The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1878-03-14
Tho Question Of Fuel.

VALLEY CENTER, March 4, 1877.
ED. EAGLE Since the question of
coal versus corn has attracted some at
tenton of late, will say that a prac-
teal test of this question was made a
few years since in the State of Illinois
VITA coal taken from several mines in
State. The result was that the coal
contained about seventy per cent.
more heat than corn. Allowing Usage
coal to contain the same amount OF
heat, which would perhaps be very
near correct, it can be easily estimated
which is the cheapest tor fuel, by TAX
ing into account the market value of
the two articles.
For my part, | have conscientious
scruples as to the proprie,y of burning
corn, even if it was just as cheap as
coal. think that Farmer X. got off
on the wrong foot in his article in the
EAGLE OF last week, when he attrib-
uted the difference of coal betw cen
Sedgwick City and Wichita being
wholly the result of excessive rates
charged by the railroad company. l
admit that there is difference be-
tween the two points of one dollar
per ton, aud frequently more than that
difference. But since the difference in
freight is just $500 per car, or about
40 cents per ton, instead of $l.50 per
ton, it is therefore evident that the
blame rests more with Wichita coal
dealers than it does with the railroad
company. For the most part of the
winter the mud and water have been
from six to twelve inches deep on the
level in our roads, aud drifted badly
in many places.
Both late aud early sown wheat looks
exceedingly well in this locality, and
stock of all kinds are in good condi
ton.
The County Superintendent organ
lied two new school districts in our
township a few weeks since, in one OF
which the go-ahead inhabitants have
nearly completed a school building,
which for size, architecture and style
OF finish will have but one or two
equals among the school houses of the
county. The other district also has
fine building in course of erection
which when completed will make eight
buildings of the kind in the township
With our numerous school houses con-
veniently located, it is not strange that
the few remaining parcels of unoccu-
pied lands in the town ship are being
settled quite rapidly.
Professor Owens, hailng from Indi-
ana, lectured in the school house at
this place on last Monday night to a
large audience, at the rate of fifteen
cents per head. Subject: Mesmerism
and mind reading. The Professor
proved himself TO be quite pleasant
and intelligent talker. But unfortu-
nately for him his audience readily de- |
tected his trick of mind-reading and a |
part of it were altogether too wide
awake to permit of his making any
successful demonstration of his skill
In tie science of mesmerism. After
hold ng the audience till nearly mid
n ght. AMI making many unsuccessful
attenps o catch some weary person
mapping, he gave it up as bad job,
and accordingly appointed a night in
he near future when he would give
free entertainment, at which time he
would dish up mesmerism, pure and
simple, and in a quantity sufficient TO
satisfy the most credulous. The nom
appearance of the Professor at the ap-
pointed hour aroused a jast suspicion
hat previous up-train had borne
lin cover the hills and far away"
eaving his patient aud faithful audi
nee more victimiZed than mesmer-
zed. Mr.. Editor aint you glad that
either you nor | constituted part of ;
hat audience. A small board bill :
gainst him, held by parties here, will
erhaps remain unpaid for some time.
Yours, ETC., .
LONG JOHN ,