Free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1888-1908, 1903-07-18
KANSAS COMMENT.

carnival was knocked out by the flood.
ALL EXCEEDED ApPBoPRrATIoS.-A
the state agricultural college at Man
haitian bids were opened for the con-
struction of the new auditorium and
creamery buildings Every bid made
exceeded the amount appropriated.
BALDWIN TO HAVE OBSERVATORY
From Washington John Elfreth, Jr.,
sends the following to the Topeka Cap
ital: Baldwin, Douglas county has
been selected as the location for one
of the five new government observa-
tories.
NEW CEMENT Plant .-Indepcndence
is to have "a cement plant with a capac-
ity of 1000 barrels day. The plant
is TO occupy 1Go acres southeast of the
town where switches will be laid by
the Missouri Pacific and the Santa Fe.
Another cement plant is TO be erected
five miles northwest of the town where
a good supply Of gas has been devel-
oped.
LOOKING AFTER MORTGAGES. The
county clerk of Shawnee county is go
ing TO compare the returns of the as
SCISSORS with the mortgage list taken
from the records and in this manner
find ont who the tax dodgers are. The
law empowers the county commission
of so per cent of the value against all
property which is not reported to the
assessors.
FACTS ASD FIGURES DIsAGREE.-
With mortgages running into the mil
lions in nearly every county in the
state and with bank deposits aggrc
eating more than % million dollars,
the reports received 10y the state audi
tor show that but 81, 664, 0i6 in mort
cages and S6,2i2, GO in money have
been returned for taxation in Kansas
this year. The assessed valuation is
much lower, being but 50, 523, l41 on
mortgages and So, 30, 65l on money.
MAIL CARRIER n YEARS. Samuel
Robinson has served 81 years as mail
carrier in Topeka. His certifca of
appointment is dated September %,
1879. For "a years, winter and sum
mer, ne has walked his ten or twelve
miles day, with never layoff from
sickness of more than one day at 4
time. Even the dogs along his route
love him; women and children watch
for his coming and meet him with
smiles.
DISTRICT JUDGES. Under "a ruling
of the supreme court, in contest case
from Wyandotte county, the district
judges whose terms expire this year
will not hold over by virtue of the b-
ennial election amendment to the con-
stitution and Governor Bailey win fill
the vacancies created in the offices by
reason of their retirement. The court
holds that district judges are neither
county or township officers and there
fore do not come under the law.
GATHERING FLOOD HISTORY w.
Martin, secretary of the State Histori-
cal society, has sent to every town in
the flood stricken region for all OBJ
tainable photographs of the high
waters and of the damage done. They
will be filed in the historical society 5
vaults. He is also compiling news
paper history of the flood from the
local Kansas papers, securing two
copies of all food editions and pasting
the stories in large scrapboolls. The
photographs are being furnished by
city councils. boards of county com.
missioners and newspapers
SHORTAGE or Cause.-The first com
plant comes from North Topeka where
the Mid Con tinent mills cannot get ears
enough to fill orders Some of these
orders have remained untitled for (;
month as result of food condition.
and those who made them are frantic
ally sending kilograms and letters o
inquiry.
POWER 10 Cur WEEDS. "A law passed
last winter which empowers cities Il
cut weeds on lots when the owner re
fuses to do so, and add the expense t.
his taxes.
HORSES DIVING. II Bert Conrad, tn,
livcryman at Sabetha, has lost owe
Sc, 900 worth of horses in the last tel
days The animals seem to 90 Graz,
and die in great agony. They are only
sick for u few minutes One stallion
which cost So, 900 died some OF tn,
business men of the town believe tina
the animals nave been poisoned and ;
couple of parties are being Swallowed
FELL. From POLL. j. Mccullough
manager of the Lexington exchange
fell from a telephone pole while fxin,
wires He died of his injuries
TO Cross THE KAw. The ferry boa
AT Manhattan began operations an,
nearly 800 farmers teams crossed tn
Kansas river This is the only mean
of crossing the Kaw river bctweei
there and Wamego and west 20 June
ton City. Contracts for four larg,
bridges have just been awarded.
A PIRAsURE BoAT.-Thc steame
Olympia was launched in the Walnu
river at the Baden ice plant. 1t is
pleasure boat carrying seventy-6v