The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1882-06-02
KANSAS STATE NEWS.
The matter of the legality of the Sew

enteenth Judicial District, created by the
last Kansas Legislature and presided over
by Judge Pratt, Is to be tested in the Su-
preme Court. A suit has been brought by
j. G.. Mohler. Of Salina, who claims that his
client. one Vanderberg, has been illegally
tried, that is, by a court that had not been
brought into existence properly. The case
has provoked considerable interest among
the State officials, who are now investigating
the matter. 1t has been found that there were
ninety-three votes cast for the bill creating
the judicial district, including ten votes by
members whom the Supreme Court recently
held were not legal members by reason OF
the fact that they were members in excess OF
the Constitutional limit. This would leave
only eighty-three legal votes cast for
the district referred to. The crea-
lion of a new judicial district re-
quires the affirmative vote Of two
thirds Of all the members.elect. There were
125 qualified members of the last House,
which would require 81 votes to adopt q
measure of this kind, being one more than
the Seventeenth District bill received. This
would seem to effectually dispose of the
question, were 1t not that the Legislature
subsequently passed an act providing for
the pay Of the Judge Of the district in ques-
ton, and it is claimed by some that this ac-
ton recognizes the legality of the former
act. 1t is the prevailing belief that the SAL
airy of the Judge is assured under the con-
struction of the two measures, but whether
1t will legalize his Judicial acts or not is
question of great doubt. The case will be
heard at the June term of court.
Abstracts of the Assessors rolls for
1882 received at the State Board of Agricul-
ture show general increase in nearly ev.
cry department Of agriculture and hus-
bandry. Full reports have been received
from Kingman and Pawnee Counties. In
the latter the acreage of sorghum cane and
broom corn has increased nearly 100 per
cent. over 1881. 1t is becoming well-es-
tablished fact that the soil of Arkansas VAL
ley is peculiarly adapted to growing of both
sorghum and broom corn, and this report
from Pawnee County indicates large in
crease in the acreage Of both these crops in
the southwestern counties. In Kingman
County the wheat acreage has fallen off
nearly 90 per cent. from 1881, while the corn
acreage has increased nearly % per cent. In
Pawnee County the wheat acreage is slight.
ly increased, but corn has fallen off 40 per
cent, the corn land of last year being plant
reports to this department indicate y
heavy wheat harvest.
John r. Rusk, one of the earliest set
tiers, died in the Douglas County Jail a
short time ago. Being sober and industri-
Gus man he had made many friends and
considerable money. About ten years ago
he was hurt on the head, which affected his
mind, and from which he never fully recov-
cred, but was considered harmless until a
few days ago, when he became violent and
refused to eat or drink. His friends, find
ing that they could do nothing with him,
had to place him under restraint.
The State Auditor has just completed
the computation and distribution of the rail-
road property assessments for the year 1882.
The assessment on all railroad property
reaches the sum of 50, sos, &c. 400, an in
crease of s., Ais, 156 over last year, or nearly
eleven per cent. The total mileage last
year was 3,47S.36; this year, 3,69S, an in
crease of 219 miles. The average assessment
per mile of all property last year was 49,
1891; this year, $6,5l5.6O. The increase
in mileage from March, 1880, to March, 1881
was 374.15 miles; from March, 1881, to
March, 1882, 2l9 miles. Kansas has now
eighty zone organized counties, siXty.seven
of which have railroads. Seven of the I'M
organized counties have railroads.
The State-house Commissioners have
requested the State Historical Society to Sc
lect the names of item Kansans who have been
prominently identified with il early history,
said names to be placed in conspicuous let
tiers upon the panels over the windows in
the new representative hall in the west
wing. The object is to suggest to the Leg.
stature the proprietv Of placing in such
panels marble medallions in memory Of their
distinguished service in behalf of the State.
Topeka expects to have her water
works and Brush electric light both in run
ming order by July 4th.
The commencement exercises at the
Kansas State Institute for the Blind, located
at Wyandotte, will occur on Wednesday,
June Sth.
A charter for the Wyandotte Pisca-
COrlal Association naS Deen HleI III tnc OiHcc
of the Secretary of State.
Hiram Sweet, prominent jeweler OF
Atchison, committed suicide few days ago.
He left letter saying that he had, long be-
fore its perusal, met a voluntary watery
grave, and that domestic troubles drove
him to it.
Mayor Wilson, of Topeka, recently
received the following from Congressman
Ryan: 81 have just secured the passage of d
bill donating four condemned cast-irOn can.
mons and twenty-four cannon balls for q
monument for soldiers buried in the Topeka
cemetery. think the city should erect q
suitable base upon which to place these can.
mons and cannon balls, with suitable in
| scrptions, etc."
Twenty-eight counties in the golden
belt of Kansas report winter wheat in ex.
cellent condition, and farmers are confident
of the greatest harvest for years. Corn has
been injured somewhat by the cold weather
Since January 1st of this year the
State Auditor has issued two hundred and
sixty.two patents to common school lands,
embracing d. 4O5 acres. This amount is al.
most double that of the same time for any
previous year.