THE MORMON TRAIL

THE BROAD valley of the Platte has ever been the road West. Today it hums with sounds of people on the go, a twin ribbon of concrete blazing a new trail to the setting sun. Up the north side of the river the super highway pushes, its way paved by men of another day looking for their promised land.

Nudge time a little and today's sights and sounds disappear—the super highway, the bustling cities along the way, and the farms and ranches that lace the countryside. Only the river remains, a broad flat waterway leading into the wilderness.

This was the scene that greeted Brigham Young and his followers soon after they left their Winter Quarters in 1847. Their destination was Zion, still only a dream they would find somewhere in the untamed West. Leaving forever behind the persecution and suffering that was theirs in Illinois and Missouri, they were ready to blaze a new trail on the uncharted north side of the Platte.

Plans for the great adventure had been shaping through the bitter winter at their temporary quarters qn the Missouri. They had been stalled there when 500 of their men had been recruited to fight the Spanish in California in 1846.

Over 6,000 men, women, and children were crowded into the inadequate dirt-floored cabins that would one day be the site of Omaha. While Brigham and his vanguard planned, his followers made the best of their lot. A kind of pioneer Red Cross was organized to alleviate the suffering. But no matter how hard they tried, sickness spread from cabin to cabin. Many would never see their promised land, and the cemetery on the crest of the hill grew with every day. One in ten died during the winter, mostly oldsters and children unprepared for the rugged demands of pioneering. The cemetery remains today, marked by the impressive monument, The Tragedy of Winter Quarters.

Spring brought new hope and Winter Quarters echoed with the excitement of the vanguard's departure. Some 143 men, 3 women, and 2 children were to make the trail-breaking expedition. They rendezvoused at Liberty Pole Camp, near present-day Fremont, in early April. Their 72 wagons, hauled for the most part by horses, were designed for faster than normal team travel.

Cracking whips boldly answered Brigham Young's order to move out and the great exodus was under way. The Platte stretched out, beckoning them on. Its verdant valley promised good water, timber, plenty of grass, but most important, a natural highway that led deep into the wilderness.

The vanguard soon fell into the routine of the trail. Morning prayers and breakfast were taken care of   before sunup. By seven, the wagons were rolling, with lunch already prepared so that the noon stop would be brief. By four, the wagons were corralled and the stock driven into the circle. Brigham figured they were making fair time if they traveled a good 15 miles a day.

Knowing that thousands would follow the trail they were blazing, members of the vanguard went to great pains to record every detail of the trip. Good camping areas were noted. Troublesome stream crossings were described. Sites for pasturage and wood were recommended.

Orson Pratt was charged with the tremendous responsibility of charting the course that thousands would follow. An accurate measurement of the distance traveled each day was vital to future wagon trains. William Clayton, historian of the expedition, figured he had the problem solved when he learned that his back wagon wheel made 360 revolutions a mile. For his discovery, he was given the tedious task of counting each revolution from the time the vanguard moved out early in the morning until the wagons finally circled up at night.

Fortunately for Clayton, his good friend Pratt came up with a better scheme. He designed a pioneer "roadometer" which, once it was built by Appleton Harmon, proved a tremendous success. Pratt's rig was the first ever used for trail measuring in the West, perhaps in the nation.

On Brigham's vanguard pushed, their wagons trailing near or through what is today Kearney, Lexington, Gothenburg, and North Platte. Theirs was a lonesome road, and they did not see a white man until they were across from newly built Fort Kearny. The trader that helloed them from across the river urged Brigham to lead the clan along the well-traveled s^thern'rmate The Mormons chose to stick to their trail blazing, fearing that contact with outsiders would bring back all of, the old trouble of Nauvoo and Carthage.

Indians were no more than bothersome on this first expedition. The Pawnee had gotten ornery at the Loup and demanded trinkets before they would assure safe passage. The Sioux offered little trouble in the 1840's. Only when the tide of white-topped wagons began spreading out from the treaty trail in the 1860's would they go on the warpath.

Chimney Rock, the harbinger of the mountains to come, loomed high to the southwest. The vanguard had already spotted Courthouse and Jail rocks, the beginning of the picturesque Wildcat Range. The road became increasingly difficult beyond the forks of the Platte, with the Sand Hills pushing in almost to the banks of the river. Wheels became mired in the sand, and double-teaming was necessary to keep the wagons rolling.

Scotts Bluff loomed ahead, the vanguard riding within sight of the beautiful natural monument for several days. By now, it was late May. The wagon train was making good time, having covered approximately 484 miles in 43 days. But Brigham's eyes were on the setting sun. His Zion was still somewhere to the West, away from all contact with civilization.

At Fort Laramie the vanguard picked up the Oregon Trail and followed it over the Continental Divide. More trail-blazing was ahead soon after, Brigham leading the clan over the route of the ill-fated Donner Party to the Great Salt Lake.

Orson Pratt and Erastus Snow were the first to see the broad valley on July 21. Brigham Young, stricken 6 OUTDOOR NEBRASKAland with mountain fever,"would not see his ''promised land until July 24. Still weak from illness, he had the wagons pause while he surveyed the scene. Lifting the flap of canvas, he looked for a few moments, then gave his decision, "This is the place."

The thousands that could not make the path-breaking expedition were eagerly waiting word that Zion had been found. When it finally came, the exodus began. For years after the Saints pushed out from Winter Quarters and Council Bluffs. Thousands followed the trail blazed by Brigham Young. From all over the world they came, their eyes set on Zion.

When funds ran short and wagons became scarce, they pushed and pulled cumbersome handcarts over the treacherous 1,031-mile trail. Over 3,000 walked their way to Salt Lake, among them a woman in her seventies. Handcarters were a special breed of pioneer. In all, 10 handcart companies made their way across the trail from 1856 to 1860. A rickety rig at best, the handcart was designed to carry the necessities of life for five persons. Parents usually pulled the outfit while the children walked along side. When the men were busy repairing a cart, a tandem of girls was often harnessed to pull the rig.

Most of the companies made the trek in good time, arriving at the Great Salt Lake (continued on page 44)

TAKE THEM LIGHT

THE BIG TROUT erupted 50 feet off the bow of the boat, torpedoed across the surface, then power-dived into the depths of Lake McConaughy. I was entranced by the show of speed, almost forgetting that it was my featherweight outfit that held him.

The five-pound-test line sang off the reel as the trout drove for the bottom, the 5V2-foot ultra-light rod bending almost double under the surge. The fish seesawed steadily back and forth forty feet down under the boat. A nearby fisherman paused to watch the show while overhead a gull swung in easy circles, screaming as if taunting me into making a mistake that would break the line or the rod.

My rod began to feel as frail as a willow switch as it pulsated under the pacing of the fish. Its sensitive action quivered and the line moved with unbelieveable speed. Then my heart sank as it went limp. Had I lost him? My stubborn persistence on using the light rig looked like it was going to rob me of the best trout I had hooked all year.

Forgetting some hard-learned fishing facts, I momentarily dropped my guard. A big trout can move much faster than the fisherman can cope with him. My small reel's gear ratio and spool diameter needed about JUNE, 1964 9   three times as many revolutions as a standard reel to take in an equal amount of line.

Fifteen feet off the side of the boat the big fish came periscoping to the surface again, my yellow jig still in his jaw. I swung the rod high, reeling madly to pick up the slack he had left in the line as he moved toward me. Catching up with the fish, I applied all the pressure the rod and reel clutch would take.

Five minutes had lapsed since I had hooked him. The trout sounded again to begin his pacing under the boat. The minutes ticked off, then 15, then 20. My right arm was numb with the strain of constant pressure. I gained 2 feet, lost 3, gained 2 again trying to bring him to the surface. During the next five minutes he paced catlike back and forth under the boat.

At close to the half hour mark, the rainbow was less than five feet below my waiting net. He swam toward the bow of the boat, then turned under pressure of the rod to fight his way in the opposite direction until the pressure turned him again.

Testing the trout, I gently lowered the net in the water to see if he would spook. He didn't. I pumped on the rod and cranked the tip all the way to the surface and then gently moved my lunker toward the net. He saw it too late as I swooped him into the mesh and over the side of the boat in one quick motion. The ultra-light rod and reel had proved itself to me once and for all.

How long would it take to land a similar fish with a standard spinning rod and reel? With 6-pound-test line the time could be cut in half, with 10-pound-test the battle could be shorter. Any way you look at it, a light-weight rig offers the ultimate in exciting action.

Those anxious to join the ultra-light fishing fraternity should first select a good rod. These 5 to 6V2-foot sticks weigh less than two ounces. The 5-footers are marked "Ultra Light Action." They'll handle lures from 1/16 to 14-ounce on % to 6-pound-test line. Other rods could be termed "Medium Ultra Light," handling lures from Vs to 5/16-ounce and line from 2 to 6-pound-test. These may sound like a bunch of dry figures, but they're the most important part of ultra-light spinning. The rod does much more work than most would believe.

Final choice of the right rod depends on the species you'll be fishing. The ultra-light actions will handle such fish as bluegill, crappie, and small trout on 2 to 4-pound-test line. The light action is a good all-around rod and will handle most any fish on 4 to 6-pound-test line, yet offer a lot of sport. The medium actions are much the same as the light actions in standard spinning gear and with 6-pound-test line, can handle most fishing assignments with ease. With this size, though, you'll sacrifice using very light lures, thus taking away the real sport of ultra-light spinning.

A good reel is just as important as the rod. The ultra lights are all open-faced and are minatures of their big brothers. Base your choice on how smoothly the clutch works. It is the lifeline of the ultra-light spin fisherman. If the clutch jams slightly on 2-pound-test line the line will snap and the fish is lost.

Give a lot of thought to the selection of a line. Ultra-light rigs are often termed thread-line outfits. Most enthusiasts use 3 to 5-pound-test. A very light action rig could handle a 1 or 2-pound-test line and offer the utmost in sport. Use this line on a stiffer-action rod and you can break the line setting the hook. Don't forget that when you tie a knot in any line it reduces its strength from 25 to 50 per cent. Any chaffing of the light lines on the reel or guide also reduces its strength.

Just as the rod, reel, and line should be in balance, so should the lure weight. The (continued on page 54)

COWBOY with a loop

LAST SEPTEMBER, 15 of rodeo's saltiest steer ropers converged on Pawhuska, Oklahoma, for the championship finals. Two days and 90 steers later, soft-spoken Glen Nutter of Thedford picked up the winner's purse. The slender Sand Hills rancher roped and tied his six steers in 149 seconds, for an average of 24.8 seconds per critter. This time placed Glen in the winner's circle of top U.S. cowhands.

Behind Glen's win at Pawhuska were 25 years of rodeo savvy, uncanny skill with a 26-foot rope, and a great horse named "Red". The Thedford cattleman attributes most of his 1963 successes to Red, a chunky 1,175-pound bay with speed to burn and a heart as big as a saddle. The eight-year-old has been Glen's roping partner for four years.

The two learned the steer-roping game together, since Nutter did not enter this high-stakes event until 1959. But he's an old hand at rodeoing, starting in 1939 as a saddle bronc rider. After 10 years of topping some of the toughest in the circuit, he switched to calf roping. After a decade of that, he became a steer roper to favor a game knee.

In a sport where a tenth of a second can mean the difference of hundreds of dollars in prize money, a roper's horse is a vital spark in the flashing action in this winner-take-all game. Unless the mount has the JUNE, 1964 11   will and know-how to help his rider, the cowboy might as well stay home and save his entry fee.

Glen talks of Red with a great affection. "He's a great one. He has lots of heart and is a fast starter, very strong, and a good traveler. He can stay in a trailer all day and hit the arena strong and ready. Red's a real goer."

In steer roping, the critter has a 20 foot lead on the horse and rider. When he thunders across the line, the roper comes out of the box with his loop ready for the toss. It's up to Red to close the gap in split seconds so Glen can make his throw and drop the noose over the steer's horns.

The Thedford champ lays his trip by bringing the rope over the steer's shoulder and along his body between the hip and the hock. Glen likes to throw his loop when Red is about six feet behind the steer. He lays his trip as Red veers off. If everything goes right the steer is jerked off his feet and dragged by the rope. When the steer hits the ground, Glen dismounts and by the time he recovers his balance, Red is dragging the steer toward him.

When Glen reaches the critter, he threads his ''piggin" string over a front leg, grabs the hind legs and brings them to the front. He makes two wraps around the legs, secures them with a half hitch, and steps back with his arms upraised to tell the judges he's all done. In the critical moments when Glen is working with the steer, Red must keep the rope taut to keep the rubber neck from struggling to its feet. He must also avoid moving or dragging the steer while he's making his wrap and "hooey".

At Pawhuska, Glen and Red accomplished all this in 14.9 seconds on their first steer. Their second one was troublesome and they spent 32.2 seconds on him. They 12 OUTDOOR NEBRASKAland recovered and gained time on the next four, tying their last one in the excellent time of 22.4.

Good as they are, roping horses will not last forever. Glen is already grooming a replacement when the going gets too rough for Red. Training a horse in the mechanics of steer roping is just a step in the over-all development of a good horse. He must be accustomed to noise, crowds, the smell of dust and strange animals, traveling, and a hundred other things that crop up on the rodeo circuit. Glen estimates that it takes about four years to turn out a polished performer.

The champ was sitting 13th in the Rodeo Cowboy Association's national standings when he entered the Pawhuska finals. He emerged in 11th place following his victory in the steer roping contest. Under RCA rules, each contestant receives a point for every dollar he wins in an approved contest. Besides the approved events, most of the pokes enter unsanctioned shows.

Rodeoing is a big business. In 1963, almost $3% million were paid out in prize money. Top hands make as much as $30,000 a year, and that's not counting the loot they get for product endorsements and personal appearances. Glen's accomplishment in gaining 11th place is remarkable in that he seldom competes in more than eight rodeos a year.

A rancher first and a rodeo hand second, Glen is much more interested in running a 13,000-acre spread in the Sand Hills than picking up bruises on the rodeo circuit. To him rodeoing is a hobby that pays for itself as well as providing him with a lot of pleasure.

Not all of the shows have steer roping events, since the event requires an outside arena with plenty of room to roam. Glen usually competes at Ogallala, North Platte, and Hyannis in Nebraska. He tries to make Douglas and Cheyenne in Wyoming and Lenapah in Oklahoma. In his bronc-riding days he took on Burwell, Calgary, and many of the other big-time showdowns.

Last year he was all set for Pendleton when a ranch accident put him on the shelf. Although stove up a couple of times in ranch mishaps, Glen is tolerable lucky in rodeos.

"I rode broncs for 10 years and roped calves for 10 without losing more than a button on my shirt. Then I came home and my horse steps in a badger hole and rolls on me," he reflected.

Ironically, he lost his right index finger in a freakish accident at an impromptu calf roping contest at a neighboring ranch shortly before he turned to steer roping.

During his long competition, Glen has won eight silver buckles, six saddles, two trophies, and considerable folding money. He turned the saddles into money by selling five of them.

Laughing about his winnings, Glen said, "Money is the best prize of all. It gives you bargaining power. Though I'll never get rich, I haven't lost anything."

Steers used in the steer-roping contests are real rawhides. Weighing about 750 (continued on page 54)

TWO-WAY STRETCH

UNAWARE OF approaching peril, the rabbit was chomping winter wheat at the edge of a shelter belt when Chuck Saunders saw the telltale flicker of his ears. Easing forward, Chuck uncoiled a strange-looking slingshot from his left arm. Carefully positioning a half-ounce steel ball in the center of the leather pocket, he turned his rig sideways until the upper prong of the "Y" was in line with the bunny's head. He brought his rig to full draw and released the pellet.

Propelled by the snapping rubber tubes, the deadly ball whistled through the air and hit the rabbit with an audible thunk. The cottontail gave one convulsive leap and flopped.

Chuck Saunders of Columbus had bagged a rabbit with his "Wrist-Rocket", a refinement of one of man's most ancient weapons. Chuck's rig is as far removed from the forked stick and inner tube strips of the barefoot boy's pebble pusher as the modern .30/06 is from the Kentucky flintlock. It is made of tubular aluminum alloy, drawn in the familiar Y of the conventional slingshot. The tubes are pressed together and the trailing ends curved in an oval loop that fits over the shooter's wrist. The wrist loop gives the device its trade name. Since the Wrist-Rocket is held sideways, the upper prong serves as a sight.

Tubular latex is used for the propeller bands and soft leather for the ammunition holder. When the latex bands wear out they can be easily replaced without tools. The wrist loop eliminates one of the major disadvantages of the conventional slingshot; that of holding it steady against the resistance of the stretched elastic. Maximum range is 225 yards, but Chuck and other slingshot hunters prefer to use it on rabbits and squirrels at 15 to 20 yards.

Four of us were enjoying a late season rabbit hunt south of Columbus with these slick outfits. Accompanying Saunders, an archery target maker, were co-inventors of the Wrist-Rocket, Howard Ellenberg and his son, Steve. Chuck is the manufacturing distributor of the Wrist-Rocket, while Howard and his sons produce them in their garage and basement. Last year they made and sold 25,000 of the devices.

We had selected a shelter belt as the most likely place for bunnies for the afternoon hunt and were slowly working upwind among the cedars when we spooked the first rabbit. Chuck drew down on him, but his aim was a little off and the cottontail darted into the underbrush.

"I wish we had some snow," Chuck complained, as we pushed through the tangle. "The bunnies sit tighter and are eaiser to see. This dry grass makes stalking awfully hard, but maybe we can catch one sunning before we have to quit."

As we walked, Chuck outlined the history of the unique game-getter.

"The Ellenberg boys, Steve and Mark, were trying to build a snowball catapult that went sour. They couldn't hold it steady enough to draw back the elastic. They resolved this problem by bending a piece of pipe into a loop to go over their wrists. The theory was good but it didn't work.

"Their dad, Howard, was interested in it as possible refinement of the slingshot. After working on it, he brought the rig to me as a potential addition to my line of archery targets and accessories. I thought it had possibilities and advised Howard to work out production methods. I agreed to try to market it and to let him consolidate his purchases of raw materials with mine. That was seven years ago and it has worked out fine for both of us."

As we talked a rabbit scorched out of a clump, his tail winking defiance as he vanished into the brush.

"Maybe we better stop talking and settle down to hunting before we get skunked," laughed Chuck, lowering his half raised slingshot.

A few minutes later, he potted his rabbit at the edge of the shelter belt. For the shot, Chuck used the archer's stance at right angles to his target. He extended his left arm to full length with fingers curled around the grip. Chuck anchored the thumb and forefinger of his drawing hand in the hollow of his cheek as he brought the slingshot to full draw. After the pellet was on its way, he held the follow-through until the rabbit jumped.

Later, I asked him about the similarity between his form and that of an archer. He explained that it was 16 OUTDOOR NEBRASKAland basically the same. Chuck, a veteran archer, had discovered the kinship between the bow and the Wrist-Rocket early in the game. After working out shooting techniques, he boiled them down to simple instructions.

Learning to shoot the Wrist-Rocket is not as time consuming as archery, but like every other sport where the accent is on accuracy, practice pays off. Chuck recommends beginners start at 10 yards and increase the distance as their skill improves. A large cardboard box makes a good target for neophytes. Ordinary glass marbles are great for practice, but half-ounce steel balls should be used for hunting. The pellets have an initial velocity of about 160 feet per second.

Howard and Steve joined us at the end of the shelter belt. They had spooked four rabbits, but the bunnies had taken off through the brush and they hadn't scored.

"It would go better with snow," groused Howard. I've had as many as four shots at rabbits when they were sitting tight but this grass rattles so much they hear us before we see them. We could hunt bullfrogs if they wern't out of season."

"It's funny how many uses hunters have found for the 'rockets' since they've been on the market," chimed in Steve. "We got a letter from a chap in the southwest who hunts tree lizards with one. Another guy in Oklahoma kills rattlers and from time to time we hear of farmers knocking off pigeons with our rig."

"I've hunted fox squirrels but they are tough customers," said Chuck. "Usually they are up in the tree and the branches are in the way, but when I hit one in the head, he comes tumbling down. Rats and mice are excellent targets and farmers buy the rocket to thin out pests. Dog trainers buy them to educate a headstrong Puppy and gardeners use them to discourage stray dogs."

We decided to hunt another shelter belt. Howard and Chuck worked the far edge (continued on page 51)

BOUNTY OF THE LAND

OUTDOOR PLEASURE is many things—it grows within the sportsman from weather and wind and change of season, from a boundless curiosity and constant expectation. And no matter what the pleasure, it comes from the soil. For it is from the soil that fish and game, trees and brambles, rivers and lakes take their life and form.

Streams, lakes, and ponds are what they are by virtue of the characteristics of the land about them. Barren hillsides produce muddy streams and ponds. Deforested areas produce warm waters and a decided 18 OUTDOOR NEBRASKAland change in the types of fish living in these waters. Fish and other aquatic living things depend upon the use that is made of the land. Thus, the most important factor in the management of fish and wildlife is the restoration and improvement of the land.

Nature has a way of maintaining a balance among all living things when left alone. For example, aquatic plants use carbon dioxide given off by water-dwelling animals, which in turn use the oxygen released by the plants. When silt is dumped into the water, the plants are destroyed and decay. This uses up the oxygen, and fish and water plants can no longer live in abundance.

Floods and silt are controlled in a wonderfully simple method by nature. Steep slopes are covered by grass and trees and a layer of spongy decaying vegetation. These reduce the amount and rate of water runoff. When man cuts down the trees, burns off the grass, and plows his furrows up and down the slopes, waters run unchecked. This fast-running water carries the soil from the uplands where it might have been farmed into the streams where it chokes out life.

In the absence of man's interference, nature maintains a balanced population among the various species of animals. When one increases greatly, it is brought under control by natural enemies and dwindling food supplies. This natural balance not only prevents a disproportionate increase, but also guards each species against extermination. Animals suffering the highest death rate compensate by having the greatest breeding rate.

Man enters this picture, also. He may increase the supply of food for certain species through his farming methods. Plowing, burning, and draining of wetlands decreases cover, food, and water. He may eliminate natural enemies of one species through pest control and thereby allow other species to become too numerous. Man's influence on natural resources can be entirely helpful, however, if he will apply some of the fundamental relationships necessary for any sound resource management program.

In the effort to increase the abundance of wildlife, there is no practice which will permanently take the place of improving the environment. "Environment" means the combination of food, water, cover, and other factors which make up the living conditions under which wild plants and animals must exist.

Any given piece of land or water has food, cover, and reproducing areas for a certain maximum number of wildlife species. This ability to support wildlife is known as "carrying capacity". Under all but emergency conditions, such as widespread drouth or severe winter storms, every species produces a surplus each year over and above this carrying capacity. The surplus is nature's way of insuring against disappearance of the species. This is an established natural law, one that was operating long before man appeared on the scene. There is no biological or economic reason why man should not use this surplus.

The only way to permanently increase a wildlife population is to increase the carrying capacity of the range on which it lives. If the carrying capacity is increased, more individuals live through the year. This in turn produces a greater surplus, which in the case of a game species such as pheasants, quail, ducks, or deer, can be harvested by sportsmen.

It is impossible to increase the carrying capacity for one species without increasing it for other species that use the same type of food, cover, and water. Environmental improvement for game inevitably makes better conditions for songbirds. Planting of trees, grasses, and shrubs to protect soil against erosion establishes food and cover for many forms of wildlife. A group of animals and plants in the wild constitute one community; they do not and cannot exist independent of one another.

In the early days of wildlife management it was the vogue to release large numbers of game birds in the hope they would survive and furnish sport. This wasteful practice has been discontinued in most states.

Technicians working in the field of game management discovered that pen-raised birds could not hope to survive where native wild birds failed. The process was much the same as sending in the girl's track squad to stop the Cornhusker football team.

All things depend upon the soil and soil fertility. This is basic. Thus, if Nebraska is to have continued good hunting and fishing, the people of the state must guard their greatest resource, the soil from which these game animals draw their strength.

Cover in the form of nesting areas, escape routes, loafing and dusting places, and shelter from the weather is the keystone to any program for the increased abundance of game birds and mammals. Since the overwhelming majority of NEBRASKAland's fertile fields are privately owned, the quality and quantity of the cover depends upon the landowner.

Nebraska landowners have a very real stake in maintaining cover and improving their land. A clean-cropped field will not support many desirable species. However, there is ample cover for rodents and various insect pests. A strong community of desirable animals will keep the pests under control.

The real foundation of a sound game management program goes back to the principles of unity and inter-relationship between soil, water, and living things, and to intelligent use by man. It is impossible to improve the environment of one species without improving it for all species using the same types of cover, food, and water. This could be expanded to say it is impossible to improve the conditions for desirable wildlife forms without improving the life of man. After all, life for man would be a pleasureless thing without the call of wild geese, the cackle of a cock pheasant, or the meadowlark's song.

THREE-SING CIRCUS ON WATER

IF THERE were an elephant in the act, the Capitol Water Ski Show would be a circus in itself. The show comes complete with clowns, ravishing show girls, and even a daring young man on the flying trapeze. The big top under which this circus performs is as vast as the sky, and the three rings might be any of the numerous lakes and waterways in NEBRASKAland.

The Capitol show includes intricate crisscross skiing, a jump boat that flys off a six-foot ramp at 30 mph, and barefoot skiing with nothing but the soles of the skiers feet between him and the wet stuff. The showstopper, though, is ski-kite flying, with the skier hanging on a kite that soars more than 100 feet above the tops of the waves.

Headquartered in Lincoln, Capitol Water Ski Shows, Inc. puts on its exibitions across NEBRASKAland and neighboring states. Capitol contracts for performances through a promoter, usually Jaycee organizations. The JUNE, 1964 21   ringmaster of the 18-skier troupe is Tom Gartner, a 21-year-old native of Lincoln. The fledgling corporation started as a ski club some eight years ago, and since has developed into one of the top attractions in the West. The show is going into its third season as a commercial venture.

At the age of 13, Tom got the skiing bug when he watched a professional ski show at Lincoln Air Force Base. He took up the sport with all the enthusiasm of a loan shark foreclosing on a mortgage. Tom found himself on the slats during the week ends, vacations, and after school, whenever he had a spare day and the weather was reasonably good.

The young skier's big break came in the fall of 1960, when he landed a spot with the world-renowned Cypress Gardens ski shows in Florida. He performed the barefoot and ski-kite exihibitions for the Gardens four times a day for seven months. After this stint with 22 OUTDOOR NEBRASKAland some of the top skiing names in the country, he returned to Nebraska to start a show of his own.

Some of his troupe were members of the original Lincoln ski club. Others were high school and university students who had little experience and a lot of enthusiasm for the sport. With a few other Lincoln residents sprinkled in, Tom had enough numbers to put on a show. But they still had to be trained. Though many were good skiers, they hadn't even attempted some of the stunts young Gartner wanted in the performance.

Using the training techniques he had learned at Cypress, Tom whipped the group into shape. The hours of practice were long and rigorous, but by the summer of 1962 his dream was a going business. During the first season, Gartner had to "import" a few skiers, but after that his own troupe took over all of the acts.

Capitol now puts on between 10 and 14 shows a season, running from the end of May to early September. Each performance lasts around 45 minutes.

The corporation puts about $10,000 worth of equipment into operating during the exhibitions. The skiing is done behind a gleaming 18-foot fiberglass outboard with twin 80-horse engines bolted to the transom. The jump boat is wood with steel reinforcements and a 25-horse power plant. Each time Capitol hits the road, it's accompanied by 50 pairs of skis. A portable ramp is used both for ski and boat jumps.

For the members of the troupe, the shows mean a good part-time income as well as plenty of opportunity to perform their favorite sport. Gartner, besides managing the show, sells boats for a Lincoln dealer.

Tom's exciting exhibition opens with the parade of flags, as eight skiers come up behind the roaring outboards. The next act is the shoe-ski ride, the skier doing his trick on a pair of slats that are about as long as good-sized cowboy boots. Three skiers then pull off a host of intricate maneuvers in the crisscross act. The mixed doubles feature two women perched on the shoulders of two men in "double date" skiing.

Then comes the stunt that Gartner classifies as the most difficult and perhaps the most hazardous—barefoot skiing. In order to keep a skier up without the benefit of skis, the tow boat must hit 42 mph. A spill at speeds like this can knock a skier cold if he makes an error.

The aquamaid ballet features girls skiing exacting patterns. After the gals, turn-around and other difficult feats are exhibited during the trick skiing exhibition. In the jumping act, three skiers shoot off the six-foot ramp while another crosses beneath them at 30 mph.

Seated atop a five-foot ladder, a skier rides the wake on a "saucer" during the flying saucer act, and then a five-skier pyramid shows off some difficult architecture on the water. The jump boat flies off the ramp and smashes into the water at high speeds, and then it's time for the ski-kite performance.

A tow-rope is attached to the 15-foot kite and the skier clings to the crossbar beneath. When the boat lurches forward, the skier comes up on the water and he's airborne seconds later. The kite often soars as high as 125 feet above the water while the rider performs acrobatics. Bringing the 27-pound kite in for a landing on the water is a dangerous, tricky task.

Occasional night shows are put on by Capitol with illumination by flood lights. Torch-carrying skiers add a colorful touch to the dazzling performance.

Capitol Water Ski Shows bring a touch of glamour to the waterways of NEBRASKAland and exciting entertainment to thousands. It features about every skiing innovation in the books. Of course, the group is still looking for an elephant that can ski.

NEBRASKALAND MASTERPIECE

RAMMING BOLDLY against a clear prairie sky, the 400-foot-high tower of Nebraska's capitol building 1 tells all of the ideals and accomplishments of a great state. The lofty limestone pinnacle dominates the scene for miles around. Massive in concept, striking in design, it captures one's imagination like no other building ever constructed.

Created by master architect Bertram Grosvener Goodhue, its functional purpose is surrounded by the vibrant history and soaring hopes of a proud people. Ten years in the building, the capitol demanded the very best of architect, artist, philosopher, sculptor, and builder. They molded the raw steel and stone into a monument of the past and a promise to the future. When they were done, they knew they had created a masterpiece—a masterpiece judged the fourth greatest building the world has ever seen.

Ground for the new capitol was broken in April, 1922. Work ended in-1932 with the completion of the west and final wing. Indiana limestone surrounding structural steel was used in construction.

Symbolism is the keynote of the building, from the massive north entrance to the giant 8V2-ton "Sower" high above the golden dome. It begins strong and understandable in an array of impressive figures in stone on the lower levels, then becomes more nebulous as it ascends.

Reverence for the law is manifest in the outside sculpture on the base and buttresses of the tower. The 18 carvings and bas reliefs represent two great periods in legal history. The first group is based on the Hebrew and Graeco-Roman interpretation; the second is the modern concept, dating back to the Anglo-Saxon development. The heroic figures on the buttresses are stone likenesses of the men who were champions of the law and fundamental human liberties through the ages.

The imposing stairway at the north entrance represents the rise of life on the Nebraska plains. Here inscriptions and bas reliefs weld past and present into the promise of the future. Inside the great* bronze doors the rich heritage and glowing spirit of Nebraska are enshrined in detail.

Intricate symbolism and vast designing are so majestic that the viewer cannot interpret their themes without repeated visits. The color photographs included here capture the outstanding examples in vestibule, foyer, and great rotunda, but there is still much more to be seen and studied in these areas on personal visits.

Gifts of Nature is the theme for the floor, walls, and ceiling of the vestibule. The murals on the walls, done in rich reds, browns, and yellows of the Nebraska landscape, represent the coming of the pioneers to the new land. These canvases were dedicated just this year.

High in the dome of the vestibule is a gold mosaic representing the sun. This is highlighted by a beautiful chandelier interwoven with the state symbols. Radiating from the sun are marble mosaics representing the four seasons with the appropriate signs of the zodiac. The second circle is a composite of eight mosaics representing the giving of thanks for nature's bounty.

Flowing along the barrel arches in the vestibule are mosaics picturing the animal life that is present in Nebraska. In the corners of the dome are the four great events in agriculture, plowing, sowing, cultivating, and reaping.

The construction of the mosaics required years of painstaking effort to cut, fit, and place. Most of the floor and ceiling murals were designed by Miss Hildreth Meirie of New York. A gifted designer with tile and marble, Miss Meirie considered the capitol her greatest work. She laid out the designs on paper, numbered the pieces, and then sent the layout to Lincoln. Workmen then pieced the gigantic jigsaw puzzle into the whole.

Three huge marble mosaics in the floor of the long foyer represent the division of matter, soil, vegetation, and animal life. Huge medallions carrying on the theme of the eternal state are seen in three sections of the ceiling. Each of the medallions is supported by the mosaic bands picturing the activities of human life. The color scheme, which is predominantly black and white in the vestibule, changes here to the brighter, stronger hues of blue, red, yellow, and other shades.

The rich effect of the foyer is emphasized by the soft light which filters through the onyx windows. These are supported in frames of Colorado yule, a very white marble. The same material is used in the balustrades of the balconies around the rotunda.

Creative energies are portrayed in the rotunda. This impressive structure, higher than a 10-story building, is the very heart of the capitol. Dominating the floor is a giant mosaic of Ceres, the goddess of nature. Flowing outward from the dominate figure are the four basic elements of the ancient Greeks, water, air, fire, and earth.

High above the floor is the dome of the rotunda, dominated by the heroic figures of charity, faith, courage, temperance, wisdom, justice and magnanimity. It is the great chandelier, the largest of its kind in the world, that catches the viewer's eye. This great bronze creation contains 136 light bulbs. Holding the chandelier is a massive chain which has a tensile strength of 6,000 pounds. Clustered around the massive fixture are the signs of the zodiac, denoting the seasons.

High above the rotunda floor and surrounding the dome is a series of marble pillars. They appear to be holding the dome, but actually they do not. It is supported from above to prevent any damage to the delicate mosiacs. These 24 columns are of French marble, noted for its regular veining and soft glow.

The murals in the hall and the rotunda are the work of two artists. The homesteader's series was made by James Penney of New York. Aware of Nebraska's natural colors, he is lavish in the use of reds, yellows, browns, and buffs on his canvases. Inside the rotunda, the three heroic murals painted by Kenneth Evett of Cornell University represent the work of the head, hands, and heart. Like Penney, Evett is generous with the rich hues found in Nebraska's varied landscape. Both of the artists were selected by the Capitol Commission.

Next month, OUTDOOR NEBRASKAland will bring you another series of thrilling color photographs that will take you into the outstanding rooms of the capitol building. The theme switches from the over-all to the specific in these rooms that are unique in design and function. Don't miss this next collector's item.

the PETTICOAT CHAMPS

WHAT DOES it take to be a champion archer? If you are Carla Willms, it requires a lot of natural skill plus a burning desire to excell. If you are Laura Wright, you mix acquired skill and experience with a relaxed, having-fun attitude.

Carla of Central City is Nebraska's 1964 women's free style champion. At the state indoor tournament, she scored 700 in the grueling "Flint" rounds to whip the field and set a new state record. Laura of Grand Island won the women's instinctive crown with a 558. The top mark for the course is 840 with each contestant firing 168 arrows at distances from 20 feet to 20 yards. Each archer shoots four arrows at each range and rounds are back to back. After completing the second circuit, 38 another order steps to the line. Three double rounds comprise the course.

The 1964 indoor tournament was held at the coliseum at Kearney State Teachers College and attracted more than 100 of the state's top archers. It began early and ended late.

Carla has blazed a sparkling trail through the ranks of women archers since she started in 1963. Three weeks after starting with the bow, she won her first regional match. Since that first victory she has won trophies and medals at Hastings, Norfolk, St. Paul, and Holdrege, besides placing third in the state outdoor meet at Long Pine.

As a free style archer, Carla depends upon a KD sight on a 30-pound recurved bow. She also uses a kissing button and a wrist loop to properly position the bow. Her favorite arrows are 26-inch aluminum shafts, custom made by her husband, Harvey. No hunter, she concentrates on target archery to the exclusion of all other hobbies.

Intense and preoccupied when she steps up to the line, Carla fixes her eyes on the target, brings the bow part way up before nocking the arrow, and holds the full draw long enough to pick up the target through the sight. A tough competitor, she dislikes noise or crowding when she is shooting. Usually her scores fall off a bit toward the end of the match, but she overcomes this by building up a big lead in the early rounds.

For a time the challenge of the other competitors bothered her. She has steeled herself to overcome this hazard, however, after dropping from first to third in the outdoor shoot. She plays close attention to her own scores and ignores those of her competitors until after the match.

With the free style indoor crown wrapped up, Carla is eyeing the field archer's toga. She feels she does her best shooting outdoors, even though the ranges are longer. Hers is a "I want to win" philosophy all the way.

Bow shooting is great fun for Laura Wright who took it up in 1959 to avoid being an archery widow. Her husband, Jack, a Grand Island jeweler, is an ardent bowbender and has followed the meets for years. Laura's climb to the top was less meteoric than Carta's, but over the years she has garnered a shelf full of medals and trophies. This Grand Island gal won the women's field crown in 1961. An instinctive archer, she uses a plain 30-pound bow with no frills.

"Archery is a lot of fun and I don't intend to make it complicated with a lot of gadgets," she contends.

Gregarious and cheerful, Laura is unruffled by the noise and confusion of the match. She loves the camaraderie of archery and the chance to meet people at the matches. Her rounds are (continued on page 51)

OUTDOOR OUTFITTING

ROUNDING UP a basic camping outfit for your family outings can be a real experience if you're a neophyte at this outdoor game. Stores are jammed with every kind of camping paraphernalia. Some of it is necessary, some desirable, but a lot of it is no more than extra excess baggage that adds little to your outdoor comfort.

Assuming you're outfitting a family of four, the list at right contains the essentials needed on a motor vacation. The prices listed are based on good quality gear that can be expected to provide service for many years. You can buy cheaper equipment, or you can spend a lot more, but you'll gain little by doing either.

As you consider each piece of equipment, give thought to how often it will be used and whether it might possibly be adapted to some year-round use at home. Consider its practicality on individual camping or hunting trips when only one or two members of the family are involved. Here are some tips to help you select the final quality.

Tents are legion. A family of four will need at least 9' x 12' or a 12' x 12' floor space, with high walls. It 40 OUTDOOR NEBRASKAland is no fun to be all jammed into an inadequate shelter, especially if it happens to be raining outside. The old, standard "A" wall tent is still the most economical if price is a foremost consideration. However, the higher-walied umbrella models provide more space for the same amount of floor area. The modern adaptions of umbrella design are infinitely easier to set up, thanks to outside aluminum tubing support. The tent stretches smoother, and since interior poles are eliminated, are as roomy as some modestly sized living rooms. In addition, they boast built-in floors that keep, out bugs and small animals. Mosquito nettings over doors and windows allow ventilation. Thanks to these many innovations, the umbrella design is a real favorite among experienced camping families.

You can get along with a miscellany of items from the home kitchen for cooking gear, but you'll dread every mealtime. Get a nesting aluminum cooking outfit to save time, trouble, and packing space. These kits come in sets for 4, 6, or 8 people. For a family of four, get the six-people size. You'll need the extra cups and plates for measuring and serving. Add a long-handled mixing spoon, kitchen knife, pancake turner, and two plastic dish pans. Use one for washing dishes, the other for washing you. A plastic water bucket will be appreciated at the cooking table, and it makes a good mixing vessel for pancake batter.

Wood is available at many camping areas, but don't depend on it entirely for cooking. You'll need a two or three-burner gasoline or propane camp stove. The gasoline stove is relatively inexpensive, and a two-gallon OUTDOOR NEBRASKAIond container of fuel will service it all summer. A propane stove using disposable cylinders is somewhat cleaner to handle, although an adequate fuel supply takes up packing room.

Get a lantern that uses the same fuel as your camp stove. Either gasoline or propane lanterns will flood a large area with bright light, and are more efficient than electric lanterns. As auxiliary light, buy a pair of two-cell flashlights to use around the camp site.

Include an ice chest to keep perishable items cold. The new molded styrofoam models are inexpensive and have an astonishing ability to keep ice for days. You can get rigs without any outside cover, but the more durable designs have either aluminum or steel shells.

Fresh water is available at most Nebraska campsites, but there will always be areas where you'll be glad you carried a supply. Get a large canvas water bag or Thermos jug and keep it filled for use at these points.

When you buy an axe, steer clear of surplus varieties. These are made of cast metal that is good for little else than to drive tent pegs. Select one of good steel and keep it sharp. Keep it out of the hands of the youngsters, unless they've been taught sound safety and conservation practices.

This same advice applies to the folding shovel. Its main use will be to bury refuse when no other means of disposal is available, and to cover the campfire with earth before leaving camp. No ditching around the tent will be necessary if you select a properly drained spot. Ditching, whether necessary or not, always leads to erosion.

Select sleeping gear with the utmost care. Some folks dislike camping because they think it requires sacking out on the ground. Children may feel a ground bed is part of the adventure, so check individual desires on the matter. Either wood or aluminum-framed cots are practical. The aluminum models weigh less and fold into smaller space. There is little price differential between the two. The ground hugging models are good for the small fry, and the doubledecker bunk type, if your tent is high walled, saves interior space. This unit can be seperated for use as single units if desired.

Blankets can be used on the cots, but sleeping bags are more desirable. No other area of camp equipment has been so invaded by unscrupulous manufacturers as the sleeping-bag field. Unless you're careful, you'll end up with a shoddy product that falls to pieces.

You don't get bargains in quality sleeping bags. Be prepared to spend from $20 and up for acceptable quality. Attention to the following points will help you select a good bag. First, only two types of fillings are worth considering, the long fiber Dacron or waterfowl down. The down filling has never been surpassed for insulating properties, but it's also the most expensive.

Short fiber polyester fillings, which are usually waste clippings from another manufacturing operation, may appear on the tag as "Virgin Polyester Fibers" or some other impressive designation. But in use they shift, bunch, and mat in short order and the cold comes in so avoid these jokers. Cotton-filled bags will also give you fits. Kapok is no longer used except in cheap, import bags. Wool batting is bulky and not much better than cotton in insulating value. You will find this junk in bargain bags that usually boast a waterproof bottom. No good quality bag has a waterproof bottom, no matter the price.

Rather than settle for a poor sleeping bag, use a pair of thickly napped blankets and a Dacron filled, comforter-type quilt on each cot. These will take up more packing space, but they provide adequate warmth for camping from early spring until late fall. If you wish, add foam pads to the cots. They're warmer than air mattresses and a puncture won't let you down.

You'll want good air mattresses if the family elects to sleep on the ground. Some of the better plastic models are ruggedly serviceable and can double as floats while swimming. Hov/ever, the best mattresses are of rubber-coated fabric that resists puncturing. Check any mattress for a large air valve. Small valves allow air to escape so slowly that it is difficult to press it all out at packing time.

The basic outfit listed here will prove adequate for most beginners. It's not so bulky that it can't be packed in a roomy car trunk with space left over. More extensive trips requiring more personal gear may call for a very small two-wheeled trailer.

From here on, you're on your own. Good luck to you on your visit to the dozens of campgrounds that are awaiting you throughout NEBRASKAland. Rigged right, you're sure to have a good time.

MORMON TRAIL

none the worse for wear. For two companies, the last to pull out in 1856, the trip was a nightmare. Arriving at Winter Quarters late in July, the 800 converts made the fatal choice to move on. Overloaded carts soon broke down. Buffalo had already migrated south and rations grew short. And snow greeted them when they reached the mountains. But they had long passed the point of no return.

Late October found the handcarters at the Platte River crossing near Fort Casper. Unable to pay the high ferry fees, they pushed their carts into the frigid water. That night a bitter wind arose and snow began to fall. The oldsters were the first to go, then the weak and sickly, and the groaning wheels of their handcarts lamented those who would never see Zion.

Some 217 perished on the trail. Those remaining were more dead than alive. When their meager rations ran out, they were forced to chew shoe leather for nourishment. Finally a relief column from Salt Lake arrived, and on November 9 the hapless companies finally reached the great basin.

An end gate from a wagon or a bleached buffalo skull were often the only materials available to mark the graves of those who died on the trail. Actually, most were left unmarked, the survivors going to the extremes of spreading ashes over the site or driving their teams across it to save it from desecration.

With Rebecca Winters it was another story. Burlington Railroad surveyors discovered her grave five miles east of Scotts Bluff when they were staking out the North Platte branch of the line. Hidden in the tall grass was the old iron wagon tire marking the site. The men wired Salt Lake of their find and discovered her son was still alive. The surveyors went back some distance and changed their survey so that it would miss the site. Later the railroad had a fence built around the grave. Eventually granite was placed beside the old tire and the site has become a memorial to all the mothers who died on the trail.

The Mormon Trail has left an indelible mark on Nebraska. Omaha, Fremont, Grand Island, Kearney, Lexington, and Gothenburg have grown from the ruts of thousands of wagons. The Union Pacific and Burlington Railroads run practically on top of them. Highway 30 and now Interstate 80 parallel them. In Nebraska, it takes only hours to ride the route that once required 43 days to cover. Following it brings back all those yesterdays. The Mormon Trail adds an inspiring page to the story of NEBRASKAland.

5 WORLD'S RECORD FISH CAUGHT ON THESE 4 LURES GUARANTEE YOU BIG CATCHES...

Let's face it! If you are an average fisherman you've read and heard a lot about "miracle fish catching lures." Maybe you bought some because you believed the big claim in the ads. The ads worked. They caught suckers! But chances are the lures didn't.

We promise you no miracles with the World's Record Lure assortment. We stick with facts! The 4 lures we offer hold 5 world's records; bass, snook, northern pike, musky and walleye pike on light line. Many bigger-than-record fish have been taken on heavier line, most usually by average fishermen like you. And of course, hundreds of thousands of non-record fish taken on these lures have been put in the frying pan or taken to the taxidermist. Fished right, any or all of the 4 lures in the assortment will produce big catches regardless of where you fish them, no matter what the wind, weather, or water conditions are. They won't catch fish where there are no fish, like rain-barrels or bathtubs, but they have produced thousands of big lunkers who have evaded fishermen with other lures in so-called "fished-out waters."

All four lures can be used for baitcasting, spin-casting, spinning, on pole and line, jigging, on hand lines, trolling, most any way except on an ultra-light fly-rod. All are designed to catch fish, cast accurately and perform perfectly under the severest conditions. Made in the United States, the bucktails are hand-tied by experts. All lures work equally well in salt water or fresh water, rivers, lakes, swamps and streams. They've been tested from Alaska to the lower Rio Grande Valley, from the crystal clear lakes of Canada to the muddy swamps of Florida. They have produced no miracles—but they have set 5 world's records.

The World's Record Lure Assortment contains a XA oz. copper-hammered Rattlespoon which holds 2 world's records, one for a 55 lb. 3 oz. Musky on a 10 lb. test line, the other for an 18 lbs. 14 oz. Northern Pike on 4 lb. test line; a lA oz. red and white striped Weedless Rattlespoon which took the world's record 10 lbs. 13 oz. Bass on a 4 lb. test line; a lA oz. silver with hand-tied-yellow bucktail Weedless Len's Willow Jig which took the world's record 11 lbs. 9 oz. Snook on a 2 lb. test line and the famous lA oz. double-hook all white with hand-tied white bucktail Bet's Double Trouble which lured the world's record 13 lbs. 3 oz. Walleye Pike on 4 lb. test line. The assortment comes in handy pocket tackle box. Many fishermen say that all you need to go fishing—particularly when you want to travel light or through brush and woods are the World's Record Lures assortment and a stringer in your pocket and your pole and line in your hand. They're right!

The as'sortment is not available in stores and will not be until late 1965 or early 1966. A limited number of World's Record Lures assortment are available for $5.00 cash with order from World Record Lures, 180 N. Wabash Ave., Chicago, 111.60601.

Potter's FIELD DAY

AN ASH TRAY to remind a tourist of his visit to NEBRASKAland, a bird bath for a back yard in Illinois, and a special plate to commemorate a historical event in California—this is only a smidgen of what's on display at the unique NEBRASKAland tourist stop. There are also acorn-shaped coin banks, beer steins, and a frog made of concrete.

This variety is but a sample of the items turned out by the Klay Kraft Pottery Shop in Milford. Each year, thousands of ceramic and cast concrete items are manufactured by the kilns and molds of this pint-sized factory.

A 10-foot vase is the easily spotted trademark of Klay Kraft. The king-sized piece of pottery almost hides the shop on the west edge of town on U. S. Highway 6. The shop is half factory and half showroom. In the factory there's the smell of wet clay, while the showroom is a hodgepodge of pottery of every description.

Factory head Kenneth Dahle plays the triple role of boss, salesman, and back-shop worker. A mechanical 46 OUTDOOR NEBRASKAland engineer by education, Dahle took over the Klay Kraft enterprise in 1947. Since then, the economic health of the tiny factory has become rosier each year. In 1963, the firm sold more than $60,000 worth of pottery and cast concrete items.

Today, Klay Kraft has seven full-time and two part-time employees. About 75 per cent of the firm's work is done entirely within the plant, but on some jobs Dahle finds it more economical to buy part of an item, such as the decals, from an outside company. Some of the objects manufactured are even delivered by Klay Kraft's own Lilliputian truck line.

A little more than half of Klay Kraft's business comes from its line of cast concrete goods. The big seller in concrete is strictly for the birds—Dahle estimates that about 7,000 bird baths are sold each year. Then, too, there are concrete rabbits, frogs, human figures, and a conglomeration of other large and small items.

Making concrete items is a relatively simple process. The plant makes the molds, pours in the concrete, and JUNE, 1964 47   then removes the mold after the stuff has set. While the concrete is hardening, a vibrator shakes the coarser mixing sand away from the surface. After the object is taken from the mold, the rough edges are smoothed and it's ready to go.

Ceramic production is a bit more involved. The pottery clay is an "alloy" of two different clays with a couple of chemicals thrown in. With water added, the ingredients are tossed around in a vat until mixed.

The molds, carved from plaster, are readied and the clay mixture is poured in. After it sets the clay shrinks slightly and it's easily shaken from the mold. The formed object is smoothed with sandpaper and a sponge, and then it's toughened up by firing in a 1,350° kiln for almost four hours. The baking in the big gas kiln turns the soft clay into a hard ceramic.

When it has cooled, the object is dipped into a liquid glaze material and popped back into the kiln for another eight hours, this time at nearly 2,000°. The glaze hardens into a durable glass-like finish. Although it's usually white, the glaze can be pigmented to produce items of about any color.

Next to getting it sold, the last step in the process is to attach whatever decals are needed. Then its back 48 OUTDOOR NEBRASKAIond to the kiln for another firing, again at 1,350° for 3V2 hours. This final firing melts the decal into the glaze permanently.

Only rarely are items hand painted in the shop. The price of labor won't permit a worker to spend a half hour on an object that sells for a dollar. Klay Kraft often makes its own decal, though, with a silk screening process.

Who buys the items produced by Klay Kraft? Most of the cast concrete creations are bought for yard decoration. The ceramics are mostly to commemorate something or as tourist souvenirs. At Klay Kraft, a visitor can see something he likes, then see it made.

Dahle, bewhiskered for the coming Milford Centennial, says that many people that now visit Klay Kraft are second-generation tourists. "They came to the shop with their parents 10 or 15 years ago. Now when they stop they have families of their own." Many of his customers are tourists visiting NEBRASKAland for the fourth or fifth time.

Klay Kraft is shifting from the wholesale to the retail business more each year, Dahle notes, as the tourist business increases. "Folks passing through see our signs along the highway, and when they stop in we don't have to do any selling at all. They've made up their minds to buy something when they walk in the door."

To Kenneth Dahle, making pottery is an interesting, enjoyable business. To people visiting the state, his goods sell NEBRASKAland long after their vacation is finished.

SPEAK UP

PERFECT CAMPER "As long-time readers of OUTDOOR NEBRASKAland and old hands at camping, we read with interest the February article on camping. Because we enjoy fishing and hunting, as well as just 'getting away from it all,' we had to find a camper that would sleep several people and pull a boat trailer. The perfect answer was a converted school bus. It has most of the comforts of home, plus room for our fishing and hunting equipment. We keep the bus ready to go at a minute's notice.

"In fact, we have spent practically every week end and all our vacations the past three years at the lakes and rivers of Nebraska. We don't think the fishing, boating, and hunting can be beat, even at some of the highly advertised vacation spots.

"Congratulations on the March issue. I think it speaks what we all feel about Nebraska's tourist potential."—Mrs. George Mo Ginnis Jr., Lincoln.

WHERE TO GO? "My only criticism of OUTDOOR NEBRASKAland is its lack of maps and other explanation of ways to reach out-of-the-way fishing, camping, and hunting areas that you are promoting."—James A. Rogers, M.D., Ord.

DRY RUN "On the first day of deer season, my husband got a beautiful buck with one shot just a few minutes after the season opened. So he traded me his gun with the better scope and left me, late in the morning, in a tiny clump of cedars overlooking two trails. I wasn't familiar with the gun, so he loaded it and assured me he would return that evening to pick me up.

"Cramped, weary, discouraged, cold, and deerless, I waited for him to come back. The only thing that appeared was a poacher on the trail of three young doe. When my husband finally returned and started unloading my rifle, he looked up startled, seemed ready to run, and then smiled cheerfully and said: 'You did just fine, honey. Tomorrow, you can have a bullet.' He'd forgotten to load the gun!"—Mrs. Dale Fafrtig, Brady.

WITHOUT A GUN "I sure like your 'Notes on Nebraska Fauna' and other articles on nature and wildlife. If it was all on hunting and killing, I wouldn't renew my subscription. All the talk about killing predators, when the so-called human being is the world's worst predator, makes me sick.

"Instead of children being taught to study and enjoy nature's animals, birds, and plants, they are taught to hunt and kill because it's big business selling guns, ammunition, and licenses. Studying nature can be big business, too—selling binoculars, cameras, books, and so on. We would have a better class of people, and there would be creatures left for our kids to see and enjoy. Long may the cranes fly over and the coyotes howl at night."—James M. Skrdlant, Norton, Kansas.

A-l BOOSTER "Just read the March issue. It is marvelous. More power to you. Get the Department of Education to insist that all schools get the magazine. Let's groom every Nebraska student into an A-l NEBRASKAland booster. Please send me another copy of the March issue and any back issues available. I take mine to school and they are worn out."—Gertrude Votara, Bruno.

FOXY SQUABS "Four of us were fishing east of Ashland when we decided to do some exploring. We noticed two pigeons flying around a trestle and assumed they had a nest there. We found their nest in a corner near the tracks between the legs of a dead fox that was curled in a crescent with his legs pointing toward the corner. The pigeons' nest was against the side of the fox and had two squabs in it."—Robert E. Fonfara, 4502 S. 45th St., Omaha.

PETTICOAT CHAMPS

shot quickly and she couldn't care less what the other competitors are doing. Laura doesn't worry about a match or a bad round.

The instinctive winner started with a 25-pound bow, moved up to a 35-pounder, then dropped back to a 30-pounder. Fiberglass arrows are her favorite. Fatigue catches Laura in the back and shoulders during a long match, but she has learned to pace herself. When she's tired she has a tendency to scatter her shots on the lower right-hand corner of the target. A real character, Laura accepts coaching from her husband, then cheerfully ignores it when she steps up to the line.

Laura prefers outdoor archery to the Flint, claiming she gets more time to talk to other competitors. Novelty and fun stunts with the bow appeal to her as much as competitive shooting. This gal has no particular aspirations in archery, but would like to win the state target tournament to give a triple sweep of the big ones.

These feme fatales of Nebraska archery are radically different in their attitudes toward the game, but they have one thing in common. Both are very, very good with the long bow and the feathered shaft.

TWO-WAY STRETCH

Steve and I took the near side. We watched the two partners take aim at something in the brush, shoot, and then shoot again.

Suddenly, a young jack rabbit popped out of an opening and streaked across the field, his big feet puffing the dust at every jump. Steve hurried him along with a futile shot.

"That jack was sure smart," Chuck explained when he returned to our stand. "He hopped along, then squatted in the thick brush where we couldn't hit him. When he got to that opening he really poured on the coal."

We worked a squeeze play to pick up two more bunnies. Chuck and I played beagle while Steve and Howard crouched in the shelter belt. The rabbits dodged us and hit for the brush. Unaware of the lurking slingers they were practically in their laps before the hotfoots knew what happened.

Driving back to Columbus, Chuck summed up the outing. "We didn't do too well, but this was probably the worst possible day to stalk rabbits with a slingshot. I've got only one gripe. We are so darned busy making and selling the rocket that we haven't time to do much hunting anymore. But you come up next winter and we'll have a real hunt."

I accepted the invitation.

the THOMPSON SPREAD

THOUGH A man may never be rich or famous, he can still ride tall in the saddle by the number of folks who call him friend. Prime examples of this philosophy are Maude and Vic Thompson of Newport. Their 1,200-acre ranch in the rolling Sand Hills is stocked with prime Herefords that keep them without wants. But their proudest possessions are the thousands of persons they have met as strangers over the past nine years who are now warm friends.

Maude and Vic count their wealth not in beeves on the range, but in correspondence from individuals and families they have hosted at a two-acre park they have developed along Highway U. S. 20. What Spring Valley Park lacks in size is more than made up for in warmth and friendship. From the time a stranger sees the roadside sign urging him to stop and rest until he's back on the road, he's treated to western hospitality that can't be beat.

There's nothing fancy about the Thompson's spread, but whether your stop is for a half hour or two or three days, all the facilities you could want are free for the asking. The roadside sign says, "FREE," and" it means just that.

The Thompson's have always been friendy folks, and when the Highway Department put a roadside table off the shoulder of the road next to their place about 11 years ago, their dream began.

"We were always afraid a child playing at the stop would dart out in front of a car," said Mrs. Thompson. "Fortunately, it never happened. Once in a while a 52 OUTDOOR NEBRASKAland family would stop by the house for a drink of water. That got Vic and I to thinking. That part of our pasture near the table was shaded and not much good for grazing."

"It seemed like a waste to have that shade with no one using it," interjected Vic. "Maude and I decided to open the fence there, turn the grove into a small park, and put out the welcome sign."

The park started off in a small way in 1955—just two picnic tables and a well—but the response was a lot better than the Thompson's ever imagined. Cars started stopping right away. The facilities, simple as they were, made quite a hit.

Both Maude and Vic are mighty proud of the fact that everything that has gone into the park has come out of their own labor and money. Maude plants flowers around the area to brighten up the surroundings. Vic keeps everything painted and paid for such items as drilling a well and putting up a shelter house by selling a few head of cattle.

"We've got more than enough cattle to keep us going," Vic explained. "The beeves would have been sold anyway and when we wanted to expand, I took as many to auction as was needed. Those cattle did everyone more good by paying for needed equipment at the park.

"A lot of people seem to feel that because you raise cattle, you are rolling in money. Life on a working ranch is nothing at all like it's pictured in the movies or on TV. We try to take people around the place when we have time and show them how a ranch operates.

The Thompson's were quite insistent from the beginning that everyone who stopped would add their name to a guest book at the park entrance. At first Maude would write personal letters to every family that visited them during the past summer. Pretty soon that became a job in itself, so now she puts out a four-page newsletter each winter.

Her letter speaks of little things like their dog, Fluffy, when they had the first frost, Vic's health, a suggestion from a friend that she start a rock garden using stones from every state, and tidbits of visitors from other countries. It's the same kind of letter you could expect to receive from an old friend. Maude's mailing list gets larger each year, with nearly 2,000 letters going out this past winter. Her letter writing really started to snowball three years ago. The post office at Newport, a ranch town of 162, was a little shocked when she showed up one afternoon with 1,000 letters.

Money for postage and parks doesn't bother the Thompsons today, but they can look back on a life that hasn't always been easy. His years as a rancher have left Vic tanned and wrinkled, but his five-foot six-inch frame rests as easy as his favorite saddle. Maude, an inch shorter, is more at home in the kitchen or rounding up stock than going to a fancy tea. Life has been hard but that fact is hidden behind a friendly smile.

Looking around their comfortable kitchen with dinner just about ready on the stove, Vic remembers how he and Maude lived in a tent when they first moved to Newport in 1938. It got pretty cold, but they wanted their own place bad enough to put up with the discomfort.

The Thompson's primitive start is in stark contrast with a recreation building they added to the park last summer. The 12 by 24-foot frame building is a pet project of the Sand Hills' couple. Besides having desks, chairs, and a table for relaxing, the building boasts a fully equipped first aid room.

"We figured that while we were setting up a place for minor cuts and bruises," Vic explained, "we might as well go all the way. The room has an operating table, oxygen tank, and everything else a doctor would need to take care of emergency cases. The Highway Patrol and Sheriff's Office have a key to the room in case an emergency should arise in the middle of the night."

The Thompson's are pushing 70 and feel it's about time for them to start thinking of retirement. But retirement to them means disposing of most of their cattle, keeping just enough around for visitors, and then plunging headlong into working on Spring Valley Park. But this isn't work. As Maude says, "How could the pleasure we get from seeing all our friends ever be called work?"

NEBRASKAland WHERE TO GO VACATION GUIDE

COWBOY LOOP

pounds, they are rangy, fast, and just plain ornery. Imported from Mexico, they do not take kindly to roping and throwing. Once they leave the chute, they are on the run and have plenty of savvy when it comes to dodging the rope.

Glen usually throws a flat fast loop to nail the critter before it has a chance to toss its head away from the rope. Although the steer's horns are shortened to prevent breakage, the rubbernecked maverick is capable of defending himself. Horse and roper have to know their business or the steer can hurt either one or both of them. Unless everything goes right, the critter often gets up to spoil the whole effort.

Although some do-gooders condemn steer roping as inhumane, Glen defends it. "There are more bruises in a high school football game than there are in steer roping. The arena is always plowed up with six to eight inches of loose dirt to provide a soft landing," he claims.

Rodeo performers back their will to win with real folding money. Entry fees range from $100 to $1,000 in steer roping and there are no consolation prizes. In the jack pots, the winners get a share of the entry fees and a percentage of the gate. In RCA contests, prize money is put up.

Unlike many performers, Glen does not baby his ropes. He uses treated nylon, leaded to give it weight and momentum. The Thedford champ swings a flat fast loop and prefers a heavy rope to buck the wind. He keeps three of them ready for competition, but when they aren't in use, they hang in his tool shed.

Glen blames only one loss on his rope. Competing at the big-money Cheyenne showdown one year, his first steer burned his rope. He tackled his second critter with an untried rope and everything went wrong. Well up among the leaders on his first try, Glen is certain the strange rope robbed him of important money.

Approaching rodeo with his relaxed attitude, Glen does not spend a lot of time practicing. He sharpens up his throwing arm with a few passes at a horn-studded sawhorse after the winter layoff and does some steer roping at an arena on the ranch in the spring. He imports a few steers to train his horses, but he follows no set schedule. In practice, he seldom throws or ties a steer.

"Throwing a critter is mighty hard on a horse and I see no percentage in burning him out for nothing," asserts Nutter. "When my horse is working right I believe in leaving him alone."

If last year's performance is an indicator of things to come, Glen will be tough to beat. At Ogallala, he roped and tied a steer in 14.4 seconds to win first money. At Cheyenne, he was second with 18.5, and topped the field at Pawhuska with fine over-all time.

In spite of his successes in the rugged steer-roping contests, saddle bronc riding is Glen's first love. "There's no sport like it, but steer roping's fun when you win."

With plenty of good years up ahead it is almost a cinch that the man from Nebraska will be one to watch when the announcer bawls, "Glen Nutter of Thedford, Nebraska, will be your next steer roper."

TAKE THEM LIGHT

fisherman will find that casting a 1/16-ounce jig is next to impossible on six-pound-test line. Drop down to 3- to 4-pound-test and casting is much more efficient. On the other hand, a medium-action rod with 5- or 6-pound-test will cast a V4-ounce lure a "country mile."

Make sure the hooks used are thin, small, and very sharp. With the light action of the rod it is hard to drive the hook into the bony mouth of the fish. Although the selection of ultra-light lures is not as varied as those in conventional spinning, there are enough to cover any fishing situation.

Small spoons, spinners, plugs and jigs are all good. Spoons in red and white, gold, silver, and pearl are tops. Plugs of the flatfish type, the jointed minnows, and small surface plugs are a 54 OUTDOOR NEBRASKAland must in the tackle box. Trie feathered jigs are also very good and will take a variety of fish.

When playing a fish on ultra-light, follow the same rules that you do with standard tackle. Keep the rod high, pointed up at about 10 o'clock so the fish fights the rod. Don't go too far back beyond this position. You'll be putting too much weight on the rod and the bend will become critical. A fast move by a good fish could break both rod and line.

Make sure the drag on the reel is set well under the line's breaking point and is operating smoothly. If a fish gets a lot of line out, the pull of just the line in the water will add more tension. With light stuff he can break the line before the clutch goes into operation.

The day I lucked into the big trout was perhaps one of the best I have ever experienced with any kind of tackle in Nebraska. Early in the morning my partner and I had chased a school of white bass that was feeding on shad and had scored well with the light rigs. Later in the day we pulled into the tower at the dam and worked over a big school of crappie with spinners and small jigs. The two of us lost count of the number we hooked and released, keeping just enough for the pan.

We then went deep with larger, trounce jigs for big white bass that frequent the area. I hooked into three in less than 30 minutes that tipped the scale at nearly two pounds apiece. It was shortly after I landed the three white bass that the trout slammed into the jig.

The light outfits are perfect for fishing Nebraska stream trout. A couple of fishing acquaintances of mine have used them on channel catfish in the open rivers such as the North Platte and get a whopping battle from two-pound channels working against the current of the river.

Be it a brook trout from the Pine Ridge, bluegill from a farm pond, walleye from the reservoirs, bass from Sand Hills lakes, or a lunker rainbow from Lake McConaughy, the skimpy little outfit called ultra-light will put a lot of memorable moments in your fishing book.

Inconvenient Woods. A woman called the fish and game department requesting the camp supervisor deliver a quart of milk to her campsite. She was quite put out upon learning milk deliveries were not a part of the supervisor's duties.—British Columbia.

Golfer's Problem. A rush call was received by Gus Seaton from a local golf club. The conservation officer had visions of bears attacking the golfers but found out that ravens were picking up golf balls as fast as they were driven down the fairway.—British Columbia.

Population Explosion. People wanting to climb famous Mt. Fujiyama have to line up and take their turn during the busy summer season. So many persons aspire to reach the mountain's peak that they cannot all be allowed to make the ascent at the same time.—Japan.

Fried Pheasants. A sportsman club member found six pheasant eggs from a destroyed nest. Unable to find a hen to hatch them, he borrowed his wife's electric fry pan. A Turkish towel was placed on the bottom and sprinkled with a little water. The eggs were placed on the towel and the pan dial set on "warm". Seven days later all the eggs hatched.—New York.

Quite a Tale. A woman rushed into her summer cottage announcing she had caught a fish with two tails. Closer examination revealed a 2% -pound bass had partially swallowed a 1%-pound bass. The fish were still alive three hours later when a pair of pliers were used to seperate them.—Texas.

Fancy Elk. There is an elk wandering around the Rio Grande National Forest with a full coat of white paint. He is one of three or four elk sprayed by the game department in a research program on elk migrations. The elk were "painted" by spraying them from a helicopter.—Colorado.

Trunk(full) of Trouble. A group of officers watching for night hunters stopped a car with four youngsters. The driver agreed to open the car trunk but asked the wardens to step back while he unlocked it. Expecting the worst, the group was even more surprised to find a bad-humored seven-foot alligator.—South Carolina.

Written in the Stars. A Boy Scout leader told his troop, "Remember, men, if you're lost in the woods at night, get your bearing from the sky. A glow will indicate the nearest shopping center."—The Lion.

Peanut Butter A-OK. United Airlines has whipped up a new menu based on client surveys: hamburgers, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, hot dogs, cookies, milk, and soda. The items are especially for the kids who put United straight on gourmet foods. — Travel Weekly.

Can't Win. A cabbage farmer solved a serious deer damage problem to his crops by leaving clothing he had worn in the field. The scent of man kept the deer at a distance. That is, until someone started swiping the clothing. Net loss: 1 new jacket and 3 slightly worn "tee" shirts.—Pennsylvania.

NEBRASKAland TRADING POST

ROBIN

NAME THE first signs of spring and you'll be sure to include Turdus migratorius, the robin. This menace to earthworms is a true harbinger of spring, and when you hear his clear, whistled caroling and spot his bright brick-red breast, you know good weather is on the way.

The robin is so well known that ornithologists use his size, song, and egg color as comparisons to help identify other species. He's a member of the thrush family, and has the characteristic spotted breasts (in the young), large eyes, rather long legs for songbirds, and moderately slender bills. Although adult robins and bluebirds, another member of the thrush family, do not bear spotted breasts, this characteristic is apparent in their young. The spots disappear when the young, hungry robins moult into plummage of the easily recognizable adults.

Further distinguishing features are the gray back, yellow bill, white eye rings, and the throat streaked with black and white. The outermost tail feathers are 58 OUTDOOR NEBRASKAland tipped with white, but this is usually seen when the bird is in flight.

Like most other birds, the male is more colorful than the female. He can be distinguished from his better half by a blacker head and brighter red breast. Young robins, with the exception of the spotted breast, are quite similar to the adult birds. The sex of the young cannot be determined by the feathers.

Pilgrims are credited with giving the bird his name. They took him for their own European robin, which is colored the same, but is only about half the size of its North American cousin. The bird ranges throughout the North American continent. His breeding range runs from Newfoundland, northern Quebec, northern Manitoba, and northwest Alaska, south through the Gulf States and Mexico to Guatemala. The wintering range extends from southern Maine and Ontario through Nebraska and Wyoming to southern British Columbia and down through Guatemala.

Since the robin winters so far north his reputation as a harbinger of spring is somewhat misleading. Although the clan is one of the first to head north in the spring, a few will stay in the more frigid climes all winter. People who have bird-feeding stations are well aware of this. Raisins, apples, and dried fruit will attract robins when one would suspect them to be hundreds of miles south.

Migration to the wintering range takes place about the time the last leaves are falling. The birds flock up ancj leave quietly with little of the vocal fanfare with which they arrive in the spring. Once on the wintering grounds, the large flocks establish night roosts, usually in a secluded swamp. These roosting site populations reach enormous size in the South, but the birds break up into smaller groups during the day to feed.

The robin prefers clearings, cut-over forests, and forest borders as compared with dense woods. Our population boom and the subsequent development of suburban residential areas has created a favorable habitat for the bird. The shade trees, lawns, orchards, and fields provide top nesting and feeding areas.

Nests are often found near homes. The robin is little concerned about man's presence. In residential sections, the birds frequently reach greater population densities than those in the wild. Natural predators seldom exist and house cats take no more than a compensatory toll. The two to four broods brought off each year are sufficient to maintain the population.

Sites for nests range from the ground to treetops, with the most favored spots from 5 to 15 feet above the ground. Each is usually sheltered from the rain and is on a firm support, such as a main branch or a recess in a building. Evergreens seem to be favored for nest sites.

Adult birds frequently use the same nest over and over, year after year. The young, however, do not hold to this rule. They seldom return to the spot where they hatched, but choose a new location. Once it is selected, the grown birds return to it annually.

The nest is constructed from anything that is available, including plant stems, twigs, string, paper, matchsticks, and old rags. These are held together with a basic foundation of mud. Both male and female assist in the building.

In the spring, mud is generally plentiful, but should the ground be dry, the birds will obtain mud by wading first in water and then in dirt. The smooth, rounded, mud-covered interior is lined with fine grass or similar material. While the nest is not a very handsome structure, it is usually a solid and well-built affair capable of withstanding most natural disturbances, although heavy rains have destroyed many nests, due to their mud construction.

Three to five unmarked blue-green eggs comprise an average clutch. After 14 days of incubation, the completely nude and noisy youngsters are hatched. After this, parents begin their endless procession of carrying food to the ever-open mouths.

This is a full-time job, as young robins will eat their weight in food every day. This has been calculated to be equal to about 14 feet of earthworms per day. Robins cock their head to one side to see, not hear, their meals. The birds have a varied diet, including caterpillars, beetles, and earthworms. True bugs, flies, sow bugs, snails, spiders, termites, millepedes, and centipedes are also eaten.

The vegetable portion of the diet varies with the area in which the bird lives. In the eastern prairies, hackberry, Russian olive, sumac, and both wild and cultivated varieties of cherries and grapes make up the greater part of the vegetable material eaten. In some cases the robin's fondness for cherries, grapes, strawberries, and mulberries will earn him the reputation of a thief. When he becomes too much of a nuisance, permits are sometimes issued to control those causing the damage.

Many years ago the robin was prized as a game bird, more so for his palatability than for his sportiness. The flavor is said to compare favorably with that of doves. Today, most states have laws protecting the robin as a songbird and Virginia, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Connecticut have named old redbreast as their state bird. All agree that the robin is pretty nice to have around.

Announcing... the 1964 NEBRASKAland STAMPS

ON SALE now at many stores are the new 1964 NEBRASKAland stamps. Each of the 24 colorful stamps tells a different story of NEBRASKAland's myriad attractions. They are a perfect inexpensive way to tell the world about your proud, beautiful state.

Seal all your envelopes or packages with NEBRASKAland stamps and you'll be telling the Nebraska story across the land. Your purchase will also add funds to further promote NEBRASKAland . . . where the WEST begins. An added bonus are the two stamp book covers—they're full-color picture post cards, with yet another NEBRASKAland scene.

Use NEBRASKAland stamps and use them often, so 24 friends will know Nebraska better.