davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1913-11-13

"This time the complaint comes
from Dickinson county, where con.
tracts for two cement bridges across
the Smoky Hill river recently were
let to the Canton Bridge company.
Bids for steel bridges were called
for to be built in accordance with
plans and blue prints on file with
the county clerk. These plans con-
templated the erection of steel
bridges, but the county commission
ers, it is alleged, awarded the con-
tract to the Canton Bridge company
upon plans for cement bridges pre-
pared by the bridge company, with
out notice and where the other bid
ders on the. steel bridge contra,
were not given an opportunity to
compete.
Assistant Attorney General Lind
say returned yesterday from Abilene
where he has been investigating the
alleged irregularity in the letting of
the bridge contracts. On the as
that the law intends that
bridges must be let upon
upon and fair competition, the same
as steel bridge contracts, the attor-
ney general will ask the county
commissioners to call off the con-
.racts and re-let the building con-
racts for the cement bridges under
air competition. Failing in that
General Dawson said, a friendly suit
will be filed by the state to test the
alidity of the contracts already let
'efore any public funds are ex-
ended"
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1913-11-13
MOTOR CARS COLLIDE AT
THIRD AND BROADWAY

Motor cars driven by DR.. S. Steel
Smith and Ray Etherington collided
at the corner of Broadway and Third
streets Sunday afternoon. No one
was injured. The back wheel on the
left side of DR.. Steelsmith's car was
broken, and the forward frame of
the Etherington car smashed, and
the windshield damaged.
DR.. Steelsmith was driving west
on Third street and slowed up near
the intersection with Broadway to
allow Mrs. steelsmith to alight. Ray
Etherington was driving a car north
on Broadway on the right side of
the street, according to reports. Dr.
steelsmith's car blocked the right
side of the street. The result was
that the cars smashed together with
Sufficient force to do considerable
damage.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1913-11-13
College Hill Farmers
Took Motor Trip Here

The College Hill Motor Club COM
posed of fifteen farmers living south
of Hope with their families had a
sociabillty run today. They stopped
at Hope where they were greeted by
the merchants with cigars, apples
and lunch. Then Navarro and En-
terprise had short visits and they
reached Abilene at noon staying un-
til p. m. At o'clock the Com
mercial club gave them a reception
at the club rooms. G. NJ. Harger
gave a short welcome and ]. Frank
Rhodes, president of the motor club,
responded. He told of the old days
when his neighborhood came to Abb
lene to trade and expressed appre-
citation OF the clubs courtesy. Cigars
for the men and chrysanthemums
for the ladies were distributed and
then the party was piloted over the
paved streets of the city by E, f.
Coulson.
They will stop at Holland, Carl
ton and Elmo on the return trip.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1913-11-13
Will Build Gravel Road
South to River Bridge

A first class highway from Buck
eye bridge to town; an 18-foot grav
ell road running parallel to an 49,
foot dirt road. This is the recon-
mendation made by County Engineer
Karl Riddle and City Engineer Ken.
yon Riddle after going over the
road. The county commissioners
instructed County Engineer Riddle
to run line along the highway and
report an estimated cost and method
of working. The cost of keeping
up the old road, the engineers say,
would be almost entirely done away
with If the new roads Should be put
in, and would more than save the
cost of construction, in time.
An 18-foot gravel road running
parallel to an 18-foot dirt road
would give much better service than
the best dirt road or a gravel road
alone, the engineers say. In muddy
weather travel naturally would be
on the gravel road, and this would
allow the dirt road to dry well;
and good dirt road, when allowed
to dry hard without being cut up,
is mighty good highway. The dirt
road, in good weather, would be used
more by farmers with teams because
1t is easier on horses than a gravel
road.
The plan recommended is for ex-
cavations to be made for the gravel
highway and filled in with gravel
six or eight inches deep. Then the
top rolled with a ten-ton roller to
"fit the crown on right" The secret
of a gravel road is making it set
right, hard and graded properly
when it is new and it will retain that
shape. II a gravel road is allowed
to set loosely it will retain that
shape for all time. The same way,
If roller is used the road will set
properly for keeps.
& The graBsks avail lalsls. -aeara sgtlla.E
bridge is as good as can be found
anywhere. It is much like the grav-
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1913-11-13
CAN RAISE GOOD DRAFT
HORSES WITHOUT OATS

Strong, healthy draft horses can
be produced without oats. An ex-
pertinent in progress at the agri-
cultural college has disproved the
belief common among farmers that
this feed is necessary for growing
colts. After more than nine months
feeding colts that had no oats are
in better condition than those which
ate this feed, and have made a little
better gain. More than this, the
combination ration of 20 per cent
corn, 25 per cent bran and 5 per
cent oil meal cost 20 per cent less
than the oat ration. The expert
ment, which is to last three years,
was started last January by the de-
partment of animal husbandry.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1913-11-13
HODGES WOULD KNOW HOW
MUCH KANsANs DRINK

Governor Hodges is gathering
some statistics to find out just how
much liquor is actually consumed in
Kansas. The Mahin law, which re-
quires the registration of all liquor
shipments with the county clerk of
each epnnty. was in effect six months
October /, and the governor has
asked county clerks to furnish him
with a list of all the beer, wines,
whiskies and other liquors received
in his county during the six months.
H. w. King, clerk of this county
has not been asked to furnish this
information although clerks of
neighboring counties have.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1913-11-13
A LAW SUIT OVER
STRAW WORTH JUST $15

Alleging that SIS worth of straw
from the place leased to William
Kilmer belonged to him, Isaac Page
brought action In Justice Hutchison's s
court against Kilmer. Page alleged
that he bought the straw from a
former tenant for $5. The jury af-
ter being out only short time
found that the straw belonged to
Kilmer alone. Elmer Crider, who
was the former tenant. said that he
did not know the straw belonged to
him, but that Page paid him IS for
1t anyhow. A law suit over straw
shows how any sort of feed is priced.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1913-11-13

This is probably the first motor
club of farmers in the state and 1t
is giving its members much pleasure
as we'll as doing good work for first
class roads.
Those In the party were: ]. M.
Rhodes, Mr.. and Mrs. ]. Frank
Rhodes, Mr.. and Mrs. C. A. Pray
and daughter, Mr.. and Mrs. Ralph
Pray and family, Mr.. and Mrs. Ed.
Stegeman, Mr.. and Mrs. Jacob
Rhodes. Agusta and Lula Rhodes,
Mr.. and Mrs. Harry Rhodes and
family, Mr.. and Mrs. Chas. Schmidt
and family, L. Lockhard and fam
lily, Mr., and Mrs. Perdue and fam
lily, Geo. Gardner, Geo. Pray, Mr..
and Mrs. ], H. Sommer,, Mrs. Sadie
McGee, Arthur Rhodes. Harry Som
mer, Tom sommer, Benz. Hoffman,
Clarence Hoffman, Walter Hoffman,
H. F. Roherman and family, AmeI
Stegeman, Miss Marie Stemmerman,
Mr. and Mrs. Joe Hoffman and
family.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1913-11-13
CONGRESSMAN CALDERHEAD
Is VISITING in TOWN

w. A. Caldeathead, former con-
gresham from this district, spent a
day in town on business concerning
pension. cases in which he has been
interested. He thinks. the Republi-
can party is in tip top fighting con-
dition and that 1t will win next No
vember.
He was much interested in abb
lene's new postoffice building which
he was largely interested in secur-
ing for the city.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1913-11-13
BOOKS ARE HERE ON PLAY.
GROUNDS AND PLAY

The library of the bureau of
education, Washington, D. c., has
kindly loaned to the city schools the
following list of books on play
grounds and play, and the books
have been placed in the public IL
brary for the convenience of the
public. All persons interested in
the question are invited to make
use of the books during the time
the schools are allowed to have
them.
School Recreations and Games"
Lewis.
First Steps in Organizing Play
grounds" hammar.
what to Do at Recess" John
son.
"The Power OF Play in Child Gull
ture," Archibald.
Games for the Playground"
Barker.
play" Angell
Graded Games for Schools
Newton.
Course in Play for Grade Teach
rs" Playground Association.
Survival Values of Play" Allin.
PLAY and Fairgrounds" Lee.
American Fairgrounds" Nero.
Playground Technique and Play
raft" Leland.
The above list of books is a VAL
able one on the topic in question
nd the books are confidently rec
nmended to any one interested in
e matter in our community.
w. A. STACEY. Supt.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1913-11-13

Buckeye road will be graveled
from the bridge across the Smoky
tc the Rock Island tracks. The
work probably will be started with
in two weeks. The county commits
sioners in special session on Mon
day voted to appropriate money for
one-third of the cost of the road
from the township line to the bridge.
The city commissioners have agreed
that the city shall pay the cost of
grading and graveling from the Rock
Island tracks to the township line,
about one-quarter of mile. The
township board will this afternoon
agree that the township board will
pay two-thirds the expense from the
township line to the bridge. The
of $537 already taken
up will be used to defray the ex-
pense of the township.
The specifications will call for a
16-foot gravel road, in the center
Of the highway, the gravel to be 8
inches deep at the middle and six
At the edges. The gravel in the
neighborhood near the bridge will
be used. Will Broughton has do
mated $50 loads OF gravel. The
sarth. read<at the ssdesaof the gravel
viii be set to grade and this will
make road about 40 feet wide.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1913-11-13
FARMERS INSTITUTES WILL
HOLD ANNUAL MEETINGS

The annual meeting of the Hope
farmers institute will be held We'd
nesday, November 10. The annual
meeting of the Woodbine institute
will be held Thursday, November
20. The organization has proved
a help in improving farm conditions,
in promoting cooperative spirit and
fostering pride in the community.
Townspeople as we'll as farmers and
their families are urged to attend
meetings that will interest all.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1913-11-13

| el used between st. Marys and To-
peka. 1t has plenty of lime and clay
to make 1t set right.
George Rush, a trustee of Grant
township was in town and was en-
thusiastic over the plan. 81 hope
they will get at it right away" he
said. The county commissioners in
structed the county engineer to re-
port at the next meeting of the
board in December. But If the road
is to be built soon, quicker action
will have to be taken. 1t is possi-
BILE that the commissioners will not
wait until the December meeting.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1913-11-13
COMMISSIONERS WILL STAND
PAT ON BRIDGE CONTRACT

The county commissioners me
today to discuss the bridge contracts
The latest information is that the,
will stand pat for the present. Nc
action was taken at the meeting
s. F. Schemerhorn of the Cantor
Bridge Co., which secured the con.
tract was present and said the com.
pany was satisfied the contract will
stand.
In letter to the county commits
sioners, Attorney General Dawson
reports to the commissioners the
findings of the assistant sent here
to investigate and asks that the
commissioners re-let the contracts
for the two concrete bridges. Daw-
son intimates, in his letter, that If
the commissioners do not do this, he
will bring friendly suit to decide
the matter. The county will stand
pat for the present, Chairman S. H.
Mccullough said today. The COM
missioners will await further action
from Topeka, he said.
The point at issue is the award
ing of contracts for the two bridges.
AS the commissioners hold, they
advertised for bids on the bridges,
and let the contracts legally. ,Wheth-
er or not the commissioners had the
legal right to accept the bridge !
plans and specifications as offered
by the Canton Bridge company is
the point at issue. The commission
ers hold that the companies all had
the same right The objection has
been raised that the bridges had to
with the specifications on
file at the court house.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1913-11-13
OVERHEATED FURNACE
CAUSES A NIGHT FIRE

The. living room in the home of
DR.. c. A. Roberts seemed rather
warm Sunday evening. Dr. Roberts
was lying on the couch and remark
ed about the heat A door was
opened. In. few minutes Mrs.
Roberts saw flame come up through
the floor.
Hurried investigation showed that
too much fire IN the furnace almost
succeeded in burning up the home
The fire was extinguished without
much damage. The smoke damaged
things slightly.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1913-11-13

leader was made. Someone is de-
sired who will be able to devote.
time to the work in the winter and
also be with the boys in the sum-
mer.
Until scoutmaster is chosen
members of the council will give
more of their time to the active di-
rection OF the boy scout activities.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1913-11-13

The county commissioners will
meet in special session tomorrow
morning at the court house to con-
slider the grading and graveling Of
Buckeye road. It is probable that
at the same time the commissioners
win discuss the report coming from
Topeka with regard to the letting
of the contracts for concrete bridges.
F.. p. Lindsey. assistant attorney
general, was here Friday and satur-
day making investigations as a re-
suit of complaints made to Attorney
General Dawson.
The Topeka Capital says:
Another complaint has been
made to John s. Dawson. attorney
general. about the letting of bridge
contracts to favored bidders, and a
suit to test the provisions of the
bridge law may result. General Daw-
son admitted yesterday.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1913-11-13
ToLIVER & co. INSTALL FINE
PIECE OF MACHINERY

Toliver & Co. have just installed
one of the finest lathes in this part
of the state as added equipment to
their fine garage and machine shop.
1t is Of latest pattern with all mod
ern fixtures for accurate and var
fed work and is a useful machine.
1t cost over 1920.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1913-11-13
ROWLAND BOY, KICKED BY
HORSE, IN BAD CONDITION

Z Marvie,4Iowland the boy who was
injured when a horse kicked him
Friday afternoon. is somewhat bet
ter. He is conscious only part Of
the time. as has been the case for
the last three days. The attending
physician is not certain yet just how
serious the case may be.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1913-11-13
OFFICERS INVESTIGATE
A CASE IN SOLOMON

County Attorney Hammer, Mayor
Niquette and Officer Stonebraker
made a trip to Solomon Sunday
looking further into the case of the
local house from which two girls
were taken last week. They will
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1913-11-13
MEET TO REORGANIZE
cow TESTING ASSOCIATION

The members of the Dickinson
county testing association will meet
Saturday afternoon at 2 o'clock in
the Commercial club rooms. At this
time the association is to be reor-
ganized.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1913-11-13
SCOUT COUNCIL WILL
DIVIDE MASTERS WORK

No scoutmaster has been found
for the local scouts. Percy schill-
ing. former mead Of the organization
now has headquarters at Topeka. At
a recent meeting Of the scout coun-
eli no definite selection Of q new
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1913-11-13

not state what further evidence, If
any, they have secured. d.-Salina
Union.
Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1913-11-13

Clean old papers for sale at the
Reflector. &c 8 bundle.
The day book., 1913-06-28

low wages have nothing to do with
vice.
Yet John Lee Geng, Chinaman, is
under arrest for pandering, and will
be tried July in the Desplaines
street police court.
The girls in the case of the China
man are Hulda Diedrickson, 16, and
Jennie Lehm, 19, both white, both
Sc week employees of the Western
Electric Co.
The reason that these two young
white girls submitted to a yellow
man, became his mistress, was their
need of money. This is a horrible
fact, but it ought not to be sup
pressed.
The girls minds were sapped, their
wills weakened in their desperate
struggle to live on Sc a week, and
so at last they fell under the lure of
money and rich food and decent
clothes coming from the soiled
hands of a Chinaman.
If there had been white men avail
able, the girls would have gone to
them; but there was not, and so they
yielded to the only kind of icentious
beast they found willing to pay them
money for their virtue.
Nor is that likely to be all of the
ghastly story, for the Desplaines.
street detectives say they are GER
tain that at least six and possibly ten
other girls were ruined by this China
man, who had enough money to cor
rupt their starved bodies and souls.
One year ago John Lee Geng was
the owner of a chop suey joint at
Forty-eighth avenue and Ohio street
He did not make a great deal of
money out of the place, but made
the acquaintance of a number of
white girls who came to his place to
eat.
He gave them food such as they
never Had tasted before; he served
them with. rice. wine and other
The day book., 1913-06-28

ginning he always was polite and for
bearing and obsequious.
He kept that policy up until the
girls in some degree trusted him, and
then offered to show them a room
fitted up in real Chinese fashion, all
with wonderful things from the
East" The lure of the unknown,
curiosity to see these treasures Of
the East, usually were strong enough
to draw unsuspicious girls.
After the Chinaman had drawn the
girls into his spider room, that was
the end.
When the Chinaman was arraign-
ed the girls were brought in as wit
nesses. Both were weeping, realizing
their bitter shame, sensing the con-
tempt those in the courtroom felt for
white girls who had become the mis-
tresses of a Chinaman.
The Chinaman was sullen and
ugly. At first he pretended he could
not speak English, and only admitted
that he did when confronted with
evidence that he not only spoke It,
but also read and wrote it
The girls, glancing ever fearfully
at the stoHd Chinaman, refused to
give any evidence in court; they were
too ashamed; too mortaIly fTighten-
ed of the yellow man who sneering-
ly was defying the court.
But after the case had been con-
tinued until July 8, they talked to
detectives. This is what one of the
detectives said, a man who is not a
professional reformer, but who Is old
in the knowledge of vice and crime:
Sure, it's tn old story. Them two
kids was worHin' for the Western
Electric Co. One O. them told me she
only got Sc week there; l don't
know what the other got; maybe it
was less; it's cinch it wasn't more.
well, they couldn't live on that;
not RIGHT anyhow-yOu know what
l meant meant 10-cent breakfasts
The Washington times., 1913-08-06
Homely, Yet Admired
and Envied; Her Secret

The convention crowd In the lobby
made a path for her. cast admiring
side glances. then with longing eyes fol-
lowed her to the elevator. 1t was at the
Ponchartrain in Detroit. The incident
was recalled when / CHANGED to sit
across table from the woman. What
was IT about her that caused all that
commotion? She wasn't handsome; she
was lacking in form and. feature. Yet
she did seem marvelously fascinating.
Her complexion must be the secret
Really. I've never beheld its equal
Venturing to pick up acquaintanceship,
] learned the reason.
II know I'm not built for beauty" ("
she confided, but I've tried to make
the most of my one charm. I've learned
that men abhor make-ups and arti-
ficiality. ] bar cosmetics; there are just
two things ] ever use and they pro-
mote natural loveliness and youthful
appearance. g.
when my complexion begins TO age,
j get an ounce of mercoIized wax at
the drug store. apply at night like cold
cream and wash II of In the morning
This gradually fakes off the outer skin
then ] have a brand new complexion,
magnetically beautiful, as you see.
wrinkles never bother me. At their
inception. / bathe my face In a solution
made by dissolving an ounce OF pow
dered saxolite in a half pint of witch
hazel 1t works ike magic."-Mona
Morrow in Town Tattler.-Advt
The Washington times., 1913-08-06
RED CLUB CAPTAIN
| MAKES NEW RECORD
Girl Swimmer at industrial
Home School Takes High
Honor at Meet.

Members of the Red Club of the In
dustrial Home school are today count
ing their honors and congratulating
themselves in the victory achieved in
swimming contests at the interclub
closed swimming meet. The events were
pulled on yesterday at the Home. Miss
Virginia Massey, captain of the Red
Club, carrying on the highest honors.
Miss Massey was the star OF the meet,
and broke two records. The one hum
dred-yard dash was made in two min
utes and thirty-one seconds. and the
hfty-yard dash in one minute and ten
seconds. The team score for the Reds
was thirty-five and one-half points; for
the Blues, twenty-seven and a half
points.
In special boys event, Fred Cherry,
the boy who finished sixth in the Wash
tngton Swimming Club long-distance
race last week, set new record in the
nfty-yard dash, using his half-crawl
stroke.
Judges for the day were DR.. c. L. G.
Anderson, c. w. Spinner and Wade
Murphy. f. J. Brunner, coach Of the
school team, was starter, and Raymond
O'Mear was timer. e
The Washington times., 1913-08-06

mere waste OF breath, and, on the
whole. i am inclined to think that the
whole purpose Of this department will
be shown up quicker with the unions
In control of II than in any other way.
Gompers will run Ii characteristicaliy
with high hand, and IL the whole
thing does not smei to Heaven within
year I shall be very much aston
ished. BY that time Democratic sim
plicity will probably mean a union
label on the White House stationery
and the President comforting with the
walters union over the appointment
Of his steward. At present we have
nothing more startling in Jeffersonian
simplicity than the news that Mrs
Bryan Is making a new suit for the
Secretary Of State and that cakes and
ginger ale will be served at the din
ner for the British ambassador. Tooth
picks VIII, Of course, be an after din
ner course at all Cabinet receptions.
and the demand for dress suits will be
connned to walters in the hotels.
Il return herewith the circular from
the Employers Association of Cincin-
natl with the evidence Of your first
crop under reform government. Be
cheerful-remember that the worst is
yet to come. and the chances are that
next year you will have to resort to
the initiative to retain your position
in the Dayton Manufacturing Company,
and probably within ten years you and
/ will hobble UP Pennsylvania avenue
to present to female Congress assem-
bled at the Capitol a petition for the
return of male suffrage"