The Plattsmouth journal. (Plattsmouth, Nebraska) 1901-current, January 28, 1915, Image 1

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

    moutb
omn
VOL XXXIII
PLATTSMOUTH, NEBRASKA, THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 1915.
NO. I.I.
Neb st.atf llif t.rwal Soc
pl&tta
a be
A VERY WARM,
SESSION OF THE
GUY COUNCIL
The Light Question Creates a Hot
Discussion, and Matter Not Yet
Settled for a Certainty.
From Tuesday's Dairy.
The light question that we ha
been hearing about at most of the
meetings of the city council in the
past few months, last night oc
cupied the center of the stage of one
t'f the most interesting meetings th
this august body has held for some
time. The question drew on a general
cebate, in which almost everybody
had something to say, and some of
them were on the floor several times
to express their views of this all-in
teresting matter of furnishing light
for the city and relief in the matter
cf rates for the private consumers.
The opening gun of the engagement
was fired when Chan man Streight of
the judiciary committee presented the
franchise which they had prepared
for the Omaha & Lincoln Railway &
Light Co., and which was to run for
a period of twenty-five years and
gave the said company the right to
set poles on the streets, alleys and
highways of the city, but not for the
operation of an electric railway. The
rates for the private consumer in the
franchise were based on the per cent
of the load carried on the service
wires of the company, and were 15
cents per kilowat for the first 30
hours of service, 9 cents for the next
thirty, and for the excess of this 6
cents per kilowat, to be based on 60
per cent of the load carried. - -
This franchise also provided that
the said light company should, on De
cember 31, 1917, pay over to the
said city of Plattsmouth 1 per cent
of their earnings as a tax and that on
the 31st day of December thereafter
this should be carried out.
The franchise was read for the first
time and passed to its second read
ing, when Councilman Streight moved
the suspension of the rules and the
leading of the ordinance for the sec
end and third times by its title for
final passage, but this was lost, as
eight of the councilmen voted "no'
with Streight and Bajeck voting
aye."
Chairman Bestor of the streets, al
leys and bridges committee asked that
the mayor and city clerk be author
ized to publish a notice in the daily
Journal for all property owners to
remove the snow from around their
premises as soon as possible.
Councilman Harris of the cemetery
committee asked that his committee
be given further time in the matter
of platting the cemetery, and this
was granted.
The light question again came up
when the report of the lighting com
mittee was sent to the desk by Chair
man Hallstrom for reading. In this
the committee reported they had con
ferred with the Nebraska Lighting
company in regard to the matter of
furnishing rates and that they had
seured as low a rate as possible
from the company on the street light
ing and that the rate for private
consumers was the same as that of
the Omaha & Lincoln Railway &
Light company, while the rates for
the city lighting were as follows:
Nine 400-watt nitrogen arc lights nt
$54 per year, twenty-one 60-watt
lamps at $15 per year, and 110 40-v.-att
lights at $10.80 per year. The
light company agrees to furnish fre?
light to the city hall, library and jail
and the entrance lights on the ex
terior of these buildings. The report
recommended that after the fran
chise of the company was exchange 1
for the new one and the same accept
ed that the contract for city lights
be let to the Nebraska company. Mr
Hallstrom stated that the manage
ment of the light company were will
ing to put the low rates to consum
ers into effect at once after the adop
tion of the franchise and the contract.
They also provided a penalty for the
violation of the franchise.
There was not much discussion of
the matter and the report was placed
on file, where it rested for a few ir:n-
utes until a further argument was in
dulged in. Mr. Hallstrom stated thatjlation will be drawn up
he didn't like the manner in which the
leport of his committee had been dis-
posed of and thought that after their
hard work on the matter of securing
rates that there should be some ac-
tion taken, either for or against the
leport, and an expression secured
from th members of the council.
Councilman Bestor stated that the
committee had secured a much better
gas rate than they had hoped for in
that part of the franchise, and the
rate for gas was much lower than in
any tne cl'es the same size in
me fiaw. ne was wming xo nave
the council take whatever action they
pleased in the matter, as it would not
... ,,v,n,.-
ally.
Councilman Patterson stated that
the committee had done their work
well and he thought that they were
entitled to have some action taken,
and he thought that it would be right
for the city to let the light contract to
the Nebraska company. v
Councilman Streight thought that
the report of the committee laid a re -
sponsibility upon the city if it was
rdopted to secure the contract of thejtached, were referred to the claims
Nebraska Lighting company, but did
not see where it made the Nebraska!
Lighting company liable to put into
effect the rate proposed in the report
cf the lighting committee, as there
was no written agreement from the
ifiik t-uuijjrfiiy lu uinu mem.
i v .i i.1
vuuiiuinmi. uesiur Maieu mat ne
uiu not minK me ocmpany wouia try
i u.. jmuuiK piupuM.-u
rates in lorce, as mey were willing to
lower them at once.
Councilman Johnson thought that
the city attorney should take the mat-
ter up in court to have the old fran-
chise surrendered and favored adopt-
ing the report of the committee and
instructing the citv attornev to start
the action in court.
Citv Attornev Tidd at this timP n.l-
dressed the council and did not favor
adopting the report as presented, as
its wording in providing a penalty for
the violation of the provision of the
ordinance was such that it would not
I
stick in court, as the franchise pro-
vided a bond of some $2,500 to cover
the fulfillment of the provisions of the
franchise, and by stating that there
was a penalty the committee wou'd
nulify this part of the franchise en-
tirely, as if the minutes of the cnun-
cil were offered in evidence in trial the
court would put the same construe-
tion on the wording of the report and
throw out that part of th-i fanchire
and as this was one of the most irn-
nortant matters that th:3 body had,
. I
he urged them to be very careful.
Councilman Hallstrom again, in ad-
dressing the council, stated that the
report of the committee was not in
tended as a contract betwn the city
and the light company, and he was
willing, if it could be done., to have
the penalty stricken out of it.
Councilman Streight stated that he
thought the matter should b present
ed together with the proposed fran
chise to the council, and if the report
was not a written contract with ihe
ight company it was at least a moral
obligation to accept the proposal of
the light company and grant them a
contract.
Superintendent Woofo oC the NV;-
iraska Lighting company secured the
floor to give a short statement as to
the position of the compmy, and said
that they had had the proposed
franchise under conVideTtion for the
past four weeks an 1 that when the
committee of business men and coun-
cilmen had visited him he had been
fvi v t a m tr nnlAKplnMi l-w. V . . 1 m,mC.
of the rates and the terms of the city
were the only requirement- made and
that the contract and franchise would
:ave to be approved of by the head
office before they would be final, and trial from the defendant was over
they .were willing to do this, and the ruled by Judge Begley. In this case
ompany had desired since last July
to lower the rate to private consum-
crs, as they were losing money in not tain land in Minnesota,
being able to acquire new business, This morning the case of McCarthy
and would lower the rates to piiatc & Sturm vs. the Missouri Pacific rail
consumers of their own accord, but wy ws placed on trial in the court.
would like to have some understand-
ing with the city.
Councilman Hallstrom gav-3 a fur
ther talk on th? position of himself
on the question, fnd City Attorney
idd suggested t j the council that the
ight committee and city attorney
draw up the stipulation? of the suit
to be filed to so-: ire die nullification
of the old franchise of the light com-
pany to present at the next meeting
of the council, a? thii wo-.ild be neccs-
.. c x i.
MrJ """J "ei"J me jianeu-e me nome unui tomorrow morning, to be a small piece of business to pre
could be adopted. On motion of Lush- when it will be taken to the old home vent the use of a few feet of land in
insKy mis was aaopiea anu ine supu-
.Mr. Hall-I
strom voted "no."
Superintendent Woods stated that
the action of the council left the ques-
tion where it had been for the past
two weeks, and he was .sorry th:it
such delay had been occasion, as he
would have to have sevarol days' time
to get the documents approved, and
that he would have nothing to show
them that the city was willing to go
ahead on the matter. He would be
compelled to send the stipulations and
franchise to Des Moines, Iowa. ?or
the approval of the office there, which
i wouiu consume mucn time.
I The council received a communica-
tion from the firm of Bruce & Stand
v.t,, i ,. c.mB P.v,.. -
I city with plans and specifications for
J the storm sewer system of the city in
J one block extensions for the sum of
I $10 per block. This was placed on
file. ,
The communication from Gus Carl-
son in regard to his injury, which he
received at the Monroe fire Christmas
day, was read and his claim for $10,
1 with the physician's certificate as
his being off duty for two weeks at-
committee.
Councilman Johnson stated that the
matter had been brought to his at
tention, and that he had understood
that there was a state law providing
for the payment of from $2.50 to $10
i . i ii . i t i
I per weeK on an ciaims irom ones oi
me scale, it was on me suggestion
i oi tne city attorney tnat it was re -
ierreu xo ine ciaims commiwee, as it
was in the nature ot a claim lor dam-
ages arm snouiu te acteu on oy vnis
committee.
Fire Chief A. F. Braun presented a
statement of a number of recom-
mendations as to the betterment of
the fire department and of articles
needed. He recommended that two
axes be placed on cart Nos. 1 and 2
for use in f,res- and that 200 feet of
I 1 A 1 . 1 1 . .1
-quin.-r ue pun.. iur
tne nook and Iadder waon, as it was
vaaiy neeaea. as e rope was
"orn ou" "au upr.n-
tendent of the water company and
A 1 1 A 1 it
iner naa Promise " nav ine s"
removed irom around tne nre nya-
rants.
ti c :i r a l I
iiie nuance wui.umte ui me cny
council reported the following claims,
which were approved and warrants
I i i ,1 a.I
truereu urawn ior meir
wiuiam noiiy, gloes lor nrement,
S1; E- J- Rlhcy, lumber for city,
tte Journal, one eight-
huire journal, $14.50; W. A. Tompkin,
v-imn amvuhuc,
1 . T rn 1 t 4 A f - t
me no ldlur' '"
vvllliam ooeiman, bame,
it a. a . tw 1 - 1 II. I
l-uw, rummiuivncr,
Waterman Lumber Co., lumber,
S13.30.
The claims committee recommended
the payment of the following claims:
W. II. Highfield, nozzleman, $1.50;
Lee Cotner, same, $1.50; Hugh Stan-
lev. same, $1.50; William Schmidt-
rr.ann, repairs to buckets, $1.00.
DOINGS IN DISTRICT CORRT
YESTERDAY AND TODAY
From Tuesday' T)ali
The time of the district court was
taken up yesterday afternoon in hear-
ing the evidence in the case of Cass
County vs. C. D. Quinton, and the
matter was argued and submitted to
the court and taken under advise-
ment.
The case of the Independent Realty
f f VC Tr'it' 7 A Vtait o lira a A c?w i c ci-iJ
on motion of the plaintiff, at their
costs.
-In. the case of Frank Bergman vs.
Charles Gerlach, a motion for a new
the plaintiff recovered judgment for
?100, growing out of the sale of cer-
This case is one growing out of the
loss of grain from leaky cars for
shipment.
Funeral Held Today.
From Tuesdays uaiiv.
The funeral of the late Z. S. Vos
burg was held this afternoon from his
late home and was conducted by Rev.
r. M. Druhner of the First Methodist
church. The body will lay in state at
i .
at Weeping Water, where it will be,
laid to rest in the rpmtrv thara I
GEO. ELLI1W00D
JOY COMMENDED
VERY RIGRLY
The Young Man Has Made Good in
All Towns and Cities in Which
He Has Appeared.
Prom Tuesday s Daily.
Every day there are endorsements
I pouring in on the committee having
J in charge the George Kllingwood Joy
I meetings as to the value of the meet
ings to a community, and they all
bear the same note that of oein
one of the most helpful things that
could be done for a community. The
following letter from Superintendent
toBodwell of the Beatrice public schools
tells of the work performed there
J among the boys and young men of
Beatrice, and the same is true of any
community in which Mr. Joy has
worked. From all indications boy
week, with Joy at the helm, will be
one of the biggest events of its kind
hn the history of the city
T)tr: vrh ior.nr,i oo
Rnu,ia Rnhprtcnn Plnrtcmrmtb
1 Nebraska-
Dear Sirs: Mr. George Ellingwood
w ,oa ; ryaotrir.a tVl;0
Re wil, finish his WQrk this evenin r,
The first half of the week Mr. Joy
gave two addresses before the boys
daily, and worked with them in
dividually and in groups whenever
the boys found time to be with him.
Every evening he has given a lecture
to the general public.
I have been connected with the
pubnc schools of this state for twen-
ty g-x yearg j haye me(. many men
durinff this time who bave been con
sidered successful in - working .with
the b but j have neVer found a
1 "
man who could reach and hold the
boys as doe3 Mr Joy Last Monday
afternoon Mr. Joy talked to our boys
fnp fiff. nnH f th nH of
kig addregg th? whoe crQwd remain.
, .th . - r mor1 thftn n hour
asking questions, and seemingly
anxious to know him and what he i3
dojng for young men. I am sure the
lgood that is being done for Beatrice
L wi1 be lastinff and can never
b measured
J wjsh you and your people a sue
cessful week when Mr Joy is with
you. I shall be pleased to know
. , effect hi influGnce has on tho
boys of Plattsmouth. Very truly
yours, E. J. Bodwell.
HOSTILE ATTITUDE OF
MAN WHO REFUSES THE
PASSAGE OVER ROADWAY
From Tuesday's Dany.
For the past few days there has
been considerable excitement among
the residents northwest of the city
owing to the hostile attitude of one
of the families residing there over the
use of the roadway by their neigh
bors. It seems that according to the
claims of some of the parties in the
case that this party has their fence
set over several feet into the roadway
and as the snow drifted very badly
?ere dUnng the Pf5) the nefh
bors were compelled to drive a few
feet inside of where the posts were
set in order to reach the main road
coming into the city. There was
nothing said in regard to the matter
and all went well until last Saturday
morning, when, as one of the young
men of the neighborhood came in he
was warned not to drive inside the
fence posts, and a few hours later
when one of the worthy German
farmers and his good wife came along
this way on their way to town they
found a wire stretched along the fence
posts and the owner of the place on
guard with a shotgun, with which he
ordered them away, as well as wav
ing a hammer which he held in his
hand in a very dangerous manner. It
is understood that the matter will be
broue - ht to the attention of th
ty authorities to see what can be done
coun-
to allow the nublic to travel alonir this
way without further trouble. It looks
a case like this, esneciallv if it was.
I originally part of the public highway. J
: : ii i. u ti: I
New Daughter Makes Appearance.
Krom Tuesday's Daily.
A message has been received here
by Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Droege in
forming them that they were the
happy grandparents of a bright little
ten-pound girl that had arrived on
January 8th at the home of their son,
Emil Droege and wife, at Garfield,
Utah. The little Miss Droege is do
ing fine and the news will be most
pleasing to the many friends here of
the father of the little lady and the
family.
DEATH OF AN OLD Mil
AT COUNTY INFIRMARY
FROM PARALYTIC STROKE
From Tuppday'a Pally.
Last evening Carl Grossbernd, re-
siding at the county farm, passed to
the great beyond after suffering for ure or rather measures, as there are
several days from a paralytic stroke, two bills covering this important eub
with which he was taken on last Sat- iect. are modeled something on the
urday, and from the effects of which me lines as the automobile registra-
he never recovered, but gradually
grew weaker until death came to his
relief and closed his eyes in dream
less sleep. He was born in Germany
on August 20, 1845, and had been liv
ing at the farm since December 9,
1910. For a number of years he was
employed on various farms in this
sppHnn of th conntv. nnd was n man
who made many friends by his kindly
way and gentle bearing toward his
fellow man. The funeral of this good
man will be held tomorrow at the
farm and the body laid to rest in the
Oak Hill cemetery.
THE CASE OF ANNA REIT-
TER VS. GEO. REITTEB. JR.,
ON TRIAL IN DISTRICT COURT
.nm wednesaava Daily i
This morning in district court the
case of Anna Reitter vs. George Reit-
ter, jr., was called for trial and at-
tracted a large number of the resi-
dents of Eagle, where the parties in
the case reside and are among the
most prominent families in that sec- and dealers, shall go to the road drag
tion of the county. The case grows ging fund of each county and shall be
out of the settlement of the estate of
George Reitter, sr.. the husband of
the plaintiff and father of the defend-
ant in the case. Mr. Reitter was the
administrator of the estate of his
father, and the widow, the second wife
of the deceased, claims that she did
not receive her just share of the
estate, as its value was misrepresent-
ed to her and the settlement made
was not satisfactory. There will be
a large number of witnesses called on
both sides and the matter will prob- payment of satrries cf bo'.h the ad
ably take up two days in hearing. The visory board and the state bo n il of
estate was one of the largest probated
in the west part of the county in sev-
eral years, and the prominence of the
rarties lends much interest to the
i
case.
SCHOOL OF INSTRUCTION
FOR TRAINMEN, FIREMEN
AND ENGINEERS OF B.ftM.
From Wednesday's Dally.
This morning Mr. Painter of Lin
coln arrived in the city to hold a
school of instruction at this place
for the trainmen, engineers and fire-
men of the Burlington. The meetings
are held in a coach in the yards and
a thorough examination made of the
different men as to their knowledge of
the rules, regulations, schedules and
ether matters pertaining to the work
of a railroad trainman. These meet- i
ings are held at different points along
the system and are given with the
purpose of raising the efficiency of
the men in the service. There were
quite a number in attendance at the
meeting here today and all received
a thorough going over on the im
portant points that a trainman is sup
posed to be posted on.
Anthony Nesdlak, the efficient elec
trical expert of the local telephone
company, was a passenger this morn
ing for Lincoln, where he will attend
a meeting of the workmen of the I
Lincoln Telenhone and TeleeraDh
company.
LEG
ISLATURE IS NOW
ICR Ifj EVIDENCE
Representative Dalby of Gage County
Is the Author of a Bill That
Striken Right.
Among the various measures pro
posed in the legislature at Lincoln
that will prove of great interest to
the general public who are believers
in the good roads proposition is one
introduced by Representative Dalby
nf Clatro nnnntv fnr th tnviniT ?f
A " ., ' " . . . .
auiomouues anu motor venicies anu
he registration of them. The mens-
tlon law of our neighboring state of
Iowa, where it has been found very
satisfactory and has added consider
able to the revenues used to maintain
the good roads throughout the state.
Mr. Dalby is president of the Ne-
braska Good Roads association, and
the measures will be urged by a num
ber of the other members of the
legislature
hrst bill takes Irom the sec
retary of state the registration of
automobiles and transfers that work
to the state board of irrigation, high
ways and drainage in the state house.
It amends the present law and re
quires that all owners of motor
vehicles shall file with the state board
a receipt issued by the treasurer of
the county in which the applicant re
sides, showing a payment of a regis
tration fee of $2 for each motorcycle,
$3 for -each automobile, and $5 for
each taxicab, truck or car used for
commercial purposes, and also a fee
oi tj ior eacn manuiaciurer or aeaier
in motor vehicles
The bill also provides that $1.50 of
the fee on motorcycles, $2 on auto-
mobiles, $4 on taxicabs and other
commercial vehicles and the same
amount of the fee for manufacturers
used by the county board for the
dragging of roads, and the remain
ing of the several registration fees
shall Ce transmitted to the stati
treasurer to be placed in a special
state road fund to be used by the
state board of irrigation, highways
and drainage in supplying number
plates and for the expenses ." the
board, the advisory board connected
with the state board, which is pro-
vided for in the other bill, ard the
irrigation
A different coire 1 plate shall be
used eaclryear on each ehiole, which
will show at a gbnre whether the
owner has paid rn fee or not
The companlJ'i bill provides that
the state board o? irrigation shall
appoint an advi.; ry committee of
three to serve witluur. pay, but who
shall receive necessary expenses of
travel. The ebairrrari r.hali have fin
office with the state board of irriga
tion and the secretary shall be a civil
engineer and practical road bu:!der,
to be known as the state highway en
gineer,
Ships Fine Red Polled Calf.
Luke L. Wiles, the Cass county Red
Polled cattle king, shipped another
one of his fine animals a long ways
from home yesterday morning.. It
was one of the prettiest GOO-pound
young heifers that one would wish to
see, and was billed by express to R,
Rasmussen, at Perry, Oklahoma, and
departed from here over the Missouri
Pacific yesterday morning. Mr. Ras
mussen was here last fall and made
this selection from the excellent herd
of Mr. Wiles, it being the second
member from this family that he has
purchased during the past few years.
This young animal was the fifth gen
eraticn from Mr. Wiles foundation
cow, which shows that the excellent
strains in his herd are always on the
advance, which we believe are not
surpassed by any breeder in the
country,
Wall Paner.
Gering & Co. Phone
36.
GOOD
ROAD
Divorce Granted Mrs. Ihl'a Wicker.
From Tuesday's Pnllv.
Yesterday in di:;ti ii t court a ! -
cree was handed down by Judge I! g
ley granting to Mrs. Delia Wicker h r
freedom from Fred Wicker and ha!
her maiden name of Delia Binker re
stored to her. The parties were
married at Smith Center, Kari.-uv, on
December ;. lUlu. The co-ts of Un
ease were taxed to the defendant by
the court. There was no defence f-
I fered to the charge.-; of desertion an I
non-support preferred against tin de
fendant. BOOSTER CLUB
THAT IS RIGHT
FULLY NAMED
An Organization That Ha iMne
Much Good in and Around Ne
hawka, a Lively Little Burg.
From Wednesday's Hal'.
Our neighboring town of N'ehawka
boasts of an organization of which
they may well be proud, as it is lend
ing much aid in the improvement tf
that place, both intellectually ami .so
cially, and this is an organization of
young men who have adopted the
name of the Booster club. The club
was organized a few years agj
through the efforts largely of F. I!.
Rose and wife, two of the whole-souled
residents of that community,
whose interest in the welfare of their
fellow men is most intense, and
through their helpfulness and aid th
club found their starting and the
Rose home has always been open to
the boy3 in holding their meeting--,
and several of the most enjoya!l
events have occurred at that place.'
The club has secured n number of
lecturers and speakers from different
places to aid in offering the best pos
sible attractions for the young men in
that community. The club is abso
lutely without connection with any
church and has in its way been one
of the best things toward inspiring
the higher ideals among the young
men of N'ehawka and vicinity.
Last evening, in response to an in
vitation from the members of the
club, E. II. Wescott and Jesse Perry
of this city drove down to Nehaw k
to meet with the boys, who were
entertained at the Hose home, an 1
experienced one of the most pleasant
times of their lives. A splendid pro
gram of music and recitations was
given, and at the close a rare treat
in the shape of an oyster supper was
served to the young men and their
guests, and the visitors from this city
arrived home near the midnight hour
feeling that the Nehawka boys an 1
Mr. and Mrs. Rose were the rarest of
entertainers and that the occasion ha 1
been one of great pleasure to them.
The club is headed by Albert Ander
son as president, and is a splendid or
ganization. COMMERCIAL CLUB EN
DORSES THE COMING OF
GEO. ELLINGWOOD JOY
From Wednesday's Dally.
The directors of the Commercial
club hereby most heartily endorse the
action of the committee composed -f
C. A. Rawls, T. H. Pollock, C. V.
Baylor, M. S. Eriggs and K. H. Wes
cott, in bringing to Plattsmouth Mr.
George Ellingwood Joy to spend the
first week of February here in the
interest of the boys and young men
of the city. Mr. Joy's work is high'y
commendable and should interest
every citizen of Plattsmouth.
William Baird.
T. II. Pollock.
E. A. Wurl.
Philip Thierolf.
R. F. Patterson.
C. C. Parmele.
J. M. Roberts.
Falter.
E. H. Wescott.
L. Tidd.
E. Dovey.
J. Richey.
W. Baylor.
J.
M. Tritsch, refracting optician, at
G-ering & Co.'s Wednesday and Sat
urday evenings. Examination free.
Farm Loans at low rates.
Pollock.
T. II.