Free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1888-1908, 1905-07-08
KANSAS COMMENT


if nothing transpires to injure the
prospects this state will produce
humber crop this season.
Lightning Struck Depot. In rain
storm which visited this section of
Kansas, lightning struck the Union
Pacific depot at Bennington, small
town in the southern part of Ottawa
county. The building was burned
with all contents, baggage, express
and freight.
No Old Wheat on Market. AT Arkan-
sas instead of the usual large quantity
of old wheat offered on the local mar
let at this season of the year, there
is none The farmers sold their entire
supply when wheat was 81 and now
their granaries are empty, ready 10 re-
ceive the new crop. The condition
has cut off the supply from the mills
of this section.
Riding Stolen Horse. - Rural tcle
phones were the means of capturing
John Berry, negro horse thief, near
Arkansas City When captured Berry
was riding a stolen horse from Geuda
Springs. lie confessed stealing a team
from the Ponca reservation few
nights ago and several other horses in
this vicinity in the past month. He
will plead guilty.
For school in Manila. Mich
olson, president of the Kansas Port
land Cement Company. of lola, an
nounced the donation of 1000 for
the building of mission school in
Manila The donation will be under
the management of the Methodist
board of foreign missions. and will be
known as the Florence L. Nicholson
Memorial school.
Lighting Plant MortSaeed.-A trust
deed from the Home Heart. Light and
Power Company of Pittsburg, to the
Fidelity Trust Company of Kansas
City was recorded with the register of
deeds 10 secure Il loan of $500. 900 made
To the new gas company. l. covers
the electric plant and gas works and
the new natural gas system now being
installed by the Home company.
Bitter Case Settled. Hoch
settled bitter case from Ness county.
paroling Clyde Wood and William
Schaben. who are serving Il flve-year
intermediate term in the pen.ten tiary
for cattle raising. They have been in
prison for "A year and have a good
record. Ness county was very much
divided over their innocence or guilt.
The crime was the theft of single
steer.
Must be Obeyed.-The city authori-
ties of Arkansas City moved a build
ing from the business part of town,
claiming il had been erected and
moved in against the fire ordinance.
The owner had been given notice to
move his building. but paid no atten-
ton to il. When the mayor ordered
the street commissioner to remove it
he did so. and a law suit is expect
ed. The council has ordered the fire
ordinances obeyed to the letter and
there are two other builders which
will be handled in the same way.
SaIina Short of Cash. - To add to
the perpleXity of the administration
of the Rev. David Shields as mayor
the city treasurer of Salina was com
PEELED to. notify the banks that the
towns general funds were almost eX
hausted and that hereafter all war
rants calling for more than $50 would
have to be stamped not paid fol
want of funds" Heretofore the fines
from the saloons have netted the
treasury about ST 200 a month. The
expenses of the town have been about
81 500.
Crapshooters Beat up Marshal. -
At Ottawa negroes set upon City Mar
shall Austin Reid and beat him up sc
verely. He is partially unconsciou!
from his wounds. His assailant.
escaped. The marshal has been ap
plying the lid" vigorously in the Eas
bottoms. and is cordially disliked b.
the rough element He had gone Il
arrest a party of crap shooters whel
he was assaulted. Three negroe
have been placed under arrest.
Killed in a Mine. = Roy Bayue.
young man who was employed a
bumper in the new shaft of the Nc
CormiclI company north of PittSburg
was killed by falling down the al
shaft at the mine.
Preached Sons Funeral.-The Rev. III
Blom, of the Swedish Lutheran churcl
of Enterprise, has just returned from
Roswell, y. NJ, where he officiated "A
his sons funeral. The son, Pau
Blom, graduate of the Enterpris
Normal school. and St Johns Mill
tary academy, went to Roswell for hi
health His father went To visit him
but n few days after his arrival tn
boy died. No other preacher was nea
and the father preached the funera
sermon.
Oil Lease Brings $4,000 &c. w
Earnshaw closed u deal for propert,
on the Cummings-Webb farm. mile
east of Chanute and near Aurora ant
other good wells, with the Oxford OF
Producing Company of Maine Th
lease consists of l6D acres, on which
there are three wells. and was trans
ferred TO the Oxford company for SIS,
600.
To Have Electric Lights. Smitl
Light N Power company of Bolivar
Mo, has received a franchise from
Cottonwood Falls and is installing
plant there. The town will be lightet
by electricity in less than sixty DAYS.