Nebraska Newspapers

    Official Organ Nebraska Stock Growers Association and Nebraska State Volunteer Firemen's Association
16 Pages 2 Sections
Leading Newspaper of
Western NEBRASKA
The Alliance Herald
Tell 'tm You
Saw it in
The Herald
1
VOLUME XXIV
ALLIANCE, BOX BUTTE COUNTY, NEBRASKA, NOVEMBER 15, HM 7
NUMBER 60
NEWS ABOUT
TRADERS AT LIVE
STOCK MARKETS
0
SO-CALLED SPECULATORS' REN
DER A OOOD SERVICE TO
SHOPPERS
USEFUL INFORMATION
Newspaper Editors and Reporters
Should Post Up Before Writing
On New Subjects
INTERESTING TALK ON
BUSINESSMAN'S CHURCH
Alliance Merchant Brought Out Good
Thoughts in Speech at Methodist
Men's Meeting
By JOHN W. THOMAS, Live Stock
Editor
For a long while I have wanted to
give to readers of The Herald infor
mation regarding traders at the live
stock markets. It is scarcely neces
sary to publish this information fcr
the benefit of the large shippers, for
they are already posted; but there
are many others who will be interest
ed, and especially would it see'n that
newspaper editors and reporters
ought to secure reliable information
before trying to write on a subject
that is new to them.
Recently there have appeared in
some Nebraska newspapers articles
trying to discredit the traders at live
stock markets; but to the knowing
ones these articles discredited only
the writers of them. When a news
paper man writes a labored article,
as has been done a few times in tns
state, trying to prove that the open
markets would be improved by elim
ination of the traders, he shows that
te is either pitifully ignorant or try
ing to make capital of the ignorance
of others, as he supposes.
A little investigation will prove to
candid minds that it would be a mis
fortune to shut out the traders from
the live stock markets, a misfortune
to shippers and producers of feeder
I . stock stuff. One draw-back to our
kZ present market system which level
headed stockmen and broad-minded
business men would like to see elim-
inated is the sudden and violent fluc-
t nation OI prices, luis is nmcu
largely, to say the least, by the irreg
ularity of shipments, a see-saw be
tween supply and demand. The
packing houses are the principal
buyers at the live stock markets, al
though at some of them, including
South Omaha, to which most of Ne
braska's live stock is shipped, a good
deal of stuff is shipped out to feeders
in the surrounding territory and to
V. farmers and ranchmen as stockers.
N Not only does the amount of stock
received at the market vary very
much on different days, but the de
mand for feeders and stockers is un
even. Some days, when the run is
light, the buyers for the packing
houses take everything in sighf, or
bid up till the buyers have to pay a
big price for what they get; other
days, when the run is heavy and the
demand very light, they play peek-a-boo
with the sellers, and the prices
head for the cellar. It is then that
the traders on the market render a
real and valuable service to shippers.
They have pens in which they can
hold stock over, and by out-biddine
the buyers for the packing houses
they absorb the surplus and prevent
utter demoralization of the market.
They hold their purchases until the
demand catches up with or exceeds
the supply, and then sell, usually at
an advance over what they paid, but
not always at a profit after counting
out the cost of the transaction.
That isn't all. Stocker nud feeder
buyers who come to the market to
supply their needs usually have their
minds made up as to the kind of stuff
they want. Some want one kind.
Borne another. Shippers send in
mixed lots. By proper sorting, culls
from different shipment?-, can be sold
for a better price if not handled by
the trader who does this kind of
work. Well posted shippers want
traders to bid on their stock, and
this is especially true if it needs sort
ing and grading.
The following from the South
Omaha Journal-Stockman of Novem
ber 3rd gives some further informa
tion en this important subject:
Misinformation As To Simulation
An editorial in the Omaha Bee Fri
day morning is a fair example of the
popular misconception concerning the
business done on the live stock mar
kets. The statement is so far from
the truth that the Bee should cor
rect it at once to accord with the facts
as such entirely erroneous and mis
leading reports, apparently sanc
tioned by a reputable and widely cir
culated newspaper are calculated to
do great injustice to the Omaha mar
ket as well as needlessly alarm the
public. The statement which appear
ed in an editorial in the Omaha Bee
yesterday morning is as follows:
Speculators frequently "make
the market," despite the pack
ers. On Monday 10,938 head of
cattle were sold in Omaha, of
which the packers took but
6,566, the rest going to specu
lators. Live stock commission
men should not be confounded
with the speculators; the com
mission man is really the sales
man, acting for the shipper. All
of these are to be reckoned with
In dealing with the meat trade
and all come below the packer.
Here are the facts: Receipts of
cattle In Omaha on Monday were
12,766 head and not 10.938 head
(Continued on Page IS)
W. R. Harper, the Alliance mer
chant, was one of the speakers at
the rousing meeting held Friday eve
ning at the Methodist church for the
men of the church. Mr. Harper
talked on the subject, "The Business
Man s Church." His speech was full
of good thoughts, well worth the at
tention of the business men of Alii
ance. It was as follows:
"The Business Man's Church"
i line me term "tne man s
church."
It has always seemed to me that
the Church of Christ, founded by
the manliest man that the world has
ever known, Bhould be In reality a
man's church.
The apostles were all rugged, man
ly men the Saviour, though tender
ly ministered unto by the women of
His time still depended upon these
men to be His closest friends and
His ablest supporters.
More than ever today we are real
izing that if the church is to accom
plish her gigantic mission at this cri
sis in the history of the world and of
Christianity, the men will have to
come to the rescue. Here is an insti
tution which demands time, money,
ability, experience in fact, all of our
resources. It is worthy of the very
best that we have to give and yet we
have been slow in recognizing the
work of the church as a full-sized
man's job.
The women have their share to do,
undoubtedly. And looking around
us, we find that in all cases they are
doing their portion, and doing it in
full.
And in most churches we find the
women not only doing their rightful
share, but we see them struggling
along, under our share of the bur
den, too.
As broad-minded men we have to
admit that the men haven't been
holding up their end of things in ths
Work of the church. In other words,
we are "slackers."
We expect to be the head of ihe
house and represent the family dur
ing the week. But on Sunday morn
ing we are perfectly willing to step
aside from our position as lord of
creation for the necessary hour, and
let our wife represent us and family
in the church.
Then, taking the church from the
standpoint not only of a man, but of
a business man, we think of the
keynote of modern business effi
ciency. There are few, if any, places in the
carrying on of the work of the world
where good, sound business princi
ples are not adaptable, and connot be
applied to splendid advantage.
And the first principle of business
in the present uay is efficiency find
ing the best way of accomplishing
the most.
You have all heard the story aB
(old by Mark Twain, but I am going
to tell it again, because it illustrates
he efficiency idea. He says: "I at
tended a church service one time,
;.nd the speaker, who was a fluent
mas, was taking up donations for
the heathen. At first I was not par
ticularly interested, but as he went
on describing the necessity for send
ing funds, immediately I unconscious
ly began feeling around in my pocket
for my loose change. I had about
a dollar, and as the speaker contin
ued I became carried away by his
eloquence, and after a severe mental
struggle, finally concluded to do my
self proud and put the whole thing
into the collection plate. The speak
(Continued on Page 12)
THE HOME 6UAR0S ARE
TRAINING REGULARLY
Interest Increases as Guards Now
Have I'se of Wooden Guns for
Manual of Amis
Visitors to the Home Guards Ar
mory on either Tuesday or Friday
evening of each week are surprised
at the rapid advancement in learning
tactics made by the members who
attend regularly. Under the efficient
instruction given by W. J. Hamilton,
former drill sergeant, now Lieutenant
Hamilton, the guards have developed
into well trained units.
Captain R. C. Strong, with lieuten
ants Hamilton and Pilkington, are
devoting much time to the work be
ing done by the guards. Alliance
will soon have one of the best drilled
companies in the state.
The boys are taking quickly to the
drilling being given them r.s Junior
Home Guards each Wednesday eve
ning at the armory. Lieutenant
Hamilton invites the parents to come
with their boys and watch them drill.
NEBRASKA WINS AGAIN
The Nebraska Dairy Judging Team
won high honors at the National
Dairy show held at Columbus, Ohio.
This year the team s'ood first in
judging Holsteins, first in judging
cheese, and second in judging milk
and butter. The milk from the Uni
versity of Nebraska dairy depart
ment was awarded highest honors
and a gold medal. According to s
summary published by the United
States Dairy Division of all dairy
judging contests held since 1908. 48
cups have been offered, of which
number Nebraska baa won It.
Scabies Quarantine Raised
Office of
NEBRASKA live stock sanitary board,
Lincoln, Nebraska.
Under authority conferred by law upon the Live Stock Sanitary
Board of Nebraska, it Is hereby ordered that the regulations cover
ing the movement of cattle affected by scabies, adopted by this Board
on July 31, 1913, are hereby rescinded; and It Is further ordered
that the quarantine established by such regulations, which restricted
the movement of cattle within prescribed areas except under specified
conditions, is hereby revoked insofar as such quarantine applies to
the following described territory, to-wlt:
The counties of Scotts Bluff, Box Butte, Dawes, Sheridan, Mc
Pherson, Grant, Hooker, Thomas, Cherry, Arthur, and those parts
of Keith, Morrill and Garden counties north of the North Platte
river, and all within the state of Nebraska.
It is hereby ordered that all railroads and other common carriers
take notice herewith that cattle may be moved from any of the above
described territory to any point within the state of Nebraska without
restriction.
Dated at Lincoln, Nebraska, this 10th day of November, 1917.
NEBRASKA, LIVE STOCK SANITARY BOARD,
. By J. H. BULLA. President.
DR. J. S. ANDERSON. Secretary.
Poems of Our Soldier Boys
THE MORNING SONG OF COMPANY D
I 'lil flrnva arn nf Ui ....,1 4... 1 m . ... .
....... , ,,. . . i mm. nn univc 01 Alliance, wno was a mem-
lit' r ft Ctmnanv CI V. am,...,.,.. . . , . .
iur niimuic iiiinuy com ma nneo ny uapt. Jack Miller
now Company D in the heavy artillery at Camp Cody, Deming, New Mexico'
writes his narentR that pverv mnmln o -a ;,,., , ,., ,.,,,,,,,.,.. , fcT j . . .'
- - - 0 ....... i . . 1 1 Dim i a mr iue arm
uroundB they sing in unison the following emphatic and rather .tnrtiino
song, to a familiar tune:
"Dam, dam, dam the dirty Kaiser,
Dam, dam, dam the dirty Huns;
We will blow them all to hell
With a high explosive shell,
For we're the boys that man
The six-inch gunB
Boom, boom, boom, etc."
A SOLDIER'S LETTER HOME
Written b Serv ant F. B. Camp, Second Montana Infantry.
Soldi' r Camp of U. S. A. No Place or Time or Date
Dear Mother: I ai writing, I know a trifle late,
Bu' I have been s uey with the Soldier's dallv grind
That I've neglected writing, but I know you will not mind,
lien you ve read what I urn writing, you'll feel a whole lot better,
And I promise that hereafter, I will write a daily letter.
Tell Sis she wouldn't know me, since I left our little town,
tor tne 6un Pas surely baked me, a most gorgeous golden brown,
leu uaa 11 ne could see me, he would never cuss me more.
For oversleeping mornings, or neglecting any chore.
Tell little brother Bennie I've a pistol and a gun.
A really truly rifle, that wasn't made for fun.
Tell my sweetheart that I love her. when you see her. Mother dear.
That sleeping, drilling, working, I keep wishing she were here,
leu Aunty tnat 1 thank her for the little wooden box.
The home-made Jam and cookies, and the doxen knitted sox
Tell Sis' fellow for me, if he wants to have some fun,
To join the U. S. army, and get himself a gun.
Tell Tom and Dick and Harry and strapping Jimmie Coots,
That Uncle Sam is needing a million more recruits.
.1.1st tell 'em what I'm writing, in this letter, dear, to you,
So that each and every one, will know just what we do.
At five a. m. the bugle blows, the call to rise and dress;
At five-fifteen the morning run, at six a. m. the mess.
Hot cakes and syrup, coffee, spuds and bacon fried,
With sugar, milk and home baked bread to fill the space inBidc.
At half past six, Fatigue call sounds, the BtreetB and tents are 'pliced,
Then we drill for two long hours, before we are released.
From nine a. m. 'till three p. m., we sleep and write and read.
Then rrill again, dear Mother, for it's drilling that we need.
The Post Exchange supplies our wants with almost anything,
Veve a dandy club and reading room where we can go and sing.
We can get a pass to go to town, 'most any time we wish,
We've everything we want to eat, both plain and fancy dish.
We've a ball team, 3ome boxing gloves, a wrestling match and craps.
We've each a little army cot, we Bleep on after taps.
We've mess halls with mosquito net, shower baths that are divine.
Oh! there's nothing, Mother, which we have that isn't extra fine,
We've clothes galore for every need; Sunday, work or play,
We've a colonel who's a dandy, and a day on which they pay.
We've a hundred things, dear Mother, that I haven't room to mention,
A hundred things, dear Mother, that require our close attention.
We are happy and we're healthy, and we're learning to be men,
Such a chance to get a schooling, we may never have again.
Oh! I miss you, Mother darling, but I'm happy and content.
With the hours and and weeks we're spending in the regulation tent,
'Cause I know I need the schooling I may never get again.
The school t' at takes the weaklings, and makes them into men.
Now Mother dear, I've written you, a letter that is long,
"Efficiency's" the title of our regimental song,
We are waiting now and ready for the day we'll take a chance,
With our brothers and the o'heia on the plains of Sunny France.
We are waiting for the order that will bid us grab our guns,
For the day we'll lick the Kaiser and his fighting German Huns.
Now I'll close with love and kisses, and a heart that's full of joy,
And sign by name as always, "Your Happy Soldier Boy."
Hoffland Items
(Held over from last week.)
Earl Mailt i was in Hoffiand Fri
day on business.
Mrs. Howe spent Saturday and
Sunday in Alliance.
Holland Clark sustained a badly
bruised finger Friday, when a 4x6
fell on it.
The dance at the Cook Shack given
October 31st by the Red Cross was
well attended.
Mr. and Mrs. A. W. Brewer made
a business trip to Alliance Saturday,
returning Sunday.
Alfred Wallgreen moved his fam
ily to Alliance Saturday. Mr. Wall
green will fire on the Burlington out
of Alliance.
A fire was started by a passing
train Tuesday just east of Hoffland
and burned two or three hay stacks
belonging to Jack Miller. About 80
men and boys took sacks and shovels
and soob pnt the fire oat,
Mr. and Mrs. Rooney, Mr. and
! Mrs. Davis, William aBily and Miss
j Bromley motored to Alliance Sat ur
! day evening.
Mrs. Holland Clark returned Fri
day from Merna, Nebr., where she
i has been visiting her daughter the
past three weeks.
Mrs. H. Keiser went to Alliance
Saturday to spend the wook-end with
, her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Allen. She
was joined by her husband Sunday.
Mrs. William Ostenberg returned
home Tuesday. She has been very
ill the past week at the home of her
mother, Mrs. Smith, of Alliance. She
was accompanied by her mother.
D. Bron has aewcopted a contract
to paint the new smoke-stack at 14
cents a square yard. This will net
him about $180. He thinks the work
can be completed in a week.
E. L. Criss received severe burns
last Wednesday when a steam valve
broke, letting the steam out. Mr.
Criss was standing In such a posi
tion as to get the full force of the
steam. The most serious burn was
I on the forahead.
GREAT MASS MEETING EASTERN MAR-
Af SGOTTSBLUFF
tie Thousand People Attended Y. M.
C A. Meeting In Neighboring
City Rev. Morris There
The big drive to raise 835,000,000
for the men of the American army.
to be spent through the agency of
tne National War Work Council of
the Y. M. C. A. is taking place this
week. Nebraska is to raise $260.
uvo, of which $30,000 is to be
pledged by the boys
A great meeting was held at 8cotts-
bluff on Monday evening of last week,
attended by 1,000 and many more
were turned away, at which plans
were made for the raising of at least
223,000 In the district comprising
eight counties In Southwestern Ne
braska. Delegates were present from
all of these counties except one, and
plans have been made for the hold
ing of a meeting In each county, and
a chairman has been elected to have
charge of the campaign in each coun
ty. Rev. J. Walter Morris of Alliance,
pastor of the Methodist church, at
tenaded the meeting at Scottsbluff
and took an active part.
The meeting Monday evening In
Scottsbluff was addressed by Lieuten
ant O'Grady of the Canadian Army,
and E. J. Couper, a big business man
of Minneapolis. Lieutenant O'Grady
lias just returned from Euroue, after
spending two years in a German
prison camp. He told how the boys
In the trenches appreciate the work
of the Y. M. C. A and how Impos
sible it would be to get along with
out It. It is the only agency which
ministers to the need of the soldiers,
for the Y. M. C. A. is with them con
stantly, from the time they leave
home up to the very front line
trenches. E. J. Couper is chairman
of the Central Military Division, and
has charge of the raising of the fund
in fifteen central states. He told of
the plan of organizing, whereby It Is
hoped to raiBe the $35,000,000 In a
weeks' time.
The amounts to he raised in each
county in this district are as follows:
Scotts Bluff $11,000.00
Banner 1,000.00
Box Butte 2,500.00
Kimball 1,500.00 1
Cheyenne 2,600.00 I
Morrill 2,000.00
Deuel 1,500.00
Garden 1.000.00
President Wilson has asked that I
the Y. M. C. A. look after the com
fori of the men in camp, it has the '
endorsement of the military author
KETS SHOW BET
TER FOR SPUDS
CAR SHORTAGE OVER POTATO
GROWING SECTION HOLDS
SPUDS IN FIELDS
BUY AND SELL BY WEI6HT
Excellent Weather Conditions la
Western Nebraska Have Greatly
Helped Potato Growers
The potato situation during the
past week has Improved somewhat.
Prices were firmer on the Chicago
market and improvement in prices
were shown at other large marketing
points. The excellent weather condi
tions of the part week or two ia
western Nebraska have helped some
what locally, although the serious
shortage of cars has apparently tend
ed to keep the price down somewhat
The potato situation over the
country, as reported by the Packer,
during the past week was as fol
lows: Better Tone on Chicago Market
Chicago, Illinois. The potato mar
ket was on a somewhat firmer basis
last week. The frosen and field
frosted stock, which has caused so
much trouble the last two weeks, is
cleaning up rapidly and it seemed to
be the general opinion that under
favorable conditions for another
week this damaged stock would be
pretty well out of the way. A large
percentage of the arrivals of the last
two weeks have shown more or less
damage from these causes and the
cars that were free from same were
few and far between.
The receipts have shown a decrease
over those of the preceding ten days
and because of this the accumulation
in the outer yards has been decreased
considerably. The car situation Is
giving much trouble and no improve
ment seems to be in Bight.
Tuesday the market was fairly
steady with Wisconsin white stock,
sacked, selling around $2.15 to $2.25
per cwt. ; Minnesota whites brought
the same price. Bulk stock, when
good, sold from 5 to 10c leBS per
cwt.
Wednesday . the improved demand
on the outside served to strengthen
ities, and the eoldierB say that they ,hp, market here and values were on
cannot get along without the Y. M. 1 ?, "'Bier Dasis. uooo sacked
C. A. huts. L. Nesbit of the Sixth Wisconsin and Minnesota white stock
Nebraska Infantry Band, writes. b'"Kh $2.30 to $2.35 per cwt ; bulk
"What home is without a mother is '"vL "i Be B,Htos moved at
what the army would be without the to $2-25- There was some
Y M C A " i Western stock on the market and
General John J. PerBhing cables "A01: of 00'' lual"y "Old up to
from France as follows: "The work 2 40 an,d $2 50. but considerable of
now being done by the Y. M. 0. A. for ,he " lo'k ,rom the Western section
the comfort and entertainment of our waH 8howing up poor,
soldiers in France is very important. Thursday the market held firm at
The Y. M. C. A. has won its place prices about unchanged. Receipts
by unselfish personal devotion to the
soldiers' welfare. and deserves
staunch support from our people at
home."
The chairmen elected for the dif
ferent counties are as follows:
Scotts Bluff, J. C. McCreary. Scotts
bluff. Deuel, H. C. Peterson, Chappell.
Morrill. Rev. O. F. McDougall,
Bridgeport.
Cheyenee, E. L. Uptegrove, Sidney.
Kimball, James A. Rodman, Kim
ball. S. K. Warrick, chairman 18th dis
trict. Harvey F Smith, of Omaha, direc
tor for the 18th district. Headquar
ters at Scottsbluff.
were only 50 tars and the accumu
lation was reduced.
Friday the market was on a fairly
firm basis with good sacked stock
selling up to $2.35. Receipts were
about 30 cars.
Improved In ma ml at Kansas i it y
Kansas City, Mo. There was an
improved demand for the arrivals of
beat potatoes noticeable in the local
market last week. However, the re
IceiptB, which continued large, includ
ed a big percentage of stock showing
i field frost, and demand tor this was
! slow.
Local dealers, in accordance with
the government I reqmst, started
dealing in potatoes' on the cwt. basis
tins week. Northern and Western
white stock, in car lots, sacked, per
cwt., were quoted at $2."0 lo $2.30.
Tfl OrPTDV ATlflsJ '""' hios. other than Red Rivers,
IU ntotHVAMUli tfiaTTT 01 -i5
$2.35. Wbils Red Rivers vers quoted
at $2.45 to $2.55.
INDIANS RETURN HOME
Potato tYop is Harvested the Red
Man QoOS Home to i;mii the
South Dakota Plains
Although they have finished the
work of picking the million bushel
potato crop of Box Butte county a
couple of weeks ago, the Indians
have continued to loiter among us,
and Boine have found other employ
ment at the sheds where the crop
was being loaded into the cars for
shipment. At this time, however,
they are rapidly making preparations
to leave us, and another day or so
will see the last wagon fading from
view, headed for the Pine Ridge res
ervation in South Dakota. They are
loathe to leave us. They have been
well treated and know and appreciate
it. Not only were the red men well
paid for their work, but they were
well treated by all.
Many farmers say that the Indian
Ib an exceptional man for work on
the potato crop. It was probably
more or less In the way of a contin
gency that many of us discovered the
fact, but now that we are aware of
it, let us remember that the Indian
helped us out when labor was very
scarce, and with the wish that he
may come again next year to harvest
a crop of spuds twice as large as the
present one.
The Indians pnt on another war
dance exhibition oa the streets Sat
urday afternoon aad their efforts
were appreciated by a large crowd.
HurMarf in Philadelphia
Philadelphia, Pa. The potato mar
ket dropped an average of ten cents
a bushel dally from Friday to the
middle of last week, due to the heavy
receipts, and receivers not being able
to clean up their supplies. Since
Monday there has bven an average
of 100 cars on track at both yards
daily. Pennsylvania round stock Bold
at $1.50 to $1.65 a bushel and New
York round stock at $1.40 to $1.60.
Market Easier at Cleveland
Cleveland, Ohio. The potato mar
ket was easier at the opening of the
week on account of heavier offerings.
Prices remained the same, however,
lamage from these causes and the
lower prices at shipping points. De
liveries have been irregular. The
street as yet has failed to adopt the
new standard of selling potatoes by
the cwt. Ohlos sold at around $1.65
and $1.76 per bushel, while Mlchlgaa
and WisconBlns sold at around $4.11
per 150-lb. sack.
Improvement in New York
New York City. There was some
Improvement in the condition of the
potato market toward the end of last
week, but the situation for the last
ten days has been very discouraging.
The accumulations in the yards about
New York were very heavy and stock
was still coming in from Mlchlgaa,
Wisconsin, New York state and Penn
sylvania. A great deal of stock com-
( Continued oa Page 18)