The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-12-09
KANSAS NEWS.
Lincoln Has a Disastrous Early
Morning Blaze.
Three Business Buildings and
Their Contents Destroyed.
HARD WORK REQUIRED
Favorable Wind Saved Best
Business Block in Town.
Insurance Much Less Than
Value of Burned Goods.

Lincoln, Kas, Dec. s.-Early Monday
a disastrous fire broke out here which
resulted in the destruction of three bust
ness buildings and nearly all their con-
tents.
The fire broke out in the confectionery
store owned by Charles Mckay. and
after consuming this building wiped out
an empty meat shop belonging to ]. J.
McElhaney and also w D. Morgan's
general store Mckay had $500 insur
anee, McEIhaney's building was unin-
sured, and Morgan had about $4,000 in
surance on his building and stock The
loss will be very heavy to all of them,
the losses being much greater than the
amount os the policies. Only by the
greatest effort was the fire department
able to prevent the fire spreading and
consuming the entire block of business
buildings.
THE tr.al of David Shirk for killing
his father-in-law, John Mum, on
Thanksgivine day will be heard in the
February term OF court before the new
district judge, r. r. Rees. This will be
the first Jury trial for Lincoln county in
two years It is proba bic there will be
much trouble in securing a jury, as the
case has aroused much interest and the
details are familiar to almost everyone
in the county. Shirk is held in jail I'M
der the charge of murder in the first de-
gree
Corn is turning out well in the county.
enough so that many cattle are being
full fed for the winter and spring mar
kets. Many thousand have been shipped
in within the last few weeks to be Win
tered in the abundant forage and fodder
crops. This is one of the leading cattle
counties OF the state, and nearly all the
pasture land is already rented for next
year.
Wheat is in excellent condition, and
should make an unusual yield if the
winter and spring are favorable As
the wheat crop up the Lincoln branch
was failure this year. the elevators
have little to do. and the Peavy COM
pany has built a system of 10000
bushel corn cribs along this road.
The cold snap about ten days ago
broke the spell of warm weather which
had kept fresh vegetables, generally
used only in the spring, on many tables
here. Fruit trees and Strawberries were
in bloom and rapidly maturing plans for
a February crop when the thermorneter
dropped to zero and brought them back
to their old schedule.
While only a town of about 1.500, Lin
coin has a school attendance of consid-
erably over 400. The nine rooms of the
public school building are all crowded
Within q few months Lincoln will
have a complete system of many miles
of stone sidewalks, the board walks hav-
ing all been condemned and being now
replaced as rapidly as stone can be pro-
cured to take their place.
J. H. Mcfarland of this county, is
candidate for the position of sergeant
alarms in the state house of represen-
tatives. He has strong support in the
Sixth and Seventh districts.
J. D. Miller. the Republican candidate
for representative. has filed notice that
he will contest the election of D. E.
Books, the fusion candidate. While
Books was elected by only four ma
jority, yet he is sure those votes were
meant to be cast for him. and will hold
on to the advantage they give him as
long as possible