The Alliance herald. (Alliance, Box Butte County, Neb.) 1902-1922, March 12, 1920, Image 1

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VOLUME XXVII.
ALLIANCE, BOX BUTTE COUNTY, NKIIKASKA, FIJI DAY, MAHCH 12, 1920.
NUMBER 30.
MOIHER FAILURL
TO GEffiANCHiSE
Council Listens to Telephone Coin
puny llcpresentative, lint
Takes No Action
F. A. May of Omaha, commercial
superintendent of the Nebraska Tel
ephone company, on hia second ap
pearance before the city council at
the Tuesday evening meeting, sub
mitted figures showing that the com
pany was not carting money out of
Alliance by the wheelbarrow load.
As a matter of fact, Mr. May insist
ed, the profit on the investment
amounted to exactly 3 per cent, less
than any other business of the size
!n the city.
The Omaha man made an appeal
to the council to grant the company
a franchise, and showed a concilia
tory spirit all through his address
and the discussion that followed, but
the council showed no deposition to
meet him half way.
llato Clause the Trouble
The company franchise expired
several months ago, and the council
has been in no hurry to grant an
other, despite the fact that the com
pany is awaiting the passage of an
ordinance of that kind before it
spends money to improve facilities in
Alliance. The difficulty seems to be
that the original franchi3e contained
a rate clause, and this failed to hold
when the railway commission was
created by the legislature and given
rate powers. Some of the council
men declare they fail to see the nec
essity for a franchise when the last
one didn't protect the city, and the
company declares that that it can
not go ahead with improvements un
til given "the legal rlghti to do so.
On the expiration of the old fran
chise, the company's attorneys sub
mitted a sample ordinance similar to
the franchises passed by ether coun
cils. Lut the Alliance council found j
a number of objections with it, and
these were incorporated in a commit
tee report signed by City Attorney
W. It. Metz and Councilman John
son. This report contained a num
ber of suggestions, such as that tho
company be required to construct a
building here within two years.
One Place to Get Money
Mr. May was present at last
month's session of the council and
made an argument against the sug
gestions embodied in this report. At
Tuesday evening's session, he began
his remarks with a reference to a
suggestion by Mayor Rodgers that au
heavy occupation tax be exacted.
"You might as well make it $500 a
month as $350," he said. "We have
but one place to get revenue from
those who buy our services and if
we cannot make a reasonable profit
we will have to go before thy rail
way commission and ask for an in
crease in rates."
The speaker then presented figures
taken from the company's books.
They covered only the year 1919,
but Mr. May extended an invitation
to the council or a competent corn
shown the receipts and expenses for
shown th ereceipts and expenses for
any period desired. The council did
not see fit to authorize the appoint
ment of such a committee, although
the invitation was extended several
times.
Investment of Over $70,000
The property was purchased In
1910, Mr. May said. Two years later,
a reconstruction estimate was pre
pared, in which the old plant was
figured at $27,551 and improvements
at $40,224.94, making a total in
vestment, in 1913, of $67,775.93.
The old plant was a pile of junk
and a large part of it was piled up
and burned, and over $25,000 was
charged off the company's books. In
1913 the company had 880 stations,
represenUng an investment of $50
per station. At the present time,
there are 1,131 stations, with an av
erage investment of $65. Since 191.1
additional money to the amount of
$28,381 has been invested in Alli
ance, making the total investment in
the city $70,000.
The Nebraska Telephone company
.made but $6,897.61 profit out of th
Alliance station during 1919, a total
of 9.81 per cent on the investment.
The state railway commission allows
them to charge off 8 per cent for
depreciation each year, but this they
do not do. Instead they charge off
6 per cent, and this leaves a net
profit of 3.81 per cent. The 9.81 per
cent cares for both depreciation and
Interest on investment.
Mr. May has been an Alliance fan
ever since he was district commer
cial manager in this territory. He
has, he declared, at all times urged
Improvements here and has been
remarkably successful. He cited the
toll line to the potash towns as an
instance of what he had been able t j
secure, and expressed a conviction
lhat the investment of over $38,000
would eventually pay out, although
for a time It appeared that the bot
tom had dropped out of potash. The
company expected $500 a month
revenue from his toll line and the ex
changes thereon, but it considers it
self lucky if it reaceives $150.
Not Ashamed of Figures
The company is not ashamed of
the Alliance figures, Mr. May said,
lie believed that the railway com
mission would grant it permission to
raise rates and earn a higher inter
est. The company, however, does
not want higher rates. It wants to
do business in the city and to extend
its facilities to give adequate service,
but will not do so until given the
legal right by the city.
Following the talk there was a
long discussion which took in such
matters as the way the company fig
ured its taxes, some members of the
council objecting to the system used.
Mr. May replied that It was the sys
tem approved by the railway commis
sion and not within the province of
the council to change. The matter
of a depreciation fund was next
brought up, and It was explained to
the council that this was used for
plant replacement and to cover
emergencies.
(Continued on rage 6.)
ROSETT A REJOINS
THE HOLYJROLLERS
Fonrteen-Yenr-Old M:ikes a Third
Attempt to Lend the Re
ligious Life
Chief of Tolice Nova Taylor
Thursday morning received a visit
from Mrs. Anna O'Neill, mother of
Rose Etta and Flossie, aged four
teen and seventeen, respectively,
who have a burning desire to lead
the religious life. Rose Etta, a
month or two ago. was taken from
a band of Holly Rollcr3 then at Alli
ance and returned to her mother at
Seneca. That was Roe Etta's sec
ond attempt. The third attempt was
no more successful, for Chief Taylor
located her at Antioch and handed
her over to her mother.
Flossie, the other daughter, has
gone a step farther. Her mother,
after locating her at Crawford, start
ed out for Thedford, he county seat,
to swear out a warrant for the ar
rest of one of the Rollers, with whom
Flossie Is believed to be enamored.
After her daughters had been
found, and one of them captured,
Mrs. O'Neill told the chief that she
was completely out of funds, and
within five minutes the police de
partment head had finished passing
the hat with entirely satisfactory re
sults. COMMITTEE TO PREPARE
A BUILDINGORDINANCE
The city council, at Its meeting
Tuesday evening, appointed a com
mittee to redraft the building ordi
nance prepared by C. C. Smith when
he held the position of city manager.
Tho ordinance was originally drafted
according to suggestions of the na
tional board of underwriters, and
there Is nothing the matter with 1.,
save that it is entirely too long, cov
ering over fifteen foolscap pages, and
typewritten at that. The mayor sug
gested that it probably is a copy of
the one now in force In greater New
York, and while Alliance has consid
erable building activity. It is not yet
necessary to make legal provision for
the erection of skyscrapers.
City Attorney Metz will confer
with Grand Island, Hastings, Fre
mont, North Flatte and other cities
of Alliance's clasa, and secure copies
of their building oidinances. The-i
the committee will call In an experi
enced architect, and a Bet of build
ing regulations suitable for tho city
will be prepared.
A building ordinance is needed but
not too ambitious an ordinance. One
result of the lack was pointed out
when the mayor called attention to
the fact that property constructed in
the city four years ago had never
found a rlace on the tax lists. With
a system of building permits, this
would be impossible.
wanted A middle aged woman
for a housekeeper; must be neat in
appearance and good to children;
who can take a mother's place. I
lost my wife. I will make a home
for the right party or if you have a
home, write and find out. I will call
on you. O. B. Herman, Lakeside,
Neb. 31
CONTESTANTS ANNOUNCED IN THE
HERALD AUTO AND PRIZE CAMPAIGN
ENTERPRISING HUSTLERS ARE "OFF AT POST" IN SIX
WEEKS CAMPAIGN FOR VOTES
RACE FOR THE PRIZES IS
The Number of Votes Cast for Each, Contestant up to 8 P. M. Mon
day, March 15, Will Be Published in Tuesday's Herald
Who Will Be at the Top of the List?
rnillllllllllllllllllllllllltlllllltl,,l,lt,llll,,l,ll,,t,llltl,MHIIttMMIIIIII,lllll,,HII,l,l,l,l,H,tM,lIIMIIIIt,l,,,IIMIIIltmilll,llll,r,l
I
Names of Contestants
Following re the name of candidates who have boon entered In
The Herald's contest to date. Hie names arc arranged in alphabet
ical order and credited with the nomination votes only. Tucvlny
they will appear according to vole standing the highest first, and
on.
SlUSCKHTIONS AND VOTES TO APl'IUll 1 TUESDAY'S
ItKI-OUT MUST HE TURNED IS li 8 O'CLOCK MONDAY EVE
NING, MAHCH 15.
If you have Kent In your name and it docs not appear below
or If yon detdrc to comiM-to notify The Herald at once, l'hone .'110.
MISS MINNIE ANDERSON MiUil.aMan Cafe 5.000
MISS MAHHAHET I1ARHY 1234 rirt .5.000
Mil. NORHERT DROWN 'ilSi West Fourth 5,000
MR. X. M. HI LLOCK 220 Rox Rutte 5 00
MISS HELEN (.HIKER ...Ooii Yellow Mono 5.OO0
MR. RALLIM! COX 103 Cheyenne 5 00
mr. h:oiu;e davis et, TohK-n 5,000
MISS LYDA (JASSELINt; Htmingford 5,0)
MISS LORETTA 1UD(;KINSiN..10iI Rig Horn 5.0(10
MISS (HtACK JOHNSON 1011 Rox Rutte 5.O0O
MRS. FRANK KOPAO Aiitio.li 5, (MM)
i I
MR. ALEX LEE
MISS SARAH NEWMAN ....
?IR. JORDAN IldlllXSOX ..
'MR. CARLETON TAYLOR
MISS RUTH THOMASON ..
,
MRS. J. Yt'ONO
QlMtMMMIMIMmimMIMmiMammHMIMIHmiUIIMMMMH'MMHMMimi HHIMIIIIMMIIIMMM,,,,, , IIMUHMMIlfTj
Tho first announcement of the
names of candidates entered thus far
in The Herald's big automobile and
prize campaign, in which a ' brand
new Reo six touring car, valued at
$1,985, Is. the grand capital prize, ap
pears above.
This marks the real beginning of
a race for more than $ 3,0 00 in mag
nificent awards. The bars are up
and every active participant has right
of way.
By looking over the representative
but short list of candidates you
will likely Bee the name of a friend
or acquaintance whom you woul 1
like to see win the new Reo six. If
so, hand hltn or her your subscrip
tion right now right at the start,
when encouragement counts the
most.
Room for Others
As there are eight valuable prizes
to be awarded, and 20 per cent cast;
commission guaranteed all active
non-prize winners, it will be seen ut
a glance that there is an exce'lei.t
opportunity for YOU In this contest.
In fact, tho opening that exists for
live-wire workers to make them
selves Important factors and bU
prize winners Is almost calling aloud.
There were Quito a number of
other nominations sent in which ar-'
not included in the above, list. !"
each case the nominee was notlhM
by letter and requested to acknowl
edge receipt. It is expected thai a
number of these will be heard from
within the next day or two, and that
the next published list will see new
names added and interest in the race
giowing by leaps and bounds.
Vote Standings Tuesday
The number of votes cast for ea h
contestant will be published in the
next isse of Tho Herald, Tuesday,
March 16. All votes polled up to 8
o'clock Monday evening, March 1".
will be counted and the totals pub
lished opposite the names of con
testants. .The one having the larg
est number of votes will be placed
first in the list, the one having the
second largest number of votes, 6 c
ond in the list, and so on.
Time Is Limited Get Busy
Less than three weeks remain dur
ing which to secure tho maximum
number of votes for subscriptions
less than three weeks to WIN or
LOSE for that Is exactly what it
means, fter April 3 there Is a ma
terial decrease in the schedule of
votes; and. after April 17, there HjTValn of this city. Friday afternoon
an even greater decllne in fact thMnt 2 o'clock. Rev. Mr. Ruthburn of
schedule is almost cut in half.
Our best advice to those who w!sb
to win Is to hurry every available
NOW ON IN REAL EARNEST
Ranch 5,000
222 Ti.lmu ...5.000
Ill Niobrara 5,000
Long IjiKo 5,(Hh
001 Dig Horn 5,00 )
315 Cheyenne 5,!0
subscription to The Herald office
NOW while the big votes are in ef
icci. ioi to ao so means that you
throwing golden opportunities
away opportunities that may bring
you the prize Reo, a freo vacation
trip to California, or one of th3
other valuable prizes.
No Quitters Here
With todays announcement of
contestants the big race Is on. Can
didates are "off at the post" and tho
pace is growing hot.
Y'OUR ability and ambition are to
be put lo the test. Can you finish as
strong as jou have started, with the
beat talent and the keenest wit in
western Nebraska pitted against
you? You most certainly can If your
courage does not fall you now.
Who can finish victorious in the
face of keen competition? If we
know character at all we opine that
no such misery as a quitter will ap
pear among those who have entered
The Herald campaign. Certainly the
winners will be entitled to admira
tion for defeating such a field, and
as certainly will commendations b-j
due those who "die game."
Get in the race with a shout for
you are off in a bunch, and MAY
THE BEST CONTESTANT WIN!
FASHION SHOP ANNOUNCE
FIFTH ANNUAL OPENING
This week The Herald carries the
announcement of the "Fifth Annua
Opening of The Fashion Shop." 1
brings tho first opportunity to A 111
ance choppers to inspect a large va
rlety of the spring designs, and many
who Lave been waiting for !'. wil
now bo able to exclaim over 'h w,i
dcrs of the now lines U u !
clothes.
The aFshlon Shop Intro luces
new ana entirely pieasmi- T vw o
giving patrons and frletir's t vr at
the opening. The favor ; in ile
form of a substantial chef'.-, tool for
part payment cf articles rer-'wd
during the month of March. Do not
fail to read the announcement on
page ten.
IXTKimED AT GHKEXWOOH
The funernl of James B. Drown,
aged seventy-nine years, was from
the home of his sister, Mrs. F. O.
Antioch conducted the services.
Herald Want Ads set results.
l'lHii ii:fautmi:nt
kllcis may
oi l it tins
The regular election of officers for
the Alliance Volunteer Fire depart-
merit will oc held on w eunestiay,
March 24. N'i:iiiiiat;oiiH were opened
t i'.w n la.l.tr n; cling In Id on
vV ! .i I .y vlht of tills week,
i'hi.-w whit have h. en nominated up
to date for the different offices to
he tilled are: For president, Vern
Hegester vlce president, Ed Uron-
natt, Charles Hill, George Ellis, John
Ilodgklnson and Guy Smith; secre
tary, Guy Smith, Roy Miller; treas
urer, Fred Hayes, Frank Abogg;
trustee, 1M Bronnan; chief. Ward
Hall; foreman hose company No. 1,
Guy Smith, A. (1. Isaacson; foreman
hose company No. 2, C. 11. Hockey,
Ed Brenniin, H. J. Ellis; foreman
hook and ladder No. 1. Vivian Hall:
foreman Lou Iluechsenstein No. 1,
Charles L. Hill. George Ellis.
A committee consisting of Lloyd
Thomas, Carl Rockey and John
Hodgklnson was appointed lo draw
up resolutions on the death of State
Secretary E. A. Miller of Kearney.
Carl Rockey, who attended tho fu
neral for the Alliance department,
reported that there were hundreds
present from over Ihe state. He also
reported that II. A. Webhert of
Kearney was appointed as acting
state secretary until the next annual
meeting, which Is to be held at York
CITY AUTHORITIES
CLOSE A POOL HALL
And l'ossiMv Other Such Instifii
Hons Will Meet With ll irl
Luck lieforo IrfOig
Tho city council at Its meeting
Tuesday evening, devoted some mlu
utes to a discussion of tho pool hall
problem. Chief of Police Nova Tay
lor was pr s nt and furnished boum
enlightening Information, and the re
sults may be expected most any day.
The Alliance Billiard purler, re
cently changed hands, but the new
proprietors have failed to make ap
plication for a new license as re-
Miii?ff1 liv l:iw mtfl the ball
waa
closed on Wednesl i v un'll such time
as arrangements are made.
The police have evidence of gam -
hling. and permitting minors to play
in nt least one other pool. It Is said,
and th council decided that it wo,uld
stand for strict law enforcement.
This means that where conviction
follows, the council will revoke
licenses.
DELEGATIONS APPEAR
BEFORE THE COUNCIL
Several delegations were present They should first determine from the
at the regular march meeting of tho county commissioners, the amou .t
ctly council, held Tuesday evening in j rf mon.y t at j3 available for aj p'l
yo city hall. Among them was an ration cn such a pavl-ig district. In
aggregation of the city's plumbers, . ndnitoti. there rhoul 1 b sreMned In
who asked for two things and were
given hot hof them.
Their first request was that they
bo permitted to increase the price of
lead pipe connections to conform
with recent advances In the market
price and after some discussion this
was granted. The increase will make
the new price Just the figure It was
two years ago. Last year, when the
lead market dropped a Uw notches,
the council reduced the figure.
The second request was that they
be permitted to u?e the city's tapping
machine, the plumbers setting fortn
tales of having to wait for hours foi
a city employe to show up with th"
machine. The council granted the
request.
A second delegation presented a
petition signed by sixteen desidents
in the district concerned, which
asked for water main extensions
north from Fleventh and Yellow
stone to Twelfth; north from
F.lcventh and Missouri to Twelfth;
e.nst from Tenth and Yellowstone to
furnish water to residents In the
Mock, nnd north on Mississippi from
TV nth to Twelfth. Deputy Sheriff
M -1 ii'inn, who was one of the dele
"'tion. said that every resident of
dl-frict would sign. The petl
'"i Tvns referred to Councilman
"""li.s, who will consult with Mr.
''"''ht and furnish an estimate of
""t to the Council.
Secretary Itufus Jones of the
Chamber of Commerce requested the
use of the city's streets for conces
sion purposes during the race meet
be held In June, and after asstir
the concll that the street which
will then be under process of paving
will not be molested and that no
carnival will be run in the business
section, granted the request.
Attorney F. A. Wright of Scotts
blff had legal business here yesterday.
WILL ASK MONEY
TO FINISH SEWER
Council Will Submit Proposal
to
Immio ?I0,0(M Additional
llonds
An adjourned meeting of the cltf '
council will be held next Monday
evening, at which, according to
Mayor Rodgers, It Is probable that
the council will decide to submit to
the voters of Iho city nt tho April
election a $10,000 bond Issue for the
completion of the storm sewer. A
second Issue will be asked for par
Ing Intersections, probably in a like
amount.
At the last meeting, tho council
voted to purchase the half block of
la ml on the east Bide of Missouri,
between Third and Fourth ' streets
from William Tatro, the considera
tion to be $1,500. The prchase wat
contingent on the entire half-block
being Included In the deed. There
should he six lots In this tract, but
the city's plats show by one lot.
The land to be purchased will be
the means of sovlng much more than
the purchase price, ns the sewer will
run diagonally across it instead of
around. It will save some trouble
over purchasing the rfht of way,
and will mean that the city will not
have to put In ns expensive construc
tion as would bo the case If it were
simply buying the right to cross the
land. The council feels that It se
cured a bargain at tho price, as they
had expected to pay several hundred
dollars more. Mr. Tatro has sold
his floral business and was in a hur
ry to close out his Interests and made
the offer conditional on Immediate
acceptance.
HOW GOOD ROADS
SHOULD BE BUILT
A law passed by the 1919 legisla
ture vested power in Ihe county
board of commissioners or supervls-
i ors of any county in the state, hav-
1K not more than 40,000 InhaD-
Itants, to lay out, construct, or itn-
! prove by paving, any state or county
j toad within th3 limits of any respec-
I've county.
The Initial Step. The county en
gineer should Iny omt the district
He should prepare a ' sketch mnp
showing first, the location of the
land; second, the land within two
miles of the propose! improvement;
third, the four zones, and fourth,
the name of the owner ef each in
dividual tract of land.
The Hr:;t step In promoting a pav
ing district should bs taken by the
parties desiring the Improvement.
tl.0 petition before It is circulated
for signatures the amount available
from sluto and federal all funds.
It must be remembered that the
state and federal fundi have been ap
portioned to the counties by law,,
and th-tt no funds in excess of the
county's bhare can be used within
the county.
Federal aid can be applied to pav
ing districts only by petition through
the county commissioners, and in
general they will not concentrate all
of the state and federal funds on a
comparatively short stretch of road.
In onler lo favor a paving district
which covers a short mileage.
Though the federal government
provides an expenditure up to $20,
000 a mile for roads, this does not
mean that $20,000 aid will be given
to any district desiring a paved road.
Federal aid will be spent on roads
according to the laws of the Etate,
and it is hardly probable under the
present law that this all will do
much more than grade tho roud, und
provide permanent drainage struc
tures and correct alignment.
The petition should contain the
signatures of a majority of the resi
dent property owners within two
miles of the road designated for im
provement. After the signatures of
tho people living two miles on either
side of tho road which is to be
paved have been secured, a petition
should be prepared. '
Fetitton for Improvement.- This
petition should ask the county board
to create a paving district. The pe
tition should contain the legal de
scription of the road. It should state
the kind of Improvement desired,
and it should be published In the
county newspaper three weeks suc
cessively, or should be posted In
three of the most public places In the
vicinity of the improvement.
For convenience, the signature
(Continued on Tage C.)