The Topeka state journal., 1919-12-03
State VIII Assist Topeka in Es-
tablishing Yard Here.
First Move for Prevention of
Profiteering in Fuel.
SIGN 80 FOR WILLARD FARM
Trucks Leave City Hall at 1880
O'Clock in Morning.
Product VIII Be Marketed at
Cost, 1t Is Said.

1t was announced today by Maurice
McNeal, assistant attorney general.
that the state department will assist
the city in establishing a municipal
wood yard here. thereby making a
precedent that other first and second
class cities of Kansas could follow, and
work toward prevention of profiteer-
ing.
Following the decision of the de-
partment to assist in the project, Nc
Neal met with Commissioner Hancock
and Commissioner Stanfield to dis
cuss the situation and learn what must
be done to provide legal means for
meeting the present emergency.
The city has no funds to operate the
contemplated project Some means
fund may be established using money
on hand and paying it back into the
city treasury from the sale of wood.
McNeal declared that the state de-
partment was equipped. to watch for
profiteering and that summary action
would be taken in whatever cases of
this kind came to light. The depart
ment will take UP with the scales
bureau the problem of, standardizing 6
weights in wet and dry wood, and in
the various kinds of wood. il it de-
velops that wood is to be sold by
weight.
Sign 80 for Willard Farm.
Commissioner Hancock announced
at noon today that about thirty men
| were already signed up to begin work
tomorrow morning cutting wood on
| the Jess Willard farm.
Trucks will be ready at the city
building tomorrow morning at 7:3(
O'Clock to haul the woodsmen to the
! timber south of Granville. Workmer
will take along tools. axes and saws
and their lunch. Trucks will be or
IL :,
them back to Topeka. They will bs
paid $2.25 for preparing the wood
ready to be hauled to the city woot
yard at City park
/ Tents to Timber.
Arrangements are being made tt
/ provide tents at the timber camp fol
| men who want to stay there Com
missioner Hancock took up with thu
adjutantt general this afternoon, th'
question of supplying tents to be uset
at the emergency logging district
| that he had many requests for worl
and that If a camp could be estab
| lished he could put a number of mel
! to work in the woods, camping there
as long as work continued.
! Commissioner Hancock's office wa
busy the entire morning with men in
vestigating the layout Some wanted
/ to go to work as woodsmen. Other
| wanted in on the hauling side of th'
project Hancock stated entire salts
faction with the enthusiasm that wa
being displayed. While experienced
men are mostly desired. they are will
| ing to take on any men who care Il
| come out in this crisis and aid in bring
| ing in wood to an almost fuel destitute
Topeka. Work done now before al
actual famine in coal occurs will pre-
vent tremendous amount of suffer
ing that seems inevitable in the fac
of present conditions, Hancock de
| clares
| 1t is the plan to market the wooC
| at about $40 per ton. or from SIS t
| SIS per cord. The wood will be mar
| keted at cost. The biggest cost will
be in hauling it into Topeka Woo
must be paid for at the timber, Han
cock declares. Willard Will furnisl
wod for the poor free but the cit
| will have to pay for cutting 1t AM
putting it into Topeka.