The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1904-12-30
KANSAS COMMENT

supply or natural gas HUN Wv 49,
field opened in Rantoul, which already
produces a daily output of 5,OOO,oOU
feet
Catholic Priest Dies. - The Rev
Francis ]. Watron, for thirty years
pastor of the Catholic church at Fort
Scott. is dead. He was II years Ola
and was one of the best known priests
in Kansas and Missouri. For severai
wears physical nfirmaties have pre-
vented him from doing active WORK
He was held in high esteem by MS
fellow priests and venerated by 'he
people.
Land rs Advancing. - Ford county
has been covered with six-inch
blanket of snow, which melted ana
puts the ground and wheat crop IN
fine condition. 1t is covered again
with about seven inches OF SNOW
This practically puts the wheat IN
fine condition to go through the WIN
ter. Farmers are jovial and great
many claim that it assures a wheat
crop. Land seekers are numerous
and land is rapidly advancing IN
price.
Pressing Old Claims.-J. c. Mich
olson. of Newton, is at Washington
pressing some old claims which the
state holds against the federal gov
eminent for property destroyed dur
ing the year. These claims amount
to a big sum and Judge Nicholson is
handling the proposition on a per-
centage basis. He has worked 1or
several months to get the claims IN
shane for presentation to congress,
and he hopes to secure appropriation
covering them.
Convict Asks Release.-ln the dis
trict court at Leavenworth John cana
han who is known as convict NO.
in the Kansas state prison, appeared
before Judge fitzpatrick to plead his
own case wherein he seeks to be re-
leased from prison on the claim lhaI
he has served his time as sentenced
and that, with good time due him, ne
should have been released before TINS.
Attorney General C. c. Coleman repre-
senting the state, appeared against
the prisoner. Judge fitzpatrick, after
hearing brief arguments, took the
case under advisement.
Dykina the Smoky HiII.-The citi-
zens of the eastern part of Junction
City and the farmers living between
town and the Smoky Hill river met
and went to place on the Smoky
Hill where that stream has twice bro
ken over it's banks in the past two or
summers. All joined with teams or
by hand in throwing up large dixie
for the protection of city and farm
property that was nearly ruined last
summer and the summer before by
water. They built a dixie about
quarter of a mile long, fifteen feet
wide and six feet high.
/ Robbers Plans Fail.-An attempt TO
rob the bank of Mulberry, a httie
Town near Pittsburg, was made. Inc
robbers started fire in the rear OF
a store two blocks away from the
hank. but it was discovered in time
to prevent any damage. While the
citizens were running to the fire an
explosion was heard in the direction
of the bank. Two parties OF citizens
approached the bank from different
directions. A blunder on the part ol
one of them. however, warned the rob-
hers and they escaped. The outer door
of the safe was blown off, but the
robbers had taken anything.
Explosion lnqquiry.-A board OF ar
tillery officers has been appointed TO
convene at Fort Riley to inquire into
the cause of the explosion that took
place near the post when the recruits
were at drill. The timber in which
the explosion occurred contained forty
charges of black powder. The three
men mOSI SSIlOuoly lhJuiSu "NAN ~
geant Kelly, Corporal Smith and Pri-
vate Ewing.
Valuable Discovery.-On farm
near Abilene large deposit of pure
lumber has been found. TIMBER is
worth seventeen cents a pound.
Wife Killer Gets 20 Years.-Robert
Hinchman. of Severance, was sentenc-
ed in the district court to hard labor
in the penitentiary for twenty years
for the killing of his wife last October
in a contest for the possession of an
adopted child. His attorneys will take
the case to the supreme court.
Stock at Premium.-Stock in the
Atchison coal mine is now at prem
ium. Atchison people have taken
100000 worth of stock in the coal
mine voluntarily. Almost every bit
of the stock in the mine is owned by
Atchison people.
Free Clinics for Horses.-The veterin-
airy department at Fort Riley is pre-
narinR to introduce an innovation by