Free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1888-1908, 1904-04-30
KANSAS COMMENT.

In A PRAIRIE FIRE.-Blanch, the s.
year old daughter of George Hatfield,
living three miles sonth of Rock Creek,
was seriously burned in prairie fire
New PosroFFIcE.-Lin is to
have new postoftice building. Work
is already in progress and it is expect
ed that the new building will be ready
for use by July l.
USED CHLoRoFoRSL-Robb chloro-
formed the family of Mrs. C. E. Stew
art near Wellsville. Three members
of the family did not recover until
morning The robbers secured s26.<
SCRAMBLE FOR LEAsEs.-A gen =-al
scramble for oil and gas leases seems
to be in progress throughout Franklin
county. Leases are filed for record in
large blocks almost daily and from all
parts of the county. AS yet there has
been no successful prospecting done.
AGED CoUPLE-Mr. and Mrs. Louis
Stahlman, of CORTLAND, have reached
the ages of 90 and 100 years respective
ly. They have been married seventy
six years. They are healthy and
hearty, and one does all the house
work while the other runs successful
garden.
WORKED 30 YEARS William Pells, a
a Santa Fe engineer living vt dutch
inson, has received system pass over
all the lines of that road, as a reward
for continuous service for that com
pany for the past thirtytwo years.
He began work for the company in
Newton.
BIG CEMENT PLANT.-At Chanute
papers are signed and contracts closed
for the location of the biggest cement
plant in the west. The plant will en-
ploy from 600 to 500 men and when
completed will have daily capacity
of from 5000 to 1000 barrels. The
company that is to build the plant has
already closed contract with one firm
which will take 100 barrels day.
GREAT PIPING SYsTEM.-Plans have
been consummated at Chanute which
will result in probably the biggest gas
pipe line system in the United States.
1t is proposed to extend the system as
far as Kansas City and st. Joseph, sup
plying towns along the route, except
lola, which has enough gas at home.
The gas can be supplied to towns
reached for all purposes including the
furnishing of power.
OLDEST IN KANsAs.--The Universal
ist church, which has just been rededi-
Gated at Seneca, is the oldest building
of that denomination in Kansas. 1t
was erected in 1867 by general sub
scription, and was used by all for re-
ligious purposes. 1t was agreed that
the denomination contributing most
literally should have the building
finally 1t fell to the Universalist de-
nomination, and was formally dedica-
ted as church of that faith in August
1870.
WILL OF A RECLUsE-A. p. johnson,
Swede had lived alone at Baxter
Springs 81 years He had no con-
fdants and never spoke of former
home or family. After his death a
will was found. II bequeathed $500 to
the blue ledge and S4OO to the Masonic
chapter. 1t gave So, 900 to the town
for n library on condition that the city
government would provide n site and
raise a fund for the maintenance of
the institution. In case the town did
not do this, the SIS, 900 was to go to the
Masons-S5,o 900 to the blue lodge and
81, 900 to the chapter. The remainder
of the estate was divided between the
Presbyterian. Methodist and Baptist
boards of foreign missions
OLDEST PENsIoNER. The Oldest pen
sioner on the lists of the Topeka agency
is Thomas Z. Scott OF, Webb City. He
is approaching 1O1 years of age. He
served in the Seminole, the Mexican
and the civil wars, and his pension is
$50 month. He still works regularly
at his trade of shoemaker
KANSAS G. A R-The department
of Kansas G. \. Il. will meet at En-.
poria for it's animal encampment May
Is, 10 and 20. The city expects 1000
visitors and win be decorated accord.
ingly.
Ell DORADO FIRE.-The fire started
In livery barn and burned three
buildings in the business portion and
for time threatened to destroy a mum
of other buildings. The metropolitan
hotel. the largest in the city, caught
fire but was saved. The horses in the
livery barn were saved, excepting one
Baden's poultry house was a total loss
in which We're stored nearly 200 case:
OF eggs, also poultry and egg cases.
SPRINe HORSE SHow.-Dighton il
arranging to hold horse show thi
spring instead of in the fall.
FEWER County 'FAIRs.-On accoun
of the st. Louis worlds fair a numbe
of fairs and fall festivities in Contra
Kansas will probably be abandone,
this fall. A number of fair board
have already reached this decision an,
others are contemplating passing n
the usual fall amusements for thi
reason.
PECULIAR CoUNrV.-Scott county