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About The frontier. (O'Neill City, Holt County, Neb.) 1880-1965 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 5, 1905)
The Frontier. 9 ■- v VOLUME XXV. O’NEILL. NEBRASKA. THURSDAY, JANUARY 5. 1905. _NUMBER 28. O’Neill District Discovered to Be In Deplorable Condition. FRENZIED FINANCE RUN RAMPANT Newly Elected Treasurer Finds Nearly $23,000 Against District in War ants Outstanding. The people of this city were nearly or quite as much suprised and shocked when it was announced last week that an examination of the school district books disclosed the fact that the school district was in debt $22,900.40, as they were the morning after Thanksgiving when the door of the Elkhorn Valley banjc was adorned with the white placard bearing the inscription “Bank Closed,’’ and it was learned that President McGreevy and Cashier Hagerty had lied to parts unknown. McGreevy was treasurer of the school district at the time of the failure of the bank and had $2,700 of the school funds in that institution when it closed its doors. Soon after McGreevy fled to Ari/.onia the school board declared the office of treasurer vacant and appointed Dr. J. P. Gilli gan to the position. Since assuming charge of the books Dr. Gilligan lias had a partial checking up of tne books made with the astounding result that it is found that the outstanding registered war&nt indebtedness with accrued interest to date amounts to the enormous sum of $22,990.40 The other members of the school board seem as much surprised to learn the magnitude of the district’s indebted ness as thost who have never attended school mee' ings or served on the board. This indebtedness is doubtless largely due to a constant increase of expenditurer over receipts for a number of ■ ears. With the saloons paying a sch ‘ol tax of $2,000 per year for the past ten years this condition of affairs should not prevail. T A. S . 1 tlmn f lin t t Ilrt cnViAnl It is hi>' time that the school board take v gorous measures looking to economy md retrenchment before this community and its citizens are involved in hopeless bankrupty as a result of tv rdensome taxation. With the levies r taxation now aggregat ing 10 per cent on property in this J city it is discouraging for those of our r citizens w’ i pay taxes to contemplate the liquidation of this enormous debt of *23,000 t :side the city water bonds of *15,000; O’Neill railroad bonds *20,000; Grattan township railroad bonds 830,000; city and township judg ments, etc. There is no good reason why the pril ling knife cannot be used to good advantage in lopping off some unnec essary salaries without crippling the efficiency of the schools. Strange as it may seem there is more money being paid for teachers salaries now than there was before the convent was built which took nearly one half of the scholars from the public school. The enrollment at the public schools now is about 200 and before the con vent was built it was nearly 400, but notwithstanding this fact, the mdulg ant and tax burdened citizens of this school district are paying more for the education of 200 scholars than they formerly did for 400. The school board might also with equal propriety declare the office held by E. S. Eves vacant, and appoint some resident tax payer who is inter ested in our city and schools. Eves is now living in Lincoln with his family and is no more a resident ^of O’Neill than McGreevy was when he went to Arizonia and the board de clared vacant the office held by him. Eves was railroaded onto the school board a year ago last spring by the high-cock-a-lorums here who have been wont to control and run every thing the past decade from road over seer to governor. It is to be lioped that the board will act, and act quickly, in an effort to alleviate the distressing conditions responsible for the “frenzied financer ing” that has been running rampant in the management of our schools. LOCAL MATTERS. Dr. Perrigo is corning Jan. 9. Men’s $2.00 hats for $1.20 at Berger’s. Dan Harrington was up from Hum phrey for a holiday vacation. 75 Ladies tailor made skirts to be closed out at Berger’s. Jake Herishiser was up Monday from Norfolk. Closing out sale begins Sat. Jan. 7th at Berger’s Cash Store. All clothing and Ladies cloaks go at wholesale cost at Berger’s. B. A. Powell was in from the Min neola country Friday last and paid The Frontier a pleasant visit. Cross eyes straightened without operation. Results guaranteed. See Dr. Perrigo at Evans hotel, Jan. 9. Frank Hutton of Lincoln and Amanda Lockman of Stuart were granted license to wed on December 28. Drug, treatment tor headache and nervous troubles is dangerous. Dr. Perrigo removes causes.—Evans hotel, Jan. 9. Major Due, formerly in the jewelry business here, came down from Doug las, Wy., last week to spend a few days with old friends. Mrs. S. A. Merrill departed Tuesday for Neison, Neb., in response to a tele gram saying her brother, Walter Spangler, was not expected to live. A. H. Blinco w’ent to Oakdale Sun day to join his wife and children who were there on a visit. They returned together to their home at Sioux City. Enuresis (bed Wetting) can be cured in nine out of every ten cases, without drugs. Results guaranteed or money refunded. See Dr. Perrigo at Evans hotel, Jan. 9. ' Eden Rebekah lodge No. 41 will hold public installation, Friday, Jan. 6. All Odd Fellows and their wives are cordially invited.—By order of com mittee. A concert will be given at the M. E. church on Tuesday evening, Jan. 10 by the Meistersingers, a quartet of young men. Tickets 25c, no extra charge for reserved seats. Andro Mazgo made final proof at the land office Tuesday “in support of his claim” and “continnous residence thereon. ’Tiis claim is in the hay belt twelte miles southwest. E. S. lvinch came up from Oakdale Monday evening, returning Wednes day. E. S. says he has been away from O’Neill so long he doesn’t know half the people any more. Miss Ruth Harnish entertained some of her young friends on last Fri day evening, the occasion being her sixteenth birthday anniversary. A very pleasant evening was spent by the young folks. John M. Stewart returned last week from a trip through Oklahoma, which country he says he ha, very little time for. The colored gentry are not only too numerous but the soil is not worth working,he says. Euy your shoes and overshoes at Berger’s at wholesale prices during closing out sale. Mrs. Fred Clift entertained at her home last Friday evening in honor ol the young ladies who officiated at the tables upon the occasion of her wed ding. A pleasant evening was spent at cards, dancing and games of various kinds. M. F. Harrington received a tele gram Sunday announcing the death of their sister, Mrs. Sylvest, at San Antonia, Tex. Tile remains were directed to be brought here for inter ment and were expected to arrive Wednesday or Thursday. There will be a meeting of the com mercial club at Golden’s hall next Monday evening, to which a general attendance of every one interested In the welfare of the city is urgently re quested. This meeting was to have been held last week but bad weather prevented it. James and Edward Jones were sen tenced Tuesday by Judge Harrington to one year each In the penitentiary at hard labor. These are the twe young men that have been held in jail here for several months for rifling a store at Page. Their home'is said tc be in Indiana. The Misses Mary and Grace Alder son of Chambers were Northwesterr passengers Sunday morning, the for mer going to Lincoln to resume hei studies at the Weslyan university anc the latter going to Plain view, neai where she is teaching. They had beer spending the holidays with theii parents. Aiie aance jvionuay evening given uj the young men of St. Patrick’s Tern perance society was a most successfu and enjoyable affair. It was ven largely attended and the young mer having it in charge are given muct praise for the way in which the affaii was conducted. Smith’s popula; orchestra furnished the music. Den Hunt was down Monday fron Atkinson and renewed for The Fron tier while in town. Mr. Hunt has been running a store at Dustin bul sold out last week and says he is now “out of a | job.” Den is the sort o gentleman that does not remab inactive very long at a time, however and lie will soonjbe making thing: jingle in some other line. Anthony Healy was fined $100 it district court yesterday for his littli episode last summer in riding off i horse of J.P. Gallagher’s. The defend ant was asked if he was guilty a: stipulated in the charge and repliee to his Ihonor, “yon bet.” He was let off with the fine in view of the fad that it was considered his intentions were not to steal the horse. George A. Raker, former publisher of the Ewing Advocate, but now pub lishing a paper in Indian Territory, was in town Monday. Mr. Raker and wile were called to Ewing by the illness of Mrs. Raker’s father, John Trommershauser, and George took a run up to O’Neill to see old friends. He is doing well in the territory and says he likes the place. A house party was given at the home of Mr. and Mrs. John Alderson near Chambers last week by their daughters. Those in attendance from here were: Misses Belle and Mable Martin, Miss Alice Turner, Miss Josie Howe, Miss Maud Kline and Harry Weingartner. Prof. Evans of the Weslyan university at Lincoln, was also with the O’Neill party. M'GREEVY NOW IN JAIL Arrived With the Sheriff last Thurs day evening. PRELIMINARY NEXT WEEK Large Crowd Meets Him at Train But Maintain Reasonable Decorum. Sheriff Hall arrived last Thursday evening from Phoenix, Ariz., with Bernard McGreevy, the former presi dent of the Elkhorn Valley bank. They ware met at the Northwestern depot by a great crowd of men and boys who preserved a reasonable degree of decorum. Mrs. McGreevy had gone a few stations east in the morning and came in with her husband and the slieriIT. The three got into a buggy, which was held in waiting by Jailor McCarthy, and they drove rapidly to the jail, followed by the crowd. Mc Greevy was lodged in jail, where he now awaits a preliminary hearing on the charge of embezzlement and re ceiving money on deposit fora defunct bank. The hearing is booked for .the 12th or 13th. McGreevy’s personal appearance is not much changed since he stood behind the counter at the bank. His mustache has been shaved and he ap pears to have had normal digestion since his departure. Minor Mention Manns will give a special sale of ladies muslin and winter underwear begining Jan. 7 and ending 14. Barg ains assured. Mann’s have some small sized cloaks . for ladies’ that are being closed out at such bargains that Misses or children can afford to wear them. 1 Elmer Williams, formerly one of the O’Neill land office officials, but now cashier of the David City National • bank, stopped off in town Monday to see his old friends while on his way home from a visit to his sheep ranch . in Sheridan county. The Frontier acknowledges a pleasant and profit able call. Every ambitious young man or ' woman should read'the free catalogue i S'.-ii, out by the Grand Island Business " anti Normal College of Grand Island, ; Neb. Its pages fairly sparkle with encouraging words for young people. It will tire the active student with , new zeal and kindle the enthusiasm of the most listless. Students are at tracted to this school from every , quarter of the west and quite a num ber have arranged to go from this county. The annual enrollment of this school reaches one thousand and those who have not the ready money for all expenses are permitted to pay after they have time to graduate and earn the money. The most important case in district court, which convened on Monday, was the state against James Willis, a former resident of the Chambers neighborhood. Some time last fall Willis sold his ranch near Chambers and it seems at that time or a little later sold cattle that were mortgaged. On the preliminary hearing in county1 court the defense was made that he had a right to sell. Willis was held to the district court for trial. The state was making a fair showing for conviction when the holder of the mortgage against the cattle was call ed to the stand and swore that he had given Willis written permission to sell the cattle. Willis was acquitted on the strength of this testimony and tv^b other similar cases against him dismissed. The depositors of the failed Elk horn Valley bank are praiically unanimous in favor of accepting the proposition of Mrs. Hagerty for a set tlement. It is believed to be much better to effect a settlement than to go into the expense of litigation when perhaps no more would be realized in the end. Receiver Biglin estimates that with the assets in sight and the property Mrs. Hagerty will turn over the depositors may realize 50 or CO per cent. He values the assets as follows: Good, $<>,000; doubtful, $14,000; worth less $12,000. The bank holds a second mortgage of $10,000 on 1,400 acres of land in the northern part of the county that is covered by a first mortgage of $8,000. It cannot be told yet whether this claim will be fully realized upon or not, but if it is paid out in full the bank will pay out in dependent of Mrs. Ilagerty’s offer some 25 or 30 per cent. Unwise to Litigate. O’Neill, Neb., Jan. 2,1905.—To the Editor of The Frontier: lAs a deposi tor in the failed Elkhorn Valley Hank, we have considered the proposition of settlement submitted by Mrs. Hag erty and we are in favor of accepting her proposition. When there is an opportunity to secure sucii a settle ment we think it would be most unwise to squander the money of the depositors and likewise the' public funds in litigation. Respectfully yours, THE BROOK FARM CO. Per L. M. Disney. Very Low Rates to Agricultural Associations Meeting, Lincoln, Neb. Via the North-Western Line, will be sold at reduced rates Jan. 14 to 19, inclusive, limited to return until Jan. 25, inclusive. Apply to agents Chicago & North-Western R’y. X —-- ■■ ■ ' — New Meat Market. Just opened opposite Neil Brennan’s hardware store. Would like to have you call and see me. Perhaps you can afford to give me a part of your trade Rood meats and square deal.— J. Rogers. 25-4 I am paying the highest cash price for hides, pelts and fur, and will sell you good harness cheaper than you can buy them in Chicago. 4-25 John Mann. Dr. Corbett will be in his dental office and gallery from the 23d to 30th of each month. 17-tf Remmber Mann’s are slaughtering prices on all winter goods. Special Nolice To The Trade My discount sale is now over, and commencing on Monday, January 2, for one week there will be a deeper cut than ever to clean up be fore my Inventory is taken. This sale will include my entire stock of groceries. So all who can should stock up. Commencing Monday there will be nothing reserved. p. j. McManus. HAM HAD CITY FUNDS Eormer Treasurer of Grattan Town ship Turns in Cash and Warrants. RUMORS NEED INVESTIGATION Time for the Taxpayers to Wake Up and Find Out Where Their Money lias Been Going. On last Monday Pat Hanley of Spencer, former treasurer of Grattan township, paid into the city treasury *022 in cash and city warrants, $185 in cash and $437 in warrants, collected by him while he was township treas urer. Mr. nanley has been in business in Boyd county for nearly two years and it is mighty strange to say the least why the funds belonging to this city should be held by him all these years without being turned into the city treasurer. So far as we can learn no one knew Mr. Hanley was in pos session of any of the funds belonging to the city and,it is a remarkable coin cidence that these funds should come to light, just on the eve of a checking up of the books of the city and school district treasurer. There are many well defined rumors currant of late with reference to the affairs of Grattin township that should be investigated. It is believed by many that the township, like the school district, has a very large out standing warrant indebtedness and that the amount is constantly increas ing. It is rumored that there has been gross irregularity in the issuance of some of the warrants outstanding against the township and if this be true the tax payers of this city and township should know it. The town ship board owe it to themselves as well as the overburdened tax payers of the township to have a thorough investigation made of the township books that the public may know how much outstanding indebtedness their is piled up against the township. If the business of the township is being conducted on the square an investigation will injure no one and if there is an African in the wood pile he should be brought to light. Grattan township has more taxable property than any township in the county and notwithstanding this tact the levy for township purposes is and has been for a numbers of years higher than any other township in the county. In the face of this fact it is known that there are unpaid outstanding warrants 6 and 7 years old and the amount seems to be con stantly increasing. If the tax payers of this township ever expect to be able to pay off the indebtedness that confronts them it is high time that their should be an awakening among them to the extent that they will at least take sufficent interest in the affairs of the township to find out where they are at. A United States W&il Hap. Well adapted for use in office, library or school, substantially mounted, edges bound in cloth, printed in full colors, showing the United States, Alaska, Cuba and our island posses sions. The original thirteen states, the Louisiana purchase, the Oregon Territory, etc., are shown in outline, with dates when territory was acquir ed, and other valuable information. Sent to any address on receipt of fifteen cents to cover postage, by B. W. Kniskern, P. T. M., C. & N-W. R’y., Chicago. H CLEARING ■ SAL_! I oods in the House D t of a 20 per cent cut on dry goods, shoes, overshoes J iie house. We are not doing this so as to sell off J t to clean up all of our winter goods before invoicing ■ ng goods when they arrive. We do not intend to H sell them, and we assure the public that they will save &B tid get our prices. Remember the discount is on all new M