The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-11-29
is NOT The FIRST.
superintendent FairchiId Talks
of Prospecting at Ellsworth.
Gas Was Found in 1887 While
Drilling for Salt.
LOST APPROPRIATELY.
LOST OPPORTUNITY.
Development OF Saline Fields
Baked by Price Demanded.
Believes That Gas Will Be Found
in Large Volume.

In last weeks dispatches from Els
worth was conveyed the news that the
Commercial club of that town had de-
cided to solicit subscriptions for the
purpose of sinking wells to find gas or
oil in paying quantities. That the
country around Ellsworth is underlaij
with gas few people living there doubt,
and they propose to develop the re-
sources of the country.
This news from Ellsworth brought tn
the mind of State Superintendent Fair
child, an old resident of that place. the
time that he, as a member of a stock
company, had helped pay for the sink
ing of deep well to develop the ELS
worth salt mines. That was in 1887.
When the drillers reached depth of
some 900 feet they found gas in cons1d-
cradle quantities. In fact the gas flowed
from the mouth of the well with such
volume that when lighted it blazed up
to height of some six feet.
This well uncovered great salt de-
posts and the stock company members
thought their fortunes had been made.
This was the first discovery of salt in
Kansas. When capitalists came from
New York and Michigan to develop the
industry the people of Ellsworth, as
was perfectly natural, wanted big
prices for options on their property and
the New Workers, rather than pay Sc
much, followed the lead formations and
certain geological signs" down to
Hutchinson and there opened the nos
famous salt mines of that place.
Ellsworth could just as we'll have en-
joyed the profits of this great industry
Superintendent Fairchild still believes
that there is plenty of gas under Els
worth and that if the well drilled in
1887 had been sunk to the depth of 1900
feet as contracted, instead of stopping
at a depth of 900 feet, they would have
found gas in paying quantities at that
time and Ellsworth would now be a
great manufacturing center.
Assistant Attorney General Charles
Shukers is called upon in the course
Of a week to decide questions covering
q wide range. Here is a sample OF
days work:
A certain man is sent to the asylum
az a charge of the state, he having no
visible means of support After being
&C nsiderab1e property. Shall the pro-
cteds from this property be used to
pay for his keep from the time he en-
tered the institution or from the time
Re was awarded possession of the
property?
A county attorney wants to know
whether or not his county can issue
- funding bonds in a certain amount
without violation of the state law.
Another county attorney wants an
opinion on a case cited which applies
t. the Juvenile court law
From another county comes a ques-
tom of the salary of the clerk of the
district court.
to know whether or not he has to pay
. certain rate of taxation on certain
property.
A farmer wants expert advice on the
virtues of certain stock food.
A city attorney wants to know if his
city has power to issue warrants to pay
workmen on sewer in course of con-
ftruction before the bonds for the i'm
-'rovement have been issued.
1t can readily be seen that an as
s'stant attorney general must have the
wisdom Of Solomon and the patience
of Job in order to hold his job and at
che same time present a cheerful front
to the public.
Governor Stubs stopped a prize fight
at bingham the other day, and this
reminded a state house attache of the
time he went to attend a prize fight
In the old pillow works at Wichita many
years ago. The plow works were used
during the winter months as the quar-
tiers for travelling circus and menag-
erie.
Well, the state house man went gaily
forth to the fight filled with pleasant
u that OcllSHllul little
sporting event. When he entered the
main room of the plow works he had
his liver and lungs almost kicked out
by a playful zebra that was wandering
about in the passageway. This was
merely an unpleasant incident as the
salt for the big dish and the state
house man patched himself up and join
ed the crowd at the ringside.
In the excitement of d particularly
hot round of the fight the state house
man backed up against cage of lions
that fanked the arena and one of the
big cats reached his paw through the
bars and tore away section of coat
sleeve, shirt and shoulder. And the end
was not yet. After the fight had been
finished and the state house man was
making his way out he stepped on a
snake that had wiggled out of it's box.
Yes, it was a great fight said the ex-
sport refiectively, but I suffered worse
than either of the principals They
were about the next day while I was
in bed for a week 1 have never been
to a prize fight since"
Wants to Return to Prison.
Crinn1e Creek Col. Nov