Prairieland Talk . . .
Niobrara Next for Schemers
By ROMAINE SAUNDERS, Retired, Former Frontier Editor
LINCOLN —According to a story that comes
out of Washington, the troubled waters of the
Niobrara river are to be put to use by construct
ing at federal expense irrigation canals. These
are to be two separate projects, one known as
the O’Neill district involving the outlay of
$85,000,000.
O’Neill merchants, printers, shopkeepers,
doctors and dentists, lawyers and insurance
agents, bankers and real estate
men—get a look at that, 85 mil
lion floating your way down the
irrigation canals!
But there will be sighs of
regret among those who have
known the mystic charm of the
wooded slopes, the shadows and
changing colors along the
gulches and have watched the
fleet-footed antelope race across
the grasslands, now to be turned
into bean patches. No more the
call of the curlew, the stealthy- Romaine
movement of the wildcat, the Saunders
frisking of miH-eyed fawns or the print of In
dian moccasin in the sands by the river’s brink.
Only the .oar of tractors, the hum of man
made machines.
And so the onward march of time despoils
the handiwork of nature. The guys we send to
Washington do things in reverse. Twenty years
ago they spent millions plowing under and de
stroying the fruits of the ground. Now millions
are spent to encourage the production of more
fruits of the ground.
* * *
Another state fair drew the usual throngs
to the dusty grounds. The weather was ideal but
hot. The fair takes on the dignity of state, but
you wonder. The visitor has made up his mind
that the state of Nebraska is not entertaining
him, but barkers on every hand are after his wad.
You pay your four-bits to enter the gate and the
real entertainment Is behind high walls with nev
er a knothole for a kid to look through and if
you have the hardihood to take in what goes on
in the arena you dig up a dollar and four bits to
get a spot in the grandstand. The exhibits are for
your inspection without money and without price
after your contribution of coin of the realm at
the entrance gate.
With the exception of the livestock, the ex
hibits are what you see every day in the stores
and shops. The cattle bams this year were worth
a visit, Shorthorns, whitefaces, Angus and the
various dairy breeds, with the 4-H club showings.
Horses, though not as numerous as we have
known them to be, are still a feature of livestock
. exhibits and always attract fair goers. Hog pens
smell to heaven, cattle and horse barns are, as
other show places, inadequately lighted.
* * T
The throngs of Nebraska patriots on the
grounds are an interesting exhibit in themselves.
Children and youth are having the time of their
life, many adults have a worried look as if won
dering what to turn to next. Aging ones hunt a
place to sit down where they can see the band
boys and girls in gay colors toot the horns and
beat the drums, while young ladies perform the
functions of twirling the gilded wand and kicking
up their heels.
A call came over the loudspeaker for all to
be on the lookout for a lost boy. I moved along
the walk by some livestock pens when I saw a
little fellow just ahead. That was the lost boy. A
few more steps and that lost boy was in a pro
longed embrace, while a mother heart poured out
verbally the response of sacred emotions; the lost
child had been restored to its mother.
I witnessed and heard many things on the
fair grounds that day; that which stands out
above all others and remains a picture of human
tenderness amid scenes common to fair grounds
is that little fellow in the embrace of his young
mother.
* * «
Thai labor union pairioi goi mad, quit his
job as a member of ihe president's cabinet and
walked out in a rage. The exalled place of chief
justice of ihe supreme court is made vacant by
death. The secretary of agriculture is a disap
pointment. President Eisenhower has his trou
bles.
• * *
We have from year-to-year a Miss Nebraska
and a Miss America. Why not Grandma and
Grandpa America? And maybe a Mr. Nebraska,
would complement the picture standing beside
the Miss. This vear’s Miss America is a Pennsyl
vania product. Fair enough. That state helped a
lot in making America possible.
The Nebraska State Historical society waxes
old. September 26-27 the 75th anniversary of the
society will be observed in conjunction with for
mal ceremonies dedicating the new building now
occupied by the society’s offices, many historical
records, the state’s newspapers from away back
and a remarkable museum collection. The build
ing is located on the state university grounds at
15th and R streets. In some respects the state
capital building was a better place for the society’s
many interesting features as there is a daily
stream of visitors going through the statehouse
which took in the historical headquarters, but
the new home is the fulfillment of plans long
cherished. The dinner,-which invariably is a fea
ture of such events, will be at the Lincoln hotel
the evening of the 26th. Prof. Walter P. Webb of
the University of Texas will be the feature speak
er at the dinner hour. The dedication exercises
will be at society headquarters the 27th.
* * *
In an issue in midsummer 1901,- The Frontier
had the story and fulsome eulogy of a “farm
woman” in the vicinity of Osmond, who with her
two children tried to extinguish a fire that
threatened the destruction of a railroad bridge,
the woman seeing the fire at the bridge from her
farm home. They were doing their utmost to ex
tinguish the fire when it was realized a train
would soon come from the east. This brave wom
an raced down the track, stood between the rails
and flagged the engineer with her bonnet. The
train was brought to a stop some 20 feet from the
woman standing there waving her bonnet. The
fire was put out, when the train proceeded over
the bridge. . . Con Keys, an ornery but original
cuss, had this in the paper one week: “I would
like to mark all paid on my books now that there
is nothing else to do.”
* * *
The evening paper tells of a gent down at
North Platte having made the record catch, a 16
inch two-pound catfish. Has it come to that in
Nebraska waters that a measly little cat takes
the blue ribbon' Are there no longer the 32-inch
five-pounders of the pickerel finny tribe left that
we snagged in the Elkhorn? And there was the
night I was in a boat with Hank Mills on a sand
hill lake down toward the South Fork when Hank
got a three-foot pickerel weighing more than 10
pounds on his spear. That didn’t get into the
sport columns as a record breaker. There were
fish in Nebraska waters before the game and
fish commission had the say of how and when
you cast in. The guys interested in such angling
today were born a generation too late.
x x x
Indian summer days bathed in sunlight,
cloudless skies spreading a canopy of celestial
glory at night above far-flung prairieland—days
now marching on toward the restful period of
autumn when the green foliage of summer turns
to gold. Between the pink of dawn and evening
shadows the September sun hides its flaming
chariot across the heavens, when the heat of day
merges into the cool twilight hours. Thus the
sweep of time moves on toward the snow-crown
ed days when winter winds moan across prairie
land. But sunbeams dance this day over the hot
pavement and all is hushed, not a breeze in mo
tion as I sit at the typewriter sweating and think
ing a wind out of the north would help a lot.
* * *
Again the death cell at the Nebraska peni
itentiary confines a prisoner sentenced to go to
the electric chair October 16. A resident of Sid
ney was convicted by the trial court of killing
his wife. He says he did not do it, maintains that
he is innocent. The supreme court is to hear an
appeal from the findings of the lower court. The
last one to have the death current shot through
his frame at the penitentiary for a revolting
crime admitted his guilt. If this man, Griffith,
is guiltless as he insists, the supreme court upon
reviewing the case may find him not worthy of
death.
* * *
Rain and cool winds broke the summer heat
in southeast Nebraska. Scorching days have laid
a death toll in other years as the blazing sun
marched across the heavens. In the year 1901
there were 225 deaths caused by heat in New
York City, 52 in Philadelphia, Pa., 23 in Balti
more, Md., 51 in Pitsburgh, Pa. That year a com
mission appointed by the governor determined
the north boundary line of Nebraska. In July
of that year W. C. Carpenter, living four miles
west of Amelia, had a public sale which included
160 head of Shorthorn cattle.
Editorial . . .
Unforeseen Experiment
In the histories that some day will be writ
ten, what will a world war and a gigantic “police
action” be judged to have done to American col
leges and college life? This is the question posed
by the Christian Science Monitor.
World War II brought to the campuses over
two million young men (and some young women)
for the most part older chronologically, consid
eraly older in experience, soberly conscious of the
years to be made up, and confident of the direc
tion to take. It rought also quite a number of
means or presence of family responsibilities (or
bright young people who because of lack of
both) might never have had their intellectual
capabilities thus developed had it nQt been for
the famous “GI Bill of Rights.”
The same “bill”—slightly modified—reenact
ed for Korea veterans is bringing to colleges this
fall somewhere around 250,000 students. And the
end is not yet. The Korea veteran, finds a survey
by the New York Times, is younger than his
World War II predecessor. Based on last year’s
experience, he will be less oustanding as a stu
dent (although quite satisfactory). And he will
lack some other characteristics of a college “gen
eration” which had taken active part in a world
conflict and had sensed a very personal stake in
the uilding of a world organization. The Korea
contingent, however, also numbers in its ranks a
similar proportion of those qualified for college
but able to come solely by reason of these federal
“scholarships.”
inus a condition tnat nas been earnestly
sought as a social goal by some and keenly feared
as a socialistic pitfall by others has become a fact
—at least for a period of years. With the new pro
vision for paying the whole subsidy direct to the
GI, the arrangement more nearly approaches the
system of government scholarships some have
envisioned—and is thus more amenable to the
kind of study which should tell us whether or
not any such system is desirable on a permanent
basis.
The death corner, located 1% miles northwest
of the city, has claimed another life—the second
in three weeks. It’s a slow curve and deceptive.
Every other car- screeches its brakes and the tires
sing rounding :t.
No one would complain if an abundance of
iall moisture would be received hereabouts.
Carl Asimus a Builder
Death last week claimed the life of Carl Asi
mus, colorful O’Neill resident. With his death,
the city has suffered a Keen loss.
Carl and his brother, Tony, came to O’Neill
and staked out a claim in the trying mid-thirties
when the city was at low ebb. Together they
grubbed out wild bushes and trees and began
building.
They prospered and built and accumulated a
large, loyal following in various lines of business.
When Carl’s health began to deteriorate, they
dissolved their partnership and Carl and his wife,
Ann, devoted themselves to housing projects and
caring for a considerable number of rental prop
erties.
Carl Asimus seldom, if ever, failed to re
spond generously when called upon to contribute
to worthy causes and to undertakings that made
O’Neill a better city in which to live. A notable
example was the gift of a tract of Elkhom river
bottomland to the Boy Scouts.
O’Neill will miss Carl Asimus.
• • •
Not all disasters occur on land or in the
air. During 1952 the high seas swallowed up 53
ships, three of which were not accounted for.
CARROLL W. STEWART, Editor and Publisher
Editorial & Business Offices: 122 South Fourth St.
Address correspondence: Box 330, O’Neill, NeLr
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
newspaper is a member of the Nebraska Press
Association, 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; rates abroad, provided on request. All sub
scriptions are paid-in-advance.
Audited (ABC) Circulation—2,200 (Mar. 31, 1953).
; When You and I Were Youn^ ,. .
Ft Niobrara Unit
to Visit O’Neil!
Provisions Sought for
Men, Horses
50 Years Ago
William Luben, residing some
four miles south of Emmet, sus
tained the loss of his house and
all its contents, barn, two horses
and four sets of harness in a fire.
He and his family were away
from home at the time and could
not account for the blaze. . . The
quartermasters department at Ft.
Niobrara sends out notice that
some 480 soldiers, 20 officers and
100 animals will be at O’Neill
and vicinity October 3 and 4,
and people having provisions to
sell for both men and beasts can
find a market when the soldiers
orrive. . . A1 McMain is keeping
“bachelor’s hall” at Frank Dam
ero’s during their absence. . .
Fwo men with two monkeys and
? box of snakes arrived in town,
stopping for a day or two and
then going to Chambers to give
open air monkey exhibitions.
20 Years Ago
Judge Dixon and Reporter Mc
Elhaney drove to Springview
where they held the fall term of
district court. . . According to a
report forwarded to Washington
by R. L. Metcalfe, Nebraska NRA
chairman, 62 of the state’s 93
counties show an increase in the
payroll of $7,350,615 per year.
. . . According to Dr. H. L. Ben
nett, there are eight cases of
sleeping sickness among the
horses of this county. . . Word
comes from Lincoln that engi
neers are busy on the specifica
tions for the paving through the
city on highways 20 and 281. . .
George Fox has been granted a
permit to sell beer in his cigar
store and card room in the Fox
house, formerly the Beha hotel.
. - On acount of a threatened
epidemic of diphtheria, school
aistrcit 75 has been ordered
closed. . . J. M. Seybolt, who is
now operating a medicine wag
on in Wayne county, is visiting
friends.
10 Years Ago
Neil Francis Brennan, son of
Mrs. Francis Brennan of O’Neill,
was commissioned a second lieu
tenant. . . Lightning set fire to
a stack of hay on the Victor Ho
warth ranch on the west side of
Swan precinct. Citizens formed
a party to prevent the fire from
, spreading and it was an hour af
Her midnight when they felt it
safe to return to their homes. . .
Forty years ago Alexander Dow
ey and Zion City were daily in
the headlines. Has the movement
faded away, or is it a new gen
eration now strutting across the
stage that are not interested? . .
Casper Pribil has decided to
leave the farm and will hold a
sale the latter part of the month.
. . . Mr. and Mrs. T. D. Hutton
received word from their son,
Graydon, that he is in New York
awaiting embarkation orders. . .
The Misses Margaret Engler and
Maude Mellor of Stuart were
awarded $50 war bonds for their
demonstration at the state fair.
Cne Year Ago
Eight Holt countyans are polio
patients in various hospitals.
They are Lois Givens, Duane
Braasch, Patty Elliott, Gleason
Grimes, Ivan Baker, Danny Joe
Cadwallader, Donald Taylor and
Sheryl Rothchild. . . A record
crowd gathered in Lynch to
celebrate the energizing of the
new lighting system. . . A “pre
fab” house was erected on the
Harry E. Ressel lots in North
O’Neill. . . An estimated crowd
of one thousand persons witness
ed a Saddle club roundup in
which more than two hundred
horses and both men and women
riders participated.
47th Anniversary—
Mr. and Mrs. H. D. Grady and
Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Grady and
son, James, Friday evening en
joyed a family dinner. Mr. and
Mrs. H. D. Grady were observing
their 47th wedding anniversary.
They plan to depart soon for
Baker, Ore., where they will
spend the winter with their
daughter, Mrs. Paul Montgom
ery, and children.
Tune In! Voice of The Fron
tier” . . Mon., Wed., Sat., 9:45 a.m.
WJAG (780 k.c.)
k >
Letters to Editor
Hobo . . . dead.
* * *
Butte, Nebr.
Dear Editor:
I see in the World-Herald that
“Hobo” is dead from someone
throwing acid on him. I sure
hope yon will find the low down
fiend that did it and punish
him or her. Do find him or her!
N. C. ANDERSEN
(Editor’s note: Hobo be
longed to Burlington rail crew
and kept vigil at mortuary
here after Police Chief Chet
Calkin’s slaying.)
* * *
Bristow, Nebraska
September 14, 1953
Mr. Cal Stewart
O’Neill, Nebr.
Kind Sir:
This brings you our thanks
(belated, perhaps — but not the
less sincere) for your announce
ment of father’s funeral.
As I listened this morning to
your broadcast, I thought you
might be interested in our well.
It is also a “flowing” well—785
feet deep. It was completed by
Pat Leer & Son of Vermillion,
S.D., last May. Our county con
servation official, Mr. Pelcher,
said this was the only one he’d
seen in Boyd county.
Sincerely,
MRS. ELVIN ALLEN
* * *
Denver, Colo.
September 15, 1953
Dear Editor:
Mr. Klein and myself thought
vou and your Frontier readers
would be interested in knowing
our wonderful thrill when we
had the honor and privilege of
shaking the hand of the presi
dent of the United States.
President and Mrs. Eisenhow
er were honored at a breakfast
which was given at Lowry air
base near Denver. About 200
airmen and their wives were
privileged to attend. We were so
very lucky to have received an
invitation as there was a limited
number given out to each de
partment or unit—and Mr. Klein
happened to receive one.
Actual invitations were sent
out on Friday and how we treas
ure ours! The wording: “Re
questing your presence to meet
the president and his wife at
10:45 a.m., September 6.” Never
have I read an invitation as
many times as this one.
On Sunday, Mr. Eisenhower
and Mrs. Eisenhower attended
rnurch services at the base chap
el, then on to the breakfast. It
was quite a picture in the large
room. All airmen were request
ed to don full dress uniforms and
the ladies—well, it waS quite a
style show! Everyone was at
their best to meet the president.
•Secret agents were easily recog
nized. There were a great num
ber of them.
And the serving table was just
breath-taking! Gleaming silver
and a centerpiece of autumn
finery . . .
At last the announcement came
that they were entering. There
they were about 10 yards away
from where we were standing.
They look very much like their
photographs with the exception
of appearing a little shorter. Ike
was dressed very 'sporty in a
gray summer suit, dark tie and
black and white shoes. Mamie
wore a gray silk faille dress,
pert black hat and an orchid cor
sage.
They snoox nands with many
of the airmen in attendance and
we were so very lucky to have
had that great honor. He chat
ted with many of the officers and
appeared so natural. They stay
ed on at the club room about 30
minutes.
I might add that even though
the president had been in Den
ver six weeks we hadn’t been
able to get a glimpse of him.
However, we were able to see
and photograph his plane, “The
Columbine.”
MRS. GEORGE KLEIN
No Constituents—
But He Has Friends
(By John Koffend in
Omaha World-Herald)
Nebraska’s senior senator.
Hugh Butler, may have no con
stituents in Alaska, but he has
friends.
On a recent visit there he stop
ped at Valdez, a little town south
of Anchorage on Prince William
sound. Later he learned that a
former resident of O’Neill was
living there, and the senator
sent a letter. In time he received
a reply:
“I wish to thank you for your
letter addressed to my mother
. . . She will be 94 this month.
“She went to Nebraska with
her parents when she was a small
girl and transportation was cov
ered wagons powered by oxen.
“We children (one girl, five
boys) were all born in O’Neill. I
have not been there since 1947,
but such names as Harrington,
Biglin, Grady, McCarthy and
many others bring back vivid
pictures of my childhood.”
The signer is Owen E. Meals,
now head of the Valdez Light,
Power and Telephone company.
Cpl. James G. Gallagher arriv
ed late Sunday from Ft. Hood,
Tex., where he has been in
training. He is spending a 15-day
furlough with his mother, Mrs
John- C. Gallagher.
Reception Held for
Teachers, 2 Pastors
PAGE—A reception was held
last Thursday evening in the
auditorium of the Page school for
both the town and rural teachers
of this vicinity. It was sponsored
by the King’s Daughters. The
program opened with music by
the Page school band.
Other numbers were a darkie
skit by the pupils of district 97;
musical reading by Lynda
Cronk; vocal duet by Gene and
Lyle Harvey; dance act by Lin
da and Judy Simmons; vocal
duet by Gary and Bruce Bowen;
song by the Page third grade
girls: vocal solo by Barbara
Page; piano solo by Thelma
Summers; song by the Crum.lv
girls; song by pupils of district
110; piano solo by Mrs. Warren
Cronk; vocal solo by Mrs. Mer
wyn French, jr., and a piano solo
by Marvin Stauffer.
Siipt. Ralph Brostrom intro
duced the Page teachers— Rob
ert Cahill, Glen Blezek and Mes'
dames Lewis Carter, L. B. Tay
lor, R. F. Park and Alton Brad
dock.
Mrs. Harold Kelly introduced
the following rural teachers:
i Miss Phyllis Forbes, district 97;
I Mrs. Owen Parks, district 55;
! Mrs. ’Milo Snyder, district 110;
Cecil Wattermann, district 57;
i Miss Audrey Henderson, district
'28; Miss Mary Halstead, district
47; Mrs. A. B. McClure, district
23; Miss Margie Finch, Venus,
and Miss Dixie Stevens, district
39.
Rev. L. E. Mewmaw and Rev.
Harry O. Johnson, new local
pastors, were also introduced.
About 250 were served refresh
merits at the close of the eve
ning.
KIN DIES
PAGE — Relatives received
word of the death on Friday of
Sam Friday of Marshalltown
la. He was an uncle of Mrs. A B
McClure of Page and a brother
of John Friday of Orchard.
Visit Pickstown—
Mr. and Mrs. Wilbur Summer
and daughters of Columbus, Mi
and Mrs. Ira Summers, Mi; and
Mrs. Don Fridley and daughter
spent Sunday in Pickstown, S.D
DANCE
BUTTE LEGION
BALLROOM
Tuesday, Sept. 29
Music By
JESS GAYER
and His
Orchestra
i
'
Dr. Fisher, Dentist
In the Bishop Block—Norfolk
Office Phone: 610
Res. Phone: 2842
"royal theater
Thurs. Sepl. 24
Alfred Hitchcock’s
I CONFESS
Starring Montgomery Clift,
Anne Baxter with Karl Malden’
Brian Aherne. Filmed in Cana
da’s colorful Quebec by War.- >•
Bros. A love shame she couldn’t
admit and a kill-threat he could
n’t escape!
Family nighl S1.00; adult 50c;
children 12c; tax incl.
Fri.-Sat. Sept. 25-26
THE VANQUISHED
Color by technicolor, starring
John Payne, Jan Sterling, Col
een Ray, Lyle Bettger, with Wil
lard Parker. Using their wits .
their women . . . they fought for
freedom!
Adult 50c; children 12c; tax incl.
Matinee Sat. 2:30. Children un
der 12 free when accompanied
by parent.
Suru-Mon.-Tues. Sepl. 27-28-29
Jane Powell, Farley Granger in
SMALL TOWN GIRL
Color by technicolor, with Ann
Miller, S. Z. Sakall, Robert Keith,
Nat King Cole, Billie Burke,
Bobby Van. Your heart will sing!
Your eyes will dance!
Adult 50c; children 12c; tax incl.
Matinee Sun. 2:30. Children un
der 12 free when accompanied
by parents.
Shotguns
—We Have a Good Variety of Shotguns—
Just Received
A New Shipment of All Sizes
Shotgun Shells
— SEE US FOR CASE LOTS —
Deer Hunters!!
We Have High Velocity 30-30 & 30-06
COATS — BOOTS — PANTS
GUN CASES — GUN BLUE — CLEANING RODS
FULL LINE OF HOPPE'S GUN SUPPLIES
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O’NEILL
Next Door to O’Neill National Bank
Phone 415 112 So. Fourth
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