TIIW NORFOLK WEEKLY NEWS-JOURNAL : FRIDAY , JULY 12 , 1907.
RAILROADING IS NOT'WHAT IT
USED TO DE.
THOSE WERE DAYS OF INTEREST
What Rnllrond Man Has Not Felt the
Thrill of n Glance nt Honpo of Coin
In the Pay Car , Qunrded by Guns ?
Railroading No Fun Now.
C. V , Carter In the AHUM loan
azlno :
Railroading Isn't nny fun > '
Soulld commercial folk In Wall sheet ,
wllli never an Idea In tholr nonius
Init to Invemt inmtoy nnd nnvlui It pay
dividend * , IIHVO Improved all tlio in-
innnco out of llfo on tlio rallB.
They have reduced grades nnd
straightened kinks and eliminated low
Joints and high centers and wooden
culverts and crazy bridges until n rldo
over tlio dlvlHlon Is about as thrilling
IIB walking to church.
Air hrakt-H have HO thoroughly
crowded out tlio good old Armstrong
hind that a brahcnian hafl no use for
skill or Judgment or inuaclo or oven
vocahulnry In stopping a train. The
engineer does all that Is necessary
with a slight twist of the wrist.
As for making n coupling , a brakeman -
man no longer mines In the cinders on
the hade of the tank until ho digs up
a rusty old link and a couple of pins
and , taking theao In one hand and hie
llfo In the other , sprints down the
center of an unballasted track and
over unprotected frogs and guard rails
six Inches ahead of a string of cars
rolling back at the rate of fifteen
miles an hour. No ; In these days ol
slavish adherence to M. C. U. atan
dards ho Just stands around smoking
cigarettes with an air of onnul anil
lets the cars couple themselves.
No more does ho fracture the handle
of the fireman's coal hammer and bU
own peace of mind In vain endeavors
< o pound a stub switch open after a
grilling summer sun has expanded the
rails until they are stuck as tight as
If they were welded. A fellow In a
dog house on a polo away oft yonder ,
by manipulating a few dainty lovers ,
throws the switches for him.
They have replaced the little old
eight-wheel engines , with their earsplitting -
splitting , staccato bark , with com
pound steel mountains , with cylinders
llko hogsheads and nozzles so big that
the exhaust Is gentle as a lover's whis
pered nothings , for no better reason
than a dcslro to keep coal consump
tion down. No ntoro can the engineer
and fireman have a nlco social quarrel
In the cab whenever cither's hair pulls
a little , for now they are so widely
separated they only see each other on
Sundays. . - . > - -
v Trains , Instead of being made up
of a dozen or so of pill boxes , now
consist of a string of warehouses on
wheels so long that when the front
end Is arriving at Its destination the
hind end Is Just pulling out at the
other end of the division.
No more do engineer and conductor ,
watches In hand , make nlco calcula
tions on the time they can steal to
make a meeting point that has a sid
ing long enough to avert the necessity
of sawing past. Roads are double-
tracked and four-tracked and block-
signaled till all a man has to do Is to
trundle along from block to block un
til his run Is ended and repeat the
process until ho Is retired on a pen
sion.
sion.Ah
Ah , no ! Railroading Isn't what It
used to be. But If those Wall street
money grubbers had only left us the
pay car all else could have been'for
given.
Do you remember how , In the good
old days , the decrepit Jokes about
what was to bo done when the pay
car came wore taken out of the moth
bulls along about the tenth of the
month and dusted oft. and put through
their paces ?
How , toward the fifteenth , a feeling
of spvlghtllness gradually stele over
every ono from the wipers in the
round house to the lucky dogs who
had passenger runs ?
How this exuberance swelled In vol.
umo as the forte pedal was put on in
anticipation , until toward the eigh
teenth everybody wont about with a
broad grin and nerves all a-tinglo like
you feel when the orchestra Is playing
the creep music to accompany the vil
lain's midnight assault with Intent to
Mil ?
How , still later , everybody drifted
down to the depot about four times n
day to ask the station agent If ho had
heard anything about the pay car ,
until ho grow as crabbed as a setting
hen ?
How , about the twenty-second , the
waiter girls at the Depot Hotel would
give you a saucy wink and bring you
a great , Juicy , melting , extra special
wedge of pie you didn't order , for des
sert , along with the Ice cream and
nuts and raisins and fruit and pud
ding and shortcake you did order ?
Those girls knew how to work a fel
low for tips about pay day , didn't they ?
At last , ono day as you were letting
'em down the hill into tlio Junction ,
the operator pulled his train order slg-
nal on you. Your heart leaped Into
your throat because you knew
Well , you Just felt it In your bones.
You went down the side of the car
without knowing how you did it and
sprinted for the switch to head 'em
In on the passing track , and then flow
to the station on winged feet , leaving
the engineer to hold 'em with the driv
er brakes or let 'em run out at the
lower end as ho chose. And the grum
py old curmudgeon stopped 'em beau
tifully , without so much as saying
"boo , " when on any other occasion ho
would have uiilfxmi-d a torrent of vl-
tupt-nitlou that would have Hot the
lien on lire , and would have followed
It up by heaving a inonkcy-wicneh at
> mi If you had been In MIIIKU.
Theie behind I ho counter waa the
Old Man looking over the shoulder
of the operator , who was spelling out
lho order without breaking oftonur
than every Hticoi r\vord :
"Train No.7 , Conductor Klatwheol ,
Engineer Poundoin , will meet pay car
Mpoi'lal. Conductor Mnkenpln , Engl-
neor Morlarlty , at Hinonton. "
Such an air of nonchalenco UH Old
Man Plalwheel did anmime an ho
turned away to dlsciiHH with the hind
man the iidvlHahlllty of making a
Bwllch of that through car of corn next
Ihn engine to gel It behind the way
ears HO we would'nt bo bothered with
It at Kybni In doing our work on thono
heavy guides , , and affected to forget
that ho was getting oulors until the
operator called him over to sign them ,
llo was HO slow about his Hlgnatuio
that before the dispatcher's O. K. was
lecelved you looked out of the big bay
window and saw the section gang
which was working Just beyond the
V throw down their shovels and run
down the track llko a herd of stam
peded Hteers.
There , Just coming around the
curve , was a glittering vision of brass
and varnish half hidden In a nimbus
of Hiuokt and dust. Two short blasts
on a whistle greeted the gang , the vi
sion hesitated for a minute. , whllo the
section men disappeared In the nimbus
and reappeared as suddenly as If they
had been shot out of a gun , and here
came the vision gliding up to the
platform with boll ringing and poii
valve sputtering sot to voce , llko a
young lady trying to suppress a tick'
llnli cough.
It was the pay car.
At this point you lost consciousness
Some tlmo later , whllo still as om
In a dream , you realized that you :
numbftd senses , beginning nt the pilot
had taken In every detail of this ro
mantle visitation of opulence.
Never was there such an engine nt
the ono which pulled the pay car. Al
each Joint In her jacket was a band
of brass four Inches wide. Dome ,
sand box , steam chests and cylinders
worn encased In brass , polished until
you could have seen to shave in It.
Her front end and her dainty straight
stack were rugged with plumbago un
til they shone like a small boy's heel.
All her bright work was smooth and
spotless and glittering , whllo all the
rest of her surface was striped and
curllcucd with all the colors the gen
eral shops could mix.
Morlarty , the lucky runner of this
paragon , In a clean chocked jumper
left open at the neck to show a gor
geous red tlo In which a diamond gilt-
tored , a hard boiled cady cocked jaun
tily over his loft car , was lolling out
of the cab window in such a way that
all the world might see that ho wore
kid gloves whllo on his engine. Mo
rlarty was something of a swell and
he didn't care who know It.
Ills only rival In sartorial effulgence
was Pete Swanson , his Swede fireman ,
who was leaning out of bis cab win
dow with a stony glare fixed on va
cancy , affecting to watch for signals.
Of course ho know that all the signals
which concerned him would bo given
with the bell cord ; but his zealous
attention to duty relieved him of the
necessity of recognizing his humbler
fellow mortals.
No pleblan overclothes eclipsed
Pete's glory. There was the square-
cut black coat that no ono but a rail
road man over wore you know the
kind a vest of fancy red cloth , trous
ers with stripes that you could hear
ten car-lengths away , square-toed
shoes with soles half an Inch thick ,
and a stiff-bosomed shirt with red and
white stripes. On this foundation re
posed a black satin puff tlo held to
gether by a locomotive done In gold.
On his head at a rakish angle was
: > no of those soft hats of the peculiar
block affected exclusively by railroad
men a score of years ago. No , you
illdn't need to read the tag to discover
that Pcto was a''railroad ' man.
Coupled to the engine was a wheeled
palace built on graceful lines In fresh
ly varnished yellow paint which ri
valed the brass work on the engine
In brilliance. The plate-glass windows
wore curtained with brlght-huod bro
cade. Not a speck nor a flaw was to
bo seen. Even the yellow wheels bore
only so much dust as had been gath-
e'red on f the day's run. Through an
open window came fragrant odors ,
whllo In the background a whlto Jack
et surmounted by a black oval face
vibrated at Intervals.
All this tlmo Old Man Flatwheel was
heading a little procession bound to
ward the rear platform of the pay car
at a gait which ho assumed but once
a month. Flatwheel had conscientious
scruples against undue exertion , so he
always bad the caboose stopped af
the station platform so that without
dissipating his energies ho could saun
ter In to gas with the agent until the
hind man announced that the work
was all done and that wo wore ready
to go Then ho would get his orders
or a clearance and tell the hind man
to give 'cm the sign and saunter back
to the caboose before they got to roll-
Ing. But to have scon the animation
with which ho swung himself aboard
the pay car would have created the
Impression that ho was the only workIng -
(
Ing railroad man on the division.
At his sldo stalked Panhandle Dan ,
the engineer , his face actually wreach-
cd in smiles. Panhandle Dan had a
chronic grouch from 12:01 n. m. Jan
uary 1 to 11B9 : p .m. December 31 ,
except for three minutes once a
month. On the way to the pay car
he always perked up a bit and was
oven known to crack a Joke with Old
Man Flatwheel.
After these two came the hind man
talking Incessantly with the fireman.
Charley nlwnyti was talking that way.
Ho had an automatic tongue which
never ran down. Tnlf the tlmo ho
didn't know ho was talking. Ills was
what the doctors would diagnose as
a ri'ilox convocation.
Frank , the llroman , was the only
aobor one. Ho , poor fellow , was doing
HIIIUH In mental arithmetic , trying to
llguro out how on earth $ ns.GO could
bo initdu to pay all necessary bills
for a helpless father and mother , a
wlfo and four kids , besides board bills
for a man who wa obliged to bo away
from homo half tly > time.
Then there was the operator , In
shirt HlcovoH and careworn air , hoping
ho could get back to his key betoro
the dispatcher lost his temper ; the
igeut , placidly smiling ; and the two
coal heavers fiom the coal shed with
an expression of almost human intulll-
goiico struggling up through numberless -
less strata of grlnio nnd whiskers.
After thirty days of humping over a
scoop shovel In a choking smother of
dust they were now about to bo recom
pensed with thirty seconds of bliss In
which they could fondle real money
with their own hands. After that the
storekeeper would do the fondling and
feel bad because there wasn't more.
You had presence of mind enough
to lloat iiito the pay car In the wake
of the others. There were nine In the
llttlo party and you know by experi
ence that the average time required to
pay nine men was sixty seconds ; also
that Morlarty would have 'em rolling
lieforo the last man had scooped his
allotted coin Into his trembling palm.
But In the prcscnco of death or the
paymaster ono may live an eternity
In sixty seconds. How glad you wore
that you had not been nido and rushed
In ahead of anybody , even the coal
heavers ! Now your hungry soul could
have the uttermont second In which
to revel In -
Great Mackerel ! Just Icolc at It !
A metal coin rack crammed to the
muzzle with three denominations of
yellow boys , Hanked with silver , and
on the desk behind It a" very largo
wooden trip on which were long col
umns of vcllow coins. D'yo over see
anything so pretty In all your llfo ? No
wonder your eyes stuck out until you
could have used 'cm for hat pegs.
And all the tlmo an exquisitely mus
ical "tinkle , tinkle , clink-clink" welled
up from coin rack and counter in re
sponse to the calls of the assistant
paymaster. Talk about Beethoven's
symphonies !
If it were not for that strong wire
screen you could have touched that
fascinating tray. For the Infinitesimal
fraction of a second a wicked thought
flitted through your brain. Then you
almost fainted as your roving eye
stared down the barrel of a monstrous
revolver. It was only in a rack , but
It was within easy reach of the pay
master's hand and most eloquent for
all that. Half a dozen of its fellows
lay In the handiest places , with as
many Winchesters lying on tables and
settees , came In strong on the chorus.
Hurriedly your vagrant wits busied
themselves with all the Sunday school
lessons you had ever learned. As your
subconsclousness perceived that the
head of the road's secret service de
partment stood on the platform with
his eyes Intent on every man In the
car at once , whllo Conductor Llnken-
pln stood on the ground outside very
much alert , with his coat tall bulging
suggestively , your bosom swelled with
pride over the watchful care the com
pany had exercised to bring its honest
tellers their hard-earned money.
From the lithograph of Caroline
Iloyt on the wall to the little hollows
In the hard mahogany counter worn
out by the attrition of the hundred
and twenty-eight million dollars In
wages the paymaster had plunked
down on that spot since this first pay
car ever built had been commissioned ,
you kept on absorbing details until
your name was called.
A still greater rush of blood to your
head caused you to gulp violently.
Mechanically you lifted your hand to
touch the pen as the others had done ,
and turned to go.
"Here ! Cohio back and get your
money. "
When you came out of your trance
you were standing In the middle of the
track , your eyes wandering from some
yellow objects In your hand to a nim
bus of smoke and dust which was just
tipping over the hill to the accompa
niment of the diminuendo flutter of
Morlarty's exhaust.
But now !
Oh , well ! After you have washed
up on a certain day in each month you
trudge drearily down to the station all
alone , walk In , and lolling on the
counter , affect to look Indifferent and
say ;
"Hollo , John ! "
And the agent , after going over a
olumn of figures three times , replies ,
"Hello , Bill , " qnd gets up and goes to
the safe and fumbles over some pa
pers and hands you
A check !
No Jokes , no infectious sprlghtllness ,
no uncertainty to put a wire edge on
anticipation , no fleeting vision of brass
and varnish and opulence wreathed in
a halo of romance to leave a golden
taste in your mouth for a day , nothing
but a measly old check handed over
a commonplace counter by a man who
lives next door to you.
Why couldn't they have left us the
pay car ?
A Cure For Lame Back.
If yon are over troubled with pains
or lameness In the muscles of your
back use Chamberlain's Pain Balm and
they will quickly disappear. Mr. Al
exander Vlollotto of Vulcan , Mich. ,
says it is the best liniment he ever
used for lame back. For sale by Leon
ard the druggist
FOURTH OF JULY PICNICS WERE
THE FEATURE.
HOTTEST WEATHER OF THE YEAR
With the Thermometer Registering 100
Degrees In the Shade , Norfolk People
ple Sought Out Cool Nooks For the
Celebration of the Fourth.
Fourth of July picnics were the so
cial feature of the week In Norfolk.
It was too hot for much activity all
through the six days , but the nation's
birthday , which had to bo fittingly
celebrated , gave people a day of rest
and they bought out the cool nooks
near running water for their outings.
Picnic lunches on the green grass car
pets out of doors afforded relief from
the heat of the town , and fireworks
discharged by neighborhood groups
In the evening finished the big day.
The list of picnics printed In this
column Is probably Incomplete. An
effort has been made to Include all
Fourth of July picnics , but as In all
Instances where an attempt Is made
to compile so extensive a list , it is
highly possible and probable that
some have been missed. In this con
nection It may be said right hero that
The News will at any and all times
appreciate information regarding so
cial events for use In this column , or
regarding any other Incidents of a
news nature.
Pleasures of the Week.
At Taft's grove on the Fourth a de
lightful picnic was given In honor of
a number of guests In Norfolk from
away. Those at the picnic were :
Mr. and Mrs. L. Sessions , C.V. . Lan
ders and family , Harry Hardy and
family , Arthur Clark of Boston , Mr.
and Mrs. P. F. Bell , Miss Fannie Nor
ton , Mr. and Mrs. Charles Chapman
and son of Eureka , Calif. , Mr. and Mrs.
P. F. Sprecher , Mrs. Morey and Mrs.
Hitchcock of Pierce , Misses Laura and
Fannlo Brome of Butte , Miss Nola
Walker , Miss Georgia Blakeman , Mrs.
Napper , mother and , daughter , Clalr ,
Miss Ma&on , Helen and Ray Lobdell
Misses Etta and Josephine Durland ,
and Leo Pasewalk.
A pleasant picnic along the banks
of the Northfork four miles north of
the city was enjoyed by the following
families : Mr. and Mrs. S. M. Braden
and guest , Miss Hopkins of Chicago ;
Mr. and Mrs. C. II. Reynolds and chil
dren ; Mr , and Mrs. George D. Butter-
field and daughter ; Mr. and Mrs. W.
II. Butterfleld and son , Spencer ; Mr.
and Mrs. W. N. Huso and guest , Miss
Edna Stone of Sioux Falls ; Mr. and
Mrs. D. Mathewson ; Dr. and Mrs. P.
II. Salter and children ; Mr. and Mrs.
N. A. Huso ; Rev. and Mrs. J. C. S.
Wollls ; Miss Janette Mayer , Miss Ma-
rlon Salter ; Mr. Paul Zuelow.
A score or so of guests enjoyed a
pleasant evening at the home of Mr.
and Mrs. L. Sessions on West Nor
folk avenue Tuesday evening. Those
Invited to the Sessions home were old
friends of the guests of honor from
away , Misses Fannie and Laura Brome
of Butte , Mont. , and Mr. and Mrs.
Charles Chapman of Eureka , Calif.
An evening on the lawn followed a G
o'clock dinner.
N. A. Ralnbolt , W. M. Ralnbolt and
Fritz Bucholz of Omaha stole away
from the noise of the Fourth to poke
their llsh poles Into the deep waters
of Kent's slough. The day was
marked by good fishing , the catch of
the afternoon being a bass landed by
Master Fritz. At the time it was
caught the bass weighed nearly If not
more than a pound. ,
Pasewalk's grove furnished the pic
nic grounds for a Fourth of July gath
ering consisting of Rev. J. L. Vallow
and family , Mrs. Thomas Blthcll and
daughter , Mr. and Mrs. C. J. Lind-
strom , S. L. Anderson and family , Mr.
and Mrs. Redman , C. S. Hayes and
family , and Mrs. A. Klesau and son.
A pleasant picnic and flshlng party
was held on the B. Reed farm on the
Elkhorn Thursday. Those present
wore : Dr. II. T. Holden and family ,
13. P. Weatherby and family/J. Baum
and family. Mr. and Mrs. D. Baum , J.
K. Boas and family , C. C. Gow and
family.
Dr. H. J. Cole and family , Mrs. W.
J. Turner and children , M. C. Walker
and family and C. B. Durland and
family enjoyed a Fourth of July dinner
and picnic at the Spring branch.
Mrs. Mary Davenport , Miss Mattlo
Davenport , Frank Davenport and fam
ily and T. E. Odiorne and family spent
the Fourth among the trees on the
John Ray farm near the Elkhorn.
Mrs. A. Randklov entertained a num
ber of South Eighth street neighbors
Thursday evening at a Fourth of July
party. Refreshments were served
during the evening.
Mr. nnd Mrs. L. B. Nicola , Miss Lau
ra Durland and J. B. Maylard and
family were Fourth of July visitors at
the Leu farm on the Northfork.
Dr. and Mrs. J. C. Myers and Dr.
and Mrs. 0. R. Meredith spent the
Fourth out of doors In Taft's grove.
A score of young people enjoyed
the evening of the Fourth at the homo
of William Wagner east of the city.
L. M. Beeler and tamlly , James
Lough and family , Mr. and Mrs. E. K
Moore , Mr. and Mrs. Gus Kuhl , Arthui
Hazcn nnd family , Myron Twlss nnd
family and John Krantz and family
were guests at M. C. Hazon's camp
for a pleasant Fourth on the Elkhorn.
Mr. and Mrs. S. G. Dean entertained
a few friends at dinner on the Fourth.
[ This column closes at 8 o'clock
Saturday mornings and to Insure pub
lication In the column all Items of a
social nature should bo In The News
olllco not later than that hour. The
News will appreciate any Items of
events which may bo contributed. All
notices of meetings of lodges , church
societies and similar organizations
must bo furnished , written out leg
ibly as desired , the day before publi
cation. ]
POLO A FASCINATING GAME.
New Sport Has Proved to be Popular
at Sprlngvlew.
Sprlngvlew Independent : The half-
bleed cowboy and Sioux Indian polo
teams under the management of J. H.
Luthvlck are progressing nicely. The
polo game Is played on horseback
knocking a ball through a goal with
a mallet. It not only requires a good
horseman , but a good eye and strong
muscle to become an expert at this
game. The Indian Is a good rider
and has a good eye and adapts himself
readily to this sport , making him al
most an ideal player. Not only knockIng -
Ing the ball through the goal Is all
that Is required , but riding the oppon
ent off to keep him away , and the
many thrilling runs and scrambles for
the ball makes this the most InterestIng -
Ing game that we have. The Indian
loves. , this game and uses his entire
energy In winning. When he gets the
ball started down the fleld his way ,
ho sets the spurs Into his horse's
flanks , then ho gives one of his blood
curdling war-whoops and drives his
pony with its utmost speed toward the
goal. The ponies are the best that
could be procured under the practical
eye of Mr. Ludwlck , the manager , who
for years has been a horseman and
trainer. He has spent a great deal of
time In preparing these for the game.
The Indians were all gotten from the
Rosebud reservation. The cowboys
are breeds and fresh from the round
up , making as flue a lot of reckless
riders as one would wish to see. The
people of this vicinity are taking a
great deal of Interest in this and the
grounds are visited dally by people
who enjoy the game immensely. We
believe this is the coming sport of
the country and with the line-up that
Mr. Ludwlck now has , could not help
but furnish better entertainment than
any game known. We look forward
to the time when this will win a rep
utation for old "mob" county , and we
believe that this entertainment will
not want for encouragement and spec
tators.
RAPID CITY REJOICING.
Dream of Thirty Years Coming True
With Two Roads Entering , City.
Rapid City , S. D. , July 5. One of
the greatest railroad building races in
the history of the west Is rapidly drawIng -
Ing to a finish. The question Is asked
here which road , the Milwaukee or the
Northwestern , will reach Rapid City
first. The Milwaukee company has
finished nearly all of Its track-laying ,
the announcement being made that
as soon as the Cheyenne bridge is
completed a train could be brought
clear through. That will bo some
time the latter part of this week. The
Northwestern company has been in
the lead for some time past , for the
reason that work was carried on at
both ends of the road. The recent
very heavy flood washed out portions
of the track on this sldo of the Chey
enne river. The local officials of the
company now assert that the track will
all be laid from o.ne end of the track to
the other by the middle of July , and
it Is possible that the first trains will
enter the city on the same day. This
dream of road-building connecting the
eastern and the western portions of
the state has been the great hope of
Rapid City people for the past thirty
years. The business men are planning
a grand reception for the day that the
roads rbing the first train In.
ROMAN CANDLES DISASTROUS.
Shooting Out the Wrong End , They
Caused Trouble.
Robert Prlbnow , a prominent rarmer
living south of the city , attempted to
relight a rocket of the Fourth. Ills
hand was caught by the rush of pow
der flames and badly burned. While
serious results were not greatly feared ,
considerable tlmo must elapse before
Mr. Prlbnow can use his hand.
Roman candles proved ono of the
most fruitful sources of minor Injuries
on the Fourth In Norfolk. Many of
the candles developed the disagreeable
habit of sending flames through the
lower end of the candle on the last
discharge. Llttlo Raymond Beymerof
South Norfolk Is one of the boys with
a bandaged hand today as a result of
this tendency on the part of the way
ward candles.
G. H. Wardell of Plalnvlew tried to
fix his windmill whllo the big wheel
was In motion. Ho lost one finger In
the cogs.
Alnsworth Star-Journal : When you
call for a number on the telephone ,
would It not bo better to tell who you
are than to say "Who Is this ? " You
have called a number and the pre
sumption Is that you have the person
you called for. The person at the
other end of the line has no idea who
you are. Would it not be best to say ,
"This is Henry Esmond ; I want to
speak to Fannie Blanderson ? " When
ono takes down the receiver hfl hates
to have dashed Into his car that some
what Impertinent question , "Who is
this ? "
VERY FEW PEOPLE HAVE EXACT
CHANGE FOR FARE.
NOW AND THEN COMES BIG BILL
About $90 In Pennies Flow Out of the
Junction Depot Ticket Office Each
Month In Making Change- Paper
Money More Frequent.
Save for the exceptional woman
who sorts out her ticket money before
she calls the cab for the dejiot no ono
appi caches the railroad ticket window
with the exact price of carfare In
hand. All day long from out of the
little ticket window at the Junction
depot there Is an unceasing flow of
small change.
When Howard Beymer , Northwest
ern ticket man at the Junction , roaches -
es out a ticket with his right hand
his loft hand Instinctively seeks the
cash box. For there Is always change
to be made. If a man wants a $2.50
ticket ho pokes a f 5 bill at the window.
If ho wants a 75c ticket ho pokes in
a dollar. And if there are pennies or
nlckles Involved no man ever shoves
In the correct amount.
Every month at the Junction depot
there Is a deficit of about $90 In the
penny column. Each month nine thou
sand more pennies are sent out of the
ticket window In change than comeback
back In fares. It takes about $90 a
month to keep the Junction In nlckles.
When it comes to quarters the Im
ports and exports out of the llttlo tick
et window begin to balance and when
half dollars are reached the tide has
turned with an Incoming current.
Paper money Is beginning to circu
late In this western country more
freely than of old. The bills of small
denominations are beginning to make
a dent in the silver circulation. While
the jingle of silver still flourishes
down at the Junction , Ticket Seller
Beymer has noted that the little paper
money is making inroads.
Occasionally a $50 or a $100 dollar
bill is "flashed" at the Junction for
some western ticket. But the "big"
bills are precious things In the eyes
of their possessors and are seldom
parted with. When the man back be
hind the window piles up the change j
for the $100 bill the owner of the big ' * '
money almost Invariably finds that ho
himself has the exact change and de
parts with his big "flasher" intact.
But the man who sells tickets is not
merely a mechanical Instrument for
change making. He is the guardian
angel of the unfortunate , the Informa
tion bureau of the inquisitive and the
ignorant , the target of the man with
a grievance , the recipient of smiles
and frowns , of the word of thanks and
the disgruntled oath. Howard Bey
mer at the Junction depot Is all of this. '
So was the man who went before him
and so will be the man who comes
after.
CROPS IN NORTHWEST.
Outlook in Keya Paha , Trlpp and
Gregory Counties Is Excellent.
Sprlngvlew Independent : Contrary
to the general talk of Board of Trade
dealers for some little time , crops
generally speaking , are not going to
bo so small , but the outlook Is rather
encouraging. Of course , it cannot bo
denied that our late spring did have
some effect upon the general condi
tion , however , we are not In any fear
of Immediate famine , and are really
looking for even greater prosperity in
the agricultural districts than ever
before. This prosperity is being evi
denced In the northern partxof this
state and the southern part of this
state and the southern section of our
neighboring state on the north espe
cially by the great number of substan
tial improvements being placed on the
farms and the rapidity with which the
towns and villages are growing. Most
especially can this be noticed In Boyd
county , and just across the state line
in Gregory and Tripp counties . Slnco
the Gregory extension has been In C jr
operation building materials in great
quantities have been moving along the
line. In a letter to the editor from the ,
Louis Bradford Lumber company , who
carry an ad , with us , they say that
they have already received orders for
half a dozen cars to bo shipped to
Gregory and several cars to points on
the same line nearer this way , and
they seem to have great expectations
for this now country , as well as all
the surrounding country.
Wo have good reasons to bo proud
of our section of the country In which
wo are located certainly is ono of the
most rapidly Improving parts of the
most prosperous state in the union.
FRIDAY EVENING DINNERS.
A Number of Events Gave Pleasure to
Norfolk People.
Miss Floy Faucett and Harry Fan-
cott entertained sixteen friends Fri
day evening at the homo of their pa
rents , Mr. and Mrs. M. M. Faucett.
The party was in honor of their guest ,
Miss Rose Ward of Sioux City. The
evening was spent at music and games.
Friends from The Heights Friday
evening gave a C o'clock dinner com
plimentary to Mrs. R. C. Hand at the
homo of her mother , Mrs. J. L. Weav
er. The party was given In honor of
Mrs. Hand's birthday.
A banquet in the Masonic banquet
room followed initiatory work In the
"mastor mason" degree by Mosaic
lodge Friday evening.
Mrs. Arthur 0. Hazen entertained
relatives Friday at a six o'clock din
ner , the occasion being Mr. Hazen's
birthday.