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About The frontier. (O'Neill City, Holt County, Neb.) 1880-1965 | View Entire Issue (May 7, 1959)
frurieland Talk Let the Grass Grow By ROMAINE SAUNDERS, 4110 South 1st St.. Lincoln 6, Nebr. tlr 25 million dollar irrigation project under jtostrurtion in tlie Ainsworth community is op jmr>} by the sandhills cowboys as a foolish under tone and waste of millions of taxpayers' dollars. One is a crop growing region everywhere through m our country—just let the grass grow on prairie tad on which the herds of Herefords ami Shorthorns to fatten for market. • • • Hot a free trip to Lincoln for a name for that of prairieland sod on the principal street of our Cto'il City hut a trip to Lon England for two Thought t mn* so stated in plain type *n:r it words sent to this de yorlatent a week or two ago. Ocme on with your prairie sod to and get that flying trip your girl friend to the great to >' London, ... A state sen tor m Michigan proposes to to.e their state s worries by tatung the country back to the SjiUn,,,.rH towns. We paleface out here tot hang on a while yet. ... The latest issue of to Nebraska History magazine is devoted to the toy of Fort Atkinson, an outpost of the 1820's lo tacd at the Council Bluffs where now a thriving to>.> city stands. The story might be of special taerc-f to my Atkinson friends. Two of the com Mstding officers of the fort are pictured. Col. At to>n and Col. Leavenworth, smooth shaven and tom. dolled up in the army dress of their day. • • • The light that glimmers and glows in the morn *ig of life, my lad, will lead you to the glare of ,11 — if you will. If not, then to a burned out tovlle of life that dies in the black of the night. • • • * group of a few hundred at the annual banquet of m Lancaster County Youths Citizenship Club were MU by one speaker that citizenship is determined by •tat kind of a person you are. What this collection M Vine and muscle and brain is, involves more tan mere citizenship. When the teacher lined us -qp a row along the south wall of the old school taose that stood where now the classic halls of leam gpr rear their walls along north 4th street, she Muling there in front of us with a spelling book M hand how long you stood there in that line of •■V depended upon how good a speller you were •aril bow accurate. Guy Baldwin and Minnie Sulkirk spelled us all town * • • Human hands cannot reach to yon distant star, •r human feet walk that far. But human eyes ui human thought behold what cannot be bought. ■ walked along life’s highway an afternoon in May •tan I saw her coming just off a little way. We met. •r smiled, we spoke, we blushed and thought it a to of fun And soon two prairicland young folks uflurf along life’s highway as one! * • • the month of April brought sunshine and show to praireland, with here and there a blanket M snow Mother earth wet down and as we enter Me month of May, we anticipate the field and gar toe products, the fragrance and beauty of floral tamm May 22 he is to le escorted to the death chair, strapped in, the current turned on and the life of that killer, Charles Starkweather, will ebb out. Thus will end not only a wasted young life but closes the story of the most brutal killings of modem times in this state. His associate in crime, a young girl, lives on in custody of our penal institution. » * * Since tossing into the legislative hopper at the State House a bill, which if enacted into law will close retail stores in Nebraska on Sunday, Gov. Brooks has been bombarded on the one hand by protests and on the other hand by congratulations. The governor, confined to a hospital as a sick man as this is typewritten, no doubt has a sincere de sire to promote reverence among our citizens for Sunday revered by multitudes today as a memorial of a risen Savior, known by ancient fire worshipers as the “venerable day of the sun.” Perhaps one half of prairieland's population has no church con nection. These Sundays are just another first day of the week And then there are among us some thousands of Jews, Seventh Day Adventists and a branch of the great Baptist church, all of whom regard the seventh day, not the first, as a holy day “made for man" in the beginning by the Creator himself as He stood before our first parents in the Garden of Eden. I do not know if there are among us any of those 300 million Mohamedans who observe Friday, the sixth day of the week as their holy day. If our state ventures on a program to control or direct the religious in human affairs we may hark back to Colonial times when dissenters were burned at the stake. Our federal constitution waves the banner of religious liberty over Americans—let it still wave over prairieland. Close the retail stores by law on Sunday—why? Money rattles into the cash register on the man made holy day. Then close churches, that is the day pastor earns his pay as he prays and preaches and the collection plate passes from worshiper to worshiper. It was a calm late April morning. Out of the blue above the sun was in golden glory, spreading warmth and light across the city. I met this morn ing a gentleman of the cloth from Ainsworth. He is here to look upon a mob of young America from regions ’round about that fill the Capital City’s grand auditorium at 16th and N streets, a youth’s congress. We hear and read about a lot of ‘‘juven ile deviltry," but here comes to prairieland’s grand city, where stands our stately Statehouse, a throng of young people that sense the importance of life their devotion to their home, their country and their God. It came to this old-timer, as a touch out of the glowing skies above, a chance to meet with and speak to a clean young man, a mere lad from Missouri, one who early on life’s highway has already a purpose in life. He informed me that there were 75 in his group from Missouri. The congress was to be in session for four or five days. O yes, we superanuated-has-beens looked in upon these young people as they sat in the great audi torium, participating in it all, and were amazed and gratified that so vast a group of young people from our western states have high ideals to guide them through life. ^fcfa'torial Must It Always Be Thus? The letter was written with a not-so-steady hand, nd it told of many things, among others, age and aB that goes with age. The little 89-year old lady from Chambers re ■Mmni the subscription notice and check to The Bhmtier and the note. It was the kind of note that aiftv more than anything else in this business of aewspapenng. This is the note: Ko, I can't take The Frontier any more for 1 am Me so poorly I can’t read a paper any more—my are so poor. 1 am 89 years old. I hate to give «ap for I have taken The Frontier a long, long time. Mrs. W. I-. Medcalf, Chambers, Nebr. Must it always be thus? Just when a person caches a time in life when he or she should have Me opportunity to sit down and leisurely read a ■ewspaper, their eyes will not let them. We do not know what to say, Mrs. Medcalf, ex f inar we are sorry. Your kind of letter hurts more Man you know. Vie are hoping, however, that from time to time, caneone will be your eyes for you, that someone aili be good enough to take the time to keep you in •Mrmed and read The Frontier to you. Little Peeps Stores of small, north-central Nebraska children ■aised their band instruments to their lips, and with a gleam of admiration in their eyes, began to play alien the master gave the signal. Mr. Leonard Sawyer, well known and loved band aiasi«r from Royal raised his baton and started the axtn annual mass band concert consisting of his students from five area towns. Children from Royal, Page, Inman, Clearwater «Ad Meadow Grove were in Inman Friday evening and the performance was top-notch. "The little children must start somewhere," the taori master said. "You could hear the little ones, art aTways with everyone, but we want them to start ing together.” But those little "peeps” made the evening in (■man something very special. The parents knew %at their children were learning. “I know that the little ones enjoy playing as much m more than the older children,” Mr. Sawyer said. •“It s a wonderful training ground.” $$? NO! (From the Ashland Oaaette) The Gazette has this to say about letters home Sant boys away at college: "Dear Dad: GueJJ what K need mojt of. That'! right. Please lend some afaag. Your |on, Roll.” Dad wrote back: "Dear Ross: Nothing cheers us m much as your NOtes. We kNOw you like school. Goodbye NOw. As ever, Dad.” An Opportnuity Sandhills ranchers will soon have an opportunity to hoar one of the leading economists in the busi ness on May 2G. Francis A. Kutish, professor of economics at Iowa State College, will address the annual conven tion of the Sandhills Cattle Association to be held at O’Neill on this date. Kutish will address the convention on “The Out look Situation as it Pertains to the Cattle Business— Both this Fall and in the Future.” This is a good opportunity for you ranchers to widen your experience. If anyone can understand the reasons for cattle price fluctuations, this is the man. Kutish has written articles on “outlook” and agricultural economics for many of the major farm publications and has made numerous appearances as a speaker before groups throughout the Midwest ern area. You ranchers will also have the opportunity to hear a panel of local ranchers discuss estate and income tax problems. The panel will consist of Dan iel Stubbs, Alliance; W. B. (Bryan) Quigley, Valen tine; John Cassel, Ainsworth and William W. Grif fin, O’Neill. The program has been formed by some excellent men in this community for the entertainment and information of all cattle people and others interested in livestock production in the Sandhills range area. All ranchers, both members and non-members of the Association are invited to attend the convention and program. Regardless of what business you happen to be in, it would be a good idea to take an active part in the Association's annual convention. It will pay you in more ways than you might think. JAMES CHAMPION, Co-Publisher JERRY PETSCHE, Editor Entered at the postoffice in O’Neill, Holt coun ty, 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, Nation al Editorial Association and the Audit Bureau of Circulations. Term* of Subscription: In Nebraska, $2.50 per year; elsewhere in the United States, $3 per year; rates abroad provided upon request. All subscriptions payable in advance. NATIONAL EDITORIAL Frontiers Ago THE FRONTIER W \S YOUNG Three families lost nearly every thing and several others had hay. sheds and machinery burned In the fire which oeeured in May of 1899. The families which lost the heaviest were the Puckett ranch, nine miles south of O'Neill. Charles Ingersall. five miles from O'Neill and J B. Maring residing about ten miles out, . . . VV. E. Hamlin moved his family down from Bas sett and they are comfortably set : tied in the McNichols house in the southern part of town. ... Ira | Laphan has leased the Dollar A Day house and will open it soon. . . . Holt County has enjoyed sev eral soaking rains during the past week. . . . Miss Stella Shively closed a term of school nine miles north of town and is now with her parents in O’Neill. . . . Dr. Gil ligan, Dr. Trueblood. Ed F. Gal lagher and R. H Jenness are ad ding valuable improvements to their residence properties, . . . May 4, 1899, the funeral of Dan Kelly was held at the Catholic church. . . . Greenberry Darr, who has been spending the winter in York county, returned to O'Neill last week. ... A. party of O’Neill Odd Fellows went to Spencer May 2 to organize a lodge. Those not iced with their best suits on were: Maylon Price, Jim Davis. R. H. Henry, J. H. Meredith, Judge Sel ah, O. O Snyder, Oscar Wilcox, C. L. Bright. B F Cole and E H. Thompson. . . . Bezelmans have erected a new building to store ! lime at their yards. . . . The post- , office force point with a degree of pride to the cmbelished front of j their building. THE CENTURY TURNS The 1930 Census showed the population of O'Neill as 1993, a ; gain of twenty over ten years ago. ] . . . Immediately following the an- | nouncement by the Northwestern Railway Company that bus mail , service between Norfolk and O'- , Neill would be discontinued on May , 4. 1930, C. P. Hancock of this city j wired Congressman Simmons this information and asked him to use ( his influence to have the bus mail ' schedule reinstated. . . . Holt J county track and field meet was held at the O’Neill fair grounds , May 8. Stuart took first, O’Neill , second. During the meet, Berl Beck ‘ was seriously injured when a dis cus which was thrown wild, struck him on the back of the head. . . . ' Ten head of yearling cattle were ' kiled by lightning at the C. J. Kimbrough ranch eighteen miles north of O’Neill during the severe electrical storm. . . . W. C. Buford, depot agent at Bristow, who was as operator at the Northwestern depot here, was rendered uncon scious when a large hail stone struck him on the head during the hail storm that visited Bristow in May of 1930. . . . The rainfall for the first week in May in 1930 amounted to almost one-half inch. ; MOST OF US REMEMBER The Frontier’s information desk handled 187 telephone calls in con nection with the outcome of the ' April 29, 1953 special swimming pool election. A canvass of the ballots cast during the special swimming pool election resulted in a revision of final vote tabulation and the official final tally brought cheering news to the enthusiastic pool supporters. . . . A mobile mu seum of Robert Ripley’s collection of “Believe It or Not” oddities and art obiects was presented in O’ Neill May 7 1953. . . Thirty-six seniors of the 1953 O’Neill high school graduating class spent sneak dav in Omaha. . . . The.O’ Neill Civic chorus and O’Neill Civic orchestra presented a preway folk opera “Down in the Valiev”, under the direction of Charles B Houser, band instructor. . City Supt. L. C. Anderson filed a letter of resig nation with the city council in reg ular monthly session. . . John V. Dwyer, 75. former O'Neill city school superintendent, died April 30. 1953 in St. James hospital at Butte Mont. . . . Allen H. Walters and Delbert R Rouse completed their basic training at Lackland AF.B near San Antonio, Texas. Local Church Members Form Study Group A study committee for the cre ation of a Holt County “Temper ance League for Alcohol and Nar cotics Education” was appointed < at an inter-church meeting recent- 1 ly Representatives from 7 of the ( counties and 9 communities met at i the O’Neill Methodist church to consider the problem of a county organization to stimulate a more adequate program in the county in the areas of alcohol and other nar cotics. The Rev. Jim Sloan of North Platte. Associate Director of the State Temperance League of Ne braska, led the discussion. The study committee will be convened by the Rev. Glenn Kennlcott. president of the O’- ! Neill Ministerial Association, and will be composed of repre sentatives from the county, se lected from the various churches. Their task will be to set up the actual plans for such a connty educational organization. They are: The Rev. Charles Cox, pastor of the Methodist church in Chambers; Mrs. Kenneth LaRue also of Chambers; The Rev. Burl Baty, pastor of the Wesleyan Meth odist church of Page; Mr. Harvey Tompkins of Inman: The Rev. Ross, pastor of the Presbyterian church of Ewing; Mr. Ernest Nor wood of Ewing; The Rev. Robert Paul, pastor of the Assembly of God church of O’Neill: Mr. Ben nett Gillespie of O’Neill: The Rev. the Stuart Community church; and Mr. Fred Home, of Atkinson. SOCIAL SKOT’RITY A representative of the Norfolk social security office will be in the court room of the court house in Butte from 9:00 a m. to 1:00 p. m. on Thursday May 21. 1959. A person reaching retirement age this year and expecting to earn $1200 or less is urged to apply for social security benefits about a month before his birthday. A reward in the amount of $500 to a person or person* furnish ing information leading to the apprehension and conviction of those Involved in stealing cattle from members, has been adopted by the Nebraska Stock Growers Association. The state cattle men's organization located at Alliance is encouraging its members to secure signs like the one being posted here by VV. B. Pearson, Valentine rancher. Consumers Budget One Half Million For Coming Year Several minor projects have been completed and material is on hand or the major jobs to tie completed his year under a $557,870 eon itruction and equipment budget or the 11-county area served out >f Consumei's Public Power I)ic ricts O'Neill office. K. L. Van Voorhis, CPPD’s man iger for the 56-eommunlty O'Neill district, summarized the year’s >udget as follows: Rebuild and general improve nents of heavy-duty high voltage ransmission line, $241,300; re amping or general "beefing up” of ocal distribution lines in 17 or nore communities, $175,595; addi ions or rebuilding several sub tations, $60,750; improvements al >ng farm lines, $19,145; additions o power plant facilities, $9,250; ine and service trucks, trailers ind other transportation equip nent, $25,400; office equipment, nobile radio gear, tools, testing ;ear, pole digging units, supplies ind miscellaneous items, $25,430. Vail Voorhis said the largest transmission line investment is the planned $90,000 rebuilding of the 09,00-volt line between Belden and IMxon. Like other line jobs, the Bidden Dixon project is nec essary to provide for Increased power capacity to be carried to customers in the area. Two other major transmission ine jobs include the relocation-and •ebuilding of about 10Ms miles of a !4,00-volt line and reinsulate for 14,500-volts. The job, between O’ Sleill and Inman, will represent ibout a $65,000 investment. The ither big job, with a price tag of ic tho r»f annm dmately 10 miles of 34,500-volt ine between O’Neill and Atkinson. Revamping or bolstering local iistribution systems is scheduled or at least 14 communities, in luding O’Neill, Ponca, Creighton, iVausa, Valentine, Butte, Elgin, Ismond, Concord, Atkinson, Coler dge, Ewing, Hartington, Neligh ind perhaps others. Sub-station additions or rebuil iing is planned for O’Neill, Dix m, Concord, Elgin, Clearwater, Lynch and Bristow. The rural pro gram includes provisions for add ng equipment to handle new farm customers, making general over-all mprovements and re-routing and rebuilding about a mile of a line ?ast of Martinsburg. Van Voorhis said the remain ing $51,830 In the budget Is tab bed to be invested in trucks, trailers and other transportalon equipment, office supplies and equipment, such tools as air compressors, diggers, truck der ricks, various testing and check ing equipment, mobile two-way radio gear and miscellaneous It ems. The O’Neill District, Mr. Van /oorhis pointed out, serves 53 ei ies or villages at the retail level ind three other communities which iuy all their power from CPPD. rhe O’Neill District office handles IJPPD operations in all or part of he following countes: Holt, Brown, <eya Paha, Rock. Boyd, Knox, >dar, Dixon, Dakota, Antelope ind Cherry._ —---. Cycle Club Meets Saddle Sainls motorcycle club was held at the Bob Courtney home on April 26 with 21 present. Due to future plans and a lack of time the ride to Dike Andes, S. D., was replaced by a ride into Lynch after which the meeting was called to order by president, Jay Long of Bristow. It was proposed and voted on favorably to hold a meeting once a month with every other Sunday being for activity or ride Points for year-end trophy gi ven by the "American Motorcycle Association" for the most active participating rider have started. A "Quiz Run" on True and False Ride will be held May 17 for AMA members only. All AMA and club members were invited to join the Plainview club in a trail ride south of Niobrara Wednesday evening. Meeting was closed after which lunch was served. Our next meet ing will he held with Bruce Scholl meyer of Lynch on Saturday even ing, May 23 at 7 p.m. All riders in tri-county and Dakota area are welcome. CAPITOL NEWS By Melvin Paul State house Correspondent The Nebraska Press Association LINCOLN—The Nebraska Legis lature has begun to whittle steadi ly at a huge pile of bills up for initial debate. This has been made possible by conclusion of committee hearings, which since January have occup ied time of lawmakers every' af ternoon, Monday through Friday. Afternoon floor debate is becom ing more frequent, with sessions from 9 a m. to noon and from 2 to 4 p.m. This has caused optimism am ong some observers that the sol ons may wind up earlier than the last week in June as has been the forecast. As a result of the all-day ses sions, those interested in progress of legislation can't keep a score card accurately because bills of ten believed not in position for de bate for some time are picked for argument and acted upon rapidly. The Legislature's budget com mittee has completed its public hearings and has started the tre mendous job of fashioning a bud get for presentation on the floor. With the added work load of floor debate all day, tempers of senators become correspondingly thin. This situation in past sessions has produced some of the more readable copy from the Legislature. Advent of warm weather will hasten work and also wear on tern pel's of lawmakers who have been battling with words since Jan. 6. Brook's Illness The illness of Gov. Ralph G. Brooks caused tin' armchair poli ticians to take another look at possible Democrat candidates for 19(10 elections. The physician of the governor, who suffered a slight stroke April 17, said he is “completely satis fied" with progress the governor is making on the road to recovery. Barring anything unexpected ho said he saw no permanent disa bility for the governor, who has a weakness in his right arm and leg and on the left side of his face. Some insiders say if the gover nor chooses not to seek another political office. Rep. Donald Mc Ginley of Ogallala might he a good bet to run for the U.S. Senate, and Brooks' administrative assistant. Robert Conrad, for governor. On the Republican side, sour ces say that Stale Sen. Terry Carpenter continues to gain strength in Nebraska and will he in a good position If he runs for governor. Some sources say Carpenter in recent weeks has become more acceptable to conservative ele ments of the GOP. Best information appears to he that the tax reform program which Carpenter guided through the legi slature has been one thing which has boosted his popularity. People from inside both parties will agree on one thing: The 19(50 political campaign will be a hot one. Air Conditioning A problem of major concern during hot summer months to the 1,900 workers in the statehouse is air-conditioning. Since the use of air-conditioning became general, workers in the Capitol have hoped for some me it hod of cooling the building alter a baking in the summer sun Sen. Terry Carpenter of Scotts Muff tacked an amendment In the Legislature to a Mil which would allow funds to be used for cooling the building. Carpenter's amendment provides that 20 |>cr cent of the money ear* ! marked for repair and improve jment of the statehouse from an in stitutional building levy should go for air-condittoning. in addition to 20 per cent of the $400,000 now in the fund. The senator had some difficulty pushing the amendment through. It carried by a 21-14 vote Health Hoard >1 ember The first memlier of the State Health Board to live outside I an co in has been appointed by Gov. ; Ralph G. Brooks. Appointed by the chief executive | was Mrs. Laura Berge, of I .iseo, wife of the late Wendell Berge who served as an assistant US attor Iney in charge of the federal anti j trust division. She succeeds the late Dr. C.B. I Kdwards of Lincoln, The board was created in 195.H hut a Constitutional amendment, eliminated at the poll* last No vember, required that all mem bers of the board reside In Lin coln. The governor said he was plea sed with Mrs. Berge's qualifica tions. Ohbink Air Chief A Lincoln man, 39-year-old Jack Ohbink, has accepted the (xisition of State Aeronautics Director. Ohbink was offered the post by Gov. Ralph G. Brooks, to replace Holland Harr, who resigned after blasting the governor for not ma king a decision on who should lie director. Ohbink said he is going to put "past controversies on the shelf" and look toward producing the best aeronautics department possible. He told the Aeronautics Commis sion lie has been a pilot for 18 years and that he is extremely in terested in aviation and will give the commission his full coopera tion __ IT’S TRUE There Is no mistake in this offer. WE WII-I. trade refrigerators with you for only $1.80 per week. No down payment other than your old refrigerator. (Electric and In good working order). TOTAL EXCHANGE PRICE ONLY SI 69^ H CU- *** Model DA-11-59 SEE US TODAY — We Need Your Old Refrigerator. GILLESPIE'S Ponton Insurance Insurance of All Kinds and Bonds FLORENCE PONTON, Prop. Phone 106 Golden Bldg. Fertilizer & Seed We have a good supply of most , fertilizer numbers on hand. Sub stantial cash discounts while they last. 50% CASH DISCOUNT on Forage Seed while it lasts! TOMPKIN’S LIVESTOCK HEADQUARTERS Inman, Nebr. tf DR. H. D. GILDERSLEEVE OPTOMETRIST Northeast Comer of 4th & Douglas O’NEILL. NEBR. Ph. 167 — Office hrs. 9 to 5 Eyes Examined—Glasses Fitted Monday Thru Saturday Closed Wednesday __ \ .\ \ ,T^fj -—■ \ \ --^wK5 ..ct \ \ *2 PU, \ \ ^r- ,„«»«"*• *•*’ \Tzz~~ SPECIALS THIS WEEK FIRESTONE CHAMPION mV*.*995 .^*1295 WILSON ITEXACO O'Neill D.A- KERSENBROCK Phone Nebr. Texaco Products 358