Nebr. State Historical Society
Vol. No. IV
PLATTSMOUTH, NEBRASKA, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1939.
NO. 7
Legislative
Committee Has
Many Protests
Cass County People Support Carsten
Bill to Make Power Lines on Sec
tion, Half Section Lines.
The public works committee of the
unicameral had a busy afternoon on
Friday in hearing: on LB No. 276 by
Senator Fred L. Carsten of Avoca.
providing that the exercise of eminent
domain shall be permitted power dis
tricts only along section and half-section
lines. A large group of Cass
county farmers were present to urge
the passage of the bill.
It developed that the bill is more
far reaching than its introducer in
tended and applies to irrigation as
well as power. R. O. Canaday, sec
retary and legal counsel for the Tri
Cour.ty, said that, under its language,
it applies to irrigation ditches and
water canals of all kinds. Upon dis
covery of this fact, proponents said
this had not been their intent and
they requested a corrective . amend
ment. Say Heavily Damaged
Troy L. Davis, of Weeping Water,
said that while farms may be dam
aged from 2,000 to $3,000 because of
diagonal high tension lines, the own
er is perhaps offered $75 for a per
petual right. Others speaking for the
bill: II. E. Carson, Murdock; Louie
Wendt, Murdock; Mrs. George Moon
ey, Cass county; L. A. Rogers, Lan
caster county; Carl A. Tefft, Avoca
and E. J. Robins, Fremont attorney.
Proponents argued that their lands
will be damaged, that they must pay
taxes' on the land occupied by these
cross farm lines, that weeds will not
be controlled by the distrfct anI that
there is a definite hazard due to such
location.
Mr. Tefft said there is nothing in
the bill which will prevent, by agree
ment with the land owner, diagonal
line construction. It will not, he said,
work any great hardship if power of
ficials are correct in their statement
that the diagonal line is less damag
ing than straight line construction.
He said that under the present law if
the owrer does not agree to take what
he is offered he must go into court.
Appearing for the power districts
were Ed Lusienski, C. C. Sheldon;
treasurer of the Loup river public
power district and chairman of its
right-of-way committee; Mavor C. II.
Fisher, Ogalalla, director of the Suth
erland district; D. J. DeLoer, chief
construction engineer with the Loup
river district; B. E. Bringliam, Sew
ard county farmer and Attorney Can
aday. Mr. Lusienski said it is the policy
of all districts to use diplomacy in
approaching land owenrs. The dis
tricts, he said, are not arbitrary in
applying eminent domain.
Unnsual Request
Mr. Sheldon said that queries were
sent to other states and that 26 re
plies were at hand, all indicating that
in those states eminent domain or
right tp condemn is not limited to
section and half-section lines. He
figures to show that diagonal options
had been easier to produce than
straight line options. He said that it
is impossible to follow section lines
with these double pole lines. As to
price paid for casements, he said the
district is more generous than other
states or private utilities.
"We probably are paying too much,"
he said.
Mayor Fisher said that with 490
miles of transmission line constructed
by the Sutherland, all easements but
three have been settled.
"We are trying to give something
to the farmer," he said. It was the
farmer who underwrote the project."
Engineer DeBoer said that line con
struction along section lir.es cr near
them damages trees and the property.
He said that along most every road
w a telephone line on one side and.
in many cases rural electrification on
the other.
"We want to build as economically
as possible, consistent with good en
gineering " he said. "We admit that
it is an inconvenience to the farmer
but we expect to pay for it. Those
states with construction experience of
this type build diagonally."
Mr. Bringham, owner cf two Sew
ard county farms, said that he has
the diagonal line cn one and the
straight line on the other and that
he prefers the diagonal.
Attorney Canaday said that pro
ponents of the bill live in territory
where lines are yet to be built and
have not the experience back of them
of farmers of other districts who ap
preciate the advantages of the diag
onal over the section or half-section
line. These farmers, he said, do not
want lines near their fences.
Bates Building
Fire is Cause of
Much Excitement
Hillard Grassman Suffers Burns While
Attempting to Stop Fire Origin
. a ting in Furnace Room.
From Friday's Dally
The fire department was called this
morning shortly after8 o'clock to the
Bates building- at Fifth and Main
streets where a fire in the furnace
room of the building was checked
with the prompt work of the firemen
The fire originated when some
waste paper and a box near the fur
nace caught fire and as the result a
very dense smoke rolled up from the
smouldering articles and made fight
ing the fire difficult.
Hillard Grassman, of the book and
stationery store on the first floor of
the building, was in the furnace
room and at once started to battle
the fire, and opened manholes in
the walk to permit the escape of
the smoke. The blaze, however, con
tinued, and in trying to extinguish
the blaze with buckets of water he
suffered burns on the face and with
the intense smoke that filled the
room he lost consciousness. Floyd
Yelick, residing on the second floor
of the building, was starting to work
when he saw the clouds of smoke
rolling up and ran to the basement
t-t the building where Mr. Grassman
was found lying in the door leading
to the furnace room. Mr. Yelick car
ried the unconscious man to the
street where he was revived and
later taken to a physician for treat
ment. The firemen extinguished the fire
with chemicals but much smoke had
penetrated into the building to cause
an undetermined loss to stock stored
in the basement adjoining the fur
nace room and also smoke reached
the upper floor of the building.
The building and the stationery
and book store Is owned by Mrs.
R. A. Bates, who arrived at the scene
a snort time alter tne nre alarm was
given.
TAKE POSTMASTER EXAMS
From Saturday's Ta.lv
This morning the examination for
the appointment as postmaster of
Plattsmouth was held at the city hall
with Mrs. Minnie Alwin, local civil
service secretary in charge and con
ducting the examinations.
From the three highest the selec
tion of the person for recommenda
tion as postmaster is expected to be
made.
Those taking the examinations
were: Rae F. Patterson, William
Schmidtmann, Jr., J. A. Capwell,
Fred Mann, R. J. Larson,7 Robert D.
Fitch, George W. Olson, Jack Stamp,
Frank J. Libershal, Milo Price, Dr.
J. J. Stibal, E. C. Giles.
HAVE NEW SON
From Friday Dally
Mr. and Mrs. Don Cramer are the
proud parents of an SVs pound baby
boy born to them at the Anton Kani
hospital in Omaha last evening. The
mother and little one are doing very
nicely and the event has brought a
great deal of happiness to the mem
bers of the family circle. Mrs.
Cramer was formerly Miss Eleanor
Sprieck of Louisville.
Today is alS the third wedding
anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Cramer.
A NEW ARRIVAL
Mr. and Mrs. Elverson Freeland
are the proud parents of a fine 7
pound son, born to them Wednesday
morning at the Immanuel hospital in
Omaha. The mother and little one
are getting along very nicely. Mrs.
Freeland was formerly Miss Lauretta
Coffelt, daughter of Mr. and Mrs.
William Coffelt.
Golden Wedding
of Mr. and Mrs.
Keefer Observed
Friends at Glenwood and Plattsmouth
Join in Fitting Observance of
of the Happy Occasion.
On Tuesday evening, February
21st. at the country home cf Mis.
Roy O. Cole near Plattsmouth, a
very impressive reception was held
celebrating the golden wedding anni
versary of Mr. and Mrs. M. C. Keefer,
parents of Mrs. Roy O. Cole. Some
seventy guests were present to pay
their respects and well wishes to
this couple who are scions of two
well known pioneer families and
who have resided in this county,
near Alvo, the greater part of their
lives.
Mr. and Mrs. Keefer have two
daughters, Mrs. Roy O. Cole who was
hostess and Mrs. C. G. Samuelson,
of Milford, who assisted in receiving
the guests, and two sons, Donald
Keefer of Treynor, Iowa, who with
his wife and daughter, Delores were
present to help celebrate their par
ents golden wedding anniversary,
and Maurice Keefer, of Laramie.
Wyoming, who found it impossible to
be present.
The decorations for the dining
room iconsisted of a large white cake
artistically decorated in golden color,
for the center piece while bouquets
of yellow roses and daisies gave a
beautiful setting. In the living room
were bouquets of calendula and jon
quil. During the evening dainty re
freshments were served in the dining
room, consisting or ice cream, cane.
coffee and mints.
A short program, appropriate for
the occasion was rendered during
the festivties which was very much
enjoyed by those present, especially
the humorous poem composed and
read by Chas. M. Skiles, well known
attorney of Lincoln, and a brother
of Mrs. Keefer. Raymond Cook sang.
Put on Your Old Gray Bonnnet"
while the guests joined in on the
chorus. Eloise Cole was also on the
program with an appropriate piano
solo.
One of the interesting highlights
of the evening was the fact there
were several guests present who were
guests at the wedding fifty .years ago,
they being Mrs. S. O. Boyles, sister of
Mrs. Keefer, and Mr. Boyles, of Alvo,
Mrs. Clara Prouty and Chas. M.
Skiles of Lincoln, sister and brother
of Mrs. Keefer and M. L. Keefer,
of Utica. brother of Mr. Keefer.
In recent years Mr. and Mrs. Keef
er have resided in Glenwood, Iowa
where on the afternoon of their anni
versary seventy-five friends and
neighbors called to offer congratu
lations and wishes for many more
happy anniversaries.
DONORS TO FUND
The Plattsmouth Woman's club
milk and shoe fund reports the fol
lowing contributions to the fund for
shoes and milk funds for the chil
dren of the city:
George Lushinsky. 50c: Elmer
Sundstrom $1.00; Mrs. Elmer Sund-
strom, $1.00; Mrs. John Woest, 50c;
Mrs. R. B. Keller, 50c; Mrs. R. W.
Knorr, 50c; Mrs. L. S. Devoe, 34c;
Mrs. P. Y. McFetridge. 25c; Mrs.
R. T. Cuthrell. 25c; Mrs. H. L. Gaver.
25c; Mrs. WmP Schmidtman, chil
dren's shoes; Mrs. Carl Ofe, chil
dren's shoes.
Mrs. William Nelson $1.00
Judge C. L. Graves 1.00
Mrs. George For n off .25
Mrs. William Baird .25
Mrs. L. D. Hiatt .25
Mrs. Frank Mullen is treasurer of
the organization and contributions
may be made to her.
PREPARING DEDICATION
The senior class of the high school
are . planning a dedication and
memorial for Harriet Case, deceased
class president. The organization of
the various committees is being made
but so far no definite dedication has
been decided upon.
SUFFERS FROM ILLNESS
Ordell Hennings, manager of the
Hinky-DInky grocery store, is ill
with the flu and grippe at his home.
His illness has forced him to remain
in bed a few days, it preventing him
from looking after the usual duties
and tasks of the business.
LOCAL MAN IN PLAY
CRETE, Neb., Feb. 23. Joe Ilen
drix is in the cast of the Shakes
pearean comedy, "The Tempest"
which will be presented by the Doane
Players on their spring tour through
the western part of the state and
parts of Colorado. Seven of the men
will also be cast in "The Other
Apostle," a religious drama which
will be presented chiefly in churches
on Sunday evening.
Mr. and Mrs. D. Cecil Carter will
accompany the players on their trip.
Platters Lose
at M-I-N-K Debate
at Peru Friday
Many Fine Teams Entered in the Con
test Coaches Express Regret at
Loss of Harriet Case.
The somewhat disorganized Platts
mouth debaters failed to make much
of an impression upon the Peru de
bate tournament judges yesterday.
The two veteran senior boys. Barton
and Bestor, did not function very
well as a debate team. They did win
from the Omaha Technical girls and
from Auburn B but lost to Auburn
A and to Hastings' third team. (Hast
ings' first two teams, along with Lin
coln's first team and some others
from this end of the state were in
Hastings for the Hastings college in
vitation tournament.)
John Morris, a junior who Is a
first year debater, turned in a bet
ter afl around job of debating than
did either Barton or Bestor. His col -
league, Ruth Lowson a freshman,
performed remarkably well. She has
been working with the first teams
only since the death of Harriet Case,
but gives promise of some day equal
ing the record left byAI;s& Case.
The prestige of Plattsmouth de
batfng and more particularly of
Harriet Case was evident from the
numerous inquiries from the coaches
and debaters of eastern Nebraska
relative to her death. Evidently she
had come to be one of the best known
high school students in this section
of the state. It is certain that she
left a record in many fields at which
future Plattsmouth high school stu
dents may well aim. In the field of
debate she left a record of 32 vic
tories from her 62 contests with
other high schools. This includes her
sophomore year, when she was com
peting against junior and seniors
from other schools. A batting aver
age of above .500 over a period of
three years is very difficult to
achieve. No other Plattsmouth de
bater, under the coaching of Mr.
Price, has such a record.
There were evidences at Peru that
the Barton-Bestor combination could
be whipped into a winning team be
fore the district tournament' March
17 and 18. If not, John Morris will
be a dependable replacement.
VISITS OLD FRIENDS
From Friday Dally
Louis Kunkak, for many years a
prominent resident of the Avoca
community, who is now residing at
Raymond, Nebraska, was here today
to spend a few hours with old friend?.
Mr. Kunkak has been at Omaha at
tending the lumbermen's convention
and Is on his way home.
DEPARTS FOR NEW MEXICO
From Saturday's Dally -
Rev. Joseph R. Sinkula, pastr ol
the Holy Rosary Catholic church, de
parted this evening at 5 o'clock for
Albuquerque, New Mexico where he
will spend some three months visit
ing and enjoying the many high places
of interest.
CARD OF THANKS
We wish to thank our many
friends and neighbors, also the pas
tpr and singers for their kindness
during the sickness and death of
our beloved father, Charles A. Har
vey. The Harvey Family.
GIVEN DIVORCE DECREE
Judge W. W. Wilson Friday after
noon entered a decree of divorce in
favor of William F. Clark, against
Elsie Clark, non-resident defendant.
The charge was extreme cruelty.
W. H. Puis is
Renamed Sec'y
State Assessor
Veteran Assessor Will Again Serve
in Capacity He Has So Ably Fill
ed ; Harry Scott President.
Harry Scott of Lincoln, Lancaster
county assessor, was elected presi
dent of the County Assessors asso-
jeiation of Nebraska at the concluding
jsession of the 25th annual meeting
i Friday at the Lincoln hotel in Lin
Icoln. He succeeds Ludvick Johnson
of Buffalo county. A. R. Brox of Val
ley county was named vice presi
dent, and W. H. Puis of Cass county
was elected secretary-treasurer.
Assessors from 74 of Nebraska's 93
counties participated in the meeting,
making it the largest on record. The
assessors accepted the report of the
legislative committee and endorsed
three bills pending in the legisla
ture: L. B. 51, providing for the
payment of precinct assessors; L. B.
255, providing additional means of
taxing intangible property, and L. B.
137, which makes the assessor's job
full time. In the latter bill, the con-
jvention voted to strike out the phrase
which would forbid the assessor do
ing any other work.
The assessors also went on record
epposing L. B. 5. which calls for a
reassessment in 1939, as "only an
added expense." This action was
taken by motion from the floor, fol
lowing the report of the real estate
committee recommending that there
be no 1939 reassessment. The con-
jvention also endorsed the report of
the public utilities and power district
committee, newly formed this year.
(recommending that the property of
all public power districts in the
state be placed on the tax roll.
.Fairbury was selected as next
year's convention city by an over
whelming vote after Al Milburn of
Beatrice sang a booster song written
specially for the occasion by Milburn
and E. H. Weerts, secretary of the
Fairbury chamber of commerce The
last item of business was the voted
addition of former President Lud
vick Johnson to the legislative com
mittee. COUNTY COURT HAS BUSY TIME
The probate division of the coun
ty court had a very busy time Fri
day with a great many matters (com
ing up for the consideration of Judge
Duxbury.
Petition was filed by Cappie Chris
wisser asking for the probate of
the estate of Mrs. Rachel Shrader,
deceased, of Nehawka.
Petition for the probate of the
estate of Oscar Duncan, deceased, of
Weeping Water was filed and Mrs.
Duncan named as the executrix.
Final settlement was held in the
estate of Frank N. Rauen, deceased
of this city and the administratrix
discharged.
Application was made for the pro
bate of the estate of Fred L. Dow,
deceased. William A. Robertson was
named as the administrator of the
estate.
MRS. COOK RETURNING HOME
From Saturday's Daily
Mrs. E. W. Cook, who has been in
the Clarkson hospital for the past
ten days, returned home today after
being iindej observation and treat
ment. Mrs. Cook has been in poor
health for some time and it was
thought that hospitalization would
be necessary to check her condition.
WARN OF OLD NUMBERS
The state highway patrol has re
ceived notice that after the first of
March they will be expected to pick
up all cars operating under old li
censes and found on the highway.
The parties are to be brought into
the county seats and complaint made
against their operators.
TAKEN TO HOSPITAL
Mrs. John Hiber, Sr., was taken
to the St. Joseph's hospital where
she was placed for treatment and
observation. Mrs. Hiber has not been
in the best of health for some time
and It was thought that hospital
care was necessary to relieve her of
her condition.
TAKEN TO HOSPITAL
Sheriff Joe Mrasek was in Lin
coln Wednesday where he took Elmer
Higman, who has been confined in
the county jail. Mr. Higman, is a
World war veteran and was severely
wounded by shrapnel during the
Argonne offensive of 1918. Yester
day an old shrapnel wound on his
neck broke open and started in
ternal bleeding and he was rushed
to the U. S. Veterans' hospital at
Lincoln for care.
Platters Lose
in Hard Fought
Game at Wahoo
Nip and Tuck Contest Keeps Wahoo's
Record to One Loss for Season;
Locals Stage Hard Fight.
The Plattsmouth high school bas
ketball team played the last game
of their scheduled season Friday
night on the Wahoo court, losing a
hard fought game to their Saunder
county hosts by the score of 32 to 27.
The game was close all the way
and never were the two teams
separated by large leads.
The small court served as an ad
vantage to the Wahoo quintet as
they were used to the play and which
handicaped the locals to a great ex
tent and especially in the earlier
stages of the game.
The Wahoo team in their guard.
Junior Dvorak has an outstanding
player and whose individual work
had a great deal to do with the turn
ing back of the Platters, he scoring
fifteen of his team's points and
also serving to upset many of the
Platters' trys.
The Wahoo team led 17 to 12 at
the half time.
In 'the last half ' of the game and
especially in the fourth quarter, the
Platters made a great bid for victory,
coming from behind, secured a 27
to 25 lead over Wahoo that however
was tied by Dvorak and then a
gruelling finish was staged by the
two teams with Dvorak securing in
the last seconds the winning basket.
In the defense of the Platters
Jacobs and Wall staged a brilliant
game and fought hard to keep down
the scoring opportunities of their
foremen.
The box score of the game was as
follows:
Plattsmouth (27)
FG FT
PF
2
1
1
3
0
1
TP
5
10
9
3
0
0
Rebal, f 2
Reed, f 3
1
4
1
1
0
0
Hayes, c . - 4
Wall, g 1
Smith, g 0
Jacobs, g 0
10 7 9 27
Wahoo (32)
FG FT PF TP
Beranek, 1 6 0 4 12
Lawson, f 10 2 2
Kling. c 1113
Dvorak, g 7 1 2 15
Urban, g 0 0 0 0
Kerstine, g 0 0 0 0
9 32
FIFTY-NINTH ANNIVERSARY
Mr. and Mrs. E. M. Godwin, old
residents of the city, this week ob
served their fifty-ninth wedding an
niversary very quietly at their home
in the south part of the city. Mrs.
Godwin has been bedfast for some
time as the result of a stroke, this
preventing any extensive observance
by the family.
Mr. and Mrs. Godwin were mar
ried in Texas and came at once to
Plattsmouth where they have since
resided and been numbered among
the most highly respected residents
of the community.
MRS. DEVOE ILL
Mrs. L. S. Devoe has been con
fined to her home for the past few
days as the result of an attack of the
flu which compelled her to give up
her usual activities. She is doing
just as well as possible under the
circumstances.
SPEND HOLIDAY IN UNION
Register of Deeds Ray Becker and
Mrs. Becker, were at Union Wed
nesday where they spent the day
visiting with the relatives and
friends.
Phone new Items to flo. C
Death of John
F. Vallery, Once
Resident Here
Was One of the Well Known Rail
road Men of the West, Passes
Away at Home in Denver.
John F. Vallery, 75, tiorn and
reared in Plattsmouth. a son of the
late Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Vallery, Jr.,
died Wednesday at th St. Joseph
hospital in Denver as the result of
an attack of pneumonia.
Mr. Vallery was taken to the hos
pital last Friday from his home at
1360 Monaco parkway. A cold from
which he was suffering at the time
developed into pneumonia.
The family of Mr. Vallery were
among the early settlers of Cass
county, coming here in 1S5G. where
the family were reared and made
their homes for many years.
Receiving his education here he
entered the services of the Burling-
on in 1887 in this city and continued
in the railroad service until his re
tirement from active service in 1334
after forty-six years of service with
the company.
He was assistant freight agent of
the Burlington for a great many
years until retired at the acre limit
of the railroad. In his service with
the Burlington he was lofated at
Omaha. Cincinnati and Chicago prior
to going to Denver where the greater
part of his lifetime has been spent.
In Denver Mr. Vallery was active
in the Masonic order and was a mem
ber of the Oriental lodge No. 87,
A. F. & A. M.; Colorado Chapter No.
29, Royal Arch Masons; Reeky
Mountain consistory No. 2; past com
mander Denver commandery No. 25.
Knights Templar; grand treasurer
of the Colorado grand commandery
of the Knights Templar for a number
of years and of EI Jebel " temple of
the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine.
Mr. Vallery is survived by the
widow, two sisters, Mrs. Kate Minor
of Los Angeles, Mrs. E. T. Dutcher
of Warrensburg, Missouri, and one
brother, Charles A. Vallery of St.
Joseph. Missouri. Mr. Vallery was
an uncle of L. O. Minor, superin
tendent of the Plattsmouth Water
Corporation.
HONORED BY FRIENDS
Mr. and Mrs. El wood Snodgrass
were given a surprise farewell re
ception Friday evening as they are
soon to move to Plattsmouth.
The evening was spent in playing
pinochle, pitch, checkers and visiting.
At a suitable hour lunch was served.
Those present to enjoy the eve
ning were: Mr. and Mrs. John Hob
seheidt, George. Frank, Margaret and
Henry, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Hansen
and Rollin, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Camp
bell and family, Mr. and Mrs. Marion
tVorthan, Ruby, Billy and Ocmer.
Raymond Lancaster, Sheldon Smith.
Don and Alice Campbell. Mr. and
Mrs. S. Y. Smith, Julius Severn. Mr.
and Mrs. Glen Thompson and Rose
Marie, Mr. and Mrs. Sterling Harris.
Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Srott. Frank.
Jack, Lloyd and Patty, Bert Worthan
nd the guests of honor Mr. and Mrs.
Elwood Snodgrass. Robert and Roger.
FELLOWSHIP ASSOCIATION
MEETING AT PLATTSMOUTH
The Cass County Christian Fel
lowship Association will meet at the
Methodist church in Plattsmouth on
Sunday, March 5th, at 2:30 p. m.
The guest speaker will be the
Rev. Ray E. Hunt, long time pas
tor of the First Christian church at
Lincoln, who will speak on 'The
Church in Social Action." Special
music and an opportunity for sing
ing will be given. The public Is in
vited to attend this meeting.
AN APPRECIATION
On behalf of my pupils and my
self, I wish to express our apprecia
tion to the many kind friends who
have helped us win the Fifth Week
ly Prize of the Rural School Contest.
We sincerely thank you.
Especially do I wish to extend my
appreciation to the parents of the
pupils I teach, and members of the
school board, for their fine cooper
ation. VELMA FULTON,
d&w Teacher of Dist. tl.
