Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1902-10-31

City promoters. It is claimed the
negotiations are being carried in the
interest of the Great Western, which
will be completed into Omaha from
Chicago within 60 days. The road
Will parallel Stilwelrs Kansas City,
Mexico e Orient, but will be 200
miles from that road at all points.
It will go in straight line to Gar
den City, Kan, and thence into Texas
and Mexico.
Strange Story from Topeka.
A Topeka man who has been draw
ing a pension for IL years recently
wrote to the pension Office, volun-
| tarily surrendering his claim, and
| asking that the regular quarterly
| payments be stopped. He explained
| his action by stating that he has be-
| come a convert to Christian science;
that he drew his pension because OF
alleged rheumatism and alleged stom-
ach trouble; but since becoming a
| scientist he has been Convinced that
there is no such thing as rheumatism
| or stomach trouble, and that he "has
no right to take money from the
| government on account of a cause
| which does not exist
Is Old Soldiers Home an AImshouses
All the old veterans in the. national
soldiers home at Leavenworth, num-
| boring over 5000, with the exception
of the few who may go home for the
purpose, will vote this year in Leav-
enworth county. There is some talk
that the democrats may test the
validity of the law permitting the
IL -,
county under the provision of the
constitution denying franchise to in
mates of "any almshouse or other
asylum maintained at public expense"
Contracts for a Gas Well.
The city officials of Winfield signed
contract with local firm to sink
well for natural gas. The local
firm is to deliver to the city, within
seven months, a gas well with a ca
pacity of 100000 cubic feet per day
for $4,000. In case no gas is found
the city is to pay nothing for the
prospecting. Less than one month
ago the city voted $4,000 with which
to prospect for natural gas and the
city council will spend it all if nee
essary in an endeavor to find it.
All on Account of Gas.
Recent figures on the matter show
that the big factories at lola pay out
in wages $1,5OO,OOO yearly. And there
are a number of the smaller con-
Germs which pay an amount that a
few years ago would have been con-
sidered wonderfully big, but which
now looks like small change, com
pared with the sum handed out by
the cement company and the big
shelters.
Will Aid Probate Judges.
The attorney general holds that
probate judges are entitled to collect
fees from the county for issuance
of druggists liquor permits as pro-
vided under the prohibitory law. The
old law, which the attorney general
says has not been repealed, allows
the probate judge to retain for his
share of the drug store fees SIS for
every 1000 people in the county.
Remarkable Family Reunion.
The Atchison Globe describes what
it calls the greatest family reunion
ever known in Kansas. Eighty-n
members of the Pennington family
J. E. Pennington, 10 miles west OF
. Atchison. There are II brothers and
sisters in the Pennington family and
all of them were present with their
descendants.
He Founded q Kansas Town.
A. K. Hawks, banker of Shell
bourne, Mass, who died there re.
> Gently, was the founder of Hartford
this state. Moving to Kansas in 1851
he spent part of his time teaching liz
various parts of Kansas and then
went into town booming, laying out
Hartford, which is now thrifty
town.
Report of National Guard.
Col. S. NJ. Fox. adjutant central Oh
the Kansas national guard, has issued
| the thirteenth annual report of his
department. 1t shows that the militia
OF the state is in a high state OF
efficiency and is well equipped. In
the organization are 100 officers and
1899 enlisted men.
Conference Mt Lecompton.
The Northeast Kansas conference
of the United Brethren church was
held at LecomptOn in the chapel OF
Lane university. Bishop Matthews,
of Dayton, presided.