Evening journal., 1913-05-30
CENTER OF
EARTH IS ON
KANSAS FARM
Man Who Lives on the Place
Does Not Appreciate
the Honor
FEARS LANDLORD
WILL RAISE RENT

States has been the source Of much
municipal heartburning in Western
Kansas for many years Fort Riley
has claimed the spot more vigorously
than most places. but dozen or more
farms. hamlets and towns have dis
puted the claim.
But they we're all wrong says the
Kansas City Star. The nations pivot
Is located on a farm ten miles north OF
smith Center. and the man who owns
the land never suspected II. Neither
did the tenant who tills the land. When
the good news was broken to them
last week they could hardly believe II
and. once they were convinced didn
seem to appreciate 1t.
Wyman Grifiing was tinkering away
at broken lister when a stranger
approached him with the information
swell, He'd BE Durned."
We'll, I'll be durned' was Wy
mans first comment
This man, who is % years old, had
lived on the farm three years and has
plowed and cultivated all over the his
tcrical spot-or the spot that ought 70
be historical If II had its just due.
Meanwhile he has made a fair start
rearing a family having acquired a
wife and baby that is year old.
no. | didn't know anything about
It." he continued as he recovered from
his first surprise. Il never even heard
anything about it. You see this amt
my farm-I Just rent II from Dell
Lewis. He never heard about II either.
! know he didn't or he would have
raised ny rent. J dent suppose irll
help me any to have it here on the
farm unless there's reward out lor
itp
So sayiag. Mr. Griffing continued his
iinkering aad dismissed tn, subject
flom his mind.
This From the Census Bureau.
The location Of the place was made
through the assistance Of the Bureau
of the Census of the Department OF
Commerce and Labor. In a recent let
ter the following was written
In the census bulletin on the
center of population 1t Is noted
that the geographical center Is
located 10 miles north OF Smith
Center. the county seat of Smith
county, Kan, approximate lau-
tude of 80 degrees SO minutes,
longitude. 9s degrees so minutes
west IL has never been located
by the Government Of course, It
would require very careful work
with proper instruments TO locate
this position. even approximately.
With this information at hand
was. of course, little troble to flint
the place farthest inland II was
nice. easy Job in exploration Will
none of the hardships attendant upor
q Polar dash. The only equipment
needed was a motorcar and a kodak
w. II Nelson, county surveyor and
editor Of the Smith County Pioneer
volunteered all the assistance he
could, trying TO find the place on a
map.
He had heard that the desired spot
was 10 miles north of Smith Center
but ae had never made an EFFORT 70
md II. ANY claims that Fort Riley
might have were dismissed by Mr.
Nelson with a deprecating gesture OF
his right hand. Some day, he said
he was going 10 lay a base line-a
surveying term-and find It within a
few inches.
The principal OF the Smith Center
High School was busy when the ex-
pedition called. but two young women
who we're sitting on the steps of the
building studying their lessons in the
nomal course we're very gracious
They fancied the goal was neal
Reamsville, which is some few miles
west OF Thornsburg, which is IL 70 1;
miles north OF Smith Center. The,
- I~tanAn1 - kha 4v-fr
they remarked. but had been toS
busy. One OF them said she playet
the plano. loved picture shows anS
rode a motorcycle. The other didn'
care so much about motorcycles.
Expedition Starts.
Thus equipped with the necessar
data the expedition set forth ami
cheers from the proprietor Of tn
Sherman House, and the shoe sales
man who had just arrived on I'll
Jersey" a railroad train.
No rain had fallen for FIVE days an
the first stages Of the dash we're CON
paratively easy. The roads wer
emooth, but D. l. Moody. the popula
chauffeur and eentlemanly liveryma
SAID there was rolling country beyonC
There was. The country beyond hai
evidently, at some time, rolled owe
and over. One streach was particular
L. lumpy. II hills being counted 4
one mile.
The Rest Was Easy.
When ten miles had been covere
the car was stopped and bearings wer
taken. II was then that Mr. Grit
fng was discovered in a field repali
Ing the lister He admitted that hi
place was Just exactly ten miles mort
OF Smith Corner, according TO th
flight Of the crow. (Crows are gene
ally supposed 70 hy in q straight In
and are considered faithful Judges
distance) The estimate. howeve
vas based on the section lines.
After finding the farm the rest ";
easy. All that was needed was
md the center OF the farm. II
southeast corner probably IL the re
position referred 70 BY the Cover
ment. but there was a windmill spi
nin6 away on the center of the far
which made a better picture.
according 10 any estimate N
could be made without instrnmes
the center Of the farm was the logic
spot 10 be the center OF the Unit
States. II was the fairest thing
DO. because the location OF the poi
Is only approximate az best
Ar. Moody had heard that some o.
In Thornsburg had heard story
the place. bat on arriving In Thorn
burg Il was found that no one hs
Mr. Moody evidently had been misi
formed. Reamsville was suggested
likely place 70 get more data.
HcotuSvillpse Snarlous CIaf...