The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-06-27
UN lHE MUvEu
Trains Today Are Loaded With
Harvest Hands.
Two Hundred Men Are Sent
From Topeka.
HARVARD BOYS HERE.
They Are Out for a Lark
Evidently.
Paid a Dollar Apiece for Their
Breakfast.
HARVARD BOYS HERE.
Are Out for a La
Evidently.

Beginning with the first train after
midnight this morning, the railroads
leading to the Kansas wheat belt have
been crowded with harvest hands. Up
to noon today, about 200 men have been
sent out from Topeka.
1t is reported that about 600 men
have been sent out of Kansas City,
and that 600 more are scheduled TO
leave on the night train tonight Atch-
lson, St Joe, and other shipping points
are all doing a rushing business.
7. L. King, agent for the Santa F'e in
Topeka, said today: I'VE are doing a
bigger business in harvest hands traf-
fic than we did last year. All our trains
are crowded, and extra cars are being
run to accommodate the rush. The
rates continue in effect till July 10. and
we expect to do a good business all
the time
Word which has been received from
some points in the wheat country is to
the effect that the wet weather has
delayed the harvest for a few days,
and it is also reported from a few
points that enough men to handle the
crop are already on the ground. Pratt
the home of D. W. Blaine, has sent
word to ship no more men to that
point, as everything is supplied 1t is
believed that the demand for men i'll
some quarters has been exaggerated.
All day today the Office of the Tope-
ka 1ree employment agency has been
crowded with men, waiting for assign
ment TO gangs" to make the start for
the harvest. The railroad offices have
given notice that in order to prevent
OUTSIDERS taking advantage of the har-
vest hand rate every person APPLYING
for the rate must bring credenfTa =;
from the employment agency. Tickets
are SOLD only to parties of five or more
| 10 one point A bunch of five CONNER
| c1al travellers who wanted to 70 from
Topeka to Wichita tried to get on the
harvest hand rate of a cent a mile
Ihey applied to the Santa Fe ticket Of
nee TINS morning, but Agent King
| turned them down. He said they
| didn't look to him like harvest hands.
Many funny things happen and are
| 10 be seen both at the depots and at the
| Iree employment office in the Auditor
ium- Down at the depot early this
morning, waiting for the first train out,
were IVe young college men from the
| east Two were Harvard boys, and one
/ was from Princeton. They had come
out to see the country. and incidentally
/ to see what it is like to work in a Kan
sas wheat field. One of the boys wore
little frat cap. had long bushy hair
parted in the middle, and smoked a big
| th1ck-Stemmed pipe. He was crazy tC
get out to the wheat fields The whole
bunch of college boys went into the
| harvey eating mouse and partOOk of a
meal which cost them about a dollar
apiece before taking the train
But these are the exceptions to the
rule. Most of the men are of stalwart
| build, and look as though they were not
afraid to work. They have big brown
hands, and their clothes are none toe
good.
A number of Washburn students
left for the harvest field on the mid
night train this morning They were
headed by John Dadisman, captain OF
the football team, who will accumulate
muscle for next years football season
as well as cash during the summer
work This gang went to St. John
| Kansas.
The Topeka. free employment agency
gives to every gang it sends out a
postal card on which it is requested
that they make a report on conditions
found to exist where they land. They
are asked to tell about wages, number
| of men, and condition of the harvest
| These statistics will be useful to the
state employment agency.
| So far this morning the employment
agency has assigned men to the follow
ing points:
Ellinwood, q; Great Bend, 10; Larned
Is; Pratt, 9; Stafford. II; Lyons, 10;
Wilson, 27; St. John. u; Pawnee Rock
s.; Smith Center, 5; Hays, 10; Salina, s;
Abilene. 6; EIolyrood, z; Minneapolis
g.; Mcpherson, 5; Lincoln, g. Macks-
vile, 10; Ellsworth. 9; Chase, 5; Hutch
| inSOn, 5; Russell, 5.