EARLY HISTORY OF CHERRY COUNTY, NEBRASKA

     (62) In 1901 Congress created the Nebraska National Forest, which was divided into two sections. The Niobrara Division of the Nebraska National Forest is located in Cherry County between the Niobrara and Snake Rivers, south of Nenzel. Headquarters of this division is located about fifteen miles south of Nenzel. The other division of the Nebraska National Forest is the Bessey Division and is located on the Loup River, with headquarters at Halsey.

     The purpose of this National Forest was to promote the growth of timber in Nebraska. There are a little less than 100,000 acres of land in the Niobrara Division of the National Forest. The planting of trees began in 1916 and has been followed since that time except when prevented by the war, because of labor shortage.

     At the time this history is written, there are 4,000 acres of growing timber on the Niobrara Division of this forest, and plans are made to continue tree planting on a large scale when labor is available. They hope to be able to plant as many as a million trees each year when times return to normal, following World War II.

     The land not used for timber or other government uses, is utilized by the ranchmen for grazing, under a permit system. A practical grazing program has been followed which has improved the pasture land over a period of years. Emphasis has been placed on prevention of prairie fires, with the result that the Division has been remarkably free from fires. Ranchmen are allowed to pasture a given number of horses and cattle on each section of land under their permit. This plan has worked so well that during the drouth years of the thirties, it was not necessary to reduce the number of stock allowed on each section of land.

     H. R. Shockley was the first Ranger placed in charge of the Niobrara Division, and he remained in charge until 1907, when John G. Lord, a Cherry County boy, was appointed to the position. Mr. Lord remained in charge until April 1, 1944, when he retired after 37 years of service. Under his management more water systems were installed in the pastures, which did much to prevent blow outs around watering places. The pasture grasses improved to an extent that permitted the number of cattle on a section of land to be increased from 35 to 50 per section. A fine modern headquarters building was (63) erected. Ranger Charles W. Stavely was placed in charge when Mr. Lord retired.

     In 1889 the Government established a weather bureau in Valentine. Here a daily record of the weather is kept and wind velocity, temperatures and precipitation are recorded. The observer in charge makes a report of weather conditions every three hours of the day and night.

     It has been found that the month of June has the highest average rainfall, with July second and May third. January is the coldest month with February second and December third. Storm warnings are sent out from the Bureau to surrounding localities, which is a very useful service.

     The Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge has been described in another chapter. This refuge is a part of the old Fort Niobrara Military Reservation.

     The U. S. Government cooperates with the State in the eradication of diseases in livestock. A notable example is the eradication of scabies or itch in the herds of the county soon after the turn of the century. In the late nineties this disease appeared in a number of the herds in the county. Being very infectious it soon spread to surrounding herds, with the result that it became common over the county. The government perfected a treatment for this disease which consisted of a dip made from lime and common sulphur mixed in water. This required a deep vat that could hold enough of the mixture to enable the animals to be entirely submerged. Even their heads must be emersed for a short time. The solution had to be heated to a certain temperature and held at that temperature during the dipping process, which meant a great deal of work and considerable expense.

     In 1908 the government undertook to help stockmen of the county free their herds from this serious disease, which left unchecked, animals would have died from its effects. It was necessary to dip every herd that was infected or had been exposed to the disease. This treatment was new to the stockmen of the county, and the task of convincing them that they had to build vats and dip their herds was no light undertaking. Only men with tact, common sense and sympathy could accomplish this job without creating resentment.

     Dr. O. W. Noyes, a graduate veterinarian, was assigned this task. With a team and buggy he visited every ranch the county. He lived with the stockmen while making these inspections and became acquainted with them and won (64) their friendship. When vats were built and dipping began, local ranchmen were appointed to oversee the dipping in their respective localities. Each infected herd had to be dipped twice. It was soon learned that the treatment was doing just what Dr. Noyes said it would do, and it made it easier for all concerned. The work of eradication went on until the herds of the county were entirely free from scabies, and when this work was finished. Dr. Noyes was transferred to another locality. His tact, patience and sympathy won him many firm friends who admire him to this time.

     During the thirties the herds of the county were tested for tuberculosis; infected animals were disposed of, and the county was declared a tuberculosis free area. This work was also done by government and state cooperation.

     The government cooperates with the counties of the state desiring to employ a county agent, the government paying a portion of the agent's salary, the county providing an office and other expenses. The County Agent works under the supervision of the Extension Service of the University of Nebraska.

     In 1910 the Nebraska Legislature established an experimental substation at Valentine, and an appropriation of $15,000.00 was made to carry on this project. 1,084 acres of the Fort Niobrara Military Reservation were leased to the state by the government for experimental purposes. Later the government sold this land to the state for $1.25 per acre. The City of Valentine gave the state, forty acres of land to be used for a building site. A modern home and large horse and dairy barn were constructed, and other equipment as needed were built.

     This substation is under the direction of the State University Regents and James Cowan was placed in charge as Superintendent. Mr. Cowan began various experiments and remained in charge of the station until 1919 when E. M. Brouse was placed in charge.

     In 1923 experiments in feeding calves supplemental rations during the winter months, was started, and these proved of much value to stockmen. These experiments have shown that it pays to feed calves a ration of grain, cotton seed cake, or soybean cake in addition to hay during the winter months. Experiments with grain crops have also been of value to (65) farmers of the county. The substation issues bulletins describing the results of its experiments, which may be obtained by applying to the Superintendent.

     The Valentine Hatchery was established in 1905, for the purpose of producing young fish for planting in the public waters of the state. W. J. O'Brien was the first Superintendent, and the City of Valentine donated 480 acres of land to the state for that purpose. The water of Cherry County is very favorable to fish life.

     In 1925 an appropriation of $25,000.00 was made to enlarge the hatchery, and ponds were made in a nearby canyon, which were fed by a large spring. This made an ideal place for the propagation of fish. In 1928 a flood carried the dams away, so a new location was selected for the ponds where they would be free from flood danger.

     The hatchery is located on the north bank of the Minnechaduza Creek, about two miles northeast of Valentine, the grounds and buildings making a beauty spot of the Valentine Community.

     In the late thirties a dam was built across the Minnechaduza Creek forming a lake, and the water was taken from this lake by gravitation to furnish water for the hatchery ponds. There are twenty-two ponds on the north side of the creek and six more ponds are being built on the south side. Water for the hatching ponds is obtained from a spring branch nearby.

     The hatchery is now the largest in the state and furnishes more than a million bass, bluegill, crappie and trout a year for the lakes and streams of the state. John Mendenhall has been Superintendent for the past seven years.

     In 1930 the state purchased 600 acres of land on Schlagel Creek to be used as a fish hatchery. This land was a part of the former Robert Thompson ranch. Fourteen ponds were made by building dams across the creek, and these were stocked with fish for propagation. The state estimated that the ponds produced enough fish during the first year of their operation, at the regular market price for fish, to pay for the land. The place was improved and became a place of beauty when in 1942 a flood took out all of the ponds. The ponds (66) were not replaced for fear of flood, and the state now leases the land to stockmen for grazing purposes.

      Before the land in Cherry County was taken by the settlers for homes, the government gave the state two sections of land in each township. These sections are 16 and 36 and are called school sections. The money the state receives for the use of this land is pro-rated among the school districts, according to number of children enrolled. Each school district received the amount to which it is entitled according to the number of children in the district. Until 1897, the state could sell this land and place the money in a fund called "The Permanent School Fund" and the interest on this money was prorated among the school districts as above described.

     Addison E. Sheldon introduced a bill in the 1897 session of the legislature to prohibit the state from selling its school land, and this bill became a law. The state cannot sell its school land, but it is leased to farmers and ranchers for a term of 25 years.

     The state owns certain tracts of land within the county which it allows the citizens to use for recreation purposes. One of these tracts of about 1,000 acres is known as the Ballard Marsh, which is about twenty miles south of Valentine. The new oiled highway south from Valentine passes along the east side of this land. Any citizen may camp on this land and hunt and fish during the open season.

     Another such tract is located east of Merriman which allows the same privileges.

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