Prairieland Talk
A Farmer's Problems
By ROMA INK SAUNDERS, 4110 South 51st St, Lincoln 6, Nebr.
City dwellers and public officials manifest con
cern over the 'farmers' problems The problems of
life are on the trail of all from the dish washer at
the M & M to the editor at his desk down here on
outh Fourth street. The problem of the farmer down
i the re in the Nebraska corn and wheat country is
where next to go for a little fun He and family take
it all in when they go fc> town, have dollar dinners
at the public eating places, load up the car with
good grub (Mirchased at the great food markets, a
goodly slice off of the hind quarter of beef and a gal
lon or two of milk not a milk cow on the farm any
more. But go back to the '80 s and ’90 s Farmers
got 11 cents a bushel for potatoes, five cents a bush
el for com at one time, three cents a dozen for eggs.
His name was Smith. At his
place twenty miles south of
O’Neill an afternoon TO years ago
toe pitched up a hay rack load
of hay. Next morning at day
break he hitched four horses to
that load of hay and started for
O'Neill, pulling up at the De
Yarman livery and feed barn a
little before noon, unloaded that
hay for which he received five
dollars, fed his horses, stepped Komalne
over to Bentley’s store and got Saunders
a nit kies worth of crackers and a dimes worth of
cheese; went hack to his wagon to sit down on the
hay rack to eat his lunch of crackers and cheese.
Then to the grocery store to buy what the remainder
of that two 1 tucks would get to take home to the fam
ily Farmers’ problems: Smith and others like him
had a way of their own in dealing with life’s pro
blems
• • •
The sunlight shines from the fair blue sky in the
eastern heavens this calm July morning. I withdraw
from the concrete walks where hurrying feet are on
the go and step away from paved streets where traf
fic rushes by. Alone for a time sitting by a stately
tree and feet at rest on the velvet green where na
ture spreads its robe of unspoiled sod. Yes, alone for
a time amid the scenes of nature I drink again from
the fountain of outdoor beauty. And was there not
One once who withdrew from the human throngs
along the shores of the Sea of Galilee and found
rest and quiet meditation up there in the Judean
hiDs. As I rest this quiet morning where a touch
of green-rol>ed nature remains that human hands
have not layed waste and look out upon the scene
where lordly trees stand robed with leaves of silken
reshness, we sense the pleasure of withdrawing for
x brief hour from life's daily activities and sit down
where none can molest or make afraid.
• • •
Five, whose names begin with a G are still a
part of the active Itusiness life of O’Neill, and their
Editorial
family ties run back to the beginning of things in |
the old town Gillespie. Gallagher, Gatz, Golden,
Grady. Another has recently dropped out of the ,
business circles and turned his back on it all, Mr
Gilligan. His father, the late Dr. Gilligan. came to
O'Neill in the long ago and held forth in the Holt
county bank building that stands at Fourth and
Douglas streets and that had been the scene of
three bank busts.
• * *
Functionaries down at the Statehouse are to tell
visitors when they will be permitted to tour our
twenty million dollar state capital building. Does
that magnificent structure belong to the few guys
elected to office or to the citizens of Nebraska?
• * *
We understand that up at Valentine a building is
being built, the property of the Cherry county his
torical society, the building to cost $12,000 and to be
headquarters of the society and the repository of
materials of historic interest. Cherry county has
had a somewhat thrilling past and no doubt the so
ciety will give it their devoted attention Perhaps
no county in this state has had an equal to that of
Holt in stirring events but as yet I know of no
move to organize a Holt county historical society. As
a starter, may Prairieland Talker suggest (as a
group, to put a historical society over) Frank
Brady and Mrs. Dr McKee of Atkinson, Harry
White and Link Sageser down in the Amelia coun
try, Lloyd Gillespie and Mrs. J. W. Rooney of
O’Neill, Walter O’Malley and Mrs. Hugh O'Neill of
the north country, and one at least down at Cham
bers, at Ewing, Inman and Page.
• • •
She may be about fourteen; she is an animal
lover. Her dog was gone. Then an appeal was
made to the Humane Society. Towser was not
among the society’s canine collection. But they
offered her a dog soon to become a mother. Taken
to her home the new dog gave birth to nine pups.
Then the family dog was located under the garage.
Now eleven dogs are there to feed where there had
been but one. ,
• • •
The eight grain elevators in the Capital City
were about swamped as the loads of wheat rolled in
from the fields in Lancaster county. Good grain,
lots of it, and more than a dollar a bushel. Wheat
growers reaped a harvest of filthy lucre as well as
the stuff that goes into our loaves of bread. While
the wheat harvest goes on in sight of the towering
Statehouse figure of a sower I take it that Ray Bly
and others down in grass-robed Swan precinct are
sitting on their mowers cutting the season’s hay
crop. The wheat field must first be plowed and
planted before there is a harvest. The prairieland
grass grows without the touch of a human hand hut
for human hands to pile in stacks of hay that which
the unplowed prairies give them.
An Impressive Council
"You cannot judge a city council by what it does
not do ”
A Kansas daily newspaper said it just recently
n its editorial columns and it was meant, not so
much for the ears of the council as it was for the
citizens that voted the men in.
The column was quite ironic and reflected the
spirit of mistaken citizens although it was written as
though it came from one of the councilmen
The time has come to take a look at the record
>r O’Neill's present council it’s about as impres
sive, we believe, as any in the state.
But how do you pin a rose on men who would
oe embarrased if you told them you thought they
were doing one of the fines* “bang up jobs’’ you
Tad ever seen?
What can you say to a group of men who are
far-sighted enough to realise that this city needs
paving, that it needs new water facilities, that it
needs a storm sewer even If they knew they were
to get an adverse reaction from friends? What do
you say to men, who would be embarrased if you
thanked them openly, for keeping an "eye" on the
future?
You can quote this newspaper on this statement:
You can judge this council by what they do, for the
way they handle their open meetings, for the way
they listen to objectors, and tor their decisions.
Good Old Days
(Dakota Ooaaty Star)
We strongly suspect that those "good old days”
that everybody talks about weren't as thrilling as
the time lapse has made them.
We have thirds much better today- high taxes
and all—than our predecessors And in case you
don't agree, the Retail Merchants Association of
'Nebraska this week came up with some 1872 office
rules that were found recently in an old file in
Boston.
If you were working for a large firm back in
1872, chances are your employer would hand you
a set of rules resembling the following:
1. Office employees euch day will fill lamps,
clean chimneys and trim wicks. Wash windows
once a week.
2. Each clerk will bring in a bucket of water and
a scuttle of coal for the day's business.
3. Make your pens carefully. You may whittle
nibs to your imfivUnal tasks.
4. Men employees will be given an evening off
each week for courting purposes or two evenings
a week if they go regularly to starch
5. After 13 hours of labor to the office, the em
ployee should spend the remaining time reading
the Bible or other good boobs.
6. Every unpbyet Snoid toy aside for his bene
fit during his declining yeurs » that he will not
become a burden on mciety.
7. Any employee who mutes Spanish cigars,
uses liquor in any form, or frequents pool and public
halls or gets shaved to h barber dap will give good
reason to suspect his worth, Mentions, integrity and
honesty.
8. The employee who ton performed his labor
faithfully and without fund! tor five years, will be
given an increase of the cents per day, providing
profits from business pa nut it
Good Investment
One of the least obvious attractions, (at least to
those of us who live in O’Neill), in the city is the
swimming pool.
To give you an idea of what this does to a city,
consider this: Five hundred children took advant
age of the swimming lessons at the pool this year
Over 50 percent of the children are from out of
town.
This means that their parents must come to O’-,
Neill with the children The parents are an import
ant part of the trade territory. The swimming pool
is one of the best investments this community ever
made.
Just A Beginning
Perhaps you noted in the newspapers that the
betting handle at Ak-Sar-Ben in Omaha established
a new record despite a two per cent tax levied
against pari-mutuels this year.
In view of this fact, you can mark our word
that a bill will tie introduced in the Nebraska Leg
islature in 1961 to increase the tax on racing.
It's much like the sales tax has been in other
states . . . two per cent is just the beginning.
So far Nebraska has been able to elude that
sales tax which has mushroomed in other states.
We Are Not Alone
It appears that O’Neill is not the only community
in the area suffering from a water shortage.
Lynch, too, has its troubles. The folks up that
way have recently imprwed their main street, park
and are ready to improve their city hall. They have
now been asked to conserve water where possible.
In O’Neill, drillers will be busy for a week or
more Their first attempts at drilling the well just
south of town resulted in a minor cave-in, and shor
ing material had to be sent for. The cave-in was
not serious, but will result in a slight delay.
Terms of Subscription: In Nebraska. 12.50 per
year; elsewhere In the United States, $3 per year;
rates abroad provided upon request. All subscriptions
payable in advance.
Entered at the postofflce in O’Neill, Holt coun
tv, Nebraska, as second-class mall matter under the
Act at Congress of March 3, 1879. This newspaper is
a member at the Nebraska Press Association, Nation
al Editorial Association and the Audit Bureau of
Circulations.
i
Frontiers
Ago I
50 YEARS AGO
Candidates for nominations for
county offices have filed their pe
titions and requests to have their
names put on the ballot for the
primary election, August 17. . , .
Work on the Naylor building was
resumed after a delay waiting for
cement for the foundation. . . .
Several Iowa parties were here
looking over Holt county real es
tate with a view to investing . .
Married: Clarence Campl>ell and
Miss Nellie Skirving. . . .Agricul
tural Hall underwent a thorough
overhauling and was remodeled
preparatory to the great exhibit
being installed at the coming State
Fair, . . .A ceremony of laying the
corner stone for the new St. Pa
trick's church was planned for
August 4. 1909. . . .R W. McGin
nis of Lincoln was looking after
his creamery interests here. . . .
A harvest picnic was planned at
the M. A. Summers place sixteen
miles east of O'Neill. County Judge
Malone was invited to make an
address. Death: G. A. McCutchan
of Spencer.
20 YEARS AGO
Sister Mary Catherine of St.
Mary's Academy in O'Neill cele
brated the Golden Jubilee of her
consecration to God in religious
life . • Ted Sirek. son of Mrs,
Hein Sirek, O'Neill won third
place at the Archery contests spon
! sored by the State Recreation IV
1 partment held at Fivmont . .
| \lrs Idilla Bnimoaugh of Inman
| celebrated her 81st birthday. . . .
Joe Schollmeyer was in the city
land said that he and Mrs Schofi
meyer, accompanied by their son
m-faw and daughter, Mr. and Mrs.
L'lvin Ax bury of Gross plan to
l |eave for a trip to the northwestern
1 coast for about a month. . .John
McBride of Superior. Wise., form
I erly of O'Neill, was in the city
! visiting some of his old friends
.Mrs. Wilhema Stein celebra
I ted her 83rd birthday. . . The re
creation center again plan Day
Camps.Mary A. Uttley is
slowly recovering from a serious
operation in a hospital in Stuart
l H. J. Hammond. P. C. Pono
ihue, M H. Horiskey and William
Martin returned from their Minne
sota fishing trip.
10 YEARS AtiO
The city of O'Neill once more
was on top in the struggle with its
i inadequate sewerage disposal fa
cilities. . . The decendants of the
late Pulaski and Elizabeth Reed
hold their 14th annual reunion at
the Page park. . . . A half dozen
' dogs were reported to have died in
a few days in west O'Neill. At
least one of the dogs showed syp
lorns of Strychnine poisoning. .
Shirley DeGeorge, 3-year-old
daugher of Mr. and Mrs. John De
George, Omaha, broke her left leg
when she fell from a slide at
Ford's Park, while visiting Mrs.
PoGcorges parents. Mr. and Mrs
Lyle McKim. . . .Thirty-seven
Holt, Boyd. Boone and Wayne
county public school teachers
planned an educational six state
tour of the West. Elja McCullough
was the tour manager. . .Married:
Miss Isabelle Walnofer. Stuart and
Albert Ralph Tooker, Atkinson at
Atkinson Mr and Mrs. Patrick
Sullivan were feted at a surprise
party in honor of their 25th wed
ding anniversary. . . Deaths: An
son Fauquier 51, O'NeSL. He lived
on a farm near Chambers for 36
years.
FIVE YEARS Al.O
The North Nebraska Builders
headed by Harry E. Ressel and
Francis Gilg began clearing an
acreage on O'Neill's north side
which 3 4 additional residential
building lots have been platted
. . . .O'Neill Rockets handed the
Bassett town team a 5-4 defeat on
the Bassett diamond. . . .Sebastian
Pongratz, 62. brother of George
Pongratz, Emmet, arrived to visit
the Pongratz families in Holt coun
1 ty. It was the first reunion of Se
bastian and George in 60 years
I.Vaclov Uhlik, former
Czechoslavokian army ordinance
captain, and his young wife and
their two small children were
O'Neill visitors. . .O'Neill stores
were warned by federal officials
of counterfeit $20. bills now living
circulated in Nebraska. . . Mar
ried: Miss Myra Mitchell, Bassett
and Richard Shaw, Atkinson, at
Bassett.This week's Frontier
| featured a story on "Curley"
Washacheck and his untold hours
of work on uncounted items of cos
tume jewelry and ornaments. . . .
Deaths: William J. Harris, 88, Ew
ing, a barber for 70 years: John
Peter Protivinsky, 7 3. retired
1 O'Neill grocery merchant.
CAPITOL NEWS
By Melvin Paul
State house 1 orrespond« t it
The Nebraska l*ir»» Association
I JNOOLN There is $896.9 mill
; ion more worth of property on the
itax rolls in Nebraska this year..
Unofficial tabulations of reports.
I from counties to the State Tax
Commissioner show tangible pro
' lierty against which the state levy |
I is applied is up $117.3 million
iabout a 5 per cent boost.
Inangihle A property, which is
cash and accounts receivable,
climbed $144 million, about 35 per
cent.
For intangible B property main
ly stocks and bonds the increase
is $335.4 million, or about 130 per
cent. . t
Unofficial estimates are that the
higher values will result in $-’•>
million more revenue for the state.;
counties, cities, school districts and
other governmental subdivisions
The figures, plus those for rail
roads, will be taken by the State
Board of Equalization on or be
fore August 2 to determine the
state property tax levy for 1959.
Observers credit Son. Terrj
Carpenter of Scottsbluff and the
Legislature for producing the big
boosts. Carpenter conducted a j
one-man tax violation investiga
tion and then came up with re
medial laws which were passed |
by the Legislature.
The total increase is much more |
than even Carpenter had speed-1
lated. He had guessed at $500 mill
lion more in value.
None of the figures include val
iues of the railroads operating in
I Nebraska. The State Board of Eq
ualization. in a bizarre decision,
increased worth of the raliroads
for tax purposes by $2 5 million.
There are five members <>: u
board, three Republicans and tvu.
[democrats.
The hike tor the railroads ,
ried 2-1, with Gov. Ralph ;
Brooks, chairman, and State Trea
surer Richard Larsen, memix
voting for the txxist and Audit
Ray Johnson against Bnmks and
Larsen are the Democratic m.
bers of the board.
State Tax Commissioner Ki i
Herrington disqualified h i m s e
from voting. The fifth member a
not at the meeting
The action, which came as a >.
prise after a cut of J2t> million h i
been proposed for the railroads
produced the strongest scrap;.m.
in the statehouse in recent ve,
between members of opposing p,
itical parties.
Brooks and Herrington show .
at each other during the heated de
bate. Herrington said it seem, d
"incredible" that politic had en
tered into the proceedings of the
hoard.
Brooks denied his decision \\ -
political. He said it would have
been the same regardless of which
party he represented
Herrington said his decision v
also not based on politics. He add
ed he had always felt the tax can
missioncr should not vote af’ .
hav ing prepared a formula for pi e
sentation to the board, which
used to value the railroads
The governor argued that "rail
roads are flying high" with th
stocks "at the highest point in lie
tory."
New Party Chief
The Republican party has named
a new state chairman, Charles
Thont' of Lincoln, 35-year-old at
tomey and former administrative
assistant to Sen. Roman llruski
THE FAMOUS
SKY KINGS
The Nation’s ‘Greatest’ Rain or Shine I
SUNDAY, JULY 26th
MUNICIPAL AIRPORT - O'NEILL, NE8R.-2,30 PM
TV Stars in Thrilling Action
Explorer Satellite (on display all day)
Nation’s Top Stunt Pilots
Parachute Jumping
Wing Walking
Gronnd-to-Air Missile Fired
At Safe Distance from Spectators
Military Jet Planes Will Flv Over Field
Sensational Handkerchief Pickup
By Man on Ladder Below Fast Flying Airplane
FEATURING:
Roy ‘Upside Down’ Timm
Major Arthur 1 Davis
The Nation's Best Known Stunt Pilot'
Ray Henry
In His 450 Stearman Stunt Skin
... . - ... - v * ■ : .' f ----- ■ ■ ’ -- -
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