th
mm
VOLUME XXVII.
ALLIANCE, BOX BUTTE COUNTY, NEBRASKA, FRIDAY, APRIL 16, 1920.
NUMBER 401
DUTIES OF MAYOR
NOT ANJASY JOB
A. D. I lodgers Suggests That Borne
Arrangement lie Made to Make
Salary Fit the V05k
Mayor A. D. Rodgers, shortly after
the new council took up its work,
uggested that the duties of mayor
required too much time for a man
In business to devote to them without
compensation. A good share of his
tours are now occupied with listen
ing to complaints and overseeing the
work done for the city. The mayor
said that he would be willing to give
his whole time to attending to the
city's business, but if this were done,
be thought there should be some
provision made for an adequate
salary. ; ' ' l .-? 1 ;
When asked what he thought
would be proper compensation, Mr.
Rodgers stated that he believed the
money paid former City Manager
Smith was fair pay for the time and
labor. Several members of the
council expressed themselves as not
only willing but desirous that Mr.
Rodgers take up the duties of city
manager, but the council took no
action.
The matter will probably come up
again. A good many of Alliance's
business men, as well as several of
the council members, have urged M
Rodgers to apply for the post of city
manager. The council Is expected to
take definite action at its next meet
ing. This has been a busy week tor city
councils, both the old and the new.
The fiscal year ended with the city
election, nad It was up to the old
body to count the votes, determine
who would receive the certificates of
election and after finishing up the
year's business, retire gracefully
from the scene. Monday evening
the votes were counted, and in the
first part of Tuesday evening's ses
sion the old council wound up a good
year's work.
A number ot petitions for water
extension having come In, Chairman
Hughes of the water committee re
ported that water pipes cannot be
- purchased on the market at present.
There is no surplus supply, and the
companies are contracted so far In
advance that they do not care to
contract for future delivery. This
may mean that extensions will have
to wait Indefinitely.
Councilman Gavin, who had been
appointed to - see about . purchasing
lots to complete the waterway for
the storm sewer, reported that he
had been given a price ot $400
apiece for five lots owned by Dr. F.
M. night. These lots are necessary
to complete the waterway. James
Keeler offered two lots on the east
side for $250 apiece. On motion by
Councilman Moore, the council
voted to purchase the Keeler lots,
and to buy the Knight lots If they
could be secured at the same price,
provided titles are comet.
Mayor Rodgers reported a number
of complaints on the lack of cross
ings in the west end of the city, and
said that the postal authorities had
Issued an ultimatum that there
would be no mail delivery unless the
deficiency were corrected. A, con
tractor present called attention to
the fact that the crossings couldn't
be installed until the grades were
established, and the city surveyor
was unable to take the time. The
council decided to see it they could
not borrow the services of a rail
way civil engineer.
James II. II. Hewitt and C. H.
Fuller presented a bill for finishing
up the basement to the city library,
the total being $1,582.35. At a pre
vious meetings of the council, the
library board was told to go ahead
and have the work done, the under
standing being that the city should
dig up money to make up for what
the library board lacked. The gen
eral understanding was that this
wouldn't be over $500. The work,
however, cost some $500 more than
the estimate. The contractors were
told to take the bill to the library
board first, and then bring the bal
ance to the council.
H. D. Hacker of First ward and
A. B. Sturgeon of Fourth were then
worn In, certificates of election were
Issued and the meeting called to
order. Mayor Rodgers announced
the following committee appoint
ments:
O. C. Moore was chosen chairman
of the council, and this carries with
It the chairmanship of the board of
health.
Johnson Paving, ordinance.
Harris Sewer, paving, chairman
of claims committee.
Sturgeon Streets and alleys on
the west side.
Hughes Water and light
HackRer City property.
Hills Cemetery, fire.
Henry Chairman of streets 'and '
alleys on the west side.
Moore--Streets and alleys "on the
east side.
Sam Shelton presented an agree
ment granting him the scavenger
privileges of the city for a term of
five years. He said that the city was
growing continually, and that the
business had reached a point where
he needed more men and more equip-r-e-it.
He did not like to Induce
reople to move to Alliance on the
promise of jobs unless they were
more or less permanent, and he did
not like to sink two or three thou
sand dollars in equipment unless he
had some assurance that he could
continue using it.
The Dierks Lumber company was
granted permission to erect a tem
porary office building In the street
during the construction of their new
building.
The city attorney was Instructed
to communicate with property own
ers whose buildings are off the lot
line and on the city's streets or al
leys. The Newberry warehouse on
First street was said to extend eight
feet on to the street, and other cases
were mentioned.
Ordinance No. 277, approving the
plat of the Home Builders' addition
to the city, and No. 278, requiring
building permit for all structures
the cost of which is in excess . of
$100, were passed.
Preceding the telephone franchise
discussion on Wednesday ' evening,
the council held a short business
session.- A petition asking for a new
sewer main, signed by a large num
ber of residents, was turned over to
the committee. Another petition by
property owners asking for the ex
tension ot the city's ornamental
lighting system on the north side of
Third street between Box Butte and
Laramie was referred to a commit
tee. The petitioners offered to pay
the expense of the installation. Coun
cil adjourned to meet April 26.
A. H. JONES COMPANY
TO BUILDNEW GARAGE
The A. 1. Jones company has let
the contract for a new garage, office
and salesroom at the corner of third
snd Cheyenne. The building will be
one story," 75x130 teet'ot pressed
brick and cotwrete construction. .It
will be modern throughout, with of
fices, showroom, storage' space and
an up-to-date shop in the rear. A.
H. Jones and M. L. Osborn of Hast
ings were In the city last week look
ing over the ground. The plans have
been given the final approval, and
the work will start next week.
The company Is the wholesale dis
tributor for . Reo cars and trucks,
with a territory that includes Ne
braska, eastern Wyoming and a part
of South Dakota. It has houses at
Omaha, Hastings, Alliance and Den
ver. The Alliance house, it is an
nounced, will probably be Incorpor
ated as a separate company. ' The
company will conduct both a whole
sale and retail business.
Calvin D. Walker, present man
ager, has been in Alliance for seven
months. During that time, the Reo
car and truck business has grown
until larger quarters are necessary,
and the new home planned Is one
that will permit of still greater ex
pansion.
The contract has been let to Con
tractor Osborn of Hastings. Mr. Os
born built the Clarke hotel at Hast
ings, and this Insures that the new
building will be one ot the best of
the kind in the state. When con
cerns of this kind choose to Invest
heavily In the future of Alliance,
there Is no question that the city will
grow.
MASONIC TEMPLE
T0BE ENLARGED
At a special meeting of the board
of directors of the Masonic Temple
building association, held Wednes
day evening, the directors voted to
Increase the association's capital
stock from $25,000 to $50,000 and
to double the capacity by- building
a 60x50 addition to the south. At
the last stockholders' meeting au
thority was given to take this step
whenever the directors deemed it ad
visable, and conditions are believed
to Justify the program outlined.
The addition will be three stories
high, and will extend the present
building to the alley. Incidentally,
it will be a big thing tor Masonry In
Alliance, for with this Increased ca
pacity it wll make this city the center
ot Masonic activities for western Ne-
bra. ka. There is already a Rose
Croix chapter, and a shrine and eon
slstery are now In prospect.
Ask to see oar Sprint and Bom
mer Dresses at 8& discount. High
land-Uolloway Co. .
SECOND PERIOD
ENDSJATURDAY
Last Opportunity to Get Hi Vote
for Subscriptions and Ad
vertising Cards
It is now a matter of hours until
the "second period" of The Herald's
auto and prize campaign comes to an
end.
Just a few more circuits of the
minute hand and too late.
If Saturday passes without speedy
action on the part ot contestants
who wish to win the big prizes the
responsibility will rest on them
selves. Saturday night marks the end of
the big votes. It is positively the
last opportunity to secure more than
the minimum number of ballots for
subscriptions and Job cards. A few
long term orders from unexpected
sources may change defeat Into vic
tory, t any rate, you can only lose
votes by withholding orders until
next week the final one of the race.
And, after the time for action has
passed, all the regrets in the world
will be of no avail.
Interest Is Intense
Interest in the campaign Is at
white heat. The eyes of every resi
dent of this section are riveted on
the twlce-a-week vote counts and
the .question of the moment is:
"Who will win the Reo?" There is
such a big cash difference between
the first and second prizes $1845 to
be exact that interest Is centered
solely on the capital prize. It is not
who will be second, who will be
third, rr who will be fourth BUT
WHO WILL BE FIRST. And the
candidate who finally wins will not
only be rewarded by a prize worth a
king's ransom but WILL BE DE
CLARED THE CHAMPION OF THE
DAY.
How Campa'.gn W ll Close '
Full particulars of how the cam
paign will close will be found in a
quarter page advertisement appeal
ing elsewhere in this issue. It wKl
be noted that no one not even the
manager or the Judges themselves-
can possibly know the voting
strength of contestants during - the
final week of the race. AH sub
scriptions, with remittances to cover,
are to be put in plain sealed en
velopes and deposited In the locked
ballot box.
Records Will Be Open Book
Immediately after the close of the
campaign the voting records will be
an open book. Contestants, their
representatives, advertisers, or any
one else interested, will have free
access to the records showing sub
scriptions received. It Is anticipated
to have these orders audited later
by circulation experts to verify office
records. ,
If anyone thinks contestants did
not work and turn in the business,
or If any contestant duobts the num
ber of orders, he or she can come to
The Herald office, or appoint audi
tors to do so, and look over the busi
ness exactly as turned In. There will
be no secrets after April 24. Every
order can be verified and the votes
checked up. .
Last ReportvTueeday
The last published standings of
contestants will appear In these col
umns Tuesday. Voting will be heavy
and there are likely to be many
changes.
The second period closes Saturday
night under the same rules that gov
erned the closing of the first period.
Subscriptions and orders for Job
cards contained In letters post-
postmarked April 17 will be accepted
as second period business. If you
ever expect to get more than the min
imum number of votes NOW IS THE
TIME- TO ACT. The sale of adver
tising and Job cards will be discon
tinued this Saturday night.
Contestants are In the home
stretch now. One more week and
the race will have been run. WHO
WILL BE THE WINNERS?
One More Week To Go
In The Herald's Auto and Prize Campaign
MR. B. H. KELLY -
MISS MARGARErr R4RRT
MR. RALPH COX
MISS HAUARVT, moWMAJf
MISS LTDA QASSMLUra
MRS. J. WON a .
"Second Period"
PHONE FRANCHISE
NOT YET IN SIGHT
Public Meeting Wednesday Kvenlng
N( t Productive of Imme
diate Krwults
After a three-hour session, during
which the telephone franchise ques
tion wta talked over from every
angle, the city council Is no nearer
decided than it was before the fire
work! began. Mayor Rodeers had
invited in thirty or forty representa
tive business men, and the meeting
was open to any other who desired
to come.
Frank A May, of Omaha, commer
cial superintendent, and F. K.
Haldeman 'of Grand Island, district
commercial manager, were in attend
ance at the session as representatives
of the company.
Since the expiration of the com
pany's franchise, Mr. May said, it
has no legal right to use the streets.
They; do not feel like making ex
tensions or betterments to keep
abreast of tKe city's growth until
given that right. At the present,
there are several sections of the city
where the limit has been reached
and new subscribers will have to be
content with party line service. The
company has appropriated a large
budget to spend here, but this has
been held up pending action by the
council.
The franchise requested from the
city, Mr. May declared, Is now In use
in fully two hundred cities and
towns in the state, and these towns
have found nothing objectionable
In it.
Mayor Rodgers then read the sug
gested changes made by City Attor
ney Metz and Councilman Johnston,
who had been appointed to draft an
ordinance. These Included a sug
gestion that the company furnish six
phones free for the use of the city;
that In cases where buildnlgs were
moved, the company pay the expense
of cutting wires; that the company
be subject to orders of the council
in regard to placing old and new
poles and wires and that conduits be
Installed as the council should de
sir:fhat a. new building be erected
witMri two years! and that the com
pany furnish detailed financial state
ments of yearly receipts and expen
ditures. "
Mr. May discussed some of these
suggestions at length, as was the
case at a previous council meeting.
He was willing to furnish the six
phones tree, he said, but thought
that they should be In lieu of any
occupation tax. The highest such
tax the company now pays, save In
Omaha and Lincoln, Is $50 a year,
and the value of these phones Is
$5,000 tor the'twenty years, or $250
a year.
The most heated argument arose
over the suggestion that the com
pany be subject to the orders of the
council In placing poles and wires.
Mr. May said, but if sometime with
in the life of the franchise an ob
streporous council should be
elected, they could do considerable
damage to the company's plans.
The entire phone system Is arranged
according to a fundamental plan of
distribution, so arranged that the
city can be served with greatest
economy. According to this plan,
certain streets are selected as lat
erals and feed wires go out from
these. If some councilman .should
be living on one of these streets, and
should decide that he wanted no
poles In front of his house, and get
the council to order a removal, it
would mean disaster, Mr. May urged
Again, the cost of underground con
(lutts was almost prohibitive. If the
council should decide to order the
mmnanv undereround in any sec
tion, it would simply mean that
phone rates would be advanced to a
prohibitive plane.
"Do you mean to say, Mr. May,
that the city shoul d fail to pro
tect Itself Just because, at some time
.Angora
.324 first
.8,901,500
8,788,800
8,122,300
.523 Cheyenne .
.223 Toluca .....
1,17,700
Hemlngford ..
315 Cheyenne
...1 ,552,500
... 807,000
Ends Saturday Night
Tim wiivniirn
Forecast for Alliance and vicinity:
Probable showers tonight and Satur
day; colder Saturday or Saturday
night.
In tho future, you might be Incon
venienced?" Earl Mallory asked.
Mr. May replied that the company
was not In business for a day, or a
week, or a year, but permanently.
It had to work In harmony with the
city. He didn't recall of a time
when a request of city officials had
been rejected.
"But Isn't It a ridiculous position
for the city to place itself in," Mr.
Mallery came back, "when it has to
ask a concern to whom It has
granted the use of Its streets to use
them as It desires? The city should
reserve the right to say what Bhall
go on Its streets."
Mr. May here told of the danger
of some unfriendly council wrecking
the company's fundamental plan.
"This council is all right." Mr. May
said, "and the next one may be, but
suppose we should get the other
kind."
"Yes, and the present telephone
directors may be friendly and anx
ious to co-operate," Mr. Mallery re
plied, "but suppose you get a bunch
who don't care what the city wants?"
There was some more of this style
of argument, but It brought the
council and company no nearer an
agreement. Mayor Rodgers, after
discussing the matter with several
of the citizens present, finally an
nounced that the best thing to do
would be for the council to draw up
the sort of an ordinance It wanted
and let the company take It or
leave It.
Mr. May spoke up quickly and
said that the company would not
con slder agreeing to any such docu
ment as the council had suggested.
He didn't want to be considered ar
bitrary, but the company was en
titled to tome privileges and protec
tion In return for the service It ren
dered the public. Mr. Rodgers then
said that perhaps the council would
modify Its most stringent demands,
and that perhaps they weren't so
very far apart, and right at that
point the discussion was terminated
snd the meeting adjourned. '
ipn tons QF'HAY LOST
IN STOCKYARDS BLAZE
About four hundred tons of hay
were burned In a Ore which startea
early Thursday evening in the sheep
yards of the local stockyards. The
alarm came In at 7:15 p. m., and
within a few minutes three streams
of water were turned on the blaze.
At midnight they were still playing,
and it was fully 3 a. m. before the
blaze was declared extinguished
There was danger ror a time that a
700-ton stack, situated near the
burning hay, would catch fire, but
hard work on the part of the fire
fighters prevented a big additional
loss.
The fire was discovered, according
to one report, by a small son o
Banjoff, who saw that one corner of
the stack was burning. It Is believed
that a passing hbbo threw a vlgarette
on the pile. At present hay prices.
the loss will amount to fully $10,000.
TO WRITE HARPER'S
NAME ONJHE BALLOT
A large number of Second ward
republican voters have signified their
intention of writing the name of W.
R. Harper of this city on the Wank
line calling for nominations for re
publican central committeeman. Un
der the changed election laws, it is
necessary for precinct committeemen
to be elected. Not a man filed on
the republican ticket, and a very few
on the democratic.
Mr. Harper la at present chairman
of the republican central committee,
and his friends are going to see to
It that he is kept In the harness,
He has been active in republican pol
itics for a long time, and his selec
tion as county chairman by the new
ly elected board will follow bis elec
tlon.
There are now twelve racing
horses out at the county fair
grounds, training for the big race
meet John Larrlmore, George Moll-
ring and Shreve have horses there.
Tho tmV has been put In condition,
and snyu'i' desiring to see good
horses In action con observe them
most any morning. -
Mrs. William La Mon accompanied
the contestants in the declamatory
contest to Sidney . today. Madeline
Zedtker, Asenath Schtll snd Robert
Laurence are th three who go from
here.
Ifidempm imotjiii
iiivLmm iiijisLL
THEJROFFICERS
llev. Walter O. Ilundln of Mitchell, '
Htate OinplAln, lYInrlpal Speaker
at Banquet Wednesday Night I '
Wednesday was an eventful and
gala day in the history of the Alli
ance volunteer department, the oc
casion being the annual installation
of officers and a banquet served at
the armory that evening.
Rev. Walter C. Rundln, of Mitch
ell, state chaplain for the Nebraska
State Volunteer Firemen's associa
tion, was the guest of the local de
partment and the principal speaker
at the banquet. He was entertained
at a luncheon Wednesday noon by
Dr. Oeorge J. Hand of Alliance, re
tiring president. Among the guest
present were Rev. Walter C RundlsV
Carl Rockey, E. O. Lalng, Rufoa
Jones, Lloyd C. Thomas, Glen Miller,
John W. Outhrle and Mayor A. D.
Rodgers. The luncheon was served
In the banquet room at the Alliance
cafe. Doctor Hand was compliment
ed on his ability as a host and tho
affair, was a decided success.
The installation Wednesday eve
ning was held In the armory snd
was public, being attended by th
firemen and their ladles. The officer
Installed were Carl Rockey, pres
ident; O. C. Moore, vice president;
Ross Sampson, secretary; Fred
Hayes, treasurer; Ward Hall, chief;
Ed Brennan, trustee.
Following the Installation th
chair was turned over to Lloyd
Thomas, who acted as toast master
for the evening. The speechmaklng,
singing and music, covered a period
of about two hours. Among th
speechmakers heard were President
Olen Miller and Secretary Rufus
Jones of the Alliance chamber , of
commerce, Dr. Oeorge J. Hand, re
tiring president, and Carl Rockey,
Incoming president; Dean Joseph J.
Dixon of St. Matthew's Episcopal
church, John W. Outhrie, past pres
ident of the local department and
past president ot the state associa
tion, and Rev. Walter C. Rundln of
Mitchell. Btate chaplain. Rev. Mr.
Rundln held his hearers spellbound
for nearly an hour while he ' ex
pounded to them In his rapid-fire
manner the principles followed by
the volunteer firemen of Nebraska.
His keen wit and his forceful utter
ances found ready responses from hi
hearers and he was roundly applaud
ed on closing. Rufus Jones, who I
becoming noted throughout the west
as a story teller of the highest order,
was again colled on for the finishing
bit of fun. George Ellis and John
W. Guthrie led the gathering in sing
ing a number of popular sonps. w'tH
the music furnished by the excellent"
orchestra. ;
Following the speaking an excel
lent repast was served undr th rV
rection of the trustees, who have
learned from long expert nee -Just
what It takes to prope-ly fill a fire
boy's "stummlck" cnl 1 .they did It
well. The ladies enjoyed themselves
and were made to feel at hon e. Ed
Reardon, Ross Sampson, Johnny Wil
liams, Fred Hayes and Rev Mr. Run
dln were "laid out" for a few min
utes by an attack of indigestion fol-
owing the eating of more than the
limit of six sandwiches, but they
quickly recovered and assisted In
confining the new president, Carl
Rockey, to the city bastlle after he
had danced four successive rounds
with, one young lady.
The pleasure ended with two
hours of dancing. The department
is planning on a number of social
activities during the coming summer
months and is a fine organization of
live wires who give voluntarily of
their services to protect the homes
and property ot Alliance citizens
ithout pay.
MACHINISTS GIVE BALL
TUESDAY EVE, APRIL 20
Tuesday evening, April 20, local
No. 602, international association ot
machinists, will stage its first annual
ball. The dance will be held st th
armory, Alliance, snd from the num
ber of tickets already sold, there I
no question that It will be a success.
Th committee In charge has com
pleted all arrangements snd the rail
road boys and others are coming
across liberally. .
Andy's Jais band will furnish the
music. - The admission charge Is on
dollar, whlcn Includes the war tax
Ladies will be admitted free. With'
th best ot muslo, and a good crowd,
those who are at all fond of dancing
will not want to miss this kind ot an
occasion. . Everybody will be mad
welcome snd everybody will hav a
good time. - . 49