The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1917-04-28
Warden cOdding Would Parole
State Honor Prisoners So
They Can Farm.
MORE GARDENS IN KANSAS NOW
Railroad Report Shows Big Increase in
Vacant Lot cuItivation-cities
Are Busy, Too.

penitentiary has already submitted to
the board of corrections and Governor
Capper list of the men in the prison
suitable for paroles for farm labor
in this time every able-bodied man
is needed in the fields and workshops
of the state" Mr.. Codding explained
q am going to recommend an unusual
~ large number of paroles next
month
Warden Codding's idea is to parole
the men with good records in the
prison and set them to work in the
state, where they can be looked after
by the parole officer of the institution
Some of the lesser criminals might
even be released to go into the ranks
later, if they make good in the fields.
There are about one hundred young
men available for farm work at the
Hutchinson reformatory
There has been an increase of 120
per cent in the number of vacant lot
gardens in Kansas this year over 1916.
Early this month the agricultural de-
partment of the Santa Fe railroad di-
rected its agents TO make survey of
the smaller towns of Kansas to see
what effect the agitation for increased
production was having.
The survey has Just been completed
in thirty-seyen towns Of from 500 to
1000 population, comprising a total of
1920 persons in 1850 families.
The agents are making a similar can
vass in the larger cities While not
completed, the returns show there has
been even a greater increase in the
number of gardens in the cities of the
first and second classes than in the
smaller towns.
x x
Plan War on Plant Pests.-The
University of Kansas is ready to servo
the nation by giving the services Of
its best instructors in the production
and conservation of foOdstuffs-
x X
SaIina Forms Red Cross Unit.-A
Red Cross unit has been organized
at Salina with a membership Of 200.
Each member will pay a fee of SO,
which will be used in promoting re
lief work in cooperation with national
organization
Helped Build EmPoria.-CharIes n.
Linck, who helped build the first three
houses on the townsite of Emporia in
1857, is dead at his home there. He
was born in Germany in 1880 and came
to Kansas in 1854.
x
Seven Enlist at Ransom-The ef-
forts Of a recruiting officer in one day
at Ransom, netted seven men for the
army Several other youths are plan
ming to enlist
To Build Concrete Road-The coun-
ty committee to build the National Old
Trails Road across Usage county per-
fected a permanent organization at
Burlingame. with J. A Kesler of Over
brook, chairman, and C. A. Stoddard
of Burlingame as secretary. The COM
mittee unanimously adopted a resolu-
ton favoring a concrete road sixteen
feet wide for the entire distance of
thirty-one miles.
Hutchinson Has 22,571.-Reports to
the county clerk show the population
of Hutchinson at the close of 1916 was
22,571. a gain of ,544 over 1915. Farm
ers are moving to town, as the town
ship reports all show losses.
x x x
Bars Track for DriII.-The students
Of the Washington High School in Sa-
lima have abandoned track athletics
for this season and adopted military
drill. More than a hundred boys viii
70
Power Plant Destroyed Recently
Fire destroyed the power plant of the
Caney Electric Light & Railway Com
pany. The loss is estimated at s25, 600.
The power plant will be rebuilt.
X 4
Potatoes on K u. Campus.-A part
OF the campus of the University Of
Kansas may be planted in potatoes
this spring if the plans of Chancellor
Frank Strong work out The probable
lack Of foodstuffs in the United States
this year has caused authorities at
the university to back the move Of
giving state property to crops this
year.
Kansan Dead at e3-R. A. Dowen is
dead at We1lsford at the age Of g.
He came there In 1884 and settled on
the land now used as this toRnsite.
He was banker and large landholder
He leaves eight children
4 X X
Wichita Recruiting Record.-Enlist-
ments in the United States Army in
the Wichita recruiting district the
other day Numbered seventy-seven,
many Of whom enlisted for the avia-
ton corps Ten stations are in the
Wichita district and today's enlist
ment was the highest ever known
4 Z
Four Held as PIotters-County off
GERS late this afternoon arrested four
men whom they found under the Santa
Fe bridge over Elm creek east OF lola.
The men had a quantity OF nitrogIy-
Germ. caps and fuses IN their posses
sion
Gave "a to the Arny.-Newton sent
her ~bit'' to the recruiting office OF
the United States army recently, four