The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-06-27
Shortage Of Teams Felt AL
Over Western Kansas.
HIGH WIND HAS Been HARMFUL
Harvesters Work After Sun and
elbow" Goes Down.
Big Wheat Field 1T Cullison
Goes Up in Smoke.


in the Kansas wheat fields. according
to reports received at the ONCE Of w.
L. O'Brien, state labor commission
er. The demand for teams has come
from all sections OF western Kansas
and there il fear that a portion Of
the wheat crop may be lost unless
the demand Is met at once.
The horse plague In the Wsssern
section of the state two years ago has
caused q shortage Of horses and the
demand for teams for use in the mar
vest fields has been heavier than ever
before. The most pressing demands
for teams at this time Is coming rom
Ford, Lane. Ness. Rush and Pawnee
counties, although hundreds OF teams
will next week be needed in the
northwestern section OF Kansas.
Need 1000 Men.
Not only is the call for extra teams
unusually heavy, but reports today m
dictated that more men were needed to
cut the Kansas grain. A telesram 70
the state Journal from Colby, Trego
county, today declared that 1000 men
were needed in that locality by Mon
day. For several days the state 1ree
employment bureau has been rusnin8
men to Colby, where they are dis
catur counties and portions Of Trego
county. It IL believed that sufficient
men can be sent to Colby today and
Sunday to meet the demand. althougn
N. N. Bunker Of Colby today declared
that the demand for extra harvest
hands was urgent.
Too Hot for Work.
Pratt. Kan, June N.1The extreme
heat and the high wind stopped the
harvest in this community. A trip
through the country to the north re-
vealed many headers lying idle. In
uuiry revealed the fact that some OF
them were idle because no help was
available to operate the machine. Many
were idle because the wheat could not
be held in the barge with the high
wind.
The wheat is about one-half out In
this vicinity and 1t IL going down ev-
cry day. The binders are being run
overtime and many are taking advan-
tage of the cooler and quiet evening to
harvest, resting in tho middle Of the
day.
Rock Island Starts Fire.
Cullison. Kan. Juno 27.-One hum
dred acres Of fine wheat was burned
here ON the Ira Moore farm near
Cullison. Train 752 on tho Rock Is
until the hre had a good start, and
famed by q high wind It soon de-
stroyed the entire held OF wheat
Part OF the wheat was cut. which
makes tho loss heavier. Many came
from every direction to hight the hre
but the high wind made 1t nearly i'm
possible to stop. A road and q green
field was all that saved many hum
dred acres Of wheat on the north OF
the burned field.
The wheat was ono OF the best
fields In that community ana would
have averaged IS bushels to tho acre.
It was not insured against hre.
Field Burns at Great Bend.
Great Bend, Kan, Juno 27.-Sparks
from q Santa Fee train set fire to and
destroyed lis acres Of uncut wheat just
east Of Great Bend. The fire started
not forty feet away from where a har-
vester crew was working and they
rushed Immediately to the blaze and
tried to put 1t out. but were unable to
do more than check the flames tenn
porarily. Other crews came to their
help and several stacks Of cut wheat
in the field were saved. The fire
burned itself out on the section lines.
Steve Sanke was tho principal owner
of the wheat.