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About The frontier. (O'Neill City, Holt County, Neb.) 1880-1965 | View Entire Issue (July 21, 1938)
The Frontier ■ ——■ — • ■ _ ■ — — VOL. LIX. O’NEILL, NEBRASKA, THURSDAY, JULY 21, 1938. No. 10 PWA ALLOTMENT IS AVAILABLE FOR A NEW SCHOOL HERE Will Be Necessary To Vote $30,000 In Bonds To Supply The Total Needed For Building. ^ The O’Neill school district has been alloted $38,250 from the PWA to assist in the construction of a new High School building. The cost of the building, with equip ment, is estimated at $85,000. The present plans call for the erection of the new building north of the present high school building, with a 20-foot clearance, and to be con nected with the old building by a corridor. The application for the grant was filed about a year ago, too late to get in on the old appropriation for this purpose. The last session of congress voted additional funds for building purposes and it is from this new appropriation that the money will come. The school board i a few years ago, realizing the necessity for additional school faci lities, created a building fund and there is now $16,750 in this fund and bonds must be voted for about $30,000 to make possible the erec tion of the building. The public schools of this city have been crowded for several years and here is an opportunity to get a new high school building of $85,000 value, for the amount of bonds to be voted, $30,000. While the school district is put ting in $16,500 more than the amount of the bonds, that amount has already been levied on the tax payers and collected, and is now in the hands of the school district treasurer. This is too good an op portunity to pass up and we are 4 sure there will be no question but what the bonds will go over with a good majority. Will Begin Work On Chambers-West Road J. H. Gibson, Supervisor of the Fifth district, received a letter last Thursday from State Engineer A. C. Tilley, stating that the survey ing on the Chambers west Federal Aid project would start at once. On Monday morning M. F. Norton, county surveyor, located the sec tion corners and three of the state’s surveyors began at once to run the survey. This project will start in the east part of Chambers and run thru the main street and continue west for three miles, making the first step m toward conecting Chambers with f highway No. 11. The project will be let by contract and will be built sometime this fall. Riser-George The wedding of Miss Lois E. Riser, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Riser of Friend, Nebr., to John George, son of Mr. and Mrs. B. George of Lincoln, Nebr., took place Saturday evening, June 25, at the home of Rev. Theo. Radach in Lincoln. Only the immediate families and a few friends attend ed the ceremony. The bride wore street length dress of net over navy blue with blue accessories. Miss Cleta Riser, attending her sister as bride’s maid . wore brown with white accessories. * A1 Spadt attended as best man. The couple will live in Lincoln whbre Mr. George is employed with the City Park Department. Mrs. George is a granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. H. G. Cromwell of this city. SHIELDS Lt. Thomas James Gaughen, a , nephew of the Earley family, flew an army plane out from Kansas Thursday and put on a flying ex hibition for the entertainment of his friends in this immediate vi cinity, and for a while he had us all ducking to keep in the safety zone. When the writer first no ticed the manouvers, I thought to myself, there goes Lindberg on his way to China with a government / bombing plane, as we know that , the New Dealers are peacefully in clined and don’t want any inter ference during the present admini stration. Thomas treated his relatives to , a thrilling stunt ride. We all liked 1 to experience the thrill of an air- ( plane and must say that Thomas is a wonderful pilot. Thomas op- ] erates a passenger-mail plane be tween New York and Kansas City, with his headquarters in New York, i About half his run is done after night and he makes a report to the station every 60 minutes. The crew | consists of three, two pilots and a ] porter. i During vacations he has access j to the army planes at the govern- < ment hangers to increase the num- i ber of his flying hours. That is how he happened to visit his Holt county friends in Shields. My friend Mr. Griffin was telling me that he also exhibited a few stunts in his pasture, that showed his ability at the wheel. With a speed test of 293 miles an hour and out of sight in the sky, no wonder the world wants peace. We all enjoyed the nice visit and wish him the best of luck with his adventures thru the sky. His plane is equipped with heavy guns that are timed so they have no interference with the prop blade, and the lights focused right so as to cover a quarter section of land after night. E.S.E. SOUTHWEST BREEZES — By Romaine Saunders Walt Richards of Chambers was out this way Friday for a truck load of cattle. H. R. Farrier of Chambers was in the community a day last week looking up cattle to buy. “No new taxes” is a catchy phrase which also involves no changes of tax laws to balance a top heavy load. Are the expressions of grief com ing from officialdom when one of prominence dies done in sincerity or for mere effect? The land owner whose plantings have been destroyed or damaged by hail or hoppers gets no rebate when buying a tax receipt. Mud slinging is not a new thing in American politics but it remained for Mr. Roosevelt to introduce it in the White House when he snaps that endearing term “copperhead” at those who have the temerity to disagree with him. The oldest of the vets at Gettys burg is reported to be 112. Few would be able to hold on that long under present tension. But for longlivity the Turks head all peo ples. And they have plural mar riage and no whiskey. The papers still quote Herbert Hoover. This is one of his latest. “There are only two avenues of privacy left in these days when it is harder and harder to get away from telephones and people. They are prayer and fishing. I strongly recommend both.” Tom Baker says the grasshop peers have a tooth for rye and al falfa, his fields being seriously damaged by these pests. Corn fields so far have not been invaded. While hoppers are plenty thick they have by no means appeared in the swarms you read about. Returning Saturday afternoon j from Atkinson, Mr. and Mrs. Baker l were overtaken by a violent rain storm extending from Holt creek south as far as Charley Petersen’s. The highway was flooded and it was with extreme difficulty they were able to proceed. This com munity was visited at the same time by a refreshing shower. Annuoncement has been officially made that the survey and work of a state highway from the Waldo corner into Chambers is to com mence at once. Whether this will be connected with highway 11 straight across the hill 2 miles west or detour either south or north thru Amelia or stop at the eight mile point is not yet known. A large and thrifty territory to the to the west in this and adjoining county is handicapped for lack of a highway while the other com munities in the state have a dupli cation of connecting highways. When instince notifies a cow that the great event is at hand she with iraws from those of her kind and ?oes to a secluded spot in the pas ture to bring forth her offspring :n privacy. The same instinct is fundamental in all animal life. \ highly commercialized movie in iustry invades the privacy of the naternal bed chamber and unblush ngly throws it all on the screen istensibly as “art” and “educa tional.” And the country’s first lady ipproves because it is “honest.” rhere are bodily functions honest 1 mough but I don’t believe even Vfrs. Franklin D. would care to 1 lave the public looking on. • Miss Constance Golden enter- 1 ained eight girl friends at a picnic 1 supper in the garden of her aunt’s 1 rome, Mrs. McMillan and Miss < Vlarkey. The guests enjoyed a real licnic supper, cooked on an out- i side fireplace, and served by Mrs. 1 F\ J. Dishner, another aunt of Miss 1 Golden. The guests all report an 1 •njoyable time. < FUNERAL SERVICES HELD MONDAY FOR ARTHUR F. MULLEN Was A Holt County Product Who Made Good In The World Of Law And Politics. Arthur F. Mullen died at his country home near Omaha last Thursday afternoon at 4:30 after an illness of a couple of years of gastric ulcers, at the age of 65 years. The funeral was held last Mon day morning at 9 o’clock from St. Celia’s cathedral and was one of the largest funerals seen in the city of Omaha in recent years, and was attended by Governor Cochran, and former governors Bryan and Weaver. Also many other state, and practically all the city officials of Omaha. The following old friends from his old home town went to Omaha Sunday to atten^the funeral: Mr. and Mrs. James F. O’Donnell and daughter, Louise; Monsignor Mc Namara, R. R. Morrison and son, Jack; Frank Biglin, Genevieve Biglin, Genevieve Harty and Mrs. M. R. Sullivan; M. II. McCarthy, Mr. and Mrs. George McCarthy, Mr. and Mrs. John McCarthy of Hastings, who were visiting here; S. J. Weekes, Judge and Mrs. J. J. Harrington; Pete Duffy, Pat Mc Ginnis of Emmet, Leo Mullen, F. J. Dishner and A1 Strubbe. Arthur Mullen came to this county with his parents from Cana da in the spring of 1882 and the family settled on the Blackbird north of this city, where they lived for ten years. Arthur was nine years of age when the family mov ed to this county. The family later moved to Page where they resided 15 years, then moved to this city. As a boy Arthur attended the country schools in the vicinity of their farm home, and in this city. Also the Fremont Normal, and later graduated from the law uni versity of Ann Arbor, Mich. As a young man Arthur develop ed an interest for politics and be for he had reached the voting age was active in behalf of his friends at the polls in the elections in this county in the latter eighties and early nineties. When J. P. Mullen was elected treasurer of this county, Arthur was made deputy treasurer. He later went to Ann Arbor and was graduated as a full-fledged lawyer, and came back to O’Neill to practice his profession. In the fall of 1900 Arthur was the candidate on the fusion ticket, populist and democrat, for county attorney. In an intesive campaign against the republican candidate, the late L. C. Chapman, Mullen won the election with a majority of 88 votes. He was reelected twice after that and held the office until January, 1907. Arthur continued the practice of law in this city, but was still active in politics and in 1908 was one of the organizers of the Bryan Volun teers, and was president of that organization. Every year his in fluence in democratic party affairs increased, and about 1910 he moved to Omaha to practice law, with politics as his favorite side line. He was rated as a very good lawyer, shrewd, resourceful and a good student. He was very suc cessful in his practice in Omaha. In 1916 he was elected democratic national committeman for Nebras ka, and was then on the way to political success and glory. With the exception of four years when he was defeated by the late Judge W. H. Thompson, Mr. Mullen was national committeeman until his resignation about three years ago. In the early days of Holt county when the residents took their poli tics very seriously, many bitter political fights were made not only by opposing candidates but by op posing supporters of candidates. Arthur learned to fight political battles in this county and this knowledge he used to advantage when he came into political power in national affairs of his party. In 1932 he was floor manager for ;he Roosevelt forces, and his able landling of the Roosevelt men in ihat convention is given as the •hief reason why Roosevelt won the lomination instead of A1 Smith. After Roosevelt’s election it was onceded that Mr. Mullen was en itled to any position he desired, in he gift of the administration. He wanted to be attorney general of ;he United States, but that posi ;ion was denied him. The president hen offered Arthur a position on he Federal Circuit court, which he leclined. Arthur Mullen could get any ,hing he wanted for his friends, but i when it came to a position desired or himself he fell by the wayside, I which proves conclusively that he ould always fight better for a friend than he could for himself. During the first two years of the Roosevelt administration Arthur was one of the most influential men in the United States and had the ear of the President. Many of his friends in Nebraska as well as other states, secured good govern ment positions at the hands of Arthur Mullen. During the past three years Arthur seemed to have lost his influence at the White House, but he still held a firm hand on Nebraska democratic politics and none could get a plum withuot his OK. me wriwr nau Known armur ever since he came to the county. We were on different sides of the political fence and hence had many bitter political quarrels. In the olden days we did not think that Arthur was always ethical in some of his campaign methods, but we fought differently then than today. During my eleven years residence in Omaha, Arthur and his firm had a great deal of business with my office and no man was nicer to me in the conduct of my official duties than my former political opponent, Arthur Mullen. No man apparently wished me more success in the suc cessful conduct of the office, so the years tempered him, as it did me. Arthur was a good fighter and a cheerful loser. He was willing to give credit to his opponents when they succeeded in out-man ouvering him and winning a vic tory. While congratulating them on the victory he was also assuring them that he would have better luck next time. He ruled his party with an iron hand and took no ex cuses for any failure to carry the colors of the party out in front. Work was his watchword and his gang of lieutenants in the sev eral sections of the state were se lected for their ability to get out and do things, and if they did not deliver they did not long remain lieutenants. Arthur had a love for his old home town, as he was wont to call O’Neill. It was here he got his start and he always thought of it as home. He had many loyal friends in this cityhind county who would go to any extremes to assist Arthur to attain his objective. Nebraska has lost one of its foremost citizens and O’Neill and the people of Holt county have lost a true and loyal friend. While in the olden days bitter political op ponents, Mr. Mullen and the writer the past 20 years have been friends, personal but not political. Arthur fought a long fight against disease, as strenous a fight as any political battle he ever fought, but the cards were stacked against him. He lost the fight. His many friends in this city and over Nebraska regret that he was called, with many useful years ahead of him. He was a good citizen, an able lawyer, and a friend whose loyalty was never doubted. The Frontier joins the many friends of this family in this county in extending sincere condol ences to the bereaved in their hour of sorrow. No Speeches Edgar Howard of Columbus, ar rived in the city Tuesday after noon for a couple of days visit with old time friends in this city. Edgar represented this district in Con gress for twelve years, going down to defeat at the hands of Kprl Stefan four years ago. Edgar did not voluntarily enter the contest for congress this year as a demo cratic candidate. He was drafted for the place by a committee of democrats in the Third district and being a good soldier and ever ready to assist his party in their hour of need, he agreed to make the race. He says he is not going to make any speeches but will visit the boys in the several towns in the district between now and primary election. Miss Diana Daly of Omaha, who has been visiting at the home of Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Harringtop for the past month, left Sunday for her home. NOTICE All those interested in the erection of a new school build ing in this city are requested to attend a meeting to be held in the auditorium of the High School building, next Monday evening, July 25, 1938, at 8 p. m., when the contemplated new high school building will be discussed. Walter F. Wilson, of the firm of Davis & Wilson, architects of Lincoln, Nebr., who have drawn plans for the new building, will be present with blue prints of the contemplated structure. All interested are urged to attend. COUNTY VALUATION IS THIRD OF MILLION OFF FROM YEAR AGO Decrease In Number Of Cattle On Hand Is An Important Factor In Loss of Value. Last week County Assessor Sul livan mailed to the state board the 1938 abstract of assessment for Holt county. The abstract dis closes that the assessed valuation of Holt county for this year is $17,804,405 as compared to a valu ation in 1937 of $18,209,870. In the fall of 1936 and the winter of 1937 a large number of cattle were shipped into this county for winter feed, on account of the ex treme drouth in other sections, and these cattle were assessed here the next spring. The schedules show that there were 7,981 more head of cattle assessed in 1937 than there were in 1938, which helps to make the decrease in the valuation of the county. Cattle of all ages assessed this year were 79,230 head, valued at $1,683,875, average per head $21.25. Cattle assessed in 1937 were 87,211 head valued at $1,837,250, or an average per head of $21.06. Horses of all ages assessed this year 10,862, valued at $330,445, or an average per head of $30.42. Horses of all ages assessed in 1937 numbered 11,738, valued at $376,685, or and average of $32.09. Mules of all ages assessed in the county this spring amounted to 604 head valued at $18,915, for an average of $31.31. Total number assessed in 1937 were 671 valued at $24,405, or an average of $36.37. Poultry assessed in 1938 amount ed ^6,480 dozen valued at $17,735. Number assessed in 1937 amounted to 7,646 dozen, valued at $19,955. According to the returns there were 6,176 head of hogs, of all ages, in the county this spring valued at $65,245. Last spring there were 6,044 head in the county valued at $55,825. There is a small increase in the number of hogs in the county. There are 6,403 head of sheep in the county, valued at $16,770. Last year there were 9,624 head in the county and they were valued at $22,065. Residents of Holt county own 4,128 motor vehicles and they are valued at $530,560. Last year, ac cording to the assessor’s schedule, there were 4,078 cars in the county and they were assessed at $454,165. The total amount of personal property in the county, as shown by the 1938 assessment, is $2,993, 115. The amount of personal pro perty in the county last year was $3,157,495. The improved lands in the county this year amount to 422,046 acres and are valued at $3,937,850 or an average of $9.33 per acre. The improved lands in the county in the 1937 assessment amounted to 376,132 acres and was valued at $3,544,245, or an average of $9.42 per acre. mi _•_1 1_I •_ i.1_ X lit; uminpi uvcu iauu 111 wiv county is 1,032,204 actes and are valued at $6,523,025, or an average per acre of $6.31. Last year there were 1,078,775 acres, valued at $7,068,485 or $6.54 per acre. The improvements on land this year are assessed at $1,195,875. Last year the improvements were assessed at $1,222,405. The improved lots in the county number 4,026 and are valued at $320,705, or an average per lot of $79.65. Last year the number was 3,980 and they were assessed at $321,215. The number of unimproved lots in the county are listed as being 2,235 and they are assessed at $89,270, or an average of $38.23. The number given in the 1937 as sessment was 2,538 and they were listed as being worth $95,975, or an average of $37.91 each. The improvements on lots are assessed at $1,174,645. Last year the improvements on lots was giv en as $1,166,725. The Weather The weather the past week, while warm, has not come near the marks established for the past three years. The highest during the week w'as 98 last Friday, and the lowest was yesterday, the highest point reach ed being 80. Last Saturday the county was visited with several thunder showers which measured .11 of an inch in this city. North east of here a small territory re ceived more than an inch of rain, and about four miles east of here l and east as far as Orchard they re ceived better than an inch. South of Emmet they had better than two inches of rain, but it did not cover a great deal of territory. Sunday we had .03 of an inch here and a fairly good shower in the extreme northeast section of the county. Following is the chart for the week: High Low Mois. July 14_ 85 58 July 15 __ 98 68 July 16_91 63 .11 July 17_83' 59 .03 July 18 . 87 6i July 19_ 88 62 July 20_ 80 62 Total precipitation for July 1.33 inches; since Jan. 1 15.13 inches. F. E. Alder of Pierce To Be Superintendent Of Public School Here F. E. Alder of Pierce, Nebr., has been elected as superintendent of the O’Neill public schools, his sign ed contract being received the first of the week. Mr. Alder has been superintendent of Pierce schools for the past sixteen years, and had been elected for the ensuing year, but was released from his contract to accept the O’Neill post. The fact that he served the citizens of that city for sixteen years as superin tendent of their schools, speaks vol umes as to his ability to get along with the pupils, parents and the school officials. He is regarded as an excellent superintendent and this city is fortunate in securing the services of as capable and effi cient an instructor. Holt County Has 12 At 4-H Clubs’ Camp Twelve Holt county boys and girls attended the district 4-H club camp last week in Long Pine. The camp was attended by 4-H club members and leaders from Boyd, Antelope, Holt, Rock, Brown and Cherry counties. The camp time was spent in an educational and recreational man ner, of which much of the time was spent in nature study. Dr. C. E. Rosenquist of the University of Nebraska Botany department, conducted tours on which birds, grasses, flowers and trees were stu died. Handicraft work was done by the girls and wood work by the boys. The 4-H members attending re ported a very interesting and en joyable time at the camp. Mem bers from Holt county were Mar gery Rees, Thain Lee Mitchell, Floyd Sageser and Lois Sigman from Amelia; Helen Childers, Mildred and Jerry O’Malley from Chambers; Betty Rogers, Betty and Ruth French, and Carlotta Ballantyne of Page, and Winifred Coyne of O’Neill. Farmers Picnic Will Be Held Next Tuesday Holt county farmers and their families are invited to attend a Farmers’ Picnic at the Park House in Atkinson on Tuesday, July 26. This is planned by the Holt County Farm Bureau so that 4-H club members, Farm Bureau members, women’s project club members and all farm families may get together for a day of real fun. W. H. Brokaw, director of all extension activities in Nebraska, will be in attendance. Director Brokaw, whom every farmer will enjoy meeting, will make a short talk and the remainder of the day will be spent in having a good time. Those attending are asked to bring a picnic lunch. BRIEFLY STATED Dr. Emmet Daughty of Sioux City, was a week-end guest at the ’lome of Mrs. John Carr. Mrs. Agusta McPharlin and son, Roy McPharlin of Hammond,Ind., who have been visiting friends and relatives in North and South Da kota, returned Friday from a two weeks trip. Miss Patricia O’Donnell, who has been visiting relatives in Omaha for the past month, returned Wed nesday. Miss Patricia Lyman and Edward Lyman accompanied her and will visit here for the balance of the summer. J. G. Kennedy of Page, was in the city this morning. Mr. Ken nedy informed us that a farmer near Page had threshed a field of winter wheat that yielded 25 bu shels to the acre. Another had oats that yielded 50 bushels per acre and barly 25 bushels per acre, all of good quality. John C. Mullen and son, Gerald, Father Murphy of Baltimore, Md., James Mullen of Cardwell, Mont., J. A. Mullen of Detroit, Mich., a 1 son of the late Arthur F., and Paul i Massey, were in the city Wednes day night. They came here to look lover some of Arthur Mullen’s real estate holdings in this county and to spend a few hours with old time friends. They returned to Omaha this morning. VALUE OF BUSINESS LOTS WILL NOT BB RAISED THIS YEAR Opinion From Attorney General Staten That It Is Too Late To Make Raise This Year. Quite a delegation of O’Neill tax payers were before the Board of Equalization last Tuesday to pro test against the proposed increase in the assessment of real estate along certain portions of Douglas and Fourth streets. The question was raised that the time limit for the raise had ex pired before the resolution naming the property to be increased was passed, hence the proposed in crease was illegal. Several tax payers expressed their disapproval of the increase and then Emmet A. Harmon in behalf of four of th© property owners effected, and him self, read the law to the board, after which the taxpayers left the meeting. The Board adjourned that after noon without taking any action on the increase except to leave th© matter open for further considera tion when they received an answer to an inquiry made to the attorney general regarding the legality of the increase. The county board sent the fol lowing question to the attorney general’s office: “Has the County Board of Equalization the power to hold hearings and equalize as sessments by raising or lowering valuations after the 10th day of July of this year?” The following was received from the attorney general Wednesday morning which seems to end the proposed increase, for this year at least: “While the question has not been directly involved in any adjudicated case which we have had the opportunity to examine, the Court in Hiller vs. Unitt, 113 Nebr. 612, made an expression as to the extent of the jurisdic tion of the County Board of Equalization in such matters and this was approved in Missouri P. R. Corp. vs. Board of Equaliza tion of Richardson county, 114 Nebr. 84. In the Hiller case it held: “ ‘The jurisdiction of a county board of equalization is limited to a session of 20 days but it may adjourn from day to day or from time to time, and its jurisdiction will continue until such time as will enable the assessor to for ward a copy of the assessment to the state board of equalization on or before July 10 of each year.’ ” District Court Filings Bertha V. Riley has filed suit in the district court asking for a di vorce from Melvin E. Riley and the custody of their seven year old daughter. In her petition she al leges that they were married at Bassett, Nebt*., on June 30, 1930, and that they have been residents of this county since their marriage, except for a short period in 1932. She alleges that he never contri buted wholly to the support of her self and daughter, and that during the past three years she had been compelled to work as a maid in Atkinson homes to provide the necessary food and clothing for herself and daughter. She alleges cruel and inhuman treatment and that on account of this treatment she was compelled to leave her home on July 11 and has not re turned home since that date. She asks for an absolute divorce, the custody of their daughter and asks that the defendant be compelled to pay into court a sum for the sup port of their daughter and such alimony as the court may require, together with attorneys fees and the cost of this action. Violet E. Mott has brought suit in the district court asking for a divorce from Glen E Mott. In her petition she alleges that they were married at Stuart on December 8, 1930. Four children were born of this union. She alleges that he deserted her on July 13, 1936, and has continued such neglect. She also alleges that in February, 1938, he was sentenced in the district court of this county to a term of from one to five years in the state penitentiary for automobile theft. William Cuddy is erecting a small building on the Henry Schaact lots just south of the O’Neill Photo gallery, and will open a chicken hut therein. The building is to be 12x16 with a kitch en in the rear. It will be stuccoed with a tin roof and will be an at tractive little building. While Bill will probably serve other meals beside chicken, he will cater to the lovers of fried chicken.