The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1874-01-23

Lduu SOhpHuf" II proposes 10
grant twenty sections of public
lands per mile to aid in the con-
struction Of the irrigating canal
from the South Platte river, in Col
orado into the State of Kansas, as
far as may be desired by the COM
pany.
The STATE BOARD OF AGRICUL-
TURE.-This body, at it's annual
meeting at Topeka on the l4th inst,
chose the following board of off,
GERS for the ensuing year: Geo. t.
Anthony, president; J. Davis, vice
president; j. c. Wilson, treasurer.
Directors: Levi Wilson, G. S.
Broadbent, n. D. Ellis, VIM.
Crowell, j. Savage, S. J. Carter
and Joshua Wheeler.
North Topeka had a little fire
Sunday morning. The fire occur
red in Adams block, but by the use
of Babcock's extinguishers it was
kept in check until the steamer ar
rived and put it out. Maj. Adams
and q man named Carr were slight
lY scorched. The fire broke out in
an unoccupied room, which leads
to the conclusion that an incendiary
is around. The loss was about one
thousand dollars, covered by insur-
ance.
The Farmers Cooperative As
ISOLATION met in Topeka last Thurs
day. Messrs. Robinson, Clark,
Williams, Cameron, and Click,
were the chief speakers. The com
mittee on resolutions reported the
following which has been adopt
ed by the farmers ass ociation in
Missouri and Illinois:
ResOlCed, That we deprecate all
further land grants of public lands
or loans of the public credit, and all
tons, in aid, and for corporations.
The Usage land matter has finally
been put in process of adjustment.
An order was issued January 10Th,
by Attorney General Williams di-
recting the district attorney for the
district of Kansas to institute suit
in the United States circuit court to
test the validity of any and all pa
tents issued to railroad companies
for any part of the Usage ceeded
land. This order of the attorney
general covers all the ground en-
braced in the bill prepared by Gov.
Shannon. The settlers attorney, and
the approaching suit will decide the
whole matter in issue between the
settlers and the railroad companies.
Commonwealth.
Reform and retrench are the
watch-words now. Our Legislature
is fully committed 10 the good
cause. Every man there is a re-
former indeed. They have re-
nounced free railroad passes; the
paper business is stopped; postage
stamps are given up; and it only
remains for them to serve for moth
ing to make clean sweep. Seri-
ously, there is some need for re-
trenchment, but we are afraid some
ofthe fellows are simply playing re-
form. We could name one or two
who certainly are aiming to make
capital out of the new movement,
unless they have been converted
lately. We hope they are all sim
cere and will continue to retrench
until we are redeemed from all
manner of extravaganza.
PoPULATIoN.-A subscriber in
quires the population of certain
Kansas towns. 1t is as follows:
Topeka, $3.50; Winfield, 472;
Independence, 435; Parsons, about
1,0O0.-Columbus (Ohio) Journal.
We suppose the journal desires
to give its subscribers" correct in
formation, which it does not do in
the above figures, they are evident
ly taken from the census of 1870,
but we would remind the Journal
that those figures were made in 1870,
nearly four years ago, and that they
will not do to go by at all where
applied in a rapidly growing coun-
try like Kansas. The population
of the above towns is now about as
follows: Topeka, 10000; Winfield,
500; Independence, 5000; Par
SONS, 1900.
Our Legislature has trouble every
winter over the chaplaincy. Why
don't they abolish the thing alto.
gether? Prayers do but very little |
good among Legislators. 1t is |
mere form, for which the most of |
them haye respect whatever. The |
time spent in praying could be used |
to advantage by some eloquent
spouter. There is no time for pray
ing in the reformed Kansas Legis-
lature. Some poor preacher might
to donate few prayers,
but there is no time for praying.
Some mighty speech worth one dol
ar and forty cents per minute,
might be forever lost by a little
praying. The State can get along
without prayers; but it cannot dis
pense with the speeches.
We hope the resolution to dis.
pense with chaplain, and requfr-
ng the clerkfto read the LORDS
prayer will not prevail. The time
If the Legislature is too precious to
20 wasted on such mockery. No,
of the Kansas Legisla-
ure, dispense With prayers of every
lind. Use all your precious time