Free press., 1904-12-31
KANSAS COMMENT

supply OF natural gas from the new
field opened in Rantoul; which already
produces a daily output of 100000
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 old
and was one of the best known priests
in Kansas and Missouri. For several
years physical infirmaties have pre-
vented him from doing active work
He was held in high esteem by his
fellow priests and venerated by the
people.
Land Is Advancing. = Ford county
has been covered with a 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 III
fine condition to go through the win
ter. Farmers are jovial and a great
many claim that it assures wheat
crop. Land seekers are numerous
and land is rapidly advancing in
price.
PRESSING Old Claims. c. Mich
olson. of Newton, is at Washington
pressing some old claims which the
state holds against the federal gov
crnment 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 Tor
several months to get the claims IN
shape for presentation to congress.
and he hopes to secure appropriation
covering them.
Convict Asks ReIease.-In the dis
trIct court at Leavenworth John Gala
han who is known as convict NO.
In the Kansas state prison, appeared
before Judge Gilpatrick to plead his
own case wherein he seeks to be re-
leased from prison ON the claim that
he has served his time as sentenced
and that. with good time due him, he
should have been released before this.
Attorney General G. G. Coleman repre-
senting the state, appeared against
the prisoner. Judge Gilpatrick, after
hearing brief arguments, took the
case under advisement.
Dykina the Smoky HiIl.-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 a place on the Smoky
Hill where that stream has twice bro
ken over it's banks in the past two or
summers. All joiEed with teams or
by hand in throwing up a 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 FaiI.-An attempt to
rob the bank of Mulberry. a little
town near Pittsbure. was made. The
robbers started a fire in the rear of
a store two blocks away from the
bank, 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. blunder on the part of
one of them, however, warned the rob-
bers and they escaped. The outer door
of the safe was blown of, but the
robbers had taken anything.
Explosion inqquiry.-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 most seriously injured were Ser
geant Kelly, Corporal Smith and Pri-
vate Ewing.
Valuable DlseoVery.-On a farm
near Abilene large deposit of pure
umber 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 Premiun.-Stock in the
Atchisoh coal mine is now at a 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 tlorses.-The veterln-
airy department at Fort Riley is pre-
pairing to introduce an innovation by
giving free medical and surgical treat
ment to all the ailing horses belong
ing to civilians in this part of the
state Who will bring the horses to the
post These horses will be treated
and fed free OF cost to the owners.
Dropped Dead In FieId.-E. E Can
nady. a farmer in Jefferson county.
near Dunavant. dropped dead of heart
disease in corn field while husking