The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-12-11
Prof. M. A. Carleton Has Gath
cred Foreign Seed Wheat.
Found Best Grain For Kansas
in Central Crimea.
MUCH ABOUT KANSANS.
Washington Is Again Talking
About Gen. Funston.
GrOut Bill Absorbing Attention
of Representatives.

Washington, D. C., Dec. 1.-THE av-
erage Kansas farmer is never slow by
any means. He is always up and a do
ing when it comes to any sort of compe-
tition with the farmer of his sister
states. As a result of the wheat contro-
verSy between the grain dealers of the
northwestern states and those of Kan
sas the latter has now struck a lead in
obtaining information to secure from
abroad substantial hard wheat seed
from Europe to freshen the Kansas pro-
duct.
Prof. NJ. A. Carleton, formerly of Man
haitian agricultural college, is now in thu
employ of the United States department
of agriculture, as special agricultural
explorer and seed expert. He recently
returned from an expedition through
Europe and Asia, where he gathered
numerous varieties of grain for expert
mental purposes in this country.
In an interview with Mr.. Carleton the
State Journal representative was told
that the best hard winter wheat suitable
for Kansas soil should be obtained from
Central Crimea, where he found a large
colony of Mennonites who make it a
speciality of raising pure clean hard
Turkey wheat He says that their crop
of this year is of splendid quality, be-
ing free from smut or any Objectionable
weeds, and recommends that Kansas
farmers should import lot Of this
wheat for next years seeding. This ce-
real will be well adaptable to Kansas
soil and climate, and viii give the rails
ers of it an advanced price on its pro-
duct.
Frank D. Brooks, for many years
well known citizen of Lawrence, is now
United States vice consul at Smyrna,
r--1r~ T,, 1-<fn 70 NFa-
ington friend Mr.. Brooks tells an inter-
esting story of that historical and pic
tureSque old country. Smyrna is known
as the cradle of humanity and is located
on the far gulf of the Aegean sea, west of
Asia Minor. This is a. Turkish province
and has a population of 100000 people
The American settlement there is repre-
sented by about $50 families. The United
States steamship Kentucky was there
short time ago and it's officials were
guests of Abdul Hamid and his official
family. The American consul, Rufus w.
Lane, assisted by Vice Consul Brooks
also entertained them. Mr.. Brooks was
first appointed to the secretaryship of
the consul May, 1892 and during the
early part of the present year was pro-
NOTED to his present honorary position.
He was a resident OF Lawrence from 1857
to the time of his going to Smyrna, and
had held numerous city and county cleo
tive offices with honor to himself and
Douglas county.
The Kansas association, which in
cludeS a large number of the states res
identS here in government employ, is al
most a thing of the past. Very few meet
ingS of the organization have been held
during the past several years on account
of lack of interest taken. There seems to
be a desire, however, among many of it's
members to reorganize the association
this winter, and arrange for a series of
gatherings atWhfch the mem berS and their
families can affiliate and all become bet
fer fad viii n hoT- ie
timated that there are between 250 and
800 kansans here, and out of this con-
tingent a strong and interesting organ
izatiOn could be effected and at the
same time form an alliance that would
be of Individual benefit.
Mr.. H. e. Van Deman, who was once
a resident of Allen county, but now liV-
ing in Virginia, is starting upon a tour
of the central states in the interest of
the fruit exhibit OF the Pan-American
exposition to be held at Buffalo next
year. Mr.. Van Deman was once profess
sor of botany and horticulture in the
Kansas agricultural college, and later
organizer and chief of the pomological
division of the United States department
of agriculture He was dismissed by
Secretary Morton, and since then has
engaged in oyster farming and writing
on fruits for the press.
There is some talk among prominent
KansaLs in Washington to organize a
Kansas Day club here and celebrate the
states anniversary with a banquet and
speeches on January 20, as is done an
nually at Topeka
Prof. s. c. Mason. horticulturist of
Berea college, Berea, KY formerly of
the agricultural college at Manhattan is
spending this week in Washington. Many
former Kansas friends were glad to
greet him.
Mr.. z. R. Jackson. formerly Of Olathe,
who has been engaged in the real estate
and dredging business in the District of
Columbia during the past several years,
has removed to Brooklyn N Y, where
he has embarked in a similar business.
Mr.. E. P. Hanna of Salina, occupies
the position of chief clerk of the Judge
advocate generals Office in the navy de-
partment- He is an efficient officer and
his work is highly satisfactory.
Six of the Kansas congressman voted
for the passage of the Littlefield army
canteen bill. The two not voting on
account Of absence from the house were
Congressman Bailey and Ridgley.
Huge bundles of private mailing cards
are reaching the senators and represen-
tativeS Of Kansas from their constit-
uents, as are coming from other agricul-
tural states to their representatives.
Each card is a petition for the passage
of the Grout bill, which taxes oleonar-
garine 10 cents a pound. and is signed
by a farmer, who sees in the increase
of the oleomargarine product blow at
the diary interest. Each petitioner rep
reSents himself to be a farmer keeping
resents himselff to be "a farmer keeping
pendS upon the market price of putter''
This card is filled with closely printed
matter, showing how the production of
oleOmargarine has increased from moth
ing in 1880 to 100. 600 900 pounds in 1900,
the average value of butter decreasing