davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Glasgow courier. [volume] (Glasgow, Mont.) 1913-current, 1945-12-06
Capt. Kloss Is
Chairman OF
Scout District

Capt. E. H. Kloss of Fort peck
vas elected president of the Buff
falC Plains Boy Scout district at a
meeting in Wolf Point Friday night,
it vas reported by Field Executive
E. A. Gilbertson of Glasgow. The
Rev. A. II. Crop of Wolf Point was
chosen vice president.
Captain KlCSs succeeds Charles
Kegel, formerly of Glasgow. who has
moved to Chinook. The district will
hold a meeting the first Monday Of
every month and the next will be
in Glasgow, Jan. Z.
Officers fixed the dates for the
district winter camp at Treasure
Island, neal Fort Peck, as Dec. % to
81. Accommodations are available for
only 20 Scouts, who will attend from
Wolf Point, Poplar, Fort Peck,
Nashua, Hinsdale and Glasgow. The
camp committee is composed of DR..
K. r. Steffensen and G.. R. Austin
Of Glasgow and A. S. Becker of
Fort Peck.
Wolf Point Scouters served a
lunch following the business meet
ing.
Attending from Glasgow were
Howard Nelson, G.. NJ. Lindberg. Mr..
Austin, DR.. SteffenSen, Art LeDuc,
c. II. Brocksmith and Mr.. Gilbert
sen. Fort Peck Scouters present were
N. NJ. Fuller. Captain Kloss, Richard
Eriksen and Mr.. Becker.
The Glasgow courier. [volume] (Glasgow, Mont.) 1913-current, 1945-12-06
Cr0undbedS"
May Eliminate
Main Troubles

Frequent difficulties with breaks
in Glasgow water mains may be at
least partially eliminated by install
lation of electric "groundbeds," pur-
chase of which city officials are
now considering, it was stated by
Martin Miller, city clerk.
Cast iron water pipes, partic-
ularly in this vicinity, corrode rap
idly due to natural electrical action
in the ground known as electrolysis.
Electrolysis, in many cases, is prac-
tically eliminated by maintaining a
small electric current from a ground
to the structure, a plan known as
cathode protection"
Electrical rectifiers are used,
hooked up with the water main and
a grounded. Two groundbeds are
recommended for Glasgow, each
consisting of six 30-foot railroad
rails connected and buried in the
gruond.
A test made here recently indicates
that two units, each putting out 90
amperes, will protect all the water
mains on First and Second avenues
south, also those mains on First and
Second avenues north" a letter re-
ceived by the city from c. R. Davis
of Butte, engineer for the Montana
Power company states. Some protec-
ton will extend south as far as
Fourth avenue south and north as
far as Fourth avenue north.
This protected area includes the
worst area of corrosion and should
stop 80 percent of your leaks due to
c%orrosion," the letter adds.
The Glasgow courier. [volume] (Glasgow, Mont.) 1913-current, 1945-12-06
Col. Haim0t Is in
Charge Of
Ship Conversion

Lieut.. Col. David Halmot, form
erly of Glasgow and Fort Peck, has
recently been in charge of the boat
building command at Batangas on
Luzon in the Philippines, charged
with converting Liberty ships INTO
troop carriers, according to word re-
ceived here by Mrs. Mary Sweitzer.
Colonel Halmot has been in the
Pacific for more than two years.
Conversion of ships and rate OF
sending eligible men home have
been controversial subjects in the
Pacific and an article in the Paci-
fican, service paper, notes that Col
onel Halmot's command has been
converting Liberties in 60 hours.
The colonel said he wouldn't
mind at all going home on one OF
his converted ships. which is pos
sible, since he has 88 points and
six years of service" the article
states. With IA years of civilian
construction behind him and hopes
Of his own construction company
ahead of him, the Glasgow, Mont,
officer stated that the only red tape
he has encountered was at the n
gineer supply depot. High army Of
ficers, he said, are eXpediting the
work and have issued verbal inStruc-
tons to depots to issue required ma
terials."
The Glasgow courier. [volume] (Glasgow, Mont.) 1913-current, 1945-12-06
9 BRANCHES
OF LIBRARY
OPERATING
Community Service Is Given TO
County Through Work of
Volunteers

Nine branches of the Valley
county library r now in operation
in the county, it was reported this
week by Mrs. Georgia Dignan
librarian.
Librarians in charge and theiI
communities are Theordor Aaberg.
city clerks office, Nashua; Mrs. Earl
Marshall, Thoeny store, Thoeny;
Harry Thompson, Thompson Drug
store, Opheim. Mrs. Otto KlieWer,
KlieWer residence, LuStre; Donald
H. welsh, high school, Frazer; Mrs.
Anna Chester. Chester hotel, Hns-
dale: Mrs. Pat Menge, Menge
residence, Beaverton; Mrs. Peter
Isakson, Isakson residence, Baylor,
and Mrs. Z. w. Clark, Clark resi-
dence, Richland.
These librarians have taken the
responsibility OF checking out books
for a time to determine the num-
Der and type needed for each COM
munity," Mrs. Dignan said. This is
an uncompensated service. Each
branch will be sent additional books
as new volumes come in. Relatively
few books have been received the
last two months, but many more
are on order and are expected this
month"
She pointed out that any resident
of the county is welcome to have a
borrowers card at both his branch
and in Glasgow.
She reported that the number Of
new applicants for borrowers cards
in Glasgow has averaged more than
four a day since the library was
reopened on a countrywide basis,
Oct. l. A number have been from
communities ether than Glasgow.
The library board has authorized
the librarian to order extra copies
of books in special demand. This al
ready has been done for a few
books frequently requested. Others
will be put on order when requests
are made known through branch
librarians or individual request.
Valley Is the eighteenth county in
Montana to establish a county
library under the state law. Last
year, the number of county libraries
in the United States had reached
5000. with still a large field left to
be developed.
The Glasgow courier. [volume] (Glasgow, Mont.) 1913-current, 1945-12-06
Home Service
Office Here
Is Open Daily

Expanding its work for service
men and a veterans, the Valley
county Red Cross chapter has
opened a home service office in the
county office building here that will
be open week days from l to 5. it
is announced by Mrs. T. H. Markle,
chapter chairman.
Mrs. H. H. Morton will be in
charge of the office, while j. A. Hol-
land will continue in his capacity
as home service chairman TO super
wise all such work.
Advice and assistance to service
men and their families on all phases
of veterans problems will be Of
fered. Demands for home service
work of the Red Cross here have in
creased steadily, resulting in the de-
cision to open the office, it was
stated.
Such matters as emergency fur
life insurance, education.
vocational rehabilitation, benefits to
dependents, disqualification and
others will be handled through
the office.
The Glasgow courier. [volume] (Glasgow, Mont.) 1913-current, 1945-12-06
HINSDALE'S
STOCK, Beet
TRAFFIC Big
23S Carloads Leave Station
This Season, Is Report
by Agent

HINSDALE - stock shipments
from the Hinsdale area en- the Great
Northern railway totaled 12l carloads
up to December l, H. e. Boissens,
local agent, reported this week. In
all lis carloads of cattle, 4 carloads
of sheep and 2 carloads of horses
have been shipped since August l. In
addition, lit carloads of sugar beets
went from here to the Chinook fac
tory.
Stock shipments by months were
August /: September, 10; October
So. and November, "a.
Weighing approximately 10000
pounds per car. the 1T carloads oil
beets represent approximately 5,265
tons.
The average yield in the HinsdaIe
area this year ran between 10 and
u tons per acre, it was reported by
w. c. Dougan. manager of the
here, which was closed last
week. Some growers had 15-ton and
l7-ton beets. but in general the year
was not favorable for the crop.
Despite the early freezeup, almost
all acreage in this area was finally
harvested. Mr.. Dougan said.
The Glasgow courier. [volume] (Glasgow, Mont.) 1913-current, 1945-12-06
Gave Life to Save His Platoon;
Silver Star for Pfc. SchuSter

Andrew L. Schuster of Portland.
The citation accompanying the
medal stated:
For gallantry in action against
the enemy in Germany. On "a April,
l945, enemy fire from well-con-
cealed positions caught Pfc. Schust-
er's platoon in an open field and
frustrated all efforts by the platoon
to seek cover
Realizing the desperate plight of
the men, Pfc. Schuster boldly
mounted his machine gun in plain
view of the enemy and\ opened fire
to cover the withdrawal of his
platoon. Although wounded in this
action, ne continued to deliver fire
effectively until he was hit a second
time, this time fatally.
Pfc. Schuster alone was respon-
sible for the safe withdrawal OF his
platoon. His courage and unselfish
devotion to duty reflect great credit
upon himself and the military serv-
ice"
A public program had been ar
ranged at Glentana for Saturday,
but Mai. Frank B. Herald of Boze-
man, who was to have made the pre-
sentation to Miss Schuster, wired
that unfavorable circumstances
prevented his attendance. The medal
was sent to Miss Schuster by regis
tered mail.
Pfc. Schuster, a native of Valley
county, had spent most of his life
with his aunt. He was a 1912 grad
uate of Glasgow high school,.
The Glasgow courier. [volume] (Glasgow, Mont.) 1913-current, 1945-12-06
Starvation, Thirst, Brutality
for Opheim Man, Jap Prisoner

the men died like lies, an aver
age of so every day." the Ophein
soldier remembers. Beri-beri, dy.
sentery and other diseases tool
quick toll of the weakened men.
Brutality was "a common sport
of the Nips. Never a day went by
that someone didn't get a broken
arm. Watterud received many beat
ings, for no reason. These were ad-
ministered with clubs and continued
until the victim was unconscious
Some had lighted cigarets thrust up
their nostrils, among them the Mon
tanan.
Next stop was at Los Pinos air.
field, a hard labor assignment from
dawn to dark.
1t was in October. 1914, that they
were loaded aboard a ship to be
taken to Japan. The ship spent 38
days reaching its destination. Seven
in the convoy were sunk by Ameri-
can subs. None, however, contained
American prisoners.
1t was real starvation treatment
on the ship-and along with it no
water. I'VE could sit or stand but
never lie down. The floors were so
covered with filth that maggots
crawled over them constantly" he
related. Men went crazy, cutting
their wrists to drink the blood
Others stood with mouths agape at
exposed corners trying to catch a
little muddy rain water.
After reaching a port in Formosa
the men we're put to work en- farms
all primitive style. hand labor
For the four months thev remained
they received better chow and
treatment.
-Four more months working at a
steel mill found Watterud so sick
that he was moved to Kobe with
British prisoners. But again he was
put to work as a stevedore on the
docks. Leading vessels. he managed
to steal some beans and rice and
an occasional gunnysack to make
a suit" He had had no shoes for
10 months.
When American B-29 planes first
came v Watterud said the Japs
concentrated 600 prisoners in one
brick building. Six bombs struck II
but the Americans miraculously
escaped; several of the guards got
theirs
From then on, they moved every
week, or even more frequently. The
corporal noted they always were
spotted at a likely bombing target.
once the building they occupied was
painted to appear as an artillery
concentration. He recalls last March
II, when planes leveled a huge por-
ton of the city, leaving 100000
homeless.
Watterud again was assigned to
stevedore duty northwest of Tokyo.
And it was there on Aug. l6. for the
first time, that prisoners were not
called out to work. Treatment then
became a little kindlier and soon
food was dropped to them from
friendly planes. Many broke out OF
camp and went to town.
Corporal Watterud later was re-
turned to Manila. then reached the
states Oct. II for treatment at
Madigan general hospital at Ia
coma, Wash.
what would I do if / get a dis
charger" he asks. I'D Just as soon
re-enlist. I like army life"
The Glasgow courier. [volume] (Glasgow, Mont.) 1913-current, 1945-12-06
Scots Leaving
Friday for
First 2 Games

Glasgow highs Scotties will open
season basketball activities this
week end in a road trip. They meet
Culbertson Friday night and Poplar
Saturday night, before the first home
game with Malta on the civic center
floor here at 8 next wednesday.
Coach Ray Baker intends to use
two fiveS in opening games. carry
ing a utility man with each to make
a squad of u. Handicapped by lack
of tall players, Baker will rely on
fast-breaking play, with stronger
emphasis on shooting.
One quintet will include Joe Luck
man at center, Mickey Luckman
and Walt Russell, forwards, and Ole
Hammerness and Bill Sternhagen.
guards. with Don Play as alternate.
With the other five will be Cap
Czyzeski, center; Duge Koon and
Alvin Combs, forwards, and Gail
Stensland and Garth Mag, guards.
CLAYTON Goheen will be alternate.
The Malta game Wednesday night
will be preceded by a preliminary
scheduled to start at Gas between
Junior high and freshman players.
Coach Baker announced some
changes in the Scot schedule. Great
Falls has cancelled a game there.
scheduled for Feb. 8, but, in order
to give Glasgow its required II
games in the Big l6, will play a
doubleheader here. Feb. q and %.
It not being financially feasible to
90 as far as Great Falls for a single
contest, the st. Mary's game there
for Feb. 8 has been eliminated, also
crossing out the st. Mary's contest
here. Jan. 81. The Encouragement
leaves ten home encounters for the
Scots. the same as before.
The Glasgow courier. [volume] (Glasgow, Mont.) 1913-current, 1945-12-06
Texas Concern Takes
Over Gas Company;s
Bowdoin Oil Rights
OVER MILLION DOLLARS REPORTED
INVOLVED IN CURRENT
PENDING, EXCHANGES

MALTA-Persistent local JUNIORS
concerning transfer of Oil rights on
the Bowdoin dome were confirmed
here when announcement was made
that stockholders of the Bowdoin Oil
and Gas company were to meet at
neon today to ratify the sale of the
company's oil royalty rights on ap-
proximately 10000 acres on the
dome. which is in Phillips and VAL
ley counties.
1t is reported that the transaction
already has been sanctioned by a
majority CT the shareholders. County
stockholders in the Bowdoin Oil and
Gas company, which is a Mime
apolls concern, are Mrs. Dora Hedges
OF Saco; H. G.. Robinson Fred L.
Robinson and Grover Wait of Malta
and N. j. Brandt of Whitewater.
Action of the Bowdoin company is
expected to be followed by the trans
fer OF royalty rights by virtually all
other royalty and leaseholders to be
followed by drilling in the field by
the Texas company.
At the present time, virtually all
oil drilling rights on the dome are
owned or controlled by the Mon
tana-Dakota Utilities company, the
Bowdoin Oil and Gas company and
the Texas company, which last
winter and spring acquired a con-
siderable number of leases on in
dividual holdings.
1t is understood that, under pend
ing arrangements, the Texas COM
pany is acquiring only oil rights. If
additional natural gas is encountered
in test drilling, it will be the property
of the Montana-Dakota Utilities
company.
More than 81, 000, 900 is said to be
involved in the EXCHANGE of rights
thus far in the development.
The Glasgow courier. [volume] (Glasgow, Mont.) 1913-current, 1945-12-06
IntermOuntain to
Double Service
i'm Hi-Line Area

Effective next Monday the Inter
mountain Transportation company
will add a second bus schedule both
east and west on the highline, ac-
cording to information received from
w. N. Kaparich of Anaconda, COM
pany auditor. Buses will be in oper-
alton between Havre and Williston.
Double southbound and northbound
schedules are in operation from
Havre, providing additional service
for the highline east of there. East
bound buses will arrive here at 2:25
p. m. and $3.50 a. m, leaving at 2:55
p. m. and 1886 a. m. Westbound
buses will arrive at 2:35 p. m. and
3:35 a. m, leaving at PAS p. m. and
APO a. m. The schedule also marks a
change in arrival and departure
times of present afternoon buses.
The Glasgow courier. [volume] (Glasgow, Mont.) 1913-current, 1945-12-06
Glasgow and Saco
Men to Attend
Irrigation Meet

Josef Shower and Otto NJ. Christ
inson, representing the Glasgow
Chamber of Commerce, and Charles
H. McChesney and c. P. Martin Of
Saco are among men from this area
who plan to attend the annual con-
vention of the Montana Reclamation
association in Missoula Monday and
Tuesday. Mr.. Christinson has been
appointed a member of the conven-
ton legislative committee and Mr.
Shower on the budget, finance and
audit group. Prominent speakers
from throughout the west are on
the program. according to word
from Vice President r. G. Bricker OF
Great Falls.
The Glasgow courier. [volume] (Glasgow, Mont.) 1913-current, 1945-12-06
Additional 80
Miles Of Line
Asked for REA

Officers of the Valley Electric Co
op, Inc, are awaiting word on their
application for an additional fund
ALLEGATION from the REA for an ad-
dtional 80 miles of transmission line
to serve 100 more rural consumers,
it was reported this week by Fred
Rusher. secretary of the coop.
Approval of the application would
make a total of $50 miles of line
with 400 customers to be served in
southern Valley county, he said.
D. M. Manning of Hysham was low
bidder on the original contract. The
contract award is now pending in the
st. Louis office of the REA and it Is
believed that the award will be made
as Don as approval is given to the
request for additional funds to eX-
tend lines. Mr.. Rusher said.
The Glasgow courier. [volume] (Glasgow, Mont.) 1913-current, 1945-12-06

OpHEIM-A victim of Jap brutal
ity and Of a starvation diet that
brought temporary blindness, Corp.
Glenn Watterud, son of Mr.. and
Mrs. Glenn Watterud of Opheim,
is home en- furlough after almost
81 years spent as a prisoner of
the enemy.
Enlisting Jan. IS, 1941, Corporal
Watterud went overseas three
months later and was assigned to
the 60th coast artillery on Cor
regidor in Manila bay. He was
wounded soon after the japanese
attack in l94l but was released be-
fore Corregidor fell on May 6, 1912.
AT first. it wasn't too bad, he
said, for the men had saved some
food. From C~orregidcr. the Ameri-
cans were taken to the LuZon main
land, then packed 100 to a car in
small Jap freight cars. A small
cup of rice sufficed for food en- a
14-hour journey. They were too
crowded to sit or lie. Many died Of
suffocation.
Reaching Camp III at Cabana-
tuan, the real starvation began"
NNeLNGA ud ANAalNos IOOo hoo OAA
kind of vegetation Boiled up into
a greenish soup. Once in a while,
we got a small portion of rice"
After living on this diet for six
months, many lost their e~yesight.
Some cases were so severe that men
were taken to an American doctor,
Who removed their eyes to save their
lives.
Watterud lost his sight for six
weeks. Ulcers formed back of his
eyes. Luckily, the only box he
ever received from home reached
him and in it was a bottle of badly
needs vitamins. The pills helped
restofe his sight. The box also
contained such articles as soc"s,
handy as barter with FilipincS in
securing bananas and other fresh
fruit.
Next they were taken to Camp I,
about ten miles away, and there
The Glasgow courier. [volume] (Glasgow, Mont.) 1913-current, 1945-12-06
PRODUCTION
HICHLICHTS
FARM GOALS
County Agents Annual Report
Shows Accomplishments
for the Year

Food production again was the
major goal of Valley county farm
ers and ranchers during l945, the
annual report and summary of &C
compliShments prepared by County
Agent James K. McGibney shows.
His summary shows 124 days de-
voted to food production with 60
meetings held and 1,943 people at
tending.
Irrigated area farmers planted
1929 acres of beets in the county,
almost double the 1914 figure, with
426 workers secured for thinning and
526 for topping, most of them Mexi-
can national or German prisoners.
In dryland areas, the agent notes
a good balance of summerfallow was
maintained in spite of heavy wheat
production $4,000 acres. There
were $1,000 acres of sub-surface
tillage.
Farmers planted 361 acres of
registered and approved seed wheat,
with $50 operators planting strips of
registered grain for their futurte use.
Barley acreage continued high,
$4,000. both because of its cash value
and for use as a sawfly control
measure.
A note of warning is sounded in
the report of the FEED balance for
livestock in the county, indicating
that ranges were overpopulated this
year, with $3.50 animal months
grazing deficiency.
Three meetings were held to dis
.cusS cattle feeding. Many ranchers
purchtAed purebred sires.
The agent ~cooperated in organiza-
ton of the new Nashua soil conser-
walton district. He reported 81 dams
surveyed and built in the county in
volving l96.420 cubic yards of dirt.
with the soil conservation taking a
major interest in this work.
Among other highlights in the re-
port are:
Two hundred and fifty acres OF
potatoes planted, with ITS acres Of
seed stock; 80 percent of county
farmers planted gardens with $780,
600 pounds of garden food produced
and 22,340 cans of food processed
in two school canaries: institution
Of a weed control project through
AAa VI OOhAANg NOAAAAAAAoolOllCl D. To- iOO
trees planted on farms and school
1900 filters of pigs raised:
dairy calves shipped into the
county, and 543 days work by labor
office personnel
All club enrolment, lower since
5he war. was 81, with a countrywide
camp held and $50 members. par
antS and others attending the an
lual achievement day program.
Sawfly control, an increasingly
serious problem, was discussed at II
meetings and 400 farmers called at
ne agents office for information on
control. Through the office, 10 tons
If grasshopper bait and 1900
pounds of poisoned gopher bait were
distributed.
Several farmers tours were made,
With SO farmers visiting the North
,rn Montana Agricultural expert
nent station near Havre.
The Glasgow courier. [volume] (Glasgow, Mont.) 1913-current, 1945-12-06
RED CROSS
ASKING FOR
VOLUNTEERS
Demands for Production Work
Continue Heavy on
Chapter

The end of the war has not les
sened the responsibilities Of the VAL
ley county Red Cross chapter in the
needs of service men in hospitals,
overseas and in this country or the
needs of civilian war relief, Mrs. 1.
w. HUMPHREYS, chapter chairman of
wal production. stated this week.
In an appeal for volunteers to
continue their efforts and for new
workers to aid them, Mrs. Humph-
ries reported that biggest produc-
ton needs r now being felt in re-
quests for sweaters and supplies for
hospitalized men,
we have on hand now a large
quota of ditty bags for immediate
production" she said. There is also
an assignment of 100 pounds of wool
for knitted garments. Expected daily
is a large shipment of girls caps
and children's overalls for foreign
relief, which must be cut and made
up by volunteer workers"
The Red Cross production room
in the county office building will be
open next Monday and Wednesday
and each Monday and Wednesday
following. she said.
Groups OF volunteers wishing to
work as units may arrange such
service by calling Mrs. Humphries
and convenient hours will be ar
ranged. Anyone who wishes may
take garments for work at home.
"Chapter-produced clothing has
provided much of the relief supplies
sent to liberated rea all over
Europe and, more recently, to the
Philippines" she added.
Mrs. HUMPHREYS highly COM
mended work of faithful, steady
production workers" Their services,
as well as those of e volunteers,
are urgently needed.
The Glasgow courier. [volume] (Glasgow, Mont.) 1913-current, 1945-12-06
Theft OF 2 Tires
Brings 30 Days
For Allen Smoker

Allen Smoker, 20, OF Frazer
pleaded guilty to petty larceny be-
fore Justice c. w. Kampfer here
Friday and was sentenced tc 80 days
in the county Jail.
Smoker was arrested in Frazer
Thursday by Undersheriff william
Wallis on complaint of Lyle Dill
beck. who charged Smoker had
stolen two passenger a tires be-
longing TO him.
Dilbeck tcld officers he was able
to trace the stolen tires by their
numbers. One he found On a car
driven by Smoker. The second was
located on another machine and
Smoker said he had sold the tire
to the owner Of the auto.