Stephenville Tribune (Stephenville, Tex.), Vol. 36, No. 45, Ed. 1 Friday, October 19, 1928 Page: 1 of 10
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Stephenville Tribune
THE POPULAR HOME NEWSPAPER OF STEPHENVILLE AND ERATH COUNTY
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THIRTY-SIXTH YEAR
STEPHENVILLE, ERATH COUNTY, TEXAS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19,1928
NUMBER 45
I'LL TELL THE
World
Gradually but surely the worth
of the Exray gas and oil fields
are being fully realized by Erath
county people. We say oil fields
because it is a general belief that
• big pool of oil underlies the ter-
ritory around Exray. The gas
production is already thoroughly
proven. _
Very few, if any, royalty pay-
ments have been made up until the
present writing. A policy stead-
fastly followed by practically all
oil companies is to withhold the
first three ox four months of ray-
alty. After that the payments
come in monthly and semi-monthly
installments, being guaged accord
ing to the pipe line estimates.
The royalty in the Liberty well
is now good for 9600 per month,
according to reliable statements.
This sum of money released into
the county, and which is all new
capital, will not be any great
length of time in mounting to a
sizeable sum. Furthermore, there
are seven other eighth royalty pay-
ments to be made. With the be-
ginning of the winter season when
gas must flow into pipe lines with
full capacity these royalty pay-
ments will reach high totals.
Looking a bit deeper into the pos
sibilities of thja new gai
wells
there are
aJmosV^s
v-^jrwell. The ]
din wells i
of th>
otjwr
i* muc!
pos-
Hfield,
paying
Liberty
it gas
uch as the Liberty
The Barton, Davis and Maul
din wells are all good gassers, es-
pecially the former. Royalty from
the Barton and Davis wells can
easily amount to thousands of dol
lars within a short space of time.
Then, of course, the annual lease
money, although small, helps the
land owner considerably. Develop-
ment of oil and gas fields with any
degree of progress always brings
a certain amount of prosperity.
The Exray country has felt the ef
facts of this development in many
erejW'tfcirinjC'risrwrt months..
Strangers coming into Stephen-
ville marvel at the crowds seen in
stores and on. the streets. “Where
do all these people come from V
is a question often asked. With
thirty thousand citizens within its
boundaries Erath county lays claim
to one of the leading counties in
Central West Texas, and Stephen-
ville being the metropolis natural-
ly attracts them when they think
of making purchases for the home,
farm and ranch. The crowd here
Saturday was declared by many to
have been the largest seen here iq
many days, if not the largest on
record.
And this brings back again the
ever popular subject, highways.
Good roads—better than the av-
erage—lead east, west, north and
south Into Stephenville. Such
conditions makes it convenient for
people from a radius of thirty and
forty miles to take advantage of
the extra large stocks Carried by lo-
cal merchants. Without the high-
waya there is no doubt that busi-
ness men of this town would suffer
slump in sales, and likewise
Nnro would be dissatisfaction
MBong the trading public. Good
IfUrays are a necessity in these
i of the automobile.
prhile our highways are not of
best type, there is sure to
ved nig
mprove
sure
ighways in this coun-
in future years. Perhaps you
wonder how they will be paid
but that is another auestipn.
highways are a certainty and
•^ner or later the means for their
r.Astruction will be forthcoming.
m
Secretary of War Dwight F.
Davis took an unusual joy ride ro>
cently In one of the army’s
speedy new tanks. The occasion
was the military exposition and
irnlval held at Washington bar-
cks. Washington, D. C.
FEATURE SERVICE
pictui
the Tribune has had under
consideration for some time
starts this week and it ia to
be hoped will meet with the
popular favor of the readers
of the paper. The new ser-
vice consists of pictures
made up at different points
over the country and of the
very latest current events.
As an instance of what the
service means, the Tribune
is able to present a picture
of the Graf Zeppelin, the
German blimp that has just
crossed the Atlantic. Other
pictures of equal merit will
be shown each week. Trib-
une readers are invited to
express themselves to the
publishers regarding its new
service. If you like it, tell
us; if you don’t like it tell
us.
Germany’s Giant Liner of the Air
STREET LIGHTS
COMING SOON;
WORK STARTED
Actual construction of the new,
street lighting system for Steph-
enville was put under way Thurs-
day morning when a crew was put
on the job by the Texas Power &
Ligiy Company. Another crew,
consisting of linemen, will arrive
in the city wijglin a few days and
at that time more than twenty
men will be engaged in setting the
standards and installing the new
system. Lights will be placed on
Tarleton Avenue, Washington.
Street, Clinton Avenue, Mcllhaney
Avenue, Belknap Street, Graham
Street and Long Street. There will
also be other standards establish-
ed in different sections of the city.
Officials of the lighting company
have estimated it will cosh ap-
proximately |7,000 to put the new
system into effect.
Contract for the new street
lights was signed two months ago
and for some time during recent
weeks the report has been current
that the contract had been rejected
by City officials. However, this re-
port was never confirmed and
was without foundation. Engi-
neers for the Texas Power & Light
Company have had a sizeable job
in getting ready for construction to
start. It has also required some
time to have the equipment manu-
factured and shipped. Many had
apparently expected the lights to
be installed within two weeks after
the contract had been signed.
As a result of the new contract
Stephenville will get more than
fifty extra street lamps and the il-
lumination will give the city a
much more metropolitan air and
appearance and at the same time
afford local citizens much satisfac-
tion while going around town at
night.
J. W. Heaton, local manager for
the Texas Power & Light Company,
estimates it will be six or seven
weeks yet before the lights can be
turned on.*
Miss Mary Marrs, accompanied
by her mother, Mrs. F. M. Marrs,
and Miss Victoria Looney, motored
to Dallas Friday where they spent
the remainder of the week attend-
ing the Fair and visiting relatives
and friends.
With custom and living standards
altogether changed from what they
were twenty-five years ago we have
no way of knowing just what will
happen within the next twenty-year
period, but nothing will be impos-
sible. We hope to live in a day
when paved roads radiate in every
direction.
Looking at the farm exhibits
from the many different Texas
counties, displayed at the Dallas
Fair last week, we were made to
wonder just how well this county
would compare with those with the
enterprise to participate in the ex-
position, and who were getting
pleasure out of the expressions of
M — - —' VAptCOOlUllO VI
surprise radiating from every vis-
itor. What a pity that Erath
county, so rich in resources, can-
not have a county agent and home
demonstration agent, so that it
would be possible to enter an ex-
hibit at the State Fair. Erath
county is paying a penalty far
above the amount needed to en-
gage this service, in not having
them.
Twenty thousand people paid ap-
proximately $60,000 to see two
football teams in action at Dallas
last Saturday. In Chicago a real
crowd, so the fans put it, paid
more than one-half million dollars
to see a game. These amounts
were gate receipts only. Add to
them the necessary expense of get-
ting to and from the stadium and
the total would, indeed, be stag-
gering. And to think, only a few
shorl years ago school teachers
read the history of Roman Gla<U
lator combats and the attendant
>wds with a sneer, admonishing
pils to beware of such foolish -
s. On the other hand Stephen-
and Erath county people will
several thousand dollars to
the circus Saturday, all be-
somebody has to *
Germany’s new giant “liner of the air,’’ the Graf Zeppelin, which started Oct. 11 on a transatlantic flight
to America, reaching this couhtry late Monday afternoon, is pictured above with its commander, Dr. Hugo
Eckener. Below are two views of the ship’s interior. Left: the kitchen, complete to the last detail. Right:
one of the compact but luxuriously appointed staterooms. The Graf Zeppelin’s length over-all is just 16
feet less^ than the height of the Woolworth building.
ERATH PULLETS
BIG WINNERS AT
THESTATEFAIR
A string of Golden Wyandottes,
owned by W. T. Carves, were given
big winnings at the poultry show
at the Texas State Fair at Dallas
last week. The winnings were
first, second, third and fourth
cockerels; first second, third,
fourth, fifth and champion pullet.
The cockerels were of a class that
gave them first winnings and they
were awarded first places by the
judges, but the pullets seemingly
took more glory, having been
placed in the championship class,
besides the first winnings. The
same birds were winners at the
Erath county fair held in Septem-
ber.
In speaking of his chickens Mr.
Graves remarked they were first
and last Erath county products,
having been bred in this county,
and feed from Erath county feed,
the mash, starter and other feed
coming from the local feed plant
of Henry Clary. “I raised these
chickens principally in my back
yard,’’ said Mr. Graves, “and I am
proud of the fact they are Erath
county chickens,” he said. *
Competition in the Wyandotte
section of the poultry show at the
State Fair is extremely heavy,
since the very best breeders in the
country show there. Since the
birds of Mr. Graves eliminated all
these high grade entries it makes
it eminent that Erath county is one
of the ideal poultry producing
counties in the entire South and
also that the quality as it now
stands has reached a state of high
perfection.
TEACHERS TO
ASSEMBLE IN
CITY OCT. 25
The annual teachers institute of
Erath county will be held in Ste-
phenville beginning Thursday Oc-
tober 26, and continuing thru the
following day, Friday, acording to
an announcement made this week
by Miss Blanche Pittman, county
superintendent. All business and
executive sessions of the body will
be held at the local high school
building.
In years past, at different inter-
vals surrounding countie s have
joined with the Erath teachers in
the annual sesion which made a
large gathering of teachers here.
However, none other than teachers
from this county will be present
this year. It is estimated tnat ap-
proximately 200 will be in attend-
The program has not been an-
nounced but If It comes up to th<
standard of other years interest-
ing subjects pertaining to the pro-
fession will be ably discussed by
noted educators from over the
F. B. WINTERS, JR., DEAD;
BURIED AT WEST END
F .B. Winters, Jr., 22, died at the
home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs.
F. B. Winter*, a* Corinth, Saturday
night from the effects of a long ill-
ness. His condition had been of
such nature as to cause uneasiness
among members of the family and
his friends but his death was whol-
ly unexpected. Funeral services
were conducted at the First Baptist
church Monday morning by Rev.
Ben West, assisted by Rev. W. H.
Andrew. Following the service at
the church the remains were car-
ried to West End cemetery for
burial.
Deceased had made his home in
this county all his life, except at
short intervals when he was away
for his health. Recently he return-
ed from Carlsbad where he had
been ’receiving1 treatment and it
was thought for a time that his
condition was greatly improved.
His malady was chronic and for
some time he had suffered the
pangs of an incurable disease, ap-
parently contracted from some un-
known cause. Early in the year he
underwent an operation which it
was thought would relieve him but
later in the summer season his con-
dition was again in the acute stage
He is the youngest member of a
family of eight and has always
been a source of*much joy to his
parents and his brothers and sis-
ters.
Besides his parents and brothers
and sisters he is survived by a wife.
All were preesnt for the funeral
service.
EX-CONGRESSMAN HERE
IN DEMOCRATIC RALLY
Hon. James Young, of Waxa-
hachie, Democrat, spoke in the in-
terest of his party to a crowd of
160 to 200 people last Saturday af-
ternoon on the court house lawn.
Judge W. J. Oxford spoke first and
introduced Mr. Young.
Mr. Young spoke at length on the
principles upheld by the Democratic
party. He went further to state
that he had "No sympathy with
individuals, voters, who so mistrust
the judgment of their party that
they refused to entertain its sanc-
tions.”
Mr. Young’s remarks were re-
ceived enthusiastically and he was
cheered roundly at the close of his
speech. He will continue to speak
in other Texas cities until the close
of the present presidential cam-
paign.
Dr. T. M. Gordon left for Dallas
Thursday afternoon and will bring
Mrs. Gordon back to Stephenville
today. Mrs. Gordon has been in
Dallas for the past several weeks
recovering from a serious surgical
operation. Dr. Gordon has stated
that in his opinion Mrs. Gordon will
soon be entirely recovered.
Mrs. L. L. Kcyser, who has been
in Fort Worth the past several
weeks receiving treatment for her
weakened condition has improved
so much that she is expected home
this week. Friends of Mrs. Keyser
will be more than pleased to hear
of her recovery and trust that she
will soon regain her strength and
vigor.
DEATH PENALTY
GIVEN IN SHOOK
MURDER TRIAL
Clyde Thompson, 18 years old,
was found guilty of murder in con-
nection with the killing of Lucian
Shook at Leeray in September and
was assessed the death penalty by
a District Court jury in Eastland,
Tuesday night.
The case was given to the jury a
few minutes before 10 o’clock and
a verdict was reached in less than
a half hour of deliberation.
Trial of Thomas Davis, indicted
in the same killing, was set for
Wednesday. Charges of murder
against Woodrow Wilson Davis, 12
years old, were dismissed by the
court Tuesday when the boy took
the stand as a State witness and
recited details of the Shook killing.
Lucian Shook and his brother,
Leon, were shot to death the night
of Sept. 7. They were lured from
their homes by Thompson on the
pretense of going fox hunting and
killed in cold blood. According to
the testimony of Woodrow Wilson
Davis, Thompson had stated before
the killing that he was motivated
by a desire to “see ’em kick,” hence
the slayings.
The trial of the defendant was
commenced Monday morning. Tak-
ing of testimony ended shortly be-
fore noon Tuesday, after which
Judge Elzo Been charged the jury
along the usual lines. The court
allowed each side two hours for ar-
guments. Frank Judkins, special
prosecutor, opened for the State
and occupied about one hour. The
court then recessed until 7 o’clock,
when arguments were resumed.
J. R. Stubblefield, defense coun-
sel, spoke for two hours and Frank
Sparks, county attorney, closed for
the State. In his closing state-
ments Stubblefield insisted that the
defendant was only 16 years old
when the crime was committed and
asked the jury to remember that in
its deliberations. Sparks contended
that the defendant was 18 years old
last August, basing his argument
on a statement made by Thompson
to him in the county jail a short
time ago.
HAPPY McKEWN ANI) HIS
SHOWS COMING TO TOWN
Happy Frank McKown, the arm-
less showman who makes Stephen-
ville his home and headquarters,
will bring his equipment and show
paraphernalia to tne city Monday
of next week and locate it on the
lot directly north of the trading
block. Happy stated Thursday that
since he was in this part of Texas
with his show he felt that he could
not leave without-bringing his or-
ganization into his home town.
Aside from the usual rides and
shows Mr. McKown has a rodeo
that is said to be one of the best
in its class, and an athletic show
that has attracted attantioh wher-
ever it has been seen.
Mr. McKown sees-to it that the
riff raff that sometimes follows a
show of this kind keeps away from
his organization. He claims to
have all clean attractions and a
high type aggregation of people
who are wholly respectful and
.trustworthy.
CITY ORDERS ELECTION FOR
PAVIHGjAND SEWERAGE BONDS
BSMSau
At a called session of the City
Council late Thursday afternoon
the mayor and members of the City
Council unanimously adopted a mo-
tion ordering a bond election for
$116,000, to be voted on November
20. The issue involves $75,000.00
for paving and $40,000.00 for sewer
improvements and extensions. All
qualified voters of the city of Ste-
phenville, who live within the cor-
porate limits, will be entitled to
vote.
Both issues have been discussed
from every angle by citizens of Ste-
phenville and members of the City
Council for some time. Two weeks
ago it seemed that an election in-
volving $145,000 would be asked by
the City Council but later deliber-
ation brought the amount down to
$115,000. The city water works
operating department will take
care of an improvement program in
the water department of approxi-
mately $30,000.00, paying this
amount out of accumulated profits.
It is therefore certain that should
the bonds be issued one of the most
pretentious improvement programs
ever attempted by the city will be
under way in the spring.
The paving bonds, so it is esti-
mated will take care of at least
fifty city blocks of additional pav-
ing, while the sewer bonds will give
every residence sewer service end
a new disposal plant. It hws not
fully developed whether a new dis-
posal plant will be built or the old
one remodeled. It has been the con-
tention of engineers that a new
plant is the only feasible plan to
adopt. The Council is studying this
matter now and will decide definite-
ly1 their plan of operation at some
future date.
With the feelings of the citizen-
ship so strongly in evidence at a
meeting held at the court house
Thursday night of last week it
seems an assured fact that the
bonds will carry overwhelmingly.
BIG CIRCUS SURE TO •
DRAW CAPACITY CROWD
That one of the largest crowds of
the season will be on the streets
of Stephenville Saturday goes
without saying. Best evidence of
what may be expected in this con-
nection can best be gotten by talk-
ing with the children, for be it
said that during- the past two
weeks chewing gum, peanuts and
candy sales have slumped, all be-
cause the kids have been saving
their pennies for the circus.
On the other hand there is the
usual hue and cry of the old folks
having to go along to see that the
kids are taken care of and do not
follow the circus train out of town
after being romanced into a state
of high ambition to ride one of the
painted ponies, or perhaps take the
post of the star clown.
But any way and anyhow the
kids are doing their secret talking
about how, when and where. They
want to know how they are going
to the circus, have already settled
the date permanently in their own
minds, and know exactly just
where the big top will be located.
Circus day always brings joy to
the hearts of the kids—and the old
folks, too, for that matter. Every-
body enjoys the saw dust trail, the
blare of the hand and the big ele-
phant.
Thus and therefore if you want
to see everybody better be in Ste-
phenville Saturday, because it’s
circus day.
Miss Marie Oxford was a guest
of Miss Opal Clayton at her home
in Fort Worth last week-end.
Jim Jamison, accompanied by his
parents and little brother, and Mr.
and Mrs. Charles Jamison and son,
Charles, Jr., motored to Dallas last
week-end to attend the State Fair.
Miss Iva Jamison, nurse at Harris’
sanitarium, Fort Worth, joined the
family enroute to Dallas, also
spending the week-end with them
at the Fair.
REPAIRS AND
CHANGES MADE
CHURCH BLDG.
A remodeling program which is
to approach a cost of five hundred
dollars has been begun on the old
Baptist church building on Wash-
ington street.
According to John Lockhart, who
is to preside as pastor of the con-
gregation immediately upon the
completion of the renovation, the
church building is to have a com-
plete new set of windows, a con-
crete entry, and a new coat of
white paint. Inside, there is to be
wallpaper and electrical fixtures,
all new, and the rostrum is to be
rebuilt and rearranged.
The old belfry and the bell are
to be discarded as too antiquated
for further service. The regular
Sabbath assemblage will depend in
the future on Its own initiative,
and no bell tolling will urge the
membership to attendance.
The reconstructed building will
be ready for occupancy In Novem-
ber 15.
ILLNESS FATAL
TO ED BRYANT;
DIED TUESDAY
After an illness of less than one
week Edwards Bryant died at his
home in Clifton Heights at 7 o’clock
Tuesday morning. He was 52 years
old and had been making Stephen-
ville his home for a period of more
than twenty-five years. Funeral
services were held at the First Bap-
tist church Wednesday morning at
10 o’clock, Rev. Wm. H. Andrew
being in charge. Interment was at
West End cemetery following the
church services.
Surviving are his wife and three
children, Miss Florence Bryant, Ed-
wards and George Bryant; his
father, R. Bryant, and two broth-
ers, Otis and Hood Bryant. All
w-ere present at the time of his
death. Aside from these relatives
deceased had a number of other
family connections and numberless
friends, both in Stephenville, Erath
county and in scattered sections of
Texas, and in his native State of
Georgia.
Up until he reached young man-
hood Mr. Bryant lived in the State
of Georgia with his parents, in the
city of Tacoa. At the time of being
in college at Nashville, Tenn., his
parents decided to move their home
to Texas and settled at Stephen-
ville. After finishing school Mr.
Bryunt came here to join his peo-
ple and since that time had made
this his permanent home. It w-as
in the year 1903 when he came here.
Soon after coming to Stephen-
ville he became identified with lo-
cal newspapers and for a time was
connected with the Erath County
Appeal. He later became one of
the publishers of this paper but in
time relinquished his interests in
the publication. Soon afterwards
he was made foreman of the Steph-
enville Empire and for a period of
several years held a responsible po-
sition with that newspaper. In 1911
he again entered the publishing
business and purchased a one-half
interest in the Tribune with C. R.
Coulter. In 1921 he associated him-
self with the Tribune in the ca-
pacity of a printer where he had
charge of all advertising composit-
ion. In this line of work he was
known and recognized as an artist.
Deceased was a member of the
First Baptist church and one of the
ranking members of the K. of P.
lodge. His high sense of humor
and friendly disposition made for
him a host of warm friends who
were always thoroughly entertain-
ed in his company with his sunny
disposition and gentlemanly con-
duct.- Another characteristic trait
of Mr. Bryant was his love for
friends and acquaintances to visit
in his home. His hospitality in this
connection was fully recognized by
all who knew him. In his last hours
it was apparent that he had a deep
appreciation for the attendance of
his neighbors and friends at his
bedside.
The large gathering of friends
at the funeral service, many from
scattered sections of the county, at-
tested to the high standing he en-
joyed in this community. Likewise
the floral offerings were beautiful
and profuse. His pastor, the Rev.
Andrew, gave a funeral service
that was one of love and high--
esteem, although the acquaintance
between the two men had been less
than one year.
In the death of Edwards Bryant
Stephenville loses a citizen whom
everybody loved and the many who
called at the Tribune Tuesday and
Wednesday to pay their respects to
the passing of the man speaks vol-
umes for the feelings between him
and the people of the city.
busy Fingers
By typliig 110 wor#~, ^ ml* %
tor a half-hour, pret '
Wright of Toronto,
the amateur typtr
»t the world k
typists from > r\
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Stephenville Tribune (Stephenville, Tex.), Vol. 36, No. 45, Ed. 1 Friday, October 19, 1928, newspaper, October 19, 1928; Stephenville, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1120186/m1/1/: accessed June 25, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Dublin Public Library.