JULY IS the month for vacations and summer fun, especially in NEBRASKAland. From the scenic Pine Ridge to the Mighty Missouri, there's plenty to see and do during the big Fourth of July month in the where the WEST begins state. Nebraska, with her wild and woolly past, offers July visitors an opportunity to step into another era and see history relived in pageants at Fairbury and Red Cloud.

Vitame Vas

The color and excitement of an old Czechoslovakian village fill every corner of Wilber during this big two-day festival. People in native Czech costumes dance the beseda and treat you to catchy Czech tunes from street corners. Taste scrumptious home-cooked Czech dishes such as duck, saurkraut, dumplings, and kolackys. Two colorful parades, selection of the Czech queen, the Czech spectacular and pageant, and many other interesting events round out the schedule. Plan now to visit the Wilber Czech Festival, August 1st and 2nd.

Visit Wilber any time of year . . . it's an all-around place for recreation. Try catching your limit in Swan Creek, Turkey Creek, or the Blue River. During the hunting seasons, the country-side abounds with pheasants and ducks. The people are friendly and ready to serve you; Wilber . . . the place to have fun anytime.

JULY ROUNDUP

Wild Bill Hickok will shoot it out again with the McCanles boys in "Echoes of the Oregon Trail", the historical pageant presented at the Rock Creek Pony Express Station near Fairbury, the very spot where the original gun battle took place. Slated for July 26, the pageant also depicts the life of pioneers headed West along the Oregon Trail. If it should rain, the outdoor drama will be rescheduled for August 2. You won't want to miss any of the action, when Wild Bill fans his six guns again.

On July Fourth at Red Cloud, named for the famed Sioux chief, the story of the death of Blue Cloud, the chief's daughter, will be recreated. The pagent, "Alice Blue Cloud", relates this tragic moment in the chief's life.

From the past, you can be brought completely up to date with a visit to McCook during the National Soaring Competition June 30 through July 9. Champions in the derring-do of motorless flight will pit their skill against each other and the clock in a number of impressive tests. The Nebraska Soaring Association, just two years young, is hosting the nation in this big first for NEBRASKAland.

Sailplanes will come from throughout the nation, and from foreign lands as well. All America has been invited to participate with or just watch these daring aerialists.

It's just a short jaunt from McCook to Ogallala, where champion cowboys will be doing their darndest to take home part of the whopping $8,000 purse offered in the National Steer Roping competition. These top hands will raise plenty of dust and sweat in their try for the big money. Spectators can expect thrills aplenty in this big-time contest of man against beast. The date is July 19 and there is always room for one more.

Meanwhile, the residents of Milford will be celebrating in high style July 2 through July 4. The Fourth of July is a big thing, but that holiday won't be uppermost in the minds of these Nebraskans. Citizens of the commununity,just 20 miles west of Lincoln, will be celebrating the town's of centennial. For the finest in true western hospitality, Milford can't be beat, and you can join in the fun too. One of the most colorful events in NEBRASKAland takes place every week end during the summer months at Kearney. Authentic Indian dances are presented for the public at the State Boys Training School. Spectators are welcome anytime.

PIONEER VILLAGE

ALL ROADS LEAD TO BURWELL!

SIDNEY RODEO

JULY ROUNDUP

If you have a fondness for children and a bent for rodeo, Chadron is a must stop July 17 and 18. Youngsters on their way up will compete just like the grown-ups in real rodeo events.

Chadron, in the heart of the scenic Pine Ridge country of northwestern NEBRASKAland, will stage the small-fry event. The State Little Britches Rodeo will be jam-packed with all of the same excitement and action found in rodeos where top hands compete. Youngsters will enter riding, roping, modified bulldogging, and many other events. For real fun, you'll want to see these young but big-hearted kids in action.

For a really great vacation, visit NERASKAland, where the WEST begins, in July or anytime, and enjoy some of that good old western hospitality. To keep posted on what's doing in NEBRASKAland, check the next issue of OUTDOOR NEBRASKAland for the August roundup of events in the state where the West still lives.

BIG HILL CAMP

Where the comfort is...NEBRASKAland Motels

Stay in a motel and really enjoy NEBRASKAland. You can make a motel your vacation home while you fish, boat, or enjoy the many attractions of NEBRASKAland.

Motels give you the most convenient accommodations. Many motels offer food service or a fine restaurant is steps away.

Your motel manager can give you many helpful suggestions to make your vacation more fun. Ask him about traveling in NEBRASKAland and getting reservations at other motels in the state.

Enjoy NEBRASKAland more. Make NEBRASKAland Motels your vacation headquarters.

Ft. NIOBRARA TRAIL DRIVE

TRAIL DRIVE was a magic phrase in the days of the Old West, the "head 'em up and move 'em out" command that kept punchers in the saddle from dawn to dark, longhorns moving, and cattlemen praying. Each year this exciting page of the past comes to life at the Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge near Valentine, Nebraska, home of the government's second largest longhorn herd.

The refuge beeves are trail driven from their winter pastures near the headquarters to summer range on the west slopes of the famed Niobrara River. Moving the critters calls for plenty of trail savvy. The first hour 10 OUTDOOR NEBRASKAland is hairy, the excited animals spooking in all directions. After that the herd settles down as the lead steer takes over. The beeves move along, their hocks rattling and their horns tossing in a real-life re-enactment of the drives that once funnelled millions of the distinctive critters into the lush grasslands of the northern prairies.

Three riders and a pickup work the drive. One drover rides lead to keep the speed down, the others drag and flank to prevent straying and lagging. The truck takes the place of the trail wagon as emergency rig.

Fort Niobrara has the second largest federally-owned herd of longhorns in the United States. Here 171cows, calves, bulls, and steers are maintained. In time the number will be increased to 300.

Ten of the best, selected for horn length and typical color variations, are kept in exhibition pastures where visitors can see and photograph them. The remainder spend the summer grazing on prairie sand reed and the native grasses of the sprawling refuge. About once a month the animals are rotated to prevent overgrazing.

Springtime is worktime for Superintendent Howard Woon and his staff at Fort Niobrara. Newborn calves must be weighed, ear tagged, and registered. The steers have to be driven to the summer range, the cows and calves put in breeding pastures with a selected sire, and the yearling heifers isolated.

Once counted in the millions, the latest tally shows less than 2,500 true longhorns left in the United States. Many of them are in private herds, about 500 in government herds, and the rest in zoos and parks. The critters reached their peak in the 1880's, tapered off when better beef breeds were introduced, and were almost gone by 1920. After inspecting more than 30,000 head of Texas cattle over a 5,000 mile radius, government agents found just 30 that were typical longhorns.

Controlled breeding brought the Texas longhorn from the verge of extinction to the present population. Those on the Niobrara are as typical of the early range animals as scientific research and careful culling can produce. Most encouraging is the fact that government herds are being increased to insure the future of the animals.

The spreading horns of the steer is the trade-mark of the critter that inspired thousands of movies, a host of short stories, and hundreds of books. Bulls and cows lack the horn span of the steer. Biologists believe the lack of male hormones is responsible for growth.

Horns on the adult steers at Fort Niobrara range from 58 to 70 inches tip to tip. Some steers in the past reportedly had spreads of more than eight feet, but they were exceptional animals. By the time the critter is a three-year-old the promise of his horn development is evident. The horns continue to grow until the animal is about 12. Well developed horns are about 12 inches in circumference at the base and curl upward slightly before spreading out. White is the preferred color. Selective breeding is emphasizing horn development since color variations can be held true by sire selection.

A steer approaches the public image of a Texas longhorn when he is 15 or older. Losing weight, he develops the rangy, slab-sided appearance of the old range maverick. His long face and ribby body emphasize his horn spread and give him the traditional lean and hungry look.

Researchers once believed the longhorn was a mixture of Spanish cattle and domestic dairy and beef breeds of the Southwest. Newer techniques in identifying blood groupings reveal that the longhorn is very closely akin to the original Spanish cattle that came to this country in the 16th Century. If there was an intermixture it has been bred out.

Contrary to the Hollywood version of the longhorn, Howard Woon and his boys find the critter easy to live with. Neither tabby cat nor tiger of destruction, he tolerates humans rather than accepting them. If he makes a pass it is usually a halfhearted threat rather than a go-for-broke charge. Excited or abused, he can get his dander up and become formidable. Charging, he holds his head sideways with the point of his horn in front of his body.

Sometimes irritable bulls will fight to the death to protect their harems. When (continued on page 49)

Missouri's MODERN MULES

THE WARMTH of the galley was welcome after the spring rawness of the river front. We sniffed appreciatively at the odors of hot coffee and cinnamon rolls as a ruddy-faced, broad-shouldered man approached, his hand outstretched.

"Welcome aboard the Omaha. I'm Captain Mays and these are some of the boys. Drop your gear and have a cup of coffee," he greeted in a bluegrass drawl.

Lou Ell and myself were guests of Captain E. C. Mays, skipper of the Sioux City and New Orleans Barge Line's towboat, Omaha. Lee Jensen and Dick Bryant of Cargill, Inc., of Omaha, had arranged our three-day trip to Kansas City on the Missouri River. Lee had taken us to the boat and stayed on board to chat while a barge of molasses was unloaded for his company.

After introductions, Captain Mays mapped the downstream trip. "We'll leave here in an hour, pick up a barge on the other side, get another at Rock Bluff, and two more at Nebraska City. After that we head for Kansas City. With luck we'll be there Wednesday."

Stowing our gear in a second-deck cabin, we rejoined Captain Mays for an inspection of the Omaha. Officially designated a motor vessel, the towboat is typical of the craft that work the Missouri from April until December.

A three-decker of step back design, she's powered by two V-12 900 horsepower diesels. Two generators JULY, 1964   supply light and power for the electrical equipment. The galley, engine room, and storage lockers are on the first deck, living quarters on the second, and the pilothouse on the third.

Built in 1952, the 103-foot vessel is 32 feet wide and draws 6y2 feet of water. The Omaha has a top speed of 15 mph and a working speed of nine. Her crew of 13 includes a relief captain, engineers, oilers, cooks, and deck hands. The crew works six hours on and six off, gaining a half day free time for every day worked.

The pilothouse is Captain Mays' command center. Glass enclosed, it is dominated by the control console with its pair of twin steering levers, dual throttles, and searchlight controls. A radio telephone is suspended at 14 OUTDOOR NEBRASKAland the side. The radar screen and a powerful short wave radio are in easy reach. Furnishings are rounded out with a comfortable stool for the helmsman, a divan, and a desk.

Towboat Omaha and her sisters have plenty to do on the river that's too thick to navigate and too thin to cultivate. Last year, Nebraska river ports handled 715,868 tons of everything from wheat to washing machines. The bulk of the cargoes was shipped through Omaha, but Nebraska City and other river towns contributed to the traffic. Grain is the leading downstream shipment and salt the chief upstream pay load. The towboats can handle 12 barges, each with a capacity of 900 tons. Fully loaded, the standard 195-foot-long barge draws six feet of water.

Captain Mays brought the Omaha across the channel, nudging its bow against the first barge's stern. He held there while deck hands winched the two vessels together and then wired them securely, using ratchets to draw the cables tight. In towboat lingo cables are "wire" and rope, "line ".

After teasing the barge from its moorings, the powerful rig headed into the buoy-marked channel and JULY, 1964 15   started downstream. With a four mph current nipping her stern, the Omaha made good time.

The Missouri has been the source of Captain May's livelihood for 21 years. As far as he and most other pilots are concerned, the cantankerous river is the toughest in the country to navigate. Averaging about eight feet in the channel, it rises and falls swiftly. The channel changes and shifts constantly despite the efforts of the Corps of Engineers to stabilize it. Trail and wing dikes are helping control the build-up of sand bars and reefs, but the Missouri is treacherous and refuses to be completely tamed. Frequent soundings are made and buoys placed to mark the channel at regular intervals. The skippers trade information on river conditions but even so, they often run into trouble.

"This is one river you have to learn," said Captain Mays, "You must know every crook and bend, every bar and reef from Omaha to St. Louis if you are going to get by. With experience you can read the water and know what's underneath, but you can still run aground or break up your barges. At night it's even worse but radar helps some,"

Mays talked of the urge that brought him to the river. As a boy in Kentucky he watched the old stern-wheelers challenging the Mississippi and decided that was the life for him. At 17, he became a deckhand and stayed with it, reaching the pilothouse five years ago.

His watch ended, the skipper relinquished the Omaha to Relief Captain Ralph Hutson and his crew. They picked up the barge at Rock Bluff, hitching it in tandem to the first one. The tow extended almost 400 feet in front of the Omaha.

"It makes turning a little less easy," grinned Hutson. "On some of these bends you wish you could bend 16 OUTDOOR NEBRASKAland the tow in the middle to match the shoreline. It can be done if you let the current help."

Lou was the first to notice the trouble. The tow had walked over a sand bar and momentarily grounded. The Omaha was easing back when the wire let go with a report like a 45. The maverick barge shot across the channel, the current swinging the awkward rig like a pendulum.

Captain Hutson increased the speed of his boat to jam the bow of the original barge against the bow of the runaway and stop its swinging. Then pushing and using the sand bar as a pivot he brought it back in line with the channel. After that it was rewired and checked for damage.

Somehow the Omaha was damaged in the routine mishap. When speed was resumed the towboat shuddered and vibrated violently. "We must (continued on page 54)

LAKE OGALLALA Campout

OFFERING FISHING at your fingertips and a host of attractions within an hour's drive, Lake Ogallala recreation area is fast becoming a favorite spot for campers and vacationers. The area boasts some of NEBRASKAland's top angling, and within 50 miles are several of the state's most popular vacation stops.

A by-product of mammoth Lake McConaughy, the much-smaller Lake Ogallala lies to the east of Kingsley Dam. The 640-acre recreation and camping ground is nine miles northeast of Ogallala, just off State Highway 61.

Visitors get their first glimpse of this cozy retreat as they cross the top of the dam. Awesome Lake McConaughy stretches to the horizon on the west side of the road, and to the east Lake Ogallala is nestled in a quiet valley.

After setting up camp, you can spend a full week in the area and still not have time to see all the historic and senic attractions. Just 10 minutes away is Ogallala, the "Cowboy Capital of the West ".

Less than a century ago, Ogallala was the terminal point for cattle drives up the famous Texas Trail. The wild and woolly cowtown's "Boot Hill" has been restored as a reminder of the days when the six-gun served as both judge and jury. The visitor can climb aboard an authentic stagecoach for the daily rides from 18 OUTDOOR NEBRASKAland the newly created Front Street attraction to famed Boot Hill.

Front Street is destined to be one of the state's outstanding attractions. The street has been recreated as it was in trail-driving days, and boasts a saloon, hotel, general store, and other buildings are open to fun.

At the tourist town's Sioux Indian Village, members of the Oglala tribe perform ceremonial dances nightly throughout the summer. The dancers, decked out in traditional tribal garb, are led by Chief White Calf.

Ogallala's cowboy tradition lives, too, in the rodeos that are featured each summer. Ranchers from the neighboring Sand Hills and top cowhands from across the nation compete for big prize money in NEBRASKAland's largest open rodeo.

Some 25 miles west of Ogallala on Highway 26 is historic Ash Hollow, a favorite camping spot of pioneers who pushed West on the Oregon Trail. Ash Hollow, because of its timber and terrain, was a key stopping point on the rugged trail.

Follow U.S. Highway 30 west of Ogallala for nine miles, and you'll see the Oregon Trail trading post at Brule. Here the ruts of the Conestoga wagons that carried thousands of pioneers westward can be seen.

Head east on Highway 30 and an hour's drive will take you to North Platte, another bustling Nebraska JULY, 1964 19   vacation city that was put on the map during the days of the longhorn and cowpoke. Here you'll see Scouts Rest Ranch, the home of William F. ''Buffalo Bill" Cody. Bill presented his first Wild West show at North Platte, the ranch, which is now being restored, ultimately becoming the headquarters of the colorful spectacle that toured the eastern United States and Europe.

Bill staged the world's first rodeo and each August the top cowboys come to North Platte to compete in the nationally-recognized showdown.

After a day of taking in the sights in the historic southwest part of the state, the shady recreation area of Lake Ogallala will be a welcome sight. The camping area is on the east edge of the lake under the shelter of tall cottonwoods. An approved water supply, picnic tables, fireplaces, playground equipment, and rest rooms provide a convenient stopping place whether you stay overnight or your whole vacation.

Lake Ogallala also offers visitors an interesting look at the Nebraska landscape. The rolling Sand Hills, gateway to Nebraska's prime cattle country, begin just north of the winding access road that leads into the area. To the east, fields of corn, milo, and alfalfa grow in the verdant Platte Valley. Rugged bluffs form the southern boundary.

It's permissible to forget a few things when you go camping, but don't leave your fishing tackle home when you visit the area. Although its 240 acres of water can't compare in size with McConaughy, the little impoundment still offers a lot of fishing.

As the cold waters of McConaughy surge through the ,spillway into Lake Ogallala, plenty of rainbow trout action is stirred up. The smaller lake also offers top-flight angling for northerns, bass, walleye, catfish, and tasty pan fish. The fishing calendar runs theyear-around.

A launching ramp on the west side of the lake offers easy access for boaters who use their craft for fishing, some water skiing, or just cruising around. A sand beach will be among the improvements added in the future.

Lake Ogallala's next-door neighbor, Lake McConaughy, stretches to the setting sun on the other side of the towering Kingsley Dam. "Big Mac" holds seven of the state's 21 hook-and-line fishing records, and the fish populations maintained by the huge impoundment amaze even the experts. McConaughy contains nearly every species of fish found in NEBRASKAland.

If stream trouting is your forte, you're within 50 miles of the headwaters of the Dismal River. It starts in the Sand Hills south of Mullen, and is considered a top trout area.

While spending some time in the area, you'll also want to have a close look at Kingsley Dam itself. Completed in 1941, the 3V2-mile structure is one of the largest earthen fills in the world. It is 162 feet high, 1,100 feet wide at the base, and contains 25-million cubic feet of fill. The flood control spillway is 110 feet across at the top, and has 12 giant gates that weigh 20 tons each.

For overnight visitors lacking equipment for camping, there are cabins at Lake McConaughy and other accommodations close to both lakes at nearby Ogallala. For the campers seeking a variety of sights and pleasures all wrapped up in a neat bundle, Lake Ogallala has plenty to offer.

HOW TO SURVIVE A VACATION

CHARLES LAMB once wrote, "One of the most pleasant things I know is going a journey." Of course, Mr. Lamb lived in 19th Century England, and he was for the most part unaware of the pitfalls of modern traveling.

Since he traveled on foot, Mr. Lamb was never exposed to a boiling radiator, flat tires, or a bent tie rod. When we face that phenomenon known as vacation time today, these calamities take on a very real meaning. With a few basic precautions, though, "going a journey" can still be a pleasant experience.

Outlined here are some of the basic rules to make your trip more fun. In fact, if you follow them all, you may have such a good time you'll want to take another vacation next year. They are:

Unless seasoned travelers, leave children under 20 with Grandma. This advice is about like that sage rule of water safety—stay away from the water until you learn how to swim.

If you must take the kids, train them well in advance. Six months before you're ready to take your trip, have the child sit on a kitchen chair for five or six hours a day without moving. Realizing though, that you may not have that much time to prepare the kiddies, there are ways to entertain children in the car. You can stock up with 80 or 90 new comic books, or a small chemistry set can be ever so exciting. Unpleasant smells and small explosions are but minor inconveniences compared with a child's happiness. Licenseplate poker isn't recommended. If your four-year-old JULY, 1964 21   should hit a hot streak, it could cost you plenty and shorten your vacation by days.

Leave your dog, too. A housebroken dog isn't necessarily carbroken. Remember, it's illegal to stop on many turnpikes unless it's an emergency. Whether or not a dog in distress constitutes an emergency hasn't yet been tested in the courts. Also, many motel and hotel owners don't allow pets, and leaving your dog in the car may give him a complex that could take years of therapy to erase.

Make reservations. Whatever could be worse than pushing through a dark night with nothing but "No Vacancy" signs flashing in one's face? Nothing, that's what.

Eat if you must, but never during rush hours. Take your meals either before or after the peak dining periods. However, you must use your own discretion to some degree. If everyone else follows this advice, they'll all be hurrying to restaurants either before or after the usual hours. Then you'll be able to eat at your regular time, you sly old fox.

Look around. Virtually every town in every state has something worthy of your attention. Going through a state is definitely not the same thing as seeing a state and learning something about it. A man might make very good time going over Niagara in a barrel, but he certainly won't have much opportunity to take in the beauty of the spot.

Take pictures. A few snapshots will give you hours of entertainment after your return home and for years to come. Also, you'll have something with which to entertain your friends when they drop by to spend an evening. A great deal of discretion is demanded, though, when entertaining guests in this manner. Keep track of the number of times each friend has seen the same 22 OUTDOOR NEBR ASK Aland pictures, and never let the number exceed six. Folly such as this has parted many lifelong pals.

Drive at night during hot weather. You won't see much, but think of all the frog croaks you'll hear. Also, when the sun is rising, head west to avoid its direct rays. When the sun is setting, go east. This may interfere with your travel plans, but it's much safer. An alternative is pulling off the road and resting during these dangerous hours.

Stop the milk. Returning home to the prospect of drinking 106 quarts of sour milk is certainly not much fun.

Don't do too much in too little time. It goes without saying that you'll only be courting hardship if you try to visit an aunt in New York, a cousin in Los Angeles, and catch a glimpse of the Gulf of Mexico all in a two-week span. You probably weren't going to inherit anything from your aunt in New York anyway. Plan realistically.

Get the family buggy in shape before leaving. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Besides, certain mechanics have been known to alter prices slightly when they see an obviously-loaded (with money) vacationer stranded miles from home.

Since they are a breed apart, special advice is needed for the camper, that hearty offspring of pioneer America. Camping has its own peculiar pitfalls, and therefore its own rules.

Leave timidity and modesty at home. When you must drive up and walk over 10 or 12 other camp sites to find a place to pitch your own tent, just smile at the other campers and be friendly. Remember, they're hale adventurers just like you. If the camp ground is completely filled, tell your son to run through the area yelling "Bears!" or "Prairie Fire!" This old trick, learned years ago by our pioneering forefathers, seldom fails.

Travel light. When camping, you'll want only the bare necessities. After all, if you had wanted all the comforts of home, you would have stayed there. Right? While lesser men loll about in plush motels during the nocturnal hours, you'll be right out there on the good old ground listening to the coyotes howl. Even though you must travel light, don't neglect the things you'll really need, such as barbed wire to encircle your tent and several gallons of mosquito repellent.

Make camp early. I once knew a fellow camper who waited until too late to pitch his tent and set up camp. The black night which surrounded him was completely starless and moonless. Finally, in desperation, he pulled off the road and discovered a level, smooth spot nearby. He fumbled in the darkness until he was at last ready to turn in.

When he awoke the next morning he found that he had camped squarely in the middle of a supermarket parking lot. To make matters worse, the store was featuring an early bird special sale, and he was trampled by a horde of bargain-seeking housewives. Take a lesson from this hapless fellow and make camp early.

With these simple rules firmly in mind your next outing can't help but be an adventure filled with untold joys. Cut out these pages and keep them ever handy in the glove box. Who knows when you'll need them to wipe a strawberry malt off the dash?

NEBRASKALAND MASTERPIECE

WITHOUT ITS symbolism, Nebraska's state capitol would be just another house of state. With it, the lofty Pinnacle of the Plains becomes one of the world's architectural wonders. The infinite array of carvings, murals, and mosaics tell an inspiring story that stuns the imagination.

A graphic history of the world in general and the Great Plains in particular is written in the stone and tile, wood and canvas of the building. The decorations in the vestibule and the great rotunda relive the great sagas of life from prehistoric to present. Indeed, the hopes of the future are portrayed in scope and detail never before attempted in a house of state.

But the storied beauty of Nebraska's capitol does not end with the bas reliefs and the stone inscriptions of its exterior or in the complicated and colorful murals and mosaics of the main floors. It is also present in the rooms where the work of state is done. In many instances the symbolism is more direct and understandable than in the more majestic halls.

Unfortunately many of the finest examples of this symbolic art cannot be seen by the casual visitor. Such rooms are the governor's private office, the law library, and others are not easily available to the general public. The 14 color photographs shown here portray the outstanding architecture and art work found in the "working" chambers of this impressive building.

Nebraska's reverence for its eternal values are evident in the interior decorations of the five important chambers in the capitol. Symbolism in the governor's suite, the Supreme Court, and the law library is linked directly to the functions of the rooms. Mosaics, tapestries, and murals in the old Senate Chamber and the present Unicamberal Chambers refer to the past.

The Indians' contribution to Nebraska is recalled in the massive doors leading to the old Senate Chamber. Dominating the doors is a carving of the Indian Tree of Life by Lincoln's master wood carver, Keats Lorenz. Other figures include the squaw and the brave. The human figures are standing on the tortoise and the otter, Indian symbols of fertility and wisdom. Over the grouping is the thunderbird, one of the Plains Indians' important deities.

Inside the Indian theme is continued on the ceiling and the east wall. Four medallions arching over the vaulted ceiling represent the four facets of Indian life —hunting, war, agriculture, and peace. The Indian maiden tapestry on the east wall is an adaptation of the sand paintings of the Plains tribes.

Nebraska's senators meet amid impressive, surroundings of marble, rich walnut, and brilliant gold of the Unicameral. Major decorative unit in the large chamber is a carved frieze under the ceiling beams. Here the history of the state from Spanish explorer to rugged homesteader marches around the room. Carved leather doors, bright with colors of the American Tree of Life, guard the chamber.

Galleries supported by marble columns look down on the floor where laws are made. Over the speaker's bay at the west wall is a great arch with mosaic tile in a geometric patterns. The starkness of black walnut is relieved with decorations in gold.

Justices of the Supreme Court meet in one of the most inspiring and beautiful rooms ever created. The elaborately carved ceiling of walnut is the most striking feature of the room where cases are heard but not tried. The tint of gold accents the carvings of Nebraska corn and acorn in the 8,000-piece coffered ceiling. The light fixtures are adaptations of the Roman fasces, the universal symbol of law. Three tapestries recall important events in Nebraska's early days. The lesser decorations are related to the symbols of state and legal jurisprudence.

Visitors entering the law library often miss the striking mural above the north door. Painted by Elizabeth Dolan, the heroic "Spirit of the Prairies" represents life on the plains as seen by a pioneer mother. The painting refrains from the vivid hues of other murals, depending upon pastels to create the mood of the endless plains and the longing for a better life.

The smaller chamber to the south of the main library is marked by an elaborately carved panel in the north balcony. This Ash carving represents a proposed seal of the state which was not adopted. It is so perfect in detail that it appears machine made but it is hand carved. Its significance and application to the powers and responsibilities of the state are evident.

An interlocking relationship of citizen to state and state to citizen is portrayed in the governor's reception room. rchitect Bertram Grosvenor Goodhue wanted this room to be the most beautiful in the entire building and designed it toward that goal.

Murals on the upper walls and ceilings represent the laws, liberties, riches, and institutions of the state. Dominate theme of the room is borne by three majestic figures in blue representing understanding, justice, and mercy. The hands of justice are stayed by the other two, representing the protection the state offers its citizens.

On either side of this group are pictured citizens from all walks of life, expressing the state's universal concern for all of its people. Tribute is paid to the milestones in the evolution of civil laws and to the great Americans who developed and defended our present system of representative government.

Switching from the general theme to the more specific, other murals in the reception room depict Nebraska's activities in agriculture, industry, and education. The basic freedoms are represented in scenes revealing freedom of speech, worship, and franchise. All of the murals and other decorations in the room support the state's motto, "Equality Before the Law".

The governor's private office is considered one of the most beautiful executive offices in the world. Its murals and carvings follow the underlying theme of agriculture. The four seasons and their influence on the people of the state are the dominate messages in the room. The lavish use of walnut is tempered by rich drapes and furnishings of marble and leather to create a masterpiece.

Inlays of exotic woods face the chief executive's desk. A beautiful door in the office contains more than 700 separate pieces of wood, carved and fitted in an intricate pattern to make up the panels. Among the interesting items in the room is the 97-year-old chair of Nebraska's first elected governor.

Next month, Outdoor NEBRASKAland readers will see the awesome Badlands and unique Toadstool Park of western Nebraska. The grotesque formations and ever-changing moods of the remote area will come to you in all its weird and unusual beauty. The Badlands' color section is another in Outdoor NEBRASKAland's continuing efforts to bring you the outstanding attractions and tremendous natural beauty of this big and vibrant state.

ALL-AMERICAN CHIEF

THE LITTLE GIRL lie on her back and there was no brightness in her eyes. Doctors and nurses had despaired of ever bringing her out of her lethargy when the door opened and an aide announced:

"Here is Chief Spotted Back. He is an American Indian come to visit you."

The little girl rolled over and sat bolt upright as the chief stepped forward and extended his hand. The girl burst into French, her face glowing with excitement.

Chief Spotted Back of the Omahas of Macy, Nebraska, was doing what he likes best—cheering kids in hospitals. Only this time he was visiting one in Paris.

"It was the one thing I wanted to do more than anything else when I was in Europe last fall," relates Walter Hamilton, better known as Chief Spotted Back of the Omahas.

Walter and other Nebraskans visited seven countries in Europe while on a "Sell NEBRASKAland" tour. In full regalia and looking every inch the noble Redman of the West, he was an immense hit with the Europeans. At the Hague he could not leave the car, the crowds were so great. He solved that one by talking to them with a microphone. In England the accommodating Britons offered him an umbrella when he explained that an English downpour would ruin his expensive buckskins.

He spoke before 3,000 people at a German circus and the arena rocked with applause. Spotted Back delighted the West Berliners when he and a visiting Congressman exchanged Sioux at the base of the infamous Wall. His headdress and moccasins were powerful magnets that drew kids everywhere he traveled in Europe. For thousands the chief was the first American Indian they had ever seen.

Kids are his lasting love. After visiting with foreign dignitaries and viewing European tourist centers, he was more than anxious to get back to the youngsters. Walter has spent the greater part of his long and active life telling the story of the Indian to all who will listen. Still his greatest satisfaction comes from the adulation of the children.

Dressed in his full regalia and wearing a colorful headdress of 36 eagle feathers, Chief Spotted Back is an impressive figure. He stands tall, his broad shoulders and JULY, 1964 39   slim waist reflecting his outdoor heritage. In repose his coppery face is impassive with only a few wrinkles etching its surface. His hair is sparse and graying at the temples, his eyes the obsidian of the Plains Indian. His mouth and nose are generous, his gaze steady and direct. The Chief stands square on his feet and he walks with the ease of a man half his 74 years. A deep, full voice and careful articulation command your interest.

Chief Spotted Back wears the regalia of his forefathers with dignity and pride. He knows that it is authentic and you know he knows it. Beadwork and vivid colors that seem out of place on others enhance his appearance. He is a chief.

For the last three years, Spotted Back has played an important role in tourist promotion of Nebraska. He worked to develop the weekly Indian dances and annual powwow at Macy into top attractions. The dances begin in June and continue until September, with the big powwow pounding to life in mid-August. This year the Omahas are improving the grounds with picnic tables, rest rooms, and a boat dock to increase the attendance.

Spotted Back also visits surrounding states discussing affairs with other tribes, staging dances and song fests, speaking before civic and service groups, and visiting hospitals. As unofficial ambassador of the Omahas he seeks to keep tribal traditions and renew the Indian's pride in himself while telling the Omaha's story to others. As tribal historian Walter is acutely aware of the Indian's rich culture and early influences on Nebraska.

An accomplished singer and dancer, Spotted Back teaches the younger Indians the intricate steps and ritualistic movements of the old ceremonial dances. He encourages them to learn the meanings of the words as well as the sounds. Many of his pupils accompany him on his tours.

"It gives them a little money, encourages them to earn more, and sparks their interest in Indian lore," he explains.

He uses his influence with the Omahas to stress the value of education, believing the future hope of Indians everywhere is in that direction. By example and encouragement he tries to get the Indians to help themselves. He is certain they are working out their own remedies and believes there will be continued improvement in both their economic and living conditions.

The chief has led a full life during his more than 70 years. The Omaha was born in (continued on page 49)

FALSTAFF

PELICAN PIKE

THE DAY turned light without the sun once showing its face. Leaden skies hung over the Sand Hills like a shroud, and the fresh wind served as a reminder that warm weather comes late to northern Nebraska. If the cool weather held, it wouldn't cancel our fishing excursion, but it would make it darned uncomfortable.

By mid-morning, Corky Thornton and I were still pouring down cups of black coffee, waiting for the sun to break through. Streaks of blue sky were just starting to show as Corky told about the recent northern pike action on Valentine National Wildlife Refuge lakes.

"They're just now beginning to hit good, and it'll get even better when we have a couple warm days," Corky said. "There'll be some 10-pounders leaving the lakes in the next few weeks."

As we sat in the Valentine cafe, several ranchers stopped by our table to pass the time of day with Corky. The topic of conversation never varied—everyone talked about fishing. Although angling is good there most of the year, springtime and fishing just naturally go hand in hand in the Sand Hills.

By the time we got away from the cafe, it was nearly noon. We walked over to Corky's tackle and sporting goods shop to pick up his equipment. Three customers and a lot more fishing conversation later we were on our way.

My partner figured that our best bet for northern pike would be Pelican Lake, one of the largest on the 42 OUTDOOR NEBRASKAland Valentine Waterfowl Refuge. Once in the area, we left the black top and skirted Pelican on a narrow, twisting trail. The sun had dried the overcast, but the wind still whipped up whitecaps on the open water.

We elected to fish the east end of the lake where the rushes were heavy and there was some protection from the stiff breeze. The sandy trail around the lake seemed solid enough, but as we topped a slight ridge the road suddenly turned into a blowout of soft, powdery sand. It was too late to stop so we gunned the station wagon for all it was worth. It wasn't enough. Halfway through, the wagon bogged down and stopped.

There are two ways to get a car out when it's stuck in sand; let some air out of the tires or dig. We did both, and succeeded only in hanging the wagon up on the back axle, stuck more tightly than ever. Our efforts seemed hopeless so we decided to fish in hopes that the good saint who protects inebriates, little children, and fishermen would rescue our half-buried car.

By the time we had our spinning outfits rigged, Corky had stopped worrying about the car. He was ready to fish. Donning breast waders and sloshing out into the shallow water, Corky began working a red-and-white spoon in and out of the rushes. Next time I turned his way, he was unhooking a small northern that he turned back into the lake.

"A lot of folks say northerns are too bony to be good on the table," he said, as he cast again and started retrieving the spoon. ''Maybe that's true if you just keep the small ones. Take one from two pounds on up, though, and you've got some top dinner fare."

While Corky was talking and casting, I was beating the water with a spinner. I'd waded out about 10 yards from shore and was trying the open spots in the rushes. After about 15 minutes of no action, I switched to a black reflex lure. On the third cast, I finally hit pay dirt.

A northern gobbled the fly-covered treble hook like he meant business, and highballed straight for me. I cranked the reel for all I was worth, but he had already gained too much ground. He almost rammed into my waders before darting into the rushes where he shook the hook loose. The northern had been a small one, so I figured I hadn't lost much. As it turned out, though, I'd lost the only fish I was to hook the entire day.

As I tried every lure that was stuffed into the pouch of my waders, Corky worked his way through the shallows around to the east edge of Pelican. When I caught up with him about an hour later, his stringer bulged with five northerns that ranged from two to three pounds and one that hit more than four. "That big one was a fighter," Corky commented. "He could have cleared a low hurdle on his first jump."

My stringer still looked like a starving skeleton as I plopped down on the grassy bank to watch the ducks that lined the shore of the lake. The 20-minute walk around the lake had made my waders feel like someone had poured lead in them. A look across the lake toward   where the station wagon had bogged down raised my spirits about 10 notches, though.

Jack Morgan, a conservation officer from Valentine, spotted our car as he was checking the lake. He radioed and had a four-wheel-drive pickup sent out from refuge headquarters to drag the wagon out of the sand. Even the four-wheeler strained getting our car loose from the powdery stuff.

On our way back around Pelican's shallows, we tried a few more likely looking spots, but the northerns seemed to have had enough of Corky for the day. They'd had enough of me before I even got started.

On the way back to town, Corky talked about football, his family, but mostly about fishing. "I've spent most of my life hunting and fishing these hills," he said. "That's what keeps me here. For variety of fish and game, and plenty of both, the Sand Hills can't be beat. The biggest fish I've ever taken was a 14-pound northern, but there are plenty of bigger ones here."

I asked Corky if he'd like to try a little more fishing the next day. Almost before the question was out of my mouth, Corky agreed. "We'll try Hackberry Lake," he said. "There are some good northerns there and the bass are starting to hit, too."

The next day broke as dreary as the one before it. The overcast was thick as pea soup, and by midday a light drizzle was falling. When we arrived at Hackberry, Corky and I added warm parkas.

Taking a cue from Corky's success the day before, I rigged up with a spoon that had a short strip of pork rind trailing from the single hook. In about 15 minutes, I'd taken two bass that would go about a pound each. Also, I'd forgotten the wind and drizzle.

Corky had moved about 30 yards to my left. He was fishing a three-foot-deep "hole" that was surrounded by rushes. When I walked over, he held up three bass about the same size as my pair.

"Guess the northerns aren't hitting today, but I don't think I'll complain," he grinned.

I agreed and moved out past where he was fishing toward more open water. Here, where the rushes could barely be seen above the water, I worked the spoon for a few minutes without success. Then I felt a solid strike when the spoon was within 15 feet of the tip of my rod. Neither the big bass nor I gave an inch as he seesawed back and forth, dangerously close to a clump of rushes.

When the largemouth broke water I caught a glimpse of him and doubled my efforts. After a few minutes, the bass slowed his charges and I was able to gain on him for the first time. He fought for every inch, but I was finally able to lift him from the lake.

As I punched the stringer prong through his lip, I noticed a rancher who had come over to fish near me. "Nice bass," he commented. "Those little ones are the best eating, but I would lot rather catch the big ones." I nodded in agreement. The three-pounder had brought a little sweat to my brow, despite the cold.

In an hour's fishing, I'd taken three good bass and missed a couple more. I felt I'd redeemed myself. Reluctantly, I took apart my spinning rod and packed for the long drive back home.

The last time I saw Corky he was slipping another bass on his stringer and sloshing to a place where "that big one" might be lurking.

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 lA 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 Vi 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 assortment 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.

the DEER EXPLOSION

NEBRASKA'S REBOUNDING deer herds can be characterized in one word — growth. The state's mushrooming deer population means more opportunities for sportsmen, more deer bagged, and an economic blessing for many NEBRASKAlanders.

Great changes have occurred in the population since the early 1900's when the deer seemed doomed to extinction here. These prized game animals have increased from a few thousand animals in the early 1940's to the present population estimate of 80,000. They are now present in every county in Nebraska and have been increasing in most areas for several years. Deer have not only multiplied on the better areas, but have spread into sections that were not considered suitable range a few years ago.

In early settlement days deer were taken in all seasons of the year. Timber was cleared and converted to 46 OUTDOOR NEBRASKAland cropland and livestock was introduced onto the range. Still in isolated areas, small numbers of deer remained. This seed stock, together with small movements from similar ranges in neighboring states, are thought to be the sources of the present population.

Trapping deer from areas of high concentrations and transplanting them to areas without animals hastened the population recovery in some localities. Enactment of laws and enforcement have also contributed. Fortunately, deer have the ability to adapt to changes in environment. The population has increased in recent years in regions where modern land uses once appeared to have denied them suitable habitat.

Only 500 permits were issued for the first modern-day season in 1945. This mushroomed to over 17,000 permit holders in 1963. During that first season only 361 deer fell to the gun in the small open area. Last year, 10,678 deer were taken by rifle hunters with the entire state open to hunting. Since 1945, over 125,000 permits have been issued here and over 81,000 deer harvested.

This boom has been beneficial from all standpoints. Hunters, of course, are mighty pleased with opportunities available today. But sporting-good dealers, motel operators, restaurant owners, taxidermists, and other businesses have all reaped the bonuses of an increasing population. Even those who don't hunt get added enjoyment from seeing the graceful animals in the wild.

Both whitetail and mule deer abound here. More whitetails have been bagged each year, indicating a greater distribution and an increasing population of the species in central and western Nebraska.

The amazing reproductive abilities of the whitetail account for the increase. Fawns are capable of breeding at six months and producing a fawn at one year. In Nebraska, 70 per cent of the whitetail fawns produce young. Twins are common and occasional triplets are produced by adult does. With both fawns and does producing, an increasing white-tail herd can be expected.

Mule deer lack the prolific characteristics of the whitetail. They are less wary and occupy a habitat which is easily hunted. As a result, a decline is predicted in some areas. To insure mule deer herds in some areas of the state, species management may be necessary. At the present time, some whitetail herds occupy habitat once used only by mule deer.

The 1963 rifle season marked the highest kill yet recorded in modern-day hunts here. This can be attributed to more permits issued, more areas open to either-sex hunting, and a population increase in most units.

State-wide, hunting success was 69 per cent with 15,562 hunters afield during the 1963 season. Success was highest in the Keya Paha unit in north-central Nebraska with 87 per cent of the hunters scoring.

A nine-day season was held for the first time in 1962. Primary reasons were to allow additional time in the field and to increase hunting success. The extension proved beneficial, a 23 per cent increase marked up from the four additional days of hunting.

In general, the increase provided by the extension was greater in areas of lower hunting success, since more hunters could spend more days afield. The kill in bucks-only areas was increased by 33 per cent. In areas where either sex could be taken only on the last day, the kill was increased by 20 per cent. An additional 18 per cent success was noted where either sex could be taken throughout the season.

Nebraska is divided into 17 deer-management units. Most of these areas have major drainages which govern distribution and provide an adequate system for management of specific herds. Also, the number and distribution of hunters can be controlled.

What about the future? Deer are a product of the land. With approximately 98 per cent in private ownership, the population cannot be kept at a level that is not compatable with other land uses. In a few areas, they are still in the process of occupying new habitat. Over most of the range all available habitat is occupied, and in some regions, herd stabilization has occurred.

Deer have adapted their way of life to an ever-encroaching civilization under a variety of conditions. They can thrive in close proximity to man. With understanding of the basic problems concerning deer and acceptance of the biological concepts that are important in deer management, the deer in Nebraska may continue to be characterized by the term, growth.

NEBRASKAland Vacation Tips

Admission to Nebraska State Parks is free. Charges are made only for facilities at the parks. Rates are uniform at all parks and are on a daily basis.

Reservations for accommodations at any state park should be made in advance with the superintendent. Parks and their locations are: Fort Robinson, Crawford; Chadron at Chadron; Niobrara at Niobrara; Ponca at Ponca.

A fee of 50 cents to $1 is charged for tent-and-trailer camping at certain state park areas. No advance reservations are accepted. Space is assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. Maximum trailer camping at state-park areas is for two weeks, except at state wayside areas, unless otherwise posted, and the trailer must be occupied. Electricity, water, and sewage hookups are available at Two Rivers Recreation Area. Electricity only is available at Fort Robinson and Chadron.

Pets are permitted in state park areas, however, dogs must be on leash and under physical control at all times.

Supervised horseback riding is available at Fort Robinson, Chadron, Niobrara, and Ponca state parks. Fees are Chadron, Niobrara, and Ponca, $1.50 per person per hour; Fort Robinson, $2, $3.25, and $4.50.

Supervised swimming is available for reasonable fees at Chadron, Niobrara, Ponca, and Two Rivers.

Rental boats are available at Chadron and Niobrara state parks, Fremont, Lewis and Clark, Victoria Springs, Memphis, Medicine Creek, and Two Rivers recreation areas.

All nonresidents, regardless of age, must have a permit to hunt. Nonresident fishing permits are required of all persons who are not residents of Nebraska, except those under 16 years of age accompanied by a parent or guardian possessing a valid nonresident permit.

AMERICAN CHIEF

Thurston County in 1890. As a youth he worked odd jobs, pitched professional baseball in hot minor leagues, farmed, and served as a soldier in the first World War. Spotted Back attended the famous Indian School at Carlisle where he studied carpentry and interior decorating. Back in Omaha he became the unofficial go-between for the Indians and their white brothers.'

Walter's Indian name has a tribal significance. In the early days the Omahas were divided into clans. His family was the Sky People with a definite place in the tribal circle marked by symbols and taboos. Their taboo was the deer, and its actions and characteristics were emulated by his clan. Walter's name comes from the spotted fawn.

Chief is an honorary title. Since 1936, the tribe has elected council representatives who serve three-year terms. They do not have a chief as tribal leader but use the title as one of respect and veneration. Walter avoids "preachiness" in his talks with the Indians but they get the message. In council he tells them that bitterness will accomplish nothing and that their future is up to them. He has one great desire—that the Indians not lose their heritage along the way.

His European trip is undoubtedly the high light of his life. His decision to go was based on what he hoped he could accomplish.

"Knowing that I would be a representative of the United States, I wanted to be a typical American without sham or pretense and at the same time reflect all that is good in this country. As a proud Nebraskan I wanted to give the Europeans a true picture of the Westerner, his mannerisms, his attitudes, his hopes, and his warmth as it exists in the state. Third, as an Indian, I wanted to represent my people, not as what we were or what we will be but as what we are."

Satisfied that he could meet his own requirements, Chief Spotted Back accepted. The decision should have been easy for Walter Hamilton.

TRAIL DRIVE

two of them square off it is a battle to the finish unless the fight is broken up. Cows with new calves will take on anything that threatens them.

Longhorns come in every color of the rainbow and quite a few shades in between. Accepted colors include solid yellows, buffs, blues, roans and duns. Some are "line-backs" with a contrasting color following the backbone while others are "salt and pepper".

Among the distinctive and accepted colors are grullas, a Spanish term for crane. These hues range from silver-gray to mouse color with intermediate shades. Some are mottled with blue or red spots. Combinations of gray, blue, and white are common.

The old range longhorn seldom exceeded 1,250 pounds. Today's critter is considerably heavier, due to better range and supplemental feeding. Some 12 to 15-year-old steers have reached 2,250 pounds with a good ratio of meat to bone.

Once close to extinction, the longhorn was brought back and it is well that he was. Any animal that made such an indelible mark on American History should be allowed to stay and enjoy the homage due him. You can see him and his rugged longhorn kin at Fort Niobrara Game Refuge.

WILBER...the Nebraska Czech Capitol

PART OF another world was transplanted to NEBRASKAland nearly a hundred years ago, and yet today much of the other-world character remains intact. If you should happen into Wilber, Nebraska, during its annual Czech Festival, it would be difficult, to remember that you were smack in the middle of the United States.

You would see the costumes of another country, hear the staccato of another language, and quickly detect the Old Country atmosphere. On main street, lined with tubs of colorful tulips, you would witness folk dances with centuries-old tradition.

The Old Country influence is most obvious at Czech Festival time, but even during the rest of the year it doesn't take long to realize that Wilber is somewhat different from most towns. Stop in at a store, and you might hear a business deal transacted in Czech. For many older residents, Czech is still a second language that's used as frequently as English. Everywhere you look there's evidence that Wilber has good claim to its title, "The Czech Capital of Nebraska".

Like many NEBRASKAland towns, Wilber was settled in the early 1870's on the heels of the great land rush set off by the Homestead Act. From Central Europe came many Czechoslovakians who staked claims in Saline County, of which Wilber is the county seat.

While most towns quickly lost the culture of the people who settled them, Wilber somehow retained hers. Today, some 80 per cent of Wilber's 1,350 residents are decendants of the Czech settlers.

During last year's festival, Wilber experienced a population explosion of nearly 20,000 visitors. Cities and towns with Czech decendants across the United States sent delegations to help the town celebrate.

Wilber, situated 30 miles southwest of Lincoln on Highway 82, is a town that looks forward, but still saves time for a glance at her past. Stop in during the Czech Festival or any other time. You'll be greeted with a warm "Vitame Vas"—We welcome you.

ATOMIC ENERGY IN A CORNFIELD

NUCLEAR ENERGY has come to NEBR ASK Aland in two forms. One is the hulking missiles poised in underground silos across the state, ready to strike with devasting force at a moment's notice. The other form washes diapers, heats coffee, turns the wheels of industry, and performs an array of other peaceful tasks.

From the Sheldon Nuclear Power Station near Hallam comes the latter. A joint effort of Consumers Public Power District and the Atomic Energy Commission, the Sheldon Station helped pioneer the use of atomic energy for peacetime purposes. Its nuclear reactor produces electricity that performs such tasks as lighting homes, turning cream separators, and powering electric shavers.

Transmission lines extend in every direction from the plant, supplying power for much of eastern Nebraska. More than 80,000 kilowatts of electricity are produced, enough to supply the needs of a city of 100,000 population.

The plant provides another service to Nebraska, too. It's becoming a top attraction for tourists. Last year nearly 12,000 visitors saw the facility, which offers three tours a day for either individuals or groups. Sheldon was constructed with visitors in mind. Through huge windows almost every part of the facility can be seen, and built-in tape recorders point out various pieces of equipment and explain their function.

Construction of the station was a gigantic undertaking. It was expensive, too. For the nuclear power facility, the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) kicked in more than $51 million for research, development, engineering, and construction. Consumers added nearly $6 million for the nuclear end of the plant, and then spent another $20 million for the construction of a conventional power generating facility.

The purpose of both the nuclear and conventional power facilities is the same — to produce heat. The heat, in turn, is used to transform water into 52 OUTDOOR NEBRASKAIond high-pressure steam that powers an electric turbine generator.

While the nuclear reactor produces heat by the splitting of atoms, the conventional facility uses either coal or natural gas. When the reactor was being installed and tested, the conventional furnace was used. At present both methods generate electricity. By the summer of 1966, Consumers plans to install another generator. Then both the conventional and nuclear facilities will be used full time, boosting the output to nearly 200,000 killowatts.

For fuel the reactor uses slightly enriched uranium molybdenum. The uranium atom can be split quite easily, and a pound of this fuel is equal to three million tons of coal. Nuclear fission, the splitting of atoms, is controlled in the reactor and energy in the form of heat is released. Heat from the reactor is carried to the steam generator by liquified sodium.

The reactor at Hallam is lined with steel, insulation, and other materials to contain the intense radioactivity produced by the atom-splitting process. For added protection, the reactor is buried beneath ground level and surrounded by tons of dense concrete. Its lead and concrete top shield alone is seven feet thick and weighs more than 250 tons.

In case of any malfunction, control rods automatically drop into the reactor and immediately stop the atomic reaction. The whole process is monitored by a huge bank of instruments, switches, and gauges in the central control room.

A nuclear chain reaction is comparable to knocking down a row of dominoes. The first domino strikes the second, the second the third, and on down the line until all are toppled.

When an atom of uranium is split, parts of the atom called neutrons are released. These freed neutrons split other atoms, freeing yet more neutrons, and so the process goes. Besides neutrons, an atom is also made up of protons and electrons. A whole atom weighs more than the sum of its individual parts, the neutrons, protons, and electrons. When the atom is split, the added weight is returned as energy, nuclear energy.

A chain reaction creates a tremendous amount of energy. When the reaction is controlled, as it is in a reactor, the energy can be put to work for man's benefit.

In the hospital-clean "high bay" room where the reactor is housed, it's impossible for a visitor to tell when the reactor is operating since there's no sound or vibration.

Consumers's Sheldon Station has helped to prove that the peaceful applications of the atom are feasible and practical. From around the world visitors have come to the rolling hills of southeast Nebraska to see the harnessed atom at work. Next time you plug in the coffee-pot, remember that the atomic age is at your very fingertips.

MODERN MULES

have bent a blade or a shaft," muttered Hutson as he throttled back the starboard engine and opened the port motor a little more. Unable to synchronize the engines, he had to adjust with the steering levers to keep the tow in line.

At Nebraska City, the Omaha gathered up the other barges and laid in fuel and supplies. Depending upon wind and current, her big diesels burn 2,200 to 3,000 gallons every day. Every eight days her galley takes on almost $300 worth of groceries. The Omaha serves three big meals a day and the galley is always open for snacks and coffee. The SC & NO Line operates under the theory that plenty of good food makes a happy and contented boat. The Omaha is a very happy craft.

It sounded like all the alarm clocks in the world were ringing at once. Lou and I came out of the bunks like turpentined cats, falling over each other to find the light switch. Outside we could hear a frantic scurrying in the passageways and the tattoo of hurried steps on the stairs. There were a few half-understood shouts and a clattering of gear. The Omaha was roaring up a storm, shuddering and vibrating, her big diesels coughing.

Lou looked at the fog-shrouded river. Inches from the bow of the Omaha, the trees and brush of the bank were reaching for us, their branches weaving a grotesque pattern in the search-lights. On the riverside, the waves were slapping at the side of the boat, the water making a hungry sound as it hit. I looked at my watch. It was 2:30.

After minutes that seemed like hours, the towboat swung away from the bank and picked her way back to the channel. The motors idled and then picked up their steady rhythm. A few seconds later, the starboard engine conked out.

"I think we ran aground and all that commotion was the struggle to get unstuck," opined Lou. "I guess there is 54 OUTDOOR NEBRASKAIond nothing really wrong, but I believe we lost our tow."

The next morning, a weary crewman briefed us on the night's excitement. The Omaha's tow had grounded on a concealed bar. The barges, driven by their momentum and the current, had gone well up on the sand before the towboat could be reversed. Knowing that he could not pull the barges away without both engines, Captain Hutson had decided to cut the Omaha away, separate the barges and withdraw them one by one.

He had cut away and was swinging toward the tow when the current got in its dirty work. The free ends of the barges swung around trapping the Omaha between them and the bank. With no room to maneuver, it was touch and go with the rake of the barges looming nearer and nearer. Hutson yanked the "General Alarm" to alert the crew to their peril. Unaccustomed to passengers, he and the crew had forgotten about Lou and me. Landlubbers, we didn't realize the situation and had not left the cabin.

With the barges threatening to ride the Omaha right into the river, Hutson gambled on the limping engine and used full power to get us out of trouble. The motor met the challenge but died as soon as the boat was back in the channel.

The engineers worked almost four hours before they got the engine running. In the meantime, the tow kept swinging back and forth, threatening to come undone. Fifteen minutes before the engine was fixed, the tow broke up and scattered away like frightened quail. Three barges drifted and wandered until they came up against the bank.

With daylight, the repaired craft began the monotonous task of rounding up the strays. Cruising back and forth over a mile or more of water, she found and hipped them back to a trail dike that Captain Mays had selected as a make-up rendezvous.

"It's days like this that make me wonder why I ever left that farm in Kentucky," sighed the weary 'skipper as he directed the deckhands in remaking the tow. "Even so we were lucky. We saved the crew, the boat, and the barges and that's all that's really important."

Regrouped and under way, the barges were as docile as a quartet of sheep. The Missouri, defeated in its attempt to count coup, decided to behave.

It seemed hardly any time before Captain Mays announced that Kansas City was on the skyline and that we were approaching Suicide Bend, one of the toughest obstacles on the river. We warped the tow around the double horseshoe bend, the bow of the lead barge nuzzling the bank as we rode out the arc of the curve.

Straightened out, the skipper relaxed and asked, "You fellows want me to call a cab? It can pick you up at the refueling dock and take you to the airport."

He dialed a number on his ship-to-shore telephone, chatted with the operator, made arrangements with the cab company, and swung toward the pier. After goodbyes all around, we stepped on dry land for the first time in three days. We were half way to the airport when something occurred to Lou.

"Remember when Captain Mays was outlining the emergency priority for a river disaster? First, you save the crew, next, the boat, and finally, the barges. He never did mention anything about saving photographers and writers."

And that is something for a man to think about.

Calling All Hunters. Lost hunters will have a better chance of finding their way to safety, thanks to a giant horn made for the Fish and Game Protective Association. The 38-inch marine horn with a storage tank holding 150 pounds of air pressure can be mounted on the top of a car. Tests on a windy day found the big blow has a range of six miles.—New Brunswick.

Lost Letter Box. In 1914 Williard Sweinehart found a box turtle while walking in the woods with his parents. He carved his initials on the lower shell. Forty-nine years later he found the turtle within 150 feet of where he had initialed it.—Ohio.

Good In Cocoa, Too. An enterprising angler came up with the newest in trout baits at Lake Merced. He tried out miniature marshmallows that are available in a variety of colors. If the trout aren't biting, you can always munch on one.—California.

Fee for Fun. The parks department is studying the initiation of a "use, fee" for state parks and recreation areas. It would be the same for residents and nonresident: An annual car sticker for $5 or a 10-day sticker for $3.—Colorado Outdoors.

Traveling Violator. A nonresident cited for fishing without a license made an unusual confession to the arresting officer. He said he and his wife had been on a trip around the United States and had fished in Oklahoma, Nevada, Utah, Texas, Colorado, Arkansas, Oregon, Missouri, Kansas, Tennessee, and New York without being apprehended for fishing without a license. He also said he had never bothered to buy a license in his native state of California. —New Mexico.

For The Birds. The cardinal is by far the monarch of the bird kingdom, at least in the eyes of man. Seven states claim the cardinal as their "state bird".—Michigan Audubon Society.

NEBRASKAland TRADING POST

BULLSNAKE

notes on Nebraska fauna...

SUFFERING A guilt complex ever since that episode in the Garden of Eden, snakes have been scorned, persecuted, and detested by all. They are considered a useless creature put on earth to torment man.

One of the most unjustly persecuted of the lot is Nebraska's most numerous serpent, the bullsnake. This roving reptile is one of the most effective rodent disposal units ever to roam the land.

Known as Pituophis melanoleucus in scientific circles, the bullsnake has been credited with being able to eliminate all rodents in an acre and a half of crop land. This is a monumental job, considering that one pair of field mice, if permitted to breed unchecked, could be responsible for more than one million offspring in a single year.

The bullsnake is a powerful constrictor and one of the four largest reptiles in North America, attaining a length of nine feet from pointed nose to the tip of his tail. Distinguishing marks include a yellow base color with a series of about 40 black, brown, or reddish-brown blotches down the middle of the back, a dark line from the eye to the angle of the mouth, and a pale yellow belly marked with bold black spots along the sides. All colors are noticeably lighter in the Sand Hills.

Native from western Indiana and Wisconsin to southern Alberta, south to Texas and eastern Mexico, 58 OUTDOOR NEBRASKAland the bullsnake, or gopher snake, is found throughout Nebraska. The pine snake in the eastern United States is a half brother, exhibiting an almost white base color with bold black blotches that could, at times, be called stripes. Another of the clan found west of the Rocky Mountains goes by the same name but is smaller than his cousin.

Although large in size, the bullsnake is not aggressive toward people he might contact in his normal routine. He would prefer to slither away into the brush after a thorough and unblinking stare. When antagonized, however, he'll go into a fit of rage that demands immediate respect. Coiling much in the fashion of a poisonous snake, he'll vibrate the tip of his tail very rapidly. If it happens to hit dry leaves, it has the ominous sound of a rattlesnake.

As if this were not enough, the bullsnake will usually throw in the clincher. Through a specialized development in the windpipe he can make a hissing sound that can be heard 50 feet away. Then he will complete the hostile air with sweeping strikes that scare even the most aggressive enemy.

Three or four times a year the bullsnake becomes unusually nervous, as he sheds his skin. Then even the outerlayer of transparent tissue over the eyes comes off. About a week before the skin starts to loosen, the eyes become cloudy blue and the reptile suffers an almost complete but temporary loss of sight.

To an animal that depends more on sight than hearing, smell, or touch to locate his food and protect himself, this blindness is an unnerving experience. He strikes violently at any object or movement that may seem hostile. This condition may last two days, after which the eyes again clear and the skin is shed by rubbing up against a rock or some other handy object.

Although generally considered to be totally deaf, the bullsnake can detect low tonal sounds. This is possible through an inner ear, the only part of a snake's hearing that is functional. In order for him to hear sound waves they must be transmitted through his body to the inner ear. His hearing is useful only in detecting the footsteps of a large animal.

Occasionally a person will turn over a board or other suitable cover and find from 5 to 22 leathery, adhesive eggs deposited by a bullsnake in mid-summer. Completely abandoned by the mother, these eggs require 56 to 85 days for incubation and will hatch sometime in August or September. The newly hatched bullsnakes are 15 to 20 inches long when they emerge and are ready to fend for themselves.

Rodents that the bullsnake preys upon are responsible for an estimated $400 million damage annually to the national grain crop. Without natural predators, the figure would be many times greater. One bullsnake, about five feet long, was found to contain 35 small mice, enough to raise havoc with any farmer's grain bin.

The bullsnake's usual plan of attack is to find a spot that smells like it might hold promise of a meal, then to wait for dinner to be served. In the meantime, he flicks his tongue to pick up any scent that might lead to a meal. The snake's tongue collects minute odor particles and relays them to the Jacobson's organ, a bundle of olfactory nerve endings in the roof of the snake's mouth;

When an unknowing rodent gets within range all the observer will see is a blur. In a split second the snake grabs the mouse, usually by the head to keep the sharp teeth under control, and throws several loops of its body around the victim.

With the intended meal completely immobile the shake then exerts enough pressure to squeeze the life out of his prey.

After his victim stops struggling, the sly predator will slack off and let the intended meal drop to the ground. As he checks his fresh kill, he is also looking for intruders. When convinced he is all alone and that his meal is ready to eat, the bullsnake begins to swallow it in one gulp that may take five or ten minutes. Starting at the head, the morsel is picked up with the jaws and pushed against any handy object. Eating extremely large rodents or other food items would be almost impossible if it were not for a rather unusual modification of the snake's mouth. Unlike most animals, the two halves of his lower jaw are not joined securely in front. They are fastened by a muscular structure that allows him to swallow a meal several times larger than his head.

In order to pull the victim down the gullet, the recurved teeth on either side of the mouth are alternately thrown forward, forced into the flesh, then pulled backward toward the throat. Many people say he doesn't swallow — he pulls himself around his meal.

Since this swallowing process may take up to 10 minutes, there has been some concern about how the snake breathes. Although he can go without air for a considerable length of time, all the snake has to do is throw his lower jaw out to one side to expose the windpipe, take a deep breath, then go back to swallowing his meal.

The bullsnake prefers to prowl during daylight hours rather than at night. On extremely hot days he'll seek shelter in a rodent burrow or under some object. He is never active when the temperature is below 55° and heads for cover when it exceeds the high 80's.

Some farmers and ranchers spend thousands of dollars every year for rodent control chemicals, then kill every snake they find. Luckily, more recognize the bullsnake for his true value, the most efficient rodent disposal unit going.

ORD INVITES YOU