Prairleland Talk . . .
Reader Contemplates Book
By ROMAINE SAUNDERS
LINCOLN — The Frontier has friends in
distant places. An interesting letter comes from
Newport, R. I., addressed to Prairieland Talker
and is signed by F. M. Felts.
It is discovered by reading the letter that
the writer of it is the Florence
o Roseler whose childhood home
was on the prairie northeast of
O’Neill a few miles. Her mother
was born in a log cabin in 1888
in the Eagle creek country, the
daughter of a pioneer family,
the A. J. Mohrs who later moved
into O’Neill. Her father, Albert
Roseler, came to Holt county
from Illinois during the 1880
homesteading period, married
here and acted his part in the
development of the town and
country.
She is interested in the history of prairieland
and has in mind to produce such a work in book
form. There is a mine of rich material for such
a work and who but a native daughter should
compile it.
The letter expresses a sincere word of esteem
for what this department brings to its readers and
I’m taking the liberty of having it reproduced
below':
Dear Sir:
You do not know me and I do not know you,
only through your articles in the O’Neill paper.
O’Neill is my home town and very dear to
my heart although I have traveled considerably
since leaving there after graduating from high
school in 1929. <
I enjoy so much your articles in The Fron
tier. They are so full of human interest and so
alive with the future as well as the dreamy
thoughts of Nebraska in its past. Your bits of
poetry and prose are fascinating. I do not get
every copy of the home town paper, but when
ever my sister, sees an article that she feels is
of interest to me, she sends it on. I have the
Diamond Jubilee Edition. Personally I have
always wanted a history of O’Neill. My grand
parents came to O’Neill about 1886 or ’87, as
my mother was born in a iog cabin on Eagle
creek the year of the big blizzard—1888. She
was one of a family of 14 children, all of whom
grew to manhood and womanhood but one. He
died at the age of 14 and is buried in the ceme
tery at O’Neill. You will no doubt know some of
my ancestors.
My grandfather on my maternal side was
A. J. Mohr. He and his family came to O'Neill
from Pennsylvania sometime in the 1870’s in a
covered wagon. He often made the remark that
O’Neill was only a few buildings along the main
street at that time, the K. C. hall being one of
them. He and his family settled first on Eagle
creek and later moved to O’Neill.
My father was Albert H. Roseler, who came
to O'Neill from Illinois and married my mother.
They settled on a farm northeast of O'Neill.
To their union were born five children—Harry,
Emmett, Florence, Helen and Violet. I am
Florence.
My father is buried at Columbus. My mother
is remarried and is living in Portland, Ore. Her
present name is Mrs. J- M. Filsinger. My step
father was friendly with Mr. Miles before they
went out West. They left O’Neill in a caravan
of three families some 20 odd years ago and since
then have sold the home in O’Neill and bought
in Portland.
Two years ago after not seeing my family
for 12 years I took a trip to the West coast. I
did so regret not having the time to stop in O’
Neill. Recently I saw the inclosed snap of a
street scene in O’Neill in Quick magazine. I
think it would be difficult for me to recognize the
town. I can’t seem to place this scene unless it is
on the Golden Hotel side of the street.
Now, I will get to the reason for my writing
you, that is besides telling you what a pleasure
it is to read Prairieland Talk.
I wonder if you have any data on O’Neill
before 1878? Just how many buildings it con
sisted of and its first population census? The
size of the first postoffice and courthouse, and
the same in its present buildings? What year the
two railroads entered O’Neill and why, if there
is a reason one of them ends there?
How can I get the statistics on the corn,
wheat and hay out put of Holt county. The mile
age area of same? Nebraska’s present rating in
regard to its cattle production per year? I hope
to some day write the history of Holt county
centeralizing around O’Neill. Would it be too
much trouble for you to give or tell me where*
I could obtain such information as might be
necessary?
Since I work eight hours a day five days a
week it doesn’t give me much time for reseach.
And Newport being a New England seaport
town doesn’t have a very large library.
I should like to get started on my history
these long cold winter evenings. Any possible
information you can give me will certainly be
appreciated.
Since I do not know your address in Lincoln
I am mailing this in care of The Frontier.
Thank you for taking the time to read my
letter.
Most sincerely,
F. M. Felts
24 E. Bowery Street
Newport, R. I.
One of those packages of dry nothing known
as breakfast food encourages us to make a meal
of it on the grounds it has incorporated within
its crumbled contents 146.7 percent—One thing
and another, everything but something to eat . .
Alcoholics Anonymous now number more than
90,000 men and women who had been floored by
John Barleycorn, according to a woman writer,
one of them . . . Washington is going to let the
com planter alone for ’53 and he can plant as
he sees fit . . . He was lugging quarters of beef
into the locker plant as I passed. Been butcher
ing? Yep—cattle too cheap now; we’re going to
eat ’em. Cheap at $25 and $30 a hundred! We
thought we were not doing so bad when we got
$5 . . . The individual’s share in the 343 billion
dollar national production for the year is about
$230. A family of 10 would have only $2,300 . . .
O’Neill has had in the past a half dozen or more
native sons of Syria in the mercantile business.
Unlike the native sons of Ireland, a Syrian has
no urge to run the country by seeking public
office or pack a policeman’s gun. He would rather
sell you a banana.
Editorial
The Commercial Christmas
Each year The Frontier publishes a special
issue known as the Christmas Shopper.
It is the one Important time of the year when
all the leading O’Neill retail stores collectively
and impressively herald the arrival of the yule
shopping season. They put forward their best foot
with interesting and attractive advertisements
to be found in these pages.
What we are about to say may have a
familiar ring. You might say it’s repititious. But
O’Neill has rapidly become the Christmas shop
ping city for all north-central Nebraska and for
several South Dakota counties. And O’Neill
merchants, whose appealing invitations appear in
these pages, are determined that this city will
this year, next year, the next and the next retain
its position of preeminence.
This unique recognition does not come easy.
The fine tradition and good will enjoyed by these
leading stores are not merchantable. They can
not be sold like a chattel. They are the products
of many weeks, months and years of hard work
and sound business practices.
The splendor of yule merchandise bursting
forth from show windows, cases and shelves
simply doesn't come about by coincidence.
It all began last spring and early in the sum
mer when the bulk of the yule merchandise was
carefully purchased. Each buyer had uppermost
in his mind the likes and preferences of people
in this particular region. Buyers learn down
through the years how to buy for their clientele.
They know what quantities are reasonable and
prudent.
A few weeks elapse, possibly a few months,
then the yule merchandise begins arriving. It’s
carefully unpacked, invoices are checked and
double-checked, and retail sale prices are com
puted.
Finally, in November, out it comes from the
stockrooms and basements.
The yule buying season was officially ush
ered in on Friday, November 28, in connection
with the citywide store window unveiling.
This Chrislmas Shopper issue of The
Frontier signals the start of the gTand, final 12
days of yule shopping. These pages are jam
packed with gift shopping information. The
advertisements colorfully tell the story of ex
citing bargains that will thrill hearts, young
and old.
O’Neill stores mirror a big comer of Santa’s
North Pole workshop. Merchants here have pro
\ ivied a wide selection of gifts from a celluloid
d 11 far baby to a new automobile for pop — a
selection that will rival the offerings of a city
o many times the size of O’Neill.
An O’Neill clergyman last year took us to
task concerning our Christmas Shopper editorial
which entolled the wares of our merchants. He
said we missed the real meaning of Christmas
altogether; that our editorial was strictly com
mei'c al and would be referred to as such from
his pulpit the following Sunday.
We agree — except: the Christmas Shopper
. is exactly what the name implies. The commercial
aspects of Christmas have come to make
it big business in every sense of the word. This
we defend as a fine American tradition. Other
customs are products of peoples from many lands.
As long as most folks find a special source
of satisfaction in giving rather than receiving
the yule season will have an important place
in the business world.
In subsequent issues of The Frontier, be
tween now and Christmas day, the columns of
this newspaper will deal at length with the real
Christmas story. In church and school news, in
greetings and in editorial content we’ll deal at
length with the story concerning Him whose
birthday the Christian world is about to cele
brate.
Meanwhile, we offer the Christmas Shopper
issue. We hope you’ll find it a worthy guide to
happier, easier and better yule shopping.
Certainly Holt county will be represented
among the thousands who’ll invade the nation’s
canitol for Ike’s inauguration. Wonder who they
will be.
> — --- -- — - ■ I
It’s Our Number One Problem
(Guest Editorial from the Nebraska Signal,
Geneva)
We were interested in noting reactions to a
recent statement by Nebraska’s governor-elect,
Robert Crosby, who announced that he considers
Nebraska’s number one problem is its schools,
not its roads. Peculiarly, the statement seems to
have aroused no opposition. Also, we note, it has
failed to excite any strong affirmative views.
We do not interpret Mr. Crosby’s statement
to mean he will ignore the problem of improving
Nebraska’s roads, merely that he will give first
place to meeting the problems of Nebraska’s
schools, which, in view of the seriousness of the
problem in some localities, would seem to be a
commendable attitude.
Only those who are working closely with the
schools probably appreciate the problems faced
in many localities. The general public doesn’t
realize that in spite of high taxes most schools
have to operate with insufficient funds, the re
sult of which is that they are not able to secure
the type of teachers they would like. Many do not
know of the crowded conditions in some schools,
nor do they know that hundreds of high school
graduates are being offered horse and buggy cur
riculums in an atomic age world.
Perhaps one reason the governor-elect stirred
up so little comment by his statement is that the
average person, while admitting the accuracy of
the statement, is too concerned with national
policies such as taxes, the war in Korea and the
business of changing administrations, to give
thought to matters so close to home. If we can
bring ourselves to the realization that the chil
dren we are educating won’t stop growing while
we solve world problems, it will be possible for
us to give intelligent cooperation to efforts of the
new governor to handle Nebraska’s number one
problem.
All of us like to get the most value for the
money we spend. Here’s a tip. In terms of pro
tection from tuberculosis, there’s no better buy
than Christmas seals. Christmas seals are a down
payment on the gift of good health for others—
and for yourself, too. So buy Christmas seals—
and use them!
An oldtimer with 70 years of Nebraska living
behind him forecasts the Thanksgiving week
storm means a mild winter. As far as we are con
cerned Nebraska’s weather is so utterly unpre
dictable that weather vanes of any sort don't
impress us much.
Does anyone ever long for a ride in the good
ol’ bobsled? That unfortunate young generation
—they’ll never know what they’ve missed.
Now a whirl of church and school activities
for the children—ail with the yule tneme.
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.
About Highways . . .
11 New Unicam Senators Go on Record
for Increased Road Revenue Legislation
By CLIFF SANDAHL
Chairman, Nebraska Editors
Highway Conference
When the Nebraska legislature
goes into session next month,
there will be 11 new members
and, significantly, most of them
will be ready to act quickly and
favorably on increased highway
revenue legislation.
That’s obvious from commit
ments made to the All Nebraska
Association of Road and High
way Associations (An-Ar-Ha).
All of the senators-elect except
Ernest A. Hubka of Beatrice are
on record.
Some say “yes” flatly while
others qualify their answers as
to whether they believe urgent
need exists and whether they
will give active support to im
mediate and long-range financ
ing. Here is what they say, by
districts:
Second — John Aufenkamp,
Julian: “I believe that present
revenue is inadequate to main
tain our present highways and
build the new roads and bridges
that are desirable. I have re
frained from any firm commit
ment.
I 9 •
"I am particularly interested
in a good longrange building
program, but I believe that in
the meantime we have emerg
ency situations as to certain
roads."
Third — Tom Dooley, Papil
lion: “Yes” unqualifiedly.
Nineteenth — Howard L.
Britt, Lincoln: “I am definitely
for an adequate ton-mile levy on
the heavier trucks, graduated up
ward as the weights increase.
1 am against increasing gas tax
and car licenses at this time.”
Twenty-Fifth—Lester H. And
erson, Aurora: “I was one of the
introducers and supporters of the
1949 session gasoline tax and
license increase. Well, you know
what happened—defeated nearly
2 to 1 in my district. I thought
I was doing what the people
wanted in ’49. There is only one
question before the people and
that is who pays for the roads ”
Thirtieth — Joseph D. Martin,
Grand Island, “Yes” unqualifed
ly, plus: “My final answers will'
depend on the efficacy of the
plans introduced.”
Thirty-Second — Dr. William
A. McHenry, Nelson: “We have
fooled around too long with the
highway situation. It is time that
the legislature does something
about it. I think the way to get
this done is in a real appraisal
of highway needs, on a long
range program, which should be
worked out by all interested
parties. We must realize that the
highway improvement, which is
needed, will require more funds,
and I think the legislature should
do that.”
Thirty-Third — Tom Coffey,
Alma: “I believe that the Ne
braska highway problem is con
siderably larger than finance
alone. I shall insist that the en
tire highway problem be taken
up and not just one section. I
realize that this will delay the
highway construction program
by a month or two, but I am
firmly convinced that if the en
tire highway problem were given
consideration and action that 5
or 10 years from now Nebraska
would be much better off. We
cannot approach this problem
from a short-sighted, panicky
view.”
<i> Forty-First — J. Monre Bixler,
Harrison: “Yes” unqualifiedly,
plus: “Without a doubt the in
adequate system of financing
new roads along with the past
methods of taking care of the
big pressure groups or those who
yelled the loudest with political
implications, all on a year-to
year basis, is in my opinion, one
of the biggest reasons for the
road mess we now find our state
in.
"To correct this, or at least
get started on the way, we
need new methods of collect
ing revenue, or expanding the
old ones."
Forty-Second — Terry Car
penter, Scottsbluff: “Yes” un
qualifiedly, plus: ‘There is ur
gent need for additional road
revenue and this is the only
problem that no cne has the
guts to try to solve to the extent
that it will some day have to be
solved. If I understand the road
problem, the amount of money
we need can only be raised by
a sales tax. Why not face it?
Why use arguments of a diver
sionary nature in order to split
opinions so that we will end up
with nothing? Let’s get the job
done!”
Forty-Third — A. A. Fenske,
Sunol:‘ ‘Yes” unqualifiedly.
All in all, that gives a pretty
good idea of the thinking of
those who did not have a chance
to vote in the 1951 session on
reenactment of the 1949 highway
financing legislation repealed by
the people in the 1950 election.
Gallagher Heads
Crusade Fund
Edward N. Gallagher, O’Neill
banker, has been appointed as
a state committeeman for the
1952 Crusade for Freedom cam
paign, it was announced by State
Chairman George W. Holmes of
Lincoln.
Mr. Gallagher will assist in
raising a national fund of $4,000
000 to support and expand the
activities of radio free Europe
and radio free Asia.
“The Crusade for Freedom of
fers each one of us, as individual
citizens, an opportunity to strike
a blow for freedom—to add our
voice to the voices of truth which
are piercing the iron curtain,”
said Mr. Gallagher.
He urged citizens of O’Neill to
support the campaign by mail
ing a contribution to Crusade
for Freedom, care of the post
master.
REAL ESTATE TRANSFERS
WD—William P. Seger to
George Schiffern & wf 4-30-52
$42,250-SpSWy4 4-S%-NEy4 5
28-14.
WD—Atk Memorial Hosp Inc
to Arthur Humpal 7-1-52 $1000
Lots 11 & 12 in A.V.W. Add —
Atkinson.
WD— Charles R. Bartak to
County of Holt 10-29-52 $79 —
Part of SWy4SEy4 Sec 1-25-9
2y4 acres.
EYES AND STOMACH AGREE
At least one Nebraska man
can boast that his “eyes are not
bigger than his stomach.” He
is Floyd Clement, a Scotia farm
er who won first prize at Sco
tia’s annual pancake day by
eating 32 pancakes — complete
with butter, syrup and sausage.
Letting Soon for
6 Weigh Stations
Concrete Approach for
Stafford Pit
Bids for constructing six truck
weighing stations are being re
quested for a department of
roads and irrigation letting De
cember 18, State Engineer Har
old L. Aitken said this week.
Bids for two of the stations,
near Waverly and Hebron, vcere
taken at a letting October 9
and rejected.
The other four stations pro
posed for the December letting
are to be located near O’Neill,
Columbus, Northport, and Cul
bertson.
The proposed work at all
weighing stations will consist of
grading, culvert work, construe- j
tion of reinforced concert ap
proaches to the scale pits and
the building of a scale house.
Southeast of O’Neill a truck- !
weighing facility is to be built
at the Stafford junction of U.3.
highways 20 and U.S. 275. The
station will be just southeast of
the junction with one driveway
on U. S. 20 and one on 275. The
contractor is to construct a grade
50 feet wide and build concerete
approaches to the scale pit.
Other surfacing will be done by
highway department employees.
The station at Waverly is to
be on the southeast side of the
highway, about a half-mile
northeast of the corporate limits.
If contracts are awarded for
these six stations, all 12 weigh
ing scales, authorized by the '51
legislature, will be erected or
under construction.
lhe weighing site near Colum
bus is to be built in the island
at the junction of U.S. 30, and
U.S. 81 just south of the Loup
river.
Near Culbertson, a station is
to be constructed on the north
side of the highway just east of
the junction of U.S. 6 and U.S.
34.
Contractors also will be asked
to bid on erecting 7,937 linear
feet of guard rail and 1,321 guard
posts at a department of roads
and irrigation letting December
18.
State Engineer Harold L. Ait
tection work would be placed
ken said this week that the pro
alongside highways newly con
structed or now under construc
tion. He said that guard rails are
placed at bridge ends and along
high fill sections and that guard
posts with reflectorized buttons
are erected at curves and along
smaller fills.
In Boyd and Holt counties, 139
guard posts and 200 linear feet
of guard rail are to be placed on
highway U.S. 281 between the
intersection with Nebraska high
way 12 and the south side of the
Niobrara river.
The Frontier want advs. assure
you of quick, economical results
on anything you wish to buy
sell or trade.
W. F. FINLEY, M.D.
O'NEILL
First National Bank Bldg.
OFFICE PHONE: 28
DR. H. D. GILDERSLEEVE.
OPTOMETRIST
Permanent Offices in
Hagensick Bldg.
O’NEILL, NEBR.
Phone 167
Eyes Examined . Glasses Fitted
Office Hours: 9-5 Mon. thru Sat.
'
DR. J. L. SHERBAHN
CHIROPRACTOR
O'Neill, Nebraska
Complete X-Ray Equipment
V2 Block So. of Ford Garage
MONEY TO LOAN
ON
AUTOMOBILES
TRUCKS
TRACTORS
EQUIPMENT
FURNITURE
Central Finance
Corp.
C. E. Jones, Manager
' O'Neill : Nebraska I
DEAD ANIMALS REMOVED
“ONE HOG OR MORE!”
CATTLE - HOGS - HORSES
Prompt Sanitary Service
Call Long Distance and
Ask for ENTERPRISE 1000
(No Toll Charge for Enterprise Calls)
ATKINSON - O’NEILL RENDERING
SERVICE
O’NEILL, NEBR.
(Owned by Valley Rendering, Ord, Nebr.)
_ __
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wroi fllGH fROTElM
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SHELHAMER FOODS
^ PHONE 173 O'NEILL
.-..—
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Television treat —
the BUICK CIRCUS HOUR*
every fourth Tuesday
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®3&»
I
How would you like the fun of
Christmastime to last all the year
through?
That’s the way it seems to be when you
call this Buick beauty your own—what
with the constant cheer it brings to you
week after week, month after month.
The cheer of traveling in style that’s
bright and gay as a holiday wrapping.
The cheer of having rich and spacious
comfort — plus the cheery thought that
nowhere else can you get as much room
for the money.
The cheer of knowing abundant and
mighty able power is on call, with all
the solid thrift of a Fireball 8 Engine
that’s valve-in-head — and also high
compression.
The cheer of riding wonderfully buoy
ant, level and steady—with a ride that
feels like the million dollars it cost to
perfect.
The cheer of taking your travel free and
easy—with Dynaflow Drive* doing the
chores in letter-perfect smoothness —
with Power Steering** assisting to
make parking and slow-motion maneu
vers no task at all.
Even the price is a cheerful note here
—low enough, you’ll find, to crowd the
so-named “low-price three.”
That means action is called for this very
Enter GENERAL MOTORS $194,000 BETTER HIGHWAYS CONTEST—See Your Buick Dealer for contest blanks and full information
week, to make the most of this good deal
while it lasts.
Why not drop in today or tomorrow and
see how much cheer is to be found in a
Buick showroom right now?
Equipment, accessories, trim and models are subject
to change without notice. *Standard on Roadmaster,
optional at extra cost on other Series. **Optional at
extra cost on Roadmaster and Super only.
*
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A. MARCELLUS
PHONE 370 O’Neill
