The frontier. (O'Neill City, Holt County, Neb.) 1880-1965, July 23, 1936, Image 1
*" 9‘^-m 4L * K*b. State Historical Society The Frontier VOL. LVII O’NEILL, NEBRASKA, THURSDAY, July 23,1936 No. 10 ^ — —---j Revive Long Dormant Ir rigation Talk by James R. Lowell State politics is being overshad owed these days by the drouth, and a pertinent subject right now is ir rigation. There are about 50,000,-; 000 acres in the state, and while a large part of this is in sandhill , pasture area, at least 1,500,000 acres of Nebraska farm lands, could be efficiently irrigated, ac cording to Govenor Cochran, who as head of the department of roads and irrigation for many years, has studied the situation extensively. At the present time there are about 750,000 acres under irriga tion in the state, mostly in the North Platte and main Platte val leys. An additional area of the same size could well be placed under irrigation, the governor believes. The major irrigation project in the state’s history is the proposed Tri-county. As originally planned it would hav6 furnished water to half a million acres. The recent supreme court decision holding against diverting water from one water shed to another put the damper on this plan, but Tri-county officials are hopeful of lining up 300,000 acres within the legal limits. Tne two Dig power projects now nearing completion (Platte Valley 4and the Loup) will not bring any new land under irrigation altho the Platte Valley project will fur nish supplemental waters for 176, 000 acres of Platte Valley lands. Aside from these, feasible irri gation projects include the North and Middle Loup rivers; the Frenchman and the Arickeree (us ing flood waters from the Repub lican river and offering hope of t considerable irrigation development in the southwestern section of the state); and the proposed Blue Creek project in Garden county. Senator Burke says he is seek ing PWA approval of irrigation development on the North and Middle Loups as part of the federal government's drouth relief pro gram. These projects were ap proved by the engineering and power divisions of PWA, but have been delayed because of financial stipulations outlined by local officials. These rivers are fed by under ground streams originating in the sand regions of western Nebraska, and, even in the dryest seasons they run nearly bank full. C. A. Sorensen, attornev for the Middle Loup power and irrigation district, announced that its backers have decided to drop the power phase of the project and provide irrigation only. Tentative acre age to be irrigated is set at 30, 000 acres. Under the proposed change, PWA funds sought would be reduced j from a $1,000,000 grant to a loan j and grant of about $1,350,000. Considerable importance as re gaids the future of irrigation in the state is attached to the hearing concluded this week at Lincoln to determine the respective rights of j this state, Wyoming and Colorado j to waters of the North Platte river. Nebraska irrigators claim priority rights, while the other states claim the right of first pos session. Attorney General Wright de clares this litigation involves the whole state of Nebraska. If we lose the suit, we lose one-sixth of the state’s income. The suit in volves 150,000 Nebraskans, $156, 000,000 of property, and an annual crop return of $35,000,000 Governor Cochran is attempting ; to speed up construction of reser voirs in the Republican river flood area. Army engineers surveyed the valley in 1930 and the governor says at least two reservoirs could be built on the basis of this survey. Additional funds (for a survey alone) were provided by the federal government as a result of last ^year’s devastating floods, but the * governor wants to start actual con struction right away with funds (Continued on page 4, column 1.) The mayor discovered a waste | of water at the end of the pave j ment on west Douglas Sunday. | Investigation and excavation dis ^ closed a broken knuckle in the main, repairing of which kept the mayor occupied until well along into the night. Mrs. N. I. Stevenson, of Valen tine, accompanied by a lady friend, stopped in the city Tuesday, being enroute to Topeka to attend the Landon notification ceremonies. Mrs. Stevenson is a former Holt county girl, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Tom Harrison. Young Couple Wed —Go to Alliance Neil B. Ryan and Miss Julia Beelart were united in the holy bonds of wedlock at St. Patrick’s church last Saturday morning at 6 o’clock, Monsignor J. G. McNa mara officiating, in the presence of a few of the relatives and iinti mate friends of the contracting parties. The groom is the son of J. B. Ryan of this city and is a sterling and likeable young man who was born and grew to manhood in this city. For some time he had been in the employ of the Emmet Hay Company at Emmet, but resigned his position there a short time ago. Neil has many friends in the city who extend hearty congratulations. The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A. Beelart, of Ewing. For the past few years she has been an able and efficient em ployee of the bakery, where by her charming and sunny disposition and pleasing personality she made many friends. After the wedding ceremony a wedding breakfast was served at the Bakery, attended by a few of the relatives and close friends of the young couple. They left at 8 o’clock for Alli ance where Neil has accepted a position and will make their future home in that city. The many O’Neill friends of this young couple wish them many years of happiness and prosperity. BRIEFLY STATED Mr. and Mrs. Charles Buell, of Tekamah, spent Friday afternoon in the city. Mrs. Buell is a niece of H. W. Tomlinson, they stopping here for the afternoon on their way to Hot Springs, S. D. Miss Margaret Quinn, proprietor of the Classic Beauty parlors, was confined to her home a couple of days the first of the week with a severe attack of the summer flu. She was able to be at her shop on Wednesday. Talking with two boys from Tilden it was learned that com munity is badly scorched and in* fested with hoppers. Things look green and flourishing around O’Neill to the boys in comparison to their home surroundings. The lower reaches of the Redbird have gone dry for the second time in the memory of those of long acquaintence with the stream. In 1934 water ceased at the mouth of the creek for the first time. This is repeated again this summer. L. H. Pierce and wife and Mrs. Mary Keenan came up from Lin coln Friday. Mr. Pierce is a brother-in-law of Mayor Kersen brock with W'hom they visited un til Sunday. Mrs. Keenan, Mrs. Kersenbrock’s mother, remained in the city. According to reports a strange condition prevails in the Missouri river country northeast of here. The artisan wells suddenly ceased to flow in the Yankton country, while at the same time the Missou ri river flows a full stream, more water than usual at this seasson. In spite of the severe drouth, but few fires have occurred over the county. The only such learned of recently is the burning of a quan tity of baled hay that wa3 held in storage at the Lakeview ranch in the Swan Lake neighborhood. It was covered by insurance to the value of $0 per ton. O’Neill Party Return From Fishing Trip The inseparable and indomitable group of O’Neill fishermen re turned Saturday from their north ern cruise, having attained a lati tude something less than the artic circle where they found the mer curery hovering around 108 most ,of the time, but fish and mosquitoes biting good. Northern Minneso sota’s alluring waters was the original destination but they pene trated into a Canadian wilderness for 100 miles. Some interesting experiences are recounted by the boys with pleasant words for the courtesy and gentlemanly behavior of the guards and officials across the line, contrasting to a snippy attitude of those on our own side of the line. They made a nice catch of fish and have remembered generously friends at home with fine messes. Those in the party were M. H. Horiskey, Herb Ham mond and William Martin. Mr. and Mrs. Ira Moss of this city, Miss Mae Hammond and Mrs Mary Massie, of Omaha, composed a second party. Joe Shields, of Norfolk, district administrator of the WPA for this district, was in the city Wednes day. Miss Marjorie Cronin returned last Friday night from a two visit with relatives and friends in Omaha and, Nebi-aska City. Miss Dorothy Reardon entertain ed a large picnic party at the Country Club last evening, honor ing her guest, Miss Mulligan of Omaha. Kenneth Wehl and Miss Helen I Biglin drove to Denver last Friday and met Miss Marie Biglin, of Salt Lake City, Utah. They returned home Tuesday, being accompanied by Miss Marie who will visit here at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. P. J. Biglin for a couple of weeks. John Prokapes, Joseph Zrust and son Vince, Frank Tijkle and Rudy Pekny composed a party from Clarkson, Colfax county, visiting here a few days last week, the guests of the Frank and Cyril Peter’s households. Vince remain ed to work through haying for Mrs. John Peter. | As the old saying has it, you get the news away from home. Around Atkinson the rumor got ' under way that grasshoppers were so abundant at O’Neill last Friday | that the street lights had to be | turned on. Perhaps some of the hopper stories told of other eom imunities have about as little foundation in fact. Several local parties have be come interested in obtaining a swimming pool for this city. The plan is to try and get a WPA gift and have the pool built as a gov | ernment project. Several towns in the state have secured swim ming pools in this manner and we know of nothing that would be of more benefit to the people of this city and community than a good swimming pool Dr. and Mrs. L. B. Duffy and children, of Jackson, Minn., were i in the city Wednesday visiting at the W. J. Hammond and Bert Shoemaker homes. They were on their way to Denver, Colorado, for an outing and a visit with rela tives and friends and continued their journey this morning. Mrs. Duffy was formerly Loretta Car Ion and is a sister of Mrs. Bert Shoemaker and Mrs. W. J. Ham- j mond. __ METHODIST CHURCH NOTES Sunday School 10 a. m. Morning worship 11 a. m. Ser mon subject, “The Hand of Man and the Hand of God.” Epworth League 7 p. m. Evening service 8 p. m. on the lawn by the church. We hope to have the band for a few numbers. Community singing, short sermon. As the Presbyterians are having no service this Sunday we cordially invite them to worship with us The front entrance to the new court house, of a light grey stone, about completes the outer walls of the first story of the building. Combing the classical with the familiar national emblems of thirteen stars and bars makes a simple yet appropriate decoration just above the entrance. Fasces, the Roman symbol of authority, are placed on either side of the national emblem. Work is going forward rapidly on the building, a consideable force of men, trucks and teams having found jobs at from 35 cents to 80 cents an hour, working eight hours for a day. Montana Ranchers Look Us Over North Dakota and Montana cattle men are around nearly every day looking for places that will take care of their starving cattle. We have been able to direct a number to likely communities to arrange for the care of the stock. Individuals have all th eway from 100 to 600 head to provide for. The territory around Miles City is particularly hard hit by reason of grasshoppers and drouth. Talking with one man from that territory Monday who was here looking for a place to put 400 head of cows with their calves, he said the situ ation with them is desperate and unless they can find pasture will have to sacrifice the fruits of many years work in (acquiring their herds. FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH NOW FLOWS The aged, the infirm, tie super annuated, the whole group of has beens now passing the timo in idleness and harmless gossip, are said to have found a fountain of youth, a restorer of health and faded beauty a rejuveninator of stiffened and palsied limbs, a quick ener and purifier of the fading life blood’s stream, the promised healer and restorer to vigor of a descrepit humanity. This is to be experienced merely by quaffing of the sparkling life-given waters from a well just recently put down by an east side O’Neill householder. We don’t know that he makes any claims but those who are drinking the water tell of its marvelous qualities as a rebuilder of broken bodies. So we hope now to see old timers that are no longer able to “take it’’ soon restored to the vigor and activities of youth. A complaint was filed in Judge Malone’s court yesterday by the county attorney against Delbert Graham, who was held in the city jail. Mattie Scukup is the com plaining witness. Graham is charged with the theft of some chickens, valued at $3.85. The hearing, as now arranged, is sched uled for Thursday. Graham main tains he did not steal the chickens, which officials ay he sold to a local dealer, but purchased them of another person. Ambrose Biglin and his daugter, Miss Ann and son Gene, left last Monday night for their home at Casper, Wyoming. Miss Anne and Gene had been here visiting rela tives for five weeks and Ambrosse came down the morning of the Fourth for a couple of weeks visit. The young folks made many friends during their vi-it here and O’Neill young folks hope that they will again make a good visit in this city. -- Ben Jones, a native of O’Neill but now ranching near Ekalaka, Mont., was in the city the- past week greeting old friends. The primary object of his visit here was to find a pasture and a place to winter feed cattle for himself and a neigh bor rancher who he was accom panying. They left about noon Monday for southwest Holt to in vestigate prospects down that way. The Weather High Low Mois July 10 105 78 July 17 _.112 70 July 18 109 83 July 19 106 69 July 20 97 66 July 21 96 68 July 22 108 67 ■ Holt County Valuations lor Taxation Holt county has a total assessed valuation of $18,207,090 as shown by the abstract of assessors’ re turns compiled by County Assessor Sullivan. This total is made up from the three items of real estate, personal and intangibles and the re turns have so gone in to the state house from the assessor’s office. These groups are divided in values as follows: Lands, $11,809,476 Lots, $1,669,715. Intangibles, $782,405. Personal, $4,555,495. There was listed for assessment in the county 77,567 head of cattle at a total valuation of $1,655,950, an average of $21.34 per head. Horses 11,399 valued at $403,075, $35.36 per head. It is not much of a mule country, there being list ed for taxation only 679 of these long-eared quadrupeds valued at $29,035, or $50.14 per head. There were 9,703 hogs, 5,685 sheep and 8,364 dozens poultry listed for tax ation. Dogs outnumbered mules and are valued at $10 each, there being 1,959 in the county. The total number of motor ve hicles is 3,451, valued at $339,225. Total number of all schedules re turned by the precinct assessors is 4,971, which is the number of per sons out of a populatioin of some thing like 20,000 who list property or intangibles in this county for taxation. Total expense of the assess ment, including precinct assessors, is $5,503.78. The office force has been dismiss ed at the assessors’ office for the present School Notes There are still a large number of schools who have not reported teachers hired for next year, there arc likewise quite a number of teachers who have not secured schools. The office will be glad to assist you in placing well qualified teachers. Preopening day will be held on Saturday, August 29. The meet ing will be called to order at 9:00 and will convene for the most part throughout the entire day. All teachers will be expected to attend since this day will count as one day of institute. Clarence J. McClurg, County Superintendent. SUNDAY SCHOOL CONVENTIO The Thirteenth Anuual group ! gathering of Holt County Union | Sunday Schools will be held in the | Johnson grove, twelve miles north j of O’Neill, on Sunday, July 2G. | The session will open at 10 a. m., i with the study of the Sunday school lesson. Rev. E. E. Dillon, of York, Nebr., will speak dui ing the afternoon. A cordial invitation is extended to all to attend S. Halgrimson, Missionary, American Sunday School Union. A twenty-three year-old auto mobile still in service is something j of a rarety. Perhaps the oldest I in the ounly now in use is a 1913 model small truck in use by Elmer j Hagensick—and anything that Elmer has is no delapidated relic. He keeps the old T in first-class shape and finds it adequate for his needs for a light truck. The hood is of those square front type that went with the early makes of cars. A number of O’Neill cisitzens are interested in the buried city over at Lynch that Nebraska uni-« versity men have unearthed and are exploring and classifying their find. % Evidences of a considerable town of a pre-historic people are said to be found and a number of those interested in that sort of thing are making pilgrimages thereto. Miss Florence Malone returned Sunday to Omaha, where she is employed as a secretary in the Federal reserve bank. She had been visiting her parents here for some weeks. The unanimous testimony of our citizens traveling out into other sections of this and adjoining states, as well as the strangers daily coming and going, is to the effect that Holt county has suffered the least from drouth. That there are green meadows and pastures, some yield of farm products and abscence of the swarms of hop pers devastating some communi ties should not be an occasion of inflated local pride but of humble thankfulness that we have not been utterly crushed by the overwhelm ing wave of heat that has seared so large a scope of our fair country. Live Stock Market at Sale Pavillion Report of Atkinson Livestock Market Tuesday, July 21. Hog Market: Receipts 600 head. Fat hogs and sows from 100 tc 1.50 a hundred higher than a week ago. Top 10.15 for 180 to 220 lb. weights, medium weights from 9.65 to 10 00. Heavies from 9.00 to 9.75; fat sows from 7.90 to 8.50; thin sows from 6.85 to 7.80; stock er hogs from 5.75 to 8.50 a hund red. Cattle Market: Generally 25 to 36 cents a hundred higher, fleshy kinds showing the most advance. Best grass cows up to 4.50; good cutters at 3.75 to 4.10; canners 2.75 to 3.40; yearling steers and heifers from 4 00 to 5.25; plain and trashy kinds down to 3.00. Horse Market: Demand reliable for all kinds of well broke horses. Colts and utibroke horses lower. AS I SEE IT. Was touring the United States the other day, great drouth on there. The democrats are blam ing Hoover, but Hoover says he is not to blame. The democrats have just formed another code. It ia known as the It. M. A. A. or rain makers association of America They have hundreds or rain makers at work, but they won’t promise us any rain until after election. General Farley is too busy spreading hot air over the country. Won’t do us any good to have rainmakers until after election. It’s tough on the farmers but they will have to wait until next year to get a crop. That’s what General Farley says. Sincerely, An Observer. The Ben Franklin store, an old institution under a new name, with enlarged quarters and a doubled stock, had a successful opening last Saturday Tjlic store was | closed two days to get in readi-1 ness for the event. Archie Bowen, the proprietor, is an O’Neill boy. who has made good in business, taking over some years ago the store started here about the begin- i ning of the century by his father, > known during the years os Bowen’s Variety Store. It has been one of the successful business concerns of the town from the start. Archie now has a store that is a credit to the community and will no doubt continue to enjoy a growing business. Word was received here of the death early in the week at his home in South Sioux City of Joseph P Meredith, age 79, a! brother of the late J. H. Meredith of O’Neill. Two nieces of the de ceased, Mrs. Charles McKenna of this city and Mrs. R. M. McCaffrey, of Kansas City who is here visit ing, went to South Siofhx City Tuesday afternoon to be present at the funeral. --■ CAUTION! There is grave danger from fires. During this dry time citi-! zens should exercise extreme care that fires do not get started from carelessly throwing lighted cigar ettes or by other means. A little care may save a large loss. JOHN KERSENBROCK, Mayor. A vicious roar from the north west for a brief period past mid afternoon Sunday raised clouds of dust, tore awnings about town and pessed on without a raindrop. The heat of many days seems to have been dispelled and citizens went about their daily jobs with re newed vigor. Zeb Warner, Another Early jSettler, Taken Zebedee M. Warner passed away at the residence of his son John, about 12 miles northwest of this city last Friday evening about 8 o’clock, after an illness of several months of heart trouble, at the age of 72 years, 7 months and 3 days. The funeral services were held in the Presbyterian church in this city at 2:30 Monday afternoon, Rev. Vahle of Atkinson officiating and burial in Prospect Hill cemetery. Deceased was born on December 14, 1863, at Trible, West Virginia. In his young manhood he moved to Iowa and for a few years lived near Onawa and came to this county in 1885, shortly after he reached his majority. He took a homestead about ten miles north west of this city and proceded to carve out his fortune from the soil. On September 1, 1890, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary C. Johring, daughter of one of the pioneer families in his neighbor hood. To this union seven child ren were born, all of whom are living and were present at the funeral services. The children are, Walter B., Ansley; Chas. A., Roy, Elmer W’., John F. and Fred Warner, O’Neill; Mrs. Fannie R. Sftevene, Siou^c City, Iowa, and Mrs. Elizabeth P. Taggert. Chamb ers. Zeb was one of the real pioneers of this section. Coming here in 1885, he lived in the county for fifty-one years. In the early days he was one of the largest and most successful farmers and stockmen in this section of the county and he kept adding to his real estate holdings and improving his farm [until he had one of the best im proved. places in the county. He was a hard worker and as his financial condition improved he branched out into other lines of business,. About twenty-five years ago he moved to this city and shortly thereafter he engaged in the hard ware furniture and implement bus iness with his two sons, Walter and Roy. The firm did a large busi ness for several years and the break in prices at the end of the war hit them hard as they were carrying a large stock They re tired from the implementbusiness in 19.11 and continued the hardware and furniture business until the store was destroyed by fire in 1932 Zeb was a builder. After coming to O’Neill and getting into the hardware business he built a large addition to his store building and during his residence in the city built two residences here, one of which is now the O’Neill hospital. Two years ago he made a trip to California and while there suf fered a heart attack and had to come home. Since that time he has had a couple of attacks, from which he shortly recovered, but each attack weakened him and he was not inthe physical condition to withstand the last attack suffered about five weeks ago. lie was a good citizen and he had much to do with the building up of this section of the state and this city, always willing to spend his money to help promote the interests of his home community. He was of that hardy band of pioneers that came here in their youth when this country was a bleak and desolate prairie, remained and by hard work and thrift assisted in develop ing it into a thickly settled and prosperous community and when the work is completed lay down the burden and pass on. Like other old timers who have gone before him he will be missed, not only by his family but by a legion of friends throughout the county. The sheriff’s office was asked from Red Cloud last night to be on the lookout for a hitch hiker by the name of Ben Ellis, said to be on his wray here looking for work. His 2-year-old baby fell in a tank of water yesterday and was drowned, the family endeavor ing to locate him here or at Basset, where he intended to go if unsuc cessful locating a job in this county.