The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-03-30
LOOK AFTER men.
T. b. Gerow, State Employment
Agent, Is Busy.
Already After Information
About the Harvest
WHEAT is ADVANCED.
At Least a Month Ahead of
Usual Season.
Nay Be Trouble About Securing
Harvest Hand Rates.
WHEAT is ADVANCED.

After a conference with Governor
Hoch today. T. B. Gerow, the secretary
| of the state free employment bureau
announced that he would at once De-
gin to send out letters to his correspon-
dents asking for information about the
supply of laborers for the wheat har-
vest.
Wheat appears to be much further
advanced that is usual for this time OF
year. said Mr. Gerow, land | Will start
the work of getting harvest hand in
formation a month earlier than usual.
1t is possible that Kansas may nave
trouble with the railroads this year
about hauling men to the harvest heios-
1t is understood that the Hepburn law
prevents the making of special rates for
certain classes of people. If a low rate
is made for harvest hands, 1t must De
made to apply to everybody AT leasI
that is the way some of the local au-
thorities understand the law. Such be-
ing the case. the eastern laborers who
have been accustomed to come hooking
out to Kansas to work in the harvest
and see the country may hnd II petIer
20 stay at home this year
There is nothing, however, to prevent
the railroads making a special rate
west from the Missouri river. The Kan
sas antipass law does not go into erect
until next January. and the rallro&oS
can make any kind of a speclai rate
thew please up to that time 1t is De
lieyed that the harvest hand rate Will
be renewed from the Missouri river
west.
Mr.. Gerow says: IT have been getting
letters from men in the east VINO want
to come out here and harvest wheat
for some weeks past There is an agri-
cultural college in South Carolina whlch
has a lot of students who want TO come
to Kansas and follow the harvest. Ihey
have written me to see about getting
specfal rate from where they live direct
fields. i
ing to see what ! can do for them.
MI Gerow does not think it Will De
any more difficult to find men TINS sea
son than it was a year ago. he says
there are a good many men out in CAL
ifornia who would like to be brought
east to Kansas this year. This is
very unusual condition. The move
ment of labor is almost always from
east to west. saa s
Men Wanted at Hays City. s.
Hays City has sent in to the free
employment bureau an application for
from 25 to so men to work in its new
cement plant. I'VE prefer married
men," reads the application, land
would like either Germans or Aus
trians." The plant offers wages of
s1.75 per day, and applications to be-
sent to Hays should be made to I. B. 4
Gerow at the state house. 3-sz-A A
The Hays City cement plant seems
to be developing into big institution.
t
and western part of the state there is
a steady stream of applicants for help
on farms. Kansas seems to be un-5
dergoing a chronic shortage in farm
hands. Farmers are complaining be-
cause they can't get men to stay with |
them. The farm hands who are worth |
keeping all get farms of their own as
soon as possible, and drop out of the
labor market.
Wheat Prospects Are Good.
Reports are coming in to the office !
Of Secretary r. D. Coburn. from the
of county agricultural soci- |
cites concerning crop conditions. All
the reports are encouraging, and moth |
ing is said about the green bugs which !
are supposed to be "ravaging." The re-
ports confirm Mr.. Gerow's idea that !
wheat will be 30 days earlier to the har-
vest this year than usual.
The following are some of the reports |
received:
Republic County-All fall grains are
n excellent growing condition. Oats |
seeding is about completed. Alfalfa is
making a good growth.
Harper County-The condition of the
wheat the best 1t has ever been in this
county at this time of year.
Riley County-Wheat is growing rap
dly, with no damage from any cause.
Alfalfa is more advanced than ever
Known at this time of year. Corn plant
ng will begin early next week. Oats
seeding is completed. Farmers COM
plain that they cannot secure Compel
mt help. They are offering $35 month
or good men,
Elk County-Wheat is looking fine
md growing fast. Pastures in good
condition, grass starting finely. Cattle
men will turn stock into pastures as
planting corn.
Reno County-Wheat covers the
ground and the pastures are beginning
o show green. No rain has fallen for
1017f hi inc hal
Gray County-wheat looks fine and is
tall enough to hide a rabbit in spite
# the fact that there has been no mois-
ure for several weeks. Ground in good
for spring work. Oats and
barley up. Rain is needed.
Mcpherson County-Wheat is more
Idvanced at this time than. in any for
las been plenty Of rain and spring
work. is being pushed rapidly.
Marshall County-Wheat prospect
3 much above the average. Weather
S warm and dry and there are some
eports of the ground baking, but not
eriously. Oats seeding is completed.
some fields show green.
Mitchell County-The wheat pros
,ect is much above the normal. AL
alta is more advanced than ever
-nown and growing better than in
verage years n
Norton County-winter wheat is
OOhlNS well anu growing oats
eeding is about completed The first
rop of alfalfa will be exceptionally
ieavy.
Barton County-Wheat is fully
hirty days further advanced this year
han in any former year. The condi-
ion is excellent. with plenty of mois-
ure and warm weather. Oats seed
ng is completed. Corn planting will
egin within week or ten days. AL
alta is four inches high and will be
eady to cut for the first time by April
o, If favorable weather continues
duch alfalfa is to be sown this spring |:
q