The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-06-18
USUAL KANSAS
CAR FAMINE is
EVIDENT AGAIN
Scarcity of Railway Rolling
Stock Found by p. Z. C.
Plans to Store Up Empties for
Wheat Failed.
GRAIN RIPENED RAPIDLY
Shawnee Crop VIII Be Big One
Is Report.
Women Now Volunteering for
Work in Fields.
Women Now Volunteering for
Work in Fields.

Prospects of a freight car shortage
in the removal of the Kansas wheat
crop were apparent to members of the
public utilities commission today, A
survey of the car situation gave prom
ise of a pending shortage in rolling
stock.
Reports are being gathered by the
state commission from all railroads
Plans for storing $1,000 cars in this
state for prompt movement of the
wheat crop seem to have failed. utili-
ties commission members indicated.
There is a feeling that the car supply
may not meet early harvest demands.
Has Ripcned Rapidly.
During the last ten days the Kan
sas wheat crop has rIppened more
rapidly than expected. In consequence,
harvest began early in many counties
and in the southern and central coun--
ties thousands of acres of wheat land
are ready for the harvest.
Cutting of wheat began in the
Hutchinson district several days ago
and has now extended to all of the
counties In the Arkansas Valley. Dodge
City and other towns are now clamor-
ing for help and L. J. Pettijohn, sec
~ of state. today received frantic
rDDoals for help from his home folks
in Ford county.
The public utilities commissions
car report may be completed late to-
day. 1t is expected to show a decided
shorta 90 in cars and to indicate need
d0ron~ds in the big wheat producing
Shawnee Crop Good.
The wheat harvest in Shawnee
comfy was starting in earnest today
according to F.. o. Blecha, county farm
int n a
craD, according to Blecha, who spent
Fr, ny with r. 3. Salmon, assistant
II O. @a5sor of agronomy at Kansas state
Agricultural college
Ihey estimate the yield at between
Is and is bushels per acre, with some
fields running as high as 30 to Az
bushels The government report OF
JVne first estimated the condltlon OF
W ut in Shawnee county at 20 per
cc~t of normal, with an estimated
1qa1 production of S07, 900 bushels.
p,orty of labor is available for the
h ct Blccl1a said.
P~norts indicate a large shortage of
ha~vcs. hands in at least eighteen
ca-lD.ies in south-central and south
We ern Kansas, ]. c. Mohler, secre-
ta-v of the state board of agriculture,
x9id today. The demand is expected to
inc-ease as the cutting area broadens-
Tho s.andard wage has become 81 a
day with board. Mohler said.
Kansas Women to Help.
Concordia Kan, June 1S.-Women
hc re will help save the wheat crop by
working in fields alongside their men
folk.
This is the result of harvest hands
demanding a minimum wage of SIS a
day, according to reports from over
this territory. In refusing to pay the
wage asked. farmers are plTuning to
cooperate in taking care of Zach 9TH
c ha tn df-iU
and headers and help shock the wheat,
ii tie latter is necessary.
Work or Jail Order Out.
salina. Kan. June 1S.-Harvest
II !, who refuse to work at 81 day,
ana agitate, must get out of Salna or
to Jail, according TO the edict of
CAief of Police Drevits this morning.
4--ilators are in town, four 1. w. WIS
have been arrested. and scores of men
refuse to work even at 81 day. This
gang was given until sunset tonight to
get to work or out of town, or go to
jail until after the harvest is over
W. b. Smith of the Salina free en-
ployment bureau. issued a call this
morning for 1900 harvest hands for
central and western Kansas. BY Sun
day evening he wants 500 and by Mon
day night. the remainder.
The harvest is opening in western
Kansas and men are scarce. A call
came in this morning from Lincoln re-
questing 500 men Monday morning at
a scale of 81 a day.
200 En- Route From st. Louis.
st. Louis, June 1S-Two hundred
st. Louis recruits to the great harvest
ing army have already been shipped
to Kansas and Oklahoma and appli-
cations are at hand from one thousand
more, J. F. Sullivan, of the United
States employment service. said today.
There are fewer applications for
harvest work this year than last, Sui
livan declared. The SO a day wage
fixed by farmers is given as the main
reason.