Dash to the Past — Cotton thieves strike Neelyville

Butler County farmers had their share of problems in today’s headlines: cotton snatchers in 1924 and careless hunters in 1949. They opted to protect their property with patrols and anti-trespassing signs.

In other news, the city discussed liquor licenses and water rates in 1974.

100 years ago

Nov. 19, 1924

• Neelyville farmers are arming themselves against cotton thieves.

The Daily Republican surveyed farmers and discovered 2,500 lbs. of cotton were stolen in the last two weeks. Sometimes the thieves targeted bales in barns, other nights they snuck into fields and picked swathes of cotton under the cover of darkness. One farmer, Bert Scott, lost 500 lbs. of baled cotton worth $45 — almost $1,000 in modern currency.

Farmers suspect an organized gang of thieves is targeting the region and will sell their stolen bales on the market elsewhere. They plan to patrol the fields alongside sheriff’s deputies to prevent further losses.

75 years ago

Nov. 19, 1949

• The Daily American Republic ran a front-page editorial today asking, “Are ‘no hunting’ signs justified?” Its conclusion was yes. Trespassing quail hunters have wounded and killed livestock across Butler County this season, according to landowners buying “No Hunting” signs at the DAR office. These farmers brought stories of injured cattle, dead goats, and poached chickens.

The editorial said trespassing was both harmful and unnecessary: “As a general thing, farm owners...will readily permit reliable men to go onto their farms and shoot quail if they will first ask for such permission.”

It also lambasted the handful of “irresponsible men who have no regard for the property owners” for undoing years of goodwill efforts between sportsman’s organizations and farmers.

50 years ago

Nov. 19, 1974

• The Poplar Bluff City Council pondered an ordinance establishing a drink license fee for establishments serving liquor. A state law passed earlier in the year allowed establishments above a size and income threshold to sell liquor by the glass instead of just by the bottle. So far, three Poplar Bluff inns and restaurants have these licenses.

The council agreed a fee made sense but disagreed on the amount.

At the same meeting, Manager Cecil Johnson of the City Light and Water — Sewer Department advised the council to increase water/sewer rates by 20%. to 29 cents per 1,000 gallons. He explained the increase was needed to finance filtration improvements since a recent sewer line relocation project drained the department’s accounts.

Both of these items were scheduled for action at the next council meeting.