* “ “ “" .SHOPPERS
Santa Claus has come to town, his great
bag overflowing with glittering, glgamorous
and useful things for giving; his eyes twink
ling a heart warming invitation for everyone
to lose no time in coming to O’Neill to see his
wonderful collection of gifts.
Santa Claus came to town very early in
deed this year—far in advance of the exciting
holiday itself—to give everyone the best pos
sible oportunity to choose what they will give
their loved ones and friends with care and
consideration.
Santa Claus has come to town so early
that none need lack the chance to make the
1952 yuletide the most perfect in all history
for their friends and loved ones. There are 12
full shopping days until Christmas.
A great corps of assistants has unloaded
the contents of his overflowing gift pack,
spread them on gaily bedecked counters and
shelves in stores of our city, to await your
admiring inspection.
Show windows scintillate with myriad
suggestions for giving that you will find mul
tiplied tenfold inside the stores themselves.
The Chamber of Commerce retail trade
committee has announced that O'Neill stores
will be open until 9 Thursday evenings,
December 11 and 18, and Monday and Tues
day evenings, December 22 and 23, in addi
tio to the customary Saturday evenings. On
Saturday evenings, however, the stores are
open until 10.
We must mention here that Ol’ Santa will
greet the smallfrv in O’Neill at 2 p.m., on Sat
urday, December 20. He customarily buzzes
here by airplane, boards a fire truck at the
airport, and greets his young admirers at the
O’Neill public school auditorium. He’ll have a
corps of helpers and there’ll be goodies for the
youngsters.
And this special issue of your favorite
newspaper—The Frontier—is brought to you
with the cooperation of Old St. Nick and his
assistants to give you a preview of his collec
tion and to help you chart your course through
the Christmas gift wonderland that awaits you.
There are several reasons, especially im
portant this year, why Christmas gift shopping
should be started without delay.
The postoffice will be burdened with its i
greatest yule mail volume in history. Weather
has been wonderful and the early shopper can
still enjoy grand weather for shopping.
This issue of The Frontier—our 7th annual
Christmas gift-shopping issue—enters virtual
ly every rural home in Holt and Boyd counties
as well as all the city and town homes where
this paper is a weekly visitor. Circulation this
issue exceeds 3,800 copies.
In its columns this week you’ll find gift
suggestions galore from the leading stores in
north-Nebraska.
Ol’ Santa has dumped his pack in O’Neill.
.Hurry in, won’t you?
—THE PUBLISHER.
“voice —--^ 24 PAPF^
OF THE FRONTIER” _ d A^JL^3
Frontier m
non |. „ -- SECTION 3
780 *• c* Pages 31-24
North-Central Nebraska’s BIG Newspaper
v “
Volume 72.—Number 32. O’Neill, Nebr., Thursday, December 1 1, 1952. Seven Cents,
Music-Lovers Await
• (Messiah9 Presentation
■ - <
George Frederick H a n d e l’s
crowning masterpiece, the sacred
and immortal Christmas hymn,
‘■Messiah,” will be presented by
the O’Neill Civic chorus at 3 p.m.,
Sunday, December 14, in the O’
Neill public school auditorium.
The chorus is under the direction
of Charles B. Houser.
This marks the second annual
presentation of the oratorio with
its message of “Glory to God.”
The chorus erf 50 voices is to be
assisted this year by Mrs. Clara
Peacock, soprano; Mrs. Phyllis
Johnson Loy, alto; R. W. John
son, tenor, and John L. Schwartz,
bass. .
The chorus, a strictly non
profit volunteer organization, is
made up of people from O’Neill
and surrounding communities
•who enjoy the chance to meet
and sing. A cultural asset to the
O’Neill community, the chorus
gives these talented people a
chance for creative expression
which many have missed since
their graduation from college or
high school.
Much credit for the work of
the chorus goes to the accom
panist and assistant conductor,
James G. Bastian, jr. He has
given freely of his time in the
evenings, Saturdays and Sun
days to work with soloists and
to prepare the difficult accom
paniment for this Sunday s
performance.
During rehearsals on Monday
and Wednesday evenings, Mr.
Bastian coached the tenor and
bass sections as the chorus spent
this time in hour and half long
sectional rehearsals. Mr.. Bas
tian, vocal music teacher in the
O’Neill public school, spent the
past summer in graduate study at
Northwestern university, Evan
ston, 111., where he studied with
the head of the piano depart
ment.
O’Neill is indeed fortunate to
have the services of John L.
Schwartz, Atkinson band direc
tor, as bass soloist. Mr. Schwartz
sang the bass solos with the Alli
ance community chorus in 1951.
A graduate of the University
of Nebraska, Mr. Schwartz ma
jored in piano, studied voice
with Dale Ganz. sang with the
University Singers, played vio
lin in the University Symphony
orchestra and flute in the Uni
versity band.
The O’Neill Chamber of Com
merce has again consented to un
derwrite expenses for music and
incidentals as it did in 1951.
No admission is to be charged.
Since April 13, 1742, when the
“Messiah” was first performed at
the Music hall in Fishamble
Street, Dublin, Ireland, with the
composer conducting, audiences
the world over have been pro
foundly moved by this majestic
music, so appropriate to the
Christmas season.
A custom was established by
King George II of England, con
nected with the stirring “Hal
lelujah Chorus.” When the ring
ers burst into the famous chorus,
the king was so moved that he
spontaneously stood up in his
box, beginning a tradition that
persists to this day whenever this
glorious music is rendered.
_
‘Fatima’ Film
Coming to Royal
“The Miracle of Fatima,” a
Warner Bros, color film which is
receiving widespread attention,
has been scheduled at the Royal
theater here Sunday, Monday and
Tuesday, December 14, 15 and 16,
according to Mrs. Georgia Ras
ley, manger.
The film stars Gilbert Roland
and Susan Whitney, an 11-year
old starlet.
Mrs. Rasley has announced re
vised admission charge for this
show only—adults, $1; children
over 12, 50 cents; children under
12, 25 cents. These prices in
clude the tax. Children under 12
will not be admitted free at this
picture when accompanied by
parents, Mrs. Rasley said. Or
dinarily children under 12 are
admitted free when with parents.
(The admission prices quoted in
the advertisement on page 5 are
in error.)
The three-day showing of the
“Fatima” film will begin with a
matinee Sunday at 2:30 p.m.
The grade and high schools of
St. Mary’s academy and O’Neill
public school were guests of Mrs.
Rasley for a film, “Dickens’
Christmas Carol,” shown in the
morning and afternoon on Wed
nesday at the Royal.
Unemployment Highest
Since May, 1952 —
{NORFOLK—The count of em
ployment office job seekers on
December 1 was 197, a gain of
130 per cent over the number ap
plying for work on the first day
of November.
This is the highest level of un
employment registered with the
Norfolk employment office since
May, 1952 but is aproximately
15 percent under the count one
year ago. About 23 percent of
the job seekers were women, and
27 per cent were veterans.
Shortage of fully qualified
workers continued in some im
portant occupations.
Hershiser Eected
IOOF Noble Grand —
The Elkhorn Valley IOOF
lodge, 57, met in regular session
last week with a large attend
ance. The meet was the election
of officers for the coming year.
They are:
Francis Hershiser, noble grand;
Elmer DeVall, vice grand; Clav
Johnson, jr., secretary; John C.
Watson, treasurer; Lowell John
son, trustee (2-year-term); Dar
rel Baker, trustee (3-year-term).
After the meeting a lunch was
served including ice cream, cook
ies and coffee made by John Wat
son.
It is believed that railroad
sleeping cars were first used in
1873 in England.
> XXX
SOLOISTS
• • • bsss#
Strausser Facing
Kidnapping Charges
Prosecution Fixing
Route of Flight
A parade of witnesses filed in
and out of the Custer county,
S.D., courtroom at Custer, S.D.,
as the prosecution attempted to
establish the route taken by Sher
wood Franklin Strausser on a
flight with a 14-year-old girl.
The man, who is facing kidnap
ping charges, and the girl, Ruby
Pond, spent Thursday, Septem
ber 11, in O'Neill.
Principal witnesses were Ne
braska po.ice officers connected
with Strausser's arrest Septem
ber 13 and a Sidney, Nebr., phy
sician who examined Ruby.
A number of other witnesses
testified to having seen Strausser
and the 14-year-old girl whom
the defense has maintained was
never forced to accompany him
against her will.
Capt. William Rezac, police cap
tain at Sidney, told of having ar
rested Strausser. Rezac said he
thought it was strange Strausser
should call him on the telephone
for assistance in moving his car
when he was wanted by the po
lice. The policeman said Ruby
was reluctant to sneak.
Corroborating some of Rezac’s
testimony was Sol Willis, Sidney
police chief. He said Ruby had
told him she and her sister, Jo
Ann, had been picked up by
Strausser while getting the cattle.
Testimony concerning a physi
cal examination of the girl, or
dered by Custer county States
Attorney Floia Hoagland, was
taken from Dr. Jason B. Roche of
Sidney
The physician said his exam
ination wou’d lead him to say
Ruby had been molested. The
examination took place the
night of September 13, shortly
after Strausser's arrest.
The state case was nearing its
end Monday.
The girl sat in an O’Neill beau
ty parlor most of the afternoon
the duo spent in O’Neill. Mr.
Strausser, however, always lin
gered nearby.
The fact that they had stopped
here was learned when Strausser
passed checks on a local bank.
He signed his rightful name but
had no account.
Spencer Polio—
SPENCER •— Darlene Prokop,
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jerome
Prokop, who has been a polio
patient at St. Francis hospital,
Grand Island, the past two
months, has returned to her home
here.
MARKS 73D ANNIVERSARY
. . . Mrs. William Grothe, sr.,
(above) recently celebrated her
73d birthday anniversary. She
and her husband reside north
west of Emmet. (Story on page
20.)—O'Neill Photo Co.
Leader of
U.S. Church
to Speak
Dr. Herman N. Morse,
Presbyterian Head,
in 3 Stops in State
The holder of the highest hon
orary office in the Presbyterian
chursh of the U. S., Dr. Hermann
Nelson Morse of New York City,
general secretary of the church’s
board of national missions, will
be an ONeill visitor next Thurs
day, December 18.
Doctor Morse will address a
meeting of the Niobrara Presby
tery during the afternoon. Pres
byterian clergy and lay leaders
from throughout northeast Ne
braska will be present, according
to Rev. Samuel D. Lee, host pas
tor.
The Woman’s association will
serve a turkey dinner at 5:30
p.m., in the church basement. A
moderator’s service will be held
at 6:15 p.m.
A public session will be held in
the church starting at 7:30 p.m.
It is said to be the first visit
of the general secretary to the
Niobrara Presbytery in a half
century.
Doctor Morse was elected by
acclamation as moderator of
the 164th general assembly of
the church held in New York
City in May, 1951. He suc
ceeded Dr. Harrison Ray An
derson of Chicago, 111.
The duties of the moderator in
clude presiding at the general as
sembly meeting and at meetings
of the general council, visiting
churches, presbyteries and sy
nods and representing the church
at official gatherings and func
tions, both civic and ecclesiastical.
The term of office is for one year.
Widely known as one of the
most influential statemen in
American Protestantism, Doctor
Morse’s principal field of activity
has been home missions. His lead
ership has been on both denom
inational and interdenomination
al levels.
As general secretary of the na
tional missions board, he is re
sponsible for administration of
the board’s work in 48 states and
in Alaska, Cuba, Puerto Rico and
the Dominican Republic.
In 1950 he was elected first
chairman of the division of
home missions, national coun
cil of Churches of Christ in the
United States.
Doctor Morse was bom in Lud
ington, Mich., September 29,
1887. He was graduated from Al
ma college, Alma Mich., in 1908,
received his theological training
at Union Theological seminary,
New York. Alma college confer
red the doctor of divinity degree
upon him in 1927.
In 1913 he married Miss Flor
ence Vorpe of Van Wert, O. They
became the parents of two chil
dren.
Doctor Morse will be making
three stops during his visit to
Nebraska.
Mother of 15
Leaves Hospital
Msr. A. S. Engelhaupt, 37,
Spencer farm woman who gave
birth to twin daughters on Sat
urday, November"^!), was dis
missed one week later from St
Anthony’s hospital. With the ar
rival of twins in the Engelhaupt
family, the number of children
was increased to 15.
The twins, who have been
christened Dorothy and Doris,
are expected to be released from
the hospital today (Thursday).
Last summer Mr. Engelhaupt
raised <0 bushel of potatoes and
Mrs. Engelhaupt supervised the
canning of 200 quarts of com
and 240 quarts of tomatoes in
preparation for the winter.
Dr. Morse . . . highest office.
Retired Educator
Buried at Stuart
Mrs. Downey Widow
of Lecturer
STUART — Funeral services
were conducted here Friday, De
cember 5, for Mrs. Florence
Downey, 80, who died Monday,
December 1, in Cincinatti, O.
Florence Emma Zink Downey,
born December 30, 1872 in Union
Star, Mo., was the eldest daugh
ter of Nathanial and Sarah Zink.
She moved with her parents
and six brothers and sisters to
Stuart in April of 1890, where her
parents started farming 8 miles
northeast of Stuart on what has
since been known as the Zink
ranch.
She taught in Holt county
rural schools from 1891 to 1895,
when she returned to Stans
bury. Mo., to further her educa
tion, graduating from the Mis
souri normal school in 1897.
After graduating from the Mis
souri normal she remained in
Missouri to teach one term of
school in the school her mother
had taught before her marriage.
Returning to Stuart she taught
in the high school here from
1898 to 1902.
In 1903 she entereu the Peru
normal school for a year of high
school review work after which
she taught one year in the Bassett
high school.
In 1905 she was elected county
superintendent of schools of Holt
county, serving four years.
Married to I Alvadore Downey
in December, 1910, they made
their home in Lincoln and Swath
more, Pa., where her husband
was a Chautauqua lecturer.
In 1916 they established their
home in Cincinatti, O. In 1924
she entered the National college
of chiropractor of Chicago, grad
uating with the degrees of D.C.
and Ph. c.
After her husband’s death in
1926 she practiced her profession
in Cincinatti until forced to re
tire because of failing health.
She is survived by two broth
ers, Fred O. of Stuart and Ernest
R. of Cincinatti, O.
O’Neill Child Is
Rushed to Omaha;
Swallows Bottlecap
An O’Neill youngster, who
swallowed a bottle cap, was
rushed Saturday through Nor
folk to an Omaha specialist
with the state patrol providing
an escort.
The youngster is the child of
Mr. and Mrs. Harold Shores,
who on the advice of a physi
cian made the trip to Omaha.
Patrolman Frank Dineen
provided the escort through
Norfolk to Wisner, where he
was relieved by Patrolman
Willard W. Green, West Point.
SCOUTS TO CANVASS
O’Neill Boy Scouts will make a
city wide canvass, including both
business and residential districts,
after school classes are dismissed*
Friday. They will be collecting
canned goods and other items.
Edward Welton, 85,
Burial at Atkinson
Homesteader Dies
Saturday
ATKINSON—Funeral services
were held in the Presbyterian
church at Atkinson at 2 p.m. on
Monday, December 8, for Ed
ward H. Welton, 85.
Mr. Welton died at his home
in Atkinson about 7:40 a.m. Sat
urday, December 6. Rev. Frank
Payas, church pastor, was in
charge of the services.
Mrs. Glenn McClurg and Mrs.
Frank Payas sang “In the Gar
den” and “There Is No Night
There.” They were accompanied
by Mrs. Floyd Spindler. Pall
bearers were Glenn Butterfield,
Glenn McClurg, Conrad Frickel,
jr., Alex Forsythe, Oliver Shane
and Eugene Hickok. Burial was
in Woodlawn cemetery.
Out - of - town relatives who
were here for the services in
cluded: Mr. and Mrs. William
Gladfelter and son of Omaha;
Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Finnegan,
Mrs. Thelma Murphy and chil
dren and Norris Murphy, all of
North Platte; Mr. and Mrs. Nel
son Fish and family of Gordon;
Mr. and Mrs. H. G. Ammon of
Bassett, and Mr. and Mrs. Mor
gan Welton and family of Bur
welL
Edward H. Welton, son of
Adaline and Barnabas Welton,
was born in Cleveland, Minn.,
on July 18, 1867. He came to
Holt county with his parents in
1879 and later, as a young man.
he moved to Dawes county for
a few years.
He was married to Myrtyle
Amy Handy in 1893 in Dawes
county. In 1902 they returned to
Holt county where they home
steaded on a section of land in
the southwest part of the county.
Mrs. Welton died on March 4,
1932. Eleven of their six sons
and six daughtesr are among
the survivors.
On March 14, 1935, Mr. Welton
married Ella Mae Levora of
Carlinville, 111., and they contin
ued to live at the homestead un
til their retirement in 1944, when
they moved into Atkinson. Mr.
Welton was a member of the
Presbyterian church.
In spite of the fact that he had
undergone major surgery when
he was past 80 years of age, he
was active until his recent ill
ness. The past two years he did
much of the housework and
cared for his invalid wife who
has been bedfast for many
months.
Survivors include: Widow —
Ella; daughters—Mrs. Addie Am
mon of Bassett, Mrs. Alta Fish of
Gordon, Mrs. Etta Finnegan of
North Platte, Mrs. Edna Glad
felter of Omaha, Mrs. Erma
Kenny of Atkinson and Mrs.
Thelma Murphy of North Platte;
sons — Melvin and Ferman of
Wenatchee, Wash., Morgan of
Burwell, Clarence of Clatskanie,
Ore., and Elvin of Amelia; three
sisters; 27 grandchildren and 20
great-grandchildren.
One son preceded him in
death.
Member of Pioneer
Family Succumbs
Word has been received here
stating that George Graham,
of Santa Cruz, Calif., died
Sunday, December 7. He was the
last survivor of a large Holt
county family of boys and one
girl. His parents lived 10 miles
north of O’Neill on the place
Joseph Gokie now farms. They
emigrated from Wisconsin.
Survivors include: Nephews—
Harry Graham, Maurice Gra
ham, Gerald Graham and Rev.
Clarence Corcoran, C M., a
Catholic priest teaching at the
Kenrick seminary, St. Louis,
nieces — Mrs. Lloyd Ritts
and Miss Viola Graham; sister
in-law—Mrs. Mary Graham, and
several nieces and nephews who
reside in California.
Funeral services were held in
Holy Cross Catholic church
ac.Santa Cruz, Calif., on Decem
ber 10.
\
Stove Explosion
Nets Pupils Holiday
STUART—A faulty oil stove
exploded in the school in dis
trict 72 Monday morning, De
cember 8, covering the teacher
and pupils with soot.
The blaze followed the ex
plosion. It was soon extin
guished with no injuries and no
damage except a badly smoked
interior which will give the
pupils another day’s vacation
while the building is being
cleaned.
The school is about 3 miles
southeast of Stuart. Larry
Krysl is the teacher.
Presbyterian Pastor
Is Installed, Ewing
EWING—Rev. William J. Bo
mer was installed Monday eve
ning, December 8, as pastor of the
United Presbyterian church in
Ewing by a commission oi Ne
braska Presbytery.
Rev. Nelson Warner of Lin
coln preached a sermon, Rev. Le
land Warren of North Bend gave
the charge to the pastor, and Rev.
Paul Sutton of Minden gave the
charge to the congregation.
Reverend Bomer is a graduate
of the University of Iowa and of
the Pittsburgh (Pa.) Xenia sem
inary. While in school, he served
during the summer as student
pastor at the United Presbyter
ian churches at Mt. Ayr, la., and
Rometown, Pa.
Mr. Bomer was in the army for
32 months, 22 of which were
spent overseas. Before leaving
the United States, he served as
assistant to a Protestant chaplain
at Ft. Leonard Wood, Mo.
Mr. and Mrs. Bomer, their
two sons, Norman and Bruce,
moved to Ewing in May, 1952, to
fill a vacancy as minister in the
United Presbyterian church.
In September, Mr. Bomer went
to Pittsburgh to complete his
work at the seminary. On Sun
day, November 30, he was or
dained at the Westminster United
Presbyterian church, Des Moines,
la.
Classmates in
Service Reunite
EWING—Pvt. Estel Cary of
Camp Pickett, Va., and Pvt.
Dwayne Williamson of Ft. Belvi
dere, Va., recently had the pleas
ure of meeting unexpectedly.
They spent a weekend together
sightseeing in Washington, D. C.
Private Cary and Private Wil
liamson are schoolmates and grad
uated from the Ewing high school
with the class of 1947. After
graduation, Estel was employed
at Pickstown and Dwayne assisted
his father with farm work, until
entering the armed forces.
Oklahoma Couple Visits—
BUTTE—Mr. and Mrs. A. B.
Wallace of Chickasha, Okla., ar
rived Sunday evening for a few
days’ visit. Mr. and Mrs. Wallace
formerly lived at Butte and Mr.
Wallace practiced law here.
Niobrara, Sitz
Stock Sales Next
Mrs. Ermer Will Sell
December 19
Two registered livestock sales
are on The Frontier’s sale calen
dar for this weekend.
Friday, December 12, will be
the big day at Butte when the
Niobrara Valley Hereford
Breeders association holds its fall
show and sale. According to
Sale Manager Walter Sire, 35
bulls and six females are in the
offering. The show will be held
at 9:30 a.m.; sale at 1:30 p.m.
(Catalogs have been published
by The Frontier.)
Next day—Saturday, Decem
ber 13—will find 49 head of reg
istered Aberdeen-Angus being
sold at the Atkinson Livestock
Market. This is an Angus pro
duction sale sponsored by Will
Sitz of Burwell. Seven lots in
the sale are consigned by Mitch
ell Bros, of Burwell. (Catalogs
have been published by The
Frontier.)
On Monday, December 22:
Fritz Bros, and Kenneth H.
Meier, both of Niobrara, will
hold their annual registered
Hereford production sale, 52 lots,
males and females, Norfolk Live
stock Sales pavilion. (Catalogs j
have been published by The
Frontier.)
Other sales:
Wednesday, December 17:
Wayne Standage ranch closeout;
2 miles southeast of Amelia; 85
head of cattle, including regis
tered bull; complete line of ranch
machinery, household goods,
frame dwelling; Col. Ed Thorin,
O’Neill, auctioneer- Chambers
State bank, clerk. The Standages
plan to move to Ravenna. (See
advertisement on page 11.)
Friday, December 19: Mrs.
Fred Ermer, who resides 14
| miles south of O’Neill on U.S.
j highway 281, will offer her per
sonal property at public auction.
Mrs. Enner says she is unable to
carry on the work since the un
expected death of her husband
on November 30. Col. Ed Thorin
of O’Neill is auctioneer; Cham
bers State bank, clerk. (See ad
vertisement on page 24 )
Gregory Officer Aboard
Plane Down in Alaska—
GREGORY—Col. Noel Hoblit,
who was born and reared at
Gregory, was aboard the Globe
master plane which crashed south
of Anchorage, Alaska, Saturday,
November 29.
There were 52 army and air
force personnel aboard the plane
which was flying from McChord
air force base, Tacoma, Wash., to
Alaska.
Colonel Hoblit, dental surgeon
at the Anchorage air force base,
had just moved with his wife
and two children to Alaska. His
father, Elmer, lives at Pasadena,
Calif.
RETURNS TO DUTY
Sgt. Orville Banks, son of Mr.
and Mrs. Sam Banks of O’Neill,
has returned to active duty in
Korea.
50 Years i
Mr. amd Mrs.
Pearl Cary of
Inman (right)
o n Monday,
November 24,
celeb rated
their golden
wedding an
niversary with
a family gath
ering at Hast
ings, la. Mr.
Cary is 72: his
wife, 71. They
became the
parents of two
d a u g hters —
Mrs. Vernon
(Mina) Crouse
of Hast i n g s
and Mrs. Ma
rye Hartigan
of Inman;
three sons —
Chester, John
and Laddie,
who is dead.
Hearing on
Irrigation
Scheduled
Next Thursday’s Meet'
Here One of Four
in Niobrara Basin
An important official public
hearing on a proposed report of
a plan for development of the
Niobrara river basin will be held
at the American Legion auditor
ium here next Tuesday, Decem
ber 16.
It will be an all-day meeting,
starting at 10 a.m.
Dan S. Jones, jr., chief of
the Nebraska bureau of irri
gation, will preside. The hear
ing has been called by ’ Gov.
Val Peterson as a matter of
formality.
Purpose of the hearing is to
draw out expressions of local re
actions to the plan to bring an
extensive irrigation system to
the basin. The governor's agent
will be anxious for question®
pro and con to be aired thor
oughly.
The O’Neill hearing is one of
four scheduled next week and
the results of these hearings will
have an important bearing on.
the future of irrigation in the re
gion.
Next day, Wednesday, Decem
ber 17, a similar hearing will be
held in the Ainsworth city audi
torium; Thursday, December 1%
at Valentine courthouse; Friday,
December 19, at Gordon city
auditorium.
The reclamation report pre
sents an inventory of the land
and water resources of the Nio
brara river basin and outlines a
plan for the development of
these resources. The proposal
covers 14 inter-related operating
units which would provide for
the irrigation of about 144,000
acres of land and the generation
of some 200,000,000 kwh of elec
trical energy annually, as well a®
recreational, fish and wildlife
and other benefits.
An estimated 66,000 acres of
irrigable land axe located in
Holt county, and the bulk of
this lies west and slightly
north of O'Neill.
The purpose of the meetings is
to provide an opportunity for
residents of the Niobrara river
basin and other interested per
sons to learn of the proposed de
velopment and to express their
reactions to it
Clyde Burdick of Ainsworth*
area engineer, and others of the
U.S. bureau of reclamation will
explain the proposed develop
ment and answei questions re
garding it.
“Local interests, federal and
state agencies and others who
might be affected by the pro
posed development are urged to
attend the hearings and to be
prepared to express their re
actions to the plans and to indi
cate the extent to which they
are willing to cooperate in the
proposed developments,” ex
plained Harold E. Aitken of Lin
coln, who is state engineer for '
the department of highways!
roads and irrigation.
Several score of prormnend
Holt countyans have been out
spoken supporters of the basin
move.
An informational meeting
held in O'Neill a fortnight ago
under the auspices of the
Chamber of Commerce pro
duced about 40 enthusiasts and
no opposition.
In the Snake river country
southwest of Valentine there is
some controversy, but on the d
eastern end of the basin (where
the largest tract of irrigable land
lies) there appears to be nothing
but enthusiastic support.
If all goes smoothly at the O’
Neill hearing as well as the
(Continued on page 6.)
o
o