Ex. CUte Historical Coclztj
3
VOL. NO. XLVHI
PLATTSUOTJTH, NEBRASKA, 1JONDAY, FEBR. 1, 1932.
NO. 1
Lease Signed Yesterday for
Use of Burlington Shop Build
ings by Norfolk Canning Co.
Brings Major Industry
Here with a Large
Annual Payroll
TO START AT ONCE
Wcik of Remodeling Buildings to
be Followed by Installation
of Modern Equipment
Friday, at Omaha, was signed
a lease between the Burlington rail
way officials and officials of the
Norfolk Packing Company, that will
bring to Plattsmouth a large year
'ronnd packing industry.
The lease covers use by the pack
ing company of a group of former
Burlington shop buildings for which
the company has no use following
discontinuance of its shops here, and
which were not needed by the Bur
lington Refrigerator Express com
pany, which took over many of the
shop buildings in September.
The buildings covered in the lease
include the former Burlington store
house, a splendidly situated 3-story
industrial building with office quar
ters, loading platforms on trackage
and adjacent to Lincoln avenue, to
gether with two other large buildings
adjoining the main building to the
rorth and west. '
The canning company officials,
who have made numerous trips here
in the past year to investigate con
ditions and even had a crop survey
made before deciding to act, found
this group of shop buildings well fit
ted to their needs and with a mini
mum of alterations can be made into
an ideal canning factory.
The Norfolk Packing Company is
one of the large concerns of its kind
in the state and is affiliated with the
Tollerton-Warfield company, a large
wholesale grocery house in Sioux City,
who provide the main outlet for their
line of canned goods. Mr. A. E.
Stewart is superintendent of the
packing plant and in his numerous
visits to Plattsmouth has met many
of our local business men and Cham
ber cf Commerce directors.
The past two years the capacities
cf the Norfolk plant have been taxed
to the limit in an effort to supply the
dmand for their various lines of
canned goods and It was this fact that
caused them to seek location for a
second plant, which they propose to
make of equal or greater capacity
than the large plant at Norfolk.
The canning company officials
will be here within the next few days
and work of remodeling the buildings
to conform to their needs will be
undertaken at once. Upwards of
$50,000 worth of new machinery and
canning equipment will be installed
in the buildings as soon as the re
modeling job is completed.
The contemplated annual payroll
of the new concern will run around
I r0. 000 the first yar. while the sum
expected to be paid farmers of the
community for products raised will
exceed $75,000.
News of the signing of the lease
was received with pleasurable pride
by the Industries committee of the
Chamber of the Commerce, which has
been negotiating with the Norfolk
company for more than a year, and
means the bringing to Plattsmouth
of a major industry one that any
town in the state would be happy to
acquire.
CONDITION ABOUT SAME
From Friday's Daily
Dr. J. S. Livingston, who is at the
Immanuel hospital at Omaha con
tinues about the same. There has
been little change in the patient in
the past few days, he apparently
showing some gain but other times
not being so well. It has been impos
sible so far to discover or eliminate
the cause of the condition of the
ratient. The many friends havj
been anxiously awaiting word from
the hospital hnr.-.v.g that the patient
might show doinhe signs of recovery
but so far his case offers but litt!?
change for the better.
SON BORN AT FELLER HOME
A son was born to Mr. and Mrs.
L. R. Feller, at their home in Om
aha Sunday, January 24th. Mrs. Fel
ler is a sister of Mrs. Elmer Webb,
and the family resided here in 1917
18. when L. R. was employed at the
Sharp machine shop.
Phon th news to Ro. 6.
A
Crtdit for the securing of
this new Plattsmouth indus
try is due wholly to the In
dustries committee of the
Chamber of Commerce which
has been conducting negotia
tions with the Norfolk con
cern for more than a year.
Contact with the concern
was made as the result of a
news dispatch in the daily
press from Falls City that
the company was seeking a
location for an additional
plant and were investigating
conditions there.
An inquiry to the company
from the local civic body
brought the canning com
pany officials here for the
first of a long series of nego
tiations. At the request of canning
company officials, who de
clared they were besieged
with letters, phone calls and
telegrams from others towns
in cases where publicity was
given to such matters be
fore a decision was reached,
at no time during the entire
period of negotiations has a
lire appeared in the metro
politan press of the possibili
ties of locating this major
industry here.
Premature airing of its as
pirations in the state press
may have cost Falls City a
canning plant. Willingness
to hold to a "mums-the-word"
policy throughout the
long negotiations here may
have had a lot to do with
getting Plattsmouth its can
ning factory.
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County Tax
Payers' Meeting
at Louisville
Plan for Permanent Organization and
Future Meeting at Weeping
Water, February 10th
Several hundred taxpayers of the
county met Wednesday at Louisville
to discuss methods of getting some
relief from the ever increasing bur
dens of taxes. Attorney D. O. Dwyc
of this city was present by request,
to present the possible methods by
which relief might be obtained.
Jmes Stander, of Louisville, was
elected as chairman and H. S. Long
of South Bend, secretary.
A general discussion was had by
the members of the group, during
which County Commissioner Fred H.
Gorder was called upon to answer
many questions regarding numerous
phases of cornty expenditures.
It was voted to perfect a perman
ent organization and that the chair
man appoint a committee of five to
draft plans for such an organiza
tion and have charge of arrange
ments for an adjourned meeting to
be held at Weeping Water on Febru
ary 10th at 2 p. m. The committee
named comprises D. O. Dwyer, Platts
mouth. chairman; Ray Wiles. Weep
ing Water; W. H. Heil, Louisville;
C. H. Spohn. Elmwood, and W. J.
O'Brien, South Bend.
During the two hours of deliber
ation it was generally expressed that
something must be done to reduce
materially the expenditure of public
funds, or all property would be con
fiscated for taxes. That the con
stantly decreasing values of prop
erty and the low price of farm prod
ucts, should prompt every taxpayer
in the county to be present at the
Weeping Water meeting where a
fair and Just course of action can be
decided upon for the new organiza
tion. AGED LADY POORLY
From Thursday's Daily
Mrs. S. A. Hitt. 84. of Table Rock.
Nebraska, mother of the late C. E.
Hitt and grandmother of Mrs. Hil
lard Grassman of this city, is report
ed as critically ill at her home. The
illness is due to the great age of
the patient and her gradual break
down. Mrs. Grassman departed last
evening for Table Rock to visit the
grandmother.
Year-'Round Operation
with Large Variety
of Products
AID TO GROWERS
Contracts for Acreage to Increase the
Eevenue of Farmers for Miles
in Every Direction.
That the new canning industry to
locate in our midst is not merely a
seasonal enterprise as are some small
plants of this kind, is shown from the
nature of the products they pack.
In the list on their letterhead are
fcund the following twelve items of
tocdstuff, many of which can be pre
pared and canned the year 'round,
while others (such as corn, tomatoes,
pumpkin, string beans) must be han
dled at peak production during the
growing season. The entire list in
cludes sweet corn, tomatoes, pump
kin, kidney beans, red beans, string
beans, pork and beans, hominy, lima
beans, sauer kraut, sauer kraut juice
and tomato puree.
In conducting negotiations here,
the officers of the company have in
dicated their intention of making
this a year-'round industry that will
give steady employment to a consid
erable number of people and periodic
employment to nutnjr more daring the
rush seasons.
The company is incorporated with
a paid-up capital of $150,000 and has
been one of Norfolk's leading Indus
trial institutions for a good many
years.
The diversity of products is such
as to keep the plant running at cap
acity through several ripening per
iods of the summer, and prolong the
time of peak production far beyond
that in plants which confine their ac
tivities to sweet corn, which must be
packed within a period of two to
three weeks under favorable weather
conditions and even more rapidly in
case of dry, hot weather.
During the seasons when growing
products are not available the pro
duction of the plant will be turned
to pork and beans, lima beans, hom
iny, kidney beans, red beans, etc.
Thus it will be possible to keep a
considerable force employed steadily
the year-'round.
Acreage contracts for vegetables to
be used by the new plant are ex
pected to be ready in a short time,
and will afford the farmers for miles
around an opportunity to turn part
of their land into profitable produc
tion at. a time when most farm crops
are being produced at a loss.
Experience in other towns where
canning factories of the size of this
are operated, is that farmers express
themselves as highly pleased with the
added market advantages afforded
and are glad to renew their con
tracts year after year.
The Journal welcomes this new in
dustry to Plattsmouth, feeling that it
will not only provide employment for
a goodly number of our people, but
be a real "going" concern and one
that will do as much to advance our
town as anything that could be se
cured in good times, to say nothing
of now when few industries . are
branching out.
PLAN BOY SCOUT WEEK
Scoutmasters Russell Reeder and
Raymond Larson are engaged in the
preparation for the local program for
national Boy Scout week, February
7th to 13th. The week calls for an
activity in the Scout organization
every day for the entire'week which
will give the public an opportunity
of getting in touch with the various
activities of this organization that
has done so much for the youth of
the land. This year the banquet
which formerly featured the get-together
of the Fathers and Sons, will
be. omitted owing to general condi
tions and the event will consist of a
meeting at the school of the Fathers
and Sons which will be as beneficial.
MBS. BEX YOUNG ILL
From Saturday's Daily
Mrs. Rex Young has been seriously
ill for the past few days at the home
in the south part of the city. Mrs.
Young has been suffering from what
seemed to be an attack of the pre
vailing malady of the flu. growing
much worse and has been kept con
fined to her bed for the last few days
and under constant medical care.
EEEJJ
fTS' MEETING
Sheriff Edward Ttimgan. who has
just taken over tho duties of the
office of sheriff of Cass county, was
at Grand Island Wednesdaj' where he
attended the sessioas of the state
sheriffs' association. The meeting
was attended by 150 '.of the peace offi
cers of the state and presided over
by W. C. Ccndit. former state sher
iff, who has been e-elected as the
head of the state association for
the next year. The 'meeting was at
tended by the statej and county offi
cers from all sections cf the state, be
ing one of the most successful meet
ings of its kind that has been held
in the recent years-.
Honor Roll of
Local High School
is Announced
List of Students Show That Fourteen
Percent of School is Included
on Hcnor Boll.
The report cards showing the
scholastic achievement of the stu
dents of Plattsmouth high school
were issued Wednesday. A check of
the grades showed that 14 of the
entire student body were honor stu
dents, having grades of "A" in three
or more solid subjects. The Seniors
led the list with 26; Juniors 14;
Sophomores 7 and the Freshmen
.
While popular attention in many
cases today is centered on the extra
curricular activities it is interesting
to know that there Is a large num-
iber of students in Plattsmouth high
school who are striving for the best
in scholarship and that the instruct
ors are staking v;jftvjTfort on. their
part to emphasize this most important
phase of the school work. In addi
tion to the 14 who are classed on
the honor roll because of grades of
"A" there is still a larger group com
prising about another 30 who are
doing "B" or good work. The per
centage of failures in the local high
school is unusually low. The follow
ing is the scholastic .honor roll for
the first semester:
SENIORS
James Comstock.
Cecil Comstock.
Ed Egenberger.
Dorothy Farmer.
Malinda Fried rich.
Madge Garnett.
June Kiel
Antoinette Koubek.
Aulton Holland.
Helen Schulz.
Irene Simon
Eleanor Swatek.
Helen Warga
Edward Wehrbein.
Mary Lois Wiles.
JUNIORS Geo. Adam.
Margaret Lahoda.
Emily Lorenz.
A-rlene Rager.
Marsella Ramsel.
Stuart Porter.
Mata Schackneis.
Elinore Smetana.
9 Semester but not 3rd quarter.
SOPHOMORES
Lois Bestor.
tGertrude Brink.
t Ellen Kelly
t Dorothy McCarthy.
James Robertson.
Lillian Sedlock.
Dorothy Seimoneit .
tRoby Sutton
t Margaret Taylor.
Martha Kaffenberger.
t Third quarter only.
FRESHMEN
Mildred Cacy.
Chas Dow.
Virginia Trively.
CELEBRATES BIRTHDAY
Wednesday evening little Miss
Betty Distell observed the passing
of her seventh birthday anniversary.
for the occasion a number of the
friends and playmates joined in the
jolly time prepared. The time was
spent in playing games and a gen
eral good time by the members of
group of little folks. At an appro
pritee hour dainty - luncheon was
served by Mrs. Distell and which was
featured by the handsome birthday
cake. Those who attended were Re
nee Brown, Betty and Patty Liber-
shal, Dorothy Turner, Jean Taylor,
Alice and Margaret Rea, Ellen Ger
trude Cloidt. Billy Robertson.
DIES AT CLARINDA
Prom Friday's Daily
The message has been received
here from Mrs. J. F. Clugy. at Clar
inda, Iowa, announcing the death of
her sister-in-law, Mrs. Etta Carver.
Mrs. Clugy has been at the bedside
of the sister-in-law for the last Sew
days an will remain over for the
funeral services which are expected
to be held this afternoon.
ATTENDS S:
G)
Popular Young
People Wedded
at St, Luke's
Miss Helen Clement Becomes Bride
cf Ealph E. Gansemer, Well
Known Young Farmer .
From Saturdays Daily
This morning at 10:15 at the St.
Lul;e's Episcopal church occurred the
marriage cf Miss Helen Clement of
this city to Mr. Ralph E. Gansemer.
one of the well known young farmers
residing west of Mynard.
The wedding was attended by only j
tne immediate family or trie two
young people.
The beautiful and impressive Eiis
copal wedding service was ceW'br.ited
by Canon Petler, rector of St. Luke's
church.
The bride wore as her wedding
gown, a most becoming costume cf
brown crepe and chiffon velvet, with
picture hat and' accessories in the
tones of brown.
Mr. and Mrs. A. E. Hulse of New
ton. Iowa, the latter a sister of the
bride, were the attendants of the
bride and groom.
Following the wedding at the
church the members of the bridal
party were guests at the home of
the bride's parents. Mr. and Mrs. R.
W. Clement. Mr. and Mrs. Gansemer
later leaving on a honeymoon trip,
their destination not being revealed.
The bride is the youngest daugh
ter of Mr. and Mrs. R. W. Clement
and was born and reared to woman-
i i v: i u i i.
""J"."".!!! -
a popular tlgure in the social life
of the community. She was educated
in the schools of this city and grad
uated in the class of 1926. The. bride
has been "active In the work of the"
St. Luke's Episcopal church of which
she has been a member since child
hood. The groom is the youngest son of
Mrs. Herman F. Gansemer and has
grown to manhood in the community
west of Mynard where he is mak
ing his home on the farm where he
and his bride are to make their home
in the future. Mr. Gansemer was
graduated from the Plattsmouth
schools in theclass of 19 2 S. For the
past two years he has been engaged
in the active conduct of the farm of
his mother.
The many friends here and over
the county will join in their best
wishes to this estimable young cou
ple for their future welfare and hap
piness. VISITS STATE CHAPTERS
From Friday's Dally
Mrs. Edgar H. Wescott. state
regent of the Nebraska Daughters of
the American Revolution, has been
continuing her tour of the D. A. R.
chapters of the state throughout the
last week. On Tuesday evening, Jan
uary 26, Mrs. Wescott was the guest
of honor, at Aurora, of Twin Cotton-
woods chapter, of which Miss Helen
Wood is regent. Betsey Hager chap
ter of Grand Island, of which Mrs.
C. S. Lyle is regent, entertained the
State Regent Wednesday afternoon.
January 27, and that evening she
was the guest of the Shelton chap
ter, of which Mrs. R. N. Stubblefield
is regent. At all these meetings Mrs.
Wescott gave addresses on various
phases of D. A. R. work. Last Fri
KOIL at Omaha on "A Bird's-Eye
View of D. A. R. Work." On Friday,
February 5. the State Regent will
be the guest of Deborah Avery chap
ter in Lincoln.
On Thursday, January 28. Mrs.
Wescott visited North Platte, where
she was in conference with the ex
ecutive board of Sioux Lookout chap
ter, of which Mrs. R. D. Rasmusson
is regent, over plans, for the thir
tieth annual State Conference of the
Nebraska Daughters of the American
Revolution, which will be held in
North Platte, March 15, 16 and 17.
DEBAT0RS DRAW PRAISE
From Friday's Daily
The debate squad of the Platts
mouth high school were at Papillion
last evening to enjoy a debate with
the team of that place. The subject
of the debate was on the subject of
unemployment insurance, the locals
having the negative side of the argu
ment. The Plattsmouth team pre
senting the question were Edward
Wehrbein. George Luschinsky and
Madge Garnett .they ably presenting
their side of the proposition. The de
bate was not a decision contest, but
the superintendent of the Papillion
high school gave the highest praise
to the Plattsmouth group, especially
the work of Miss Garnett.
The Plattsmouth debate squad will
attend the Midland college invitation
debate contest February 11th to 13th.
where they will meet some of the
formable teams, of the state.
INSTALL SPRING SWITCH
In the campaign to cut all pos
sible outlay in maintenance and op
erating expenses, the Burlington
railroad is having installed in the
local yards an automatic or spring
switch for the purpose of handling
the switching work in the yard and
the blocking or clearance of the var
ious lines. This switch is to be con
trolled from Pacific Junction where
the company still maintains switch
ing yards--. It is expected that the
new device will serve to eliminate
three operators now at the local
station, substituting a cashier and
helper for the day hours at the sta
tion. Glenn Sharp
is Captured at
Webster, Mo.
Fcrmer Manager of the HinkyDinky
Store in This City to Face
Embezzlement Charge
A search that has been continued
since last October for Glenn Sharp,
former manager of the Hinky-Dinky
store in this city, charged with the
embezzlement of $436.56. terminated
yesterday in the arrest of Sharp at
Webster, Missouri.
The office of the sheriff in this city
was notified a few days ago that a
man answering the description of
the wanted man was at Webster,
Missouri, a suburb of St. Louis. Sher
iff Thinigan at once had pictures of
I t tin n'ontfi1 rr o r aortt t r i ria (f aomi
aiii. tn itiowu
authorities and with the result
he was placed under arrest at once
Sharp is being held for Cass county
authorities.
Mr. Sharp .was,macager ht-re," for
the Hinky-Dinky store over a period
of some two months, suddenly disap
pearing from the city on October 4th
and had not been seen since then un
til arrested in Missouri. On the
night of Saturday, October 3rd. 1931.
Mr. Sharp had taken his wife to
Omaha in an auto and told her that
he was returning to this city to go
on a hunting trip with some friends
on the following day. When the time
for opening the store arrived on Mon
day morning. Sharp failed to show
up at the place of business and the
other employes of the store notified
the headquarters of the company at
Omaha. An investigation followed
ar.d revealed the fact that $436.52
was missing from the receipts of the
store. Sharp had purchased some
time before an auto from the Platts
mnuth Motor Co., and in which he
made his getaway, the motor com
pany being notified a week later that
the car had been left by Sharp at a
garage in Chicago. The car was re
turned to this city but trace of the
man was lost as he moved from city
to city. The final clue was received
that he was at St. Louis where a lady
acquaintance was residing and which
led to the arrest.
HOLD CONVOCATION
From .Friday's Daily
This morning a very enjoyable
convocation was presented at the
high school by the members of the
Junior class. Miss Gertrude Vallcry
presided as Master of Ceremonies.
A very clever one-set play "Sauce
for the Gosling," was given in a very
clever manner. The case was as fol
lows: Elizabeth, Virginia Samek;
Robert, Leo S'kora: Mother, Norma
Baumgart; Grandmother, Arlene
Rager; James Ward, George Luschin
sky: and the father. George Adam.
Gertrude Vallery directed the play
and deserves credit for her work.
Ruth Shiffer was heard in a few
piano selections which were very
much enjoyed. Greth Garnett and
Marvin Tritsch presented a very fun
ny act that kept the students in an
uproar. This program was arranged
by Mr. Gerald Kvasnicka, sponsor of
the Junior class, Stuart Porter, and
Gertrude Vallery.
RIFLE CLUB NOTES
The Plattsmouth Rifle Club, which
was organized about five 3ears ago
for the promotion of rifle practice
by civilians, is fitting up an indoor
range in the rooms formerly occu
pied by the Olscn Photo Co. A fifty
foot rifle range will be installed and
matches arranged with several dif
ferent teams throughout the state.
The Club had a very successful sea
son last winter, defeating among sev
eral other teams, one from the 17th
Infantry at Fort Crook. The Club
has received challenges from Colum
bus, Wi6ner and York Clubs. .
If sufficient interest can be secur
ed, a small caliber pistol club may
use the range on alternate nights.
It is probable that the range will be
in shrpe for operation next week.
Journal Want-Ads get results!
.Here
Early History
of Plattsmouth
is Recounted
II jr I'.OIIKHT FTIK PTTF.Hi
Principal Ilatttnoat fc II. .
Having considered the events in
volved in the various railroad pro
jects proposed for Cass county in
general and Plattsmouth In partic
ular during the period from 1SHS to
1874 ar.d having pointed cut the fi
nancial overtures in the form of
bends made by the county and town
of Plattsmouth to the Burlington &
Missouri railroad company, we nre
now ready to describe the next phase
in the railroad history of Platts
mouth. That phase brings this nar
rative to a discussion of the bond
controversies with the Burlington on
one hand and Plattsmouth and Cass
county on the other.
It was inevitable that the large
sums voted the railroad during the
period of emotional excitement pre
vailing during the period of railroad
building should lead to controversy
when the time to pay came due. It
was one thing to lay a heavy bonded
indebtednees upon the town and
county and quite another thing when
sober-minded reflection revealed the
inescapable truth that the bonds so
enthusiastically voted had to be paid
by increased taxation. And payment
was a vexatious problem. A problem
made dubly irksome because of al
legations that the Burlington had
lourinot fulfilled its contract with the
tiintifity and county.
11,111 1 . . . , i .
1 ne nona controversy leuus ieii
readily to a clear-cut analysis aud
with slight exception is a matter of
record upon the Journals of the City
Council and 'County CommiaioriH-s. 7
It will be recalled that reference
has already been made to the $50.
000 bonds voted the Burlington &
Missouri by Plattsmouth precinct up
on the condition that the road run
west from Plattsmouth through this
precinct. These bonds were never
paid and the railroad company made
no effort to collect them and even
tually surrendered them. - The line
of the railroad followed the river
route from Plattsmouth and did not
cross the precinct as stipulated in
the contract and consequently the
company had no basis of fact upon
which to force collection. Mr. Henry
Eikenhary was sent to Burlington
as a representative of the precinct to
negotiate return of the bonds and
succeeded in his mission without
controversy.
The solution of the bond contro
versy between the county ana tne
Burlington was not accomplished
without court litigation. Reference
has already been made to the fact
that the county voted bonds to the
amount of $200,000 to the Burling
ton upon the acceptance of certain
stipulations specified in the contract
drawn up by the Commissioners and
reproduced on a previous page in this
chapter. Reference to the call for
the special election made by the Com
missioners wilf show that the bonds
were to be delivered in three sec
tions, 40 when the first ten miles
of line were completed: 40 more
when the second ten miles was built
and the remaining 2o when the
road was built to the western boun
dary of the count'. The bends were
voted under thi3 call March 27. 18C9
and the bonds were delivered June
16 of the same year despite the fact
that the construction had not been
completed as specified in the resolu
tion of the Commissioners.
This loop-hole became the basis cf
a suit filed by the County Commis
sioners early in 1873 asking that the
Burlington & Missouri be enjoined
frcm collecting on the bonds on the
ground that proper legal notice of
the election had not been given and
for the further reason that the bonds
had been delivered prior vo the con
struction of a roadbed and completion
of the line as specified by the con
tract and that therefore, the contract
was nullified and the bonds void. This
action was tantamount to a repudia
tion of the bonds as voted and de
livered to the railroad company.
April 10. 1873. a temporary restrain
ing order wss granted as asked in
the petition of the Commissioners
pending a trial on the issues. The
Burlington immediately filed a de
murrer to the petition of the Com
missioners on the ground that the
plaintiff had no basis upon which to
sue and for the further reason that
the petition did not state facts suffi
cient to make a cause of action.
This was the state of affairs when
Mr. T. N. Marquette, counsel for the
Burlington appeared before the Com
missioners May 12. 1873 and pro
posed a settlement of the suit with
out court litigation. His compromise
wes that the company would agree
to deliver back to the Commissioners
(Continued on Page 2.)