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YOL. XXXIV.
PLATTSMOUTH, NEBRASKA, THURSDAY, JANUARY 11, 1917.
No. 10.1.
3"
1 fi
SKA
4
THE CITY COUNCIL
HOLDS A MEETING
There Was Scarcely a Ripple in the
Proceedings and Business of Ses
sion is Harmonious.
From Tuesday's Dally.
The regular session of the city
council last evening was a most peace
ful one with scarcely a ripple in the
mass of routine business that the city
legislators disposed of and every
member of the body was on hand to
take part in the gathering.
Fire Chief A. F. Braun presented
a report on the .'500 feet of new hose
recently secured for the fire depart
ment in which he reported that the
hose was in the best of shape and had
stood the test in every way
Chief of Police Barclay reported
that during the month of December
there had been six arrests, five of
whom had paid cash lines and one
had been turned over to the county
to be looked after.
City Clerk Warga during the past
month reported the fact that $338.33
had been collected and added to the
funds of the city, the greater part
being on the business tax fund.
Fire Chief A. F. Braun in a com
munication to the council thanked the
mayor and members of the council
for their hearty co-operation with the
fire department during the past three
and a half years and assured the
members of the council that the con
ditions between the council and de
partment had never been more agree
able. Police Judge Archer reported that
S30 had teen collected during the
month of December in his office and
turned over to the city treasurer.
In regard to the retaining of five
per cent of the contract price for the
paving on Washington avenue, which
had been referred to the judiciary
committee, that committee reported
that they had looked up other cases
and find no precedent in which the
city had held the contractors both by
bond and the five per cent and recom
mended that the Monarch Engineer
ing company be given their five per
cent and that the bond of the com
pany be kept in force.
The report of the judiciary com
mittee on giving the Monarch com
pany the five per cent retained by
the city for their work on the paving
occasioned quite a little discussion as
Councilman Buttery objected to the
allowance of the amount on the
ground that the work in his opinion
was not completed in as much as a
report had not been made on it and
that the sand cushions for the curb
ing that had not been put in the speci
fications had not been used as they
should be and as the bid had been
made.
Councilman Bajeck stated that the
streets, alleys and bridges committee
had reported on the paving and found
it all right and that the sand cushion
for the curb had been placed in the
specifications by mistake on the part
of the person making them and was
not used at all as it was out of date
and that the solid foundation for the
curbing was much better than the use
of sand would be.
Councilman Johnson did not think
there was any necessity of the dis
cussion of reports on the paving as
i the committee had reported at pre
vious meetings of the council and
that in his opinion there was no
reason why the report of the judi
ciary committee should not be adopt
ed On the motion to adopt the re
port of the committee all voted aye
save Buttery who voted no
The judiciary committee also re
ported on the claim of Clerk of the
District Court Robertson for $52.20,
covering the costs in the case of the
City of Plattsmouth vs. Earl C. Wes
cott, et al., and recommended that the
sum of $6 for the complete record be
deducted as there had been no com
plete record ordered. This left the
claim at $42.20 and on motion this
amount was allowed.
The stipulation between the city
and the Burlington railway involving
the land on the river bottom east of
the Burlington right of way was read
and on motion, the mayor and the
judiciary committee were authorized
to sign the same in behalf of the city.
The claims committee reported on
the claim of Oscar Wilson for $23
for the care of William Wilson and
recommended that the claim be not
allowed as the services had been
purely voluntary and without the au
thorization of the city.
Councilman Bestor of the streets,
alleys and bridges committee pre
sented the claim of the Plattsmouth
Water Co., for $l.r.oG for water used
during the paving of Washington
avenue and on motion the same was
allowed.
Councilman Bestor also brought up
the matter of the claim of Bruce &
Standeven for their services as en
gineers on the paving in the sum of
.'.."(i and the same was allowed with
Councilman Harris voting "no" on the
proposition.
The lighting question was given
some attention by the members of
the council when Councilman Luschin
sky of the light committee reported
that the new lamp at Fifth and Pearl
streets had been installed and was in
service. " Councilman Buttery called
the attention of the council to the
fact that the light on North Eleventh
street had been out of commission for
ten days and also that he had called
the attention of the light company to
the fact that the lights along Wash
ington avenue had been put out be
fore daylight several mornings. Coun
cilman Bajeck stated that the light at
Fifteenth and Vine streets had been
out for the two weeks past. Council
man Bestor asked that the lighting
committee be given the authority to
look into the service furnished the
users of electricity in different parts
of the city as in several instances it
had been impossible for the users of
the electric current to secure sufficient
power to run their electric irons and
other household articles which re
quired electricity and in his opinion
this was due to the transformers used.
On motion the committee was author
ized to go ahead and look into the
matter.
Councilman Buttery called the at
tention of the council to the fact
that many of the walks and cross-
ngs were covered with ice and very
dangerous for travel and desired that
the chief of police place a notice in
the Journal asking the property own
ers to place ashes or cinders on the
icy wr s.
Councilman Bajeck stated that
there had been much complaint
as to the freezing of water pipes
in the streets and in several cases
talis had been the cause of much
trouble and particularly true in the
west part of the city where several
accidents had occurred through per
sons trying to thaw out their pipes.
The matter was turned over to the
fire and water committee to look into.
Mayor John P. Sattler called the at
tention of the council to the fact that
the city was the owner of several
acres north of the city limits where
the old pest house was located, and
that at the present time they were
valueless as the city would have to
rebuild the house to allow it to be
used for hospital purposes as it had
not been used for sixteen years He
stated that A. S. Will had just pur
chased the land surrounding that
owned by the city and was willing to
purchase the land of the city at a
good price if it could be arranged. City
Attorney Douglas stated to the council
that it would be necessary to submit
the matter to the will of the people
and that this might be done at the
coming city election.
Councilman Johnson asked that in
the future all those purchasing sup
plies for the use of the city secure
them on order of the mayor as had
been the custom up to two years ago.
Councilman Johnson also moved
that the city attorney and judiciary
committee take up the securing of
the liability insurance for the em
ployes of the city for the next year
and report same at the next meeting
of the council.
After the allowance of the claims
against the city and several small
jobs of street work the council ad
journed.
YOUNG PEOPLE WEDDED.
From Tuesday's Daily.
Among the marriage licenses ap
pearing in the Omaha papers of today
is one to Frank J. Svoboda, aged 27,
and Miss Mary Kostka, aged 19, both
giving this city as their home. The
groom is located on a farm in Holt
county and has just returned to this
city to enjoy a visit with his father
and brother, and while here decided
to take unto himself a helpmate. The
young people had desired to be mar
ried in this city, but changing their
minds hastened to Omaha, where they
were united in wedlock.
1917 calendar pads at the Journal
office.
OLSON PHOTO CO.
IS MAKING GOOD
The Olson Photo Company Very Suc
cessfully Managed, and Declares
a Dividend of $1,7G0.
Last evening occurred an event
that should be given more than a pass
ing thought by the residents of this
city and those who are interested in
the development of the city and its
resources, and that was the meeting
of the Olson Photo company stock
holders at which they declared a ten
per cent dividend on their stock of
$17,G0O.
The meeting was attended by a
large number of the stockholders as
the institution is purely a Plattsmouth
owned corporation and the event of
the success of the company in the last
seven years is due to the careful
management and energy of the local
men who stood back of the company
in days when it seemed a complete
failure. At the meeting last night
the directors of the company were
chosen consisting of Gus Olson, Dr. E.
W. Cook, T. H. Pollock, A. L. Tidd
and H. F. Goos, and the officers of
the company selected consisting of
Gus Olson, president; T. H. Pollock,
vice-president and Dr. E. W. Cook,
secretary and treasurer. The re
port of the company's business for
the past year brought warm approval
from the stockholders as it showed
that the company was entirely out of
debt and was in a position where the
stockholders could realize a handsome
profit on their investment.
The history of the Olson company
shows clearly what grit, energy a?
good clean business methods can do
when they are applied to a concern
of this kind and the success that has
come to the Olson company should be
an object of pride to all of the citi
zens of Plattsmouth. It was in April,
1910 that the Olson company, then in
the midst of financial difficulties was
reorganized and began the long fight
to reach success and to throw off the
burdens that they had to carry. The
company purchased in 1911 the photo
graphic business of L. D. Iliatt which
was then located in the building at
present occupied by the Journal. This
plant was removed to the corner
building on lower Main street and the
work of building up the industry was
commenced. At this time the in
debtedness of the company was $7,000
and it is here that the men who were
interested in the company stepped to
the front and demonstrated their
faith in the future of the business en
terprise by personally assuring the
indebtedness of the company, despite
the fact that many were anxious and
willing to allow the institution to
cease business and go down as a fail
ure. But the foresight of the back
ers of the company has been clearly
demonstrated, as they little by lit
tle wiped out the indebtedness and
added to the plant, until today it is
one of the largest of its kind in the
United States, and the yearly output
in the finished photo films reaches
into every state and territory in the
United States and even to the far-off
Philippine Islands.
Last year the Olson company began
to fully realize a true prosperous con
dition and the last of the debt was
paid and the plant, grown to greater
proportions now ocupies three floors
of the Tidd building at Third and
Main street and has branch offices in
Chicago, Des Moines and also at Glen
wood, la., where the interests of the
company may be looked after, but the
finishing of the films is carried on at
the plant in this city. The value of
advertising was recognized at the be
ginning by the promoters of the com
pany and each year hundreds of
thousands of pieces of advertising
matter is turned out in this city by
the Journal for the use of the Olson
company which has a mailing list of
over 120,000 names in every state in
the"Union and to each of these the
name of Plattsmouth has become
familiar through the products and ad
vertising of this energetic company.
During the last two years this com
pany has contributed a large amount
to the postal receipts of the United
States post office and last year paid
out $6,000 in salaries to the employes
of the company, all of whom are per
sons residing in this city and entered
into the life of the community.
The plant of the Olson company is
the most complete of its kind in the
entire country and has a number of
special machines which are the in
vention of Mr. Olson and which mak?s
the work of developing and printing
films much easier anil rapid. It is
not necessary to describe the great
plant with its large number of em
ployes as the residents of this city
should by this time have gathered
the knowledge of what a valuable in
stitution they possess in tiiis business
enterprise. To Mr. Olson and those
associated with him we will take off
our hat for their demonstration of
pluck and energy in building up a
business of this kind under the most
adverse circumstances. The outlook
for the coming year is for a greater
increase than ever in the business of
the company and the employment of
a large number of additional persons
in the plant during the summer in the
finishing and printing departments.
ENTERTAINS IN HONOR
OF MRS. FRANK OHM
From Tuesday's Daily.
Last evening the cozy home of Mr.
and Mrs. M. E. Mnnspeaker was the
scene of a most delightful gathering
when " Mrs. Manspeaker ami Mrs.
Joseph Droege entertained the officers
and members of the degree team of
the Woodmen Circle in honor of Mrs.
Frank Ohm of Omaha, one of the
faithful and energetic members of the
team during her residence in this city.
The evening was one of rarest delight
as the ladies indulged in a number of
interesting games that produced the
greatest amusement and pleasure to
the members of the jolly party. To
add to the pleasures of the evening
a number of very enjoyable musical
numbers were given by Mrs. Eugene
Setz and Mrs. Jesse Brady, the pian
ist of the order, which were very
pleasing and entertaining to the
guests. At a suitable hour the mem
bers of the parly -were treated to a
most delicious three-course luncheon,
which served to add to the enjoyment
of the evening. As the time sped on
and the hour for parting drew near.
Miss Marie Kaufmann, clerk of the
grove, in a few well chosen words
presented Mrs. Ohm with a handsome
set of silver knives and forks as a
remembrance from the friends in
Plattsmouth who will miss her so
much from their midst and in the ac
tivities of the order in which she has
been such a loval worker.
EX-COUNTY TREAS
URER FOX "CANED"
From Tuesday's Daily.
This morning William Kelley Fox,
the retiring county treasurer, was
by the other county officials on the
occasion of his retirement from the
office he has filled so well. Mr. Fox
was not aware of the conspiracy that
has been on foot for several days
among the other members of the court
house force, and when he was called
into the commissioner's room where
the board was in session, was very
much surprised to find there the other
county officers and District Judge
James T. Begley, who in a few well
chosen remarks presented Mr. Fox
with a handsome gold-headed ebony
cane as a token of the esteem in
which he is held by his associates in
the court house. Mr. Fox was over
come by the kindly remembrance and
found difficulty in expressing his grati
tude of the remembrance given him
by those with whom he has been as
sociated for the past thirteen years,
but it is needless to say that the cane
will be cherished as a keepsake of the
old friends and associates in the court
house in the years to come. Mr. Fox
first entered the court house thirteen
years ago as clerk under Treasurer
W. D. Wheeler, and served four years
in that capacity, and four years as
deputy under F. E. Schlater, and five
yeai-s as county treasurer, and has
been a faithful public servant in every
way.
in A KIM ED AT COURT HOUSE.
From "Wednesday's Dally.
This morning Arthur Jones of
Weeping Water and Miss Garnett
Moore of Louisville were united in the
bonds of wedlock at the countv court
room, and the ceremony was per
formed in the usual impressive man
ner of the judge. The young people
departed at 3:29 this afternoon over
the Burlington for their home.
MRS WM. STOTTLER OF
UNION PASSES AWAY
From Tuesday's Daily.
A message was received in this city
early this morning announcing the
death at her home four miles east of
Union of Mrs. William Stottler, one
of the pioneer residents of that lo
cality and a ladv who was held in
the highest esteem by a large circle
of friends in Liberty precinct, where
for the past fifty years she had made
her home. Mrs. Stottler, who is af
fectionately' known as "Grandma" in
her home locality, had in all these
years made a great many friends by
her kindly ways and gentleness and
her devotion to her family and friends
which made up her whole interest in
life. .Mrs. Stottler was born in Ohio,
eighty-three years ago, and came to
Nebraska when a young woman, where
her husband located at Liberty pre
cinct and has been one of the fore
most residents of that locality. Mrs.
Stottler had not been in the best of
health for the past few years and had
gradually grown weaker until death
came to her relief. The death of the
wife comes as a severe blow to the
aged husband, who is past 90 years of
age, and takes from his side the com
fort and support that has sustained
him in his declining years of life. The
rrangements for the funeral have not
as yet been completed.
SLAVES ONCE SOLD
HERE IN NEBRASKA
That slavery' was actually prac
ticed in the state of Nebraska in its
early days will probably be news to
most Nebraskans, but it is neverthe
less a fact. II. Halderson, a local at
torney, in the course of his studies a
couple of years ago found what he
bought indications that slaves had
been bought and sold in the state at
one tLne. History gave no mention
of it whatever. But as a thorough
student he began an investigation,
more to satisfy his curiosity than any
thing else. lie wrote to various
oli-.ces where he thought information
on the subject might be forthcoming,
uch as the State Historical society,
etc.. but nothing definite could be
given. Thev, however, encouraged
him to continue the investigations and
inallv he traced a case of this kind
to Nebraska City. The clerk of the
istrict court of that citv after going
over the records, first claimed he
ould find no indications of anything
f the kind, but later wrote:
''Since my reply to yjbur recent
letter, I find the return of the sheriff
n the 'Slave Sale Under Execution.:'
"'ShrifTs Return This writ came
oropertv, towit: One Negro man
named. Hercules; one Negro woman,
named Martha, slaves, and belonging
to Charles F. Holly, said levy being
made on the 17th day of November,
1SG0. I caused a notice to be pub
lished in the Nebraska City News ac
cording to law (See Execution) that
I would , offer the above described
property for sale at public auction in
front of the court house in Nebraska
City in said county on the 5th day of
December, A. D., 18G0, between the
hours of 10 o'clock a. m. and 3 o'clock
p m.. of said clay and at the time and
place specified in said notice. I first
offered Hercules and there being no
bidders for him, I then offered the
said Hercules and Martha together
and sold the same to William B. Hail
for the sum of three hundred dollars,
he being the highst bidder and that J
being the highest sum bid for said
property the same was sold to him.
William P. Birchfield, Sheriff."'
"The case is entitled: 'William B.
Hail vs. Charles F. Holly,' and this
return is found in Execution Docket
'A,' page 149" Newman Grove Re
porter. TAKEN TO LINCOLN TODAY.
From Wednesday's Daily.
Will Owens was taken to Lincoln
this morning by Sheriff Quinton to
begin serving his sentence of from one
to five years in the penitentiary for
violation of his parole in the case in
which he was under a suspended sen
tence for assault to do great bodily
injury on the person of William Wil
son. The duration of the sentence will
be up to the board of pardons after
the first year has been served.
r? CO Phonographs at Dawson's.
TWO MIGHTY HUNTERS EN
GAGE IN WILD RABBIT HUNT
From Tuesday's Daily.
A few days ago two of the mighty
hunters of this city decided that they
would spend a few hours in trying
to land a number of the rabbits that
are so numerous around the farms
and accordingly wended their way out
in the Cullom neighborhood for the
shooting. They were walking along
when one of the hunters spied a rab
bit in the distance and a halt was
made while the light artillery was
brought into action and soon the ter
ritory in' the vicinity of the rabbit
was swept by the bullets from the
guns of the two men Still the rab
bit lived and the two men crept up on
the animal, which however showed
no signs of trying to get awayr and
it was then found that the rabbit was
caught in a trap and had it not been
for this fact would probably have
been miles away before the hunters
secured it.
E. B. SPERRY CASHIER
AT BURLINGTON DEPOT
PASSED AWAY TODAY
From Tuesday's Daily.
This afternoon shortly after the
noon hour, E. B. Sperry, who for the
past three years has served as cashier
at the Burlington passenger station in
this city, passed away after an illness
of some two months. Mr. Sperry had
been confined to his home for this per
iod of time, but before his sickness
caused him to abandon his duties he
remained at his wrork and incurred the
exposure which brought on the fatal
illness. He had been suffering from
pneumonia fever, which gradually
grew worse until it was clear to the
family and friends that the end was
not far off and that the life of the
loved one hung in the balance. The
deceased came to this city three years
ago from Hamburg, la., and during
his residence here had won many
friends by his quiet and gentlemanly
manner of dealing with his fellow
men, being always pleasant to those
he met and pursuing his way with due
regard for the rights of others. Mr.
Sperry leaves to mourn his death the
widow and two small children, as well
as his parents, who reside at Ham
burg. He was 28 years of age at the
time of his death. The arrangements
for the funeral have not as yet been
completed but it is thought that the
body will be taken back to the old
home at Hamburg for burial.
PLATTSMOUTH TEAM
DEFEATS CREIGHTON
From Tuesday's Dally.
The members of the basket ball
team of the First Presbyterian bible
class last evening paid a visit to the
metropolis and engaged the members
of the Creighton high school team at
this fascinating pastime and with the
result that the boys of the blue and
white were trimmed by the Presbyte
rians by the score of 26 to 11. The
game was held in the new gymnasium
of Creighton university and was at
tended by a good sized audience who
enjoyed thoroughly the exhibition of
basket ball giver by the rival teams.
The showing made by the locals
against the Creighton team is very
pleasing as that organization has had
the advantage of the services of an
expert coach while the locals have
not had this opportunity. The re
sult will greatly encourage the boys
in their coming battle with the Sid
ney, la., team which is one of the
strongest in southwestern Iowa and
will give a royal battle to the local
organization at the roller skating rink
on Wednesday evening. In the game
last evening Neil was one of the stars
of the conflict for the locals while
Juno and Frank Marshall were the
most successful in adding baskets for
the Presbyterians.
Carl Danton, who is employed by
the Burlington asa brakeman out of
Lincoln, on the Sioux City line, and
who has been here for a short visit
with his parents and friends, returned
this morning to the capital city.
CREAM, 37c, at Dawson's store,
Plattsmouth. 9-19-d&wtf
A MATTER FOR
PUBLIC THOUGHT
An Advantage That Should be Taken
in Macadamizing Thoroughfares
of Plattsmouth.
From Wednesday's Dnily.
It has been suggested several times
the advantages that could be secured
in opening up the stone deposits along
the river bluffs south and east of this
city where there are all kinds of the
best possible material for crushed
lock and which would not cost a great
deal to prepare for practical use. The
cost of a small crusher would not
be a great deal and it could be so ar
ranged with a platform so that teams
could be driven beneath and loaded
through chutes at a very small cost
as compared with the cost of trans
porting the rock by railroad from
some distant point. If the city could
secure the crusher and open up the
land containing1 the stone and rock it
would furnish material for miles of
good permanent road and at a very
small figure. One of the prominent
citizens of the community who has
long been identified with the store
and sand business states that the cost,
of the stone would not be more than
five cents a ton and could be placed in
the wagons and hauled out for seventy-five
cents a ton, which would make
very cheap and substantial roads.
This stone would not of necessity b
of assorted size but the small crusshed
stone placed on the roadways and
rolled and then allowed to wear down
after having the stone dust placed
over it. In some macadimized roads
there are two sizes of the crushed
stone used, the larger forming the
basis and a smaller on top of this and
the stone dust on the top of the stone.
This it is urged could bo avoided by
the use of the one size of stone and
the dust which would make a good
substantial highway. The crusher
could be operated by electricity
at a very rraronable cost and turn
out plenty of the rock. If the city
contemplates the extension of the per
manent good roads, in the city it
would be a good idea to investigate
the possibilities that might be found
in the use of the stone dep its in
this locality and the money "pend-d
would all be kept at home i 'cad of
being sent away as would be the case
should it be necessary to import the
crushed rock and stone. To trans
port the stone from the crusher teams
and wagons could be used much more
satisfactorily than a spur track and
not as dangerous as the locality south
of the city where the stone is located
is such as to only allow the wagon
road and would hardly do for the lay
ing of tracks owing to the use of
the highway by those residing in that
section of the land. The owner of the
tracts of land where the greater part
of the stone is to be found is very
anxious to see the proposition tried
out.
ROCK ISLAND SUIT BACK
TO THE DISTRIT COURT
From Wednesday's Daily.
The cases against the Chicago, Rock
Island & Pacific railroad, growing
out of the death at Alvo last Jan
uary of Misses Bell and Edith Fore
man and Alma Godbey. who were
killed when the auto in which they
were riding was struck by a passen
ger train of the defendant railroad
company, save been sent back to Cass
county for trial in the district court)
These cases together with that of
J. H. Foreman aggregate the sum of
$93,000 and were first filed here but
later on motion of the attorneys cf
the railroad were transferred to the
United States district court at Lin
coln for jtrial. The attorneys for
the plaintiffs' Messrs. Palmer , Tay
lor & Palmer, of Omaha, in a motion
before Judge Munger in the United
States district court secured an
order and mandate sending the cases
back to the Cass county courts for
trial at the coming term of court.
There are four of the cases in the ac
tion, Mr. Foreman suing for $50,000
for personal injuries and $13,000 for
the death of each of his daughters
while Charles Godbey is suing to re
cover $15,000 for the death of his
daughter, Alma. The cases have at
tracted a great deal of attention and
particularly in the locality where the
I Foreman and Godbey families reside.