CTATE HIST SOC xxx
VOLUME 66. — NUMBER 18. _O’NEILL, NEBRASKA, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 1946._PRICE: FIVE CENTS.
DRENCHING RAINS
BREAK DROUTH
72-Hour Period Nets 4.43
Inches Here; Little
Damage Results
PASTURES BENEFIT
Heavy rains lashed the O’Neill
territory over the weekend,
breaking a prolonged dry spell
and more than overcoming a 3
inch deficiency in rainfall. A to
tal of 4.43-inches of moisture was
received during the 72-hour per
iod ending at 8 a.m. Monday.
Three and three-fourths inches
of moisture fell during late Sun
day and early Monday.
The rains came too late to be
of much benefit to the corn crop,
but will immeasurably aid the
fall grain and grass seeding.
Farmers are hoping for a lot
of warm weather during the re
mainder of September to mature
the com crop, which is more
promising in Holt county than in
adjacent areas where the drouth
caused more damage.
The electrical storm that ac
companied Sunday night’s
drenching was one of the sever
est in recent years.
The weekend soakers were
highly beneficial for fall pas
tures. The moisture was general
in northern Nebraska. Atkinson
reported nearly 2 inches; Elgin.
1.5; Orchard, 1 Osmond, over 3.
Buses Cancelled
Because of detours on federal
highway 20 east of here, between
O’Neill and Brunswick, traffic
late Sunday and early Monday
was routed via Neligh. Two
stretches of the highway are un
der construction and the normal
detours were impassable. In or
der to stay on haridsurfaced
roads, it was necessary to travel
30 additional miles.
One Sioux City-O’Neill west
bound bus Sunday traveled only
to Brunswick, and then turned
around and returned to Sioux
City. One O’Neill-Sioux City bus
early Monday was “cancelled
out” altogether.
The Northwestern Bell Tele
phone company reported only
minor damage to the telephone
facilities in Holt county.
Numerous x'eports were re
ceived of washing of the ap
proaches to bridges on county
riighways. Only one bridge was
washed out.
Some basements in the city
were flooded. Lightning struck
the Anthony Stanton residence,
in the north section of town,
damaging a secion of the roof.
None was injured.
Traffic on the North Western
line between Chadron and Lan
der, Wyo., was stopped Saturday
as a result of a cloudburst, which
washed out nearly 6,000 feet of
track.
The week's weather summary:
Date Hi Lo Moist.
September 6_ 94 65 T
September 7_ 77 59 .65
September 8_ 59 57 .44
September 9 _ 62 52 3.34
September 10 _ 70 50
September 11 _ 73 49
September 12 _ 80 58 -39
Antelope Fair Is
Rained Out
NELIGH—The Antelope coun
ty “victory” fair last weekend
was a literal washout.
The agricultural exhibits were
the only items that went off as
scheduled. The entertainers, in
cluding Jimmy Lynch and his
death-drivers, and members of
the WLS barn dance radio troupe
were on hand, but the stands
were empty, driven away by the
downpour, when Jimmie Lynch’s
cue came. The barn dance pro
gram Sunday night went on, al
though a prelude of showers kept
attendance down. The grand
stand was nearly filled Sunday
night in spite of Pluvius and the
offering of the radio entertainers
was well received. One WLS vo
calist flew to Neligh from Chi
cago, 111., to keep her appoint
ment, after appearing on a broad
cast at the WLS studio the eve
ning before
The O’Neill Independents were
scheduled for a go against Tilden
in a Saturday afternoon baseball
game, but the match was can
celled.
The sponsors did not have rain
insurance. However, members of
the board of directors stated the
association has a reserve that as
sures payment of all premiums,
and other expenses.
Epiphany Picnic a
Success Despite Storm
EMMET— Hundreds braved in
termittent afternoon and evening
rains here Sunday to attend the
Church of Epiphany’s annual pic
nic. The evening electrical storm
plunged the church basement,
where a chicken dinner was served,
and the pastor’s residence, where
games were played, into darkness
on numerous occasions.
The affair was originally sched
uled for outdoors, but was forced
inside because of the weather. The
Atkinson vs. O’Neill baseball game
was cancelled.
Nearly 400 adults and 40 chil
dren were served during the chick
en dinner, Rev. John J. O’Brien re
ported.
STUDENTS OFF
TO COLLEGES
—
Among the O’Neill young pec- «
pie who are enrolling or have
already enrolled in institutions of
higher learning for the 1946-’47
term are:
University of Nebraska—John
Lee Baker, John Brennan, Don
na Gallagher, Robert Cole, Lar
ry Schaffer, John Allen John
Osenbaugh, Robert Bowen, Dor
othy Hiatt, Marvin Holsclaw.
Creighton university — Robert
Allen, George Bosn, Edward
Campbell, Quentin Cavanaugh,
Edward Condon, James Golden,
George Janousek, William Kub
itschek, James Merriman, Robert
Wallace, Stephen Wallace, Gene
Streeter, John R. Gallagher.
St. Benedict’s college (Atchi
son, Kans.)—Jack Harty, Paul
Kubitschek, Thomas DeBacker
Colorado Women’s college
(Denver)—Joanne Burgess, Shir
ley Schaffer, Lois Cole (Emmet.)
University of Denver (Colo )—
William Grady.
Georgetown university (Wash
ington, D. C )—William O’Con
nell.
United States Military Acade
my (West Point, N. Y.)—Herbert
O Brennan.
Kemper Military Academy
(Boonesville, Mo )—Jack Gatz.
Barat college (Lake Forest, 111.)
—Lou Birmingham.
Rosary college (Chicago, 111.)—
Patricia O’Donnell.
University of Illinois—Nadene
Coyne.
St. Vincent’s School of Nursing
(Sioux City)—Dorothy Froelich.
ATKINSON YOUTH
SHOWS CHAMP
_
Robert T5itz’ Black Angus
Takes Honors at
Tri-County Fair
■■ ■
STUART — Robert Sitz, Atkin
son, 4-H youth, captured top hon
1 ors in the baby beef show in con
nection with the two - day Tri-1
County fair held here Monday and
Tuesday. The grand champion was
a Black Angus steer, which led a
field of 20 baby beeves, 16 of
which were entered by Holt coun
tyans. The reseme grand cham
pion was shown by Donald Cizek,
of Spencer, who displayed a Here
ford steer.
James Boettcher, of Atkinson,
won the stocker-feeder Calf contest
from a field of 18.
Thirteen baby beeves were sold
at auction following the exhibit.
The top price paid was 81 cents per
pound, and the average price paid
for the 13 beeves sold was over
27 Vi cents per pound. Officials
said that exceptional interest was
displayed in the exhibitions and
the sale.
Both the grand and reserve
champion baby beeves will be en-'
tered in the Ak-Sar-Ben livestock
show at Omaha, along with at least
three other Holt county entries.
W. W. Derrick, extension animal
Imsbandryman from the Univer
sity of Nebraska, helped dedicate
the new 4-H barn at Stuart. The
bam is a converted quonset hut,
and it will be used exclusively for
4-H purposes.
The “fairstival” was billed as
“two big atomic daze.” Large
crowds attended the activity. The
principal attractions were the
rodeo, on both days, and the ex
hibits.
A style revue, held in the Stuart
auditorium T u e sd a y evening,
helped climax the celebration.
Homemade clothes were modelled
under the direction of Mrs. J. G.
Brewster and Mrs. F. J. Clark, who
is the Mesdamoiselles 4-H club
leader.
TWO AUTOMOBILES
STOLEN, RECOVERED
Two automobiles stolen in this
region over the weekend have
been recovered.
A 1942 Chevrolet, owned by a
Miss Davenport, of Valentine,
was found in the northwest sec
tion of the city Saturday by As
sistant Police Chief Bert Peter
son. The vehicle had been re
ported missing late Friday.
A Lincoln Zephyr, owned by
John Sholes, of Stuart, was stol
en Friday night, and this week
it was found in Minnesota.
MARRIAGE LICENSES
Robert C. Mathis, 26, of Atkin
son, and Margaret M- Murphy, 20,
of O’Neill. September 5.
George A. Mathis, 24, and
Margaret Bonenberger, 21, both
of Atkinson, September 5.
Philip Eugene Harnmon, 24,
and Opal Lorraine Johns, 23,
both of Lynch, September 6.
Edmond Darel Bright, 25, of
O’Neill, artd Josephine Ruth
Mlinar, 28, of Stuart, September
7.
Robert Adamson, 36, and Wil
ma Murphy, 33, both of Bijou
Hills, S. D., September 7
Hans Braun, 27, and Ruth Carr,
16, both of Atkinson, September
10. _ _
ARRIVE FROM OREGON
CHAMBERS—Mr. and Mrs.
Evert Cooke and family of Eu
gene, Ore., arrived Saturday to
visit Mrs. Cooke’s mother, Mrs
John Kellar, and other relatives.
GOLDEN IS NEW
GOLF CHAMPION
M. J. (Max) Golden, hotel
proprietor here, Tuesday became
the city’s 194fi golf champion as
he edged the defending champion,
Allan P. Jaszkowiak. one-up in 21
holes of title play. They were nip
and-tuck in 18 holes, finishing
with 75 strokes each. In the ex
tra holes, Golden bagged three
pars and Jaszkowiak missed par on
the 21st hole and lost the crown.
The championship tilt had been
twice postponed.
In the championship flight con
solation round, Gene McKenna de
feated James Harty. In the sec
ond flight, Norman Gonderinger
bested Bev Wanser one-up in 20
holes, while in the second flight
consolation round, John Urton de- i
feated Dr. F. J. Fisher.
The city’s finalists arbitrarily
decided to postpone their title play I
Sunday in order to participate in
the Ainsworth open, which Golden
won. His son, Jimmy, finished at
the top of the third fiight.
Other O’Neillites participating
included Ben and Bill Grady, Ed
Campbell, Henry Lohaus, Duke
Kersenbrock, Pat Harty and
George Hammond.
DEMO CARAVAN
TO MAKE 3 STOPS
Nebraska democratic candi
dates are including O’Neill, Ew
ing, Atkinson on their intensive
four-weeks’ campaign which will
include most towns in the state.
The tour will be headed by State
Democratic Chairman William
Ritchie, of Omaha; Nationbl
Committeeman James C. Quig
ley, of Valentine and Public Re
lations Director Tom W. Ingolds
by, of Omaha.
The caravan plans to enter Holt
county Tuesday with a 3:45 p m.
meeting at Ewing, followed by a
5 p.m. arrival in O’Neill. A night
meeting, beginning at 8, will be
held in Atkinson.
The group will spend the night
here at the Golden hotel.
The caravan will include John
Mekota, candidate for U. S. Sen
ator; Frank Sorrell,- the demo
cratic gubernatorial nominee, and
all other state candidates.
SICK & INJURED
O’NEILL—Thomas Donlin is at
home improving after suffering an
apoplectic stroke . . . Mrs. George
Hammond left Monday for medicali
treatment in Sioux City. She will
return this week ... Mrs. Don
Nissen of Page has been dismissed \
from the O’Neill hospital this week |
and is recuperating at the home of *
her sister-in-law, Mrs. Raymond
Eby.
PAGE—The condition of Mrs.
Bert Finley, who recently submit
ted to an operation in a Ft. Col
lins, Colo., hospital, is reported as
good . . . Charles Hartford submit
ted to a major operation at the
University hospital in Omaha Mon
day. His condition is satisfactory.
EMMET—Fred Beckwith is re
covering slowly from a recent ill
ness . . . Fredda McMillian and
Melvin Luben are on the sick list
this week.
INMAN—Mrs- Etta Trowbridge
is ill at the home of her daugh
ter, Mrs. Anna Smith. . - Mrs.!
Ezra Moore is not well.
CHAMBERS—Mrs. J. W. Gill is
a patient in the St. Elizabeth hos
pital at Lincoln.
Workers Meet
and Name Committees
The Workers club met Wednes
day at the home of Mrs. Roy
Wayman. Miss Catherine Kir
wan, home agent, was the hon- I
or guest. Mrs. A. Neil Dawes,
the new president, presided. The j
following committees were,
formed: Mrs. Jane Langan, sec
retary-treasurer; Mrs. Roy Way
man, reporter Mrs- Lowell John
son, year book; Mrs. M. L. Har
man, birthday, Christmas parties
and county fair, assisted by Mrs.
Charles Vorce and Mrs. Wayman.
Funds will be collected to help
educate a Chinese girl at the Uni
versity of Nebraska. The next
meeting will be held at the home
of Mrs. Russ.
CARD OF THANKS
I wish to express my sincere
thanks and appreciation to
friends and relatives for letters
and cards received and personal
visits while I was in the hospi-|
tal. They were greatly appreci
ated.
18 ELLA MAE CLARK- I
HOLT FAIR ON
NEXT WEEK
3-Day Chambers Event to
Feature Rodeo, Free
Acts, Baseball
SCHOOL DAY SET
CHAMBERS—This inland Holt
county town is putting on its best
bib-and-tucker and readying for
the 1946 edition of the Holt countv
fair, which opens Tuesday anil
nms through next Thursday. Fairi
officials are predicting that the
two big days — Wednesday and
Thursday—will rank high fn the
annals of fair history here.
Tuesday will be‘ entry day.
Judging of exhibits and demonstra
tions will take place during the
forenoon on both Wednesday and
Thursday. 'Hie remainder of the
time will be jam-packed with a
variety of entertainment.
Gus Overmire, of Stuart, will
furnish the stock for the rodeo.
The wild west show will include
bronc riding, bulldogging, calf
roping, steer riding, and wild cow
milking.
Happy Bill and his Dakota barn
dance gang have been booked for
three big acts each afternoon, fea
turing a trained horse, a clown,
and musical numbers. The gang
will present a one-hour show each
evening, beginning at 8.
The Neligh high school band
will provide music on Wednesday,
and the O’Neill high school band
has been signed for Thursday.
On both Wednesday and Thurs
day evenings, Edwin Hoberg and
his orchestra will play at an open
air dance.
The premium lists for this year’s
event have been in the hands of
the exhibitors for several weeks,
the officials have pointed out, and
there are indications that there
will be greater interest than usual.
All school children will be ad
mitted free on Wednesday, which
has been designated as school day.
The county’s horseshoe pitching
champion will be determined on
Thursday.
3 MORE DISCHARGEES
Three more Selective Service
registrants have been released in
Holt county during the week end
ing at noon Wednesday. They
are: Reuben R. Redlinger and
Emil W. Block, both of O’Neill,
and Donald A. Sfjonka, of Cham
bers.
TOO MANYBACKS
FRET SAINCDN
O’Neill High Grid Coach
Faces Shortage of
Linemen
Coach F. E. Saindon is con
fronted with a thorny problem in
the O’Neill high school football
camp: He has plenty of backfield
aspirants and not enough line
candidates.
Thirty-six checked-out uni
forms when he issued his first
call last week. Thirteen of these
were lettermen: seniors—Dick
Tibbetts, Ray Calkins, Ardell
Bright, Dick Hungerford, Cecil
Landis, Gordon Hartman, Sain
don, and Dick Remy; juniors—
Bob Matthews, Gordon Elkins,
Herman Osborne, and Dean Van
Every; sophomores—Morrow.
The backs have been drilling
with the ‘T’ formation in early
practices.
Coach Saindon hesitates to
make a prediction, but he admits
that prospects are “good ”
The season’s first game will be
with Plainview here Friday, Sep
tember 20, under the lights, be
ginning at 8 p m.
The remainder of the schedule:
Sept. 27—Bassett, there.
Oct. 4—Ewing, there.
Oct. 11—Creighton, here.
Oct. 18—Ainsworth, here.
Oct- 23—Spencer, there.
Nov. 1—Stuart, here.
Nov. 8—Neligh, there.
Nov. 15—Atkinson, there.
Both Schools Boast
40-Piece Marching Bands
Both O’Neill high school and
St. Mary’s academy will place
marching bands on the football
fields this season when their res
pective teams play, according to
Director Ira George. Each band
will number approximately 40
pieces, he said.
A purple ribbon and a gold
medal were won by Lorraine
Coats, of Stuart, for her achieve
ment in the music identification
fair last week. Twila Whaley, of
O'Neill, won a red ribbon.
Each individual had to identi
fy 15 different songs of which
portions were played on the pi
ano with violin accompaniment.
They were to give the song title,
the composer, and the type. Miss
Coats had a perfect score. The
second place winner was Roberta
Wier of Nance county, who re
ceived a silver medal.
Not only did Holt county boys
and girls do well in music, but
Donald and Robert Prill, of Page,
gave a demonstration on wash
ing and fitting a calf for show
and were awarded a blue ribbon,
while Twila Whaley and Donna
Whaley, of O’Neill, demonstrat
ed correct posture and received
a red ribbon. Murray Mellor
and Joe Warnke of O’Neill gave
a demonstration on cattle grub
control and were awarded a red
ribbon. Joan Connell, who gave
an individual demonstration on
making a dressing table, won a
red ribbon.
Stanley Price, of O’Neill, repre
sented Holt county in the state
health contest, in which many
county health champions com
peted for state honors- Although
he was not among the three high
est in the state, he received a red
ribbon in he health contest.
Besides these activitie Holt
County 4-Hers took part in live
stock judging, home economics
judging, grass and weed identifi
cation and tree and shrub identi
fication contests.
Two girls, Phyllis Runnells, of
Stuart, and Barbara Trowbridge,
of Page, were in the style show.
4-H Youths Win at State Fair
Engineer Sees 100,000
‘Irrigable9 Acres in Holt
%
BIGLIN RITES
HELD MONDAY
Final rites for John T. Biglin,
61, of Hastings, a former O’Neill
resident, were held at St. Pat
rick’s Catholic church here Mon
day. Rt. Rev. J. G- McNamara,
church pastor, officiated in a req
uiem high mass at 10 a.m. In
terment was made in Calvary
cemetery.
Mr. Biglin died last Thursday
in Mary Manning hospital in
Hastings, following a heart at
tack which occurred several
hours earlier. He was born in O’
Neill in 1884 and left here 40
years ago
Survivors include the widow:
three sons, two daughters, four
sisters, and three brothers.
Mr. Biglin was the father of
Richard Biglin, and a brother of
Frank, William J., and Miss Gen
evieve Biglin, all of O’Neill.
Pallbearers were H. E. Coyne,
P. C. Donohoe, P. J. O’Donnell,
H. J Hammond, John J. Melvin,
and M. H. Horiskey.
Among the out-of-town persons
here attending the rites were Sis
ter M. Eugene, of Sioux Ciy, and
Sister Calixta, of Chicago, 111.,
sisters of the deceased; Mrs. Ar
thur Mullen, of Omaha; Mrs. El
mer Adams, and Mrs. Bernice
Adams, both of Page.
OMAHA FIRM GETS
SEWER CONTRACT
$56,064.44 Lowest of Five
Bids; Work to Begin
in April
An Omaha firm, che Charles
Robeck company was the suc
cessful bidder here Tuesday
when the city council opened
bids for the proposed sewerage
extension project. The firm’s fig
ure was $56,064.44—approximate
ly $5,000 below the city engin
eer’s original estimate. This will
include supplying 4,700 lineal
feet of 8-inch tile, 16.000 lineal
feet of 10-inch tile, and miscel
laneous items.
The second lowest bidder
among the five was the Chambers
Construction company, also of
Omaha, with a $57,117-20 figure.
Mayor F. J. Dishner said that
the Robeck firm would begin ac
tual work on the sewer project
about April 15, and work is ex
pected to be completed by June 1.
Meanwhile, work is progress
ing satisfactorily on the initial
try for a new city well, Mayor
Dishner said. The Kelly Well
company has reached a depth of
92-feet at a site two miles south
of the city, and there are good
indications that the well will be
satisfactory. The well, which
will have a 38-inch bottom, may
be finished this week.
tit I S VtT POST
Allan B. Connell, U. S. Em
ployment Service subdistrict
manager here lor the past year
and onc-half, has been appointed
to the Veteran’s administration.
He will leave next week for
training for his new post. His
family, however, will remain
here. Mr. Connell’s new work
will be linked with ex-GI “on
the-job” training, he said.
NORFOLKAN TO CHAMBERS
CHAMBERS—Rev. G Basil
Anderson, of Norfolk, filled the
pulpit at the Baptist church here
Sunday morning. Rev. Anderson
and Mrs. Anderson were Sunday
dinner guests in the Herman Hol
comb home.
HOLT COUNTY EDUCATION
AL NOTES
A special examination for
will be given at O'Neill on Fri
day, September 20. Applicants
should report at my office before
9 o’clock that morning.—Elja Mc
Cullough, county superintendent.
LEAVING FOR TEXAS
PAGE—Mrs. Ida Chase was
presented with a money gift by
the Royal Neighbors lodge. She
leaves soon for Texas.
2 CHANGES MADE
BY METHODISTS
Page Pastor Goes t o
Seward; Rev- Maxcy
Plans to Retire
The annual Nebraska Methodist
conference, which closed Sunday
night in Lincoln, resulted in two
and possibly three changes in Holt
county pastorates, it was an
nounced by Bishop W. C. Martin,
of Topeka, Kans., who heads the
Kansas - Nebraska Methodist
district.
Rev. Feodor C. Kattner, who has
been serving at Page, was trans
ferred to Seward. He will move
with his family this week to his
new post. The Seward charge has
500 members and has a $30,000
brick church. Rev. Carl B. Ray
burn, until recently of Beaver City,
has been named as Rev. KattnerB
successor. He is married and has
one daughter.
Rev. Eugene B. Maxcy, who has
served Inman for the past 10
years, expects to retire as soon as
a replacement is assigned. In men
tioning the new' appointments, the
conference noted that the Inman
church “would be supplied.”
Rev. Lloyd W. Mullis has been
reassigned to the O’Neill church.
Previously, however, he has served
Chambers as well as O’Neill. The
conference designated that Cham
bers "would be supplied” also.
Rev. W. C. Birmingham was re
turned to Atkinson and Green Val
ley for another year.
Rev. C. L. Carlson has been as
signed to Spencer and Bristow in
Boyd county.
Dr. John W. Ekwall, of Nor
folk, who served for six years as
superintendent of the Norfolk dis
trict, will exchange with Rev. Ev
erett E. Jackman, of Hanscom park
Methodist church, Omaha.
Among O’Neill persons attend
ing the conference were Rev. and
Mrs. Mullis, Mrs. Esther Cole Har
ris and daughter, Ruth, Mrs. A. B.
Connell and daughter Joanne. Miss
Harris is a missionary from the
Norfolk district and she will leave
in 1947 for duty in China.
H. A. Tompkins and Mrs. Eva
Murten were present at the con
ference from Inman.
Eby Home Is Scene
of Family Reunion
Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Eby en
tertained at a family dinner Sun
day in honor of Mrs. Eby’s twin
sister, Mrs. Esmond Weber, of
Page. Mr. and Mrs. Weber are
moving to Denver, Colo.
There were 17 guests, including:
Mr. and Mrs. Anton Nissen, Mrs.
Eby’s parents, Don Nissen and
children, Mr. and Mrs. Lorenz
Nissen and Otto Wahletz, all of
Page.
CLEAR GOLDEN HERE
Clear Golden, of Cheshire,
Conn., arrived Wednesday for a
week’s visit here with relatives.
He is a former O’Neill resident.
O’NEILL LOCALS
Mr- and Mrs. Edward Donlin,
of Omaha, spent the wt ekend
here visiting relatives. They re
turned Monday.
Mr. and Mrs. A. B. Roberts and
son, Paul, of Pomona, Calif., ar
rived Monday and visited Mrs
Carrie Borg. Cn Tuesday they
visited in the Meek community
with her brothers, Dan and
George Hanson, and other rela
tives.
Miss Bernadine Elkins left Sat
urday to spend a short while with
her sister, Mrs. J. Owen McCord,
at Wisner.
Mr. and Mrs. Levi Fuller and
son, George, spent the weekend in
Omaha and at the state fair at
Lincoln. Mr. Fuller’s mother, Mrs.
Maude Fuller, accompanied them.
Mrs. Arlan Kirk, of Spencer, vis
ited her father, Thomas Donlin,
and other relatives here this week.
Mr. and Mrs. Anton Nissen, of)
Page, parents of Mrs. Raymond
Eby, will move Saturday into their
new home here. It was recently I
purchased from Ted Rustemeyer.
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Regan and
daughter, Gwendolyn, and son,!
Jerry, of Omaha, left Monday aft
er visiting Mrs. Regan’s father,
Thomas Donlin, for three days.
Mrs. Carrie Borg had Mr. and
Mrs. G. A. Taylor of Winner, S.
D., for their guests at dinner Tues
day evening.
Mr. and Mrs. G. C«DeBacker had |
as their guests for the Labor day
weekend, George DeBaeker and
daughter, Mary Jo, of Warrens
burg, Mo., and Mrs. Edna Casey
and son, James, of Sioux City.
Mr. and Mrs. A. Dexter and
family spent Sunday at the W.
Shipman home near Chambers.
Mary Carney left Monday for a
two-weeks’ trip to Excelsior
Springs, Mo.
Lawrence and Harold Dexter,
sons of the A. Dexters, spent this
week visiting at the R. E. Bly
home near Amelia.
Mr. and Mrs. Bud Calvert spent
the weekend in Norfolk with Mr.
Calvert’s parents, Mr. and Mrs.
R. E. Calvert.
Biggest ‘Possibility’ i n
Niobrara River Basin,
Chamber Learns
BRIEF STUDY MADE
An engineer from the U. S. Bu
reau of Reclamation told members
of the Chamber of Commerce, at
their regular monthly dinner meet
ing in the Golden hotel Tuesday
night, that Holt county has “defi
nite irrigation possibilities” that
could grow out of the Niobrara
river valley development program.
The speaker was C. E. Burdick,
who has been conducting a prelim
inary reconnaissance of the Nio
brara basin since last July.
Mr. Burdick’s findings will go
into a report to the Reclamation
headquarters, which, in turn, may
recommend a detailed study of the
basin preparatory to making a re
port to Congress.
In his informal appearance be
fore the Chamber, at the invita
tion of President C. E. Lundgren,
Mr. Burdick said that there are
“probably 100,000 acres of Holt
county land that are irrigable.
This land,” he continued, “borders
■the city of O'Neill on the north.”
He said that it was impossible
to define the area in detail, be
cause his reconnaissance thus far
has been hurried and inadequate.
Holt Possibility Largest
“The Holt possibility,” he pre
I dieted, “is the largest in the Nio
! brara basin. The second largest,
approximately one-half as large, is
| in the Ainsworth-Long Pine region,
where water might be supplied to
approximately 50,000 acres. The
tmrd sizeable area is in the Boiling
Springs flats, southwest of Valen
tine, where over 14,000 acres may
be developed."
He believes that water for the
potential Holt district could be
drawn from the Niobrara at a
point about 15 miles east of Valen
tine, and gravity would force the
water in canals to the Holt con
sumers. The other possible areas,
however, could draw water from
the Snake river, and build a reser
voir through a chain of sandhill
lakes.
Mr. Burdick stressed the fact
that no soil studies have been
made, and that his estimates have
been based on findings of the De
partment of Agriculture, which has
described the soil in this particular
region as “sandy loam.”
Asked if gravel subsoil would
make irrigation impossible, the
reclamation engineer stated: “It
cannot be said that irrigation is
impossible where there is gravel.
. . . The Platte valley is gravel
from one end to the other, and
it is well adapted to irrigation.”
Up to Congress
Mr. Burdick predicted that “it
would require a year to a year and
a half to make the detailed sur
veys of the Niobrara basin for a
report to Congress. Then it’s up
to Congress to determine whether
or not the development should
take place.”
Asked what economic effect ir
rigation districts have had in other
sections of the state, Mr. Burdick
pointed out that “increased popu
lations” and “stabilized incomes”
have resulted, and he quoted fig
ures and cited instances where this
was true.
The Army engineers, who began
studies of the Niobrara basin in
the 1930’s, are primarily interested
in flood-control, the speaker con
tinued. The Niobrara itself has
not been a flood factor, but its
tributaries have.
Mr. Burdick believed that it
would be more economical in the
bottomlands to irrigate the small
40 to 80-acre tracts by direct ’
pumping from shallow wells than,
by using the reservoir-ditching
system.
LIONS TO LAUNCH
MEMBER DRIVE
The Lions club Wednesday
voted to launch a membership
drive under the direction of Har
ry Peterson, who has been
named membership committee
chairman. The group also decid
ed to nuet twice monthly, be
ginning in October. The meeting
dates will be the first and third
Tuesdays
The Lions will be hosts to their
wives and lady friends at a meet
ing September 24.
FATHER DIES
INMAN — Postmaster James
McMahan received word Wednes
day that his father, a resident of
Lyons, had died.
Sumner Downey, Leah Iler, Rob
ert Zeaman, Mary Zabalka, all of
O’Neill, and Martin Ithoda, of
Chadron, left Sunday to attend a
photographers’ convention in Oma
ha. They returned today (Thurs
day).
Dr. Frank Gallagher of La
Crosse, Wis., arrived Saturday to
visit his mother, Mrs. James P.
Gallagher, and his two sisters, the
Misses Hilda and Helen Gallagher.
Eleanor Delle Reising, of Gary,
Ind., left Friday after spending
three weeks with her grandmother,
Mrs. Frank Phalin.