Looking Back Lincoln: 100 years ago - News-Messenger is sold to Mr. Fred

100 years ago Population 1,324 (U.S. Census 1900, 1910, 1920) Sold: The News-Messenger is sold. Having disposed of all my right, title and interest in and to The News-Messenger to Mr. E.D. Fred, a practical newspaperman and printer of many years experience, I take this means of announcing my severance of connection with that publication. I wish to thank the hosts of friends and patrons of The News-Messenger for past support and co-operation and respectfully solicit a continuation of like relation with the new owner. Mr. Fred will move with his family to our little city and assume management of the business at once. Martha H. Sanders. Note: Mrs. Sanders was the widow of longtime owner-editor Frank L. Sanders. Mr. Sanders died at 54 years of age on Dec. 10, 1924, after a months-long illness. He was born in Ophir. Cannery: The Lincoln Cannery has been busy the past two weeks canning olives. We understand the pack will be a large one, and the pack exceeds expectations as to quality and quantity. The olive business for Lincoln is becoming quite an industry. Renovation: The Fleming Building, which was formerly occupied by the local post office, is being renovated and put in shape for occupancy. It is quite likely the building will be occupied by Chas. Vogt, the Stationer. Baseball: Since the local Chamber of Commerce has made every effort and procured fine baseball grounds, it is now up to our local fans and ball players to get together an aggregation of ball tossers that will put Lincoln on the baseball map. Get busy boys! 75 years ago Population 2,410 (U.S. Census 1940 and 1950) Water: The City Council was presented with plans and the estimated costs of the various portions of the water program project. In the final analysis, it was apparent the city will be able to pay for one stage and a portion of the other of the five stages which was presented. Including the sewage work, this portion of the program will cost the city $181,700. The portion of the program presented as being absolutely necessary was the installation of a new transmission line from reservoir No. 3 to the city distribution system and some sort of a water treatment plant. The plans are to be forwarded to the State Department of Health for approval. Gym: A lot of Lincoln residents and rural parents of children in school here have wanted a high school gymnasium since the school gym burned down. While the high school Board of Trustees has made no official expression of opinion on the matter, the trustees have said they will need a petition from property owners residing in the district before they can take any kind of action. It is also well to point out here that if a gymnasium is to be built anytime within the next few years, this might be the appropriate time to do so. If construction could be started on a gym before present construction is completed on the new high school units, it could mean a saving of several thousand dollars. R.A. Lee, high school principal, has pointed out the plans are already prepared for a gymnasium that would go with the present construction. It is his unofficial opinion that by building so the new locker and shower rooms can be used, a structure that would be modern and complete could be erected for $80,000-$90,000. This building would seat some 500 persons and would have a standard high school basketball court. The question that naturally arises is whether the district can stand the extra assessment which would be necessary for such construction. The high school principal says it is possible and he quotes figures to back up his statement. The present assessed valuation of the district is $6,386,490. The bonding capacity is $319,000. Bonds which are outstanding as of Dec. 15, 1949, amounted to $215,000. This leaves a bonding capacity of $104,000. Much, of course, would depend on whether the school could get the building it needs for that sum. If enough persons are interested, a petition should be brought up which will give the school board a basis for calling an election on an assessment to finance the construction. 50 years ago Population 3,179 (U.S. Census 1960 and 1970) Sixty-two building permits, valued at $571,875, were issued by the City of Lincoln during the first half of the 1974-75 fiscal year that ended Dec. 31, 1974. Though the 62 permits issued were from only a six-month period, the dollar figure reflected a $160,000-plus increase over the 12-month 1973-74 fiscal period. During the fiscal year, 104 permits were issued for work valued at $411,237. Even if no additional permits are issued during the remaining six months of the 1974-75 fiscal year, it will be the biggest year in construction within the city limits since at least the start of this decade. The other previously high fiscal period for building construction was the 1972-73 fiscal year, when 131 permits were issued for $565,934. So far, the biggest issuance for permits has been for single-family dwellings. Twenty-six permits were issued for homes valued at a total of $444,077. Of those, 15 were issued to Larry Epperson Construction for residences in the Valley View Estates at the end of 6th Street near O Street. The total valuation of the houses under construction so far is $260,000. Permits for four duplexes have also been issued. They include three permits issued to Charles Wilson and one to Eddie Russell for construction on L Street. Wilson's duplexes include two on E Street and the first unit in Wilson Manor on 1st and O streets, valued at $45,150. Total value for the four permits was $127,798. In addition to new housing, 32 permits valued at $60,363 were issued for home improvements such as additions, re-roofing and remodeling. Cattlemen: According to Allan Grant, president of the California Farm Bureau Federation, the current livestock market is depressed. While prices on beef continue to stay at 1972 levels, prices paid for feed, supplies and investment money have risen by at least 50% in all cases. Lincoln-area ranchers concur with the statement made by Grant. "There's no market for beef, prices are down," reports rancher Wayne Vineyard. "We raise mainly feeder calves and then sell them to feed lots. But the costs are so high now that production costs exceed selling." "Beef used to sell for .64 cents a pound," Vineyard continued. "This year it's .28 cents a pound if you can find a buyer. At the same time our fertilizer costs have more than doubled, our taxes are still the same because we're under the Williamson Act, our water is about the same but everything else has gone up over 100%." Vineyard indicated the prices he pays for fence posts has gone up 50%, wire has gone up 100% and baling wire for hay has gone from $10 per roll to $50. "We haven't sold too many heads of cattle to speak of this year." Want Ads: Police patrolman, closing application Jan. 20, 1975. Applications can be secured from City Clerk, 511 5th Street. Member of POST. Requirements: min. age 21, U.S. Citizen, police clearance, physical examination, high school graduate or GED. Starting salary $755 per month, other fringe benefits, state retirement, 3 weeks annual leave, sick benefits, medical plan, clothing allowance.