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About The frontier. (O'Neill City, Holt County, Neb.) 1880-1965 | View Entire Issue (July 17, 1952)
Prairi eland Talk . . , Homer Campbell Makes His Mark By ROMAINE SAUNDERS v /■» ▼ mi 1 • j _ m a 1 a i a. m 1 . a 1 1 1 1 x! lolIN LUiil> J. CUl LUI Ui tilC OlUdll AU VU“ cate, I read in last week’s issue of The Frontier, is interested in doing something for the school kids of the com munity and enlisted the head push at the University of Ne braska to help him out. Don’t do it, fellows. The kids are hav ing it handed to them on every hand on a gold platter. Out of life’s storms, out of life’s strug gles and out of life’s hardship character is built. Having helped Billy Davis get The Advocate started as a cul tural medium in West Holt, I still retain mild interest. The last I heard of Billy he was with the Tribune at Oakland, Calif. But stepping back still farther through the tide of time, there was a young printer in Stuart by the name of Homer Campbell who became the author of a work on taxation that was used as a textbook in universities and translated for like purpose into European languages. Homer’s for *mal education, reading and writing, was obtained in a one-room shack that was the seat of learn ing in O’Neill. Printer, author, newspaperman with a background of pioneer struggles is how I’ve personally known Homer. Den Hunt got his meager schooling in the same one-room school that functioned where West O'Neill now begins. Before his retirement some years ago he was engaged in the insurance business and paid a salary that would be the envy of most school men. o Denny Cronin and John Weekes, both sons of pioneer parents, were pupils in that same school, Denny walking the mile and half to school. For more than 50 years he published The Frontier, a number of times served in the state legislature and for 11 years filled the post of United States marshall. John was register of the U.S. land of fice and'Jater president of the O’Neill Nat bank. Jim Donohoe, of pioneer stock, more than likely stood by a hay burner to keep from shiv ering as he recited Lorenzo’s “Addre^ to the Ro man’s.” He, too, pushed ahead in the spirit of con quest that inspired our fathers and mothers and won for himself a law degree. We address him as Judge now since he graces a judicial robe as judge of the federal court. Others who had but little formal schooling, boys and girls of fathers and mothers who faced the struggles of pioneer life, lived to adorn a place in society. Old stuff, you say. Alright—will the products of modernistic schools be able to match it? * * * If you were licked in a fight when you were a kid you haven’t forgotten the kid that licked you. Let’s hope the defeated ones at the republi can national convention take it gracefully like American patriots. At a time when there should be unity for the sake of country and home don’t turn sour. * * * A gent out at Scottsbluff got on the delega tion to the republican national convention who saw the error of his way trying to be elected to office as a democrat, while some straight shoot ing lifelong republicans didn’t make it. Such are the erratic rewards of politics. j.ne piugieasivt: p<ii ly cuau iiciu a luiivciiuuu. Result—A California gent, in jail for some infrac tions defending Harry Bridges criminally accused, heads the ticket for presidency, his running mate is a New York Negro woman. . . A fellow way up in New Hamp has a watch his dad bought during the world’s fair in Chicago in 1893. It still keeps perfect time. They don’t make them that way now. . . Germans in Berlin, Japs in New Japan, Fascists in Italy stirring up revolt, South Afri can trouble-makers, armed and mounted guards during elections in Mexico, the rumble and grum ble and roar of battle in Korea, brethren assem bled in convention with drawn daggers of mali cious scheming, and out there on a streetlight pole I see two woodpeckers in mortal combat—that elusive thing spoken of as world peace, where is it? . . Shadows move in silently above prairie land; in a moment the gold of the summer sun set is no more; night, symbolic of confused hu manity groping in darkness, settles over the land. * * * A senate committee has discovered that, and wants something done about it, in the nonfight ing jobs in the military setup there are being em ployed “five men to do the work of one.” That’s what others have concluded in looking official Washington over. And you don’t need to go to Washington, stroll around in the statehouse in Lincoln or get an eyefull of what the personnel on the city payroll do to put in the time. “Do as little a you can for as much as you can get” is the credo taken over in some of our official and military life as well as in labor union circles, al though credit is due the many honest and effi cient workers in public service. * * * Turning from the turmoil coming in from Chicago over radio and TV, we note a clothing dealer advertises men’s suits at one-half price. . . Herb Hoover has grown fat. . . A 16-year-old girl down in Mississippi hasn’t missed a minute from school since she was 6-years-old. . . Nebraska railroads are worth $ 58,367,260 for assessment purposes. . .If the world news gets your goat drive out and park by a sandhills lake. . . And there where the waters wash the sand of the shore, where green-robed valley and flower-strewn plain slope away to the hills life’s turmoil fades from the vision and we walk again in the radiant splendor of the dreams of the long ago. * # * Edward and Peter Feldhacker have their friends down in Cedar county guessing which is Ed and which is Peter. Identical twins 82 years of age. Holt county has identical twins in the persons of the Meals boys up by Atkin son and in all the years I have known them I don't yet know which is Melvin and which is Marvin, but that does not interfere with my admiration for their efficiency in operating the ranch, and I get by with saying "Hello, boys!" * * * There’s the song of robin and lark, And the flapping of wings in the sky. A dog contributes his bark And the bumblebee goes buzzing by. White clouds float through the azure on high; Leaf and sprig are stirred by a breeze— I’ve found a shade in which to lie So this doggerel ends in a wheeze. Editorial . . . Here9s How to Get It—Paving O’Neill’s streets are noticeably lacking in pavement or any form of hardsurfacing. Only streets paved are Douglas street, the main thor oughfare running east-and-west through the city, and Fourth street from the railroad stations on the south northward to the busy Benton street intersection (Holt courthouse, O’Neill public school, St. Patricks Catholic church). What paving there is in O’Neill was induced a few years ago by liberal cooperation from the federal government inasmuch as Douglas street is the route of U.S. highway 20 and South Fourth street is on the U.S. highway 281 route. They called it a federal works project. The Frontier is frequently asked by local citizens: How do you get paving? We’ve dug a bit into the procedure (while Neligh, Hartington, Wayne, Wahoo, etc., are de veloping hundreds of blocks of paving in recent years) and have come upon these facts: In order for a street or an alley to be paved in O’Neill you must have the written consent of 60 percent of the abutting resident property own ers. * This you get by taking a petition around to your neighbors who live on the same street on both sides of the one you want to pave and have them sign in favor of the paving. If 60 percent are not in favor then you might as well forget it because the law requires 60 per cent If you do get 60 percent of the abutting resi dent property owners’ consent (and it is a good idea to get the wife's name on the petition, too, if the property is in her name also) then you take your petition to the city clerk for approval by the city council. What the city council does is this: Since the petition demands that the paving be put in they act on the petition, check to see if it is true that 60 percent have signed the agreement, and then ask the city engineer to draw up plans, specifi cations and give and estimate on the entire job. After this has been completed by the city en gineer the city council then passes an ordinance creating a paving district of your street (or alley, as the case may be) and publishes a notice to bid ders in the newspaper. The law requires that this notice be published for three weeks running prior to the opening of any and all bids entered by paving contractors wanting the work. The city council then approves the lowest bid it receives and the paving work is given the green light, and the contractor goes to work pav ing your street. IT_i 1 _ - • _ _ • 1 »Ml • • • a •iwvv, me tuai .ls amucuuiig eise. jlius is wnat most people are interested in and it is easy ( enough to figure out. Say, for instance that you want the street paved in front of your house. In order to figure out how much it is going to cost you you must first know how much of your land touches the street. You can measure this with< a tape measure if you like. For every lineal foot (running foot) of land that you own that touches the street it will cost you about $6. Thus, if you have 40 feet your cost would be $240. If you have 60 feet your cost would be $600. (These figures from a neighbor ing town.) The paving you will get will be six-inch plane concrete paving, 27 feet wide. If you want reenforced concrete pavement (that is, with steel reenforcing) the cost would be higher since steel is expensive and hard to get. Realizing that there are technicalities in con nection with paving districts you may delve a > little deeper into the subject to point out that in the case where an abutting property owner does not own but, let’s say, half of two lots and some one else owns the other half of the two lots be j hind him then the cost to the abutting property owner is divided (not equally). Usually owner living next to paving pays for the paving on a sliding scale. He must pay one third of the cost of the paving for owning the first one-sixth of the lots next to the street; an additional one-fifth for the second one-sixth of the lots and an additional one-sixth for the third one-sixth of the lots he owns. The fellow owning the other half of the lots to the alley in the rear pays three-tenths of the total cost. That is the way it is divided among the prop erty owners at Wahoo. Lots extend to the alley and there are usually 10 lots in each block, but this varies in different cities. Now, in the case where there is not an alley to divide the block in half, the same situation applies just as if an alley were there. The block is divided in half and the property owners’ costs are divided the same way. Of course you can see where the man living on the corner of two paved streets is going to have to pay the most. He is assessed for paving on two sides where other property owners are assessed for only the paving in front of their i_ liUlllCd. Now, again, in case you are interested in paving that alley that runs through your block, the same €0 percent of signatures of abutting resident property owners is required by law. The procedure is the same for the city coun cil and the city engineer, but the cost is less for alley paving. The current estimate is $2.50 per running foot for abutting property owners. If the prop erty is divided by two or more owners then the cost is again divided by scale (as mentioned above). Two recently completed alley paving pro jects in Wahoo cost $1,225.90 and in another block the cost was $1,214.29. These amounts, however, were divided among the property owners on the alleys. The ac tual cost was $2.30 per running foot. We have been talking about what it is go ing to cost you to get this paving, but there is something you don’t want to overlook. A portion of this cost would be paid for by the city of O’Neill. The city would pay after proper formalities for all intersectional paving, alley approaches and, in addition, all storm drains and sewers. You can consider that somewhat of a help, no doubt. Estimating the cost of blacktopping is very dif ficult since a lot of things enter into the problem. f IFrontiIr Editorial & Business Offices: 122 South Fourth St. CARROLL W. STEWART. Editor and Publisher Established in 1880—Published Each Thursday Entered at the postoffice in O’Neill, Holt county, Nebraska, as second-class mail matter under the Act of Congress of March 3, 1879. This news paper is a member of the Nebraska Press Associa tion, National Editorial Association and the Audit Bureau of Circulations. Terms of Subscription: In Nebraska $2.50 per year; elsewhere in the United States, $3 per year; abroad, rates provided on request. All subscriptions are strictly paid-in-advance. LETTERS TO EDITOR Lincoln, Nebr. July 8, 1952 Gentlemen: We arrived home from our trip on July 3. We left Lincoln December 12, spent the winter in southern California with our daughter, Mrs. Chester M. Fow ler. The weather was not what we expected to find, but the country as a whole had been suffering with a drouth for several years so the rains and cool weather was what the country needed. On May 1 we journeyed north to Portland, Ore., and Tacoma, Wash., where we spent six weeks with our son and family. The weather was somewhat chilly for us, but you could soon forget it when you would drive around and see the roses and flowers of all kinds. We made many side trips; were in Mexico, British Columbia, Las Vegas and San Diego. Drove 10,750 miles, had one flat tire caused by nail. Went out on the southern route and came home on the central route, stopped at Buhl, Ida., and visited many of the Inman folks. Guess we can’t do without The Frontier. Enclosed find check of $2.50 for one year’s subscription. Very truly, GEO. W. DAVIES GENERAL ELECTRIC CO. Public Relations Service Division Schenectady 5, N.Y. July 7, 1952 Dear Mr. Stewart: WTiile glancing through Mr. Lang’s copy of the June 26 issue of The Frontier, I was interested in your front page story on the new make-up of the paper. Since we’ve started our new ad cam paign I have been seeing a good many weekly papers from your part of the country, and I can honestly say that The Frontier is one of the very best looking I papers that we see here. Congratulations! Sincerely yours NEIL B. REYNOLDS Rites at Atkinson for Mrs. Krska, 65 Half-Century Resident Long 111 ATKINSON — Mrs. Joseph Krska, 65, of Atkinson died Wed nesday night, July 9, at her home following a lingering illness. She was a resident of Atkinson for more than 50 years. The late Mrs. Krska was born at Utan, Saunders county, Feb ruary 24, 1887. She came to At kinson with her uncle, S. P. Rob inson, in March, 1901. She grad uated from Atkinson high school in 1906 and taught in rural schools for two yeans. She then became a store clerk. On September 18, 1917, she married Joseph J. Krska. Be tween 1940 and 1946 the Krska's owned the Wilson drug store. Funeral services were con ducted at 2 p.m. Saturday, July 12, at the Methodist church in At kinson. Survivors include: Widower; daughters—Mrs. Charles (Janice) Kohl of Nameoki, 111.; Mrs. Rob ert (Maralee) Horner and Miss Donna, both of Atkinson; sisters —Mrs. Eva T. Chambers of At kinson and Mrs. R. W. Dickerson of Butte. Miss Francie Kelley was a Sun day overnight guest at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Robert White. Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Johnson and two children of Bristow were Wednesday, July 9, guests of Mr. and Mrs. Dave Widtfeldt. Mrs. Johnson is the Widtfeldt’s daugh ter. Tune in! Voice of The Fron tier” . . . Mon., Wed., Sat., 9:45 a.m., 780 kc., WJAG. Nebraska’s Oceans Have you watched the waving oceans of wheat? The warm Nebraska wind touches the edge of the field, starting a ripple. The wave rolls on over like the swells in a sea. Soon, Nebraska’s “oceans” will be harvested. Gushers of golden grain will pour into bins all over the state. Nebraska will add another tremendous wheat harvest to the world’s market basket. All Nebraskans can well be proud of their part in feed ing the world. Nebraskans can be proud too, that their state is known for having a brewing indus try which carries on a vig orous educational campaign among its retailers. Nebras ka tavern men are known as sincere merchants who strive to conduct their places in the public interest. NEBRASKA DIVISION [United States Breicers Foundation 710 First Nat’l Bank Bldg., Lincoln - » When You & I Were Young. . . Prohibition Party Schedules Rally Charles Dorsey, Blair, Takes Homestead 50 Years Ago Mr. and Mrs. M. D. Price went to Atkinson for a short visit with Mr. Price’s parents. . . Charles Dorsey of Blair was in Holt coun ty looking for a location for a cattle ranch. He found a place and took up a homestead 12 miles southwest of O’Neill. . . Jim O’Donnell was in attendance at the ball game in Atkinson. . . Miss Ruth Evans returned from Sioux City where she visited friends. . . M. H. McCarthy purchased the Mrs. Stewart residence. . .The le gal voters of the prohibition par ty of Holt county are hereby called to meet in conventon at O’Neill. 25 Years Ago Fred Vitt is cutting his rye. He has a wonderful field and stands more than six feet high. . . Mrs. L. G. Gillespie and daughter, Margaret, spent several days writh Mr. and Mrs. Lyle Smith in Ew ing. . . A son was born to Mr. and Mrs. Merwyn French, 13 miles sonutheast of O’Neill. . . Miss Mae Keyes and brother, Patrick, drove to Chicago, 111. 10 Years Ago The business girls’ dinner was very successful. About 50 girl who serve the public congregated . . . Miss Doris Scofield spent the weekend in Omaha with Miss Doris Appleby. . . Bobby Wallace entertained 30 at a dancing party at the County club honoring his cousin Miss Wilma Buckman of Gann Valley, S.D. * —1————-~~ One Year Ago John G. Stuifbergen who was a prisoner of war in Germany dur ing World War II, was elected new commander of Simonson post 93 of the American Legion . . . Martin and Elkins of O’Neill have been elected to membership in the American Aberdeen-Angus Breeders’ association at Chicago, 111. . . Edward Bridges reached Sedro Woolley, Wash., 36 hours after leaving O’Neill via the hitch hike route. Mrs. Alton Guest at Meeting — The Golden Rod club met with Mrs. Oliver Ross on Tuesday eve ning, July 8. Eleven members and one guest, | Mrs. Elven Alton, were present. | After the regular meeting the group sang songs and a guess ing game was played. Mrs. Rich ard Minten was the winner of the game. Following the meeting Mrs. Ross served refreshments consisting of patoto salad, sand wiches and coffee. O’NEILL LOCALS Miss Deanna Webster of Al bion is a guest at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Vern Reynoldson. Mr. and Mrs. Harold Weier and family spent from Monday, July 7, until Thursday in Burlington, la., visiting friends. Mr. and Mrs. William Watson and family spent Sunday in Ord visiting friends. Mr. and Mrs. Robert White were Saturday, July 12, overnight guests at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Junior Wilson. Mr. and Mrs. William Heck and daughter of Omaha arrived in O’Neill Thursday, July 10, and are guests in the home of Mr. and Mrs Sylvester Zakrzewski and family. Monday Mr. Heck made a business trip to Norfolk. He re turned to O’Neill Monday eve ning. Miss Leona Beckwih of Emmet and Miss Cleta Murray of O’Neill, who attend Concordia college at Seward, spent the weekend with their respective parents, Mr. and Mrs. Leon Beckwith and Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Murray. Congressman Miller Plans Visit Here Nebraska’s Fourth district con gressman, Dr. A. L. Miller of Kimball, this week advised The Frontier he plans to visit Holt and Boyd counties during the con gressional recess. His tentative schedule in cludes a stop at the Boyd county fair, Spencer, on August 26 and a stopover at the Holt county fair, Chambers, on August 27. Congressman Miller spent last week in Chicago, 111., attending the 25th national republican con vention. Tune in! Voice of The Fron tier” . . . Mon., Wed., Sat., 9:45 a.m., 780 kc., WJAG. ' - MTTOgVTTyi-CT-, . 4 RICHER MILK! * “Sc^t Ut ££aw> T County Treasurer's Semi-Annual Statement HOLT COUNTY, NEBRASKA Showing Receipts, Transfers, Disbursements and Balances for Six Months Beginning January 1, 1952, and Ending June 30, 1952 _____ o Balances Receipts Transfers Transfers Disbursements Balances FUNDS: Jan. 1,1952 Jan. 1. 1952 to from other to other Jan.1, 1952 to June 30 STATE FUNDS* ' JuBe 30,1952 Funds Funds June 30' 1952 1952 General-$ 19,842.91 $ 76,972.10 $- $ 3,377.71 $ 91,910.70 $ 1,526.60 - - 16580 10984-— 45.93 213.22 16.49 Care of Insane __- 3,809.11 19,110.75 _ 875.86 21,972.49 271.51 Care of Feeble Minded-- 905.57 3,518.09 _ 159.18 4,198.69 65.79 Veterans Aid -—- 27.26 111.35 _ 32.43 86.38 19.80 Rectal Building -—.. 3,979.82 15,464.23 _ 696.12 18,455.42 292.51 School Land-—-- 1,816.20 29,208.15 __ 25,567.35 5,457.00 University Land _________- - 2,271.00 __ 2,166.00 105.00 Highway Supervision — - 9.84 1,477.72 _ _ 1,473.20 14.36 Highway Maintenance --- 71.81 17,289.28 __ 17,193.09 168.00 L*cense -—-- 65.80 477.20 _ _ 448.80 94.20 o • ?e T,Penl10n---— 1,330.23 3,098.04 _ 184.91 4.039.37 203.99 Special Bee Tax -- 40.60 6.91 _ 47.51 Tow Permits -—— - - 260.00 __ 230.00 30.00 Equalization Fees-- - 580.00 _ 580.00 _ STATE AND FEDERAL FUNDS: Old Age Assistance -_____- 7,024.08 72,604.91 33.68 ___ 77,450.03 2,212« » Aid, Dependent Children -- 1,753.73 23,876.13 __ 12.00 24,931.43 686.43 --21580 3,632.80 -"- 3,573.20 275.40 CWNTY FUNDSEXPenSe - 21°" 8,269.07 - 21.68 7,060.55 1,397.83 ^en,eral --—- 59,988.23 43,144.96 15,008.71 _ 51,521.29 66,620.61 Pn~.ge - 25,889.90 28,947.18 24,613.57 30,223.51 Poa° “:_77T-—- 55,711.61 81,949.58 -- 55,658.56 82,002.63 Road - Bridge - 14,710.26 8,883.53 11,600.03 11,993.76 Mail Route —---- 13,553.97 27,315.39 29,987.30 10,882.06 Soldiers and Sailors Relief - 1,932.38 281.23 ___ 2 213 61 Unemployment Relief -- 12,599.46 982.19 __' 5,637.66 7943 99 «fu ——:- 54137 1,899.27 521.00 i;9l9.64 Mothers Pension ______- 1,072.12 ___ _ _ 1 07212 Delinquent Tax Fund __ 29.91 _ _ * oQ Qi Court House Bond (Bonds All Paid)_ 17.40 2.98 ___20 38 Inheritance Tax - 20,815.99 3,377.46 _' 93.42 24,10003 Advertising -- 214.40 64.30 _ 278.70 Miscellaneous Fees -- 251.65 775.50 _ 1,027.15 _ Drivers License - 842.98 29.30 _* 1.13 871.15 Partial Payment - 320.31 409.30 __ 439.35 290.26 Interest on Investment - 15,800.27 2,187.50 _ ___ 17,987.77 Tax Sale Foreclosures _ 4,154.23 ____ ___ 4’l54!23 Noxious Weed- 2,391.25 24.60 ___2,415.85 Tax Sale Redemption - - 256.85 _ _ 256.85 School Land Improvem’t Fd. -- 18,530.04 __ 13,458.79 5,071.25 Social Security - - 1,653.37 _ _ 1,653.37 _ TOWNSHIP FUNDS: General- 47,800.08 35,018.05__ 3,455.69 1,600.20 55,034.00 29,639.62 Library- 2,214.22 1,548.29 - 63.19 2,730.00 969.32 Poll Tax_ 2,478.50 1,047.71 _ 3,526.21 __ Fire District No. 1 - 785.20 2,310.50 _ 97.21 3,065.00 O.D. 66.51 Fire District No. 2 - 137.35 231.18 1 7.37 334.47 26.69 SCHOOL FUNDS: General_ 243,226.08 222,495.20 61,771.12 9,909.59 301,200.67 216,382.14 Bond and Coupon- 10,494.72 4,606.11 89.74 4,765.00 10,246.09 Free High School_ 62,199.35 33,628.31 2,317.85 785.76 90,507.57 6,852.18 Fines and Licenses _ --• - 2,380.00 - 2,380.00 __ Estray_ 207.27 207.27 _ _ State Apportionment _ 57,208.04 57,208.04 __ Miscellaneous- 1,975.81 1,975.81 __ Blanket School - 55,103.26 40,166.74 2,873.20 _ _ 98,143.20 VILLAGE FUNDS: General _ 18,261.17 37,910.79 3,969.61 760.02 48,470.00 10,911.55 ! Water Bonds and Coupons - 17,490.36 4,988.10 86.79 14.744.45 7,647.22 Funding Bonds and Coupons - 999.06 439.00 7.17 33.00 1,397.89 Sewer Bonds and Coupons- 10,538.44 11,077.47 217.67 10,087.50 11,310.74 ! Electric Light Revenue Bd. - - 350.00 - - 350.00 _ Ball Park Bond and Coupon - 261.47 559.40 - 10.21 __ 810.66 Gas Tax __ _ 2,353.36 - 2,353.36 ___ _ Poll Tax __ 946.20 686.38 _ 1,632.58 __ $745,042.70 $ 960,239.81 $ 89,429.86 $ 89,429.86 $ 1,028,313.90 $676,968.61 Balance Jan. 1, 1952 - 745,042.70 Balance June 30, 1952 - 676,968.61 1,705,282.51 # $ 1,705,282.51 Bank Balances_$461,187.91 UNALLOWED CLAIMS ON FILE IN COUNTY CLERK'S Cash and Checks in Office_ 40,780.70 OFFICE JUNE 15. 1952 Invested in Gov’t Bonds - 175,000.00 General-$ 573.06 - Bridge-2,178.63 June 30, 1952, Balance-676,968.61 Road- 3,349.40 • Road - Bridge __53.55 STATE OF NEBRASKA, COUNTY OF HOLT ss. ; It j. Ed Hancock, County Treasurer of Holt County, Nebraska, do solemnly swear that the foregoing statement is true and cor rect to the best of my knowledge and belief. J. ED HANCOCK, County Treas. Subscribed and sworn to before me this 10th day of July, 1952. (SEAL) RUTH HOFFMAN, County Clerk • '*■