Alliance Is going to have a new
four- or five-story modern, high
class hotel, to cost from $80,000 to
$100,000, with from 87 to 106 sleep
ing rooms. That fact seems to be
settled. The question now is Just
who Is going to build It.
Miller Own Site
J. M. Miller of the Alliance hotel
has plans and specifications for a
handsome new, modern hotel build
ing to be built on the site of the
present Burlington hotel.
Iluys Option for $200
The North American Hotel Com
pany, a subsidiary branch of the
Bankers Investment Company of
Omaha, has purchased an option on
the Methodist church parsonage
property located at the corner of
Box Butte avenue and Fifth street,
paying $200 cash to tbe church for
a ninety-days option, and If they de
cide to buy it, the price for the prop
erty will be $12,000.
Representative Hero
H. G. Simon, a representative of
the North American Hotel Company,
has been In the city the past week.
He conferred with the board of dir
ectors of the Commercial Club and
purchased tbe option In the name of
his company, so that the concern
will have a site In the event they
might build.
Would Sell Stork
There seems to be one big draw
back to the plan, however, and that
is that the company must sell Its
stock in order to do anything. That
would mean a stock-selling proposi
tion In which tbe people of Alliance
would be asked to contribute or in
vest certain moneys. It is stated
now that the entire success of the
plan will depend on the sale of stock
locally. The stock to be sold would
not oe for the new hotel here alone
but In the company which Is a build
ing company. The North American
Hotel Company Is building a new ho
tel in Omaha to be known as the
Blackstone, and are said to have
built three hotels on the plan sug
gested for this city.
Still Debating
It Is reported that the board of di
rectors of the Commercial Club have
not accepted a proposition from this
concern and appearances indicate
that they may be expected not to
make any agreement. It is also un
derstood that the hotel company will
have something more to say pertain
ing to the proposition.
Iocal Men Hack Miller
Today a Herald reporter was ad
vised that certain local moneyed men
are getting together with the Idea In
mind of backing J. M. Miller in his
plan to build a new and up-to-the-minute
hotel In Alliance. Mr. Mill
er now operates the Alliance hotel
and oWns the Burlington hotel prop
erty. One of two plans will be fol
lowed, It is said. Either the Bur
lington property will be disposed of
and another site purchased or the
new hotel will be built on tho site of
the old Burlington.
Meeting Tonight
The Herald reporter has learned
that th elocal men Interested in the
new hotel will hold a meeting tonight
at which the proposition will bo gone
over carefully. As near as can be
learned there has been between $18,
000 and $20,000 already subscribed
towards the fund necessary to build
the hotel planned by Mr. Miller.
However, those Interested do not
care to talk for publication at this
time and nothing authentic can be
learned. It Is believed these Inter
ested will Incorporate a company at
an early date and at that time will
make their announcement.
Plana Art Drawn
The plans for the new hotel as
drawn for Mr. Miller by O. J. Henke,
an architect located at Scottsbluff,
call for a modern and complete ho
tel to be operated on tho European
plan. The new hotel with five floors
would have 106 rooms and be con
structed at an approximate cost of
$100,000. It would be the most
modern and up-to-date hotel In thl
part of the weBt and would be am
ple for all the needs of the city for
years to come. However, the prop
osition to build a four-story hotel
with 87 rooms seems at this time to
he In fsvor unless the fifth floor
could be rented to the Commercial
Club or to some other local body.
Modern In lvery Way
If the new hote lis bulk on the
site of the Burlington hotel it will
be Zm by 14ft feet In size. The
plans call for a large dining room
with hard maple floors so that the
room could bn caaily converted Into
a ballroom. There will be a large
modern cafe and It will be here that
the large amount of that end of th
business will be conducted.
Nee! for New Hotel
The fact that there is a need for a
(Continued on page 4, this section)
NEIL CROSS KILLED
AT OMAHA SUNDAY
Man Charged with Murder of Hroth
er of Alliance Machinist Is
Killed at Omaha
Nell Cross, who was to be tried in
Omaha Monday of this coming week
for manslaughter, was found shot
early Sunday morning In the rail
road yards at the foot of Cuming
street in Omaha. He was a special
detective for the Northwestern rail
road. On April 3 of last year Cross ran
down O. J. Schirk of Omaha, injur
ing him bo that he died. Cross was
driving an automobile. O. J. Schirk
was a brother of J. M. Schirk of this
city, a Burlington machinist, and was
known here. J. M. Schirk received
a telegram from an attorney, who
was acting for the widow of his
brother, Sunday, advising of the
death of Cross. Mr. Schirk left
Monday night for Omaha.
When Cross was found he was
clutching his flashlight, which was
still burning, tbe death pressure of
his stiffened fingers serving to bold
down the push button.
His pistol was gone from his hol
ster, and his pocketbook was also
missing.
The bullet that ended his life was
apparently from a range far enough
away to prevent hts being powder
burned. It struck him squarely In
the mouth. From the position he
was found In, apparently he went to
his death calmly. A cigar that he
was smoking was still clutched firm
ly between his teeth.
Paul O'Leary, messenger boy with
the watchman, said the officer had
Just arrested three men charged with
robbing a car. One of them shot
Cross. AH three then ran.
OLD BOX BUTTE
WAKES THEM UP
Potatoes Made Hlg Hit at Potato
Show Heal Estate Men on
Job The Prizes
Box Butte and Sheridan counties
certainly made it plain to all who at
tended the meetings of Organised
Agriculture last week that these two
counties were the "promised land",
and that there was a fortune await
ing all who would come to this land
ot promise nnd raise potatoes.
L. O. Williams wilting in the State
Journal said of the potato show:
"The visitors at our' agricultural
meetings the past week were sure to
run up against some potato man
sooner or later. (Jo where you
might, out among the farmers at the
stale farm, at the auditorium, where
the show was staged, at tho hotel
lobbies, or at the lunch counter, you
were sure to hear more or less potato
talk. The leading contestants In the
potato show this winter were Sheri
dan and Box Butte counties. I do
not mean to say that these two coun
ties contested with each other for tbe
best collective exhibit, but rather
that most of the potatoes shown wero
from these two great centers of spud
production.
Credits Hov Hutte
There was a good-natured rivalry
that was evident at the show between
these two counties not alone by the
growers-- but more prominently by
the rivalry between the real estate
dealers in these two sections. Box
Butte county laid down the claim to
the largest total yield of any county
in the state. Around 6,000,000
bushels was their high mark."
Tbe Alliance Herald was much In
evidence. E. T. Kibble was on the
job and distributed hundreds and
hundreds of copies of the Herald's
potato number, which has created
such a sensation over Nebraska and
has done much to create a desire In
the minds of many to come to Box
Butte county and raise potatoes.
The Awards
The following awards were won by
Box Butte exhibitors:
Hits Triumphs
Karl Forstroui, Hemlngford, secT .
ond; Adolph Forstioui, Hemlngford
third: E. F. Abbet. Hemlngford,
fourth, and A. S. Enyeart, Hemlng
ford, fourth.
Cobblers
F. J. Belzold, Alliance, second; G.
W. Nation, Alliance, third.
Eurekas
Frank Ballwlg, Alliance, second.
Early Ohio
P. O. Muntz. Alliance, fourth; A.
H. Bacon, Hemlngford, fifth; A. S. All appearances Indicate that the po
Knyeart, Hemlngford, fifth; M. C. i iu.e are keeping a sharp lookout and
Be:u'voiit. Hemlngford. fifth; Feter i,iny ou expected to descend on those
Jensen, iwmingroru. mira; i nris
Hansen. Hemlngford, third;
M.
Johnson, Alliance, fourth.
First Prize
The first prims In most instances
are said to have been taken by pro
fessional exhibitors.
ANNUAL MEETING OF
FAIR ASSN. FRIDAY EVE.
The annual meeting of the Box j
Butte F;lr Association will bo held
tomorrow evening. Friday. January!
26, in the Commercial Club rooms. 1
starting at 7:30 o'clock. New of-j
fleers are to be elected and there is
other important business to be taken,
up. At this time the proposition of j
the Commercial Club to combine the
fair and the Stockmen's Reunion will
be decided upon. '
PUT DAN ON
"FREE" LOVE
Alliance Harbor and Former Walt
reus In Iocal Cafe Arrested
Here Tuesday Night .
AllK FOUND TOGETHER IN ROOM
Plloe after Fat Men as Well as
Vast Women Married Man
Said to He In Dutch"
"You Just say that there are
certain married men In this
to-.vn as well unmarried onei
.wl.o are going to got In bad
rlgM soon If they don't change
their ways. There Is o;ie man
" In particular vho has a wife he
allows to aiHo her tin living
while be r okck his llvli.g off of
so-called sporting women. You
ray this business has got to stop
and stop now. If we have to
'clean up" this tribe we will
clean them up and we will not
bother with making it a city
case, but Instead will make a
stage charge and push It to the
Hull." Chief of Polico Jeffers
to Herald Reporter.
There is always a day of reckon
ing. For some it comes sooner than
for others. There are a number of
men In Alliance, and some of them
are married men, who are this week
shaking In their boots for fear that
some of their recent escapades will
be made public and the light of day
shed on their actions. There seems
to be a"Just reason for hls fear that
Is apparently freezing these men up.
Local officials have been and are ac
tive In running down a number of
leads secured from sources that
ought to be authentic.
Arrested at 11 "Hells"
Emma White, until recently em-"-?
ployed at the Burlington cafe, and
Jack Fenton. a barber employed ati
a local barber shop, were arrested
Tuesday night about 11 o'clock in a
rooming house conducted by Mrs.
Louisa Illume, 210 East First street.
Mrs. Blume had complained that
some of the girls staying there had
boen creating a disturbance that
bothered others so they could not
sleep. She told the police that men
were leaving the girls' rooms at all
times of the night and -that things
did not look good. Tho result -of
Mrs. Blume's complaint was the visit
by the polico Tuesday night.
Girl liocked tp
The White woman was locked up
In the woman's ward at the city hall
where she remained until Weduoa-
day morning when her case came up
for hearing before Judge Roberts.
Jack Fenton put up an appearance
bond Tuesday night and failed to
put in an appearance Wednesday
morning. He made no effort to aid
In securing his companion's release
or in putting up bond for her. The
woman plead guilty beforo Judge
Roberts Wednesday morning to dis
turbing the peace by loud and bola
trous language and by acting In a
disorderly manner with one Jack
Fenton. She was fined twenty dol
lars and coats and committed to the
city jail until such time as the fine
and costs were p.-iid or she was oth
erwise lawfully discharged.
No Regular Employment '
In polico court Wednesday morn
ing Mrs. White stated that she was
2 4 years old; that she was divorced
from her husband and did not know
anythlug about where he was; that
her homo was in Kansas; that she
left KftliH.i in September: that she
came to Alliance from Lakeside and
to Lakeside from Lincoln. She had
been employed by Pete Manewal at
the Burlington cafe, but was let out
when the cafe changed hnnds a week
or two ago. Since that time sho has
bad no regular employment She
had bHn staying at the Berry House,
but stated she left there becauso they
would not call her In the morning
It was then that sho rented a room
at Blume's. Her chum, employed at
another cafe, also stayed there.
Police Are "Wise" Now
The police, it is learned, are "on"
to the t-Aii.e of certain parties In
Alliance nnd unless their conduct in
very much changed within a short
time said parties may expect to pay
a visit to the police .court and anco
there they need not expect to depend
on bluff or boldness to clean them.
i pulling shady stunts almost any
time.
Party of Six
When asked regarding a recent
performance raid to have been stag
ed. Mrs. White told the court that
there were three couples In the room
mentioned at tbe time, threo girls
and three men. To the question of
whether or not they had liquor that
night, she replied In the negative,
and the same way as to the playing
of cards. Mrs. White was asked
what she did that night and replied
that ehe was "sore" and spent her
time on the bed.
Made Date for Her
"Two men tried to make a date
witQ me for another man. the two
. , . .
(Continued on page 4 this section)
j (Continual on pag 8 this "sect ion )
"5