WELCOME HUNTERS Make Yourself At Home... Star in a Motel

Go ahead, make yourself at home. Motels offer you so much more in the way of fine accommodations.

After the day's shooting is over, look for your nearest motel. It will give you the best in service. Your bath is hot and ready, your bed is all made and clean. Many motels offer you food service, or a fine restaurant is only steps away.

Your motel manager is ready to give you valuable tips about where the shooting is best, where you can obtain your hunting supplies, or make arrangements for guide service.

Make yourself at home . . . stay in a motel. Make the motel your hunting headquarters. Where you are always welcome.

NEBRASKA MOTEL ASSOCIATION Your NEBRASKAland Hunting Headquarters Make reservations in advance Skinner's Motor Court 215 South Main Ains worth McCoy Motel Highway 6-34 Arapahoe Ballard Motel 1208 North 6th Street Beatrice De Lux Motel Highway 92-385 Bridgeport Hii-Top Hotel P. O. Box 147 Cuibertson Hotel Yancey 2nd & Locust Grand Island Plains Motel 519 West 4th Avenue Holdrege Hollingsworth Motel East Highway 30 Lexington Cedar Motel Highway 6-34 McCook Rose-Ed Motel 1302 Verges Norfolk Ryan Motel P. O. Box 944 North Platte Motel New Town 1 block off U. S. 136 Republican City Frontier Motel 1100 West 3rd Street Alliance Palmer House Motel 1918 J Street Auburn Circle B Motor Lodge Highway 34 Benkelman Perfect Motel Highway 2-92-70 Broken Bow Erin-Rancho Motel 2114 West 2nd Street Grand Island Redondo Motel East Highway 6 Hastings St. John's Motor Court Highway 30 West Kearney Lee's Motel Highway 30 Lexington Buck-A-Roo Motel South on Highway 81 Norfolk Rambler Motel 1400 West 12th Street North Platte Cedar Motel U. S. 20, east of 81 Randolph Valentine Motel U. S. 20 & 83 Valentine Fort Sidney Motor Motel Restaurant and Cocktail Lounge Best Western and AAA SIDNEY. NEBRASKA PLUM CREEK MOTEL Air conditioned—Wall to wail carpet-Radios—Tile baths, Showers or Tubsphones — Swimming Pool — Kitchens -papers—Playground—Vented heat. Highway 30 West Lexington, Nebraska -TV— -Room - Daily 4 OUTDOOR NEBRASKAland

OCTOBER ROUNDUP

Where to go . . . What to see in NEBRASKAland by Larry Fruhling

THIS IS the time of color and variety in NEBRASKAland. You can plot your own course of excitement during this month of Indian Summer—from a brilliant ringneck rocketing skyward to the opening kickoff of a University of Nebraska football battle.

Sunrise on October 17 is the signal for thousands of Nebraskans and sportsmen from across the nation to take to the fields for the opening day of pheasant season. Surveys show that the 1964 ringneck population is equal to last year's, when hunters bagged about 1% million birds.

October will also see gunners taking advantage of the nation's best mixed-bag hunting. Forecasts call for good quail, sharp-tailed grouse, and prairie chicken shooting. Low permit fees and high bag and possession limits are added reasons for the mushrooming nationwide popularity of NEBRASKAland's hunting bonanza.

If you prefer your sporting events from a stadium seat, October is the month for you, too. Football reigns supreme at Nebraska high schools and the many colleges and universities. Highlighting the gridiron season in October will be three University of Nebraska home contests. South Carolina invades the Orange Bowl and Big-Eight champion's home October 10 for a nonconference game. The Capital City will also be "invaded" that day by more than 60 high school bands. A nationwide tradition that was started by the University of Nebraska, Band Day features a colorful parade in downtown Lincoln and a spectacular half-time musical show.

MUSEUM AND GALLERY HOURS Nebraska State Historical Society (Lincoln)—8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sundays and holidays 2 to 5 p.m. University of Nebraska State Museum (Lincoln)—8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Tuesday and Thursday nights 8 to 10 p.m.; Sundays and holidays 2 to 5 p.m. Pioneer Village (Minden) — Every day, 8 a.m. to sundown. Sheldon Art Gallery (Lincoln)—Tuesday 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Wednesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday 2 to 5 p.m.; closed Monday. Joslyn Art Museum (Omaha)—Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday 2 to 6 p.m.; closed Monday. House of Yesterday (Hastings)—Monday through Saturday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday 1 to 5 p.m.; holidays 2 to 5 p.m.

Homecoming at N. U. is October 17, with the Huskers toeing the line against the Kansas State University Wildcats, a Big-Eight Conference foe. Nebraska will defend her championship crowns against the University of Missouri on October 31.

Have you heard any "Down by the Old Mill Stream" singing for a while? Omaha will be ringing with it October 3 and 4, when the Central States SPEBSQA converges on the Gateway City. In case it has slipped your mind, the SPEBSQA is the Society of the Preservation and Encouragement of Barbershop Quartet Singing in America. Last year more than 350 songsters chimed in on the close harmony, and this year's get-together should be even bigger and better. Another Omaha event will be the fifth annual show of the Omaha Coin Club, October 31 and November 1 at the Paxton Hotel.

The horses will be running on South Sioux City's prime %-mile track from late September until October 24, Sundays excluded. Horses of another kind — if not another color — will be competing for honors in the State Quarter Horse Association Show in Grand Island, also in October. Another event you'll want to note is the Annual Open House Day in Battle Creek on October 3.

It's a pretty safe bet that there was some NEBRASKAland attraction you vowed to see this summer, but the busy months left you short on time. If so, the cool October weather is perfect for a weekend jaunt to one of the state's many points of interest.

Two of the best art galleries in the West—Joslyn in Omaha and Sheldon in Lincoln—are sure to give you an afternoon's enjoyment. Just in case you've never seen the world's largest elephant, he's at the University of Nebraska State Museum in Lincoln. Elephant Hall is one of the top displays of natural science found in the United States.

You can stroll among the artifacts of NEBRASKAland's proud past at the House of Yesterday in Hastings or the Nebraska State Historical Society in Lincoln. Pioneer Village in Minden, ranked among the nation's most popular tourist attractions, gives you a look at the tools that shaped our country. The 20,000-plus items are monuments to man's progress since the early 1800's. In western Nebraska, a number of fine "trail" museums recall the hazards of the trek West made by thousands of pioneers.

Nebraska's countryside, ablaze with colors of fall, is especially beautiful in October. Take time to enjoy the scenic splendor and attractions of the state "where the WEST begins".

THE END OCTOBER, 1964 5

RANCH REARED BOBWHITE QUAIL CHUKARS RINGNECK PHEASANTS GERMAN SHORTHAIR POINTERS Bourn's Game Farm LEXINGTON, NEBRASKA Fishermen—Hunters—Sportsmen Rooms - Meals - Refreshments at reasonable prices 5-9602 6 miles east of Elwood 5-2233 Excellent Duck and Goose Hunting Private man-made hunting spot All steel sunken blinds with covers Make reservations for early October now Ralph Kohler Tekamah, Nebraska

BOWMAN LAKE

Loup River package offers play agenda way beyond 4 6-acre size

THE SIZE of a camping area is of little importance to a family weary from hours on the road. Facilities, cleanliness, and proximity to the busy highway are uppermost in everyone's mind. Fortunately for travelers, Bowman Lake Recreation Area fills the bill on all counts.

Located a mile west of Loup City alongside busy State Highway 92, Bowman's 46 acres of land and water have become an important part in Nebraska's ever-expanding playtime needs. It is a convenient stopover for vacationing families, camping headquarters for autumn hunters, and a summer-long recreation area for residents from the neighboring area.

There are no towering buttes or a Lewis and Clark-size lake to make it a vacationland, but Bowman is the perfect spot to linger awhile as you journey to NEBR ASK Aland's variety of scenic and fun-filled attractions. The area sports a 20-acre body of water that was formerly part of an irrigation complex. Its 26 acres of land are between the lake and the meandering Middle Loup River, which makes a sharp turn to form the south and west boundaries. Cottonwoods, elms, box elders, and willows grow in profusion between the lake and river.

The camping area has everything overnight stops call for. Picnic tables, fireplaces, water, and other facilities are found in the sheltering trees. After the tent or camping trailer is set for comfort, it's time for dinner. A hearty meal dissolves much of the weariness of the journey, setting the kids up for running and playing in the neat area. Mom and dad can relax for an hour before the lengthening shadows signal time for a restful sleep. If time permits, a half hour or so can produce a stringer of catfish, bass, or bluegill from the lake or a batch of "cats" from the river.

Swimming is permitted but there are no lifeguards on duty so you take a dip at your own risk. A sand beach for the lake is high on the list of improvements 6 OUTDOOR NEBRASKAland in the Game Commission's 10-year development plan. The lake's small size precludes the use of power boats, but rowboats can be launched anytime.

The picnic grounds come in for heavy use by local residents on a nearly year-round basis. Ice fishing and skating are the prime sports early in the year. The lake is sheltered enough to keep down the wind to the point where both sports can be done in comfort. Too, close by are the fireplaces and picnic tables for a quick snack of hot soup or coffee. As the weather warms up and the trees begin to bud, early season outings are in order. A spring day cook out is just the ticket for shaking off winter doldrums.

But the big rush comes when school is out and families hit the vacation trail. Bowman Lake is one of many Game Commission areas throughout NEBRASKAland providing camping and picnic facilities. Whenever you travel, Bowman Lake can be a good place to take a breather.

THE END SPORTS SERVICE AT LAKE McCONAUGHY Boat-Fishing Supplies-Cabins-Cafe For reservation write to: Sports Servicer Box 510, Ogallala, Nebr. LOUP CITY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE INVITES YOU To come to SHERMAN COUNTY For the finest recreation in Centrai Nebraska • Boating, Skiing, & Fishing on Sherman Reservoir • Excellent Pheasant Hunting through the County Hotels and Motels plus private accommodations and an-ttie-farm rooms and hunting. For information, write: Loup City Chamber of Commerce Box 203 Loup City, Nebraska OCTOBER, 1964 7

MASSACRE CANYON Cap Snappers

Yankee cannon, Rebel screams echo across NEBRASKAland prairie

ON THE FOURTH Sunday of every month a group of Nebraskans becomes stinkers, black-powder variety. Proud of their odoriferous pursuits, they rally under the banner of the polecat and salute it with a replica of a Civil War cannon. The flag is a gag for the boys take their membership in the Massacre Canyon Black Powder Club seriously. They get their kicks from burning, smoke-belching, nostril-stinging black powder in everything from century-old muzzle-loaders to today's slide actions.

These modern Daniel Boones hold old-fashioned shooting matches on the canyon-slashed ranch of Bill Steinke near Trenton in southwest Nebraska. The riflemen blaze away at 50-yard targets while the smooth-bore fans pulverize Blue Rocks. On a bluff above the range, the cannoneers buzz around their 1 y2 -pounder.

The cannon is no toy. It digests half a pound of pea-size powder at a crack and hurls 1% pounds of lead some two miles across the prairie. When it roars into action, a cloud of acrid smoke rolls over the bluff and 8 OUTDOOR NEBRASKAland jack rabbits are said to get concussion nosebleeds for miles around.

Hits are marked by puffs of dust in the impact area about IV2 miles from the firing position. It takes the ball about three seconds to whistle across the canyon and into the field. Fortunately, most of the ammunition is recovered and remelted or the club would go broke for plumber's lead.

Billy Steinke, nephew of the group's host, made the cannon from the detailed plans of Civil War ordnance. A skilled machinist, he built the gun to %'s scale, using steel from a road grader for the 50-inch barrel. Bore diameter is two inches. The carriage was once the rear bolster and front wheels of a farm wagon, while the trail is shaped from 6 by 6's. A rammer, handspike, and swab serve the cannon.

The crew has a lot of respect for their artillery since the day they aimed it at a wooden hayrack a half mile away. One blast and the rack came down in kindling. Coarse cannon powder in a silk sock is OCTOBER, 1964   rammed into the bore followed by a wet Celotex wad with a hole in the center. A denim-patched ball is seated in front of the wad and tamped home. This done, a length of slow-burning fuse is placed in the touchhole and ignited. At the traditional "fire in the hole" warning, the crew jumps clear.

MASSACRE CANYON Car Snappers continued

Two seconds later the cannon belches a doughnut of flame and smoke and the ball is on its way. After firing the bore is scrubbed with a wet swab and reloaded. When the fun is ended, the barrel is swabbed with boiling water and oiled to prevent rust.

On the rifle range, the gunners level everything from shoulder-smashing 60 calibers to pip-squeak 32's at the six-inch bulls-eyes. Weights range from 17 pounds for the pumpkin rollers to 7% for the smaller calibers. The historically famous Kentuckys are popular favorites, but the clan also uses the heavier mountain and Plains rifles of a later generation.

Some whopping powder charges are poured in the yawning muzzles of the big bores. Bobby May of Chapman uses 70 to 90 grains of FFg black powder behind a massive chunk of lead in his 17-pound Beck. He describes the recoil as "formidable". Bob can load the 10 OUTDOOR NEBRASKAland shoulder cannon in 13 seconds using a pre-set powder flask to throw the charge. Smaller rifles use 25 to 40 grains of FFFg. Uniform powder charges and ball weights are the keys to accuracy with muzzle gulpers.

Not all of the rifles are old although the Massacre Canyon boys prefer the old-timers. They scour attics and antique shops for genuine charcoal burners, but if they fail to find one that can be rebuilt, they buy modern replicas. Bill Steinke has made several versions of the Kentucky and plans to make more.

Finding a muzzle-loader is becoming increasingly difficult. The sport of muzzle-loading and black-powder shooting has mushroomed over the past decade, with a resulting scarcity of good guns. Even a rebuilt Kentucky with only a few original parts brings a good price today. A brisk trade in selling and making guns is shaping up all over the United States. An original Pennsylvania-made Kentucky in shootable condition is worth a farm to the dedicated gun nuts.

The Massacre Canyon cap snappers are a colorful crew in buckskin and moccasins. Bill Lloyd, one of the charter members of the club, attends matches in a complete buckskin outfit. Horsehair scalps dangle from his fringed jacket and a carved powder horn is draped over his shoulder.

Besides the guns and Jim Bridger getup, the boys invest important folding money in accessories for their unique sport. Bullet molds, powder flasks, shooting glasses, percussion caps, bullet pouches, and unloading gear are part of the needs for a well-equipped black-powder burner. A friendly, co-operative bunch, the Massacre Canyon Club shares equipment so everybody can get in on the fun. Once bitten by the bug, shooters seldom rest until they have all the gear they want.

Fun is more important than competition at the regular matches, but the members do some real good shooting when they draw down for trophies. Four-inch groupings are not uncommon and sometimes ties have to be decided by pegging a string around the bullet holes. The scattergunners can run 10 Blue Rocks consistently with their double-hammered old pets.

Kids are always welcome at the matches and shooters are never too involved to answer their endless questions about the guns or their getup. The youngsters have a ball rubbing shoulders with the Twentieth Century counterparts of Kit Carson and D. Boone. A lot of sound knowledge on rifles and ballistics is mingled with the rough rawhiding among the contestants.

The club is open to new members. The initiation fee is nominal and you don't have to own a black-powder burner to join the dirty face and sore-shoulder fraternity. The boys are always generous with their guns. To join just turn north on a county road west of Trenton on the fourth Sunday of every month and follow your ears.

THE END OCTOBER, 1964 11

OUR READER WRITES GENTLEMEN'S AGREEMENT

We carry visions of beamy racks and mounds of vension. But savvy old bucks harbor other ideas 12 by Howard A. Nelson

NORMALLY A tree is to sit under and a doe is to shoot during this special three-day DeSoto Bend hunting season, but I was doing neither. The 15 below weather left no desire for shade and spotting a deer was much easier from up in the lofty Cottonwood than under it.

Shooting a deer shouldn't have presented so many problems. They were roaming the 3,200 or so acres of the federal area on the Missouri like jaunty tourists. But I was hamstrung by a "bucks only" bugagoo of my own choosing.

From my freezing perch I fought off a feeling of frustration. Maybe this hunt would be a repeat performance of last year when my hunting partners were overly selective. We were looking for prime whitetail trophies the first two days but finally had to settle for the more humbly antlered bucks the last day.

The three does browsing in the distance didn't dispel my concern. But the periodic glance of one of the gals over her shoulder flickered a note of interest. My suspicions aroused by this feminine impulse, I searched the brush bit by bit with binoculars. There he was. First the antlers came into focus, then the whole buck. Though he wasn't the spread-antlered specimen that might adorn the rustic hall of a hunting lodge, he was what I had been hoping for since we began our trip some six hours earlier.

It was during the 20-mile drive from Omaha to DeSoto Bend in the wee morning hours of December 14 that we firmed our "gentlemen's agreement" for bucks only. Although it indicated some fortitude after last year's doe shoot, it didn't seem too ambitious. An aerial count had revealed hundreds of deer in this vast chunk of timber and cropland that was orphaned when the Missouri river was rechanneled to eliminate a navigationally obnoxious oxbow.

There were four of us in the party—my brother, Jim; my father-in-law, Edward C. Olsen of Missouri Valley, Iowa; and my west Omaha neighbor, Richard A. Nelson. We located our tree stand well before sunrise, a giant Cottonwood lookout spotted during the previous season's hunt.

Shortly after the half hour before sunrise shooting time, the four of us were sitting in the warm cab of our truck discussing strategy. A cold gloomy fog made sunrise something of a speculation. In the middle of the parley a procession of seven whitetails loomed some .200 yards away, the last in the group an appetizing buck. Our talk took on a rustle of anticipation, until we decided that the light was not good enough for a shot at that range. The crew watched longingly as the unassuming party gambolled across a cornfield and disappeared into dense timber.

Minutes later a pair of yearlings cavorted some 75 yards away in a capricious game of tag. At the time we were loading our rifles and they would have been easy targets. Amid reminding murmurs of "bucks only", we laughed off this meager test of temptation and organized for the hunt. Richard elected to take a stand where we had seen the big buck with six does and yearlings. Brother Jim picked a stand close to the cottonwood and my father-in-law and I climbed into the tree.

Richard was the first to fire, setting a string of incidents unraveling from which hunting yarns are woven. From the tree I heard the report of his .30/30. Picking him up with my binoculars, I saw my neighbor hustle back to the truck, indicating that he had killed a deer. As it turned out, Richard was luckless as well as buckless. Within minutes after taking his stand, he looked up to see a big buck just 50 yards away. Dick's one shot put the whitetail down and perhaps out, but not dead.

Once my friend tagged the animal, he headed back to the truck for his camera and a forgotten hunting knife. When he returned the buck was gone, leaving only tracks where the prize had staggered to his feet and walked away. After trailing the whitetail for half a mile and finding the tag caught in the brush, Dick figured the wound was only enough to stun him.

My brother was the first to make a sure kill. About noon we had temporarily abandoned our tree and hunted a narrow strip along the river. It was an ideal spot for a drive. One side was bounded by the broad expanse of the Missouri and the other by a chute grown OCTOBER, 1964 13   up with waist-high grass. Jim and Richard took up stands while Ed and I advanced toward them from the opposite side of the strip. Normally drivers move with the wind, but in this instance we felt the deer were not apt to break out on the sides. Any buck getting past the blockers would offer a target for the drivers. From his blocking spot in a downed tree, Jim saw a doe followed by a small buck. Remembering the year before when he was overly picky, he found a shoulder in his scope and squeezed off a well-placed shot.

GENTLEMEN'S AGREEMENT continued

This first buck didn't warm the weather any, even though it rekindled our determination. It was still brutal cold and many hunters alternated between a freezing stake out and their car heaters. By this time, we noticed several does and small bucks had been tagged. But the savvy old bucks were either absent or had benefited from their education the previous season.

After hunting in several locations without seeing a buck, we headed back to the faithful cottonwood stand. Several times we talked of chucking our agreement but each time dismissed the idea. There were bucks to be had and we were determined to get them.

I was next to fill my tag. From the cottonwood I saw the three does. Although perfectly camouflaged when motionless, their rapid breathing created telltale vapor in the zero weather. They stood like this for about 10 minutes, only around 100 yards away. After the accommodating doe gave me the tip-off with her backward glance, I was in business, almost.

The click of my safety was too much for the spooky creatures. At this almost inaudible tick, all four animals took off in a flashing fan of upright whitetails. My first shot only spurred the buck to greater speed, but the second stopped him in mid-stride. My prize 8-point weighed 168 pounds.

With two down, there were still two to go. We hunted the rest of the day and several deer were seen, but no bucks. The morning of the second day was cold but crystal clear. Unlike the opening day, deer were scarce. The suggestion was made again to abandon our "bucks only" agreement, but Richard, still smarting at the "big one that got away", held firm. So did Ed who was next to bag his buck. The dependable old cottonwood stand enabled my father-in-law to get three shots off from his .30/06 autoloader before the little buck crumpled.

And that left Richard. He hunted anxiously the rest of the day. Since the rest of us had to go to work, he doggedly returned alone the final day. Bucks as well as hunters were scarce. Rankled but undaunted by the buck he "anesthetized" in the opening hour, Richard never considered anything but a buck right up until the inevitable sunset.

This fall my determined neighbor will be taking up where he left off last season. DeSoto Bend is closed for deer hunting this year. The Valentine area will be our new territory when the nine-day deer season opens November 7. And what will Richard and the rest of us be shooting for? You guessed it partner, "bucks only" all the way

THE END OUTDOOR Nebraska proudly presents the stories of its readers themselves. Here is the opportunity so many have requested—a charrce to tell their own outdoor tales. Hunting trips, the "big fish that got away , unforgettable characters, outdoor impressions—all have a place here. mtILXV £0ue I St0ry t0 teU' 'ot * down and *end » *° Witor, OUTDOOR Nebraska, State Capitol, Lincoln 9. Send photographs, too, if any are available. 14 OUTDOOR NEBRASKAland

THE CONESTOGA

Here where the West begins the famed schooner has special meaning by Elizabeth Huff

THE HUGE wagons lumbered across the plains in snakelike procession, their canvas tops aglow like white sails in an endless sea. Theirs was a wilderness route to the setting sun, and their wheels dug deep in the virgin prairie sod. The Conestogas, as beautiful as any sailing ship yet as humbly rugged as the men who rode them, left their indelible ruts for all to follow to the setting sun.

Nothing spelled early NEBRASKAland like the seemingly unending stream of Conestogas. Once so common that even the Indians tired of watching them the big red, white, and blue wagons have become a rare relic of another day. Nebraska remembers the key role the Conestoga played in the state's rich western heritage by making the famed wagon its symbol.

The state's famed trademark is now a living symbol thanks to the Nebraska Game Commission. The state's tourist agency has re-created the Conestoga in minute detail, and has trained two now famous oxen, "Neb" and "Raska", to pull the rig. The impressive display is now touring the state and the nation, telling all of the state's pioneer past.

Watching Neb and Raska pull the lumbering wagon conjures up all kinds of stories of life on the trail. The Conestoga could tell you plenty of yarns of the excitement and hardships of pioneering, and in so doing, tell the colorful story of the wagon itself, a story that goes back to the Revolution.

Born in the Conestoga Valley of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, the Conestoga not only played a large part in the settlement of the West, but also in the winning of freedom. It was this boat-like rig that hauled supplies to General Washington and his troops. When its job was done and the big war won, the Conestoga OCTOBER, 1964 15   became the pride of farmers and freighters in opening up new frontiers.

Teams of six or eight huge draught horses were first used to pull the heavy-duty Conestoga. Later mules and oxen were called upon to pull the wagon across the uncharted lands.

Great care went into the building of the Conestoga. Almost with affection, the blacksmith carved works of art into the ironwork on the hulking wagon. The village smithy was an honored person who shaped the tradition of the Old World and the lore of the Black Forest in what he made. For example, his decoration of the Conestoga's tool box was ornate, the ironwork symmetrical, uniform, and strongly riveted. Today, these boxes alone sell for more than a farmer has tri pay for a modern farm wagon.

The great wagon itself was a sight to behold. Probably descended from the English covered wagons, its excellence made the Conestoga Valley famous. The rig was designed and built by hand by Pennsylvania Dutch wheelwrights out of swamp oak, white oak, hickory, locust, gum, and poplar.

THE CONESTOGA continued

The bed of the wagon was long and deep and had considerable sag in the middle. This permitted the load to settle toward the center and not press against the end gates should it shift. The bows followed the line of the ends of the body, slanting outward and giving a distinctive and unmistakable silhouette of the Conestoga.

Although infinite varieties appeared, the basic characteristics remained. It was graceful and boat-shaped, and became known everywhere as the "ship of inland commerce". Its sheer bulk was also imposing. The top of the front hoop was usually 11 feet from the ground. The white homespun cover measured 24 feet in length. The top ends of the wagon bed were 16 feet apart; the rear wheels 5 or 6 feet high.

Conestoga owners originated the practice of driving on the right hand side of the road, rather than on the left as is done even today in Europe. The wagoner, instead of having a seat inside, rode the lazy board. This was a sliding slat of strong white oak that was pulled out on the left side of the wagon body when the wagoner was not walking beside his team or astride his horse.

Colors of the Conestoga were distinctive, but their selection was due more to necessity than any preference for hue. The wheels, removable side boards, and running gear were painted a bright red. The body was a soft blue. Add to this the huge white cover and you have an impressive if not patriotic sight.

Although the colors were used because they were the easiest to come by, it is interesting to note that even today the Amish have a preference for blue and cherry red. Even today, a neat blue yard gate at the home of an Amish family still means that there is a marriageable daughter there. Wagon accessories were also painted. Wagon jacks were red, the tar box black, the feed box blue, and the bucket either red or unpainted.

The white cover fitted over broad hickory hoops, which were fastened into iron sockets or staples on the 16 OUTDOOR NEBRASKAland outside of the body. The lowest bows were midway between the ends, and the others rose gradually in a deep curve to front and rear, so that the ends were of nearly equal height. The cover was corded down on the sides and drawn together by draw ropes at the ends, so that the wagon was almost completely closed in. Hoops or bows ranged according to preference from 8 to 12 per wagon.

Conestogas were always emptied and loaded from the rear. However, later adaptions, such as in the prairie schooner, could be loaded from either front or rear.

Special care was taken in the selection of the wood from which the Conestoga would be built. White oak was used for framing, gum for the hubs, hickory for the axle trees and single trees, and poplar for the boards. Since the wooden parts had to be as light as possible, the wood had to be strong with no knots, checks, or soft spots.

Amish or Pennsylvania Dutch superstitions surrounded the early-day Conestoga. Though many have been lost over the years, others have been carried down through generations of tradition.

Often the ironwork on the tool box was shaped to resemble a chalice. This represented the "cup of life" and many wagons in turn had a hinge or staple beneath it which caught the "sorrows of life". Those that were built without this hinge iron did not "want to catch their sorrows". In many cases, the rub plate located on the wagon body behind the front wheels carried a special design to indicate where and by whom the wagon was built. The front of the wagon box was lower to let the good spirits in, while the back was higher and humped to keep them there.

The material and design of the wagon made it unbreakable under the trying conditions met with on roads full of ruts and rocks, or sometimes no roads at all. All in all, the Conestoga was probably the best built of this nation's early wagons, and yet portrayed the superstitions of the land from which it emerged.

This all-important link with the past has been recreated in NEBRASKAland's new state symbol. This symbol, in turn, has been brought to life by the Game Commission with the reproduction of a modified Conestoga that carried settlers along the Oregon Trail. With Neb and Raska out front, the Conestoga is once again traveling the highways and byways, ready to tell all of the key role it played in NEBRASKAland, the heartland of the pioneers.

THE END OCTOBER, 1964 17

RIDERS OF THE WIND

Even the outboard jockeys are taking notice of the silent ones and no wonder. Here's a sport that captures al[ the fun of boating

FROM EVERY lake in NEBRASKAland, a message of fun is flashing as more and more people discover the enjoyment of sailing. Even power-happy outboard jockeys are envious when a regal Comet or Lightning under full sail glides by, the water kissing the hull and the wind playing a lullaby through the rigging.

There are few more pleasing sights than white sails dancing over blue water on a sun-washed day. No exhaust fumes or gasoline odors fog the clean fresh smell of the air, as the boat takes the bone in her teeth and flees the pursuing wind. Even a cat's paw of a breeze sighs through the rigging and applauds the sails. There is a delicate caress in the response of a sensitive tiller and the feel of solid decking. Sometimes, when the craft is hard over, there is the salt-sweet taste of the lake as the lee rail nudges the water and spray flies high.

Sailing offers a challenge and rewards you with a sense of accomplishment when it's mastered. This comes after only a few sessions on fundamentals. And in Nebraska, there is a growing number of inland salts to welcome you aboard to teach you the wind-splitting art. The finer points of boat handling, seamanship, and sailing sixth sense possessed by talented skippers come with time and practice on the water.

A sailboat must have wind. Without moving air, the craft is dead, but when the breezes blow the rig comes vibrantly alive. Once under way with a good wind spanking the sails, the rig is all pulsating energy, sensitive to every nuance of wind and water.

Sailboat buffs in Nebraska like the Snipe for the medium-size lakes and impoundments. The rig is a good craft for racing and day sailing. Reasonably fast, it can be sailed efficiently with two people, and can accommodate four for day sailing. Snipes are made with both wood and Fiberglas hulls.

Boat for boat, sailing craft are more economical than an outboard rig. A novice sailboater can usually pick up a used Snipe complete with trailer, mast, sails, and rigging for under $1,000. Maintenance costs are lower, and since wind is not sold by the gallon, operating costs are practically nil.

Except for some very small boats, most of the popular sailing craft in Nebraska carry two sails, the mainsail and the jib. The mainsail is the larger of the two, since it catches the wind that drives the boat. The jib is primarily a control sail with a secondary function of moving the craft. Both sails are usually made from Dacron.

A sailboat is distinguished from other craft by its mast and boom. In the popular Snipe class, the mast is 20 feet long. Bigger boats wear proportionally longer sticks. The boom extends at right angles to the mast, just above the cockpit. The mainsail stretches between the mast and boom and is held in place at three securing points called the head, tack, and clew.

The mainsail is hoisted by attaching the head to the main halyard and pulling the line through the sheave atop the mast. The tack bolts to a piece of hardware called the gooseneck which attaches the boom to the mast. A fitting, termed the outhaul, is the anchor point for the clew. Halyard and clew provide the forces which stretch the triangular sail between the two extremities. In the sailor's vocabulary, the lines or ropes holding the sail are halyards. Those used to manipulate the sail to find or escape the wind are sheets.

Rigged forward of the main mast, the jib is also attached by head, tack, and clew, but does not ride a boom. Sailors refer to the guy lines that support the spar as fore and sidestays. They are anchored to the hull and remain in place as long as the mast is up.

Sailboat hulls resemble those of conventional craft with one important exception. A retractable dagger or centerboard extends from the bottom of the hull. It prevents the boat from drifting sideways in the water when the craft is sailing into the wind. When riding before the wind, the centerboard is usually retracted OCTOBER, 1964   or only partially extended. On. smaller craft it is raised and lowered by muscle.

Landlubbers often confuse the centerboard with the rudder. Located at the stern, the rudder is the steering device that turns the boat with the tiller in the cockpit the "steering wheel". Automobile acclimated novices have to reverse their thinking at the tiller. A push to the left on the rudder, for example, turns the boat to the right.

Before leaving the dock, experienced salts check their gear and attach the sails. Mooring lines are slipped and the tiller put to windward. The jib is hoisted to catch the wind, and once the mainsail is rigged, the centerboard is dropped.

Once under way, the sails are trimmed to get the most from the wind and the course selected. A boat with properly trimmed sails finds its best speed when approximately 90 degrees to the breeze. A boat cannot equal the wind's speed due to water friction or drag on the hull.

Tacking is a nautical term for changing direction with a sailing craft. To tack, the sails' exposure to the wind force is changed to a different angle after the boat is brought around. In coming around the craft is dead into the wind at one point in its swing. Unless the boat has enough momentum to carry it around, it stops. When a sailboat is idle in the water, it is said to be wallowing or in stays. Once on the new heading, the sails are again trimmed to get the best out of the breeze.

Since a boat cannot sail directly into the wind, a series of tacks or zigzags along the desired course is OUTDOOR NEBRASKAland required. Skippers depend upon the "feel" of their boat to estimate the length and number of tacks required. When a boat is tacking it often heels over with the lee rail only inches from the water. To compensate for the shift in balance, crew members often have to lean far out over the windward rail to bring their boat back to an even keel. Sailing against the wind is the acid test.

Bringing a boat to the dock is another ticklish maneuver. The early approach is made downwind and the boat brought around into the wind in a U-turn to slow it. As the boat edges into the dock, a crewman usually goes forward to bring the craft in.

Sailboating fans claim their sport is the greatest. They are sure no power craft can match the high-spirited performance of a sailboat. To them, the rig's silence, sensitivity, and quick responses more than make up for its lack of speed. Many enjoy a sailboat's close kinship and dependence upon the elemental forces of nature.

A sailboat skipper described the feelings of the clan toward their fun this way: "Powerboating is the same as driving a car in water, but sailboating, man, sailboating is really living."

THE END

THE LEGEND OF SAM BASS

by J. Greg Smith

THE CLICK of the iron rails had lulled Charley Miller comfortably into another world. That he was sleeping next to a fortune in Wells Fargo $20 gold pieces didn't bother him in the slightest. He'd been riding shotgun on Union Pacific express shipments for many an uneventful mile, and he saw no reason to be concerned about three boxes of gold coins on thk very routine night of September 18, 1877.

Others on No. 4 shared Charley's unconcern. In the first-class chair coach big Dan Fretwell from Sidney sat hunched in his chair, almost hypnotized by the giant diamond tie pin that winked up from his vest. The angular cattleman across the aisle casually checked his breast pocket to feel the reassuring bulge of the $3,100 bank roll he'd made from his last sale of beeves, then leaned his head back for some shut-eye. Toward the head of the car, Eldon Cummings dreamed of all the different ways he could spend his $430 bundle in Omaha.

With cash like this generously spread among the passengers and Charley's stash of gold in the express car, old No. 4 was a veritable bank on wheels—and a very vulnerable bank at that. All by its lonesome in the inky darkness of western Nebraska, it innocently huffed into waiting six-guns at Big Springs station. There to greet the unsuspecting passengers and crew was Sam Bass, a cowboy destined to become a legend of the untamed West.

Up to this eventful evening, Sam's main claim to fame was his willingness to take part in any kind of get-rich-quick scheme. A hoosier (continued on page 46)

BROWNVILLE

A PAST WITH A FUTURE

NESTLED IN THE rolling hills above the Missouri River, Brownville is a living embodiment of the past. Aloof from the tidal wave of progress breaking over NEBRASKAland, this Village of Memories is one of the most colorful tourist attractions in the state.

Untouched by the dash and turmoil of today, Brownville retains the restful atmosphere and quiet charm of Nineteenth Century America. Its drowsy Main Street, dusty side roads, and steamboat architecture have survived today's mad rush. A visit to Brownville is a return to an era when life was far slower and perhaps far simpler. In Brownville, yesterday is much closer than tomorrow, and the next 12 pages are only a sample of the delightful scenes and experiences waiting you.

A once flourishing river port, the village has a rich tapestry of yesterdays to display. Established in 1854 by Richard Brown, it soon became an important portal to the West. As a gateway to the vast, unclaimed Plains, Brownville had its full share of pioneer excitement. A leading port of call for the river steamers, it hosted gambler and roustabout, cowboy and sodbuster during the frenzied days of Western migration. Brownville watched the prairie schooners assemble and furnished their gear for the long trek to the West. It worked hard, played hard, and lived with gusto.

But beneath Brownville's sometimes rowdy exterior a deep current of culture and permanence ran strong. Leading citizens of the day included men like Governor R.W. Furnas, Senator T. W Tipton, and Banker John L. Carson. They devoted their energies and abilities to developing the cultural, educational, commerical, and agricultural potentials of the community. Churches, schools, and a telegraph extended to give the fledgling community a link with the rest of of the country. As the town prospered, Brownville leaders erected stately homes where leisurely living with its music and gaiety was the order of the day.

OCTOBER, 1964 25   27   28 OUTDOOR NEBRASKAland     OCTOBER, 1964 33   34 OUTDOOR NEBRASKAIond  

A railroad was the fate that almost swept Brownville off the map after its auspicious beginning. Caught in the feverish competition for railroads that followed the Civil War, the village went deep into debt to finance a trunk line. When it folded, Brownville was saddled with a crushing financial burden. The demise of the railroad, coupled with the loss of river traffic, hastened the decline of a town that once aspired to be the capital of Nebraska. From a restless, surging population of 5,000, Brownville shrank to 350.

The great brick mansions were abandoned, and the stores and warehouses boarded up. A series of fires swept through the almost deserted community, completing the destruction spawned by storm and vandals. Even the orchards and vineyards were virtually wiped out in the killing freeze of Armistice Day, 1940.

Brownville emerged from its cocoon of obscurity and began its come back in 1955 when the Brownville Historical Society was formed. Members realize that history is their most important product and they promote it with dignity and restraint. With the help of private capital and some fund-raising activities, the society has restored several of the old mansions. Others will be opened in the future.

Important historical sites are plotted out and marked with identifying signs. Brochures and pamphlets tell the Brownville story. Three festivals are held each year to focus state and national attention on the town.

The Carson House, complete with post Civil War furnishings, is a must-see on any tourist's agenda. This stately home on Main Street is owned by Miss Rose Carson of Lincoln and is operated by the historical society.

Other attractions include the Muir house, the Furnas home, and Captain Bailey's house, now a free museum owned by the society. The grist mill was once the Lone Tree Saloon where famed outlaw Jesse James relaxed from his railroad and banking activities to enjoy a bottle and a hand of stud with the boys. The grist mill is open to visitors.

A visit to Brownville is incomplete without a tour of the Walnut Grove Cemetery. Some of the grave markers date back to 1856. The cemetery is an ideal spot for an impressive view of the. winding Missouri. An Indian burial ground is located some two miles south of the town. Weathered fishing shacks dot the river shore, reminders of a once-active industry. Two pioneer churches are always open for inspection. The towering elevators of the Continental Grain Company stand over the town, adding a touch of reality to a scene lifted out of the Nineteenth Century.

During the festival days, Brownville flips the pages of time to the three decades after the Civil War. Residents don the garb of the 1890's and horse-drawn buggies replace the automobile for tours arranged and gaited to the slower tempo of earlier generations.

A flea market, demonstrations of candle making, rug weaving, and flax spinning are held on Main Street. This year's spring festival attracted more than 7,000 visitors. Other events during the year include the August Country Music Jubilee, replacing the former Old Time Fiddlers Contest, and the Fall Festival on the second Sunday in October.

You don't need to wait for a festival to visit Brownville. It is eager to display its past to all comers. The beauty of the river, the charm of the old mansions, the serenity of the bluffs, and the colorful pattern of the hills are always there waiting to be enjoyed.

Next month, OUTDOOR NEBRASKAland will scan the buttes and pinnacles of the ever-changing state scene. The only transportation needed for a dramatic visit to these sentinels of the West is your favorite armchair.

THE END OUTDOOR NEBRASKAland

FOR THE DOGS

Keep the family hound in the pink with some timely words about canine health

THERE'S A very old and very bad joke which reminds you that the body, if properly cared for, will last a lifetime. This sage adage applies to the canine world as well. Dogs require care as do people if that lifetime is to be healthy and happy as possible.

Giving your dog the care he should have isn't easy. If you're not willing to forgo the time, effort, and expense necessary, maybe you had better raise goldfish instead. But dog care isn't a backbreaking chore.

A healthy and happy dog is invaluable as a hunting companion, a pal for your kids, a watchman, and a OUTDOOR NE BR ASK Aland trusting friend. A dog's health isn't something that just happens. He requires the right foods, regular medical care, exercise, a good home, and affection. Without any of these, he's apt to be sickly, languid, and disagreeable. Worse yet, he might not even be around come next pheasant season.

You should start looking out for your dog's health the day you buy him. It's best to get him from a well-kept, reputable kennel. If possible, find a pup that's about four months old who's been wormed and has had a complete series of distemper, leptospirosis, and infectious canine hepatitus shots. If the vaccination series isn't finished when you buy the dog, make sure it is after you bring him home.

A pup under four months probably won't be completely wormed or vaccinated. Besides, he'll need more daily feedings and he'll be too young for housetraining. Most "vets" like to wait until a dog is six months old before administering rabies shots.

There are a lot of other places besides kennels to get a pup. However, if you find a dog you can't resist at a pet shop or the neighbor's across the street, you're taking quite a chance. Be sure the pup has a thorough checkup by a veterinarian before you agree to buy him. Be sure, too, that he gets the necessary shots and worming treatments. Some mongrels turn out to be healthy, intelligent companions, but often they've had a poor start in life and never quite recover.

There are a few things you can check yourself when buying a pup. He should be clear-eyed, have a good appetite, and have an active disposition. If he's skinny or potbellied, he may have worms. If the pup's a smooth-coated breed, his coat should be shiny; if he's a long-coated breed, his coat should have a heavy texture. Another thing to beware of is blotched, rough skin. The only way to be really sure he's in good health, though, is to take him to a vet.

One of the most important contributions you can make to your dog's health is to see that he's properly fed. The right food can make the difference between a trim, spunky dog or one that's either a listless butterball or a dragging bone rack.

Dogs, like humans, need a balanced diet. Your hound needs well-planned meals of meat, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and minerals. There are any number of ways to see that your dog gets these foods, but make sure he doesn't lack any of them. Commercial dog foods are OK for part of your mutt's menu, but they're seldom a complete diet in themselves.

Meat is the mainstay in the dog's diet. It should make up about half of his daily food intake. Canned meat is fine, but don't let it be your dog's entire meal. Both beef and horse meat are suitable, either cooked or uncooked. Shy away from hard-to-digest pork. If you have to feed pork, make sure it's well cooked to avoid trichinosis. Never feed your dog poultry or any other meat that contains small, brittle bones. "Fido" might end up with a fatal case of punctured intestines. Uncooked rabbit is another meat to avoid. It usually contains tapeworms that could mean a long sick spell. Candy isn't especially harmful, but it might spoil the dog's appetite for less exciting foods.

Large gnawing bones are good, but not necessarily from a nutritional point of view. The gnawing polishes the dog's teeth and keeps harmful tartar from forming. A bone a week should insure that your dog's teeth stay sound all his life.

About a fourth of the diet should be made up of vegetables or cereal-type dog foods for carbohydrates. He'll get the fats he needs if you add a little bacon grease or ground fat to his diet. Fish oils, wheat germ, and even "people-type" vitamin tablets should round out your dog's diet.

How much to feed your dog is a problem that is up to you and your hound. Some dogs eat relatively little and stay in top form, while others the same size might require twice as much food. Don't forget, though, that a dog who has had a heavy workout retrieving ducks will need much more food than he normally eats after a day of loafing.

Due to the dog's digestive system, one big feeding a day, usually in the afternoon, is enough for a grown dog. If he spends the morning prowling around the kitchen making hungry noises, don't hesitate to give him a snack. Growing pups must be fed four or five times a day, but don't let the staggering food bills shake you too much. When he grows up, he'll need much less chow.

Have the vet give your dog a checkup once every six months. He'll give him a thorough going-over as well as booster shots. These regular checkups can't be overlooked if your hound is to stay in his prime.

There are some signs you should recognize that often point to serious ills. A dog's temperature is the best way to get an insight into his (continued on page 52)

OCTOBER, 1964 39

40

ALFALFA ALLEY

Gold isn't mined, it's mowed in Dawson County, the nation's No. I hay processor by Gary Grimmond

TO MOTORISTS driving along U. S. Highway 30 in the meandering Platte Valley, the big alfalfa dehydrating plants may disgorge a pleasant fragrance or a pungent smell, depending on nostril preference. But an inside look at those sprawling silver giants, puffing under the burden of the emerald fields they feed on, booms up a picture of economic importance way beyond the sensations of smell.

Alfalfa and its mechanical side-kick, the dehydrating mill, is the dynamic and successful combination of industry teamed with its big older brother, agriculture. It's the fulfillment of any farm community's elusive goal—a market for the growers output, a place of employment for local people, and a convenient purchasing point for finished products.

Alfalfa has long been vital to Nebraska. But like agriculture, it has undergone revolutionary changes in the past quarter century. Not too many haystacks dot the Platte Valley now. Rising to take their place is the "dehy" plant, an impressive complex of brick and steel.

Great receptacles called "pads" cock their enormous chassis skyward as they hike the fresh chopped alfalfa into incessantly turning dryers. These drums, gas fired by 2,000 degree furnaces snouting into them, extract the moisture from the hay.

Truck loads of alfalfa roll in from the fields, hurrying to keep the voracious maw of the automatic feeders filled. Six to eight-ton loads of fresh-cut hay are digested in a sustained and endless gulp. Through far-reaching networks of tunnel-like pipes filled with a not of forced air, the processed alfalfa flows through grinders, bins, and mills until it is ejected as meal or shiny pellets. Bagged or left in bulk, it will wind up OCTOBER, 1964 41   eventually as high year-round protein feed for the nation's livestock.

ALFALFA ALLEY continued

This rip-snorting process—30 minutes from green chopped alfalfa to pellets—turns out 567,100 tons of dehydrated alfalfa yearly in Nebraska, almost half the 1,246,700-ton total production in the United States. This added up to a whopping $26.5 million take in 1963, making Nebraska the nation's No. 1 producer.

The bulk of Nebraska's annual production of some four million tons of alfalfa finds its way into the state's 82 dehydrating plants. Each plant can have as high as a half dozen drums. Of the 350 or so in the United States, about 160 are in Nebraska. And of these, 63 are in Dawson county, a 1,000 square-mile hunk of fertile NEBRASKAland astraddle the lush Platte Valley.

Practically anywhere in the valley between Grand Island and North Platte, the vibrant hum of dehydrating mills and their accompanying scent can be detected. But in the 25-mile Lexington-Cozad-Gothenburg belt, they pop up as unremitting reminders that this is alfalfa country.

Only some 88,000 acres of alfalfa of the 1,830,000 grown annually in Nebraska is produced in Dawson county. But Dawson's tonnage, quality, and consistency magnifies its seemingly meager acreage. Unpredictable in some parts of the county and state because of its 42 OUTDOOR NEBRASKAland dependency on moisture, alfalfa is a year-in and year-out crop in this county.

Over 50 per cent of the hay in Dawson County is sub-irrigated by the high underground water table. In dry years such as this one, county farmers raise five tons to the acre. Fifty per cent of Dawson is in the Platte Valley and the deep-rooted alfalfa soaks its feet on the generous and nourishing underground table. The deep medium-textured soils are another reason for this assured annual supply of alfalfa that has spawned the many dehy mills.

The first alfalfa was planted in Dawson County in 1884, but it wasn't until 1935 that the first alfalfa mills began operation. Now less than three decades later, the Nebraska county leads all counties in the nation in alfalfa dehydration. Motorists along U. S. Highway 30 need only to keep their eyes open to substantiate this Texas-type claim. From the little town of Overton in the east to Gothenburg on the west, the incessant tumble of drums is testimony that gold isn't mined but mowed.

Whether Cozad or Lexington can claim the alfalfa title depends on which town you happen to be in. Both have 5 plants, with Cozad boasting 15 drums and Lexington, 16. Darr, a tiny town between the two, has 5 plants which both Lexington and Cozad like to claim. Gothenburg has 4 mills, Willow Island, 3, and Overton, 1.

Alfalfa brings in nearly $4 million a year to the county. The farmer receives around $10 to $12 a ton after his crop is cooked. The average price to the feed manufacturer for the dehydrated product averages around $45 a ton.

Making hay isn't the muscle-strainer it was in the "good old days". When farmers send the crop to the dehydrating plants, as most do in Dawson County, the labor is almost nothing. Some may put on extra tonnage by irrigating, but many farmers restrict their efforts to plowing up the hayfields about every sixth year and growing corn as a rotation crop for a year or two. The farmers let the alfalfa companies do most of the work.

"We go right out and buy the hay standing in the fields," explains Clyde Mathews, production manager of three plants along the densely settled dehydrating belt. "Then we mow it, field chop it, blow it into trucks, and haul it in. The alfalfa never touches the ground."

Mathews, a 25-year dehy veteran, started in the business right after the first mills were going in the 30's. He saw them rise like mushrooms in a wet spring during World War II, and knows the key role his and other plants play in the state's economy today.

With agility that belied his bulk, the production manager bounced from his chair to point out the window as a truck was dumping its load. The hay dropped through the drum into a blast of heat. Guiding me out to the round brick-lined furnace on the end of the drum, he let me look through a small glass window of the furnace showing a view into the (continued on page 52)

OCTOBER, 1964 43

44 OUTDOOR NEBRASKAland

FALLS CITY

John Brown Slept Here

FOUNDED DURING the turmoil that preceded the Civil War, Falls City owes its very existence to the conflicts in "bloody Kansas". Just a scant five miles from the Jayhawk border, the town oft sheltered the fanatical John Brown. The brand-new settlement offered haven to runaway slaves on their long way North on the underground railroad.

Before the Negro escape route was established, Falls City served as the last stop on the Lane Trail for Free-Staters headed for strife-torn Kansas. The Richardson County seat was actually founded by Free-State leader James Lane and his followers as a jumping-off place into the Kansas battleground. The anti-slave Free-Staters were cut off on the east by hostile and southern-inclined Missouri. Lane paved the roundabout Iowa-Nebraska route through Falls City.

Just as the nation has settled down in the past century, so has Falls City since its troubled birth in 1857. Now serving a wide trade area, the countryside around the town is criss-crossed with plenty of farms. Today a host of industrious farmers, merchants, and professional men have replaced the zealous Free-Staters. From the conflict of the past has emerged a city of hard-working citizens. No longer do fugitive slaves need the compassion of her residents, but the free spirit of its pioneers still lives and prospers here.

Falls City today bears little resemblance to the clutter of buildings thrown up on the banks of the Nemaha River 107 years ago. The town is a neat productive community. In the late 1930's and early 40's, the old gave way to the new when oil gushed forth. The old industry played an important part in providing fuel for tanks and bombers during World War II. The wells that pumped during the war generally played out in the late 40's, although some are still in operation.

This Nebraska community has witnessed many changes in its century of existence—from pioneer settlement to oil boom town to a placid farming area. Truly, progress and prosperity have followed Lane's Trail to Falls City.

THE END OCTOBER, 1964 45

SAM BASS

(continued from page 23)

orphan kid with very itchy feet, Sam struck out to Texas to cowboy at the tender age of 18. It didn't take him long to learn there were easier ways to make a living than herding beeves and he was determined to try them all. From horse racing he went to horse thieving with plenty of gambling and girling in between. When Texas proved too tame, he headed north to try his hand at heisting the Deadwood stage.

Sam's biggest problem was his unique ability to spend money faster than he could take it. Actually, his initial attempts at being a first-class bad guy failed miserably. Time after time Sam and the gang he ran with held up the wrong stage and got more smiles than loot for their efforts.

With so little money coming in and the posse hot on their trail, the boys lit out for Nebraska with visions of gold-heavy railway express cars in their heads. It didn't bother them that no one had ever taken on the formidable task of robbing a Union Pacific train. They would try anything once, especially if there was a chance to pick up some easy spending money in the process.

Joel Collins, the hombre that had ramrodded all the misguided forays in Deadwood, took it on himself to mastermind the robbery. Sam, Jim Berry, Tom Nixon, Jack Davis, and Bill Heffridge had blind faith in their leader —at least none of them came up with a better plan.

Big Springs station looked like easy pickings to Joel. Smack in the middle of nowhere with hardly a soul around to see the goings on, it was a perfect set-up for Collin's scheme. Shortly after 10 o'clock the boys tethered their horses in the dark, then snuck up on the unsuspecting telegraph operator. Before he could send out word, they tore out the relay and sounder of his rig. This done, the boys forced the operator to put a red light on the track to stop No. 4, then stepped back in the shadows to wait for the train.

No one on the express suspected there was anything afoot. The engineer and firemen were bushwhacked before they knew what happened, and when the conductor got off the train to receive his orders, he walked into a pair of waiting six-guns. Two sleepy-eyed passengers strolled out on the platform but suddenly found the evening air unhealthy. They jumped back in the coach, a couple of ricocheting bullets helping them on their way.

Bass and Collins collared the telegraph operator and hauled him over to the express car. Suspecting nothing, sleepy-eyed Charley Miller rolled open the door when he heard the approved signal from the operator. Sam and Joel were on him in a flash and had the messenger disarmed and helpless before poor Charley really knew what had happened.

The two outlaws threatened the guard with all kinds of mayhem if he didn't open the "through" safe, but he kept insisting he couldn't. Charley said the time lock set at San Francisco wouldn't open before the train arrived in Omaha. Being rank amateurs at train robbery, Sam and Joel had never come up against such a formidable money rig. Neither had thought to bring along dynamite and more out of frustration than anything else, Sam grabbed an ax and started whacking.

Charley was pretty confident he had the bandits hornswaggled after watching Sam rebound from each resounding ring of the ax. About that time Collins noticed the three wooden boxes on the floor. When asked what was in them, Charley pooh-poohed the crates off as containing some kind of hardware. Sam swung his now well-dulled ax and the wheel of fortune that so long had eluded the bandits rolled out of the splintered crate in the form of $20 gold pieces.

Naturally, the boys were elated. Here was more gold than either had seen or even dreamed of seeing in all their days of outlawing. But neither was so blinded by the glimmer that they lost the urge to look for more. Delegating Berry and Nixon to stand guard over the treasure, Sam and Joel headed for 46 OUTDOOR NEBRASKAland the coach to pick up any loose change lying about.

Bass and Jack Davis opened up gunny sacks and graciously invited the now wide-awake passengers to donate to their cause. Collins and Bill Heffridge positioned themselves at either end of the car to make sure that everyone gave his fair share.

The first man to contribute was a salesman from New York. He forked over $480 in cash and a gold watch. When Sam noticed the second victim had only one hand, he gave the man back his watch and money, which everyone agreed was a mighty gentlemanly thing to do. In the meantime the Texas cattleman was able to stash his $3,100 under his chair and Don Fretwell casually palmed his big diamond in his boot. Sam and Jack worked their way through all 40 passengers in the coach, taking in an estimated $1,300 in cash and jewelry. It should be said that Sam saw to it that each one of those robbed got $10 back so they wouldn't think too unkindly of the outlaws.

Tom Nixon and Jim Berry were able to pry $458 out of Charley Miller's small safe while the rest were at work in the coach. About this time the boys were beginning to get a little fidgety and figured that they had enough loot to see them through an extra-hard winter. Besides, No. 10 was fast approaching from Ogallala. Joel sent one of the boys along with the conductor to warn the freight of the stalled train. When he returned, they grabbed the loot and disappeared in the darkness.

Once the take was split, the outlaws headed out on different trails, each still flushed with the success of the first attempt at train robbery and all anxious to try for even bigger scores. But Lady Luck was a fickle gal, deserting Collins and Heffridge just when she seemed to take a liking to them. Both were gunned down the next day by an alert sheriff and a squad of soldiers near Fort Hays, Kansas. Jim Berry got as far as Mexico, Missouri, before he was dealt a similar fate.

With Sam, it was a different story. Now nine feet tall and cockier than ever, he rode south to Texas to become a legend. Organizing his own gang, he got down to the serious business of robbing trains and stagecoaches. Unfortunately for Sam, he made out only a little better than he did at Deadwood. And as a train robber, he would never again feel the great good fortune that he had at Big Springs. For all his efforts, he had a net take of only $1,961.

But Sam was a generous man, or so Texans will tell you, and that's what made him grow to hero proportions across the land. Of course, the Union Pacific should get some of the credit for making such a bad guy good in the eyes of the populace. After all, it was their $20 gold pieces that made folks see Sam in a little brighter light.

The outlaw managed to keep his distance from the law until 1878. Working out of a wild six-mile stretch of wilderness known as Cove Hollow, he kept many a posse and even the vaunted Texas Rangers at bay. Having failed so miserably as a first-class train robber, Sam decided to take on a bank to restore his dwindling fortune. And that's where the railroad Robin Hood made his big mistake.

One of Sam's lieutenants was a gent named Bob Murphy, and as another legend of another famed badman goes, Bob "was the dirty little coward" who put the finger on Bass. Murphy got word to the Rangers that Sam would visit the Round Rock bank July 19. The outlaw rode into the trap on a sweltering afternoon and was caught in a blaze of bullets. Though hurt bad, he managed to ride out the Ranger's ambush.

That night a farmer came into town and said Sam Bass was dying outside his cabin. The Rangers brought the outlaw in to Round Rock, but one look at the belly wound and they knew Sam was a goner. He lingered till July 21, then checked in his chips. It was his 27th birthday.

Though gunned down in his prime, Sam shares that same brand of immortality as Jesse James, Billy the Kid, Doc Middleton, and other notorious characters of the Old West. His legend has grown with every telling, a legend that began just 88 years ago at Big Springs Station in the heart of NEBRASKAland.

THE END OCTOBER, 1964 47

the DOUBLE SHUFFLE

Double your pleasure, double your fun with Nebraska's hunt-fish combo

IT WAS ONE of those rare days when everything goes according to Hoyle. Dale St. Louis of Lincoln and I were in a pheasant hot-spot south of Bennet. We hit the milo just after sunup and caught the birds at breakfast. By nine we had filled out with four roosters each.

The day was warming up fast as we walked back to the car, thinking of some way to prolong the fun. We topped a little rise above a tree-fringed pond and looked at the water shimmering in the late October sun. The idea hit Dale and I at the same time.

"I've got a spin-casting outfit and a beat up fly rod with a few flies and lures in the trunk," I offered. "If you can get permission from your friend, we're in business

Once Dale got the OK from the landowner, we got down to the business of adding a nice mess of pan fish to our already bulging game bag. This was to be my introduction to NEBRASKAland's excellent hunt-fish package. The state's liberal year-round fishing and long gunning seasons make it a natural for a sport-filled combination.

Dale elected to use the spinning gear with its six-pound monofilament. He prowled along a sunny slope, catching frost-slowed grasshoppers and putting them in 48 OUTDOOR NEBRASKAland an empty shell box. I shook out the fly line, cleaned it up, and tied on a black bug.

by Fred Nelson

With a slow, side-arm cast to save his bait, Dale sent his hook-impaled grasshopper into the water. Letting it sink, he started a slow retrieve. Suddenly, he jerked the rod tip, setting the hook hard. A fat bluegill darted this way and that, seesawing the line in a futile effort to break free. My partner applied the pressure and in moments held up his prize.

Encouraged by his example, I made a short cast under the dropping limbs of an elm that guarded the east side of the pond. The bug had barely dimpled the OCTOBER, 1964   surface before the fish hit. From then on it was a tight line and reel in situation. We fished an hour, then tallied up the morning's score with 8 ringnecks, 12 bluegills, three hours of exciting fun, and lunch was still two hours away.

the DOUBLE SHUFFLE continued

Hunt-fish combos are available all over Nebraska. The overlap of seasons, combination licenses, abundant game and fish, and easy accessibility make rod and tackle box standard auxiliaries to shotgun and shell vest. A sportsman who fails to double up is cheating himself.

Even late winter varment hunting has its fishing opportunities. Jim Satra of Valentine is an ardent coyote hunter and almost as nuts about ice fishing. He gets extra mileage out of his outdoor day by meshing the two.

Up at dawn, Jim loads his .243 with potent 87-grain cartridges and tucks his ice-fishing gear in his pockets. On the way to Cameron Lake in the Sand Hills, he keeps an eye peeled for a careless yodel dog. This sportsman intercepts one often enough to fan his enthusiasm and by the time he reaches the ice-covered lake, he's ready to relax for an hour or two outguessing perch.

A Swedish pimple, a minnow, or an ice fly are Jim's favorite come-ons, depending upon his quarry and the weather. He fishes carefully and seldom comes away without the makings of a fish supper.

Don Keller of Trenton recalls a once-in-a-lifetime experience with gun and rod. He was hunting ducks along a sand pit when a big greenhead erupted from the shallows and streaked across the water. The 12 gauge dumped the mallard almost in the middle of the pond, leaving Don with a retrieving dilemma.

The sand pit was too deep to wade and there wasn't a boat in sight, but Don still wanted his bird. Remembering his spinning rod, he returned to the car, tied on a big surface plug, and hiked back to the water's edge. His cast went over the downed bird by several feet. Making a careful retrieve, Don guided the plug toward the duck when a raunchy old bass practically smashed it out of the water. The hunter reeled in a 31/2 -pound largemouth, and on the next cast, retrieved his duck.

Deer top the heap for many hunters, but once you bag your prize, your day is done. There isn't a better way to spend the time after you fill than fishing, and in NEBRASKAland that's easy and pleasant chore. The state's prime whitetail country coincides with topnotch bass, bluegill, and catfish waters. Mule deer devotees are in clover, too. Trout and northern pike grow big and full of fight in the same territory that harbors old mossy horns. Even if you don't score on deer, you can partially restore your battered ego with a mess of fish.

Sportsmen in the Gavins Point area have a real deal. January has been a first-class month for late-season pheasant forays in recent years, a time when sauger are running in the tail waters of the dam. The brushy draws and canyons around the dam are ringneck bonanzas when the weather is mean. After the shotgun is done, it is no trick to make the sauger come running. A heavy duty spinning outfit with lots of backbone is the ticket for sauger and walleye. Use plenty of lead to get the bait down deep and get set for some redhot action, even if it is cold enough to make a brass monkey sing soprano.

Frank Howard of Juniata will never forget a day that got all mixed up with squirrels, bullheads, and ducks. Frank and his buddy were hunting the Blue River bottoms for bushytails and they bagged a limit of nut gluttons in record time. At loose ends, they thought of the Blue's bullheads. Using makeshift gear, Frank was yanking in Old Whiskers at a good clip when he noticed a flight of ducks pitching in on a bend below him. Grabbing shotguns, Frank and his companion snuck up to the unsuspecting webfeet. Before the echoes stopped bouncing, four mallards were bagged.

Abundant game of many species, plenty of water, and lots of hungry fish make NEBRASKAland a treasure trove of outdoor sport. It's pretty hard to get skunked either hunting or fishing here. Pulling the double shuffle makes it impossible.

THE END 50 OUTDOOR NEBRASKAland 1964 NEBRASKAland HUNTING SEASONS Posses Dates Bag si on Species (inclusive) UPLAND GAME Limit Limit Pheasant (cocks only) Oct. 17-Jan. 17 4 20 Pheasant* (cock and hen) Jan. 9 - Jan. 17 4* 20* Quail **(south) Oct. 17 - Dec. 25 6 18 **(north) Oct. 17-Dec. 13 6 18 Grouse*** Oct. 3 - Nov. 1 3 6 ^Special Area Only. That portion of the state lying west of a line extending south from the South Dakota-Nebraska border along Nebraska Highway 27 to its junction with Nebraska Highway 2, thence east along Nebraska Highway 2 to its junction with Nebraska Highway 61, thence south along Nebraska Highway 61 to its junction with U.S. Highway 30, thence west along Highway U.S. 30 to its junction with Highway U.S. 138, thence southwest along Highway U.S. 138 to the Nebraska-Colorado border. Daily bag limit, 4, one of which may be a hen. Possession limit, 20, not more than 5 of which may be hens after the fifth day. **That portion of the state lying south of a line extending from the Iowa-Nebraska border westward along Highway U.S. 30 to its junction with Highway U.S. 138, thence south and west along Highway U.S. 138 to the Colorado-Nebraska state line. Northern area includes all other portions of the state. ***Open area includes that portion of the state lying west of Highway U.S. 81, north of the south shore of the Platte and North Platte rivers, and all that part of Nebraska west of Highway U.S. 83 and south of the Platte and North Platte Rivers. SMALL GAME Cottontail no closed season 10 30 Squirrel Aug. 1 - March 1 WATERFOWL 7 21 * Ducks Oct. 3 -Oct. 18 4 8 Nov. 21 - Dec. 10 4 8 **Mergansers Same as duck season 5 10 ***Geese Oct. 1 - Dec. 14 5 5 Coots Same as duck season 10 20 Wilson's Snipe Oct. 3 - Nov. 21 8 16 Rails, gallinules Oct. 3 - Nov. 21 15 30 *The daily bag limit for ducks other than mergansers may not include more of the following species than: (a) 2 wood ducks, (b) 2 mallards, and (c) 2 canvasback or two redheads or 1 canvasback and 1 redhead. The possession limit may not include more of the following species than: (a) 2 wood ducks, (b) 4 mallards, and (c) 2 canvasbacks or 2 redheads or 1 canvasback and 1 redhead. **Not more than one hooded merganser in daily bag or 2 in possession. ***The daily bag and possession limit of geese may not include, in the aggregate, more than (a) 1 Ross' goose or (b) in the alternative 2 Canada geese or its subspecies or 1 Canada goose or its subspecies and 1 white-fronted goose, or 1 whitefronted goose. In those portions of Otoe, Nemaha, and Richardson counties east of the main channel of the Missouri River, Canada geese or their subspecies may be taken only during the first 30 days of the open season. In this area the limits on Canadas are 1 daily and 2 in possession. BIG GAME *Deer (rifle) Valentine Special Area *Deer (archery) * Antelope (rifle) (special area only) * Antelope (archery) (special area only) *Wild Turkey Nov. 7- Nov. 15 Dec. 12 Dec. 14 Sept. 19- Nov. 6 Nov. 16 - Dec. 31 Sept. 19- Sept. 21 Sept. 26 - Sept. 28 Sept. 5-Sept. 18 Oct. 24 - Oct. 28 Nov. 14- Nov. 18 *Special permit required *See 1964 Big Game Regulations for detailed information. Upland Game Bird Stamp required for wild turkey. Shooting hours for all upland game, one-half hour before sunrise to sunset; waterfowl, sunrise to sunset; big game and turkeys, one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. OCTOBER, 1964 51

FOR THE DOGS

(continued from page 39)

health. Use a rectal thermometer. If the dog's temperature varies more than one degree from the normal 101°, you can bet he needs help. Forget the cold nose bit. It won't tell you a thing.

Other signs of sickness are the loss of a normally robust appetite, listlessness, persistent vomiting, diarrhea, and dog fits. Mucous discharges from ears or nose are trouble signals. When and if these troubles occur, don't try to diagnose and treat them yourself. Patent remedies often do more harm than good.

You can handle everyday misfortunes that befall any canine. There's no need to run to the vet every time Fido gets something stuck in his teeth or comes home with a coat full of cockelburs. Treat minor wounds like you would if they happened to you. Cleanse them thoroughly and apply any good antiseptic.

Regular and vigorous exercise is another aspect of health that can't be overlooked. Don't expect a dog to lay around for 10 months of the year and then be in top form when hunting season rolls around. Regular weekend field workouts are the best way to keep him trim. If that's impossible, take him on daily long, quick walks. Your canine will never get needed exercise in a fenced yard. Exploring the same 100 square feet can get pretty old, and he's apt to spend most of his time in the sack.

It's important that a dog has a place to call home, whether it's a doghouse, a corner in the kitchen, or the back of the garage. Wherever it is, make sure it's kept clean and away from drafts and dampness. If he has a doghouse, the floor should be elevated to avoid the damp ground. By providing a door and a little insulation, you can keep the family hound comfortable in most weather.

Keeping your dog clean isn't much of a problem if you stay one step ahead of him. Check with your vet on the matter of baths. Some dogs need them every three or four weeks, while others need never be bathed. With some breeds, bathing will only cause dry, itchy skin. Combing twice a week and occasional "dry" cleanings with a commercial cleaner are usually enough to keep your pet clean and free from odor.

Your dog depends pretty much on you for his health care. By using common sense, mixed with generous doses of love and attention, your relationship with Rover will be long and enjoyable. In fact, it will last a lifetime.

THE END

ALFALFA ALLEY

(continued from page 43)

drum. It was hard to believe that the wet alfalfa moves directly into the drum without being burned to oblivion.

Yelling above the roar of the drum, Mathews likened the smell coming from the dehydrator to cooking chicken. The 52 OUTDOOR NEBRASKAland dehydrating drum, similar in some ways to a pressure cooker, is sealed on both ends. The only air in the drum is that which comes through the flame and no combustion of alfalfa takes place.

After the alfalfa is in the dryer it surrenders itself to the first of many miles of forced-air journeys. From the drum it travels to the cooling cyclones above the mill. Sometimes called "dust catchers", these cyclones separate the hot air from the dried stems and leaves of the alfalfa. Air billows out the top and dried hay drops into grinders below.

Forced air takes the powdery meal into skyward-poking stacks and the dry material drops down into the building again. Here it is worked into dies to form pellets. Wooshed away again by the air stream, the hot pellets are dropped into a cooling system, a louvered box-like structure mounted on the crowded roof of the mill.

From the cooling system the alfalfa, now nearing the end of its whirlwind travels, stops momentarily on the scales. This is where the farmer's price is determined. The original six-ton load has now shrunk to IV2 tons. The alfalfa that went in with 80 per cent moisture is now down to about 7 per cent water content. The next stop may be the bagging room for shipment by rail or truck, or the alfalfa will be picked up by the air stream and blown into dry tanks for storage and shipment later.

The storage tanks, lined up like Gargantuan silver sentinels in close-order drill, hold around 500 or more tons each. Natural gas is made inert here through a special process that removes oxygen and moisture. This gas filtering through the pellets makes storage possible for long periods of time without spoilage.

There was no intent in the story, "The Best Time Is Now" which appeared in April issue of OUTDOOR NEBRASKAland magazine, to belittle or question the various scientific devices, methods, or tables used to ascertain the better fishing times. The purpose of the story was to say that any time a fisherman had the opportunity to fish was the best time. In other words, it was suggested that a person should fish whenever the opportunity presents itself.—The Editors

Auger conveyors run from the tanks and are used to blend the pellets to meet specific orders. So much from each storage tank can be combined to make the desired quality. This generally runs around 17 per cent protein and 100,000 units of vitamin A per ton. It's this storage that enables the value of the fresh green pasture to be brought to livestock year-round.

Natural gas and lots of it is important in the dehydrating business. Mathews dug out a statement showing a $6,000 gas bill for only one month. The motors that push and pull the hay and pellets along their appointed rounds ate up $2,557 of electricity for the same month. This was for the two-drum Lexington plant during one of its peak summer months. The mills operate from May to October when the four and usually five cuttings of alfalfa are available. Mathews' two-drum Lexington operation employs from 16 to 18 men on the two 12-hour shifts. Although a tough mark to hit, it's a 100-ton-a-day plant.

The completion of Interstate 80 and its take over of much of U. S. Highway 30's traffic will about remove from view the sight of the many dehydrating mills as they go about their summer assignment. But the aroma will still be around. And even if your thoughts and nostrils can't appreciate the freshly mown green valley and the throbbing mills, remember they are the sounds and smell of progress, a scent that adds big muscle to Nebraska's economy.

THE END OCTOBER, 1964 53

FISHY RADIOS

HERE ARE a lot of "ifs" in the project, but still it holds a great deal of promise. Under development by the Game Commission and the University of Nebraska electrical engineering department is a tiny, transistorized transmitter that can be powered by the stomach acids of a fish.

When fully operational, the instrument will be used by technicians to follow the movements of fish in their natural habitat. The fish-powered transmitter could also open many other doors to fishery scientists. With modifications, the rig might be used to reveal many facts about underwater environments and about the fish itself.

The primary purpose of the instrument, however, is to help technicians keep track of fish movements. The only way this can now be done is through tagging, which has many disadvantages. A tagged fish may be caught a mile from the place where it was released, but there's no way of telling how much ground he has covered in between.

Electronic tracking would help technicians to learn the preferred habitats of gamesters and perhaps the reasons for fish movements. If spawning areas could be pin-pointed, then management practices could improve much-used spawning spots.

Researchers elsewhere have experimented with transmitters mounted externally on fish, but this arrangement has serious drawbacks. These experiments have used transmitters powered by dry-cell batteries that quickly run down. Tests have shown that batteries powered by stomach acids may run for more than a year. Also, the external radios have caught in snags and damaged fish.

Since the range of the transmitter will probably be quite limited, the instrument will be most useful in tracking lake-bound fish. A directional receiver will 54 OUTDOOR NEBRASKAland keep technicians on the right trail. The inch-and-a-half transmitter and the receiver were developed by Lonnie Miles, a graduate student in electrical engineering at the University of Nebraska.

With some sophistication, the transmitter could also help determine the food intake of fish, prime feeding times, internal temperatures, and other information. Other possibilities are transmitting information on water depth and temperature as well as the intensity of sunlight beneath the surface. The device may uncover secrets that have confounded technicians for years.

The battery which powers the transmitter was developed by the research section of the Game Commission. Two metals, gold and cadmium, have proved the most successful for use in the battery. The substance that creates a power supply is hydrochloric acid, which the fish uses in his digestive process. Stomach contractions keep a fresh supply of the acid around the metals.

During tests, several northern pike were fitted with batteries to see if the metals would damage the fish. They didn't. The northerns continued to feed at normal rates, and none died or apparently suffered any ill effects from the experiment.

One pike contained a battery for 226 days. When the device was removed, the fish was still in normal condition. A small resistor had been placed on the battery to simulate the drain of current that would be made by a transmitter. After nearly an eight-month period, the battery produced the same voltage and current it did the day it was inserted. The battery plates hadn't eroded, and the device might have functioned for a much longer period.

Tests of the transmitter have thus far been confined to a small, four-foot tank. For these experiments the receiver was connected to an oscilloscope so the signals from the transmitter could be seen. When and if the system is fully operational, the receiver will be equipped with earphones and an indicator light so the signals can be both seen and heard.

The longest period a fish has contained both the transmitter and battery is a little more than a month. The two components functioned perfectly after removal from the gamester. So far, the instrument has been tried on northerns and largemouth bass. The transmitter could be scaled down to fit smaller fish. The development and painstaking testing of the rig have been under way for nearly two years.

The battery and transmitter, mounted at the end of a plastic rod, are installed in an anesthetized fish by pushing them down his gullet, the tube through which food enters the stomach. The other end of the plastic harness is then fitted around the fish's isthmus, a strip of bone and flesh that forms the floor of the mouth cavity. The harness is also an innovation of Game Commission researchers.

Results of tests so far have given cautious optimism to people involved in the project. There is still a lot to be done in developing the instrument, but important information on fish life could be gleaned from the research.

THE END OCTOBER, 1964 55

Cash for Conservation. Her classmates "got the message" when young Bobbi Simons gave a talk on trout conservation before her Junior biology class in Long Beach. As a result, the Department of Fish and Game's hatchery program is $6 richer. Swayed by Bobbi's eloquence, the class set up a penny fund to advance the cause of trout in California. The sum of $6 was collected and the DFG received a check from the class biology teacher.—California

High Cost of Litter. Many Minnesotans are looking at litter in terms of a new dimension, the dollar sign. Last year, litter cost taxpayers over $198,000. Keeping highways, public access roads, parks, and playgrounds litter-free hits right where it hurts the most—the pocketbook. While the litter problem is national in its scope, Minnesota translates the problem over and above the cost of clean-up. Litter is not the kind of "welcome mat" Minnesota wants to display to visitors. Thousands of Minnesotans, directly or indirectly, have a stake in the tourist business. Litter, therefore, is not the concern of "somebody else". Every Minnesotan is the custodian of his home state.—Minnesota

Industry Without a Smokestack. Tourism, the third largest business in the world (only steel and food outrank it), is a 20-billion-dollar-a-year industry in the United States. An American couple travelling spends an average of $31 per day. This means an area attracting two dozen extra tourists a day is economically comparable to acquiring a new industry with a payroll of at least $150,000.—National Wildlife.

Ban on Bottles. The Michigan Liquor Commissioner has banned the use of throw-away beer bottles as a means of reducing the amount of litter in public areas. Out-of-state breweries shipping beer into Michigan, as well as local producers, must abide by the regulations. Bottles on which deposits are paid are picked up and returned to stores by youngsters to earn spending money, but no-deposit bottles don't provide that incentive.—National Wildlife.

Overland Mail. The Pony Express route through Kansas is being memorialized with the designation of U.S. Highway 36 as the Pony Express Memorial highway along the distance actually used by the speedy riders more than 100 years ago. The highway is being marked with distinctive reflectorized signs from the Kansas-Missouri line at St. Joseph, on westward to Washington County then north to where the route swings into Nebraska. The Hollenberg station at Hanover is an historical site and is the only original Pony Express station still in existence in Kansas.—Kansas

No Fish Sfory. A lunker flathead catfish weighing 44 pounds has topped the 1964 Big Fish Records listing maintained by the Conservation Commission. The flathead came from the Des Moines River on June 12. He measured 44 inches and is the largest fish of any species taken in Iowa this year and ranks second in the all-time records of flatheads.—Iowa

Grim Reaper Reaping. Thus far in the boating season there has been an increase over last year's boating accident-fatality rate. The number of accidents is running about the same as last year, but there has been a higher percentage of fatalities. Most could have been avoided if victims had been wearing or had access to life preservers.—North Carolina

OUTDOOR NEBRASKAland

NEBRASKAland TRADING POST

Classified Ads: 15 cents a word; minimum order $3 December closing date November 5 ANTIQUES GENERAL LINE ANTIQUES to please beginners and advanced collectors. Through the Years, Sprague, Nebraska. Open Wednesdays and Saturdays, 2 to 9 p.m. Telephone 432-6038, 423-8950, 477-1681.___________ ANTIQUES. L. E. Smith, 3225 South 17th Street, Lincoln, Nebraska. Telephone 432-2593. DOGS GERMAN SHORTHAIRED POINTERS, Bourn's Game Farm, Route 2, Box 190, Lexington, Nebraska, 68850. FOR~SALE: AKC English~PoTnters Ten weeks old. Top bloodlines. Sire from Queen Satilla Buck and Palamonium's Ariel Kate. Dam from Warhoop Paladin Spunk and Kathy's Lady Ginger. W. R. Stoddard, Iliff, Colorado^JTelephone 337-2371 (303). ___ FOR SALE: German Shorthaired Pointer, male. Fully trained gun dog, $150. Donald Sallenbach, IVLD., Gibbon^ Nebraska._______ REGISTERED GERMAN SHORTHAIR puppies. 6 months old. Nicely marked. Females, $25, males, $35. Write Ed Weigel, Amelia, Nebraska or telephone 925-2411, Atkinson, Nebraska.____________________________________ ENGLISH POINTER PUPS. FDSB registered. All ages, out of good Nebraska hunted pointers, $50 and up. Puppy Factory, Louisville, Nebraska. GUNS 300 SAVAGE with 4-X scope, excellent condition. PauLA^Graham. Superior, Nebraska. NEW, USEtTaND ANTIQUE GUNS, send for list including Browning O & U's, Weatherby, Winchester, Ithaca. Colt, Ruger and others in stock for sale or trade. Send self-addressed envelope or stop in, Bedlan's Sporting Goods, just off U.S. 136, Fairbury, Nebraska. HUNTING CAMPS HUNTERS' STOP. Duck and Goose, Pheasant and Quail. The very best hunting on 2,000 acres of milo and idle grass land with guide service. Modern home and cabin on the Little Blue river for fishing and vacationing. For reservations and information write to John Dondlinger, Hebron, Nebraska. Telephone 768-2292.______________________________ HUNTERS: Cabins rented by the season, October 1st to December 24th inclusive. Erbs Lodge, Lake McConaughy, Lewellen, Nebraska. GUIDE FULL TIME FOR DEER. Two-way radio in pickup. Trailer parking space. 1500 acres. Make reservations early. Hays Center Jim Garrett; Telephone 286-3370. WE WILL furnish guide service for grouse hunters this fall. 16 miles north of Burwell. C. W. Gumb, Burwell, Nebraska. Telephone 348-2118 or 346-3274. RICHARDSON HEREFORD RANCH. Beautiful surroundings, comfortable beds, superb food. Adjacent to National Forest for miles. Hunters' rates $10 and $13 per day. Levi and Polly Richardson, Crawford, Nebraska. Telephone 2w2. MISCELLANEOUS SCHAFFER'S RUBBER STAMPS. Free Price list. 3-Line Deluxe Pocket Stamp and Pad, $1.00. 1106 "P" Street, Auburn, Nebraska 68305. STONEGROUND CORNMEAL. Most complete line Health Foods. Many processed daily. Come see us or write. Brownville Mills, Brownville, Nebraska. WEEKEND CAMPER. Sleeps four, completely equipped, including awning and poles. $695 and up. A. C. Nelsen Company. We buy used mobile homes. 2018 Harney Street. Telephone 344-4540, Omaha, Nebraska. YOUNG WILD TURKEY. May and June hatch for restocking. Also adults. Price list free. Cozy Pine Hunting Preserve, RD #2, Salem, New Jersey. TRAINING AND BOARDING: Training, Hunting, Field Trial and Obedience. Boarding all breeds. Lincoln's New Modern Kennel. C. Joe Schomer, Route 7, Lincoln, Nebraska. Telephone 489-5244. SCUBA EQUIPMENT BOB-K'S AQUA SUPPLY, Nebraska's largest scuba dealer. U.S. Divers, Sportsways, Voit, Swimmaster, Scubrapro. Air Station, Regulator Repair. Telephone 553-0777. 5051 Leavenworth Street, Omaha, Nebraska. TAXIDERMY CUSTOM TAXIDERMY. Trophies mounted true to nature. Reasonable prices. John Reigert, Jr., 924 South 39th Street, Lincoln, Nebraska. Telephone 489-3042. TAN YOUR OWN HIDES AND FURS. CorrTplete easy-to-follow instructions and formulas, $1. Western Products, Box 36044-N Houston , Texas. HAVE YOUR DEER SKINS tanned anTmade into jackets, gloves and other articles. Write for our folder showing cost and styles. Johnson's Market, Tilden, Nebraska. TRAPS COLLAPSIBLE Farm-Pond Fish-Traps- Animal Traps, postpaid. Free information, pictures. Shawnee, 3934-AX Buena Vista, Dallas 4, Texas. BOX TRAPS. Fifteen easy to make box traps. Catch game alive, chipmunks to bear How to make baits, scents. Eliminate sparrows, starlings. Pictured blueprints. Complete, $2. Hiawatha Traps, 9026 Center Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 53222 WANTED TO BUY OLD COINS, silver dollars, gold pieces. Any penny, nickel, dime, or quarter collections, complete or not. We pay top prices. Send name and address with your list of coins and their conditions to: OLD COINS, Box 4782 Lincoln, Nebraska THE BIG WINNERS ARE.. OUTDOOR NEBRASKAland Classified Advertisers Because: • More than 50,000 OUTDOOR NEBRASKAland readers form an active buying market for all types of products. From sporting equipment to health foods, all are sold through OUTDOOR NEBRASKAland classified ads. . OUTDOOR NEBRASKAland's reading audience keeps growing, but OUTDOOR NEBRASKAland" classified advertising rates remain LOW . . . only $.15 per word with a $3.00 minimum. • Classified advertising in OUTDOOR NEBRASKAland is attractively displayed so no advertisement is lost. The classified section consistently has high readership. • Most important, OUTDOOR NEBRASKAland classified advertising SELLS! So whatever you want to sell or buy, you'll hit the jackpot with OUTDOOR NEBRASKAland classified advertising. For Winning Results, Use OUTDOOR NEBRASKAland Classified Ads OUTDOOR NEBRASKAland of the Air SUNDAY KGFW, Kearney (1340 kc) 7:05 a.m. KTTT, Columbus (1510 kc) 7:30 a.m. KVSH, Valentine (940 kc) 8:00 a.m. KXXX, Colby, Kan (790 kc) 8:00 a.m. WJAG, Norfolk (780 kc) 8:15 a.m. KLMS, Lincoln (1480 kc) 9:05 a.m. KIMB, Kimball (1260 kc) 9:45 a.m. KBRL, McCook (1300 kc) 9:45 a.m. KODY, North Platte (1240 kc) 10:45 a.m. KMNS, Sioux City, la. (620 kc) 12:00 noon KOGA, Ogallafa (930 kc) 12:30 p.m. KFOR, Lincoln (1240 kc) 12:45 p.m. KMMJ, Grand Island (750 kc) 1:00 p.m. KCNI, Broken Bow (1280 kc) 1:15 p.m. KUVR, Holdrege (1380 kc) . 2:45 p.m. KHUB, Fremont (1340 kc) 4:45 p.m. KNCY, Nebraska Crfy (1600 kc) 5:00 p.m. KTNC, Foils City (1230 kc) 5:45 p.m. KRVN, Lexington (1010 kc) 5:45 p.m. MONDAY KGMT, Fairbury (1310 kc) 1:00 p.m. KSID, Sidney (1340 kc) 6:30 p.m. TUESDAY KJSK, Columbus (900 kc) 1:30 p.m. WEDNESDAY KCOW, Alliance (1400 kc) 4:30 p.m. FRIDAY KRFS, Superior (1600 kc) 1:00 p.m. SATURDAY KCSR, Chadron (610 kc) .................. 6:00 a.m. KOLT, Scottsbluff, (1320 kc) ............11:45 a.m. KAWL, York (1370 kc)...................12:45 p.m. KWRV, McCook (1360 kc)............... 1:45 p.m. KBRX, O'Neill (1350 kc) .................. 4:30 p.m. KRG1, Grand Island (1430 kc) . . 4:45 p.m. KLIN, Lincoln (1400 kc) ................. 6:00 p.m. KHAS, Hostings (1230 kc)................ 6:15 p.m. WOW, Omaha (590 kc) .................... 9:30 p.m. DIVISION CHIEFS Wilfard R. Barbee)^ assistant director Glen R. Foster, fisheries Dick H. Schaffeq information and tourism Richard J. Spady, land management Jack D. Strain, state parks Lloyd P. Vance, game CONSERVATION OFFICERS Chief: Carl E. Gettmann, Lincoln Albion—Wayne Craig, 395-2071 Alliance—Richard Furley, 762-2024 Alliance—Leonard Spooring, 762-1547 Alma—William F. Bonsall, 928-2313 Arapahoe—Don Schaepter, 962-7818 ' BasseH—William O. Anderson, 294W Benkelman—H. Lee Bowers, 423-2893 Bridgeport-—Joe Ulrich, 1 00 Broken Bow—Gene Jeffries, 872-5953 Columbus—Lyman Wilkinson, 564-4375 Crawford—Cecil Avey, 228 Crete—Roy E. Owens, 446 Crofton—John Schuckman, 29 Dix—Marvin Bussinger, 682-2052 Fairbury—Larry Baumprff 12^3 Falls City—Raymond Frandsen, 2817 Fremont—Andy Nielsen, 721-2482 Gering—Jim McCole, 436-2686 Grand island—Fred Sdlak, 384-0582 Hastings—Bruce Wiebe, 2-8317 Hay Springs—Larry D, Elston, 638-4051 Kearney—Ed Oreving, 237-5753 Lexington—H. Bur man Guyer, 324-3208 Lincoln—Norbert Kampsnider, 466-0971 Lincoln—Dale Bruha, 477-4258 Nebraska City—Max Showalter, 873-7155 Norfolk—Robert Downing, 371-1435 North Platte—Samuel Grasmick, 532-9546 North Platte—Robert D. Patrick, 532-7274 Ogallala—Loron Bunney, 284-4107 O'Neill—James J. Hurt* 1 59LJ Osfikosh—Donald D. Hunt, 712-3697 Ponca—Richard D. Tqrfein, 242! Tekamah—Richard Elsfon, 278R2 Thedford—-Jack Henderson, 645-5351 Valentine—dack Morgan, 1027 Valley—Daryl Earnest, 359-2332 Wayne—Kert L. Adklsson, 375-2924 York—Gail Woods ide, 362-4120 OCTOBER, 1964 57

HOODED-MERGANSER

notes o n Nebraska fauna...

THE HOODED merganser boasts one of the most striking black-and-white suits of all North American waterfowl. His small size, quickness of movement, and constant alertness make him a favorite with all those who go afield.

This migrant goes by the scientific name, Lophodytes cucullatus. This comes from the Greek words, lophos, meaning a crest, and dutes, meaning a diver. Cucullatus is a Latin word meaning wearing a hood.

A large white crest sharply contrasting to the glossy black head and neck, easily distinguishes the male from other birds. Two short vertical black bars extending down the side of the breast in front of the wing are also good identification features.

In flight, the white crest on the male's head is folded back till it is only a thin white line against the black. The white belly and black back with a small white speculum on the trailing edge of the wing are good distinguishing characteristics. The female is drab in comparison. Her somewhat smaller crest is rust colored and she has the white belly and white speculum.

Of the three species of mergansers common to Nebraska, the hooded merganser is the smallest, weighing about a pound and a half. The bird possesses the typical 58 OUTDOOR NEBRASKAland merganser bill, and is narrow, cylindrical and toothed. His bill's toothed edges are straight, while they are inclined backward in the other two mergansers. Vocally, he is rather a quiet bird. Both sexes have a voice described as a "coarse grunt", sometimes given as a series of low grunts.

An aerial acrobat in formal attire, this dapper fellow with a crest of white is also an angler of renown by George Schildman Assistant Project Leader

Such colloquial names as fish duck, wood sheldrake, hooded sheldrake, and sawbill are all used. The most common name in Eastern states is hairy head and hairy crown.

On the water, the merganser's movements are quick and snappy. During the breeding season, the male carries his crest fully open, but will frequently quickly open and close the crest. He is an excellent diver and underwater swimmer and has a great reputation as a fisherman.

Both the wings and the feet are used for swimming underwater. Unlike the other diving ducks which need to run across the top of the water before becoming airborne, the merganser rises directly from the surface. He is one of the fastest ducks on the wing and displays great dexterity avoiding tree branches that appear in his path as he hurtles up and down the stream courses.

The hooded merganser is exclusively a North American bird, frequenting fresh-water streams and lakes from coast to coast. The breeding range is largely temperate North America, the northern United States and southern Canada. Along the Pacific, the bird nests as far north as southern Alaska and on the Eastern Coast as far south as the Carolinas. The merganser formerly nested in Nebraska, but only on rare occasions. There have been no verified nesting records here for many years. In 1963, a brood of three ducks tentatively identified as hooded mergansers were sighted in Sheridan County, but unfortunately these were never positively identified.

This popular bird can be seen in Nebraska in both the spring and fall, though never in large numbers. The early migrants appear about mid-October and some individuals stay almost as long as open water can be found. The winter range extends from southern California and the Gulf states northward as far as open water occurs. He migrates at great heights in small loose flocks.

When nesting, the bird usually looks for the hollow cavity of a tree. There apparently is no preference as to size or shape of the cavity, as long as it is large enough to permit the female to enter and there is a suitable place to accommodate the clutch of eggs. Height from the ground is no obstacle as long as the cavity is all right. Sometimes a tree stump or a hollow log lying on the ground will be used. If none of these can be found, the bird may select a hollow under the roots of a tree.

Because of the merganser's nesting habits, the common habitat is timbered stream courses or wooded areas surrounding a pond. The nest site may be as much as a half mile from the water. No material is carried into the nest itself. The female will pluck down from her . breast to add to the accumulation of soft rotten wood found at the bottom of the cavity.

Eggs in the clutch usually number between 10 and 12. They are quite round and pure white and require 30 days of incubation to hatch. The young leave the nest by dropping to the water or the ground below. Once on the ground, the female leads her brood to the nearest water. The young take to the water without hesitation, as any duck should, and are capable of swimming and diving immediately. The male deserts the female once incubation begins, leaving his mate to raise the brood alone.

Family behavior is similar to that of many other species of ducks. When disturbed, the young swim to the opposite shore where they leave the water to hide in concealment of the land vegetation. Should the opposite shore be too far away, they may dive and swim underwater to a more distant point where they again seek the vegetation on land to hide. The female performs the broken-wing act as she flutters along the shore in front of the intruder. This ruse is used to decoy him away from the brood.

Food consists largely of animal matter such as small fish, crawfish, tadpoles, and aquatic plants. However, the bird takes leaves and seeds of aquatic plants to a greater extent than the other mergansers. This kind of diet imports a strong flavor to the flesh and as a result, the merganser is not considered a palatable table bird.

As a game bird, the merganser is not avidly sought because of his small size and poor eating qualities. However, he decoys readily and offers a challenging target because of his size and great speed. The rapid beating wings are quiet and lack the whistling, whirring sounds of some other species.

Though not a table delicacy, the hooded speedster will ever be popular here. Those who go afield find the dapper black-and-white migrant an interesting part of the state scene.

THE END OCTOBER, I964 59

Fun for You in 1964

Yes, Brownville, noted frontier town of the 1 850's, is the place for you and your family to have fun any time.

You can start planning now to attend the Fall Festival, the second Sunday in October. There will be parades, Indians, water shows, antique shows, even a flea market.

Every year Brownville hosts the National Oldtime Fiddlers' and Country Music Contest. Fiddlers come from everywhere to vie with real old-time instruments and the real old-time tunes that were Frontier America's fun.

The Spring Festival, the last Sunday in May, is another eventful time in Brownville. Parades, dancing, costumes, and shows spell nothing but fun for you.

But no matter when you visit Brownville, you're sure to have a good time. You'll see some of the oldest buildings in Nebraska and Old West history on display in the museum. You'll enjoy the beautiful scenery along the rolling Missouri and the boating and recreation areas that are now being developed.

For a peek at the past and fun in the present, plan a visit to historic Brownville, now.