The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1916-12-23
Condition on December the
Lowest in Five Years, the
Official Report Says.
SMALL INCREASE IN THE AREA
Correspondents of Secretary MohIer
Estimate Acreage Sown to Crop
This Year at 1881, o77.


aged 1853 per cent for the entire state,
12.5 points lower than was reported
on wheat a year ago and lower than
the December condition in the past
five years, according to official report
of the Kansas state board of agricul-
ture issued today. The report fol-
lows:
Correspondents estimate that the
acreage sown to wheat in Kansas this
fall approximates 8,887,O77 acres, or
% per cent more than the acreage
seeded year ago. This is the third
most extensive acreage in the history
of the state, the sowings in the fall
of 1913 and 1914 only exceeding it.
acres was sown in 1914. Seventy-nine
of the states 105 counties report in
creases in acreage.
in the eastern third of the state
conditions have been quite favorable
for the prosperity of the fall sown
wheat, but elsewhere they have not
been so propitious. Lack of moisture
both preceding sowing and in some
localities at the present time, is the
cause for the comparatively poor show
ing. In many cases timely and proper
preparation Of seedbed was prevented,
and sowing was generally late Drill
ing was still in progress on December
1 in a few western localities.
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Seek Way to Good Government.
Governor Capper has announced the
committees for the Kansas Better Gov
eminent League, which was the out
growth of the statewide efficiency con-
vention held here recently. The COM
mittee on legislation will make a re-
port at the meeting of the league in
Topeka January 8. The committees
follow: Decentralization J. Al
len, Wichita; G. W. Green, Kansas
City; Charles H: Tucker, Lawrence;
Judge Charles A. Smart, Ottawa; Rob
ert B. Barr, Fort Scott; H. H. Motter,
Mcpherson; G. C. Isely, Cimarron.
Legislation-Prof. F. w Blackmar;
Lawrence; Charles E. Snyder, Leaven-
worth; Ben S. Paulin, Fredonia; Chas.
c. Mack, Newton; ]. c. RuppenthaI,
Russell; Homer Hoch, Marion; D. F.
Fair, Sterling.
Membership-Charl M Harger,
Abilene; E. R. Moses, Great Bend;
q. S. Sartin, Kansas City; John C.
Nicholson, Newton; George S. Muir
ply, Manhattan; w. A. White, En-
poria; Henry Lassen, Wichita
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Pay Out on School Lands.
That prosperity has struck the West
ern Kansas farmers is evidenced by
the increased number of school land
patents issued by the state auditor in
recent months. This land was bought
years ago, on twenty years time, the
purchasers agreeing to pay per cent
interest on deferred payments. Dur
ing the last two years the land has
yielded enormous wheat crops and the
farmers are taking up the obligations
now. In~many instances the Wehat
crop this year brought twice as much
money as the state got for the land.
The Sedgwick county commissioners
recently let the contract for construc-
ton of a new jail to cost more than
100000.
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Kansas Also Hits MiddIeman.
The Kansas horticulturists believe
the the war has little to do with the
high cost of living, and that the chief
cause of the big increase in food
prices is the INSCRIPTIONS middle
man and speculator.''
To War on Hessian Fly.
. The big grain dealers of Kansas and
Chicago, headed by the Armour Grain
Company, have declared war jon the
hessian fly. They are trying to get
the various states and the federal gov
eminent to join issues in a battle to
wipe the pest from the face of the
earth.
Orphans In Danger From Fire.
The Kansas Orphans Home at Atch-
ison is in serious danger from fire,
according to L. T. Hussey, state fire
marshal In report to the governor,
Hussey stated the state should install
adequate water mains and arrange for
high pressure water to be used in
event of a fire. He also urged all the
outer doors of the buildings be swung
so they will open outward and thus
lessen the danger of jam at the
doors in a fire.
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Must File Weekly Reports.
The Kansas public utilities commits
sion has made an order directing
all railroads operating in Kansas to
file weekly reports showing the num-
Der of cars requested and supplied to
Kansas shippers for handling various
commodities.
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To Help Attorney General.
The public utilities commission will
help the attorney general in discover
ing whether or not it is the railroads
or the mine operators that are the
cause Of the coal shortage in Kansas.
+ + +
Would Bond Car Owners.
!. A. Rigby, a lawyer of Concordia,
has asked Governor Capper to urge
the legislature to require that every
motor car owner and driver in Kan
sas be required to give a bond. This
would cover any damages for any
wrongful or negligent act.
Antitrust Suits Contin,Iae,