t
tl NX
Official Paper of ,Kox Kutte County
VOLUME XXVIII.
AN EXPLANATION
OF THE ANGORA
GAS EXPLOSION
G. W NATION HAS DEVELOPED
PLATSIBLE THEORY
NO INDICATION THAT OIL EXISTS
Alliance Man Also Known of the Exist
ence of Several Veins of Coal
in Nebraska and May Lay
Claim to State's Reward
G. W. Nation of Alliance, in a com
munication to The Herald, furnishes
a plausible explanation of the so
called "gas pocket" at Angora, which
has caused considerable excitement in
that part of the country on the theory
that the presence 01 gas was an in
dication that there was a pool of pe
troleum underlying it Mr. Nation
rather knocks the props out from un
der that belief, 'and if his theory is
the correct one, the Angora capitalists
who are talking of drilling for oil, as
well as the Alliance men who are
scurrying around grabbing leases on
Tiearby land, are equally out of luck.
Mr. Nation was at one time a coal
miner, and it ha.s been his experience,
.he says, that whenever blasting is
lone, be it earth or rock or coal, there
remains a thick smoke of unexploded
gases which will, if ignited, burn two
or three minutes. This was the con-
i on th;.t existed -at Angora, Mr. Na
tion believes, and tiie bjrning gas
pocket in that event holds out no hope
to tho oil cnthusia.-ts.
The Alliance man is also interested
in a ilory rt printed in The Herald to
the cll'ect that tome Oregon mun is
iibout to lay claim to a bounty offered
by the state of Nebraska for a coal
mine discovered within the state. Mr.
Nation knows of the location of sev
eral veins of coal which mitrht be
worked in paying quantities. One of
these IS but eiehtv miles fi-m All;.
ance, but is eight miles past the state
border. It would require but fifteen
miles of easily constructed railroad tn
reach it.
Those who may possibly object that
ji Air. Nation knows of the existence
of coal fields, he' would have ,Ipi.1.
oped them long ago, are met with the
explanation that it takes mnnev tn iln I
these things and the Alliance man
hatn't been sufficiently well heeled to
go ahead with them. He offers, how
ever, to give full details to parties
who may be interested in developing
these mines, ami probably will receive
oliers. His letter follows:
Alliance, Neb., Jan. 1. To the Edi
tor of The Herald. Dear Sir: The
following statement will explain the
discovery of "pocket" gas in the vicin
ity of Angora a few days ago.
In blasting earth, rock or coal there
often remains after the explosion a
thick smoke of unconsumed gases that
will, while thick and warm, readily
take flame from the light of a match
or torch and will, burn from one-half
to three minutes, and may at times
produce a fierce explosion in coal
mines if there be much dust about.
When I used to mine coal, after fir
ing a blast I always tried and gener
ally did fire and burn the secondary
gases that formed from the uncon
sumed powder smoke.
Also, in the matter of the state of
Nebraska offering a reward of $4,000
to the first discovery of a vein of good
coal not less than 20 inches thick, I
will say there are several veins of coal
in Sioux county, but the thickest is
four inches. There are also veins of a
few inches in the southeastern part
of the state. There is a twenty-six-inch
vein of fair quality of coal in the
northeastern part of the state, and
there is a vein of forty-eight inches of
good coal eighty miles as the crow
flies from Alliance, but it is 8 miles in
another state.
Judging from surface indications
and the contour and elevation of the
land I think it may extend a number
of miles into Nebraska. I had a
sample of this coal about the size of
an egg for more than five years. It
was then in good condition and had
been taken out five years when I got
It.
There is a railroad fifteen miles
from this coal field. A line extended
to it would follow the valley of a
stream and for most of the way the
only grading needed would be to lay
the ties and throw some dirt between
them.
There is also a virgin undeveloped
oil field at the same locality.
Then, if I am in possession of the
above facts, why haven't I developed
this field before now? Because, I
have not been in a financial condition
to do so, and as it is probable I will
not now be able to do so alone it Is
for this reason I have concluded to
make known the locality to any parties
e0r,, THE WEATHER
Foivcast for Alliance and vicinity
Fair tonight and Wednesday. Colder
tontgnt.
who are financially able to thoroughly
investigate the proposition.
G. W. NATION.
The state of Nebraska has a stand
ing offer of a reward of $4,000 to be
paid out of the state treasury by order
of the governor if he is satisfied that
coal has been found in a vein twenty
six inches thick near enough the sur
face and of sufficient quantity to pay
to mine. It does not matter, according
to the letter of the law, whether the
coal thus discovered is in Alaska or
Nebraska. The law does not confine
the discoverer to Nebraska for it does
not even mention the state or country
in which the discovery must be made.
This standing offer has been in ex
istance for a quarter of a century in
one form or another, and no one has
I yet copped the prize. If the vein is
three feet thick, the reward is $5,000.
It must go to the owners of the coal.
For the discovery of iron ore a re
ward of $2,000 is offered by the state
law. For the discovery of oil or gas
the owners of the land are to have
$15,000 for finding one or the other or
$30,000 for the discovery of both. Coal
has been found in several places in
Nebraska but never in paying quanti
ties. LIGHT VOTE FOP.
SPE
k iLm tmlmMf U I I li
llntere:t in City Manager and the
Telephone Franchise Could
Be Greater
The .' ooial election being held to
day is now occupying public interest
to the exclusion of all ol.e At 2 p.
m., less than 200 people-in the city
hid vfitd on the question. In the
First ward, 11 votes had been cast
'tin to 1 o'clock: in the Second ward,
100 had been voted; in the Third, fil
!nd in the Fnnvth '11.
There were some signs of activity
Ion the cart of those interested The
"friends of the manager nlan trot out ,
I some handbills early in the morning,
and shortly before noon the opposi
tion had the business district eovnrod
with are-uments for their side of the
question. Despite these evidences of
interest, the vote haven't trrown. Some
friends of the plan are willing to con
cede defeat, but on the other hand,
the opponents were none too confident
HEW YEAR'S DAY WAS
CELEBRATED BY A FEW
New Year's isn't the same sort of !
a holiday that it used to be in the
days when liquid refreshments could
be procured without mortgaging the
old homestead to pay the vintner.
However, there were a few who man
aged to get cargoes aboard, but these
men, for the most part, remained off
the- streets, and if they did any sing
ing, did it quietly. i
Last Saturdy night, the police were
called to the roof garden to take care
of one gentlemen who was unable to
manage himself. He was taken to
jail, and the next morning meekly an
swered to the name of John Doe, after
he found out that the name Jones
wasn't acceptable to the court. Un
der the name of John Doe he was fined
$50 and costs, and that is the name
under which the fine was paid, altho
there were some people who thought
he had a familiar face
The cops also invited a young lady
to accompany them to the station. She
was was in the passenger station, hav
ing just arrived from Morrill, when
the police saw her. Inasmuch as they
had warned her to leave town on
several occasions, and had twice be
fore escorted her to outgoing trains,
Chief Jeffers didn't mince matters.
He gave her her choice of jail or else
where, and when she refused to do
opposition to her will, to the city.Jas
either, escorted her, very much in
tile, where the suffered a change of
heart and decided to depart. The
girl was but eighteen years of age,
but she put up a scrap like a wild
kitty for a few minutes.
NOW THE NORTHWESTERN
BELL TELEPHONE COMPANY
The telephone company here will
henceforth ibe known as the North
western Bell Telephone company, hav
ing changed its name January 1.
On that date the three Fell com
panies operating throughout the states
of Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, North
and South Dakota were consolidated
under the one name. No change was
made in officers or headquarters, as
the companies for many years have
been under ohe management
TWICE A WEEK TUESDAY AND FRIDAY
ALLIANCE, 1JOX 1HJTTE COUNTY,
NEW SECRETARY
OF THE C. OF CIS
NOWONTHE JOB
CEO ROE M. CAREY MEETS MEM
BERS OF ORGANIZATION
In Brief Address at Monday Luncheon
He Tells What He Expects
to Do in Alliance
George M. Carey of North Platte,
newly elected secretary of the Alliance
chamber of commerce, was formally
introduced to the members of the or
ganization at the Monday noon lunch
eon. In a brief address, he told the
memlers what he hoped to accomplish,
and his program, as well as the man
himself, were given a most cordial
reception.
Among the things which Mr. Carey
has tentatively chalked down as need
ing attention ars the roads around
Alliance. He's considerable of a good
roads booster, and knows their value
as community assets. Incidentally,
there's ample opportunity for im
provement here.
Mr. Carey told of his plans con
cerning the weekly luncheons. Begin
ning nest tine, the food will begin
promptly at 12:05 p. m., and the meet
ing will be over in one hour. Speak
ers will be warned to cut down their
t.dks so as not to pafs the dead I'ne.
The i.ew secretary is al.-o strong on
co-nponttion with the farmers and
lam hers. I.e'.ters will be sent out, 'n
vit'ng them to attend and t,.ke pait
in the meeting?, and they will be in
. t I to affiliate with the oigan'zn
'on. Women will bo urued to attend
and made welcome, lie ul.-'o plans
to do something along the line, of
vocational training and n'-iht schools.
Onother thing ho expects to do in-c'ude.-i
the establishment of a member
ship council, to bo composed of three
members from the Rotary club, Wo
man's club, volunteer firemen and oth
ers who will meet with the board of
'directors. His whole aim is to bring
ils many people into close touch with
o close touch with 1 scientific manner. The potato growers
as- jwcrWc, ' Ay Jc""4 ArJ jp?i tlvs ,yea
'"3" OTa;-.zrtt'i;.V
monthly or weekly bulletin will be dis
tributed giving details of the club's
activities. He stated that he did not
intend to give more than an idea of
tn,c w.ork that might be done, and that
additional reports will be made from
time to time.
Earl Mallery spoke for the board of
directors. The weekly luncheons have
done more to enlist the co-operation
of the whole membership than any
other one thing, he said. He empha-'give
sized the fact that the board of di-
rectors do not want to do it all. The
chamber of commerce was never need-
ed more than it is right now, he de-i
clared, and of every member will have !
a personal responsibility mucn may
be ccomplishcul.
John S. Rhein endorsed Mr. Mal
lery's remarks and declared that
while the chamber of commerce had
been considered as representing chief
ly the directors, this was not the case.
He said some good words for the
new secretary, and believed that with
a definite program, such as Mr Carey
had outlined, the chamber of com
merce would be able to get some
where, provided every member does
his share. The new secretary has the
unlimited confidence of the board, Re
said, and commended him to the en
tire membership.
E. G. Laing brought up the fact that
train No. 40 does not carry parcel
post mail, and that packages mailed
to points east as far as Seneca are
carried directly to that point and then
back over the same line the next day
on No. 39. This matter had been
brought up before, but the two trains
had been only recently put on and
there was n ocontract to carry mail on
them until it was certai nthey would
remain. Mr. Carey was instructed to
take the matter up with the postal
authorities and the railroad.
II. ALL-BE VI NGTON.
Albon Hall, son of Mr. and Mrs. E.
A. Hall of this city, and Miss Esther
Bevington, daughter of Mr. and Mrs.
W. M. Bevington of this city, were
united in marriage at the home of the
bride's parents, January 1 at C o'clock,
by Rev. A. J. Kearns. They were at
tended by Elizabeth and Lawrence
Card of Denver, cousins of the groom.
The ring ceremony was used. The
bride wore a beautiful gown of while
satin and carried a bouquet of bride's
roses. After the ceremony an elabor
ate dinner was served to the immedi
ate relatives. The out-of-town guests
were Mrs. Card, son and daughter of
Denver and Mrs. Fleak of Rocky Ford.
The young couple legt on the midnight
tram for Denver and other Colorado
point3.
i
Mrs.
Coutant arrived from tr,.t
Springs, S. D. Monday for a visit with
her son and daughter of this city.
NEDUASKA, TUESDAY, JANUARY 1, 1921
SUGGESTION OF
SPUD FAR1 FOR
WEST NEBRASKA
I !
LLOYD THOMAS GETS INTER
VIEWED IN LINCOLN
Believes Legislature Should Enrour
afe Counties Raising Average
Crops of Million Bushels
y Lloyd C. Thomas of Alliance, former
nember of the house of representees
from the seventy-third district ar
ived in Lincoln, Thursday afternoon
for a short business visit Alliance is
tfiaking a campaign for the 1022 con
vention of the Nebraska state volun
teer firemen's association and Mr.
Thomas visited a numlcr of towns
between his city and Lincoln on the
road down, extending personal invita
tions to the different volunteer fire
departments to support Alliance at the
1)21 convention to be held at York
next month.
Mr Thomas believes that the com
ing session of the legislature should
encourage western Nebraska agricul
ture by. the establishment of a potato
experimental farm in Western Ne
braska In talking on this subject he
said: "Box Butte Hnd Sheridan coun
ties rai.-e on an average a total of a
mi"'on bushels each of excellent un
irr:gct:d potatoes each, year. Pawe:
'nd S'ii n counties, which me also
rt an a!:tude of about four thousand
f.'i t and vshu'h have a : oil heavily ini
) ': Mated with iet.i. h salts, raise
; anoimts of the best kind of
I 'Hi m1-. Kxpeiimeiits have shown
' ''.At the soils' of thee four counties
vv th the r relatively h'gh pot.i.-h eon-'-
:-t. rai: e the bet potatoes in the
Cn.'ted States, both for quality j,nd
for keeping. The legislature could
m.u.e no better investment than to
appropriate the few thousand dollars
necrsf-ain.to ei;t;.biish a state experi
mental farm, to be conducted bv the
unfversity,,fr the purpose of going at
the nusuwsa oi potato raising in a
througn the marketing effots of the
Nebraska potato growers association,
that co-operative marketing pays them
big return A state experimental farm
would assist in showing them that by
pioperly selecting seed and with the
proper preparation and care of the
soil, it is just as easy to raise 150 and
200 bushels per acre as it is 75 to
"J 00.
I "If the state of Nebraska decides to
the ex-service men the financial
support they should receive," said Mr.
Thomas, "it could do nothing better
for them than to assist them in se
curing western Nebraska land and in
improving and cultivating it. There
are still hundreds of thousands of
acres of fertile, untilled soil in the
western portion of the state, waiting
for the farmer to make them produce.
: These lands can be purchased cheaply
and on easy terms. Many Nebraska ex
service men look with longing eyes to
wards the western end of the state
and the opportunities there for build
ing homes for themselves, but they
lack the comparatively small amount
of capital needed to make the ttart.
"Although the potash industry of
the western end of the state is al
most completely shut down, we believe
that the Incoming congress will estab
lish a tariff that will allow our in
dustry to operate at a reasonable
profit, which it has a hard time in
doing now with German potash com
ing in at a price less than it costs us
to produce it. The Nebraska" industry
is too vpluable an asset to the United
States to allow it to He strangled by
German competition.
"The stockmen of western Nebraska
have been hard hit by the slump in
prices and many of them are facing
financial ruin. Tight money conditions
are causing many of them to market
their stock at a heavy loss, although
the bankers of the state are apparent
ly doing their best to help In a diffi
cult situation.
"Another proposition that will come
before the legislature at this term
will be the proposition of extending
aid to some of the weaker counties
of the state in the building of the
state roads. A number of the small
sandhill counties are inaccessible by
road at the present time. The Potash
highway of Nebraska, extending from
Grand Island westward along the
Purlington, will traverse some of these
counties. It Is expected that delega
tions from this territory will visit
Lincoln during the session and explain
their situation to the legislators."
W. E. Cutts returned from Lincoln
and Giltner, Nebr. He was called to
Giltner by the death of his brother-In
law, Tom Howard.
E. A. Bennett left for Rushville Fri
day, where he was called on account
of the serious Illness of his mother.
wraip
ilO IS THE GOAT?
Thrift is not self-denial of the
enjoyments of life. Thrift is the
regulation of your income in such a
nv.nner that you can participate in
the good things of life now ami in
the future by sensible distribution
of spending and paving.
During the days of high wages
and holier prices, when everyone
spent freely and indulged in pleas
ures and conveniences that they
never could afford before, the sav
ings deposits in the banks of th.
country increased tremendously,
particularly among wage earners.
There was a chance for thrift and
good living.
But if buying stops, transporta
tion stops, production stops, work
becomes scarce, wages come down,
thousands are unemployed, and the
chance for saving, thrift or the pur
chase of enjoyments and extra com
forts become rare. When you stop
huying, you put a "binger" on the
bank-roll on your bank-roll, on
mine, on the man who buys from
me, on the man from whom I buy,
on the things that you are paid to
make, and the boss who pays you
to make them.
Who's the goat? You are
eventually.
18. &TELHANEY
SOT SENTENCED
Motion for a Rehearing to Be Heard
und Sentence to Be Passed
. Thursday
District court convened for a .-hort
'crni this morning, ; nd ha ;in.is wns
xV-Tri.-vv that Evelyn J'riess McKl
harioy, convicted of the murder of Earl
B, Anderson two weeks g., hat not
yet been sentenced. The mot'on i'or a
new trial will probably be braid some
time Wednesday, after which ien.etcc
will be passed.
Sheriff Miller is making arrange
ments to take Mrs. McKlhaej and
L'vtr.n Zeoikcr ti the pt-nite.nilfuy to-
; "f " " TL"' rCr.U.ry
.. w -."n,ny m , h. IUC-
T.M1 1 . . - I
i.maney, me law requiring a feminine
. , -
escort in such cases. The escort has
not yet been selected.
win tJ I t 7 , . VtSte,T Sta'
w.ll be held Tuesday at the Masonic ;
lemple. A special invitation is issued
to members to attend.
SC9TTSBLUFF NEWSPAPER
COtVES OUT OF THc CIKH
UU1I.LO UUI Ur I 111. bUOII
The ScottsblulT Star-Herald, which,
along with the two other newspapers
of that city has been trying haid to
maintain tin air of mystery concern-
ing the chances of that city to secure
certain unnamed mill. on - d.l'ur
I-licking plant, has finally come out fold of some of the dill'iculties of or
into the open and admitted tint the gunizing ho company, und ot' th im
plant they have been expecting to'jo sibTty of gett:n; a satisfactory
cop is the Alliance Packing company, board of directors. The rei. on for '
Alliance newspapers and i ,-.. dnts
have known for some weeks thil
one or the otlieers or the company
was making naughty eves at o'eotts
blufT, but ih to a day or so ao, the
sugar city simply wouldn't acknowl
edge it.
The Star-Herald takes occasion to
reply to an article in on? of the Alii-(gains made that wili take years to re
ance papers, which h'nted that - if , build if you quit now. Success rests
ScottsblulT didn't watch out, it would with you men here today. You have
hnd a packing company in swaddling
clothes leu on its doorstep. The Alii-
ance newspaper hinted that the pack-j
ing plant wouldn t go here, and
wouldn't do much better in the metro
polis of the North Platte valley. This
wounds the sensibilities of the Scotts
blufTers, and they drop their disguise
In their haste to boost their city.
Here's what they said about it:
"The proposal of the securing of a
packing plant for ScottsblufT which
has been 'in the lap of the gods' for
some time, now appears to be ap
proaching a definite autcome. Alliance,
the first site selected for the proposed
plant, naturally looks with disfavor
upon its proposed removal to Scotts
blufT, and the Times of that city
prophesies in so many words, that
what was apparently impossible to ac
complish in Alliance, will also be im
possible in ScottsblufT.
"That is neither correct nor logical.
In the first place It would assume by
comparison that the two cities are
equal, when the fact is that despite
its much later start as a municipality
ScottsblufT from its inception steadily
gained, finally caught up with and has
most emphatically outdistanced Alli
ance in population, business, banking
-nd commercial Interebt generally. Be
;ause a matter of big business drags
or is found impractical in Alliance
certainly does not signify that the
same would be true in ScottsblufT."
IliT ri.il Pnnpr nf (ho Hh- nf Ali;.,
...... f - ej va iktuaiivv
NO. 11
PACKING COMPANY
DISSOLVED BY A
VOTE OFMEMBERS
STOCKHOLDERS WANTED T II EI II
82i PER CENT
HO VOTES CAST AGAINST PLA!I
HeminRford Stockhclders Organize
and Carry Meeting Jy Storm
Refuse to Listen to Proposal
to Remove to Scottsbluff
The Alliance Packing company ia
no more. The organization that wa
to build a million dollar plant in thia
city, to serve the needs of stockmen
in part of ' five states was dealt a
knockout blow at the second annual
meeting of stockholders, held at th
armory in Alliance Monday morninjj
and afternoon. Half a hundred farm
ers and stockmen from HemingforcL
headed by Charles Ilucke, one of tha
heavy cash investors in the concern
and accompanied by William MitchelL
attorney for the dissatisfied stockhold
ers, came Into the meeting organized
to get what they wanted, and they
had not the load trouble in putting
it arro:-:s.
When the votes- were counted, not ft
singi.i man was registered in favor of
keojenr the company going, find Pres
ident P! umbo's lesolut'oii to chang
the name of the concern to the Ne
bra. ka P icking company, didii't even
get a second. This ro-o'ution was tb
fir::l of a series which was designed to
pirct the remove! of the b.-u" of oper
ations to ScotU-b!ufi but the stock-holdei-.-i
didn't aporovo of the idea in
the leat. They-hnd decided that the
project couldn't be put across in Alli
ance, and had ro de;-ire to present
Scott: h!uT with a project where one
fifih the capital nlock was already
paid in.
, Tha meeting was call! for 10 a. m.,
and the MockhoMers, fn person or rep
resented by proxy, began to show up
nn bou"Wforo the t!m ret, They
fonttnued to arrive all during----th
"n. which WU devoted to
. ro I c I f mem bora nnH
.... ... mii Kir ,l HllfL
0f proxies. It was fonml tbaf ,,r
was present, something which the pro- '
motors of the company had not ex-
20(5 were represent.! at the meeting!
Adjournment wr.s tr-i en until 1 p. nt
George Piatt, T. R. Enyeart, George
i. Tn,.w n,i.n,i.i,.,:.. ei.n.....
Moravelc were chosen ; r.Wt.!n Jn-
h'Af;1 ,
riumbe' the Kt.
made an address which ho ted rome
two hours, end was g;vcn a most
courteous hearinir bv the men who had
their minds already made up a to
what th would do. Mr. PlunWs ad-
dress concerned largely the feasib lity
of the proposal, desp:tc the hard b'ow
dealt by the financial strinreacv. lie
lack of gier ter nro'rrtsu vv :s. he s i;d.
a latv of "e mu-it do eorns." He nlea.leH
w th the stockholders not to allow the
company to die. "Stick to your corn
puny row," he mid, "when there is
need for firmness if we are to hold the
advantages we have (rained. Make no
mistake there are advantages and
everything to lose and nothing to train
if you desert your company now."
Mr. Plumbe reviewed the results df
the recent increase in freigV: rates, to
the stockgrowers, pointed Out that
they still needed a market near at
hand. He described the plan in use in
1,791 independent packing plants in
the United States, and drew a picture
of increased profits for livestock men
within a radius of several hundred
miles.
In closing, Mr. Plumbe charged that
the merchants of Alliance had failed
to do collectively what they had agreed
to do as individuals. The city has
failed, he said, to get behind the pack
ing plant, and success without local
support and co-operation is impossible.
He then told of the offer made by
ScottsblufT a suitable site at low cost,
a satisfactory board of directors, sew
erage and water facilities, good rail
road trackage, and the united support
of a community. He urged that the
stockholders vote to remove the plant
there, and then played his trump card.
Mr. Plumbe proposed. In behalf of
the fiscal agency, to allow stockhold
ers to cut down their investment to
such an amount as they believed they
could carry. At the time they made
their purchases of stock, money was
plentiful. Now it is tight He of
fered to allow them to say how much
stock In the new company they would
(Continued on Page 8)