PAGE THE FRONTIER, O
II1TI ■IITOllCIl IOCIITT
An object of great interest in
the State Historical Society’s
museum in the state capitol is
the hay-burner stove presented
to the society in 1934 by E. H.
Bush, of Tecumseh.
The hay burner, as much as
any article of equipment used in
old Nebraska, testifies to the in
genuity of those people who
pioneered the plains.
Fuel was one of the stern
necessities of life. In many areas
wood, the conventional fuel, was
scarce, if not altogether unob
tainable For a time cow chips
were used in certain parts of
the state, but as the ranching
area pushed westward, it was
necessary to find other material.
The next best thing was the
wild prairie hay which grew so
abundantly in Nebraska.
Hay was never wholly sa
tisfactory as fuel. It was a
good starter, but at the same
lime a quick burner. Various
devices were invented to twist
the hay into reasonably solid
sticks, but the best of these
were only moderately success
ful.
To make more effective use of
the native fuel, hay-burning
stoves were invented. The one
in our museum is of the maga
zine type. It is similar to an
ordinary cook stove except that
it has two pipes about 30 inches
long opening into the fire box. A
spring on one end of the pipe
pushes the hay into the fire box
as it is burned. According to
those who used the stove, it had
to be stuffed with hay almost
constantly.
Another type of hay-burning
stove was the “Mennonite Grass ,
Burner.” This was of brick and
much more elaborate than the
ordinary stove. It was claimed
that this stove needed to be fed
only twice a day. Despite this,
it never was widely used. It is
quite probable that the cost was
prohibitive.
A difficult problem connected
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THEATER I
O'NEILL
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THURSDAY - JAN. 27
Donald O’Connor and Ma
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—Marjorie Main and Percy
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in
Feudin/ Fussin*
and a-Fightin’
with Penny Edwards and
Joe Besser.
A dm.: 42c. plus tax 8c, to
tal 80c; children 10c, plus
tax 2c, total 12c.
★ ★ ★
FRIDAY - SATURDAY -
JAN. 28 - 29
Big Double Bill
. Lynee Roberts and Charles
Drake in
Winter
Wonderland
60 minutes laughter and
music.
— also —
Johnny Mack Brown in
Under Arizona
Skies
Thrills, hard riding, trouble
shooting
Adm. 42c. plus tax 8c. To
m 80e — Children 10c.
pha tax 2c. total 12c.
Matinee Saturday 2:30
★ ★ ★
SUNDAY - MONDAY -
TUESDAY - JAN. 30-31
FEB. 1
Barbara Stanwyck and Burt
Lancaster oin
Sorry, Wrong
Number
with Ann Richards, Wendell
Corey, and Harold Vermil
yea.
Joan Crawford says: “It
left me breathless! Barbara
j Stanwyck’s performance de
serves nomination for the
Academy Award!”
The prize-winning radio
suspense drama that thril
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2:30, Adm. 42c. plus tax
8c. total 50c — Children
10c. plus tax 2c, total 12c.
Neill, Nebr., January 27, 1949^
with the use of any hay-burning
stove was the storage of fuel.
Great quantities were used each
day and to find room in the
small soddies to store an ade
quate supply presented great
difficulties. In addition, the pres
ence of large amounts of hay
greatly increased the danger
from fire.
It is little wonder that each
stick of wood was cherished and
used with the greatest care.
State Capitol News j
Taxes appear to be the main ■
problem before the 61st Nebr
aska legislature now in ses
sion.
Growing sentiment is' report
ed that the property tax can
not support many more de
mands, and that new sources
of income must be provided.
Sen. Dwight Burney, of Hart
ington, and Sen. William Metz
Ser, of Cedar Creek, signed a
ill to levy a two percent sales
tax. Burney wants to leave the
field of income taxes to the
federal government, support
State government with the esti
mated 20 million dollar an
nual revenue from the sales
tax, and allow local govern- i,
ments and school districts a [
clear field with the property
tax. *
In that way, he said, local '
citizens are given a close i
check rein on their taxes.
I 1
Metzger said he wants the
proposed sales tax held un
till the all—important bud- i
get bill is ready and the sen- I
ators can see exactly what |
the financial situation is. If
much additional money is
needed, he said, the bill
should be passed. If the leg- j 1
islature is able to "hold the
line" of government spend
ing during the 1949—51 bein
nium, Metzger said, then the
legislation should be killed.
I
Sen. Lester Anderson, of i
Aurora, changed horses in mid
stream Last month he an
nounced he had decided to
sponsor a two percent sales
tax bill. He said he was con
vinced it was the answer to
Nebraska’s financial ills.
But this week he said he
had changed his mind. In- ;
vestigation convinced him, An
derson said, that a sales tax
“is a poor man’s tax which
would rob persons on state as
sistance rolls of $500,000 to $L- 1
000,000 a year.
He said he will introduce a
state income tax bill, probab
ly next week. Anderson said
thousands of wealthy Nebr- I
askans live on the income from
bonds and securities, owning
no property which can be made !
to share the load of financing
state government.
“These are the fellows who
can and should help pay the
added taxes we need,” he said
Anderson estimated his in
come tax legislation would pro- !
vide $10,000,000 to $15,000,000 a
year.
Other legislators are hopeful
some solution will present it
self which will eliminate the
need for either new tax. In
creasing present levies and fees
would be preferable to these
lawmakers.
The 1947 legislature tried
that approach and boosted
liquor taxes sharply. Revenue
from this source is consider
ably smaller this year than
last, a fact Chairman Richard
Brega of the state liquor con
trol commission attributes at
least partially to the higher
taxes.
The matter of aiding Nebr
aska's needy citizens un
doubtedly will be another
thorn in the unicameral's
side. Legislation boosting
maximum monthly assistance
grants to the ages from SS0
to $60 a month,’ and to $70
for the blind, sailed through
the public health committee
without a hitch, but ran into
trouble on the floor of the
legislature.
Sen. Norris Schroeder, of
Hoskins, served notice he will
try to kill the bills. He argued
there is no ceiling now on as- 1
sistance payments, since needs
beyond the $50 ceiling are met
from state—county funds.
Sen Arthur Carmody, of
Trenton, argued that needs still
are unmet for 20 percent of those
on the old age assistance rolls. 1
and that all would benefit under
liberalized grants. The extra !
money will be spent in the state, j
he said, at the corner grocery !
and drug store.
Schroeder called this a phil
osophy of "attempting to spend
ourselves into prosperity. We
have seen this tried, and we all
know the results.”
Further debate is scheduled
for January 31.
Valentine Rancher Don Han
na is sponsoring another of the |
perennials: a bill to permit the
state to serve oleo instead of
butter at state institutions. The
board of control estimated this
would have saved Nebraska $55.
000 last year.
Hanna Is prepared for oppo
ion that the legislation would be
a blow to dairymen and the
state’s economy. But he said law
MONEY TO LOAN
ON
AUTOMOBILES
TRUCKS
TRACTORS
EQUPTMENT
FTJRNTTURE
CENTRAL FINANCE
CORP.
C. E. JONES. Manager
O'NEILL NEBRASKA
Correspondent Writes: 'We Walk Over
Gates and Fences; So Do Hogs and Cattle’
(Editor's note: Mrs. Henry Reimers, who lives in Wheeler
county southwest of Ewing, is a newcomer among The Fron
tier’s rural correspondents. In casual conversation with The
Frontier we sensed a representative running story of the Re
curing Blizzards of 1949. The article that follows was solicit
ed from Mrs. Reimers:)
By MRS. HENRY REIMERS
Special Correspondent
When asked to write a story of the blizzard we thought (or
hoped) the subject would soon be ancient history. However,
there’s a new storm raging outside now—Sunday, January 16.
We’ve just heard that all country roads are blocked and highways
are blocked, too. We’ve been "snowed in” most of the time since
November 17. That was such a lovely Spring-like day. We at
tended project club in Clearwater not knowing it was our last
trip for many days.
The ilorm struck with a terrible force early on November
18. By 10 a. m. the roads were blocking. The snow came so
fast and with such a strong wind one could hardly see. About
24 inches fell that time. People were marooned, one teacher
was forced to stay in the school from Thursday morning until
someone found her on Saturday.
One family—father, mother and two children—were marooned
ibout three miles from home and they were forced to stay at the
lome of a neighbor for seven days.
Our mail came to our box on Novembere 18. That is the last
imp for these two months.
Our mail has been coming to Hupp’s store, four miles away,
’rom December 28 until January 13—16 days—we had no mail ex
cept that brought in by plane, and none was delivered except that
arried by horses to the store and taken out by plane.
For over two weeks we’ve had no roads North, East, South or
Vest. The stork was hovering over a home so the husband left
jy team and wagon at 7:20‘ a. m. one morning for the store four
niles away to order a plane. At noon the stork had not arrived
>ut the plane had. The patient was hesitant about taking her
irst ride in a plane, so we dashed off through the snow knee
leep to see her off. The plane landed Vi mile away so we waded
hrough snow to see her off. However, the husband arrived just
n time to say goodbye.
The baby was two-weeks-old before the daddy was able
to get to town to see her.
A man was found dead near Bartlett recently. He had been
lead for over a week.
Our daughter, a senior at Bartlett high school, arrived home
from school on December 21, just before another storm. There
was to be a one-week vacation, but she stayed three weeks. On
Friday horses were used to get out to Hupp’s from there to O’
Neill where she took a bus to Bartlett, a trip of about 100 miles
'arther than necessary. It is actually only 24 miles to Bartlett.
Feeding the livestock has been a major problem on farms
md ranches. The storm came so early that about one-third of the
;orn was in the fields. There’s so much snow the stock can’t eat
•ornstalks. Some winrowed the hay. It is under three feet of
mow. The snow has become so deep that, horses can hardly
walk without a load. Only a small amount can bo hauled. The
tracks blow full most everyday. A number of cattle were lost
during the first storm. Many have cattle and hogs ready for
market but no truck can come out. Cattle can be heard bawling
day and night. Several ranchers have hundreds of cattle. Some
purchased large caterpillar tractors for hay hauling.
The farm produce has been piling up. One family has cream
in every available crock, fruit can, etc. They have eggs in
clothesbaskets. There has been just one produce truck out here
since November 17.
Fuel is running short, too. Why is it the fuel oil barrel and
wood pile are always low when a storm hits? Those with oil
burners have to load them on a wagon and go to the nearest sta
tion several miles. Those burning wood, as we do, have a prob
lem. Wood is covered with snow and if one cuts any it is al
most impossible to move through deep snow. Right now we’re
wishing for some coal but it can’t be carried in a plane and roads
are impassable.
One of the neighbor’s horses left during the first storm. It
was found last week at the home of a farmer who had lost one
of his and was using the stray.
The road from Ewing, 14 miles away, was opened to the coun
ty line Thursday but we’re still three miles from that. (It is
blowing full today.)
Quite a few haven’t had provisions since December 20. A
number got out Friday and Saturday and some can’t get home.
Mr and Mrs. John Kaster and three girls are marooned in .Clear
water. They went to town on Saturday and the roads became
blocked. Henry Trunnepohl is also “snow in” at Clearwater, his
wife is at the farm home alone. They called for a plane but it’s
too windy and stormy to fly.
Our rural teacher has been forced to take three weeks’ va
cation. Our daughter, who walks over three miles every day,
frosted her feet before Christmas. The school program had to be
postponed.
Since our meat supply ran out, we were forced to eat Elay
ne's pet duck, for Christmas dinner. Some of our Christmas
packages are still in town. We received some last week. We
were forced to spend Thanksgiving, Christmas, Elayne birth
day and Henry's birthday alone.
A neighbor purchased a new plane. He, his wife and daugh
ter make trips to various towns. They bring mail, groceries and
take passengers if necessary. The income tax reports required
several trips Perhaps some good was accomplished by all this.
People have gotten acquainted with their neighbors and helped
each other. We ladies have caught up on our sewing and fancy
work; the men have had time to read.
There is plenty of ice for ice cream. The children love that.
We’ve been unable to have church for two months. Quite a
number of the radio batteries are giving out. A radio is such a
comfort these days. Our telephone has been out since November
18. We haven’t been able to get central. We can talk on our
party line though. When it gets crossed up with two or three
other lines it is really very interesting. When one person gets a
call, it isn’t unusual for four or five to join in on the conversation
when you haven’t seen, anyone for two months.
We’ve had betw-een 50 and 60 inches of snow in all. We can
walk over the gates and fences and so do the hogs and cattle.
Our little country store has been a great comfort. But with
no roads for over two weeks it is out of flour, potatoes and yeast.
However, the supply was replenished recently.
Meanwhile, we must count our blessings. We hope no one
gets sick and next Summer it will seem like a bad dream.
requires margerine sold in this ;
state to contain at least 50 per
cent animal fat, and said the j
law to protect the dairymen is
comparable to taxing grapefruit
grown outside Nebraska.
Gov. Val Peterson announced
he has reappointed all state de
partment chiefs except Neil
Vandemoer, head of the assist- j
ance program Vandemoer has
served on a month-to-month
basis ever since Peterson took
office in 1947.
William H. Diers, of Gresh
am, war. reappointed to the
board of control for a six
year term. Ross D. Rash, of
Gordon, was named to the
board’s assistance advisory
committee for the term end
ing July 15, 1951. replacing
Ralph A. Baker, of Valentine.
Patrick F. Payne, of Omaha,
and Harry Peck, of Lincoln,
were appointed to the board of
directors of the state safety
council. The latter three ap
pointments are not subject to
confirmation- by the legisla
ture, which must approve the
others.
Department chiefs reappoint
ed were Rufus M. Howard, ag
riculture director; Donald P.
Miller, labor commissioner; J.
F. McLain, banking director;
Bernard Stone, insurance di
rector; E C Iverson, state fire
marshal; Fred H. Klietsch, state
engineer; Philip K. Johnson, tax
comisisoner; Dr W. S. Petty,
state health director; Henry
Bartling, secretary of the board
of educational lands and funds.
Visit at Columbus _
REDBIRD—Louis Horndorf
and Peter More went to Colum
bus on business early Sunday,
going by rail via Lynch and
Norfolk Mr. More spent Mon
day and Tuesday returning.
Murphy Rites
Held at Page
PAGE—Funeral services were
held Wednesday, January 12, for
James L. Murphy, who died at
Stromsburg.
Rev. T. O. Brownfield had
charge of the services. Mrs. T.
O. Brownfield, soloist, accom
panied by Mrs. John Lamason,
sang “Rock of Ages,” “Leaning
on the Everlasting Arm” and
“Does Jesus Care?"
Pallbearers were: Alton Brad
dock, Herbert Stevens, Harold
Heiss, Harry Harper, Raymond
Heiss, Soren Sorensen, Oscar
Reed and Merwyn French.
Relatives from away attend
ing the services were: Mr. and
Mrs. Walter French and daugh
ter, of Stromsburg, Mr. and
Mrs. William Thompson, of Nor
folk, Mr. and Mrs. J. Lowell
Murphy and Mr. and Mrs. Rus
sell Sorensen, of Plainview, Dr.
and Mrs. O. W. French and Miss
Alice French, all of O’Neill.
Other Page News
Duran Rutherford stayed at
the Mrs. Dora Townsend home
with his mother, Mrs. Della
Rutherford, while Mrs. Town
send visited her sister, Mrs.
Myrtle Fleming, at Ewing.
Mr. and Mrs. L. B. Taylor and
Mrs. C. A. Townsend went to
Norfolk Wednesday, January 19.
where they attended the fun
eral of their niece, Mrs. Jus
tin Fritz, the following day.
Richard Trowbridge, Mr. and
Mrs. Robert Stevens, Mrs. C. G.
Shane and Miss Jean Woods
came from Lincoln Friday,
January 14, to spend the week
end with relatives here. They
had to wait until Monday, Janu
ary 17. to return because of the
blocked roads.
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Stevens
have moved to Lincoln where
they both have employment.
Mrs. Jennie French, Mrs. Ar
chie Treadway and Miss Alice
French were dinner guests Sat
urday of Mr. and Mrs. Alton
Braddock, honoring the birth
day anniversary of Miss French.
Wilson Lamason, Garry Ban
ta, Sterling Albright and Jack
Hartman accompanied Supt.
John Lamason to his farm on
Saturday where they hauled
hay and helped with chores.
They all walked to Page Sun
day and were joined on the way
by Carroll French and Norman
and Judith Trowbridge.
Mr. and Mrs. Ray Niesus and
sons and Mr. and Mrs. Herbert
Kirschmer have returned from
a visit with relatives in Califor
nia.
Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Parks
spent January 15 and 16 in
Norfolk with Mr. and Mrs. El
win Stevens. Kenneth Stevens,
of Omaha, who had spent a week
at the Elwin Stevens home, ac
companied them to Page.
MRS. TAYLOR DIES
DELOIT—Mrs. Clint Taylor
died recently in California. She
has been a resident of the De
loit community.
Miss Althea Hamman, a
teacher at Page, was a guest
Wednesday and Thursday, Jan
uary 19 and 20, at the home
: of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Wells.
WJAG . . . 780 on your dial!
When You and I Were Young —
Coal Discovered in Boyd County
‘Appears to Be of Paying Quantity’
65 YEARS AGO
January 15. 1884
Rev. W. F. Eastman, who re
sides at the new town of Rich
mond, four miles East and
eight miles North of Atkinson,
was a caller at our office Sat
urday. Mr. Eastman is the Con
gregational missionry for Holt
county and preaches at present
at Richmond, Minola, and near
the Parker postoffice on the
Redbird, 12 miles from O’Neill,
at the latter place he organ
ized a Congregational church
on December 30, 1883, with a
membership of 13, all of dif
ferent denominations. They are
moving to build a new church.
“Hank’’ McEvony yesterday
presented to the “honorable
board of county commission
esr,’’ a petition, numerously
signed by the citizens of O’
Neill, praying that a bridge be
built across the Elkhorn river
on the section line between 32
and 33 in this township. The
point is near Hank’s house, at
what is known as his ford.
The vigilanters were in
Niobrara last Thursday with
Kid Wade, and two other
parties whom they arrested
at Springfield, Dakota. It is
reported that they have taken
the kid to Brown county.
The creamery company has
; built an ice house and are put
| ting up the congealed water.
M. E. Tierney has the contract
and Andy Mulligan is packing
the ice,
54 YEARS AGO
January 17. 1895
Mrs. Lee Hershiser met with
3uite a severe accident Tues
ay. She had been visiting at
Mrs. Hick’s over the meat
market, and on going down
the steps slipped and fell to
the bottom. She was picked up
and carried home. It was then
learned that with the excep
tion of some bruises sustained
in the fall, she was uninjured.
It was a very fortunate es
cape.
A telegram was received
from Calumet, Mich., Saturday
announcing the death at that
place of Patrick Kelly, a broth
er of Con, John and Jerry
Kelly, who reside about three
miles Northeast of this city.
Jerry intended to go and at
tend the funeral, but as he
could not reach Calumet be
fore Tuesday noon he received
Perrigo Optical |
I Company
♦ FRED M. PERRIGO. O. D. !:
| JOHN N. GUNNING. O. D. ||
I Optometrists
1416 Norfolk Avenue
Phone 330 Norfolk, Nebr. U
a telegram stating that they
could not keep the remains
that long, and he did not go.
George Pfunder, father of J.
F. Pfunder, died at the resi
ence of his son, in this city,
last Saturday, aged 85 years.
Deceased had been sick about
one month; his death resulting
from old age. The funeral took
place Sunday afternoon at nine
o clock and the remains were
interred in the Protestant
cemetery.
43 YEARS AGO
January 11. 1906
Coal has been discovered in
Boyd county oh the farm of
Joseph KLasnn, four miles
West of Gross. It is said that
the vein appears to be a pay
ing quantity one, and it is
hoped by the citizens of that
section that the prediction will
prove true. Coal has been
found in other sections of that
county.
Gamblers are getting a
touch of the law in other
towns than O'Neill. .Down at
Fremont the other day five
of the profession were nab
bed in the police net, three
of them being fined $25
each and the other two $50
each, with trimmings.
William Gielish, who lives
about two and a half miles
i Northwest of this city, had the
misfortune to lose his house
and household goods by fire
I last Saturday night. Mr. Gielish
was not at home at the time
and his family are unable to
account for the origin of the
fire which started in the base
ment and gained such head
way before being discovered
that it was impossible to save
any of the contents. Mr. Gie
lish says his loss is about $750
with no insurance.
Campaign Begun —
PAGE — The Imp^ivement
club voted at its last meeting
to sponsor the March of Dimes
campaign this year. Members
had a threatre party followed
by lunch at Cope’s cafe last
Thursday evening.
We Are Now Able To
Offer . . .
REPAIR SERVICE
for the following Reels:
• Shakespeare
• South Bend
• Bronson
• Ranger
Pflueger Expected
Soon !
Bob’s Sport Shop
Sportsmen's Headquarters
Jonas Furniture Bldg.
— O'NEILL —
CONSUMERS PUBLIC POWER DISTRICT
HAS MET EVERY BOND AMD INTEREST
PAYMENT ON SCHEDULE
FOLLOW!' TG its established
policy ot retiring its bonds
and paying interest on or before
schedule, Consumers Public Power
District retired $591,000 of its
bond* January 1, 1949. This
brought the total of bonds retired
during the year to $1,217,000
In addition to the $1,217,000 of
bonds retired, and payment ot all
■Merest due during the year, Con'
turners alto paid $315,677.40 tor
taxes m communities in 71 Ne
braska counties
Over $4,000,000 of imp-ove'
merits to electric facilities we c
completed during the year in dne
face of extremely increased costs,
and yet the District was able to
mamtain the low rates which saved
•icctac Mecca $1,107,000 compared
to electric rates in effect when
Consumers Public Power District
began operation.
These specific 'items represent
definite benefits to Nebraska elec'
trie users and ate typical of the
advantages Public Power has
brought to Nebraska.
Thus, through hi established
paya^you'go policy, Consumer*
Public Power District centimes to
pay its way whh Nebraska and
Nebraskans enjoy the electrical
advantages k provides.