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About The frontier. (O'Neill City, Holt County, Neb.) 1880-1965 | View Entire Issue (March 5, 1936)
i • mm N.b- It.,. Hi.to.lc.1 '■ III l l | i K . VOL. LVI O’NEILL, NEBRASKA, THURSDAY, MARCH 5,1886. No. 42 COURT HOUSE BOND ISSUED GOES TO AN OMAHA BANK FIRM — United States National, of Omaha,' Gets Bonds At 2.60 Per Cent And A $300 Bonus. The Holt county Board of Super visors, at a meeting Tuesday, sold the $61,000 issue of court house bonds to the United States Nation al bank, of Omaha, that firm mak ing the best offer in the public sale of the bonds. The bonds will draw 2.60 per cent interest and they pay a bonus of $300 and accrued inter est on the bonds up to date of de livery, which will be about April 1. The sale of the bonds on Tuesday will net the county about $3,100 more than they would have re ceived for them under the old sale, which was made in December and later cancelled by the Board. The nice price received for the bonds was made possible by the active bidding of the O’Neill National bank, thru its president, S. J. Weekes. The last offer that Mr. Weekes made for the bonds was 2.75 and a bonus of $1,000 and ac crued interest. There was not much difference in the two bids, but Mr. Weekes says the bid of the Omaha bank was a little better for the county than the bid that he made. When the board met for the sale of the bonds Tuesday there were seven bidders present and they all wanted the bonds. The following firms were represented: Stenawar, Schwesser Co., Lincoln; Wacob l Bender Co., Omaha; First Trust ^ Co., Lincoln; U. S. National Bank, Omaha; First National bank, O’Neill; O’Neill National bank, O’Neill; First National bank, Stu art. Notwithstanding the fact that opponents of the court house at the election last fall said that the county was in no condition to issue bonds on account of its financial ■y condition it is apparent that the T credit of this county stands high with the bond buyers of the state. Holt county bonds brought more money on the market than did United States Government bonds, which were sold only a few days ago, that is the interest rate is less than that paid by the government, which, in a nut shell, tells of the stability of the bonds in the minds of buyers, which will be gratifying news to Holt county reality owners. O’Neill Citizens Miss Nebraska Blizzards The following letter dated Feb. 21, at Rio Hondo, Texas, was re ceived at this office from J. B. Mellor. The text of the letter fol lows: “Mrs. Mellor and myself left O’Neill Monday, Jan. 27th, on a short visit to Mr. and Mrs. Walter K. Hod.gin who live in Rio Hondo in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas, a distance of 1,500 miles. “What is termed the Lower Rio Grande Valley is about seventy five miles east and west and about twenty-five miles north and south, and has a population of about 225, 000. Naturally a great many of the people are from northern states as the real settlement of this val ley started about twenty-five years ago. Practically all the valley can be traveled on concrete highways. From Brownsville, a town of 27,000 in the eastern part, to Mission a town of 5,000 in the western part, is a distance of 00 miles. The towns in between are from two to ten miles apart and because of being so close together this highway is known as the “Longest Main Street” in the world. “The entire valley is intensively farmed in tracts hanging from five to twenty acres. The principal crops arecitrus fruits, strawberries and vegetables such as Irish pota toes, tomatoes, onions, carrots, a beets, cabbage,cauliflower, broccoli, ' etc., all of which we have seen growing. I will make a feeble at tempt to name you a few' of the different kinds of citrus fruit such as Duncan, Marsh Seedless and Foster Pink grapefruit, naval, Temple, Valencia and King Man darin oranges, and other miscellan eous such as kumquats, calamon j dins, tangerines and tangelos, most f of which I have had the pleasure of picking and eating. Speaking of eating reminds me. Ernest Beaver from Deaver, Wyo., Mrs. Beaver, who is Walter Hodg kin’s sister, Mrs. Mellor and my self took dinner with the Hodgkin family last Sunday, Feb. 16th, in their yard under a palm tree. The temperature was about 80 above. We had for our dinner, among other things, orange juice cocktail, kumquat preserves, papaya salad, new potatoes and fresh fish from the Gulf of Mexico. After partak ing of our dinner we drove some fifty miles and attended a Nebras ka get-together and I had the pleasure of meeting many Nebras kans from different parts of the state. “One thing that might be of in terest to the people of O’Neill is that the hotel rates and living gen erally is practically the same as it is in Nebraska. “We expect to go from here to Denver, Colo., and visit Mrs. Mel lor’s sister, as well as my own, for a short time before returning to O’Neill." Subscription Offer Adds Many New Readers To Frontier’s Mailing List The Frontier added many new names to its already large family of readers, during the past two months and many of our readers extended their subscription, until at present we are convinced that we have the largest paid in advance list of readers in the county, as well as the largest list. Frontier readers enjoy receiving their paper and after reading it, many of them pass it on to their neighbors who do not receive a county paper. To our new readers, as well as our old ones, we want to assure you that it will be our aim to get out a better paper this year than we did last year or the year before, in fact the best paper that it is possible to produce. Our advertisers will also benefit with the increased Coverage of The Frontier, as mapy people who have not heretofore received an O’Neill newspaper, will now receive a weekly visit of the largest and best newspaper printed in the cap. itol city of the county. Seed Corn Tests From 7 to 97% Germination Over 100 samples of corn have been brought into the Agricultural Agents office to be tested. The tests are run free of charge using NYA labor under F. M. Reece, as supervisor. The tests require about seven days for completion. Anyone wishing to have seed tested should send in a uniform sample of 200 kernels or more as soon as possible. The tests run so far have varied from 97 per cent down to as low as 7 per cent. This indicates seed corn cannot be too carefully select ed. Farmers bringing or sending in corn to be tested have over 3,000 bushels of seed corn for sale as well as barley, oats and cane seed. Graveled Roads Are In Very Poor Shape Graveled roads over the state, where they are passable, are get ting in very bad condition due to the high water and the frost going out of the ground. These days it is a common thing for a car to get mired on the highway and trucks cut thru to the axles. We under stand that the highway department has ordered all trucks to remain off the highways for a few days until they dry up a little and some re pair work can be made. Frank Wyant, who drives the Gatz beer truck says that he was two days coming up from Omaha with a load the first of the week, arriving home Tuesday and that he had never seen the highways in such condition as they are today. A week of good sunlight would make a wonderful difference in the condition of the roads. New Car Sales Are Good During the month of February, twenty-one new automobiles were licensed in the office of the county treasurer. When it is realized that it was almost impossible to drive a car during any part of the month, we think this is quite a record. Sixty-seven new cars were given licenses during the month of Jan uary, more than have been sold in any month for several years. There seems to be money in the country. It may be that America will fin ally get a dictator but we are wil ling to bet that nobody with a mus tache like Hitler's can win the job. AG. COLLEGE PROF. HAS LITTLE FAITH IN THE ARTICHOKE l)r. T. A. Kiesselbach Says There Is No Market For Artichoke, and Little Hope For One. Dr. T. A. Kiesselbach, university of Nebraska College of Agriculture in an Associated Press interview on “Gee-rusalem'’ and all other varieties of artichokes asks himself the following queries and then an swers them. The doctor seems to know his ’chokes, and he places them in a nutshell. He asks the questions; “Is there a dependable commer cial market? If used as feed crop, how does it compare in practicabil ity with o?her standard feed crops? Is the crop adapted? How does the labor cost of production com pare with that of other standard crops?” The doctor answers: “There is no industrial market for artichokes i grown in Nebraska and there is no certainty that there will be such a market in the near future; there would be no justification now in recommending the growing of arti chokes on the basis that a market may sometime develop; if alcohol or sugar processing plants should be established, a profitable market for artichokes probably would ex ist only in close proximity to the factory.” He continues: “The crop has not been revolutionized by the recent introduction of superior varieties. There are no varieties available in this country that are recognized as materially superior to the French White artichokes which now have been grown for a number of years. In 1935, about 300 acres were grown in Nebraska.” “Should the acreage of Jerusalem artichokes be increased under pre sent conditions?” The doctor re plies: “This is a common question and we might follow it with anoth er question; is the situation with regard to artichokes materially dif ferent from what it has been for a number of years?” “Since this is not a new crop, the small acreage suggests that farm ers have not been attracted to it under conditions of the past. The crop has not been revolutionized by the recent introduction of superior varieties. Another article on arti chokes is to be released soon.” Bar Association Meeting Held Here The Third annual meeting of the Fifteenth Judicial District Bar as sociation was held in O'Neill on Thursday, Feb. 27. A business meeting was held in the District Court room at four o’clock in the afternoon, followed by a banquet at the Golden hotel. Music for the banquet was furnished by the O’Neill High School orchestra. Officers elected, for the ensuing year are W. J. Hammond, Presi dent, D. R. Mounts, of Atkinson, Vice President, and Wayne Davies of Butte, Secretary-Treasurer. The following were present at the business meeting and banquet: District Judge R. R. Dickson, County Judge, C. J. Malone, J. J. Harrington, W. J. Hammond, J. D. Cronin, James P. Marron, Emmet A. Harmon, Ira Moss, Ted McEl haney, and Eugene O’Hearne, of O’Neill; Harry L. Welch, Omaha; D. R. Mounts, Atkinson; Mr.Smith, Long Pine; A. B. Wallace, William Wills and Wayne Davies from Butte; Herb Curtis, Sam Ely and Art Weber, Bassett; William Far nam, Jr., and William Ely, Ains worth and Mr. Weddell, Spring view. | Feeder’s Day At Agricultural College Nebraska’s Annual Feeder’s day will be held at the University of Nebraska college of agriculture on Friday, April 17, it was announced here this week. Prof. H. J. Gram lich, chairman of the animal hus bandry department at the college, notified Holt county farmers of the date thru Agricultural Agent F. M. Reece. An outstanding event which each year attracts upwards of 1,500 farmers and livestock producers from all sections of Nebraska, the day’s activities will be built around experimental results on cattle feed ing tests. Some out-of-state speakers will probably appear on the speaking program. Various protien supplements are compared in one test when fed with ensilage in carrying calves thru the winter. Soyhean meal, tankage and cottonseed are used as protiens.. Another experiment compares the practice of wintering heifer calves and yearling heifers on ensilage, both with and without a light feed of corn, and the use of a protien supplement. Snow Goes Rapidly With Warm Weather Since the cold wave broke on Feb. 22, this section of the state has been enjoying nice balmy weather, with every indication that spring is not very far away. Since the above date there has been but one night when the thermometer has gone below zero and that was on the night of Feb. 27, when it registered on® below. For five days before that and since we have had splendid weather and most of the snow has disappeared. This particular section of the state has not been troubled with high water, but in the eastern and southern sections of the state many of the towns have suffered dam age, with high water. In this im mediate section Norfolk has exper ienced some trouble with high water and more damage is looked for if extreme hot weather continues. Following is the weather for the past week: Feb. 28 41 23 Feb. 29 . 37 15 March 1 _ - 44 31 March 2 53 28 March 3 62 34 March 4 56 22 | March 5 , —- 22 ! Revenue Law Violator Removed To Omaha Deputy U. fv Marshal Frank Harnish came up from Norfolk last Monday night and left for Omaha Tuesday morning, having in cus toddy Joe Varlik, >f.Page, who wa3 arrested last week at Page and taken before U. S. Commissioner Frank Dishner here. The Commis sioner fixed his bond at $1,000 which the prisoner said he could furnish ,and he was committed to the Holt county jail—the O’Neill jail being used as the county is now without a jail—until the bond was furnished. Varelik was unable to furnish the bond and he was taken to Oma ha to secure a removal order from Judge Donohoe and he will be tak en to Sioux Falls, S. D., to answer the indictment returned against him there in the fall of 1934. Filings For Office Take A Last Minute Jump Numerous candidates have filed for public office during the past week. Among the number of those filing was Crist Anderson, of Bris tow, as a candidate for the uni cameral legislature from this dis trict. His entry makes the fourth candidate to file from this district, two from Boyd county and two from Holt. Edgar Howard, form er congressman from this district, filed for the democratic nomination for lieutenant governor. Several candidates have filed on both tick | ets for practically all the offices to be filled at the coming election and there promises to be an interesting primary scrap in both parties for the nominations. Harry Hiscocks, of Steel Creek precinct, one of the pioneers of that section of the county, has filed for the republican nomination for supervisor from the Second dis trict, a position now held by John A. Carson, republican of Scott pre cinct. Michael Rotherham, of Ewing, filed today for the democratic nom ination for supervisor from the Fourth district. This district is now represented by Louis Reimer, democrat, chairman of the board, and who has filed for reelection. O’Neill Wins Post-Season Game From Butte 15-13 In an after-season basketball classic, the Butte public school first five on the local contest conserva tory last Friday evening lost to the O’Neill public school team, 15 , to 13. The young bucks also locked horns and after the egg-beating and windmilling had ceased the score was 14 to 6 in favor of the O’Neill basket loaders and biffers. Butte not long ago wrenched the championship of the Niobrara Val ley conference from the local pub lic school, 25 to 20. CITY ELECTION FOR APRIL 7 LOOKS LIKE NO CONTEST AFFAIR Only One Candidate Out For Each Office And None For Third Ward Councilman. The city election will be held on the first Tuesday in April, which this year falls on April 7. At this election there is a full ticket of of ficers to be elected, Mayor, City Clerk, City treasurer, and three councilmen, one from each ward. Things have been running smooth ly the past couple of years and it is not anticipated that there will be much of a contest this spring, and there will probably be but one ticket in the field. The past week petitions have been in circulation for John Ker senbrock for mayor; Chauncey Porter for city clerk; Edward Quinn, for city treasurer. These gentlemen are the present officers in their respective positions and are candidates for re-election. In the First ward, Francis Bazel man is a candidate for a member of the council, a position now' filled by W\ H. Harty. In the Second w'ard Harold Lindberg is a candid ate for the council, a position filled for several years past by Thomas Brennan. We have heard of no candidate for the council from the Third ward, the term of Levi Yant zi expiring this spring. Jury Panel For March Term of I)ist. Court The jury for the next term of district court in this county was drawn last Thursday and the jur ors will report for duty in this city on Monday, March 1(5, 1936, for the regular spring term of court. We understand there are only about three cases ready for jury trial and that the session will not last for more than a week. Following arc the jurors who have been selected for this term of court, with their addresses: W. P. Curtis, O’Neill; Art Doo little, Josie; James Hubert, Atkin son; V’ern Sageser, Amelia; George Weidge, Stuart; James Barrett, Atkinson; Joe Batenhorst. Stuart; Lindley Crumley, Page; Merle Stuart, Stuart; L. T. Howard, O’Neill; Earl Houts, Atkinson; Gil bert Benash, O’Neill; Roy Woods, Atkinson; Tom Enright, O’Neill; Lee Taylor, Page; C. F. Baker, O'Neill; Ira O. Lange, Atkinson; Carl Lambert, Ewing; L. C. Gen ung, Atkinson; Forest Smith, In man; Roy Parker, Page; Elmer Lee, Dustin; Guy Huston, Middle branch; Paul Funk, Ewing. Smith-Ennis A very beautiful and quiet wed ding occurred at the Methodist par sonage Wednesday morning, March 4, 1936, at 9 o’clock when Mr. George L. Smith of Chambers, and Miss Loraine Ennis of O’Neill were united in marriage, Rev. A. J. May, pastor of the Methodist church of ficiating. The impressive ring cer emony of the Methodist church was used in uniting the couple in mar riage. The bj;-ide was dressed in a lovely white taffeta wedding gown and carried a beautiful bouquet of white carnations. The groom wore the conventional black. Mr. Logan H. Johnson was groomsman and Miss VarinnaDriskill was maid of honor. Mr. Smith is a prosperous and well known merchant of Chambers, Nebr., and is an active member of the Baptist church of that village. The bride is the popular daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Sherman Ennis of O’Neill, and has been active in Sun day school and choir work of the Methodist church. The couple left immediately for a trip to California. They will make their home in Chambers. Their many friends wish them well. Holt County School Notes By County Superintendent The rural school directors meet ing will be held on Saturday, April 4. I have selected this date because the weather is too uncertain thru the month of March. A suitable program is being arranged. The meeting is called for direct ors, however, all school board members are cordially invited to attend. The meeting will be called to order at one o’clock in the after noon. It is our plan to have some one from the State Superintendent’s! office with us at this time to dis cuss problems and school laws. We plan to hold a short musical pro gram first, followed by a talk on school laws. The balance of the time will be devoted to the rural school officers. Due to the inclement weather, many rural schools had to close down for a time. School boards may request that the teacher make up lost time, however, teachers can demand wages for full time if they are willing to make up lost time. It is surprising to know how' many schools were held open in spite of the bad weather. DRIVE STARTED FOR HOLT COUNTY FARM BUREAU MEMBERS A Farm Bureau Is Necewaary To Obtain Agricultural Extension Aid From Federal Funds. By F. M. Reece Letters were mailed to Holt county farmers and ranchers this week containing farm bureao-mem bership blanks. Many people are returning them promptly while others will wait until their corn hog check arrives. The board of directors would appreciate it if everyone who can would mail in their membership as soon as pos sible. Many people have asked, “Why is it necessary to have a farm bureau since we have not had one for several years?” The law pass ed by the United States Congress last year provides that no money shall be spent in a county for agricultural extension purposes un less there is a cooperating organ ization within the county. The Nebraska state legislature have officially designated this cooperat ing organization in Nebraska as the “Farm Bureau.” Another question is, “Would it have been necessary to have a farm bureau if the AAA had not been declared unconstitutional?” The answer is yes. The state and fed eral laws would have applied just the same. Some ask what would happen if we do not have a farm bureau. If we do not get a farm bureau organ ized as soon as possible the corn hog checks and soil conservation program would be handled from an adjoining, county as a district since counties on all sides of Holt are organizing farm bureaus, and most of them at higher memberships. Women’s project club work would be discontinued and 4-H club work would not receive support from within the county. Should emer gencies arise similar to the grass hopper and drouth cattle buying programs there would be no agri-, cultural organization functioning within the county to carry on on short notice. Grade Basketball Games Between Two Schools At St. Mary’s Gym Floor At the Academy gymnasium here last Sunday a large crowd saw the friendly rivals in athletics, the pub lic school and St. Mary’s Academy stage a three chapter battle which was a remarkable exhibition of basketball playing. Three games were played. When the big boys, the seniors of the schools, had used up the allotted, time it was noted the score was Academy 16, public school 12. The second team’s score was public, 21, Academy 13, and the graders went through their motions and chalked up Acad emy, 10 public school 3. Excavation Work Starts For New Court House Workmen again commenced work on the excavation for the new court houseTuesday morning, after a lay-off of about seven weeks on account of inclement weather. The excavation was started the forepart of January but workmen were able to put in only a few days at the work as the protracted cold wave set in and it was impossible to do anything with the excavation. When work was commenced the contractor said that he figured on completing the job by Feb. 5. They are making good progress now and it will not take long to complete the job. W. J. Uammond was looking aft er legal business in the district court at Butte last Monday. AMBROSE SLATTERY FOUND MONDAY IN HIS BARN, A SUICIDE Had Been In Poor Health and Was Imbued Writh the Fact He Was Losing His Mind. Ambrose Slattery, 65, hung him self in the barn at his farm home about eight miles southwest of this city last Monday afternoon, the body being discovered about 9 o’clock that evening. Mr. Slattery had been in poor health for several months and a little over a month ago went to Sioux City for medical treatment, but he remained only a very short time. He was morose and seemed imbued with the fact that he was losing his mind and this continual brooding finally impelled him to take his own life. Mrs. Slattery came to town Mon day afternoon, coming in with her neighbors, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Burge. Sunday night Floyd and Clayton Burge remained all night at the Slattery home and on Mon day night Floyd Burge and John Stoff, another neighbor, were going to remain all night, as it was fear ed Mr. Slattery might attempt to take his life. Mrs. Slattery did not reach home until about 9 o’clock and was ac companied by Arthur Burge and his son, Floyd, who was to remain all night. John Stoff arrived a few minutes later. When they reached the house there was no light and going inside they failed to find him. Then Art Burge, his son Floyd, and John Stoff went out to the barn and they found him hanging in the hack end of the barn. Sheriff Duffy was notified and he went out there, accompanied by Dr. Finley. Frank Biglin, accom panied by Norb Uhl and Ed. Burge went out after the body, all ariving about the same time, about 12:30 Tuesday morning. After an exam, ination by Dr. Finley he expressed the belief that he had been dead about eight hours, so that he hung himself about 4:30 Monday after noon. The following note was found in his pocket, when his clothes were searched: “Don’t blame Elsie for I am to blame for this—it is all my fault. A better women never lived.—Ambrose.” Officials of the local banks, who were familiar with Mr. Slattery's handwriting, said that the note was in his handwriting. Ambrose Slattery was born at Pittsburg, Pa., on Jan. 6, 1881. He came to this county with his par ents in the spring of 1885 and spent his entire life in this county. He lived on the old home place, a few miles southeast of this city un til he reach his majority and then purchased a farm a few miles west of the old home place where he lived for several years. He spent a few years as a resident of this city and then returned to the farm. On Oct. 5, 1931, he was united in marriage to Mrs. Elsie McKen na, the ceremony being performed at Valentine, Nebr. Immediately after the marriage they returned to his farm where they resided up to the time of his death. Deceased leaves his wife and two step-children, Donald McKenna and Eileen McKenna; four sisters and three brothers to mourn his tragic end. The brothers are, John Slat tery, Pittsburg, P.; Edward Slat tery, Winter, Wis.; Charles Slat tery, Moorcroft, Wyo. His sister., are, Mrs. Ella Hartman, Pittsburg. Pa.; Mrs. Margaret Cameron, Spokane Wash.; Mrs. Pat Connolly, arid Mrs. C. E. Hiatt, O’Neill. The funeral was to have been held Wednesday afternoon, but was postponed until Thursday aft ernoon at 2 o’clock to await the ar rival of his brother, Charles, from Moorcraft, Wyo. Interment will be in Calvary cemetery. Busy Hour Club The Busy Hour club met at the home of Mrs. Vic Johnson on Thursday, Feb. 27. All members were present except Mrs. Clyde Hershiser and Irene Hershiser. The time was spent playing games and making quilt blocks for the host ess. The prize in the contest was won by Mrs. Lett Johnson. A delicious lunch of salad, cake and coffee was served. The next meeting will be held at the home of Mrs. Henry Wayman on March 26.