mil
Official Paper of Box Eutte County
TWICE A WEEKTUESDAY AND FRIDAY
Official paper of the City of Alllanc
VOLUME XXIX
rANCE, EOX BUTTE COUNTY", NEBRASKA, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1921.
(Sixteen rages)
No. S
V
GET TOGETHER ON
A ROAD PROGRAM
FOR THE COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS AND BUSINESS
MEN IRON OUT DIFFICULTIES.
To Recommend Road Up the Track to
Hemingford May Throw Support
to Broadwater Road.
One of the biggest forward steps
taken in. Box Butte county in years
came Thursday afternoon, when the
county commissioners ' and , Alliance
business men, who have been at log
jgorhead3 over a road building program
.for the county, got together, ironed
out a'J their differences, and decided to
.get together on a ' program that will
mean the building of roads in all parts
of the county. The meeting was held
at the instance of the commissioners,
who returned a few days ago from a
a trip to the state convention of com
missioners and clerks, where they got
a lot of inside information on the way
to make progress. Shortly after their
return, they invited the warring cham
ber of commerce faction to meet with
them, and the result was a completely
harmonious meeting which evolved out
of discussion an agreement that should
mean much to the future of Box Butte
county;
The county's road program, as
-agreed to by the three commissioners
and a delegation of twenty-five or
thirty business men and citizens in
cluded several important road., over
-which there has been almost endless
discussion durnig the past year or two.
-Among the routes agreed upon was the
.Alliance-Hemingford-Crawford line.
An agreement was also reached in re
gard to the attitude to take toward
the Morrill county situation, which has
turned out a puzzler.
The keynote of the session was ut
tered by Commissioner Cal Hashman.
Chairman Duncan had called on two or
speech, butall of them had declined
the honor. He. then turned, to -Mr.
- Hashman, and asked.ini to say a few
MTirfla "I heliev we've all done too
much talking," was the only response
lie got, but it was all that was needed
to get the men present on a friendly
footing. '
The nemingford Road.
The agreement of first importance
to Box Butte county was in regard to a
route for the Alliance-Hemingford-
Crawford road. This has been the
ause of most of the scrapping within
the county. A year or two ago the
commissioners suggested two or three
and routes, to be inspected by Division
Engineer MeLean. Mr. McLean want
ed to sell one of the state's supply of
' war tractors, and he did it, and at the
same time gave his approval to a road
to Hemingford that has since been
known as the Hashman road. This
entered Alliance from the north, and
passed through a farming territory.
The Alliance road boosters conceded it
was a needed road, but declared that a
through road should go along the Bur
lington railroad track. Acting under
authority from Division Engineer
.McLean, the commissioners proceeded
to build the road. After over $2,000
Jtad been expended on it, the state au
thorities this summer announced that
It would not be approved for state and
federal aid. Commissioner Hashman
proceeded to get out a petition, which
was signed by over two thousand resi
dents of the county. This was taken
with the commissioners when they
vent to Omaha and Lincoln last week.
They discovered, after talking with
officials from other counties, that pe
titions counted little with the state
board, and decided not to submit it.
Later, they decided that the war had
srone on lone enough, and that it was
time to make a strong effort to get
all the road factions together.
The Hemingford road was respon
sible, among other things, for a most
unpleasant meeting at Hemingford a
few months ago, when Alliance road
boosters, who went there to arrive at
a compromise, found that supporters
of Commissioner Carrell were not dis
posed to agree with them on anything.
Carrell Solves Problem.
It was Commissioner Carrell him
relf who suggested the solution of the
Hemingford road problem. He sug
gested that the commissioners desig
nate the route along the Burlington
track for federal aid in the bad spots,
This started the ball rolling. Within
ten minutes a comprehensive road pro
jrram had been mapped out, by-genes
were by-gones, and there wa3 nothing
but co-operation apparent.
Commissioner Cal Hashman sug
gested the course of action in regard
to . south road. Some months ago,
Alliance road boosters went to Bridge
port and were responsible for ending
a deadlock in that county. The under
standing was that a road connecting
Alliance and Bride-eoort WOuld be built.
Later understandings were that this
road would be built to Angora and
then follow the Burlintrton tracks to
the county line. Bridgeport road en
thusiasts secured a right-of-way for
this road, and one nltrht came to Alli
- anee, got two commissioners out of bed
and hal them sign a statement that
- - (Continued vn -Page 4) -
THE WEATllEV,
Y
For Nebraska: Fair tonight and
Saturday; .colder tonight, rising tem
perature Saturday afternoon northwest
portion. Strong southwest winds this
afternoon decreasing tonight.
Purported Will of
Charles Coker Not
Admitted to Probate
County Judge Tash Thursday re
fused to admit to probate the pur
ported last will and testament of
Charles C Coker, who committed sui
cide in Alliance some weeks ago fol
lowing his arrest on charges of arson
and cattle theft The will, as filed
for probate, consisted of the last sheet
of a letter written by Coker to his
brother, W. S. Coker, shortly before
he took his life, and discovered by the
attorneys who went to look for him
on the day his trial was slated to come
up at Bridgeport. The letter, it Is
understood, consisted of several pages
in which he told his brother of cer
tain bills that had been paid. The
last sheet said that he wanted a cer
tain farmer to have one thousand dol
lars of his . money. This sheet con
tained Coker'a signature.
. The court rejected the purported
will and refused to permit It to go to
probate for the reason that the docu
ment did not conform to the statutory
requirements for a will, in that it was
undated, unwitnessed, vague, indefinite ;
and illegal.
OMAHA BANKER
TELLS OF WORK
OF LOAN AGENCY
JOHN FLANAGAN ADDRESSES
MEETING OF BANKERS
Expect to
Week
Loan a Million Dollars
From Now Until the
First of July.
'"John Flanagan of .Omaha, secretary
of the "waf finance corporation of Ne--
orasxa, auuresseu a met; ting cu ien-
tv.fivo i-PTiroapntnt ii'P from eleven
hnk in hU territory at the Palm
banks in this territory at M m
Room or the Alliance hotel lnumlay
evening. Representatives i from the
four Alliance banks, theSeneca State .
bank, Bank of Hyannis, BanK or "mir-i
ham, Lakeside fetate, .Angora
onu iiM. own ou "" "4ible The salaries paid, including
Hemingford were present. officials and others, amount to but 52
v..-.....v..v. ".
local association, to be known as the
Box Butte county bankers association,
Harris, vice chairman and Charles
Brittan, secretary-treasurer. These
men, with Bankers Barneby of Lake
side and Potmesil of Hemingford will
form an advisory board, which will
meet four times a year, according to
nresent nlans.
The Nebraska corporation secured
$1300,000 in loans last week, and ex
pects, to make a record of a million
dollars a week between now and the
first of July. Any of the banks which
had representatives, present at the
meeting are willing to explain the plan
to those interested.
Mr .Flanagan, in his address, said
that although only about $3,000,000
that although only about ?j,oou,uwj nn educational rally at the churcn schools, and that the university exer
had been brought into the state al- Sunday night at 7:30. -The speaker of ! cises oniy an indirect authority. That
ready by the Nebraska organization, the occasion will be the Reverend F. L. 3 the university controls the Alli-
lt naa matie a uisunci cnange in me
feeling in financial districts in Omaha,
South Omaha and Lincoln and that
"we are going to load up Nebraska
with money."
He said that there is no limit to
the amount that can be borrowed by
either state or national banks and
that there is plenty of money $800, -
000.000 now available at Washington'
and probably half a billion more if
needed. in mis country rne uauiLs
are in good shape," Mr. Flannigan,
said. "Our best.paper is from the cat
tle country. We have only made two
loans in the Alliance territory to date.
We want loan applications. Send down
your paper."
lie explained vnat me loaning oi
money would stop on July 1, 1922, un-
les3 the present law was amended and
that banks should nave tfteir applica
tions in and approved before that date.
He also explained that the rate or in
terest to be charged banks depended
upon the rate charged their customers,
only a 2 per cent margin being allow-
(Continea on rage 4.j
Auto Electric
Service Shop at
the tJuick Garage
The Auto Electric Service Shop is
now open for business at the show
room of the Buick Garage. The new
electrical battery and repair shop is
managed by B. W. Keach, who has had
fifteen years experience, having re
ceived his training: at the U. S. naval
electrical school. Mr. Keach, who is
well known to Alliance patrons, makes
a specialty of motor repair work and
rewinding motors, and has new and
complete equipment for repairing, re
building and recharging batteries. He
is distributer in Alliance for the
Exide battery.
PHONE COMPANY
WANTS TO KEEP
PRESENT RATES
WILL ASK CONTINUATION OF
10 PER CENT SURCHARGE.
Application to Railway Commission to
. Make the Present Increase a
Permanent Affair.
The Northwestern Bell Telephone
company, which owns the Alliance ex
change, has prepared an application to
the state railway commission asking
that body to make permanent the 10
per cent surcharge allowed in Decern- J
ber, 1920, as a temporary relief for
six months, and again, in July of this
year, extended for another six months, there is any sentiment in favor of
The last six months will be up the first lowering wages of teachers among any
of the year, and the company, in it great proportion of the citizens. If
petition, sets forth that this increase there is, the citizens have kept re
in rates is necessary if the company i markably quiet about it, for not a
to make a profit on its investment. If member of the boerd recalled a single
the railway commission does not see
fit to allow the continuance of the 10
per cent surcharge, a revision of rates
will be asked. .
S. B. Windham, local commercial
manager, says that the company de
Bires that the application shall have
full publicity. "The company doesn't
want the public to think that it is try
ine to Dut over anythine without giv-
KS JTw rt'.'
JvMSJhiHJ!Lt
2 an EtSLn? i5 m
profit on it 'investment and JUrts sum
is insufficient return. .VnitTl u
PaYt"t:rilv &nJT: .P'. !
. . . . . I. L . I IIL
io oe H.r.mu"
!2 !?2yV.BA "'"l
. Cv.v.,
norae uDjeciions tijiecKu. I
The telephone men - are expecting .
some objections on the part of the
Dublic. especially their patrons, and are
prepared to answer them. For in-
stance, it i3 pointed out that stock of
the American Telephone & Telegraph
company, of which the Northwestern
Bell is a subsidiary, is selling away
above nar. at 160.
and paying ier
inn .livMonrlc Thin mnv he true, it
ls pointert 0lft( and at the :Bame timeout jn the'mine towns to grade tcach-
the Norunvestern ueii may not . uw
uavin adequate returns. 'The Am iri-
can concern is composed of a number
of com nieB some of which may be
exceeUingly prosperous, while others
are just thfl opposite. ; I
So far as trying money by a de-
. salaries is concerned, phone
orTicials say that it isn't hardly feasi-
per cent or tne expense, nu vi una
- cent 70 nt is paid to the
Llt the lowest waces.
A salary cut wouldn't accompusn
sufficient saving to meet me aenc.i.
The rest of the money spent by the
for materials and sup-,
nlie. and there isn't any way in which!
1 the company can reauce-uus xpcnc.
ThAV nr eomDeiied to nay what the
manufacturers demand or go without.
Educational Rally at
Methodist Church
On SlindnV EveninCT
vnouimaJ 1-,vcmu
, . .
The Methodists of this city will hold
uaglev or tne Doarti ox euucaiion ui
the Methodist church. Mr. Bagley is
a pleasing speaker and has had large
experience in educational and public
'work.
j -rhe Nebraska Wesleyan University,
as manv know, is raising an endow-
' ment of a million and a quarter dol
iars m this state at the present time.
Alliance will be as loyal to the educa-
tional institution as any town in the
state, but with the church building on
its hands, still uncompleted,, it prob-
aDiy win not gei in on uieeiiuumcinithejr control lies in tne system or ac
at the present time as the other Meth
odist churches are doing, but it will do
its full share when it gets on its feet
again. But the public should be fully
informed about this most important
part of the church's program, and thii
will be their privilege Sunday night.
Highland-Holloway
Stock Purchased by
Reuler's of Denver
Earl D. Mallery, trustee for the
bankrupt Highland-Holloway company
stock, on Thursday of this ween ar
ranged a sale of the stock to Reuler's
of Denver. H. J. Maas arrived in the
city this morning and has already
made plans for a sale of the stock.'
It is announced that when the stock
is disposed of, Reuler's will open a
branch store in this city in the old
Highland-Holloway location, with Mr,
Maas in charge. The new store will
handle ladies' ready-to-wear and mil
linery exclusively, and a complete
stock of high grade merchandise will
be installed. Reuler's now operate a
chain of fifteen stores in Colorado,
Nebraska and Wyoming.
' ' r- i
Have, your seats reserved at Hol-
Eten's for "Nothing But thu Tiuth
NO DECREASE
IN SALARIES
OF TEACHERS
SCHOOL BOARD NOT IN FAVOR
OF ANY REDUCTION.
High School Instructors Slightly Below
and Grade Teachers a Trifle
Above Average.
There is no sentiment among mem
bers of the Alliance school board in
favor of a reduction in the salaries of
teachers in the city's schools it was
discovered when the board, at a recent
meeting, discussed the situation from
a . number of angles. Further than
this, the board does not believe that
objection.
" The matter was brought up during
. discussion of an attack upon the
chool svstem of the stata bv A. N.
Mather, a Gering banker, Mr. Mather
made a number of charges, some of
them quite unpleasant, and the mem
bers of the board were inclined to
think that most of them were consld
erably bverdrawn.
The board's decision in regard to
fcPinE eir present status
was innuenced by a comparison of the
, M to teacherTin cities in
A"iance's class, where there are from
thirty-six to fifty teachers. Alliance
ort teachers on the iist.
'.There are.eight cities in the state
Which are classed with Alliance, in-
eluding Bla'r, Columbus,' Faubury,
Falls City, McCook, Nebraska City
Plattsmouth and University Place. Al-
liance ranks second in number of
pupils, fifth in the number of teachers
emuloved. and third in the levy requir
d to keep the schools running. In
the nine schools in this class, the aver
asre salary paid to hich, school teach
eVg is $1,657, as compared with I 1.548
in Allionxo wM1 the nvnfflirA Knlnrv
era ts si,ij7, a comparer wun
in Alliance. Hiirh school teachers in
this town draw salaries" below the
average, while the grade teachers are
but slightly above the average, for the
nine cities. A comparison of the sal-
ariea paid teachers of various high
Krv,nnl mhiocts shows that Alliance is.
in most cases, paying less than other
cities of the same class.
Salaries Slow in RMng.
Alliance citizens will recall the fact
that it hnn nnlv been ilurintr the nast
year or two that salaries for teachers
nere were as nign as in otner cities
0f this class. Now that they are on a
nnr. the hoard does not nrooose to nut
Alliance at a disadvantage in compete
mg Wltft 0uier scnoois ior nign graae
instructors. As one of the board put
it, "A cut in salary at this time would
mean that the schools will go back
ward five or ten years. We can t af
ford it-''
The board also discussed some of
Banker Mather's -charges that the
schools were controlled by state and
.university authorities. It was explain-
led that the state superintendent nas
absolutely no authority over the city
ance schools throwgh its system of ac
crediting. Alliance is on the list of
accredited schools, and it must meet
the university's requirements. If not,
its graduates will not be admitted to
the university save on examination.
The requirements for an accredited
school are that high school teachers
have a university bachelor of arts de-
frroa nrwl tenrViera in the DTfldes must
h trraduates of normal schools. The
j un;Versity or state authorities have
,nthinw tn uv a. to salaries naid. and
crediting only. The requirements they
make are those that the school authori
ties would enforce, anyway. The local
school board na3 everyming io say
about the .way the schools are conduct
ed, it was declared.
Spud Benefit Play-
at The Imperial
Next Thursday Eve
The SDud benefit' play. "Nothing
But the Truth," will be presented at
the Imperial theater by a cast of high
school Dlavers on next Thursday even
ing, December 22. The proceeds of the
performance are to be devoted to clear-
! .1.1... 1 1
log up uruia imiCTiieu uj uiv pitruv
management of the spud, tne nign
school paper.
"Nothintr But the Truth' is a three-
act comedy, dealing with the tribula
tions that ccme to a broker when he
makes a $10,000 wager that for twen
tv-four hours he will tell nothing but
the tnith. His first truthful state
ment bankrupts a half million dollar
concern. His wager causes him to
have a fall-out with his sweetheart,
makes domestic trouble for his part
ners.and plays hob generally, but when
the twenty-four hours are up he man
ages to straiphten out most of the
ttJi'gles by a series of white lies.
Herman-Winters
Assault Cause Up
in County Court
After a delay of several weeks, the
case of the state of Nebraska vs.
James Winters came to trial in coun
ty court Wednesday morning before
Judge Tash, A good sized gallery
from Heminirford was present to hear
the details of the battle between two
potato buyers. The complaining wit
ness, Emit G. Herman, testified that
Winters had feloniously assaulted him
on October 14 last, with Intent to Uo
great bodily injury. lhe testimony
was quite interesting, indicating that
the battle had some of the earmarks
of a footrace. Judge Tash discharged
the defendant, holding that the state
had failed to prove the assault charge.
lhe battle originated over a waeer
concerning a carload of potatoes pur
chased by Herman. Winters had of
fered to bet a thousand dollars that
Herman would lose $100 on the deal.
The two men went to the bank to get
certified checks for the wager, but the
bank was closed. Later the two men
met and Herman insinuated Winters
was bluffing. Ibis winters took as
a deadly insult. lie removed nis
coat and glasses and, declaring that
he would "lick hell ' eut of Herman,
proceeded to attempt it. Friends sep
arated them before any damage was
done., Later the two men met and
tangled, Winters kicking at Herman
as he passed him. Herman declared
that Winters drew a knife, but. this
was not substantiated. '. . .
RANCHERS MUST
AGAIN REGISTER
CATTLE BRANDS
THE FIVE-YEAR REGISTRATION
PERIOD ENDS JANUARY 1.
No Matter When Brands Were Record
- ed, Owners Must Take Steps to
Protect Themselves.
Renewal of cattle brands registered
with the secretary of state must be
made next year, the five-year period
of ' registration closing January 1
1922, Darius M. Amsberry, secretary
of state, announced recently, says the
Lincoln Star. Those cattle owners who
nave individual brands registered with
the state must renew registration next
year to keep them in force, even if the
brand was registered as late as De
cember 30, this year, according to Mr,
Amsberry.
Between 7.000 and 7,000 individual
brands are registered with the secre
tary of state, it was stated, and this
number does not represent all the
brands in the state. A fee of $1.50
for five-year "protection" is charged
for registration, with A fee of fifty
cents ior renewal.
It is pointed out that the "protec
tion" is not one aiforded by the state,
the state being an agency only as an
official recorder. The registration is
conducted and maintained by a cattle
owners association, working In con
junction with the stockyards at Oma
ha. An instructor is maintained at
the stockyards to inspect the brands
of all cattle that come to market for
sale. This inspector visits the secre
tary of state twice a year to check
registered brands and obtain copies
of new ones.
The purpo.e of the registration i
to provide against sale of cattle at
the yards with brands that do not
coincide with those of the owner sell
ing the cattle, it is explained. For in
stance, if a load of cattle comes to the
market for sale, and included in the
load are two or three head with
brands different frqm those registered
by the party selling the stock, these
cattle are singled out and, unless the
Keller can show a bill of sale of the
cattle in question payment for these
cattle is sent to the person who has
that brand registered. In the event the
seller was the rightful owner of the
cattle, the one to whom the payment
was sent, in turn must send the money
to the man who marketed the stock.
That the system is one of great sav
ing to the members is indicated in the
frequent memler of cattle that get to
market with questionable sales records.
On the other hand, it is stated, the
occasions are numerous when member
ship would have saved the sale of cat
tle but no brands were registered for
trace.
Last Chance for
Ex-Soldiers to '
Save. Insurance
Any soldier, sailor or marine who
had war risk insurance and let it lapse,
except those receiving compensation
for a total permanent disability, can
reinstate. Lx-soldiers have until De
cember 31, 1921, to do this. This is
the last opportunity, and they are ad
vised to attend to it at once. The U.
S. Veterans Bureau, Kearney, Neb.,
will furnish particulars.
Clarence Basker, of Casper,' Wyo.,
formerly of Alliance was in the city
the first of the week visiting friends.
He returned to Casper Tuesday.
InnTAniAiio um i
nuuinmna will
UNDERWRITE THE
FOOTBALL TEAM
FINANCIAL BACKERS OF LOCAL
GRIDIRON WARRIORS ,
Entertain Football Squad and Seen4
Team Wednesday Evening, WUk
Unl Coach Speaker
The Alliance Rotary club has under
taken the underwriting of the Allianc
high school football team for the com
ing season, it was announced at Uv
Wednesday dinner of the elub. Mm
bers of the first and second teams tad)
Coach Prince were guests of honor
the occasion, and the club was able ta
secure the presence of Coach Dawso
of the University of Nebraska foot
ball team as a feature of the dia
per. Coach Dawson made the addrest ,
of the evening, and for nearly an hour
talked to the football teams about th
suoject that was nearest their hearts
Rotarian E. L, Meyer explained th
decision of the Rotary club in regard!
10 standing oacic or the team next ,
year. Alliance has, in the six years
it has had football, risen to among
the top-notchera in western Nebraska
he said, and under present conditions
mould be a strong contender for ta
state championship. Due to the x
pense, however, it has not made any
efforts to secure games with the strong
eastern teams, and until the last year
or two its record did not entitle ft to
a place on their schedules. Now, how
ever, the team ranks with the best et
them, and the oniy stumbling block
to games' wun such cities as Nortl
Platte and Lincoln has been removed.
The Rotary club has agreed to stand
back of the team financially, and will
guarantee to get the crowds to make
the games profitable, or will make ua
the deficit.
Coach Prince has already taken UP
with North Platte and Lincoln the
question of games with Alliance, and
while no definite decision has been an
nounced, these cities are considering
tne proposition rayorabiy. it is be
lieved that Alliance will get to the.
top in football circles with the proper
kind of backing, and it will be no fault
of the Rotariana if encouragement Is
lacking. x
Dawson oives Advice
Rotarian Meyer concluded his ad
dress with some good thoughts on
playing the game in school, and urg
ing football players not only to keep
on with their studies, but keep up with
them. This theme was developed by
Coach Dawson, who made the kind of
a talk to the football players that he U
in the habit of making to gridiron war
riors et Nebraska.
Mr. Dawson spoke of Nebraska a
rank as a great university; of the sup
port it is receiving from all over th
state, the same kind of support tba
Alliance . Rotarians are giving their
football team. He urged the football
boyi not to consider going to any
other school, saying that they eouldj
have ample pride in Nebraska' ttai
versity. He contrasted the eastern,
universities, with their endowments, t
the Nebraska institution, supported by
an entire state. He told how the west
ern universities are gradually taking
the pick of the professional talent from,
the eastern schools, and how they are
gradually coming to the front in
scholastic and athletic circles.
The balance of Coach Dawson's talk
was regular football exhortation, that
put the desire to fight into not only
the football boys, but the Rotarians aa
well. He told the players what game
ness meant, and how the true grlo
iron warrior regarded his studies in the
same light as he did his football op
ponents, as something to be conquered.
It was a remarkably interesting ad
dress, and at its close the football boya
delivered a bunch of cheers that made
the rafters rock.
Following the address by the unlver
sity man, the thirteen letter men on
the Alliance squad this year held an
election for captain, Frank Daily being
elected by an almost unanimous vote.
The thirteen letter men, Frank Daily
James Fowler, Raymond Brown, Rob
ert Bicknell, Newman Kilgore, Cecil
Beal, Fred Purdy, Bernard Nolan
lister Herman. Martin Brennan, Seth
Joder, Ralph Garvin and Leslie Mis
kimen were then introduced by Coach
Prince, who told of each mans posi
tion and his record.
Burlington Officials
Coming to Alliance
On Inspection Trip
Hale Holden, president of the Bur
lington system, and E. P. Bracken
vice president, and staffs, left Denver
Wednesday for an inspection trip over
all northwestern Burlington ' lines,
planning to stop around Hardin for
some time, where the new branch line
of the Burlington will soon be com
pleted. This extension will give con
siderable' more oil businesto the west
end, even though the line when com
pleted will be but little more than
thirty mile in length, the territory
covered is a very rich oil field and is
alo within reach of farm lands.
The above named officials will visit
the'Alliance division on the return
trip which will probably be about the
first of next week. '