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SEMI-WEEKLY EDITION FOUR PAGES
VOLUME XXIX
TLATTSMOUTn, NEBRASKA, MONDAY MA11CU 27, 1910
NO 25
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He Tells the Journal Reporter of
the Country and HU Visit With
' C. E. Wescott returned this morn
ing from a trip of Beveral weeks dura
tion at Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Mr.
Wescott brought back with him a
large, well developed case of bad cold,
the result of travelling. He returns
to this country better pleased than
ever with the great Canadian wheat
country and is an enthusiast over the
prospects for that vast region and
the outlook for Its future develop
ment. Mr. Wescott states that the
weather In the northwest has been
ideal spring weather with no snow or
cold and that the days in that region
are Just such as this country has
been experiencing the past month.
He scoffs at those who cry winter
weather in the Canadas and does not
agree with those who think it a land
of long, severe winters. Farmers are
at work in that country now Just as
they are here and the outlook in that
territory is for a great year of crops
and some bumper figures when the
season closes. Mr. Wescott visited
the farms of Wm. H. Stokes and
John Spangler while there, these gen
tlemen having farms within a very
short distance of the place where Mr.
Wescott owns land. Mr. Stokes had
Just moved upon his farm when Mr.
Wescott called on him. He describes
the land in that aoctlon as wonderful
ly fertile and rich and believes the
gentlemen will make a mint of money
out of their holdings. The farms are
located some twelve to fourteen miles
from Calgary, the wonderful young
giant of the northwest a city which
has sprung from the Canadian plains
as if by magic and which is rapidly
expanding uptil the inhabitants have
visions of 100,000 people In the very
near future.
Mr. Wescott describes the Influx
of Americans into the northwest as
more than marvelous. Every train
going into that land is crowded to
the limit with homeseekers, most of
whom go to Calgary although many
go on 200 miles farther north to
Edmonton and still others get aft at
Medicine Hat and go to Lethbridge.
They are swarming into that fertile
waste by thousands and come from all
the states of the central north and
the northwest part of this country.
The hotel accomodations at Calgary,
Mr. Wescott states, are much over
crowded and rooms are at a premium.
In that city there are 27 hotels and
every one of them turns people away.
GETTING III HUE
FOR 1 IRK
Final Action on the Paving Mat
ter to be Taken by Council
Next Monday Night
From Friday's Dally.
Mayor Sattler has received the blue
prints of the proposed paving which
is to be done in the new paving dis
trict No. 3. The blue prints follow
the general outline of the paving as
printed heretofore in the Journal.
The pavement if It Is put in as pro
posed will be a fine piece of work and
will be solid and enduring. The base
for the paving will be of concrete and.
rangeB from five to six Inches in
depth depending upon the location
This will be of the highest class of,
concrete and afford a substantial and
unyielding foundation for the brick.
The brick to be used will be the
genuine paving brick and no soft
brick will be allowed to enter into
the construction. The result should
make a pavement which will last for
ages. The block on Vine street be
tween Sixth and Seventh streets is to
be in the Bame form as that on Main
and Sixth street, to be Inverted also
as to afford ample drainage facilities
for the water which may overflow
from the sewers. The remainder of
the pnvlng except that on Fifth and
Fourth streets will be the standard
pavement. The Fifth and Fourth
street blocks will be Inverted.
The estimate as printed in the Jour
nal several days ngo coupled with
the blue prints and some ordinances
to carry out the plan of the same will
be laid before the city council on
HIS CAIHII TRIP
HU Trip, the Great Growth of
Former Cass County People.
He relates of an experience be had as
an illustration.
He had some business at the town
of Carstairs to look after and he
gave up his room at the hotel he
had been stopping at in Calgary to
make the trip. Finding that he could
do all the work he wanted in one day
he telegraphed the hotel to reserve
his room for him. He was much
chagrined to get an answer to the
effect that they had already fifty on
the waiting list and that he could
not be accomodated there. They
kindly advised him to call on them,
however, when he got back and they
would try to get him a room. He
called as requested and found that
the hotel management had found him
a room at another hotel.
Business throughout the great
northwest is being done, Mr. Wescott
states, by automobiles and the coun
try roads are thick with big machines
whirling prospective investors over
the rich farm lands. Every place one
goes he describes the rush as great.
Railroads are invading that section
and the reporter saw a map of a sec
tion of the country around Calgary
which was a vivid reminder of early
Nebraska days when every man had
a new railroad surveyed through his
back yard. The map was literally
nothing but a network of proposed
roads which run east, west, north
and south. One of the lines which
is almost sure to be built within a
great while Is the Canada Northern
which is pointed toward Fort Church
ill on Hudson's Bay and which will
be the line over which the great
wheat crops of the future will move
to Liverpool. This line proposes to
run inside the Artie circle and it
will tap a great grain country. It
shortens the haul between Celgary
and Liverpool about 1,200 miles, a
fact which few people know. The
shortness of the haul is somewhat
offset by the short open season in
Hudson's Bay which is but four
months in the year, yet It is believed
the wheat can be harvested and stored
In elevators during the winter or
closed season and be ready for trans
portation to the European markets
when spring comes.
Mr. Wescott makes a delightful
and Interesting conversationalist and
his views on Canada and the Can
adians and their prospects are well
worth listening to.
next Monday night at the regular
meeting when some action will be
taken on the plans. Mayor Sattler
has the plans for the paving on his
desk in his office and the same can
be seen by those of the public who
desire to inspect them. The estimate
has been printed in the Journal and
everyone is familiar with the figures
which the engineer submits. Work
on the paving will probably be start
ed some time about May 1st, as the
disposition is to rush the matter.
Death at Weeping Water.
A special from Weeping Water
under date of March 24, says: "Dr,
J. H. Cowles, aged seventy-nine, died
of apoplexy here at his home at mid
night last night, after a sickness of
about two weeks. Dr. Cowles was
born In Amber, New York, In 1831,
was married to Miss Mary Rhodes in
1866, and came to Nebraska in 1880
He was a pioneer In Furnas county,
and practiced medicine in that part
of the country for about twenty-five
years. His home was at Cambridge.
Since his retirement, about four years
ago, he has lived in Weeping Water
During the civil war he was a surgeon
In a New York regiment. He Is sur
vived by his wife, and an only daugh
ter, Mrs. Carl Day. Mrs. Day and her
husband have been touring Europe
for the last four months and sailed
for homo only yesterday. She could
not be informed of her father's sick
ness and cannot know of her father's
death until she returns home. The
funeral will be held from the house
Friday afternoon."
Mrs. Dan KIser and daughters,
Misses lone and Lucille are visitors,
louay in umana, Having gone to
that city this morning on the Bur
llngton train to spendthe day.
Visits Home Folk.
Jack Sherwood spent last evening
In the city with his folks, coming
down form Lincoln where he has been
working. Jack recently suffered the
misfortune of losing the middle fin
ger of his right hand, the same being
caught and crushed while he was
engaged in coupling cars in the Val
ley yards. His many friends in this
city learned of the accident with the
most sincere regret and hope that he
will have no more bad luck. He
was a passenger this morning for the
north,, going out on train oN. 15.
THE PASS1 UG OF
The Late John G. Hansen Laid
at Rest Thursday.
From Friday's Dally.
The death of John G. Hansen last
Monday morning, removes from us
one of the old Cass county citizens.
Uncle George, as so many have greet
ed him, was greatly loved by many
friends. His life's sketch which we
presume is nearly accurate, compiled
in 1889, says In part as follows: .
"His possessions are finely located I
on section eleven in Avoca precinct to
I,
which the proprietor came and select
ed his claim when there was not a
white man in sight. He was in fact,
he very first settler in that part of the
county and has been a resident of
Cass county since 1854. He pre-empted
his present homestead of 160 acres
in the fall of 1857. The home farm
by no means comprises the extent of
his possessions.
"He was a native of the Duchy of
Holsteln, Germany, was bora Septem
ber 18, 1828, of parents of German
ancestry.
"Mr. Hansen began his education In
the, schools of his native land and
ater Joined the army and participated
in the revolution of 1848. Later he
was a soldier of the regular army of
Denmark and saw active fighting. In
1853, he took passage at Hamburg
and landed at New York, thence he
proceeded to Davenport, la. He came
here a poor man, but labored with
German thrift, prudence and Industry.
He came to Nebraska, Cass county,
July 3, 1854. On June 17, 1861, he
as married to Miss Wilhelmine Ober-
nolte. To this union was born nine
children, one died in infancy.
Of the children there were Peter
C, Emma C, Simon E., George,
Helena A., Augustus F., Charles W.,
and Anna M. Mr. and Mrs. Hansen
were Lutherans, politically he was
Republican."
He has lived with his son George
on the old home place which was
originally in Avoca precinct, but later
made a part of Nehawka precinct. The
funeral was held yesterday, (Thurs
day), March 24, and the remains in
terred in the cemetery on the farm
Thus ends the life of a kind husband
and father, whose friends are numy
bered by all acquaintances, who has
lived and died right, and loved by all
Services at 2:30 at the home.
That Controversy.
The Weeping Water Republican
this week in a column article answers
the News editor in a very sarcastic
manner. And among other things
gives the editor of the News
what it considers some Very good
advice as follows:
"Mr. News editor, we told you the
truth about Plattsmouth in a nice way
and you know it. We also know
that you have a live commercial club
and hope It will do big things. We
believe you have a mayor and coun
cil who are trying to conduct the
city affairs as nearly right as pos
sible, but at the same time you have
got the worst walks of any town in
the state and It makes you- sore to
have It mentioned. Your paved street
was In a deplorable condition at the
time of our visit and you Bald so in
your paper. The dirt should have
been shoveled off. We told you the
court house Bhould have repairs, that
a car of oranges had been wrecked
and they were cheap, that your child
ren had the measles, and some of
your citizens had queer names. Did
we lie? It may be that we can do
all you say we can, but we don't
crowd out news to run base ball rot,
nor attend every gamo In fifty miles
Take that chip off, keep your mono
type going, hunt for news and write
it, don't deride your competitor and
you will make your office show
balance on the right side some day.
Pay no attention to the censors."
FP.RLY
1IOMK TO I'LATTSMOITH.
"In spring when the green gets back
in the trees,
And the sun comes out and stays,"
Then I long for dear old Plattsmouth
And the haunts of other days;
For a stroll down the Missouri
'Twas a path I early knew,
And a tramp through Goos's pasture,
Where the water cresses grew.
For a walk out to Fitzgerald's forty
I've gathered truffles there;
A Bnooze on the banks of Four Mile,
Where the bullfrog has his lair.
I'd hie me to old St. Mary,
Where I've angled big mouth bass,
Then back again In the twilight
To the capital of Cass.
Then I'd sit down in front of the
court house
With Judge and Teddy and Doc,
And talk of times of long ago
Until midnight by the clock;
Of trips to county conventions,
And over Wlntersteen's hill
To the tree in front of Herman's
I can taste that red wine still.
So I'm soon coming home to Platts
mouth, Judge
.'Twill always be home to me.
I'll clasp the hands of true old
friends,
The salt of earth, you'll agree.
I'll tramp again o'er those old hills,
I'll stroll by Missouri's shore.
li there I'll take my last, long sleep,
When this fitful struggle's o'er.
Frank E. Green.
Lincoln, March 23, 1910.
The above piece of poetry was re
ceived several days since by Charles
Grimes of the Journal force and It
is printed at the request of the many
friends of the author in this city.
Col. Green is truly the poet laureate
of southeast Nebraska, and the little
gem Is worthy of a place in the
scrap books of all who love genuine
heart songs. There 1b to it the
ang of nature which appeals to every.
one who looks back to the old .home
and the old friends with whom many
a happy hour has been spent There
is to it that sacred bond of sympathy
which binds the heart to the old
scenes and the old days when life
flowed along as the summer stream
beset, it is true, at times by little
summer storms which fled as quick
ly as they had come and left the
current of our lives to roll on to that
great and fathomless sea called des
tiny. Col. Green's little poem will
live in the hearts of those who love
the old home, as long as the heart
throbs and his lines will be read
and re-read in the dim, distant fu
ture by many a man whoso eyes will
be moist with the tender tears of
recollection.
Freshman Class Give Farewell.
From Friday's Dally.
The members of the ' Freshman
class of the high school gave a class
party last evening at the home of
Miss Zeltta Gllliman, which was in
the nature of a farewell and in honor
or Will Bell, who is a member of the
class but who expects to depart for
Burlington, la., Monday. The even
ing was most delightfully spent tn
various games which furnished plenty
of amusement for the young people.
Music, both instrumental and vocal
was furnished by a number of the
young people and which was most
augmented when delicious refresh
ments, consisting of ice cream and
cake was served to which all did
ample Justice. The members of the
Freshman class sincerely regret Iob
ing one of their' best students but
wish Will all the happiness possible
in his new home.
Favors a Banquet.
From Friday's Imlly.
H. L. Oldham, the veteran Demo
crat of Murray, came up this after
noon from his home in that enter
prising city for a business visit here
Mr. Oldham Is making some spring
repairs about his place in Murray and
he found that ho had to have some
material for the work, coming to this
city after it. Mr. Oldham is an en
thusiastlc advocate of the idea of a
great Cass county Democratic din
ner to be held some time in the near
future at which the shining lights of
the Democracy of the state and the
nation will be invited to deliver ad
dresses, lie mentioned the subject
to a number of Plattsmouth Demo
crats who took the matter up with
enthusiasm and it is possible such
an event may be scheduled In the
near future.
Aug. Nolting, one of Chrs county's
good fanners, is a visitor today in the
city.
SEVERAL AGED PEOPLE III PUOTS
111 l'I SAW HALLEV'S COMET
Old People Remember Well the Excitment and Alarm Caused
By the Last Visit of this Famous Comet
From Saturday's Pally.
Chicago and other eastern cities
are getting busy and organizing re
ception committees for the return of
Halley's comet which is due to come
in sight about April 18 or 19 and the
papers are full of sketches of dis
tinguished centenarians or octogenar
ians who will this year see the most
famous sight of the century. These
men will have seen the Bame sight
twice in a lifetime, something very
remarkable and well worthy of com
ment. But the big cities are not alone in
having a number of old citizens who
can claim the distinction. Platts
mouth and this vicinity can furnish
several who saw the great brilliant
visitor in 1835 and who, if everything
goes well will again witness the Bight
this coming month. Among these is
W. P. Bailey, the aged citizen of the
Second ward. Mr. Bailey is now in
his 95th year and is very active
spry for one of his age. He remem
bers the comet and locates it in the
north at that time. The description
which he gives of the comet and the
extreme agitation of the people when
it appeared is well worth hearing.
There was great terror among the
more ignorant of the people over the
appearance of the heavenly wanderer
and dire things were predicted for
the earth and its people. The con
trast between the reception given the
comet then and what it will receive
today Is very marked and Mr. Bailey
cannot but notice it. He expects fully
to see the great body when it flames
out in the heavens next month.
Grandma Starkjohn, mother of
William and Theodore Starkjohn, ia
another of the aged citizens of this
city who will see this great sight
for the second time this year. She
is now in her 90th year and she is
very active for her age, in fact, much
more so than many, years younger
She was in far away Germany when
she last saw the big comet.
Grandpa Welch who Is 88 years of
age is another who has recollections
of the comet and he hopes to live for
at least time enough to once more
see the wonder of the ages. He re
calls distinctly the visit of the flam
ing ball in 1835.
Uncle Ben Marler of Mynard Is one
who is of the age when he could have
seen the comet and remembered its
appearance and he too, will live long
enough to number the second ap
pearance of the mystery In his re
collections.
Grandpa Smith from nar Murray
Is one more whose frlendB figure will
be able to recall the appearance of
the comet as he is in the 90's also.
Doubtless there are many more in
the county who will be able to recall
the last visit of the celestial wanderer
and It might be well for them to get
together and form a reception com
mittee for the visitor who will come
Happily Surprised.
From Saturday's Dally.
Judge A. J. Beeson and his estim
able wife were made the recipients
of a very pleasant surprise party last
evening, a number of their friends
and neighbors coming in on them and
making a farewell call previous to
this popular couple moving into their
new home on north Fifth street. The
party was a masked one and the
delights of the evening can be easily
Imagined as well as the extreme trou
ble wbjch the Judge and his wife had
In guessing the Identity of their
guests. After the masks had been
removed the evening was spent in
music and with games which all
greatl yenjoyed. The crowning event
of the evening was a splendid Bupper
or luncheon served by the hostesj
and to which the many guests did
ample Justice. It was a late hour be
fore the happy guests departed for
their homes after having wished the
Judge and Mrs. Beeson the greatest
good luck In their new home. They
expect to move from their homo on
Elm street to North Fifth street today
and tomorrow.
James Chalfant and son W. F.,
from near Murray came up this
morning and were passengers for Om
aha where they will spend the day
attending to some business matters.
as a friend of their early manhood to
greet them In their old age.
There is much of interest connect
ed with' the Halley comet. It takes
Its name from Sir Edmund Halley.
the second, Astronomer Royal of
England, who saw it in 1682. Owing
to the fact that the method of com
puting the orbits of comets was un
known them, he could not do that.
He predicted the appearance of the
comet from the fact that remarkable
comets had appeared in 1531 and
1607, which were two days about 75
years apart and which led him to be
lieve that the comet would appear
again in about 75 years. To make cer
tain of his guess Halley predicted
that the comet would appear again
in 1758 and sure enough it showed
up on schedule time. A German
farmer obtained the glory of first
discovering it on Christmas night
1758, although all the astronomers of
Europe were on the watchout for It.
The comet appeared next in 1835 and
is now in sight of the telescopes.
having come in Bight last November.
Halley's comet now has been traced
back to the year B. C. 240 and It
was seen In A. D. 451 and 760. The
regular visits of the comet extend In
an unbroken line from the year 1066
to 1910. The comet has made al
together 28 different visits since the
year 240 B. C.
Some of the curiosities of history
are wound up in the movement of
this comet. The coming of the comet
in the year 1066 was associated in
the minds of the English people with
the victory of William, the conqueror,
and when the great mass blazed out
of the heavens they were alarmed
and dismayed bb they considered it
the symbol of William's great achler
ments. In the year 1456, the comet
appeared Just after the Turks had
aken Constantinople and were threat
ening to overrun all Europe and the
appearance was a signal for a reign
of terror on the continent. It was
at this time that the then pope is
sued his fumous bull against the
"Turks, the Devil and the comet."
Special prayers were prepared and
the church bells ordered rung at
noon. Again, in 1759, the return of
the comet was associated in the minds
of the people of England and France
with the war between those two no
tions which took place In that year
and by which Canada was taken from
the possession of France and passed
under the English flag there to re
main. Astronomers are divided as to the
composition of comets and there Is
some curiosity manifested as to the
effect its near approach will have on
the people of the earth as It will be
within 12,000,000 miles or the earth.
It is also expected to be remarkably
brilliant and to be a conspiclous ob
ject in the evening heavens. It will
be brightuit Jt 1h figured on May 19.
HarMhftyiin vs. ltojnl.
From Saturday's Dally.
Justice Archer yesterday decided
the case of Harshman vs. Royal, the
forcible detainer case spoken of in
yepfsrdays Journal in favor of the
plaintiff George W. Harshman, the
owner of the land, the possession of
which was sought for In the suit.
The case was a very hard fought one
and counsel on both sides made a
vigorous effort to win it. Ramsey &
Ramsey appeared for Mr. Harshman
while the defendant's side was repre
ented by Attorney Clark & Robertson,
the latter young man acting as trial
lawyer. One unfortunate feature of
the case Is that the parties to it are
related by marriage, the defendant
being the husband of the plaintiff's
daughter. It Is not known whether
or not the defendant will appeal. The
land in question is located near the
town of Avoca and Is one of tho finest
farms In that section of tho country.
There were quite a number of wit
nesses present from Avoca and that
vicinity to testify on the several sides
of tho case.
Col. J. B. Seybolt and A. L. Baker
are visitors today in the city, having
driven up from Murray In the Col.'s
auto. The machine had to have some
repairs which necessitated the gentle
men stopping over here for dinner.