The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1916-03-04
WILD DUCKS ARE DYING FAST
State Game Warden Estimates that
1000, 600 are Dead on Western
Kansas Plains.

Excessive alkali in the water is one
of the probable causes of the epidemic
which is killing thousands of wild
ducks in Kansas, in the opinion of ".
c. Tegmeier. state fish and game war
den. Mr.. Tegmeier brought specimens
to the University of Kansas to be ex-
amined by chemists and bacteriolo-
gists, in an effort to determine the
cause of the epidemic.
Tegmeier estimates that 2 million
ducks are dead on the plains; they are
piled up two and three deep in some
places.
1.-The ducks drop dead from no ap-
parent cause" he says. ''They first
appear sick and put their heads under
their wings and die standing up, froz-
en- stiff. They are not hungry, be-
cause when proper food is given Them
it only serves to hasten their death
AS an experiment some of the ducks
which were affected by the epidemic
were placed in tank of water free
from alkah. They Immediately be-
came better and finally recovered.
x
Singing Started a Riot-The singing
Of man in a lodge hall at West Skid
more, Cherokee county, the other night
was displeasing to three or four Rose
dale men who entered the hall. Yer
bal criticism wasn't satisfying and the
men drew revolvers and began shoot
ing. Four men were wounded. One
of them, Frank Sierra, died in a hospi-
tai the next afternoon
x X x
To Have PaVing.-The first steps
were taken for paving in Minneapolis
when a petition signed by property
owners was filed with the city clerk
The district to be improved includes
six blocks.
Crushed in Zinc PIant.-Charles Nc
MahiIl, AZ years old, an employee at the
Edgar Zinc Company's plant at Cher
ryvale, was crushed to death while at
work at the factory recently.
A Shotfierer KiIIed-Andrew Nc
Chez, a shotfirer, was killed recently
in mine No. 10 of the Western Coal
and Mining Company at Franklin.
x
A War Horse Census.-The War De-
partment is asking for statistics on
horses and mules available for mill
tary service. A letter received at
Junction City asks that all farmers
and others list their horses and mules,
so that reliable figures can be OBJ
tanned by the government on short
notice.
x x \
Funds for Farm Bureau-The Lyon
County Board of Commissioners has
appropriated $1,000 to the use of the
Lyon County Farm Bureau for 1916
The request for the appropriation was
made by delegation &C farmers repre-
senting the 26O members. Under the
state law, the bureau will receive a
like amount from the state agricul-
tural college
Oil in Ottawa county-The oil boom
has reached Ottawa county and sew
eraI leases have been taken on land
south of Minneapolis. Drilling will
start by March Is if the required
amount of land, nine sections, can be
secured by that time.
County High School, the largest build
ing in Columbus, was destroyed the
other day by fire that broke out short
Iy before a meeting was to be held
in the auditorium A defective heat
ing plant may have been the cause.
4 x
Woman Seeks NomInation.-Mis
Lizzie E. Wooster of SaIina has an
nounced her candidacy for state super
intendent Of public instruction, at the
Republican primary. Miss Wooster
said she had received assurance Of
support from prominent men and wo-
men in every section OF the state.
Escaped as School 5urned.-The old
Central High School building in Cir.
ard was destroyed by FIRE the other
day. There were $50 pupils In the
building. but owing to monthly IRE
drills It vas vacated IN one minute.
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