Special Travel Issue
NEBRASKAland
June 1973 50 cents Interstate Road Tips Complete Canoeing Guide SAC Museum
Speak Up
NEBRASKAland Magazine invites all readers to submit their comments, suggestions, and gripes to Speak Up. Each month the magazine will publish as many letters as space permits. Pictures are welcome. NEBRASKAland reserves the right to edit and condense letters. — Editor.
HabitatSir / I have subscribed to your fine magazine for several years. I look forward to receiving it, especially in fall, when I fly back to the old home state. Although I left Nebraska in 1924, your magazine brings back memories of younger days. The progress evident as a result of the work of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is fantastic. I'm glad that my out-of-state hunting license contributes to this wonderful cause. Habitat and management of wildlife are absolutely essential.
H. C. Latimer Modesto, California Spring FlowersSir / Our compliments and thanks for your marvelous pictures of flowers in the April issue. Jack-in-the-pulpits and Dutchman's breeches grow in our back yard. I just wanted to let you know that some one has a great talent to make such beautiful pictures —nice enough to frame.
Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Brodil Omaha, NebraskaSir / You were in error in the identification of the flower on the front cover of the April JUNE 1973 issue. You have it identified as a fringed loosestrife. Loosestrifes belong either to the genus Lysymachia of the family Primulaceae or to the genus Lythrum of the family Lythraceae. According to the classification of Gleason and Cronquist in their Manual of Vascular Plants of Northeastern United States and Adjacent Canada, the common name fringed loosestrife is Lysymachia ciliata. The plant you illustrated is correctly classified in the family Boraginaceae. The correct identification is the narrow-leaved puccoon, Lithospermum incisum. The photograph on page 41 is very likely the real fringed loosestrife.
Larry L. Eienemann Atchison, Kansas The Winds Of ChangeSir / I want to commend you on your editorial in the February issue. Land-use planning and certain regulations will soon be upon us. You did an excellent job of outlining the broad view for your readers.
Dayle E. Williamson Executive Secretary Natural Resources Commission Lincoln, Nebraska Marker's HistorySir / Mrs. Izora Rainey of Valley Mills, Texas, writes to ask if anyone can shed light on the actual building and placement of the marker shown on page 51 of the October, 1971 is sue, commemorating the duel to death between William F. Cody (Buffalo Bill) and Yellow Hand.
She is correct in her statement that Jacob A. Rainey built the monument. It was around the year 1934. The large rock was a piece of a petrified log that belonged to the rock collection of Herman Konrath. Teresa, his wife, used that stone when she made sauerkraut each year. It was used as a weight to hold the cabbage down in the brine.
I know, because I am Mrs. Mae Konrath Fitzgerald, daughter of Herman and Teresa. My sister and I remember washing that stone each week when we were young girls at home. We were careful to keep it fresh and uncontaminated. My sister, Mrs. Anne Konrath Jones, and I are the only surviving members of that large family, which once numbered 14 sons and daughters. Both markers mentioned are on property formerly owned by our parents.
Mae Konrath Fitzgerald Lakewood, California To Net A SongbirdSir / We were delighted with Jon Farrar's story on bird banding. It was a pleasure to work with Jon. His magnificent color photos of the birds are the finest pictures of song birds ever (Continued on page 7)
horse power This Peters "High Velocity" 22 Long Rifle cartridge will generate the equivalent of 90 horsepower during the fraction of a second it takes for the bul- let to travel the length of the barrel. That's more horses than you get in a lot of compact cars. And it's why the bullet has more velocity at approxi- mately 40 yards than Standard Velocity 22 s have at the muzzle. But power is only part of the Peters story, because hard- hitting "High Velocity" 22s are precision-engineered to give you the finest in total 22 power and performance. Their easily identifiable clean "golden" bullets are made to mesh perfectly with rifling for greater accuracy. And their "Kleanbore" priming provides instant and uniform ignition without caus- ing rust or corrosion in the barrel. Whether your game is rab- bits or tin cans, Peters "High Velocity" 22 cartridges deliver. With power to spare. They're available in the convenient 50 pack, the weath- erproof 100 "Power- Pak" or the economical 500 pack.
NEBRASKAland
VOL 51 / NO. 6 / JUNE 1973 Published monthly by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Fifty cents per copy. Subscription rates $3 for one year, $6 for two years. Send subscription orders to NEBRASKAiand, Box 30370, Lincoln, Nebraska 68503. commission Chairman: William G. Lindeken, Chadron Northwest District, (308) 432-3755 Vice Chairman: Gerald R. Campbell, Ravenna South-central District, (308) 452-3800 Second Vice Chairman: James W. McNair, Imperial Southwest District, (308) 822-4425 Jack D. Obbink, Lincoln Southeast District, (402) 488-3862 Arthur D. Brown, Omaha Douglas-Sarpy District, (402) 553-9625 Kenneth W. Zimmerman, Loup City North-central District, (308) 745-1694 Don O. Bridge, Norfolk Northeast District, (402) 371-1473 Director: Willard R. Barbee Assistant Director: William J. Bailey, Jr. Assistant Director: Richard J. Spady staff Editor: Irvin J. Kroeker Editorial Assistants: Ken Bouc, Jon Farrar Lowell Johnson, Faye Musi I Photography: Greg Beaumont, Bob Grier Layout Design: Michele Angle Illustration: C. G. Pritchard Advertising: Cliff Griffin Circulation: Juanita Stefkovich Copyright Nebraska Game and Parks Commission 1973. All rights reserved. Postmaster: if undeliverable, send notice by form 3579 to Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, Box 30370, Lincoln, Nebraska 68503. Second class postage paid at Lincoln, Nebraska Travel articles financially supported by Department of Economic Development Stan Matzke, Director |ohn Rosenow, Tourism and Travel Director Contents Features LAND OF THE SILVER BIRDS THE EARLY SURVEYORS TIPS FOR INTERSTATERS LEGACY OF A WAY OF LIFE NORTHERNS FOR NOMADS THE PLATTE RIVER ROAD CANOEING NEBRASKA UP THE DOWN-RIGGER TED LONG-COWBOY ARTIST 10 14 16 18 24 26 30 40 42 Departments SPEAK UP FOR THE RECORD WHERE TO GO WHAT TO DO 8 57 61 TRADING POST 64 OUTDOOR ELSEWHERE 66 COVER: Sunset on Lake Maloney; photo by Bob Grier. LEFT: Great blue herons changing the guard. Each spring these regal birds nest in colonies across the state. As one adult incubates the blueish eggs, the other wades shallow streams and ponds, feeding. The ritualized "nest release" or "recognition" display seen here occurs each time one adult returns to relieve the other. With alert postures and hackles erect, it lasts only seconds; photo by Jon Farrar JUNE 1973
SPEAK UP
(Continued from page 3)published in NEBRASKAland. The trend toward more educational and less recreational articles in NEBRASKAland appeals to me.
Willetta Leushen Wisner, NebraskaSir / I would like to call attention to the fact that bird banding is not without danger to the birds involved. I have a friend who raises parakeets which, by law, must be banded before they can be sold to the public. Tonight — and this is not the first time — I will stop on my way home from work and pick up one of her young parakeets and take it to a veterinarian to have the leg band cut off. For some reason the leg is swelling and, unless the band is removed, the bird will be permanently crippled. In the case of a wild bird, this means death. In the wild there are even more opportunities for in jury or other circumstances which can make a band too tight or get a leg infected. In the wild, there is no relief when such conditions develop.
People should be realistic enough to realize that man makes few contacts with wild creatures without some risks for the creatures.
Catherine A. Hurlbutt Denver, Colorado Man First? Man Last?Sir / You say: "Our species will indeed have committed ecological suicide." So what? Let nature live in peace without us!
Doug Schneller White Plains, New YorkSir / The article made me think about the world around me and made me shiver to think what may happen in later years.
Dara Meyers White Plains, New YorkSir / One question: If you are so concerned about ecology and conservation, why do you encourage people to hunt? Sure, a lot of people use their kills for food, but a lot of people hunt for sport or profit or to hang the head of a deer or whatever on the wall and say to visitors something like: "Oh yes. Well, I shot that one last summer and it took a lot of skill. He kept running away, but I kept after him."
Lane Wallace White Plains, New York
for the Record
Nebraska...the good life
When Governor J. James Exon introduced the state's new travel market ing program, "NEBRASKA...the good life," in December of 1971, he stressed four guidelines for the development of a thriving and worthwhile industry. They were: (1) quality of tourist attractions and facilities; (2) aggressive promotion of those attractions and facilities; (3) a "good host" attitude on the part of all Nebraskans; (4) a fair return to our citizens in the form of an increased quality of life.
While our Travel Division is working diligently to follow all four of the governor's guidelines, one stands out as our ultimate goal, that is to ensure that our efforts in developing Nebraska's travel industry result in a visible improvement in the quality of life for all Nebraskans.
What we are determined to achieve through the tourism marketing program is a better way of life in our state's communities by creating more and better jobs, more leisure time activities, and a broadened economic base.
What happens when we make a concerted effort to tap the massive an nual vacation market? One major result can be expressed in terms of cold, hard cash. For example, last summer alone, Nebraska hosted six million out-of-state travelers, and they spent 106 million dollars in the state for goods, services and entertainment. True, that wealth is a direct economic benefit primarily to those who serve the vacationer, but all Nebraskans share in other substantial benefits which may be less obvious.
Visitors to Nebraska make a significant contribution to the state's general fund in the form of sales taxes. Also, the gasoline taxes paid by vacationers help build and maintain roads used daily by Nebraska citizens. Nonresident hunting and fishing fees help finance the state's enviable fish and wildlife programs. Many communities have exceptional restaurants and other service facilities which were built primarily for travelers, but which we can all enjoy.
The travel industry also produces increased employment opportunities in the state. While many such jobs are year-round in nature, there are more jobs produced during the summer months, a time of labor surplus.
The travel industry is valuable in broadening the economic base of our state and our communities. Over the years, the travel industry has proved to be a stable economic factor which has shown steady growth despite recessions.
While out-of-state visitors are certainly a major element in the state's tourism future, Nebraskans play a vital part. Nebraskans have much to gain by experiencing the many recreational, scenic, historical and entertaining attractions which the state has to offer.
The travel industry, or rather the visitor and recreation industry, is a significant economic and social factor in Nebraska. The proper long-term de velopment of this industry requires a good deal of planning and active local involvement. The state, our communities, and you have much to gain from an energetic, effective and rewarding Nebraska travel program. As you read this special travel issue of NEBRASKAland, you will again be reminded of the tremendous potential our state has as a place where visitors can experience the interesting, the unusual and the enjoyable "good life."
land of the Silver Birds
Planes exhibited at SAC museum near Bellevue changed history
WHEN the heavyweights of the diplomatic corps jockey for position, they and the rest of the world keep a watchful eye on the relatively small corner of Nebraska that harbors the Strategic AirCommand. It's been that way through most of the Cold War, and justifiably so, since Offutt Air Force Base near Beiievue harbors one of the biggest muscles in our nation's military arm.
Air power, especially strategic bombing capability, has been the standard by which nations have measured each other since World War II. The might of our bombers and the men that flew them have had an effect, whether subtle or drastic, on the life of every civilized man since the 1940s.
Most of the men that flew World War II bombers have hung up their uniforms, or are now flying desks. But, their planes and those of later vintage are still in service, although on a different mission. Parked at the end of an unused Offutt runway,
they now illustrate a substantial part
of our nation's recent military his
tory as part of the Strategic Aerospace Museum.
The collection of bombers, fight ers, tankers, cargo planes, reconnaissance craft, helicopters, missiles, and air-sea rescue planes still be longs to the Air Force, as does the runway where they now rest. But, the military hardware and the land have been leased to the State of Nebraska and are operated as the Stra tegic Aerospace Museum by the State Department of Economic Development.
Open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., the museum offers a close-up look at the planes and equipment that made yesterday's headlines and today's history. In fact, even while visitors are looking at the relics of our nation's stratetic air arm, the Strategic Air Command continues as a factor in world affairs from its headquarters at Offutt only a mile away.
A tour of the museum involves two distinct parts, a stop at the visitor center and artifact display building, and a stroll among the big silver birds parked along the runway. The temptation to go immediately among the huge craft is strong, but the walk
down the runway is much more in formative, armed with an Aerospace Museum pamphlet available inside the blue building.
Each of the craft on display has a place in history, and many claim a "first," "biggest," "fastest" or "best." The museum brochure and signs on each plane point out these facts, and Air Force personnel guide large groups, such as scout troops, if advance arrangements are made.
Poised nearest the parking area is the first B-52 that was delivered to the Air Force. While this particular plane rests in retirement at the museum, other B-52s stand ready on SAC bases throughout the world, ready to deliver nuclear or conventional punishment to any aggressor.
Also on the runway is the B-58 Hustler, a dart-like package of speed and electronic sophistication. Although it was the fastest bomber ever in SAC's inventory, it couldn't match the B-52's reliability and flexibility. The Hustler was retired from active service in 1970.
Nearby rests a B-47, predecessor of the B-52, that was taken from the Air Force's inventory in 1966. Also nearby is the B-57 Canberra, a light bomber of British design that is on its way out of active service. The Canberra proved its worth in the twilight of its career by performing extremely well in Southeast Asia.
As a visitor strolls among these grounded birds, he walks farther back into history. Off to one side looms the B-36, the largest bomber ever in the Air Force. It was the only Air Force aircraft ever capable of attacking a target on another continent and returning without refuel ing. Fortunately, the B-36 negotiated its entire Cold War career without having to exercise its capability.
One of the most historic craft is of World War II vintage. The B-29 Superfortress ushered in the Atomic Age at Hiroshima and Nagasaki with A-bomb attacks that all but ended enemy resistance in World War II.
Other World War II planes include the B-17 Flying Fortress, workhorse of the European Theater, and the B-25 Mitchell, the first American plane to attack Japan during World War II. Under command of Lt. Col. Jimmy Doolittle, B-25s raided Tokyo from the aircraft carrier USS Hornet. Then there is the VB-26, most advanced medium bomber of World War II. It saw action on D-Day, at the Battle of the Bulge, and was the first plane to raid North Korean targets. It also served in numerous capacities in Vietnam.
While the bombers may have earned the headlines in their heydey, each was supported by a host of cargo planes, fighters, helicopters and rescue craft. Examples of many of these are also on display. These include the C-47, first flown in 1935 and still in the U.S. Armed Forces inventory in more than 20 versions; the C-54, a heavy cargo plane that earned a few headlines on its own as the backbone of the historic Berlin Airlift of 1948; the C-133, capable of transporting intercontinental ballistic missiles or 200 combat equipped infantrymen; the KC-97, first aircraft built exclusively for aerial refueling; the F-102 Delta Dagger, the world's first supersonic all-weather jet fighter-interceptor; the H-19B Helicopter first flown in 1952; the XF-85 Goblin, a parasite fighter aircraft designed for launching from the bomb bay of a craft such as the B-36.
Towering cockpits and tail as semblies bring on a slight stiffness in necks craned to take them in, and chest-high tires on the huge landing gear cause a vague uneasiness because of their imposing proportions. Perhaps that's why the display build ing is popular, with everything at eye level and in more familiar proportions.
This building, begun a few years ago when the Aerospace Museum was in the hands of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, houses a number of displays. The exhibits may change from time to time, but they include various bomb sights used by U.S. planes over the years, different bombs including the "fat man" and "little boy" atomic bombs of the type dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, aircraft engines, photographs and art, and an F-86 fighter flanked by scaffolds to afford a look into the cockpit.
Two of the displays now in the building, however, reach into the future rather than the past. One is a mockup of the grounds of the museum after completion of a three phase master plan, formulated by the governor's Aerospace Museum Advisory Board. The other display shows changes planned for the in terior of the existing artifact and exhibit building as part of the master plan. If the plans become reality, the building will someday house intricate displays, many of them animated, dealing with both the past and present.
One planned exhibit is the interior of a World War II bomber, with at tacking enemy fighters projected realistically on a screen outside the gunner's window, and other bombers in the formation visible from the cockpit.
Another exhibit would illustrate a SAC alert, showing the simultane ous actions of the command control center, the bombers, tankers, missiles and their crews projected on a four-part circular screen.
Other displays would show the action of aerial refueling, both from the bomber pilot's point of view, and the viewpoint of the tanker's boom operator. There would also be an aircraft identification quiz.
If the master plan is implemented as formulated by the advisory board, construction totaling $5.5 million will be involved. It will include the addition of more pads for missiles and planes, auto parking areas, an outdoor rest area, flag poles, and development of the artifact and exhibit building under phase one. Land scaping will be used to give the 42-acre site a park-like atmosphere.
Phase two will include more pads, another rest area, more parking, landscaping, and a new two-story display building with observation deck and snack bar. The third and most ambitious phase includes a clear-spanned hangar covering all or most of the planes on the runway, and another new building to house a 200-seat theater and administrative offices.
With the new facilities of the master plan, future generations of Nebraskans and all Americans will be assured a close-up look at the metal birds of SAC and the U.S. Air Force, planes that shaped our destiny both in peace and war. 12
12 NEBRASKAland JUNE 1973 13
The Early Surveyors
IT WAS a rash move, but Truman Freeland went ahead with it anyway. He had come to Nebraska just a year ago, had homesteaded near St. Paul, and had figured on settling down. But then he heard that Robert Harvey planned a survey expedition to Custer and Loup counties 100 miles west. Why settle down when adventure called? Truman thought about it, then sold his claim for cash one day and joined Harvey's nine-man crew as cook the next.
It was the summer of 1872. Nebraska was five years old and the stage had been set.
Less than a century ago (in 1785-86) Congress had passed ordinances authorizing division of United States land into six-mile-square townships, and subdivision into one-mile-square sections. It was a good system, devised by American surveyors and unprecedented in the world. The words 'Township" and "section" had never been used before in reference to land.
In 1805, Congress streamlined the scheme, ordering that even sections be subdivided into quarter sections, and quarter sections into quarters again. All measurements were to be made from vertical principle meridians and horizontal base lines crisscrossing the nation.
As frontiersmen moved across the West during the next 50 years, developments led to the survey of Nebraska. The Kansas-Nebraska territorial border was established in 1854 by Captain Thomas Lee, and this became the base for measurement north.
Then, with passage of the Homestead Act in 1862, the need for a survey to establish property lines became even greater.
Nebraska reached statehood in 1867. Even though the base line had been established, as well as the 6th principle meridian running north and south through Columbus, and even though numerous north-south range lines and east
JUNE 1973west township lines had already been marked, the detailed work of marking the prairie off into sections was just be ginning in earnest shortly after Lincoln was established as the site for the state's Capitol.
Robert Harvey, having studied surveying at Adrian and Albion colleges in Michigan, arrived in St. Paul in 1869 and got a job as survey crew chief. It was only three years later when Truman Freeland joined the party. His first job was to buy provisions for a trip to Custer and Loup counties where they would spend about three months in the field. Following the South Loup River to its confluence with the Middle Loup, they veered northwest up the Middle Loup, then headed up Mid Creek to what had been established by earlier federal surveyors as the southeast corner of Custer County.
It was tough but interesting work. Starting at the southeast corner of a township, they ran a line half a mile north, planted a marker, then continued north another half a mile and planted a corner marker common to four sections. From that point they went east half a mile, established a temporary haif-mile mark, continued east to the range line, found the previously established township marker, retraced their steps westward to line up the half-mile spot with the two on either side, continued west to the four section corner, and started all over again.
The crew included nine men —Harvey, the compass man; Freeland, the cook; two chainmen, two teamsters, two moundmen and one flagman.
Harvey established the direction with his compass, and then the chainmen started measuring. Their chains were 66.6 feet long —400 chain lengths to half a mile. (The extra .6-length accounted for slack.) Having measured out half a mile, the moundmen dug a trench one foot deep, 18 inches wide, and two (Continued on page 56)
15
Tips for Interstaters
A HARDTOP, sparkling with showroom polish and surrounded by young people, looked like the main prop for a TV commercial. It was parked on a small rise beside Interstate 80, poised to take its place in the whizzing traffic. But this car was not the star of a come-on scenario; it was the villain in a drama of real-life trouble trouble that often ambushes Interstate travelers, causing them needless delay and unwarranted expense that could have been avoided with a little forethought.
In this case, a 30-second inspection of the fan belt would have kept the travelers rolling on their way. Such a check would have revealed excessive play in the waterpump pulley and would have led to a more thorough in vestigation and a quick repair. As it was, the pump failed and the radiator boiled over. The driver stopped before his motor was permanently damaged, but he and his party were stranded for almost an hour before an emergency service patrol truck pulled up. The travelers lost four hours and had to pay a healthy repair bill. Breakdowns as serious as this are not common, but they're not unheard of either on Nebraska's Interstate 80.
Adolph (Ad) Kulhanek of Lincoln drives a Nebraska Department of Roads emergency service pickup on Interstate 80 between Lincoln and Omaha. One of his duties is helping motorists because of everything from running out of gas to throwing a connecting rod.
"Ironically, most of the situations I have run into could have been prevented with just a few minutes of pre-trip preparation," Ad says.
"You wouldn't think anyone would start out on a 500- to 1,000-mile trip without a jack, but I'll bet 30 percent of my stops are to help motorists change tires, a job which can't be done without a jack. Some drivers even go on long-distance trips without spare tires."
One of Ad's pet peeves is the driver who tries to squeeze the last possible mile out of his tires.
"If a motorist can't afford good rubber, yet has to travel the Interstate, you can excuse his action, but most Interstate travelers can afford good tires and still take a chance. They hit Interstate 80, gun their cars up to 75, and then wonder why their tires go pow after a few miles."
Ad's observations are echoed by all service drivers and members of the Nebraska State Patrol.
Accidents caused by blowouts are going to happen, but asking for them with bad tires is plain stupidity, say the men in uniform. They have equally unkind remarks for the driver who glances at his gas gauge, sees the needle on E, and blithely passes two interchanges be fore running out of juice miles from nowhere. So far, however, the trooper's language is King's English compared with what he says to
It's true, we live in a credit-card economy, but there are still some things which have to be paid for in cash, and Interstate gasoline and oil are two of them. And, there's always the driver who gets himself into a pickle, then claims that Nebraska's emergency road service is inadequate because he had to wait 60 minutes for help. Such complaints get short shrift.
For the most part, though, Interstate travelers are fine and appreciative people, and the best drivers and the best cars run into road trouble at one time or another. Tom Little, assistant engineer for maintenance for the Department of Roads, has some tips for motorists who find themselves in a bind.
"Blankets, at least one for every passenger, and drinking water should be as much a part of the traveler's kit as his driver's license," Tom says.
'Blankets can keep you warm if you're stranded in a blizzard, or help prevent shock if you're hurt in an accident. In hot weather, splash some water on a blanket and wrap it around yourself. Evaporation will lower the temperature several degrees and make your wait in a stalled car a lot more comfortable. A couple of blankets can be used as a screen for privacy if nature calls."
Tom strongly recommends that every Interstate driver carry at least two quarts, preferably a gallon of drinking water. Being stranded along the road is unpleasant, but being both stranded and thirsty is torture. A cloth dipped in water and placed over the face or on the wrists can prevent heat exhaustion. A few sips of water at regular intervals can still hunger pangs, too.
The men who patrol the road have some definite ideas about what constitutes an adequate
Patrolmen are high on friction tape. They point out that it can temporarily repair a broken heater or radiator hose, insulate a bare wire, secure loose equipment, tie a door shut if the latch goes blooey, or even gag a back seat driver.
A driver's mental attitude is important when trouble strikes. Some motorists, unused to the open isolation of the West, panic when their cars quit. They're sure they'll never be found or that help will never come. Other drivers take trouble philosophically. Roadmen emphasize that help is always available and usually nearby. Service vehicles run a 24-hour patrol from Memorial Day to Labor Day and weekends the rest of the year, and an 8-hour patrol the other four days of the week. Members of the State Patrol constantly travel the road and keep an eye out for motorists in trouble. An officer may roar by without stop ping, but that doesn't mean he's ignoring you. His car is radio equipped, and chances are he has contacted a service truck which is better equipped to handle the situation. The troopers also have radio contact with ambulances and other emergency vehicles to help motorists. Help will come, so stay with your car!
There's a non-mechanical hazard that lurks along the Interstate —"highway hypnosis." State Patrolmen know full well that this is not an idle term or a catch-all phrase for otherwise inexplicable accidents. This hypnosis can affect any motorist, but the lone driver is especially vulnerable. The monotonous hum of the motor, the straightness of the road, the flatness of surrounding country, and the deceptive trap of increasingly higher speeds are the basic causes of this hazard. The driver's concentration wavers, his eyes become fixed, and his mind strays from the job at hand. A good indicator of highway hypnosis is the sensation of standing still even at 75 miles an hour.
Safety experts recommend a five- to 10- minute break after each two-hour stint at the wheel. Interstate 80's rest areas are located at about 30-mile intervals, and are perfect oases for these vital stops. These areas are equipped with modern restrooms, public phones, picnic tables, and even places to walk the dog. More importantly, they give the driver a chance to stretch his legs and clear away the mental fog.
Chewing gum is an effective way of fighting highway hypnosis. (Continued on page 47)
Legacy of a Way of Life
At Homestead, history touches everything from the modern visitor center to the self-guided tour of the grounds
18 NEBRASKAland JUNE 1973 19
THE CRY for "Free Land" echoed through the corridors of Congress, played over the cobblestones of established America, and spilled onto the prairies of a country as yet untamed. Every man dreamed of a place to call his own; a plot where he could put down roots; a spot where he could be his own man. Those dreams came true May 20, 1862, when the Free Homestead Act, later hailed as among the most important pieces of legislation in this country's history, was signed into law. So it was that a man whose name was to linger long after he was gone came to Nebraska.
Born in Ohio on April 25, 1826, Daniel Freeman was reputedly serving in Company A, 17th Illinois In fantry, when President Lincoln signed the act. Freeman was one of those who thirsted for land, and during a furlough late that year, he headed for Nebraska Territory. With the law due to go into effect January 1, 1863, he wanted to pick out his rightful quarter section.
The story goes that Daniel Freeman was in Brownville, site of the land office nearest his claim, on New Year's Eve, 1862. While at tending a party, mostly of other land seekers, Freeman let it be known that he wanted to be the first man in the nation to file under the new act. Evidently sympathetic to his wishes, the others decided to back him. January 1 was a holiday and the land office would be closed, so claims could not be filed until the next day. But the congregation prevailed up on the office manager to open his establishment at midnight so Free man could file. Thus, Daniel Free man became one of the first men to stake his claim under the Free Homestead Act of 1862 —a transaction that made history.
Today, Freeman's claim, 4 1/2 miles
northwest of Beatrice on U.S. High
way 4, still garners national recognition. In 1936, the T- shaped quarter
20
NEBRASKAland
JUNE 1973
21
At Homestead, history touches everything, from the modern visitor center to the self-guiding tour. In the center, displays of antique house hold utensils and small farm equipment live side by side with memorabilia of a way of life on the prairie. In a covered, yet open-air display behind the center are farm implements and carriages which recall a day when the soil knew only native grasses. The Palmer-Epard Cabin, originally built some 17 miles away, was moved to the monument to provide insight to living accommodations of more than a century ago. It is furnished to the finest detail with remnants of the belongings of the 12 people who once called it home. Near the cabin, a bridge spans Cub Creek and the trail begins. Native grasses, the site where once a squatter's cabin stood and points where the original Freeman cabin was built, and where the later brick home stood, are along the trail. A mile in length, the path winds through seemingly virgin prairie and densely wooded areas, reaching its high point at the graves of Freeman and his wife, Agnes, high on a wind swept hill. Recently, the monument was expanded to include the Freeman School, built with brick from the homesteader's kiln in 1871. As funds become available, the school will be restored, though it is not now open to the public.
For the visiting public, Homestead National Monument of America is a unique opportunity for a glimpse in to life as it was when the West was won. And, for the homesteaders who tamed a rugged country, the monument stands as a tribute to their diligence and perseverance.
Crescent Lake National Wildlife Refuge sets stage for trio
Northerns for Nomads
NO ONE was more surprised than I when I was asked to do a story about fishing for northerns at the Crescent Lake National Wildlife Refuge. A report had just come in that the toothy scrappers were hitting at Crane Lake. Normally, my work keeps me behind a desk at our office in Lincoln. But on this warm Wednesday in June, my boss must have felt compassion for me. He knew I had gone after pike, without much success, at Pelican Lake near Valentine the previous weekend. I assured him I would work the trip into my schedule and headed for home to pack my gear. It was 11:15 a.m. By noon I was on my way, heading west on Interstate 80. The refuge is about 20 miles north of Oshkosh, or about six hours away from Lincoln, so I figured I would get there in plenty of time for some evening fishing.
In my excited eagerness, the miles seemed to drag, so I was really surprised when the sign said Grand Island exit, five miles ahead. During the first 90 miles I had been preoccupied with thoughts ranging from whether the fish would still be hitting to how I would handle (Continued on page 47)
From the hustle and bustle of urban life to the silence and strength of the plains, this journey...
the Platte River Road
THE INDIANS called it the Big Medicine Trail. To the white man, it was the Overland, the Oregon, the Mormon Trail and the route of the Pony Express. But, to a growing nation, it was and is known as the Platte River Road.
The first transcontinental railroad followed its course and in time the first transcontinental highway plied its easy-going grade. Today, Interstate 80 follows the same historic path and has become the primary route to the lands of the setting sun. Across Nebraska, I-80 moves travelers through the heartland of history. The story of the winning of the West unfolds at every turn. From the Gateway City of Omaha, with its multitude of offerings, to Missile Center U.S.A. at Kimball, there are a host of fascinating sights to see and things to do. East to west or west to east, there's something for everyone.
From the hustle and bustle of Omaha, the twin ribbons angle past Lincoln, where the world-famous State Capitol juts from the horizon. Thence, they proceed westward to Grand Island, home of the Stuhr Museum of the Prairie Pioneer. This unusual complex encompasses not only a unique moat-surrounded museum visitor center, but a restored, turn of-the-century railroad town.
To the south, at Hastings, the House of Yesterday adds still another facet to the remembrances of yesteryear. Also south of the superhighway and a little farther down the road is Minden and Harold Warp's renowned Pioneer
26 NEBRASKAland JUNE 1973
Village. This exceptional establishment pays tribute to Americana from the 1840s to the present. There, visitors can browse among the 30,000 items in the main museum building, take in the crafts demonstrations, and stroll through the re-created outdoor village. Visions of blue-coated cavalrymen seem to materialize as you wander through Fort Kearny, which lies south of 1-80 between the Minden and Kearney interchanges. From the visitor center at the state historical park, you can take in the replica sod blacksmith shop and the re-created post stockade. On west, Gothenburg offers still another glimpse of the old West with its authentic Pony Express Station. There, you can visualize the pounding hoofbeats of lone riders as they sped across the prairie with the lightning mail. And, you can even mail a card in the saddlebags at the station. Peace and tranquility are bywords for those who pause to pay tribute to the nation's honored dead at Fort McPherson National Cemetery near Maxwell. Row upon row of well-kept markers also have a story to tell in the building of a nation. Then, it's on to North Platte, the home of perhaps the most famous Nebraskan of all time. He came out of the (Continued on page 47)
Traveling a strange river by canoe can be thrilling and adventurous, especially through fast water. This guide should help in planning and completing an excursion
MATERIAL in this canoeing guide has been compiled from reports submitted by individuals familiar with the waters of Nebraska. There are hundreds of canoe trips to be taken in our state, varying in length from a few hours to several weeks. The in tent of this guide is not to explore them all, but to give an abbreviated travelogue to whet your appetite. Part of the thrill of canoeing is the adventure of traversing an unfamiliar stream, and it is hoped that this guide will lead you to discover what lies beyond the river's bend.
TRIP 1The Niobrara River is probably the most romantic of Nebraska's waters. Respected by outdoorsmen for its sparkling, dancing waters, the Niobrara offers canoeists a special treat. The river's scenic wonders and serpentine course combine to make it one of the most popular canoeing rivers. The course has been divided into two sections, one 34 and the other 56 miles long, providing three and four-day trips respectively. The two sections combined offer a seven or eight-day venture, allowing ample time for fishing and artifact hunting. There is one portage around the Public Power Dam east of Valentine, which divides the two sections. If you camp on private property, you must obtain permission. A certain amount of caution is necessary to avoid hitting sandbars, shale areas and boulders.
Several spring-fed creeks enter the Niobrara along the way, providing fine trout fishing. These include Schlagel, Fairfield, Plum and Long Pine creeks. An extended stay of several hours could be planned at the confluence of any of these streams, or the better part of a day spent hiking upstream to fish. Long Pine Creek offers the best trout action of the group listed.
Section one starts at Route 97 south of Nenzel, and ends at the Consumers Public Power Dam east of Valentine. Total stream length is 34 miles, taking about three days of travel time.
Section two starts at the Public Power Dam east of Valentine and runs to Route 183 north of Bassett. Estimated stream length is 56 miles, taking about four days. Rapids are encountered at two points, necessitating a certain degree of discretion, Angling is mainly for catfish.
TRIP 2The Dismal River is a Sand Hills stream of small physical proportions less than 80 miles in length. Much of it is unnavigable, but a 50-mile stretch between Highway 97 south of Mullen to its conclusion at Dunning, is very pleasant. The trip can be taken in sections if time is a factor.
Section one, from highway 97 south of Mullen to highway 83 south of Thedford, a distance of about 28 miles, can be accomplished in 1 1/2 days.
Section two, from highway 83 to Dunning, is a 1 1/2-day trip of about 22 miles.
Some fast water is to be found near the Hooker-Thomas county line. The stream's bed consists of mostly sand with a few shale areas. No portages are required and no stream obstructions interfere. Fair trout angling can be found in gravel pits along the river south of the Nebraska National Forest to Dunning. Camping sites are common along the entire length of the river, and Indian artifact potential is optimum. What is referred to as Nebraska's only geyser is located about 12 miles east of highway 97 on the north side of the stream. The last half of section two becomes difficult to navigate in the summer as the stream tends to become shallow.
TRIP 3The Elkhorn River is often over looked but is one of the most canoe able and accessable rivers in the state. The Elkhorn begins as a depression between rolling hills in Rock County in north-central Nebraska. The stream, fed by springs and small feeder streams, gains slowly in size as it angles eastward. The banks and bottom of the stream
are an interesting combination of dirt, clay, sand and shale. The water appears turbid, but fishing often meets with success. Steep banks suddenly yield to eye-level pastures, and huge shade trees provide a green canopy. A four- to five-day trip from West Point to Two Rivers Recreation Area on the Platte River can easily be taken in sections of one- or two day trips. Section oqe: West Point to Dead Timber State Recreation Area, 18 miles. Section two: Hooper to Arlington, 22 miles. Section three: Arlington to Q Street Bridge, 22 miles. Section four: Q Street Bridge to Two Rivers State Recreation Area.
For the most part, canoeing the Elkhorn is at its best in the spring months when the water is deeper and runs faster. This is also the most exciting season for canoeing because of spring growth and signs of new life along the banks. A leisurely and successful trip is possible during the summer and fall.
TRIP 4With its origin in isolated Sand Hills lakes in north-central Nebraska, the Calamus River typifies the quiet Sand Hills streams. From Route 7 south of Ainsworth to Burwell it of fers a serene three- to four-day trip of approximately 48 miles. No portages are necessary, and excellent camping sites are available along the stream (with landowner permission). If time is limited, the trip may be divided into two sections. The first section, from Highway 7 to Highway 183, a distance of approximately 33 miles, can be traversed easily in 116 days. Section two, from highway 183 to Burwell, a distance of approximately 15 miles, can be covered in less than a day. The best fishing potential is at Gracie Lake, a pond lo cated 12 miles above Burwell. Best time for the trip would be in May, June, September or October.
TRIP 5The North Platte River receives its life from the winter snows in the Rocky Mountains, and spring and summer thunderstorms. Crossing the plains, the river travels almost half the distance across the state before it joins the South Platte River near the town of North Platte. Of the two, the North Platte seems to be the more dependable. A variety of canoe trips of varying length are possible. Of particular delight is the four- to five-hour trip from Hershey to Cody Park in North Platte. Islands are common, and some are several miles in length. The frequent division of the channel gives rise to much perplexity, as the canoeist may have up to five channels from which to choose. The banks and bottom are mostly sand and the water is remarkably clear. Wildlife abounds, and the 18-mile trip seems much shorter. Spring and late July or August are the best times to canoe this portion of the river, although the fall months hold a certain charm with an aura of enchantment as well.
TRIP 6Springtime is the season for canoeing the Republican River in south-central Nebraska. Numerous water-storage reservoirs in the river basin store the water that once made the Republican unpredictable. In the spring, ample flow makes the river above Harlan County a joy. For the most part, the banks are sand, as is the bottom of the stream. The water is somewhat turbid, but not polluted. During April and May, a 70-mile trip from McCook to Harlan County can be completed in three to four days or can be taken in sections as one-day trips. Section one: McCook to Cambridge, 27 miles. Section two: Cambridge to Oxford, 33 miles. Section three: Oxford to Harlan County Reservoir, 18 miles. Below Harlan Reservoir, the water level is less predictable because of adjustment in flow from the dam.
TRIP 7From its origin high in the Montana Rockies, the Missouri River cuts a 2,775-mile trail, at first a mere path and finally a huge waterway, to its confluence with the Mississippi near St. Louis. Other than during the cold winter months, the Missouri offers canoeing at its best. Of particular
interest to the adventurer is that portion of the river between Gavins Point Dam and Ponca. This 60-mile stretch is still in its original state and can be traveled in two days. Superb camping can be found at Gavins Point Dam and Ponca State Park. Overnight camping along the river is delightful because of the white sand dunes and countless sandbars. The water is quite clear much of the year. Wildlife is plentiful, and a little time spent fishing can bring in a meal. Side trips up small feeder streams by canoe, or hiking up the huge bluffs that contain the Missouri offer added bonuses. From Ponca to the mouth of the river, the Missouri is shackled by man-made devices. The river picks up speed and becomes more turbid, a bit more treacherous, and somewhat less attractive.
Trip 8The Big Blue River is typical of several small eastern Nebraska streams. A mixture of clay, sand and black dirt for the stream's bed results in turbid water. For the most part, the first 50 to 60 miles of the Blue are not suitable for canoeing. Between Seward and Crete a canoe can find a current only with difficulty. Beginning at Crete, the stream becomes progressively more navigable although in places the river has a depth of only a few inches. In such stretches the current moves silently over hard bottom strewn with gravel. Vegetation occasionally crowds the stream and often leaves but a single narrow, devious channel requiring skill to navigate. Log jams are common but rarely require a portage. The Blue is ideal for short excursions of 10 to 15 miles each. One of the most popular day trips is from the Hoag Bridge north of Beatrice to Riverside Park in Beatrice, a distance of 13 river miles. Below Beatrice, the Blue continues its slow, undemand ing flow into Kansas. Again, day trips seem to be the ideal situation, although it is possible to combine several day trips. April, May and early June are the most favorable months for this stream.
TRIP 9The Platte River is a noble river that will make a canoeist feel humble. The Platte is formed by the joining of the North and South Platte rivers near the city of North Platte. The river has a sandy bottom and for the most part is wide and shallow. The depth varies considerably, depending on the time of year. Spring usually provides sufficient flow to make the river navigable to its conclusion at the Missouri River. From June through August, most of the water above Columbus is diverted for irrigation. Below Columbus, canoeing is possible even during the hot, dry summer months. Ability to read the channel avoids the necessity of portages across sandbars during the dry season. The distance from Columbus to the Missouri is approximately 100 miles, with superb camping available at state campgrounds or on sandbars. The trip can be accomplished in four to five days, or can be taken in sections. Section one: Columbus to Fremont, 48 miles, two days. Section two: Fremont to Two Rivers, 23 miles, one day. Section three: Two Rivers to Louisville Lakes, 15 miles, one day. Section four: Louisville Lakes to Plattsmouth, 14 miles, one day.
LAKESNebraska abounds with lakes. There are practically as many sizes and shapes as there are people. The big man-made lakes that offer weeks of canoeing are Harlan County Reservoir, Lake McConaughy, and Lewis and Clark. Lakes of lesser magnitude, but of ample size, are Lake Minatare, Merritt Reservoir, Enders, Swanson, Hugh Butler, Harry Strunk, Sutherland, Maloney, Jeffrey, Johnson, Sherman and the Salt Valley Lakes. Canoe the lakes' vast ex panses, explore the hidden coves, journey up the headwaters or below the dams in the tailwaters. There is something for everyone, including good fishing. Most tend to be rough before any wind, so approach them with caution at all times.
Extra copies of
'Canoeing Nebraska" are available from
the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission,
2200 North 33rd Street, Lincoln, Nebraska
68503.
Here are a few suggestions to help make your canoe trip a success:
1. Be familiar with your equipment and possess some knowledge of canoeing.
2. Pre-departure planning can be fun and may save many pounds of unnecessary gear, and will ensure having everything necessary for safety and comfort.
3. Know, understand and practice the spirit of the law. Get permission before you camp on private property and be sure your canoe is properly equipped with life jackets and other required gear.
4. Respect the rights of others and maintain high standards of thoughtfulness and courtesy. Leave the campsite clean and the owner's property undamaged. Do not leave a trail, but rather an example for others to follow.
5. Be careful with fire. Use only small fires made from dead, dry wood. Use fireplaces when available, or utilize bare earth or sandbars instead of killing grass or other vegetation. Make certain all fires are "drowned out" before leaving them.
6. If traveling with a group, organize. One of the objectives of canoeing is to provide an enjoyable experience. Be sure each individual knows his responsibilities.
7. Don't try to rough it. The knowledgeable canoeist takes and uses whatever he needs to keep him self comfortable.
Up the Down-rigger
A research boat with fancy gear is there to study Lake McConaughy, but the trout action has a way of turning a working trip into downright fun
SEVEN lines trailed out from the boat, each dragging a lure selected to appeal to trout, walleye and 1 white bass, and each set to run at a predetermined depth. The lines extended from a special research boat owned by the Maxwell Manufacturing Company of Vancouver, Washington, and operated by Jim Maxwell, president of the tackle firm.
It was late June, 1972, and the boat was to be used for more than a week at Lake McConaughy to determine thermocline, bottom terrain, temperatures and fish populations, and was to be used for some serious fishing in attempts to test the reactions offish to Maxwell's Grizzly lures, compared with reactions to other tackle.
Aboard the 20-foot, flat-bottom boat was enough equipment to perform a variety of precise tests. There were four down-riggers, two out-riggers, special thermometers, and sonar gear to produce visual images and record a continuous map of everything between the boat and the bottom.
Also aboard were Jim Maxwell, Ken Carter, a fishing tackle representative from Omaha, Bob Probst, a guide who can find fish in Lake McConaughy even when the fish don't know where they are, and me. I had been intrigued with the project since word of it had first leaked out, and had nagged Ken for a chance to take part.
Ken was the one responsible for initiating the research project. He had bragged up McConaughy's fish ing to Jim, whose tackle he distributes in this area, and had finally persuaded him there must be something in the claims. The Maxwell company maintains two large research boats on the Great Lakes, and since he had already made plans to spend some time on those boats, Jim had decided to bring the 20-footer along and check out Ken's fabled rainbow waters.
Although much Grizzly tackle is made for coastal, Great Lakes, and Western River fishing, several lures looked ideal for taking fish in Nebraska lakes. In fact, several trout had already yielded to them during the two days before I joined the expedition. So, Jim was pretty much sold on the merits of McConaughy, and on the fighting quality of the rainbows.
Having just come from Flaming Gorge Reservoir in southwest Wyoming and northeast Utah, where trout were taken in abundance, it was somewhat remarkable that these rainbows made such an impression on him. But, their size and scrappiness were credits not to be denied, and were certainly to be appreciated by an angler with considerable experience against big steel head and coho.
"This lake [McConaughy] is great," Jim said. "From our tests so far, I would rank it as one of the best in the country. The fish populations —not just trout —are mighty impressive. Look here on the chart. The water is almost solid with fish."
Sure enough, the sonar-recorded paper was literally covered with little inverted Vs, each representing a fish. They started almost at the surface, perhaps five feet down, and extended well below 100 feet. With the down-riggers, which held heavy lead weights on cables, and a clip affair for fishing line, you could drop the lure to the exact depth desired to troll through the fish. When one hit, the monofilament pulled out of the clip, leaving the angler with no weight on the line except the fish. Not only did this make playing the fish more fun, it also proved more successful, as a high percentage of hooked fish were landed.
During the next few days, I recall only one fish getting off the hook once it took the lure, and that was a big walleye I lost. One day seven trout weighing from V/i to about five pounds hit, another day 11 rainbows were hooked, and all were brought in. Without weighted lines to drag through the water, the fish were less apt to pull off or shake loose from the hook.
The walleye, which was estimated at close to eight pounds by both Bob and Ken, was hooked on the one line we were using rigged with a diving plane. This is a plastic device with a two-position line hookup so that when set, it dives and runs deep. When a fish latches onto the lure, it unsnaps and tilts back, thus quickly surfacing. The drag is also much reduced once a fish strikes, but that walleye managed to get off. He tried to stay deep, at least for several seconds, then came to the surface and rolled over. Ken and Bob saw him, but I was looking down at the deck to see where I was walking just then, and missed seeing him. Suddenly the line went slack, and I glumly reset the plane and returned it to the depths.
Luckily, several other hits kept us busy during the next hour or so. As trout were our main objective, the down-riggers were set fairly deep, usually around 40 feet or a little more. The two out-riggers were down perhaps 10 feet; one line trailed behind at about five, and the diving plane was set at about 20 feet deep. Only one fish was taken during the day on an out-rigger, and that was a white bass weighing just over a pound. Several other white bass were taken, but they were all deeper, at least 25 feet below the surface.
Three good trout, all pushing four pounds, were caught in about an hour, and all fell for the same metal spoon, a red and pearl Reeker made by Grizzly. Several other brands of lures were dragged around during the two days I was on the boat, but none produced results. When the fish are really hitting, almost any kind of lure will work, but when they are picky, it makes a real difference as to color, movement, depth, and other factors. Activity on the lake at that time was not at an all-time high, yet our success was gratifying, especially for Jim, whose tackle was being tested. After landing his first trout, close to a four-pounder, he said: "It's funny how short the distance from here to Vancouver seems to be now."
As a matter of interest, various types of tackle were put over the side, and most didn't do anything. But, three different styles did, including one which now holds the record for coho salmon in Lake Michigan, despite the fact it has been used for only a few months. That was the Andy Reeker spoon, which was developed by a Scandinavian living in Washington about the turn of the century. He hand crafted each spoon, using special dies he had made. The lures are still made much the same way now, striking (Continued on page 55)
Ted Long Cowboy Artist
THERE is a popular misconception that artists, because of the nature of their work and the capa ciousness of buyers, are kin of the poverty stricken, seldom gaining recognition during their own lifetimes, rising to fame only posthumously if at all.
That is a theory Ted Long of North Platte dispels very quickly. Demand for his paintings and sculptures has grown to such an extent that he no longer needs the monthly paycheck he used to get as an art director for a television station in North Platte. He's on his own now, and making it. Rather well, in fact. One sale last year brought him $6,000 for a bronze entitled "Monarch Of The Plains" depicting two horse mounted Indians after a bison. That was the first in a series of 10, and the other nine are selling at a higher price. That's good money.
Long sculpts in wax, a relatively new art in the Midwest, and is probably the only professional artist in Nebraska who uses the "lost wax method."
Using solid wax, warmed to a state of sufficient pliability to be moulded into a form vaguely resembling what the finished piece will look like, he spends one or two months carving into this rough shape the details of some form of Western life.
Once the original is done, he sends it to a foundry for reproduction. A latex mould is made. Using this mould, the foundry duplicates as many wax pieces as the artist has decided to have in the series. These duplicates are then returned to him for touchup. That done, Long returns the wax figures to the foundry. Each piece of sculpture is placed in a silica-sand solution which hardens to form a shell around the figure. Once the shell is solid, the crust-encased figure is heated and the wax inside melts away, hence the name "lost wax." Liquid bronze is then poured into the shell to take the shape of the original carving. After the bronze solidifies, the shell is broken away and there you have it —a carving in bronze.
Sounds easy? It's not. There's a lot of touchup still to be done on the finished product, and sometimes it's no good at all because air pockets formed during the bronze-pouring process. But, once the carving is complete, it's ready for marketing.
Speaking of the market, there is a definite demand for Long's works. Until 1965, when he resigned to become a professional, full-time artist, Long was able to fill the orders he got in his spare time, but finally he decided to give the world of art a whirl.
Six feet tall, usually dressed in blue jeans and a plain, but comfortable shirt, he looks more like a cowboy than an artist. With one-man shows under his belt at both the Houston and Denver art galleries, and another at the St.
Louis Museum of Natural History, numerous buyers have been exposed to Long's Western paintings and sculptures. His works are on display in galleries throughout the western half of the continent.
A fourth-generation son of the plains, he lives on the ranch a few miles north west of North Platte where his great grandfather homesteaded almost a century ago. Keenly aware of his family's Western heritage, his studio is filled with relics of the past. He has an Indian pipe bag covered with intricately woven beadwork, given to him by northwestern Nebraska's Oglala Sioux several years ago during the time he lived with them to study the lore of Sioux medicine men. That research resulted in an oil painting now hanging in the University of Nebraska's College of Medicine in Omaha.
Long did a two-year stint with the U.S. Army in Korea from 1950 to 1952. During that time, while crawling through foxholes on the battlefront during the Korean War, he became aware, in a very unusual way, of the woman he later married. During his overseas service, his mother sent him a newspaper clipping with a picture of the 1951 contestants in North Platte's annual beauty pageant, at that time part of the Buffalo Bill Rodeo. One of the girls caught his eye, so he circled her in red and sent the clipping back to his mother with a request for identification.
It was Margaret Hoatson of Hershey. Yielding to a whim, Long wrote the girl a letter, and thus began their correspondence courtship which, after he returned from Korea, culminated in their marriage in 1953. The Longs now have four children —Michlene, Thomas, Patrick and Cathy.
Although as a child Long never fancied painting, he began doodling with art pencils while in Korea, and soon began enjoying it. Those doodles really paid off. Now Long produces Western scenes (he prefers working with oils) that sell for $100 or more for a small canvas and upward from $1,000 for a big one.
Long has taken the best of Western life as his own and has produced many sculptures and paintings which, if they were to be laid in a row, would tell the story of the range from chuckwagon chow to modern ranch life. Such a lineup would be impossible, however, since he has few works left. They sell too fast.
Not content with just studio work, Long is an avid outdoorsman, having hunted big game with good success from northern Canada to the southern Sierra Nevadas. He is a robust, one-time wrangler who uses his knowledge of Western life and his yen for adventure in wild country to create what others like to see.
If anyone wants proof that artists are not necessarily kin with the poor, all it takes is a visit with Ted Long. He can tell a hard-to beat success story.
INTERSTATERS
(Continued from page 17)There's a certain something to chomping gum that keeps you alert, but gum doesn't replace the value of regular stops.
Nebraska's Interstate 80 is not as hypnosis prone as some superhighways. The Platte River, the checkerboard farmland in the eastern part of the state, and the Chain of Lakes along the central and western stretches of the road help break up the soporific influence of miles and miles of concrete.
Lieutenant Dwight Schamp of the Nebraska State Patrol passes along these tips when your car gives up the ghost on the Interstate.
"Stay with your vehicle unless you're within easy walking distance of a rest area or a service interchange. Raise the hood or put a white cloth on the aerial. These are universal distress signals. Of the two, the raised hood is better. It's more conspicuous, especially against a sunny or snowy background."
Night makes any emergency seem twice as bad as it really is. Lieutenant Schamp has some words of wisdom for this misfortune, too:
"Pull as far to the right as you can. Keep your parking lights on. If your car is equipped with disaster flashers, use them. If you have flares, and you should, put them out. The wait for help may seem long, but help will come."
That brings up another thing. Some motorists believe that state patrolmen and service drivers are required to fix flats, provide tow service (that's definitely out because of possible legal donnybrooks in insurance claims), furnish gasoline, or repair stubborn motors. They're not. They are on the road to help the driver help himself. This they do cheerfully and efficiently, but free mechanics they are not.
If you're 20 years old and built like a fullback, chances are the roadmen will expect you to change your own tire if you have the tools. On the other hand, if you're the proverbial little old lady, the boys will be quick to help. However, if you're a slick chick and can turn on that helpless look, you're pretty apt to get help even if you have a degree in automotive engineering, ft
PLATTE RIVER ROAD
(Continued from page 28)West, a product of the Plains, a veteran of the Pony Express-Indian fighter, hunter, scout and showman. He went on to capture not only the hearts of this nation but those across the seas as well. His name? The in comparable William Frederick Cody, known the world over as Buffalo Bill. Nebraskans are proud that Cody called Nebraska home, and prouder still that here he began his Wild West Show.
Today, Cody's home has been restored and is now a state historical park, open to visitors. Just across the road on land also once part of the Cody ranch is a new Wild West Arena, where a re-creation of the Wild West Show cuts loose nightly from July 21 through August 26. Many of the acts are the same as those of yesteryear... the holdup of the Deadwood Stage, the cavalry charge, the shootout, bucking broncs and trick riders.
Buffalo Bill's Blowout, the nation's first rodeo erupts from the chutes each June as part of North Platte's week-long NEBRASKAIand Days. It paves the way for a summer long agenda ofVodeos that cut loose across the state. Burwell offers "Nebraska's Big Rodeo," Omaha the big-purse-paying Ak-Sar-Ben. In between are Rodeo Cowboy Association-approved showdowns at Sidney, Crawford, Wahoo, Chambers, and Keith County at Ogallala.
From Buffalo Bill country at North Platte, I-80 winds past Ogallala, Nebraska's Cowboy Capital and home of the state's largest reservoir, Lake McConaughy.
From there, it's on to Sidney, where you can visit the restored Post Commander's Home at old Fort Sidney. Then, Kimball looms on the horizon. A mammoth Titan missile dominates the city park, marking the community's claim to the title "Missile Center U.S.A."
I-80 is the gateway to the West, and trained vacation guides man information booths at designated rest areas all along the way to provide up-to-the-minute data on places to go and things to do.
This summer, use I-80 as your magic carpet to the sights, scents, and sounds that blend to make up Nebraska's Good Life. 12
NORTHERNS FOR NOMADS
(Continued from page 25)the photography and who would I use for a subject in the story? The last question monopolized most of my thoughts.
Before I left the office, I had called Don Hunt, the conservation officer in Oshkosh, to get some information on the refuge, since I had never been there before. As luck would have it, it was his day off, so I had not been able to reach him. I was on my own, so I decided to make the best of the situation. Everything would work out.
I stopped at a rest area for a drink of water. It was one of those days you savor — beautiful, azure sky with just a handful of puffy white clouds to give occasional relief from the summer sun.
I was walking back to the car when a little white spitz walked up to me to see if I was friend or foe. After a gentle pat on the head and a few comforting words, he licked my hand. Startled, I looked up and saw his owners. "Fli!" I said awkwardly.
I must say that my first impressions of Bill and Lisa were a bit shaky. Bill had his hair tied back in a "Paul Revere" and sported a beard that hid everything but his glasses. Lisa was cute, but looked as if she'd been through World War II. Both of them were laboring under 50-pound backpacks.
"Nice dog you have here," I said. After a few moments of meaningless chitchat, I finally regained my composure and asked where they were from and where they were going.
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York Monday morning and camped in Illinois and Iowa the last two nights."
They didn't come right out and ask for a ride, but I could see the questioning look in their tired eyes. Traveling on the Interstate can be very monotonous, especially when you don't have a radio. There was some thing intriguing about this couple, so I asked them to come along.
They jammed their heavy packs into the car, and with an "O.K. Spiffo," jumped in. We were on our way. We finally got around to introductions. They were both college graduates. Bill had a double major in psychology and sociology. He was going to do some construction work in Breckenridge during the summer and save money for graduate work on "man and his environment" in Pennsylvania next fall. Tired as they were, they tried to be good company and asked questions about me and my occupation. I told them about the Game and Parks Commission and the magazine, and the story I was going to do.
"Hey!" I said in a moment of inspiration. "Are you two in a big hurry to get to Denver?"
"Well," Bill replied, "not really, I guess." "How would you like to fish for northern pike?"
"I don't know," Bill said slowly. "What we'd really like to do is dry our packs out this afternoon before we set up camp to night." It rained on us pretty bad last night,
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and we didn't get a chance to dry them before we started out this morning.
I didn't want this opportunity of lining up some subjects to slip by, so I countered with an offer. "Tell you what I'll do. I'll buy you fishing licenses, you can use my gear and we'll fish this evening while your packs dry out, and I'll drop you off tomorrow morning back on the Interstate on your way to Denver. You can't beat a deal like that."
"I guess not," Bill said. "What do you think, Lisa?"
"Well," she said, "I don't care. I've never been fishing before. What are northerns, anyway?"
I had their attention, so I kept selling, "They're real scrappy fighters, and at the Crescent refuge, fishermen have been taking them up to five pounds this spring sometimes a fish on every cast. Colorado can wait. Let me show you a bit of Nebraska. You can try some fishing, and I'll cook your catch for supper."
They finally accepted the invitation with a slight feeling of uneasiness.
"I've never fished for freshwater fish, and the biggest saltwater fish I ever caught weighed about two pounds," Bill offered. What is this refuge anyway? Will it be crowded?"
I explained that the refuge was located at some natural Sand Hills lakes in a remote area.
"Oshkosh!" Lisa exclaimed. "Is there really a town by that name?"
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"Sure is," I replied.
She continued. "In New York they always kid around about going to Oshkosh. I never thought there was such a place."
"Well," I said, "when you go back to New York, you can tell them you've been there."
It wasn't long until a glance through the rear-view mirror revealed a very weary Lisa and Spiffo drifting off to sleep. Bill and I carried on sporadic conversation about the geography of Nebraska. Like a lot of people, he thought the state was very flat, dry and uninteresting. He was, like most people, surprised at the variety of topography and the range of over 4,000 feet in elevation. He seemed interested in the Sand Hiils area, so we talked about its vast size, its grasses, its cattle and its wildlife.
In seemingly no time at all, we were in Ogallala. We stopped to fill up with gas and the sleepers awoke.
"Look at the cowboys!" Lisa blurted out. "Everyone is dressed in cowboy boots and hats."
"That's the way it is out here in ranch country," I told her.
As soon as we hit Highway 26 north out of Ogallala, the terrain changed and we started to climb the hills south of Lake McConaughy.
"My ears are popping," Lisa said. "We must be climbing."
I told her we gained about 1,000 feet in just a few miles.
"It's beautiful up here," she said.
Ash Hollow was just a short distance away, and they were visibly impressed by its historical significance.
"Well, I said with the air of a tourist guide. "Here's Oshkosh —a moment you'll never forget. The real thing right before your eyes!"
Bill finally looked up after studying the map. "This is the last town before we get to Crescent Lake. Don't you think we should stop at a store and get a can of beans just in case?"
I agreed. "It's O.K. by me, but I'm going to think positively and get some rye bread and dill pickles. There's nothing better with northerns than rye bread and pickles. Come to think of it, we had better pick up some flour and maybe some sausage for breakfast, too."
Two dollars and 50 cents later, we were looking for Steve's Gun Shop and a pair of non-resident, five-day fishing permits. Five dollars and 50 cents later we were on our way to the refuge.
I had no idea what to expect, but I knew the fish had been biting, and I had promised pike for supper. We were just entering the refuge when we met a car driven by a T-shirted young cowboy.
"Could you please tell me where Crane Lake is?" I asked.
"Sure can," he said. "You just passed the trail. Goback to it and keep taking lefts at the forks and you can't miss it."
I thanked him and asked, "Could you also JUNE 1973 tell me where we can camp tonight?"
"You can't camp on the refuge, but if you get permission, you can camp beside Island Lake."
Another thank you, and we turned around to find the sandy trail to Crane Lake. Not long after that, the car got stuck in a blow out on the trail. Bill and Lisa knew that to be stranded in this remote area would mean a delay in their travels, so they mustered all the strength they had and pushed the car out of the blowout and onto the grassy area alongside the trail. From then on it was easy but bumpy going, as I straddled the trail and kept*the tires on grass.
As we topped a little knoll, we saw Crane Lake. "There's no one on the lake!" Lisa said. "There's no one at all! It's beautiful! Just think, we have a whole lake to our selves. You'd never see anything like this in New York."
"I'm glad Nebraska is like this," I said. "Two-thirds of the population lives in the eastern third of the state, and some of the best recreation areas are located in remote areas. It gives people who really want a secluded spot a chance to get away from it all."
She still couldn't understand. "Well, even if it is far away from big cities, it's still not far enough to be uncrowded. Don't people know about it?"
"Well," I said, "in Omaha where I was born, I'll bet you could ask 100 people where Crescent Lake is, and 99, maybe even 100, wouldn't know what you were talking about. I didn't know about it before I went to work for the Game and Parks Commission, yet it's shown on every road map. People are funny. A place must be advertised and promoted before they discover it."
Bill had been quiet during the conversation, but I could tell he liked what he saw. As we approached the lake, he asked about the wood projections sticking up out of the water, and I explained that they were Canada goose nesting boxes, placed there by managers of the area to encourage geese to make the refuge their home in summer. I had no more than finished asnwering his question when a goose and her newly hatched brood of goslings swam by, seek ing cover in the high reeds.
"The trail seems to end here on the south side of the lake. I understand the best fishing is on the east side, but let's try it here for a few minutes before we find another trail."
They nodded agreement.
It didn't take long to get the gear out. I put on my hip waders and told them they'd have to wade out barefoot.
"I hope there are no beer cans in the lake," Bill said.
"You won't have to worry about that here, Bill," I said. "People who seek out an area like this don't litter it up. In fact, you'd swear no one has ever been here. The only giveaway sign is the trail."
"Right," he answered.
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I was hooking a Daredevle onto a snap swivel when Lisa walked up and asked what it was. "It's a lure. It's what we're going to fish with/' I said.
"You've got to be kidding. You mean a fish will bite on that?"
"Right on!"
"Beautiful!" she said.
"Let's grab the gear and wade out. I'll show you how to cast. This type of reel is a bit tricky."
"What should I do with this?" Lisa said, referring to the landing net.
"Just give it to me and I'll stick it down the back of my waders, out of the way," I answered.
"That's a clever idea. Did you just think of it?" she teased.
Spiffo beat us to the water, jumped in and started swimming.
"Spiffo can swim! She can swim!" Lisa cried. "That's the first time she's ever been in anything bigger than a bathtub. Spiffo! Spiffo, you beautiful dog!"
It was time for the casting lesson. Bill said he had casted an open-face reel before on the surf. Naturally, Lisa had never seen one before, but she was ready to try anything. She assured me she'd do a good job, being athletically inclined and having played soft ball and basketball and all that before. After three casts to show them how, I handed them the rods, and they began fishing just like a couple of pros.
I rigged up my only other outfit, a flyrod with a little spoon, and headed for the reeds. The bottom of the lake was muddy, and each step I made clouded the shallow water.
After 15 minutes without success, I suggested we pack up and head around the north side of the lake and over to the east where the action was supposed to be. I didn't let on, but I was having doubts about northerns for supper. "Maybe they have quit biting," I said, making sure I had an out if things should go sour. "We'll know in just a minute."
Upon reaching the east side, I suggested they unload their packs and spread their gear out to dry while I tried the new spot. It was about half a block to the water, but I covered the ground in jig time. I really had pike fever now. Besides, I knew I'd have to give up my open-face reel and casting rod as soon as they came down to the shore.
After wading out just past the reeds, my first cast went straight out, reaching for deeper water. About three cranks in, the red tip jerked and the surprise of it sent the cranking handle one way and my hand the other. Finally I got a hold on it and set the hook. The drag was a bit light and line went whirring out of the reel. I tightened the drag. The fish didn't like it and madly pulled more line out. I reeled, but the fish didn't come any closer. I tightened the drag more. Finally I had him coming in, but on his power runs he still took out line. It wasn't long until he tired and I pulled him close enough to net. He wasn't a monster, but the three-pounder would at least prove to Bill 54 and Lisa that there were fish in the lake, in case they had any doubts, and I had caught it on my first cast. The pike had completely swallowed my Daredevle. I had to cut the line and re-rig, which caused a loss of precious fishing time.
Bill and Lisa came down to the lake after my fourth cast. It was time to give the be ginners a chance to see what they would do. Lisa was the first to score. She tried to contain her joy but it bubbled over in giggles and squeals. I was some distance away from her, so I told her to tire the fish, keep tension on the line and work him in circles until I came to net him.
"Wait until I tell Dad I caught a fish," she said. "He won't believe it." While we removed the lure from its mouth, Bill hooked one. I quickly put Lisa's fish on the stringer and hooked it to her belt.
"Don't leave me here with the fish," she shouted. "They might bite me."
"They won't bite," I said, as I made my way toward Bill with the net.
"I've never caught a fish this big, not even in the ocean. This is beautiful," Bill said.
Lisa must have forgotten the discomfort of having two northerns swimming around her bare legs, for she soon alerted us with exuberant shouts that she had just caught another fish.
I told Bill to go and net it for her while I took his picture. He got so good at netting that he lifted out his second fish himself, just like an old salt.
I left to go to refuge headquarters and a phone to get permission to camp on the shore of Island Lake. When I got back, Bill and Lisa were putting their gear back into the packs. I asked them how come they stopped fishing. Bill said: "There's no need to take any more. We already have six fish. That's more than we can eat tonight and they would just go to waste."
"Spoken like a true conservationist," I laughed. "Well, I'll put those we don't eat in my cooler and take them home. I'll think of you when we eat them."
While we loaded the gear, Bill asked if catching fish is always that easy in Nebraska. I assured him that it isn't, and told of some of my unsuccessful ventures. "It's trips like these that make up for the others," I said. The sun was just setting when we set up camp. It was a beautiful Nebraska sunset, the kind Nebraskans boast about. My new friends would certainly remember it. The stars shone brightly when I put the first fillets on the glowing coals. It wasn't long before the dusk air was filled with the aroma of frying fish.
"Look at the stars," Lisa said quietly. "I never saw such a pretty sky before!"
It was quite a meal, even if I say so my self. I'm no expert in camp cooking, but everything turned out just right. The fillets were golden brown, and the beans, bought in a moment of pessimism, now rounded out the meal along with the rye bread and dills.
NEBRASKAlandBill and Lisa were impressed. You'd think we were in the Waldorf Astoria the way Bill and Lisa talked about the fish-best Bill had ever eaten. And Lisa had never even tried fish before. If her parents could only see her now. "Beautiful," she said, "Beautiful. This couldn't be fish. It tastes too good."
With all the compliments flying, I got too polite and let Lisa have the last piece I was saving for myself. Out of eight fillets, she ate four. She was a hungry little rascal. After our long day in the open, no one wanted to stay up all night and talk about psychology, so we turned in. I wanted to sleep, but the frogs were dead set against it. They calmed down to a scream around midnight, and I finally drifted off.
At 6 a.m. I awoke to the throaty thumps of a bittern. It was a little chilly, and I dreaded getting out of the warm sleeping bag. After I got into the sunlight, though, things warmed up and I got a fire started. There was a little time before the coals would be ready, so I thought I'd give the lake an other try before breakfast. As I approached the lake I was overwhelmed by the variety of wildlife on the water. An antelope was drinking on the far side. He noticed me and moved slowly to the safety of the choppy hills surrounding the lake. A pair of Canada geese lifted themselves out of the water, their authoritative honks smothering all other sounds. A long-billed curlew and a willet crossed paths directly overhead, and two avocets, dancing in the shallow water nearby, were searching for a meal.
I could have kicked myself for not bringing a camera to the water. There wasn't a ripple on the lake and the reflection of half illuminated hills at dawn was truly magnificent. I filed the scene in my mind and de cided that one day I would re-create it on canvas for others to enjoy. But I had come to the lake to fish. In 15 or 20 minutes the fire would be ready for breakfast. The fish were hitting, but not like the night before. I had several bumps and had two fish on the line for some time, but both discarded the barbs. All too soon it was time to return. When I reached camp, I was greeted with a pleasant surprise. Bill was playing a flute and he was very good at it. Lisa was fixing sausages. It was refreshing, watching the two of them. They were really enjoying it here.
After breakfast, we took down the tents and packed the gear. In an hour we were on our way back toward the Interstate. Lisa occasionally saw a bird and asked what it was. She wanted to know how I had learned to identify them. I told her I didn't know much about wildlife before I came to work for the Game Commission, but that now it was just part of my job.
An hour later we were at the interchange where I had agreed to drop them off. We unloaded the gear and exchanged warm handshakes. It's funny. When I looked into Bill's face the last time, I didn't even notice his beard.
THE DOWN-RIGGER
(Continued from page 41)them twice instead of giving them the double bend in one operation.
Much of the conversation during the slack periods was naturally about tackle, since an angler seldom gets to talk directly with a manufacturer. Jim had many interesting stories to tell about various lures, and of course we all offered suggestions about products that would sell like legalized pot. Considerable discussion also centered around the down-riggers, which seemed to be a trailer's secret weapon. Capitalizing on the sonar's indications of where the fish were by putting a lure at that exact depth gave us a tremendous advantage over the trial and error method. Even leaded line or diving planes could not duplicate the exact ness with which the tackle could be positioned with the down-rigger. But, the most valuable aspect was the line release, which enhanced the playing of the fish while also lessening the likelihood of its escape.
On the sonar recorder, a heavy black line was formed by the lead weight of each down-rigger, although the exact depth was already indicated by a footage counter on each. Occasionally a slight dip in a rod tip would be noticed, but then nothing else would happen. We finally theorized that the cables must be bumping into fish.
Each day, the boat was taken out early, usually around 5 a.m. because that was when the trout were touted to be most active. It seemed, however, to make little difference, as on Monday, more fish were taken in the afternoon than in the morning — four compared with two. On Tuesday, when 11 trout were taken, the water was extremely quiet.
It was also on Tuesday, after landing 11 hooked trout without losing a single one, that another boatload of fishermen reported that they had hooked five trout and landed two. That is about average, so 100-percent success really looked good.
Landing every fish that hits a lure is still no guarantee of a successful fishing trip, as only a few may strike. But losing more than you catch certainly drops the score. There are days when so many fish can be caught that it wouldn't matter, but there are not enough of those. McConaughy, Nebraska's largest impoundment, has extensive and varied fish populations, including rainbow trout, walleye, white bass, catfish, small mouth bass, and unfortunately perhaps, carp. The quality of water, according to long-time residents at the lake, has changed over the years. There is much more algae now, giving the water a definite green cast rather than the former blue color. This is a major factor in the increase of the carp population, but it has probably helped boost other species, too.
No body of water, even an ocean, can be consistently great in producing vast quantities of fish, but Lake McConaughy
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doubtless comes the closest of any Nebraska lake. Its 35,000-plus surface acres are capable of hosting more anglers than those who use it now.
There are annual fluctuations in some species, but for the most part, the trend is upward, rather than downward. This is due mainly to natural reproduction rather than stocking. Of course, fish movements within the reservoir are sometimes extensive, making it difficult to keep tabs on them. Scientific techniques are therefore becoming more popular to give the angler as much help as possible in locating them.
This was probably the reason why interest in the research boat was so great. Various research programs have been carried on in many waters across the state by the Game and Parks Commission, but the purpose of those was usually technical, and of little direct interest to the angler. Here, how ever, was an outsider whose interests were specifically aimed at catching fish. Equipped as the boat was, the odds were considerably increased in the fisherman's favor, so results were actively sought at dockside whenever the boat came in.
Jim Maxwell and his wife also created quite a stir with another innovation while at the lake. Several times during their visit, they prepared a fish boil. While this may sound like an affliction suffered by aquatic life, it is actually a delectable way of preparing fish —boiling them with a few vege tables—that will convert most non-eaters of fish.
All the fish caught during the research project, plus some donated by other fish ermen, were used for two massive cookouts. Participants in the affairs claim the fish resemble lobster in taste, and they are served in the same manner —with melted butter.
But, even more enjoyable than eating fish is catching them, so to help accomplish this, Jim jotted down his research findings, along with a few miscellaneous observations and opinions. While they apply to a period in June, they might include data use ful in other seasons.
It is now generally agreed that water temperatures, and the related amount of oxygen, determine the depth fish prefer. Many anglers happen onto the right depth, but more often, lures are dragged through uninhabited water for hours and days without a chance of encountering fish. This is the main reason why anglers experiment with different lures and varying trolling speeds, alternated with still fishing. The odds of finding fish go up considerably this way. Starting out with the right combination, however, would greatly enhance the chances of success. If temperatures at 20 feet are intolerable to trout and ideal at 38 feet, and if oxygen is adequate, there is no question about where the trout will be. There are still a lot of acres to cover in a lake like McConaughy, but the searching is reduced when armed with just this one fact.
Then, experience on a lake tends to show that certain zones are more appealing to the 56 fish than others. These zones often become common knowledge among anglers, although some remain closely guarded secrets until someone else stumbles onto them.
Eventually, further research may explain why these certain areas attract certain species of fish. There may be several reasons, but a source of food is the most logical. Bottom terrain and cover are much more important to some species than others. The presence of dropoffs or shelves is a prime clue when after walleye, but is no help when after trout. Underwater cover, the thicker the better, is a giveaway for large mouth bass, but is usually avoided by catfish. White bass perhaps move farther and faster than other species, and such critters are much less predictable because of it. Even so, some enterprising fishermen are able to catch them almost at will, so there must be clues evident.
Certainly, if there were no challenge in fishing, there would be far less enjoyment. Perhaps knowing too much is a hindrance rather than a benefit in this case. A little learning, however, can really help, so here may be something useful at Lake McConaughy during late June, providing the weather, water, and other factors are some what similar to the time when Jim Maxwell fished there.
"A definite temperature barrier was noted at about 38 feet, and trout were picked up just below. We tried various depths from about 40 to 100 feet with success. We did note that a steady speed, determined after we got one hit, seemed to be necessary. Varying from that speed got us nothing, but when we found it again, we caught trout. The rate of speed may change with the seasons, which I hope to try out in the future. You can be assured I will fish this lake again. It's great! "
EARLY SURVEYORS
(Continued from page 15)
feet long. Earth from the trench they piled in a mound beside, then planted a stake in the middle of the trench. Since the markers could easily be molested or removed, a sackful of charcoal was buried just under the surface at the foot of the stake so that if in the future it became necessary to find the exact location, it could be done even if the stake was gone. While all this was going on, the teamsters followed behind with a wagonload of supplies-stakes, a few extra chains and provisions for the day.
This went on day after day, week after week, and sometimes month after month until a county was completely checkered.
On this particular excursion, Harvey experienced some difficulty, and a few humorous incidents occurred, as recorded years later in the St. Paul Republican. Harvey had just begun working when he discovered two of his crew missing-the teamsters. (Continued on page 62)
where to go... Lewis Clark Circle tour
NORTHEAST Nebraska, where fertile farmland meets the rambling Missouri River, has long been known for its historical significance. During their quest into the Louisiana Purchase lands in 1804 1805, explorers Lewis and Clark made their way along the river, recording the phenomena of the strange new country. Then the domain of wild beasts and almost as wild trappers who made their living from prime beaver pelts or wild mink, the area was to become one of the beauty spots of a state which would be formed half a century later. It was that era that spawned reports of the notorious Jesse James using the Devil's Nest area as a hideout from the law. No one has ever proved such happen ings beyond a doubt, but the legend is just one of the things that lends romance and intrigue to what has recently become known as the Lewis and Clark Lake Area Circle Tour.
The tour begins at Plainview, largest town in Pierce County, known throughout the region as "The Friendly City." Three parks with overnight camping
To begin the tour, travel five miles west on U.S. Highway 20, turning north on Nebraska Highway 13. Along the route are cornfields, fields of small grain, pastures and hay fields, some never touched by a plow. There are many pretty farm buildings, including a bright red barn, blue silos and all methods of irrigation.
At Creighton, the "City of Progress," is a mile-long main street dedicated to regional commerce. Turning at the junction of Nebraska Highway 13 and Nebraska Highway 59, you will encounter the livestock auction where Nebraska beef changes hands at phenomenol prices, the foundry, stockcar racetrack and airport. Returning to Highway 1 3 and continuing north to its junction with Nebraska Highway 84 and on to Center, the county seat of Knox County, you will drop into the rolling hills known throughout the area as the Bohemian Alps. While in Center, watch for the old courthouse.
Follow Highway 84 just north of Center, then turn west nine miles to Verdigre. Pick up local tour informa tion at Tony's Tavern or Elmer's Bait Shop north of town on Nebraska Highway 14. This area is also typical cattle country; best grazing grass, fresh air and sunshine give the foundation for high-grade feeder cattle and Nebraska steaks. You will see many farm ponds and land terracing which conserve runoff water. Some of these farms and ranches were homesteaded in the
57
GROUSE AND QUAILS
OF NORTH AMERICA
By Paul A. Johnsgard,
Professor of Zoology,
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
In this first comprehensive study, all grouse,
quails, and partridges north of Guatemala
are depicted in 140 photographs and paint
ings (52 in color) and 45 figures, including
the downy young of 23 of the 25 species.
Part I, intended for the specialist, deals
with biological, evolutionary, and eco-
logical differences; aviculture and propa-
gation; conservation; and recreational
values to birders and sportsmen.
Part II, for the nonspecialist, offers indi
vidual species accounts with ranges and
subspecies, criteria for identification in
the hand and in the field, and a summary
of each species' ecology and breeding
behavior.
Identification keys and name derivations
are included. Cloth $25.00
NEBRASKA
WILD FLOWERS
By Robert C. Lommasson,
Professor of Botany,
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Illustrated by 260 color plates, Nebraska
Wild Flowers depicts and describes the most
conspicuous native and naturalized flowers
thriving in the state after well over a hun
dred years of settlement.
Most plant descriptions include the prin
cipal flower color, the time of blossom
ing, and the basis for the common and
scientific names.
Keys for identifying the plants, a glossary,
and an index are included.
Nebraska Wild Flowers is the only recent
book on the subject intended for the gen
eral public.
June Cloth $10.00 / Paper $4.00
At bookstores or from UNP
University of
Nebraska Press
Lincoln 68508
1800s, and have been in the same families for several generations. Verdigre is the self-proclaimed Kolache Capital of the world. Try some at the Verdigre Bakery or pick up some home made weiners and bolgona at the Verdigre Meat and Locker Plant. Visit, too, the grist mill, livestock market and the Old Jules (Sandoz) Cabin. The father of novelist Mari Sandoz moved to Verdigre in 1881.
Continue north on Highway 14 for 11 miles to Niobrara, one of Nebraska's oldest towns. Just before you enter Niobrara, stop at the top of the high hill where there are two scenic river views. Then turn west on Nebraska Highway 12 to the Niobrara State Park where you can enjoy golf, camping, fishing, swimming and horseback riding. Visit the Mormon Monument and see the Sage Brothers Football Field.
Travel east on Highway 12 to the Ferry Boat crossing on the Missouri River that takes you over to the South Dakota side.
Take the hard-surfaced road to the left, northeast at the Santee Sign. The Santee area beside Lewis and Clark Lake on the Santee Sioux Indian Reservation is a growing area of new homes and facilities. On the high hills before entering Santee, you will have a beautiful view of the river and see the town of Springfield, South Dakota. Ancient grave markers and several old churches in Santee attest to the early way of life on the frontier.
Take the gravel road southeast from Santee to the road signs indicating Devil's Nest, then turn back north to the edge of the Devil's Nest area. You will see the ski lift from there. Directions to it and other sites of interest are available at the office. Just a few miles farther on is U.S. Highway 81 which will take you to Gavins Point Dam, the structure which holds backthe Missouri River's waters to form Lewis and Clark Lake. Yankton, South Dakota is just across the famous double-decker bridge over the Missouri.
Pleasant Valley, with its old country store, is just 16 miles south on Highway 81 and the junction with U.S. Highway 20 is another 1 7 miles farther on. Turn right at the intersection for the four-mile trip to Randolph, the Honey Capital of the Nation. Here you will find two parks with camping areas, a fine motel, swimming pool, community fair and the Randolph Creamery where they have churned 1,523,648 pounds of butter. The Bee-Keepers have 11,000 hives of bees in the area producing 385,000 pounds of honey. The process ing plant can be seen at the farm one mile west of the junction of Highways 81 and 20 on the south side of the road. At the same junction, continue on Highway 20 to Osmond where you will find a large city park, swimming pool, manufacturing plant and all types of farm equipment and irrigation systems. From Osmond, return to Plainview on U.S. Highway 20 to end the tour.
For $39$,
well turn anybody
into an old salt.
Catyak is the new twin-hull 9' 4" catamaran
that brings true class sailing within the reach of
anyone.
She's designed by noted naval architect
Frederick S. Ford, Jr. Like the world famous
Dayton®Sportyaks, her hulls are made of
buoyant, molded polyethylene. This pat-
ented construction gives Catyak stabil-
ity afloat that's second to none. She's a
satisfying boat for experienced
sailors, a safe boat for learners.
The high-riding trampo-
line deck gives everyone
aboard an easy seat —it
also lets you sail flat on your
back if you've a mind to.
And the price includes
everything—55 sq. ft. sail, riggings,
and aluminum mast. (Catyak II, with
a 75 sq. ft. rig, is slightly higher.)
So you can afford to become an old
salt tomorrow. See your boat or
sporting goods dealer. And see
for yourself. Or for more informa-
tion write Dayton Marine Prod-
ucts, 7565 E. McNichols Road,
Detroit, Michigan 48234. (A divi-
sion of Woodall Industries, sub-
sidiary of Libbey-Owens-Ford)
What to do
JUNE hosts the first official day of summer and ushers in a batch of warm-weather traditions. Every thing from mid-month Shrine Circus performances at Hastings and Grand Island, to a smattering of rodeos across the state and numerous heritage celebrations is packed into the month's calendar.
Celebrations hit fever pitch in North Platte this year as the city's Centennial js celebrated. With festivities having begun in spring, they come to a climax during NEBRASKAland Days June 17 to 24. All the flavor of Western life comes to the fore with a rodeo, parades, the 1973 Miss NEBRASKAland pageant, awards, a carnival and the ever-popular Frontier Revue. Other events in clude art shows, square dances, shootouts, and many other attractions.
The history of North Platte dates to 1866 when two merchants moved their trading post to North Platte in anticipation of that spot becoming a division point for the Union Pacific Railroad. The town received its charter in September, 1873, hence the 1973 Centennial. Many segments of the community are involved in the celebration, from the North Platte Community Play house to the sponsors of the Wild West Show to civic groups and organizations. North Platte will certainly ring with fun this year.
High school competitors provide all the hard-knock rodeo excitement anyone could ask for when the State Championship High School Rodeo opens in Harrison for a three day stmt. Old-west festivities continue through JUNE 1973 out the month with the "Famous" Days of '56 Rodeo at Ponca, Jaycee Rodeo at Lexington, and Little Britches Rodeos in Ogallala and Wymore. An Arabian Horse Show in Lincoln, an Open Horse Show in Howells and the Goldenrod Saddle Club Horse Show in Osceola carry on the cowboy activities across the state during the rest of the month.
The Seventh Annual Pressey Park Trail Ride again draws riders from across the state to wander the trails and backwoods of the Loup River Valley north of Oconto. The event is open to the public and lunch will be served by the Oconto Lions Club. An offshoot of the horse's importance in Nebraska's history, Fairbury will host an Open Horseshoe Tournament on June 3.
While on the subject of shoes and hoofing-it places, the National Campers and Hikers Association holds its an nual state convention at the York Fair grounds June 8, 9 and 10.
Fishing action peaks across the state in June before falling to a summer slumber for many anglers. Reservoirs across the state will draw the largest crowds but as the season warms the night-time fisherman specializing in catfish and bullheads comes unto his own.
While June outdoor activities may center around angling activities, a hint of autumn air drifts across the state as smooth-bore enthusiasts take to the range in mid-month at Doniphan for the State Trap Shoot. Nebraska's best will be on hand to compete for titles in each of the categories. Later in the month a trophy trap shoot at Papillion will offer more humble gunners a chance at the clay birds.
NEBRASKAland Days Black Powder Shoot at North Platte during the celebration there, offers yet another diversion for the hunt-oriented outdoorsman. The Open Breed Pointing Dog Club of Nebraska will hold a Bird Finding Contest at Millard to relieve the off-season doldrums that state hunters may be suffering.
Centennial and heritage celebrations are liberally sprinkled across the state and throughout the month. Harvard, Wilsonville, Loup City, Fairmont and Kearney all kick off their second hundred years with gala festivities to call attention to their pasts, but mostly just to get together for some good old fashioned fun. Polish Days at Loup City, Kolach Days at Verdigre, Swedish Festival at Stromsburg and the Czech Festi val at Clarkson highlight the heritage celebrations and provide locals and visitors alike with a legitimate excuse for kicking up their heels and eating a bit too much.
And finally, horses continue running at Ak-Sar-Ben in Omaha through to July 14. Post times are 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays and 2 p.m. Saturdays and holidays. There is no Monday racing except on holidays.
List of Events 1-2 —Harvard Centennial, Harvard 1-2—Jaycee Ninth Annual Rodeo, Lexington 1-3 —David City Centennial, David City 1-3 —Wilsonville Centennial, Wilsonville 1-3 —Arabian Horse Show, Lincoln 1-7 —Mellerdrammers, The Gas Light, Lincoln 1 -July 14 — Ak-Sar-Ben Racing, Omaha 2 —Gifford Overnight Backpacking Hike, Fontenelle Forest, Bellevue 2-3-Little Britches Rodeo, Ogallala 3 —Open Horseshoe Tournament, Fairbury 3 —Kennel Club Show, Grand Island 3 —Open Golf Tournament, Loup City 3 —Camera Club Show, Grand Island 3—Canoe Race, Valentine 3 —Open Breed Pointing Dog Club of Nebraska Bird Finding Contest, Millard 3 —Kids Fishing Day, Oak Lake, Lincoln 7-10 —State Trap Shoot, Doniphan 8-9 —Osceola, Old-Timers Celebration 8-10 —Polish Days and Centennial Celebration, Loup City 8-10 —Homestead Days, Beatrice 8-10 —National Campers and Hikers Association Annual State Convention, York 9-10 —Kolach Days, Verdigre 10 —Air Show, Red Cloud 10 —Sod House Society Annual Spring Meeting, Hemingford and Alliance 10 —Willa Cather Program, Brownville 10 —Seventh Annual Pressey Park Trail Ride, Pressey State Special-use Area 10-17—125th Anniversary Celebration, Fort Kearny 12-14 —Shrine Circus, Hastings 15-16 —Shrine Circus, Grand Island 15-16 —Swedish Festival, Stromsburg 15-17 —Spring Festival, Schuyler 15-1 7 —Indianapolis vs. Omaha, Baseball, Omaha 15-19 —Association of Nebraska Art Clubs Annual State Show, Valentine 16 —Silversmith Workshop, Brownsville 17 —Sweet Adeline Benefit Concert, Brownville 17 —Annual Open Horse Show, Howells 17-24- NEBRASKAland Days, North Platte 19-21 — Evansville vs. Omaha, Baseball, Omaha 20-24 —Papillion Days Celebration, Papillion 21 —First Day of Summer 21-24 —State Championship High School Rodeo, Harrison 22-24-NEBRASKAland Days Black Powder Shoot, North Platte 22-24 —Iowa vs. Omaha, Baseball, Omaha 22-24 —Fairmont Centennial, Fairmont 22-24 —Gage County Little Britches Rodeo, Wymore 22-24 —Midwest Jamboree, Waterloo 23-24 —Folklife Festival, Brownville 23-24 —Nebraska Air Show, Ord 23-24-"Famous" Days of '56 Rodeo, Ponca 24 —Trophy Trap Shoot, Papillion 24 —Old-Timers Get-together, Arthur 24 —State Air Show, Ord 24-25 —Pioneer Picnic and Seven Valleys Rodeo, Callaway 24-30 —Official Centennial Week, Kearney 25-July 2 —Arrows to Aerospace Annual Celebration, Bellevue 28-July 1 —Nebraska State High School Rodeo Finals, North Platte 29-July 1 —Czech Festival, Clarkson 30 —Invitational Art Exhibit, Brownville 30 —Airpark Open Golf Tournament, Valentine 30-July 1 —Sailing Regatta, McCook
EARLY SURVEYORS
(Continued from page 56)They had stolen enough provisions to last three days, so Harvey figured they had headed back to St. Paul. There was nothing to do but set up camp for the men to remain while he and Freeland hiked back along the riverbanks to find new teamsters. Free land was as disgruntled about the whole business as Harveyy, vowing that if he ever met the two desetters, he would give them a piece of his mind.
Sure enough. When they got to St. Paul, Freeland met one of them in Chadwick's Store and began lambasting him about the hardship he had caused. The scoundrel wouldn't listen, though, and picked a paperweight from the counter to put a mark on Freeland's head that "lasted 40 years," When Freeland came to, the deserter was gone. Well, they recruited two new team sters and headed west again —the second time in less than a week when they shouldn't have come back for a month.
Their daily routine was not without incident. One day they were running a section line between townships 17 and 18 North in Range XVII West near the southern bank of the Middle Loup, when a head appeared above a rise in the distance. Then another, and another. Indians!
Harvey ordered two men to go and hide in a marsh between the survey crew and the distant enemy. He told them to stall off attack as long as possible to give the men around the wagon time enough to dig trenches.
The Indians advanced, but there was something unusual about their approach as the men dug furiously.
Harvey counted heads. Eight. Where was the ninth man? Where was Jim Scott? Then he saw him. There was Jim near the river, changing into a new pair of overalls.
"Scott! What are you doing? Why aren't you digging?" Harvey hollered.
Sticking a foot into an empty pantleg, Scott yelled back. "I don't want to be found dead in ragged overalls. I'm putting on a new pair."
Despite impending attack, Harvey rose to the occasion and called to the others. "Jim's alright. He's putting on his grave clothes."
By this time the attackers were acting strangely indeed. They should have come rushing long ago. Then the answer became apparent. When they emerged from the marsh, Harvey ordered his men to hold fire. They were not Indians at all-just Cavalry soldiers from a downstream camp.
Scott was grumpy during the rest of the excursion because his companions never let him forget how he had prepared for a fancy funeral.
Even years later, Harvey poked fun at Scott in a letter to the Republican. Somehow, a copy of the issue in which it was published reached Freeland, who lived at Burwell now. "He didn't get a chance to show them (his clothes) off to advantage," he wrote.
"If Harvey wants to make fun of Scott," Freeland answered in a letter of his own, "he should remember the time he told us to shoulder arms when our guns were six miles away in camp."
That incident occurred when they were completing their three-month job, working near the confluence of Bloody Creek and the Calamus River in the northwestern corner of Loup County. This time they saw real Indians, and the Indians had seen the flag man. They were close enough to see that the Indians were debating whether to attack or run.
Harvey's quick thinking came through again. He ordered each of his men to pick up a stake and march back and forth behind a knoll so that just the tips of the markers showed above the rise. The ruse worked. The Indians saw only what appeared to be rifle barrels moving to and fro behind the hill, and it was just enough to make them decide in favor of running instead of attacking.
The surveyors had become lax about carrying their guns while working, but after this incident "we kept them nearby all the time," Freeland wrote.
Harvey was State Surveyor at the time all this correspondence was being published (1911), and had become an authority on finding lost and obliterated markers, many of which he himself had planted decades ago during his 30 years in the field until 1902.
One of the difficulties which arose years after the state had been surveyed was that markers had not been planted accurately. Crew bosses had always worked under contract, and the more land they covered, the more money they earned. It was often easier for them to get new contracts if they contributed a portion of their profits to the campaign funds of elected surveyors.
Harvey, of course, never engaged in this sort of thing. He was completely sold on the survey system's merits and the future value of accuracy. He never allowed him self to participate in politicking at the expense of accurate work. In fact, it was he who described this shoddiness in one of the many instruction booklets he published until his death in 1923, booklets the federal government adopted as guidelines for novices.
Freeland died in his home near Burwell in 1938 He had kept a brief diary of the surveying trip in 1872 but it was only sketchy, giving only bare deta.ls about the crew's location. It was the correspondence published years later in the Republican which gave the skeletal diary meat. What would have passed unnoticed as another obscure frontier assignment became an account of lively joshing back and forth be cause these men had the sense of mind to laugh at themselves, even when times were tough.
NEBRASKAland TRADING POST
Acceptance of advertising implies no endorsement of products or services. Classified Ads: 18 cents a word, minimum order $3.60. August 1973 closing date, June 8. Send classified ads to: Trading Post, NEBRASKA Iand, 2200 N. 33rd St., Lincoln, Nebraska 68503, P.O. Box 30370. DOGS AKC hunting dogs. Irish setter, English springer spaniel. Pups and dogs. Breeding stock and stud service. Also Westie and Basenji. Kirulu Kennels, Hebron, Nebraska 68370. Phone (402) 768-6237. DRAHTHAARS: (German Wirehaired Pointers) If you can only have one hunting dog—make it a Drahthaar. Sagamore Kennels. Office 501 Jeffery Drive, Lincoln, Nebraska 68505. Phone (402) 466 7986. ENGLISH pointers. Excellent gun dogs. Pups, dogs, and stud service. M. D. Mathews, M.D., St. Paul, Nebraska 68873. ENGLISH Setters: Pups, started dogs and stud service. Mississippi Zev, Wonsover, Commander and Crockett Field trial bloodlines. E. L. Bar tholomew, Ainsworth, Nebraska 69210. HUNTING DOGS: German shorthairs, English pointers, Weimaraners, English, Irish, and Gordon setters, Chesapeakes, Labradors, and golden re trievers. Registered pups, all ages, $75 each. Robert Stevenson, Orleans, Nebraska 68966. TRAINING: Gun dogs, retrievers and all pointing breeds. Individual concrete runs, best of feed and care. Year-round boarding. Champion bred stud service—Labrador or Pointer. Pointer pups avail able. Platte Valley Kennels, 925 E. Capitol Ave., Grand Island, Nebraska 68801. Phone (308) 382- 9126. MISCELLANEOUS "A" FRAME cabin. 1184 square feet: $1950. ma terial. Purchase locally. Complete plans, instruc tion manual and material list: $5.00. Moneyback guarantee. Specify plan #1501. "Dependable Products," Box #113, Vista, California 92083. AFRICANS. Large $12/1,000 postpaid. 25$ extra beyond 3rd zone. Clif's Worm Hatchery, 1801 Alabama Street, Lawrence, Kansas 66044. AUTOMATIC spring loaded or lever action fishing hooks $1.25 each. Both $2.00. Satisfaction guar anteed. Midwest, Dept. N, 6958 South Winchester, Chicago, Illinois 60636. BOATS, boats, boats. Lowest Prices ever for name brand boats. Cruisers, jet drives, walk-thru bows, open decks, fish boats. Closest price to factory cost you will find. Get your local price, then write to us. Send $1.00 for color booklet and prices. Please specify type of boat you want. Boatland, 2307 19th Avenue, Greeley, Colorado 80631. BRASS Nameplates for dog collars and 1,000's of identifications. Free catalog. Write Bill Boatman & Co., 241 Maple Street, Dept. 91C, Bainbridge, Ohio 45612. BURGLAR-PROOF your home. Do-it-yourself and save. "Home Security Manual" shows how. Guaranteed. $2.50 postpaid. Information free. REL HOUSE, Dept. I, P. O. Box 9362, Phoenix, Arizona 85068. "CHUCK Wagon Gang" records. Giant package. Five new collector's longplay stereo albums. 50 freat old gospel songs sung by the original group. 9.95 postpaid. Keepsakes, 202NL, Carlsbad, Texas 76934. FISHING and family fun. Cabins completely fur nished. Paddle boat; minnows. Stay a day, week, or longer. Country-Lakeview, Alexandria, Nebraska 68303. Phone (402) 749-4016. FOR rent. Country ranch home near trout stream in scenic valley. Large garden spot, barns, corrals, small acreage. Mrs. OrvilLe Ostrander, Rushville, Nebraska 69360. FOR rent: Furnished all-modern summer lodge, North Shore Cove, north side Harlan County Dam. Sleeps eight. Weekly rate. Phone (402) 463-2491, Bob Knight. FUR trappers we need you! Forming Nebraska Trappers Association. Many benefits for you! For information write: Craig O'Gorman, 826 North 42nd Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68131. HOW much are your bottles worth? "Bottle Col lector's Handbook—Pricing Guide" identifies, prices over 2,500 collectible bottles. $3.95 postpaid. (Guaranteed!) Infobooks, Box 5001-NL, San An gelo, Texas 76901. LEASE a cabin. Fish, hunt, retire — near lakes Utilities paid. Scenic view; blacktop. Chauncey Aksamit, Country-Lakeview Cabins, Alexandria, Nebraska 68303. Phone (402) 749-4016. METAL Detectors—Thinking of treasure hunting? Use the metal detector the professionals use, a Garrett. Free literature. Spartan Shop, 335 North Williams, Fremont, Nebraska 68025. Phone (402) 721-9438. OVER 7000 distinctive ad-specialties. Ballpoint pens fashioned like feathers, plumes, twigs for example. Genuine leather key tags; wood-grain matchbooks, buttons, decals, emblems. All with your customized imprint. Highest quality, lowest prices. List $1. Refundable. H-G Enterprises, Dept. N, Clarklake, Michigan 49234. PARKERS, Pre-64 Winchesters, new, used, antique. Year's lists—$1. Phone (402) 729-2888. Bedlan's Sports, Highway 136, Fairbury, Nebraska 68352. "PREPARE for driver's test." 100 questions and answers based on the newest Nebraska Driver's Manual. $1.25. E. Glebe, Box 295, Fairbury, Ne braska 68352. QUALITY weekend canoe trips! Niobrara, Loup, Dismal, Calamus, Platte, Elkhorn, Blue, and other area rivers! April through October. Complete food, equipment ana guide service for groups of 16 to 54 persons. Send inquiries to Wilson Outfitters, 6211 Sunrise Road, Lincoln, Nebraska 68510. SNAKE repellent. 1 ounce jar $3.95 or two $6.95. Satisfaction guaranteed. Midwest Mail Order, 6958 South Winchester, Chicago, Illinois 60636. SOLE distributors wanted for new amazing items for camping, fishing, etc. Write for information to: J. A. Pons, P. O. Box 1042, Hialeah, Florida 33011. SOLID plastic decoys. Original Do-It-Yourself Decoy-Making Kit. All species available. Catalog 25 cents. "Dept. ON," Decoys Unlimited, Box 69E, Clinton, Iowa 52732. REAL ESTATE GOVERNMENT lands — Low as $1.25 acre! Buy, lease or homestead . . . Free details! Lands Digest, Box 25561-PT, Seattle, Washington 98125. IDEAL 5-acre ranch. Lake Conchas, New Mexico. $3,475. No down. No interest. $29 monthly. Vaca tion paradise. Hunt, camp, fish. Money maker. Free brochure. Ranchos: Box 2003RW, Alameda, California 94501. LAKE McCONAUGHY—Lots for sale, south side, owner will finance, Box 11, Brule, Nebraska 69127. TAXIDERMY BIG Bear Taxidermy. Rt. 2, Mitchell, Nebraska 69357. We specialize in all big game from Alaska to Nebraska, also birds and fish. Hair on and hair off tanning. 4V6 miles west of Scottsbluff on High way 26. Phone (308) 635-3013. CREATIVE taxidermy - fish, birds and game heads. Displayed Lawlor's downtown. Ray Gans, Jr., 5101 M Street, Lincoln, Nebraska 68510. Phone (402) 489-5263. CREATIVE Taxidermy. Modern methods and life- like workmanship on all fish and game since 1935, also tanning, rugs, and deerskin products. Joe Voges, Naturecrafts, 925 4th Corso, Nebraska City, Nebraska 68410. Phone (402) 873-5491. KARL Schwarz Master Taxidermists. Mounting of game heads - birds - fish - animals - fur rugs robes - tanning buckskin. Since 1910. 424 South 13th Street, Dept. A., Omaha, Nebraska 68102. TAXIDERMY service, guaranteed expert workman- ship, modern methods, prompt service. Complete mounting. Prices: Pheasant $25. Duck $29. Goose $35. Deer or Antelope head $55. Horns from $8. Other prices on request. Joe's Taxidermy, 2724 Olive Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68147. Phone (402) 733-2808. TAXIDERMY work—big-game heads, fish-and-bird mounting; rug making, hide tanning, 36 years experience. Visitors welcome. Floyd Houser, Sutherland, Nebraska 69165. Phone (308) 386-4780OUTDOOR NEBRASKAland of the Air
SUNDAY KHAS Hastings (1230) 6:45 a.m. KMMJ Grand Island (750) 7:00 a.m. KBRL McCook (1300) 8:15 a.m. KRFS Superior (1600) 9:45 a.m. KXXX Colby, Kan. (790) 10:15 a.m. KLMS Lincoln (1480) 10:15 a.m. KRGI Grand Island (1430) 10:33 a.m. KODY North Platte (1240) 10:45 a.m. KOTD Plattsmouth (100) 12 Noon KCOW Alliance (1400) 12:15 p.m. KFOR Lincoln (1240) 12:45 p.m. KCNI Broken Bow (1280) 1:15 p.m. KAMI Cozad (1580) 2:45 p.m. KAWL York (1370) 3:30 p.m. KUVR Holdrege (1380) 4:45 p.m. KGFW Kearney (1340) 5:45 p.m. KMA Shenandoah, la. (960) 7:15 p.m. KNEB Scottsbluff (960) 9:05 p.m. FRIDAY KTCH Wayne (1590) 3:45 p.m. KVSH Valentine (940) 5:10 p.m. KHUB Fremont (1340) 5:15 p.m. WJAG Norfolk (780) 5:30 p.m. KBRB Ainsworth (1400) 6:00 p.m. SATURDAY KJSK Columbus (900) 6:00 a.m. KICS Hastings (1550) 6:15 a.m. KEYR Scottsbluff (690) 7:45 a.m. KICX McCook (1360) 8:30 a.m. KRNY Kearney (1460) 8:30 a.m. KJNC Falls City (1230) 8:45 a.m. KSID Sidney (1340) 9:15 a.m. KCSR Chadron (610) 11:45 a.m. KSMT (1310) 12:45 p.m. 5KK (1350) 4:30 p.m. KNLV Ord (1060) 4:45 p.m. Psburg, Kan. (1490) 5:15 p.m. SStTe Scottsbluff (1320) 5:40 p.m. KffiS loux CIV a (62 :10 P. SiXvM Lexington (880) 9:15 p.m. KJSK-FM Columbus (101.1) 9:45 p.m. DIVISION CHIEFS Dale R. Bree, Parks Harold K. Edwards, Resource Services Glen R. Foster, Fish Production Carl E. Gettmann, Law Enforcement Jack Hanna, Budget and Fiscal Ken Johnson, Game Earl R. Kendle, Research Lloyd Steen, Personnel Lyle K. Tanderup, Engineering Bob Jhomas, Fish Management Delvin Whiteley, Federal Aid Jim Wofford, Information and Education CONSERVATION OFFICERS Ainsworth—Max Showalter, 387-1960 Albion—Robert Kelly, 395-2538 Alliance—Richard Furley, 762-2024 Alliance—Richard Seward. 762-4317 Alma—William F. Bonsall, 928-2313 Arapahoe—Don Schaepler, 962-7818 Auburn—James Newcome, 274-3644 Bassett—Leonard Spoering, 684-3645 Bassett—Bruce Wiebe, 684-4867 Benkelman— H. Lee Bowers, 423-2893 Bridgeport—Joe UI rich, 262-0541 Broken Bow—Gene Jeffries, 872-5953 Columbus—Lyman Wilkinson, 564-4375 Crawford—Cecil Avey, 665-2517 Creighton—Gary R. Ralston, 358-3411 Crofton—John Schuckman, 388-4421 David City—Lester H. Johnson, 367-4037 Fairbury—Larry Eauman, 729-3734 Fremont—Andy Nielsen, 721-2482 Geneva—Kenneth L. Adkisson, 759-4241 Gering—Jim McCole, 436-2686 Grand Island—Fred Salak, 384-0582 Hastings—Norbert Kampsnider, 462-8953 Hay Springs—Marvin E. Kampbell. 638-5262 Lexington— Loren A. Noecker, 324-2845 Lincoln—Dayton Shultis, 488-8164 Lincoln—Ross Oestmann, 489-8363 Lincoln—Leroy Orvis, 488-1663 Lincoln—William O. Anderson, 432-9013 Milford—Dale Bruha, 761-4531 Norfolk—Marion Shafer, 371-2031 Norfolk—Robert Downing, 371-2675 M01*!!1 E!afte—Dwiqht Allbery, 532-2753 North Platte—Gail Woodside, 532-0279 Ogallala—Parker Erlckson, 284-2992 Omaha—Dick Wilson, 334-1234 2lU?h.S~Ro3er A- Guenther, 333-3368 O'Neill—Roger W. Hurdle, 336-3988 Ord—Gerald Woodgate, 728-5060 Oshkosh— Donald D. Hunt, 772-3697 Plattsmouth—Larry D. Elston, 296-3562 Riverdale—Bill Earnest 893-2571 Sidney—Raymond Frandsen, 254-4438 Stapleton—John D. Henderson, 636-2430 Syracuse—Mick Gray, 269-3351 Tekamah—Richard Elston, 374-1698 Valentine—Elvin Zimmerman, 376-3674
SPEND A DAY IN HISTORY!
TO BLACK HILLS
ISO Mil
This summer, take to the trail. Follow
both the Old Oregon and Mormon Trails
on U.S. Highway 26 through western
Nebraska.
On your way, don't forget to visit
points of interest.
POINTS OF
INTEREST ALONG
HIGHWAY 26
• Wildcat Hills Game Preserve
(Buffalo, Elk, Deer)
• Scottsbluff National Monument
• Oregon Trail Museum
• Mitchell Pass
• Robidoux Pass
• Pioneer Landmarks
• Carter Canyon
• Stage Hill '
• Pony Express, Stage Coach Route
• Oregon Trail and Mormon Routes
• Agate Fossil Beds National
Monument (Prehistoric Animal
Fossils)
Horse Creek Indian Treaty
Grounds
Fort John Indian Treaty Grounds
Original Ft. Mitchell Site
Nebraska's Largest Zoo
Register Cliffs
Ash Hollow Cemetery
Ancient Bluff Ruins
Copper Hills
Campgrounds at Minatare Lake,
Riverside Park, Wildcat Hills,
and Bridgeport.
HIGHWAY 26 ASSOCIATION
BOX 167, SCOTTSBLUFF, NEBRASKA 6936V
Just 15 minutes south of
Interstate 80
Open hours:
Sundays 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Monday through Saturday
June, July & August, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Sept. through May, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Highway #281 and 14th St. Hastings, Nebraska
Outdoor Elsewhere
Fishlegger. A lad stood watching trout in a Calgary fish hatchery so long it made the manager suspicious. When the youngster left, he followed him to his car and found out that the boy had run a line through his pantleg and had caught a fish on it.-Alberta
Wrong Job. An Easton man developed chest colds, shortness of breath and nasal congestion shortly after being appointed director of the city police de partment's K-9 corps. He quit his job after a medical examination —he was allergic to dogs.-Pennsylvania
Bum Steer. When Cedar Rapids police checked a car entering the city, they heard noise in the trunk and had the driver open it. Out popped a very angry steer. The officers impounded the car and its contents, and later filed cattle rustling charges against the driver.- Iowa
No Escape. After vainly searching through even the most remote areas of the country, scientists conclude that the United States ran out of clean air six years ago when pollution from the East and West coasts met at Flagstaff. Arizona
Hitching Rail. A barkeep came up with a novel idea how to keep animals out of his establishment. He built a rail outside patterned after hitching rails from cowboy days. Now dog owners who show up at his pub can leave their dogs outside while quaffing a mug.-California.
See what made America great
PIONEER
Here is the place where millions of people
have enjoyed a stroll back through a century
and a half, so arranged that you walk less
than a mile.
1. Main Building: More than 10,000 items
trace transportation, communications, recrea
tion, arts, etc. through the years as they
appeared.
2. Elm Creek Fort: Webster County's first
actual dwelling/community fort, moved to the
Village and authentically furnished.
3. People's Store: Replica of a general store,
completely stocked with merchandise of a
bygone era.
4. Bloomington Land Office: Original building
where homesteaders filed, contains early
maps, old land records, etc.
5. Fire House: Museum of fire equipment from
hand cart to modern fire truck. Also houses
a typical early day jail.
6. Lowell Depot: During restoration, 7 wornout
floors were uncovered in this century-old
depot from Kearney Co.
7. Grom School: Straight from before the turn
of the century, actual schoolhouse is superbly
equipped with original furnishings — including
dinner buckets!
8. Sod House: Replica, painstakingly accurate,
of the "little old sod shanty on the plains,"
contains actual items of home furnishings.
9. China Shop: Fascinating collections of
china, pottery, cut glass, and other precious
keepsakes that came west in covered wagons.
10. Church: Built in 1884, Minden's first
churchhouse retains original altar, pews, pul
pit, pump organ, etc. from St. Paul Lutheran
congregation.
13. Pony Express Bars: Authentically recon
structed, with model horses and historic sad
dles.
: Two full floors trace
implements year-by-
elped build our vast
14. Agricultural Buildinj
the development of far
year, actual tools th
agricultural economy
15. Antique Auto Building: Some 150 autos
and trucks (many of them early models of
present makes) stand in chronological order
in this 2-story building, 265 feet long.
16. Livery Stable: Huge old 2-story barn
houses saddles, harness, fly nets, and horse
drawn rigs galore.
17. Antique Tractor and Truck Building: Larg
est collection of farm tractors anywhere, as
they developed over half a century. Farm and
city trucks, stationary engines on second floor.
17A. Antique Farm Machinery Building: In
cludes seeding, cultivating, and harvesting
machines — headers, threshers, corn pickers,
haying equipment, horsepowers and steam
engines.
18. Homes and Shops Building: Not just an
"early day kitchen," but a 5-generation evolu
tion of kitchens, side by side for easy com
parison! Also typical shops and offices from
different periods, all carefully labeled as to era.
19. Horse Barn: Typical pioneer barn, moved
from Warp homestead 9 miles south of Minden.
20. Home Appliance Building: Washboard to
automatic, and every washer between! Also
stoves, refrigerators, bathtubs, past kitchen
gadgets and utensils galore.
21. Hobby House: Absorbing collections of
dolls, pitchers, buttons, trivets, many, many
other items.
22. Snack Bar: Serving coffee, ice cream,
candy, and soft drinks.
23. Pioneer Motel: 66 modern units with air
conditioning and TV, reasonable rates. See
the Village and stay awhile.
24. Pioneer Restaurant: The fine foods you'd
expect from Minden cooks, at popular prices.
25. Camp Grounds: Space for campers, trail
ers, or tents while you visit Pioneer Villaqe
Showers, facilities.
