Our merchant, Mr. Read, had a Christmas tree for the Sunday school children in his rooms above the store. There was a large attendance. Mr. and Mrs. Read received several presents, and each of the children received something. All seemed to enjoy the treat.

Mr. Floyd and wife have gone to Winfield visiting.

Rev. Irvin is convalescing.

Frankie Wright is very sick of typhoid malarial fever.

Miss Fannie Pontious is spending the holidays with her sister, Mrs. Hooker, at Burden. Miss Hattie Pontious has been at Burden nearly all winter. Some of the boys would be glad to see her at Floral again.

Henry Robbins returned from Missouri last week. He reports having had a pleasant trip.

A. J. Yarbrough returned from a trip to the eastern part of the state, where he had gone for apples, last week. Mr. Read bought the most of his load.

Mr. Read is going into the hog business quite extensively. He has fenced in quite a pasture and has several hogs on hand already.

SIMON.

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JANUARY 6, 1881.

Mr. W. C. Guyer, of Henry, Illinois, is visiting his sisters, Mrs. Wm. Carter, Mrs. E. B. Gault, and Mrs. M. B. Rupp. He likes Kansas and would remain if his family were here. Will doubtless be numbered with Cowley countyites ere long.

A brother-in-law of Neighbor Bower was here from Pennsylvania, but did not purchase land.

Elder Henninger, Revs. Brown, Lee, and Rupp have conducted services at Beaver Center and the Easterly school-house.

Beaver Center has a literary society which holds the young people Tuesday evenings. A paper is one of the principal features.

Wm. Carter, of Vernon township, is happy after moving "out of the old house into the new." He ordered an extension table, loaded it with a Christmas feast, and made a merry day for relatives and a few friends.

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JANUARY 6, 1881.

An immense crowd was at the Christmas tree at Udall schoolhouse. Smith & Green, of this place, furnished the candy for the occasion, their bid being 2-1/2 pounds less than any other. They are both energetic, enterprising young men, and deserve a large share of the patronage in and around Udall.

Green, of the above named firm, was looking quite cheerful a few mornings since. When asked by the boys what it meant, he commenced passing around the cigars and at the same time remarked, "Oh, it's a boy!" which was immediately named James A. Garfield Green.

Mr. Boyles will give the young folks another free supper with the dance New Year's eve.

H. H. Martin intends making a flying visit to Iowa in a few days.

Feed is getting pretty well gathered up. Coarse feed will be scarce if the winter continues close.

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JANUARY 6, 1881.

A new move is being organized to settle the Oklahoma lands. This is to colonize the exodusters there. It is claimed that under the terms of the treaties, these freedmen have a special right to settle on these lands. They say that they have been outraged and driven from the south, that these lands were purchased for them, that they are farther south than Kansas or Indiana, and the climate is more congenial to them, and there is no reason that they should not occupy the land. If on examination their position is found to be correct, they will not be interfered with by the government we suppose.

Dr. Wilson's journey to Washington on behalf of the Oklahoma boomers has proved a complete failure. There is now nothing left for them but to fight or disperse.

IN ANOTHER PLACE: Dr. Wilson has called on the president and is perfectly astounded by the ignorance of the president concerning the rights of the Oklahoma boomers.

A. N. Deming has returned to Wichita from his visit to Philadelphia. He went to Pierce City last week with his son Robert to look up matters of business.

The Arkansas river is frozen over as far down as Little Rock.

Major Mahan says that the Apache chief, Victoria, is surely dead.

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JANUARY 6, 1881.

E. A. Henthorn was in the city Wednesday.

'Squire Waite, of Vernon, dropped in Friday.

County Superintendent Story has moved into his new office.

Hon. C. R. Mitchell came up from the seaport Tuesday eve.

D. O. McCray has assumed the duties of the Burden post office.

Dr. Wells will occupy the room vacated by Friend's millinery store.

Oxford township voted down the proposition to sell its railroad stock.

Cowley county now has twenty-three townships outside of Winfield.

The county commissioners have been in session for the last three days.

Mr. Levy closed his store last Monday on account of the death of his brother.

There was held at the Opera House a dance after the closing of the Catholic fair.

'Squire Norman, of Maple, graced our sanctum with his presence New Year's day.

Judge Campbell has fitted up an office and has begun the practice of law in Wichita.

Judge Timothy McIntire has assumed editorial control of the Arkansas City Democrat.

Master Richie Mansfield entertained a number of young friends at his home Monday evening.

Miss Grace Scovill left Monday to attend school at the Sisters of Bethany College in Topeka.

Capt. C. M. Scott and Mr. Standley, of the Traveler, visited the capital of Cowley last Monday.

F. M. Friend has removed his millinery store to the building recently occupied by the Flag Drug Store.

Charles Hodges returned to Manhattan Monday. A party was given in his honor during the holidays.

Conductor Goodyear, of the Caldwell branch of the A. T. & S. F., was in Winfield several days last week.

Frank Akers brightened our office again with his presence yesterday. He has been in Missouri the past year.

A. H. Green has moved his stock of merchandise to Winfield and is selling it at the old Lynn & Loose stand.

County Clerk Hunt has deposited his records in the vault prepared for them. It gives him much more office room.

George L. Walker was seen on the streets last week. His cattle in the nation had to spare him for a few days.

NOTICE: January 8th, and till February, I will sell Hats and Millinery at half price, at Friend's, opposite Lynn's old stand.

Our Oxford neighbors are agitating the matter of another free bridge. Don't think township bonds would win again.

S. P. Strong was appointed by the board as trustee of Rock township, to take the place of the one cut off by the new township.

The Southwestern Medical Association is in session here today (Wednesday). A large number of physicians from abroad are in attendance.

Miss May Benedict, one of Arkansas City's belles, has been visiting friends and acquaintances in Winfield this week, the guest of Miss Jennie Lowry.

R. B. Pratt called on us New Year's morning. He is living in Rock township above Little Dutch.

Sam E. Davis has left to attend school at the Columbia College, Missouri. He is one of Winfield's brightest young men, and takes in learning with little effort.

The irrepressible "Caesar" continues "right side up with care," and has become an essential fixture of the Nationalist office at Kansas State. He has acquired sufficient skill in the manipulation of type to end up eleven thousand ems solid nonpareil in ten hours, and he is determined to attain a capacity of fifteen thousand ems, or break a trace in the attempt.

Rev. C. J. Adams and his wife are visiting in Winfield and vicinity among their friends. It will be recollected that she is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. S. S. Holloway.

Dr. E. H. Bowman, the Pawnee agent, has been stopping with his wife, daughter, and Miss Lizzie Wykoff at the Central Avenue House, Arkansas City, for the past week.

The commissioners had several tough school district cases this term. In the cases of districts 6 and 63 the action of the county superintendent was sustained. The matter of districts 1 and 37 was laid over.

There are 18 criminals in the state penitentiary who take an intense interest in the gubernatorial elections. They are under sentence of death and only the governor's signature is required to swing them off.

Mr. J. R. Tate, of Windsor township, made us a call last week. Mr. Tate is from East Tennessee. There are fifteen families of East Tennesseeans in that vicinity, and the Democrats only get one vote out of the entire colony.

We had quite a fire scare last Monday. The alarm sounded, men rushed through the streets, the engine and ladder truck were brought out and pulled away, and a big crowd accumulated, and then shrank away. It was Mr. Scovill's fine burning out of his store.

That race at Arkansas City, from the Arkansas to the Walnut, will give a fall of twenty-two feet instead of fourteen, as reported. This we are informed is the report of the engineer.

Miss Mattie Coldwell, of McPherson, is visiting her friends in Winfield. Her sister, Mrs. W. C. Root, is with her father and mother at McPherson. Mr. Root left yesterday for that town.

Some of the fellows who have been urging the county commissioners to vote the county printing to the Monitor will come around after awhile, asking the COURIER to turn the grindstone while they grind their little axes.

The Monitor speaks of one of its typos setting a column in two hours and fifteen minutes. Our foreman sets the whole local page in one forenoon, and keeps yelling for afternoon copy while he's doing it. He has been known to set a column an hour in his younger days.

Mr. W. A. Lee sold over $16,000 worth of implements in 1880, a great portion of which was secured by chattel mortgages. So far he has not taken one piece of property. This speaks well for the condition of the county, as it shows that our farmers are able to pay for their machinery.

Mr. C. W. Paris, of Ninnescah township, came in and paid us a visit. Mr. Paris is blind, but enjoys having his home paper read to him by his children.

Uncle Isaac Comfort has arrived safely at his daughter's home in Fitchburg, Michigan, in reasonable good health and spirit. He says Mr. J. Q. Oldham gave him the best attention. He expects to start for his home in Pennsylvania as soon as the weather will permit. At present it is very cool in Michigan.

Treasurer Harden is sending out postal cards to all those who have failed to pay their personal tax, setting forth that the warrants will be placed in the hands of the Sheriff Jan. 15th as directed by law. This is a good idea and will give many who are not aware of their personal tax an opportunity to save the costs by paying before the warrants are issued.

Rev. Solomon Ferguson's house was destroyed by fire last week. The family had built a large fire in one of the rooms and gone into another. The pipe became so hot that it set fire to the roof, and before it was discovered, was beyond all hopes of control. The house was a fine new one costing over $1,500. Mr. Ferguson is absent at Eureka Springs, his health being poor.

A case of trichina, the first it is believed ever known in Kansas, is reported from near Troy, in Doniphan county. The victim, Ed. McLaughlin, a farmer, says he can feel the parasites crawling through the flesh in all parts of his body. He says it resulted from eating some sausage about five years ago, but his physicians think it comes from eating pork recently. His death is a question of but a short time.

The notorious Mrs. Carrie E. Hull keeps the Colorado restaurant at Silver Cliff, Colorado. We clip one of her "ads." from the Silver Cliff Prospect: All of that excitement among the doctors and druggists yesterday was caused by the numerous applications for relief made by those who dined at the Colorado restaurant on Christmas. Mrs. Carrie E. Hull will continue to furnish like meals, during the holidays, and now is the opportunity to get fat."

We received a pleasant call from 'Squire Smith, of Udall, Tuesday. He has been a justice of the peace of his township for the last eight years, during which time he has brought himself into great repute with the marrying public by his inability to make all his marriages stick. Three of them have already found their way to the divorce court. His first marriage fee was a shepherd pup and fifty cents in cash. His brother justices over the county should look after this matter and see that he ties his matrimonial knots a little stronger.

Mrs. R. L. Walker, of Wichita, is in the city visiting her father and brother. Mrs. Walker (formerly Miss Sadie Webb), resided in Topeka several years, and has many friends here.

Mr. Will R. Stivers, the efficient assistant of State Superintendent Lemmon, who has been confined to his bed by a serious sickness, which nearly amounted to typhoid fever, was feeling better yesterday. No fears for him are entertained by his friends. He has many here and in other cities of Kansas who will be glad to hear that he is rapidly recovering.

Col. McMullin and lady entertained a number of friends at their home last week. The elegant parlors were comfortably filled, and we, at least, passed a pleasant evening. Those present were: Mayor and Mrs. Lynn, Rev. and Mrs. N. L. Rigby, Prof. and Mrs. Hickok, Mr. and Mrs. C. A. Bliss, Mr. and Mrs. Loose, Mr. and Mrs. John Pryor, Mr. and Mrs. C. W. Carruthers, Mr. and Mrs. G. A. Scovill, Mr. and Mrs. H. Brown, Mr. and Mrs. Kretsinger, Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Fuller, Mr. and Mrs. Wallis, Mr. and Mrs. Mann, Mr. and Mrs. Ed. Green, Mr. and Mrs. Black, Mr. and Mrs. Kinne, Mrs. Buck and son, of Emporia, and Mr. Harris, of Bushnell, Illinois.

The COURIER will have a special correspondent at Topeka during the session of the Legislature. This is a questionable enterprise with us, as it involves heavy expense, but we have decided to spare no expense to make the COURIER a first-class newspaper, and shall keep our readers posted from first hands on legislative as well as other matters. It is the general custom of county weeklies to clip their legislative news from the dailies, and thus far no paper has had the hardihood to attempt a comprehensive report of the proceedings on its own hook. We shall be the first to open up this field and will take pride in making it a success.

Gen. Nelson A. Miles, Gen. Geo. Crook, C. L. Roberts, John G. Bourke, and E. L. Higgins were at Arkansas City this week. They are a commission appointed by the President to visit the Ponca Indians and other tribes, and investigate their condition. Col. Whiting, agent of the Poncas, had some trouble with the Indians and others, and this is the principal matter for investigation. Walter Allen, of the Boston Advertiser, Wm. Stickney, of Washington, D. C., J. G. Dorsey, Indian interpreter from Washington, D. C., and Special Indian Inspector J. A. Haworth were in attendance on the commission. Gen. Miles is the best Indian fighter we have.

There will be a meeting of the Wool Growers and Sheep Breeders Association of Kansas, at Topeka, commencing on the third Tuesday of January, 1881. The wool growing interest has attained a considerable magnitude and is steadily growing, but sheep raisers are constantly subjected to annoyance and loss from the depredations of dogs and wolves, and it is for this reason that the meeting well be held at Topeka during the session of the legislature, when there will be an attempt made to get legislative aid in doing away with the dog nuisance.

The Social Club gave a banquet to a select party at the Williams House last week. Each guest received a very polite invitation from the committee of arrangements, which was of course eagerly accepted, as it was understood that the party was to be very select and only to consist of fifteen couples. The supper was elegant, the party seemed in the best of spirits, and everything went "merry as a marriage bell" until the time for departing came. It was then discovered that that supper cost thirty dollars and that there were just fifteen fellows to settle the bill. Our informant did not state whether the fifteen were exclusive of the committee of arrangements or not. However, it was one of the pleasantest affairs of the holidays.

The Arkansas City Democrat says:

J. C. McMullin and family paid the city a pleasant visit last week.

Mrs. Manser, of Winfield, has been in the city during the past week visiting her many friends.

Quite a number of cases of pneumonia are reported by our physicians in and around the city.

James E. Miller, conductor, has resumed his duties.

A misplaced switch caused an engine to run off the track Tuesday morning.

Miss Mattie Minihan, of Winfield, spent Monday and Tuesday with Miss Norton, who accompanied her back to Winfield.

Dr. Shepard is very low with fever. Drs. Mendenhall and Davis, his attending physicians, think his condition is very critical.

Capts. Wood and Smith are building a large boat on the Walnut, to be used in snagging out the Arkansas.

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The sales of stamps and stamped envelopes at the Winfield post office during the year 1880 were as follows.

First quarter ............ $1,833.04

Second quarter ........... 1,571.09

Third quarter ............ 1,630.74

Fourth quarter ........... 1,518.49

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TOTAL: $6,553.36

Showing an increase over last year, but also a falling off after the first quarter, owing, no doubt, to the light crops in this county. We estimate that fair crops would have made the sales for the second quarter $100 greater, the third quarter, $200 greater, and the fourth quarter $300 greater. As they are, the receipts are larger in proportion to population of the town than at any other post office in the state as far as heard from.

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Many of our farmers are complaining of the way in which quails have been slaughtered this season. The quail is the farmer's friend, and a useless and willful slaughter of them will in time work injury to the county. Let the farmers take all steps possible to protect their game, and they will in time see the wisdom of such action. The following is the law on the subject of trapping game: "It shall be unlawful for any persons, at any time, to take, catch, or kill, within this state by means of any trap, net, or snare of any kind, any grouse, prairie chicken, quail, woodcock, snipe, turkey, or pheasant, except on his own premises, and any person offending against the provisions of this section shall be subject to a fine of three dollars for each bird of the class above described, which he shall be convicted of having trapped in the above described manner."

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BANK ELECTION. At the annual election of the Winfield Bank last Tuesday evening, A. A. Wiley, J. J. Buck, D. A. Millington, J. C. Fuller, and J. C. McMullen were chosen directors.

The directors met and elected J. C. McMullen, president;

J. C. Fuller, cashier, and D. A. Millington, secretary.

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MARRIAGES.

Married at the residence of P. M. Waite, Esq., in Vernon township, December 25, 1880, William V. Sitton and Harriet A. Bonnewell. All of Cowley county, Kansas.

Married at the residence of the bride's parents, January 1st, 1881, by Rev. J. Cairns, Mr. Frank C. Bixby, of Pueblo, Colorado, and Miss Edith L. Brown, of this county.

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The Santa Fe railroad comes to the front in a most benevolent manner with a splendid gift to the poor of Winfield. They propose to carry free of charge from the mines in Trinidad, Colorado, to Winfield two cars of coal. The freight on the coal would amount to $147.20. It is a large gift, and shows a disposition on the part of the management to extend all the favors possible to the people along their lines. It will certainly bring warmth and gladness to the hearts of many poor families in our city. Mr. Garvey laid the matter before General Freight Agent Goddard, and it was through his efforts that the donation was made.

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The following is a summary of the tax levy for the year 1880, as taken from the Clerk's books, showing the different purposes fow which taxes are raised in the county.

State ................................. $ 16,122.88

County ................................ 29,314.17

County Bonds .......................... 3,664.34

Railroad .............................. 30,520.05

Township .............................. 4,531.75

Township Bonds ........................ 2,754.10

School Tax ............................ 27,414.44

School Bond ........................... 11,645.03

Arkansas City Tax ..................... 344.82

Arkansas City Bond .................... 30.41

Arkansas City Sinking Fund ............ 602.58

Road Tax .............................. 530.53

Sidewalks, Winfield ................... 2,256.03

Bridge Bond, old Winfield Twp. ........ 7,439.79

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Grand Total: $127,570.29

[WOW! NO WAY IS THE ABOVE CORRECT!

I CAME UP WITH A TOTAL OF $137,143.92...

A DIFFERENCE OF $9,573.63...

THE ARKANSAS CITY BOND COULD HAVE BEEN

WRONG...AS TYPE WAS SMEARED ON THIS ENTRY!

BUT, NO WAY, COULD IT HAVE BEEN OFF THAT MUCH!]

Total valuation: $2,945,381.86.

Average percent, of taxes: $4.23

Telegram.

COMMENT: LOOKS LIKE WINFIELD WAS PAYING DEARLY FOR

THEIR PRECIOUS SIDEWALKS!

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JANUARY 6, 1881.

Harry Garvey, brother of Will, spent Sunday and Monday visiting Winfield friends.

Al. Requa and family spent most of the holidays visiting relatives at Larned. Al says business is dull in that region.

The oldest guest at Rev. Hyden's last Tuesday was Mr. Call, who is now eighty-four and was last married at the age of sixty-four.

Mr. and Mrs. Friend have rented the Hudson building,

formerly the Flag drug store, and will occupy it during the next year for their combined stores.

Mr. Isaac Harris, a merchant of Bushnell, Illinois, is paying E. P. Kinne, his son-in-law, a visit.

Mr. Spotswood, a brother of A. T., has been in Colorado a number of months seeking to regain his health. Last week he stopped here while on his return home and is now very sick. Christmas Day was a disastrous one for Peter Lipe and family, who live six miles north of Winfield. They went to a neighbor's to eat their Christmas dinner, and he saw a house on fire which he supposed was the school house, but on approaching it he found it to be his own house. The building, furniture, and quite an amount of wheat was burned, making a total loss of the property destroyed about $800, on which there was an insurance, with Gilbert, Jarvis & Co., for $200.

The businessmen of Arkansas City are of a restless nature, and they are constantly thinking of some means of giving increased importance to their town. For a few days past they have had an engineer at work determining the different levels of the Arkansas City and Walnut rivers, and they find the Arkansas is ten feet higher than the Walnut, and the project is to cut a canal between the rivers north of town, the length of which would be about three miles, and an approximate cost of $40,000. This, if done, would give an almost exhaustless water power. Eastern investors stand ready to commence the erection of another flouring mill, and a woolen mill, if the project is carried to a successful conclusion. The scheme has our best wishes and all the help that we can give it.

We are obliged to chronicle another disastrous fire. Rev. S. Ferguson, one of our old citizens, is at Eureka Springs for his health. His farm is 4 miles northeast of here, and last year he rebuilt his house. Yesterday morning while Mrs. Ferguson was getting water, she fell and struck her head, injuring her severely. She was taken to the house and an extra fire built up and the heat set fire to the floor where the pipe passed through. The flames gained headway so rapidly that nothing could be saved from the upper story and but little from the main floor. The total loss was fully $800, on which there was no insurance. In this instance one accident followed another, and if it had not been for Mrs. Ferguson's injury, the fire would probably have been subdued before total destruction followed.

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JANUARY 13, 1881.

The 13th Judicial District, containing the largest population, is ours, in which W. P. Campbell has presided as judge and E. S. Torrance is judge elect. It is composed of the counties of Chautauqua, Elk, Butler, Cowley, Sumner, and Sedgwick. There is no right nor justice in the present manner in which the state is divided in judicial districts. It is all wrong from the foundation up. There is no way to cure this gross injustice and inequality but by redistricting the state. Fifteen districts in the state are enough, but they should be constructed so as to divide the work among the fifteen judges. We hope our legislature will have the nerve to attend to this matter at once.

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JANUARY 13, 1881.

Wirt Walton went in without opposition.

It's Chief Clerk Walton and Journal Clerk Hunt.

The ice on the Walnut is nine inches thick.

Cal Ferguson returned Saturday from his trip to Kentucky.

Harold Mansfield is preparing to start a drug store at Hunnewell.

C. M. Scott has been engaged by the Commonwealth as its reporter in the House.

Miss May Roland came up from the "terminus" last Tuesday with Miss Jessing Millington.

The express company have taken the safe from the old Winfield Bank building for use in their office.

The bills allowed by the commissioners at their last meeting amounted to over ten thousand dollars.

John Smiley left for New Mexico in charge of a body of workmen for the Santa Fe road last Friday. He will not return till spring.

Judge Torrance went to Wichita Monday to take charge of the court now in session there. His first court in this county commences in March.

J. H. Finch, of this city, is elected assistant door-keeper of the senate, and W. O. Kretsinger, brother of our Krets, is journal clerk of the senate.

Geo. Maxfield is the gentleman who bought out the store of A. D. Lee at Seeley.

A Mr. Al. Gibbons was arrested by Deputy U. S. Marshal Horn last week on a charge of selling tobacco without license. He was committed to jail in default of $300 bond.

Nearly every evening last week the river at the north and west bridge was thronged with young folks skating. The snow Saturday night put a stop to their fun for awhile.

A gentlemen noted for his truth and veracity states that he found Frank Jennings standing on the courthouse steps at five o'clock Monday morning waiting to be sworn in.

Mr. Clarke is taking steps to oust J. B. McGill from the foundry and take possession himself. He claims rights under Dysert, and that McGill has violated the terms of his lease.

Commissioner Harbaugh is in Shelbyville, Illinois, with his family, on a visit. Two of the children are sick with pneumonia.

F. J. Moore, from Indiana, is staying in this vicinity for a few weeks and we hope he will become a permanent citizen. He is a relative of Wm. and Geo. M. Moore.

The Board have ordered that two ballot-boxes be used at the coming election, and that the judges and clerks be sworn twice. The propositon on the bond question is to be on a separate ballot from the township ticket.

Mr. M. Wickersham, who will be remembered by many of our citizens, died very suddenly at his home in Montrose, Iowa, New Year's Day. His wife died only a few days before. Mr. Wickersham was a father of Mrs. Batchelder, of this city.

Judge Campbell adjourned court in the middle of a case at Wichita last Friday. He turned up next morning, however, to explain matters and ask leave to sit again. The disturbance was all created by a new arrival at his home. It is a boy.

Ed. Weitzel of the Commercial House, opened out with a grand ball last Thursday night. Over forty couples were present and everybody enjoyed themselves hugely. Ed. has got the Commercial fixed up in first-class style and is doing a good business.

Mr. J. F. Paul, ex-register of deeds of Cowley county, died at his home in Vernon township last week. His wife, who had been visiting in the East, arrived just before his death. Mr. Paul was one of our oldest citizens and leaves many friends to mourn his early death.

Gen. Miles, Gen. Crook, and several other Washington fellows and four Ponca chiefs went up on the train with us Friday on our trip to Topeka. They weren't a bit sociable, and we shall always take a savage delight in the thought that Miles didn't get the weather bureau. He don't deserve it.

Mr. William Sarson died last week and was buried in the south cemetery. Mr. Sarson has been confined to his bed for over a year with consumption, during which time he had been unable to earn anything with which to support his family. He leaves a wife and seven small children.

Commissioner Gale has been elected chairman of the Board for the ensuing year. This is eminently proper, as Mr. Gale is thoroughly acquainted with county business, is prompt, firm, and discreet in the consideration of matters which come before the Board, and will guard the people's interests faithfully.

The Winfield Bank shows deposits to the amount of ninety-four thousand eight hundred and sixty-two dollars and twenty-three cents. This is a splendid showing and places the bank on the very highest footing. The business for the past year has been immense and the dividends large. The stockholders are well satisfied with the work.

The library rooms are open two days each week, Wednesday and Saturdays. These ladies inaugurated this library a little less than a year ago with no capital except their own warm hearts and willing hands. In less than a year they created quite a valuable library besides paying the rent of their fine rooms and the services of a librarian. They are adding new books from time to time. They are now about to invest one hundred dollars, their late earnings, in well selected new books.

Ed. Brown, one of the best engineers on the Gould roads, and Hon. A. J. Mathewson were in town this week en route through the western counties looking over the ground for the new Pacific railroad to be built in the Gould interest from Parsons through Labette, Montgomery, Elk, Cowley, and the counties west to the State line. It is talked that another branch will be built from Leroy by way of Wichita to connect with the road through this county at some point west of here.

Last Thursday, Mr. R. F. Burden completed his last official act, and after seven years continuous service as chairman of the Board of County Commissioners, stepped out of the Courthouse a private citizen. His services have extended through the most important era in our county's history. He has signed all the bonds issued by the county, and his signature has drawn hundreds of thousands of dollars from the treasury. He leaves the office untainted by a single corrupt act, with the full confidence of the people, and with a record of which he may well feel proud.

FARMERS' CONVENTION. A number of the leading farmers of the county met pursuant to call at the courthouse last Saturday. The meeting organized by electing J. S. Baker chairman and S. E. Burger secretary. After a few preliminary remarks it was decided to issue a call for a mass convention, to meet two weeks from that date, to perfect the organization of a "Farmers' Alliance Club." Three delegates were elected to attend the convention, which meets at Topeka today (Wednesday). The delegates are:

S. E. Burger, Capt. Stubblefield, and F. W. Schwantes.

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W. M. Allison has purchased the Sumner County Democrat and will take possession on the first of February. So says the Telegram. Mr. Allison graduated in a printing office in Illinois, we believe, a mere boy with a handful of type and a cheap press, commenced the publication of the Cowley County Telegram at Tisdale in 1872 with a dozen or two of subscribers and very little patronage. It was then a time when the settlers were scarce and poor, and it was a struggle to make a living at anything, much more to build up a great newspaper from such small beginnings. After working there a few months he removed to Winfield, the county seat, and here began work in earnest. He encountered a thousand difficulties and discouragements, but he had faith in the future of this county and indomitable pluck. Year by year he increased his subscription list, his printing material, his presses, and the size of his paper, until his paper was one of the largest county weeklies in the State, his office was well stocked, and his circulation and patronage large for any Kansas county. In addition to his weekly he had been publishing a daily for some time, when last summer he sold out his office, made valuable by years of hard work, to C. C. Black. Mr. Allison is a newspaper man of much talent, and perseverance; and if he has his faults, cowardice is not one of them. We wish him every success in his new field of labor.

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JANUARY 13, 1881.

The new Board met on Monday, Messrs. Gale and Bullington present, and organized by electing G. L. Gale chairman for the coming year. The proprietors of the Telegram, Monitor, and COURIER, then presented propositions for the county printing. After some discussion the matter was laid over till the next morning, when, the commissioners failing to agree, action was postponed until the first Tuesday in February, when Commissioner Harbaugh will be present.

The proposition of S. E. Burger for the keeping of the poor was accepted. Dr. Graham was appointed as county physician. The Board ordered that at the bond and township election the judges and clerks should be sworn in the second time; that two ballot-boxes be provided, and that all the judges and clerks sign the poll-books. The Board then adjourned to meet the first Friday in February.

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JANUARY 13, 1881.

Among our exchanges are seven papers which are always eagerly looked for, and whose faces are as familiar to us as those of our most intimate friends. We glory in their prosperity and sympathize with them in adversity. They are published by boys whose first squibs were launched forth on the world through the columns of the COURIER to live or die by their own merits.

The first to throw down the stick and branch out was Abe Steinbarger. His first venture was in the mule business. He managed to get hold of a pair of old mules and an ancient wagon, and, unheeding the advice of Greeley, started east. But the mule business didn't suit Abe. He found a man over by New Boston who had an old press, which might have been a near relative to the one Gutenberg and Faust practiced on. He was a mule man. He liked mules. Abe didn't. In a mighty short space of time they "swapped," and soon the New Boston Bugle tooted its first toot, with Abe's name at the foot of a column and a half "salutatory."

From that time to this Abe has flourished, and in spite of the old adage, "a rolling stone gathers no moss," he rolled all over Elk and Montgomery counties and gathered in every "bonus" that was offered for the establishment of a newspaper in that vicinity. He finally brought up in Howard City and established the Courant, "which is today the handsomest weekly paper in the state. He bought a twelve hundred dollar cylinder press the other day.

Doud went next: and by the way, he proved to be the only black sheep in the flock. When he left us he was a Republican: a red-hot, roaring Republican. But he was of a melancholy disposition, and in his weaker moments, some corrupting influences were thrown around him, and the next thing we heard of him he was editing a Democratic paper in Eureka. He's there yet, running along in the same vein, and we have lost all hopes of his reformation.

The next to leave us was Vinnie Becket, and we felt his loss in more ways than one. He was the boss store box thief of the western hemisphere. Many a cold winter's evening, when the man who owed wood on subscription had failed to come in time, and "freezation" was staring us in the face, did Beck, steal forth, accompanied only by the "devil" and return loaded down with resinous pine, and after the fire had been kindled and the boys gathered around in friendly communion, Beck would light his old cob pipe, get his feet on the imposing stone, and puff away as complacently as though he had never seen a dry goods box in all his born days. But we could not keep him always, and one day he packed his trunk, bade us a tearful farewell, and went off up into Iowa, where he started a Sunday school paper; and called it the Courier, after his old Alma Mater. We were fearful of this first venture of Beck's, and our fears were well founded. He couldn't write Sunday school hymns, and the Courier, Jr., soon "climbed the golden stair." Then he came over into Kansas, stated the Norton County Advance, and is getting wealthy and influential.

The itinerant spirit of our family seemed to have gone with Becket, and for a long time the slightest indication of restlessness on the part of one of the members was greeted with a frown that nipped his ambitions in the bud. But one day the mail brought a letter for the COURIER. It had the official stamp of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe railroad on the envelope, and contained a pass from Wichita to Topeka. Equipped with this Wirt Walton sailed forth to see the capital of Kansas, leaving an almanac on the local hook in case he did not return before the next issue. He returned, but brought a "bee in his bonnet," and from that time on we realized that he, too, must go. The next winter he was elected Journal Clerk of the House. The next Chief Clerk, and the next ditto. He now edits the Clay Center Dispatch, one of the newsiest, most influential journals in the state, and steals his editorials from the COURIER, with as much "sang froid" as any of the seven.

Tom Copeland was our "ladies' man," and when he curled his blonde tresses, put on a clean paper collar, and started out, we knew that he went forth "to conquer or die," and as he always returned, we made up our minds that he always conquered. But one day he came up with a sad face, and moisture dimmed his left eye, and he said he was tired of drudging out an existence, and was going to get a paper of his own and grow powerful and rich enough to buy the old concern and all of us with it. He didn't let us know exactly how he was going to do it all with four dollars and twenty cents, but we believed everything he said, and he was so confident. That was three years ago, and he is now running the Elk Falls Signal, with an interest in the Cherryvale Globe, and has a gigantic scheme on foot to take in the Longton Pioneer.

The last to leave us was Frank Frye. He was a Democrat, and one day he learned that the Board of Commissioners of Labette county was Democrats. The next day found him negotiating for a press and type, and soon the "Labette County Democrat" hung its banner on the outer wall. Of course, Frank got the county printing, his personal popularity brought him advertising and subscribers and the Democrat is now the leading paper of the county, is solidly established, and is doing good work for the community.

This completes the list of "Our Boys," and a brighter, more energetic set of fellows it would be hard to find. Overflowing with enthusiasm in the calling in which their labors have been so successful, their names will yet rank high among those who are instrumental in bringing Kansas to the front among the states of the Union. We are proud of them all, and we always will be.

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JANUARY 13, 1881.

At an adjourned meeting of the Cowley Co. Wool Growers' Association, held at Winfield January 8th, 1881, the following business was transacted.

Mr. Service being temporary chairman, secretary's report of last meeting was read and adopted.

Names of members read and fourteen others added.

The following officers were elected by ballot for the ensuing year.

President: N. L. Rigby.

First Vice President: S. P. Srong.

Second Vice President: John Stalter.

Recording Secretary: A. C. Crowell.

Corresponding Secretary: S. C. Smith.

Treasurer: A. H. Doane.

Messrs. Stalter and Eastman were appointed by the chair to act as a committee to select and assign subjects to be discussed at the next regular meeting.

Motion was made and carried that Mr. Ezra Meech be appointed as a delegate to the State Wool Growers' Association that is to be held at Topeka on the 18th inst., and Mr. Rigby as alternate.

Motion was made and carried that three and not more than five be appointed by the chair as a committee to visit the various flocks of sheep throughout the county and report regarding their condition, management, etc.

Messrs. Chaffey, Meach, Smith, Eastman, and Crowell were so appointed.

After remarks by Mr. Linn regarding the Eaton Tariff Bill now before Congress, a motion was made and carried that the corresponding secretary be instructed to request our representatives to Congress to favor said bill.

Motion was made and carried that the first clause of the constitution be so amended as to read, "Cowley County Wool Growners and Sheep Breeders' Association."

Motion was made and carried that the corresponding secretary be instructed to collect the petitions already distributed and present them through our Senator to the State Legislature.

Adjourned to meet at 10 o'clock, m., March 5th, 1881.

A. D. CROWELL, Sec'y.

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JANUARY 13, 1881.

Society is now up in arms and the Capital City presents scenes of mirth, music, and beauty almost every night. Last evening the residence of Hon. A. B. Lemmon and wife, corner of Van Buren and Twelfth streets, was made brilliant by the gathering of their friends in the number of one hundred or more. About 9 o'clock the house presented a most magnificient spectacle, illuminated from top to bottom, and filled with a gaily dressed and pleasant throng.

The host and hostess were happy in welcoming and enter taining all who were privileged to receive their generous hospitality, and they will long be remembered by the society circles of Topeka.

Next Monday Mr. Lemmon turns over the Superintendent's office to his successor, Mr. Speer. He, however, will remain here with his family until after the adjournment of the Legislature and then return to Winfield. The Topeka Commonwealth.

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JANUARY 13, 1881.

The following is a report of the Floral schools for the months ending December 24th, 1880.

ADVANCED GRADES.

Number enrolled, 35; number of days of attendance, 607; average daily attendance, 30.85. Those having an average of 90 percent, and upwards, in scholarship and deportment were:

Brilla Read, 91

Mary Dalgam, 97

Oliver Craig, 90

Curtis Wright, 91

Etna Dalgam, 99

Helen Wright, 97

James Cottingham, 97

Harry Blair, 93

Mary Mount, 91

Maggie Wright, 96

Johnnie Thirsk, 91

Lewis Dalgam, 92.

Those perfect in deportment were Brilla Read, Mary Dalgam, Etna Dalgam, Helen Wright, James Cottingham, Mary Mount, Harry Blair, Maggie Wright, Willie Holloway, Frank Miller, and Lewis Dalgam.

T. J. FLOYD, TEACHER.

PRIMARY GRADE.

Number enrolled, 43, number of days of attendance, 604, average daily attendance, 33.2.

Those having an average of 80 percent, and upwards, in scholarship and deportment were:

Carrie Wright

Mattie Howard

Willie Dalgam

Luther Read

Edith Stone

Those perfect in deportment: Cathie Anderson, Williie Holloway, Rollie Dicken, David Stone, Robert Holloway, and Edith Stone.

HATTIE KNICKERBOCKER, TEACHER.

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Died on January 10th, 1881, Charley, infant son of G. M. and M. Coplin, aged 8 months and 30 days.

Died in Ninnescah township, January 7th, 1881, Zueda Smith, infant daughter of P. W. and S. E. Smith, aged 9 months and 10 days.

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Married, by Simeon Martin, at his residence, January 5th, 1881, H. R. Schubert and Miss Clara M. Daniels, both of Maple township, Cowley county, Kansas.

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JANUARY 13, 1881.

Major O. P. Gunn was in town last Wednesday.

Col. Hamilton spent New Year's day in Parsons and is again at home.

Miss Mattie Coldwell, of McPherson, is visiting her sister, Mrs. Judge Boyer.

Miss May Benedict, of Arkansas City, is the guest of Miss Jennie Lowry.

Doc Dever is now in the employ of Gilbert, Jarvis & Co. as book-keeper. Doc is one of the most acomplished office men of this city.

Thomas E. Berry, trader at the Pawnee agency, made us a pleasant visit this week. He came to Cowley to spend the holidays and "have a little fun with the boys." He had it.

Miss Grace Scovill, one of Winfield's most charming social belles, left Winfield last Monday to attend Bethany college at Topeka. This institution is under Professor Vail's charge and is one of the most prominent Episcopal institutions in the west.

J. F. Witherspoon has rechristened the old American and gave it the same name as his old hotel, the Lindell. The house is practically as good as new, having been refinished and refurnished throughout. John is a popular landlord, as his house is kept filled with guests.

The lawyers are doing what the bachelors ought to do, that is double up. The latest combination is that of M. G. Troup and Lafe Pence. It makes a strong team and is well balanced politically. Success and long life to the combination.

On New Year's day Hiram G. Hackney, of Sumner county, was married to Miss Nellie C. Holler, of Mt. Pulaski, Illinois, at the residence of G. W. Millspaugh, in Vernon. The ceremony was performed by Judge Gans. The bride and groom are both from "old Logan," and we wish them a long and happy life.

On New Year's day F. J. Sydal made an assignment to his creditors. His liabilities are almost two hundred dollars in excess of the invoice value of the stock. As far as we know, there is no local indebtedness of any amount. Mr. Sydal has the sympathy of many friends, and we hope to soon see him on his feet again.

A number of days ago a dispatch appeared in the Kansas City Journal reflecting on Charles Clayton, stating that he left Winfield without paying his debts. The best evidence of its falsity is that he is now here attending to his legitimate business.

John Hoenscheidt is spending a few days in Winfield closing up his business. He has rented a house in Atchison and will remove there with his family.

Wm. McRaw has an abiding faith in the future of Winfield. He is now erecting a fine dwelling on his vacant lot on Millington street. This will make three houses that he has in that vicinity, and we will call it the "McRaw Row."

The commercial office of the Western Union Telegraph company is moved to Mr. Carruther's office with George Mann as the principal opeator, whom you will always find a pleasant and accommodating gentleman.

Winfield Bank: Monitor mentions what Courier had about officers and directors...but adds a wee bit more!

Chas. E. Fuller takes the position of paying teller; A. W. Berkey, collection clerk, and Jas. Lorton, a new man, takes the position of bookkeeper. Mr. H. H. Fuller retires. The business of the bank for the past year has been prosperous and unusually satisfactory to the officers and stockholders.

MONITOR GIVES BREAKDOWN ON COURTHOUSE...WOW!

The expenditures were much greater than first anticipated or intended; but where such radical changes to the interior arrangements were made, the amount necessary to make them could not be calculated, and as is always the case, they were much greater than any person expected. The entire cost of the work on the courthouse was $4,220; divided as follows.

Archie Stewart, stone mason work, $545.00

Beaton & Connor, contractors, $1,987.00

Iron work and vaults, $1,018.00

Repairing offices and furniture, $670.00

The additions are alike in size and style, and are 21 x 31 feet. The east room will be used as the office of the probate judge and the west for the superintendent of public instruction. The vaults are located in these additions and so arranged that entrance is had to them from every office in the building, yet each is independent from the other. The vaults and the iron work were made by John Seaton, of Atchison, and in a manner that is entirely satisfactory to the commissioners. The vaults rest on three feet of solid masonry, and are in every respect fire and burglar proof. The grade floor of the main building is now divided into four large offices instead of six small ones. The east part is occupied by the county clerk and the treasurer, with a window allowing communications between the offices.

On the west side a like division is made, and they are occupied by the register of deeds and district clerk. The changes have necessitated some new furniture, but the officers have been very economical and ordered nothing but what was indispensable.

The greatest change in improvement has been made in the register's office. The records are all now kept in the vault, and from the main room to the vault there is a truck on which runs a car, and in this car are placed all the books that are daily used. At night the car is run into the vault which secures absolute safety. The offices are all arranged with a view to the economy of space, time, and labor. Seaton & Connor were the contractors for this work, and they have done their work in a manner that reflects credit on them. They came here about a year ago and have worked on some of our best buildings. The commissioners speak of them in the highest terms, and say that while they, the conttractors, were much delayed by weather and other things, yet not a word of complaint was made, nor was there any attempt on thier part to avoid the contract or try to get an increased price. Swain & Watkins had a contract under Seaton & Connor to do the carpenter work, and P. W. Watkins was appointed by the commissioners to hire and superintend all the work in the old building. Their work was completed in a manner that gives entire satisfaction.

We cannot conclude this account without awarding the county commissioners their mead of praise. For years there has been a demand for the protection of our records, and as soon as they could do it by law they have answered the demand. They have carefully supervised the work, and not a dollar more has been spent than they could help. With a cost of less than five thousand dollars, we now have a courthouse that will do the county for many years to come. This is much more satisfactory than it would have been to have pulled down the old building and rebuilt, which would probably have cost twenty thousand dollars to have obtained the same amount of room. We say well done, good and faithful servants.

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JANUARY 13, 1881.

Constant is located about half way between Winfield and Arkansas City; and consists of one dwelling house, the residence of Mr. Holland, one granary or out house, one threshing machine, and one straw stack. There is also one grocery store kept by one John W. Fenguay, an enterprising young man who will buy or sell anything from a shoe string to a jack rabbit, and is prepared to sell groceries as cheap and pay as good a price for produce as any man in that business.

The Holland school house of district number 10 is located one half mile south of this place and Miss Mattie Mitchell is teaching the young idea how to shoot.

We have a Literary Society here in good running order under the auspices of Messrs. Bailey, Fenguay, Holland, and McKerlie, assisted by Miss Nancy Zimmerman as treasurer and first class speeches can be heard from there every Wednesday evening.

We attended a turkey dinner at the residence of D. W. Mumaw. The only drawback to the pleasure of the day was the absence of our host. D. W. Mumaw had gone to visit his brothers in Pottawattomie county and was unable to return in time due to the storm. We were treated by Mrs. Mumaw, and her brother, Mr. Isaac Ruth.

On Christmas day Mr. and Mrs. Balley celebrated the anniversary of their 15th wedding, and in the evening they were treated to a surprise party by their neighbors, supper being brought and set by the company.

HAPPY DICK.

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JANUARY 20, 1881.

SILVERDALE, Jan. 11th, 1881.

Mr. Lord Scott has returned from Colorado.

Mr. Abker is erecting a new residence.

Mr. Rulison has just finished a dwelling house on his farm. He also contemplates erecting a general machine shop.

Quite a number of the young men of Silverdale are going to the mountains in the spring.

GRANGER.

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JANUARY 20, 1881.

On the evening of the fifth, the roads were merry with the sound of hurrying to and fro, by Beaverites and Vernonites who only reached the Mecca of their wanderings when once inside the new residence of Mr. Geo. Wright. Music, refreshments, and social glee abounded and not until a late hour did the company disperse for "homeward bound."

Rev. Aaron Rhorick, after reaching Macon county, Illinois, invested in the matrimonial lottery and has triumphantly returned exhibiting his newly found prize. We have the plesure of chronicling a visit from the happy pair. Also Mrs. Rhorick senior, Mr. John Case, W. O. Guyer, B. M. Rup, Misses Verda and Nannie Wood.

We delivered a paper on Foreign Missions on Jan. 7th at Winfield's Presbyterian church. Mrs. Lowery, Pres., and Miss Shields, Sec., are overflowing with zeal for the cause. At close of meeting we were kindly taken through the different apartments of the basement, which when completed, will be enjoyed as audience room, parlor, and kitchen.

OCCASIONAL.

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JANUARY 20, 1881.

On Tuesday the first day of February is the election for township officers and also the election on the proposition to authorize the county commissioners to sell our railroad stock at not less than 65 cents on the dollar cash.

It is our opinion that the electors of this county should vote in favor of that proposition. The best offer that has been made in cash direct so far is 65 cents for the $68,000 stock in the S. K. & W. road; but the offer to exchange our stock at 75 for consolidated stock of the K. C. T. & W., and the consolidated stock at par for A. T. & S. F. bonds, is thought to be equivalent to 75 cents cash for our stock because the A. T. & S. F. bonds are said to be worth their face. The commissioners could not make this trade unless in the same transaction a purchaser should take the Santa Fe bonds at cash so that in effect the cash would be received when the stock was delivered.

It is possible that still better offers will be made before the stock would be sold. At worst the act of voting the authority would not compel the commissioners to sell at once, or to sell at all for that matter. They could hold until the best offer they could expect was made and then close. Of course, we should expect them to act judiciously and do the best for the county, but we would not advise them to hold so long as to lose the opportunity to avail themselves of the best offer. It is our opinion that if it is found on a thorough investigation that 65 cents cash is the best we can do, we had better sell even at that. There are too many chances that railroad stocks, such as these, may go down in the market to warrant us in holding too long for a better offer than 65.

We urge our readers to consider this matter carefully and vote understandingly, but to vote by all means and let their opinions be felt at the polls.

If the authority is voted, it will probably realize the county about $50,000 in cash for the S. K. & W. stock. There is no offer for the Cowley, Sumner & Fort Smith stock, $128,000. We have out $33,000 ten percent refunding bonds, which will come due in two years, and the proceeds of the sale can soon be used to stop this big interest. The railroad bonds of the county are said to be worth about 97 cents on the dollar in the market, and we can doubtless get all we can pay for at par or less. The

S. K. & W. bonds only draw 6 percent, and they are the bonds we should leave for the last.

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JANUARY 20, 1881.

RECAP: Most events covered not of interest. Gives some history.

The legislature of Kansas grows rapidly. There are 130 members in the House and 38 in the Senate.

The first legislation of Kansas as a territory was held at Pawnee July 2, 1854, and had 43 members of the Council and 26 members of the House. The first State legislature had 26 members of the Senate and 75 members of the House. The legislature now has a constitutional quota, and eleven additional members in the House from Western counties.

Reporter talks about House members introducing bill No. 23, regulating the sale of liquors: the first sword that has flashed in support of the amendment. Mr. Hackney will introduce a similar bill in the Senate next Tuesday. There is no telling what an ordeal the temperance bill will go through that becomes a law. The only salvation for the interests of the liquor men will be murdering temperance bills in this Legislature. Reporter felt that the temperance element was in the majority in both Houses.

There were 28 bills introduced last Thursday on almost as many different subjects. There were two bills in relation to protection to sheep from dogs, one to change the time of the election of township officers to the time of the general election, and one to provide for the payment of clerk's and sheriff's fee in criminal cases where there is no conviction.

He also mentioned there would be a caucus the next day to nominate a State Printer.

"The farmers' convention, I am afraid, resulted in small good. The meeting was anything but harmonious and there was too much of a Sam Wood element in it to give it any stability or character."

CARL.

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JANUARY 20, 1881.

On Monday the committees of both houses were announced. In the House Lemmon is chairman of the committee on Public Lands, and a member of those on Judiciary and Ways and Means, which will give him plenty of work. Mitchell is chairman of that on Enrolled Bills and a member of that on State Affairs. In the Senate, Hackney is chairman on State Affairs and a member of the Judiciary, Railroad, Texas Cattle, Cities of the first-class, and Congressional Apportionment committees. We will try to give the committees in full next week.

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NOTE: THE SPEECH OF GOV. ST. JOHN IS VERY INTERESTING AND COVERS

MANY AREAS IN THE STATE...GROWTH IN POPULATION, TAXES,

RAILROADS, FINANCES, PENITENTIARY, INSANE ASYLUMS, ASYLUM

FOR THE BLIND, AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE, FEEBLE-MINDED

CHILDREN, STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY, PUBLIC SCHOOLS, STATE

UNIVERSITY, NORRMAL SCHOOL, PUBLIC LANDS, FRONTIER,

WASHINGTON MONUMENT, APPORTIONMENT, MILITARY, ETC.

I DID NOT COVER ANY OF THIS.

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JANUARY 20, 1881.

Senator Hackney came down Saturday and returned Monday.

Grant Stafford has been quite sick with lung fever, but is now recovering.

Fred A. Norcott, traveling agent of the C. R. I. & P. called Monday. This is a first-class road and is represented by first-class gentlemen.

The Telegram says the Sheriff arrested Ben Butler on suspicion. We don't blame him. The name is suspicious enough to warrant the arrest!

The Silver Creek township people object to crediting Mr.

J. R. Tate to Windsor township. They claim all the Tennesseeans but Mr. John Brooks, and would like to get him if they could.

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The polls for Walnut township will be in the second house west of the old Maris residence near Manny's brewery.

J. C. ROBERTS, Trustee.

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We are glad to learn that our old friend, Theodore Wright of Pleasant Valley township, is recovering his health again. He has been down with inflammatory rheumatism for over two months.

The editor of this paper acknowledges with thanks the receipt of certificate of full membership in the Library Association of Osage Mission, E. B. Park, president; Ed. L. Joyce, secretary.

J. Ex Saint came in from New Mexico last Saturday in good condition. He has sold 625,000 pounds of Kansas flour and a proportionate amount of mixed groceries since the November election.

That company to prospect for coal in the vicinity of Winfield should be organized as once. "There are millions in it." Now is the time to work it up while business is dull and men are wanting work.

The Telegram says that the boys who went from Cowley to work on the Santa Fe are work on the line west of San Marcial. South, we suppose, as the line runs south from San Marcial to the other road.

The delegates to the Farmers' Convention returned Friday. They are of the opinion that good results will come of the meeting, but are disgusted with the way in which Sam Wood, P. P. Elder, and other demagogues tried to make political capital out of it.

On Thursday night last a social hop was given at the Lindell Hotel by the proprietor, Mr. Witherspoon. The Lindell, under the present management, is becoming one of the most popular hotels in the city.

J. M. Jarvis, of Beaver township, lost four horses Sunday evening. He thinks they strayed in a northeast direction. Two of them are blazed faced sorrel mares, one a bay mare, and one a yearling colt. Sheriff Shenneman will communicate any information given him on the subject.

Tell Walton has gone to Clay Center to take charge of the local columns of the Dispatch during Wirt's labors at the capital. Tell is a "chip off the old block," and consequently a lively paragraphist. By the way, he is one of "Our Boys" too, but we were ashamed to own him while he was in the Oklahoma business.

We "told you the cow would eat the grindstone," or rather we told you that Hackney would be radical enough for the warmest prohibitionist when he got into the senate. We have seen a draft of his prohibition bill which he introduced in the senate last Tuesday. It is stringent in every particular and seems to leave no chance for an escape.

Mr. Lemmon has introduced a bill to remove the political disabilities on one citizen of Cowley who fought on the wrong side during the war. He is a good republican now. If there are any more of such soldiers, they had better send in their names and have their disabilities reported. The war is over and men who live in Kansas awhile become loyal men from the force of their surroundings.

Saturday was a lively day. The streets were thronged with teams and the sidewalks with people. Most everyone had wood, or corn, or wheat, or hogs for sale; but very few spent their money in the stores. Several had spare change enough to soak themselves with liquor, but no arrests were made. Most of the farmers with whom we talked expressed themselves as being satisfied with the prospects for a good wheat crop.

PLUG HATS. The biggest display of plug hats we ever saw in Winfield was on the march and countermarch through our streets last Monday, of the minstrel corps which performed in the evening. By the way, we have a good joke on Rev. J. A. Hyden. As is well known, he wears a very stylish plug hat. He happened to be on the train which brought the minstrel outfit to Winfield.

That corps had one general ticket for their whole crowd and when the conductor took that ticket, he passed all the plug hat men as members of the troupe, Rev. Hyden among the number. Our worthy divine called to the conductor to have his fare, but he refused, saying, "It is all right, your fare is settled." Whether he has been carried off with the troupe or has escaped, we are not informed.

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A STATE INSTITUTION. In his message to the legislature, the Governor states that there are, according to the census returns, 134 feeble minded or idiotic persons in the State, of whom 66 are under 21 years old; that thus far the State has made no provision for this class of unfortunates; that a school for such is no longer an experiment, but that in other States thousands of such have been brought from this almost hopeless state to a condition that enables them to care for themselves; that they cannot be educated except in an institution especially fitted for the purpose; and that it is the duty of the State to provide such an institution. Seizing upon this recommendation, Senator Hackney has prepared a bill to organize and establish such an institution at Winfield, which provides 1st, that $50,000 be appropriated for the purpose; 2nd, that it shall be located on a healthy site within two miles of the Winfield courthouse, the site to embrace at least twenty acres, with a clear title without expense to the State; 3rd, five commissioners to select the site; and 4th, cause to be prepared full plans and specifications for the building, which shall be three stories high and have capacity to accommodate two hundred persons; 5th, Cowley stone to be used in the construction.

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REMINISCENCE. We had a pleasant call from Mr. Samuel Watt, of Pleasant Valley township, last Saturday. Sam and the writer were neighbors on the "divide" in 1871 and 1872, and we will never forget one of his early experiences. When the settlers first came in, they could boast of but little cash, but all brought an abundance of grit and generally a good team. Sam had little cash, but more grit than any of us. He also had a good team, but somehow plowing the tough sod and eating wormy sod corn and prairie grass didn't agree with the horses of early times. When they laid down they forgot how to get up, and generally the neighbors had to be called in to "help tail Billy up." One day one of Sam's horses laid down, and with all the "tailing" that was given to help raise him up, he wouldn't stand. But Sam was equal to the emergency; and out of a couple of hickory poles, he fashioned a pair of shafts for the other horse and went on plowing just the same.

One day he had to "go to mill," and putting twelve bushels of his best sod corn in the big wagon, he attached his hickory shafts, hitched up the old horse, and started for Arkansas City. All went well until he struck the sand hill this side of the city, when he was obliged to call a halt. It was here that a party of gentlemen standing at the north end of Summit street looked down on Sam, while one of the number compared his rig with the "wonderful one-horse shay." The comparison was very appropriate.

Sam still has the grit which bore him up so bravely amid the hardships of pioneer life, and one on passing by the beautiful home which he has, raised up as it were out of the wilderness, can hardly realize the toil and privations it took to accomplish it. To the indomitable energy of such men as Sam Watt must be attributed the rapid advancement of our county.

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TERRIBLE ACCIDENT. Winfield has in the past been unusually fortunate in having had but few accidents resulting in the loss of life. We are sorry to be obliged to chronicle one which is the most horrible that can befall a human being. A colored girl, working in the family of W. C. Carruthers, is the victim. Last Thursday evening while working about the stove, her dress in some manner caught fire. Messrs. Harris and O'Hare were spending the evening at Mr. Carruthers', and while engaged in the parlor with the ladies, they heard terrible screams from the kitchen. The next moment the colored girl burst into the room enveloped in flames and rushed through into an adjoining bedroom. Mr. Harris tried to get the piano cover to throw around her, but it was fastened to the piano. In an instant the girl rushed back through the parlor into the dining room and jumped into a tub of water which was standing near. The gentlemen followed her, pushed her down into the tub, and with the water put out the flames and tore the charred remains of clothing from her. The skin was burned to a crisp and partially adhered to the clothing. Her screams were horrible and roused the whole neighborhood. The next morning she was removed to the poor house. Dr. Davis says she will not live. Several articles in the rooms through which she passed were set on fire. The girl was one of the "exodusters," and has been here about five months.

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We are called upon to record accident No. 3 on the old man-trap of a bridge near Bliss' mill. Saturday night, one _______

_______, after filling himself with liquor, started home. The team seemed to be imbued with the master's spirits, and commenced running. They turned the corner of the Christie residence, spilled the man out, and rushed for the old bridge; but the bridge wasn't there, neither was there fence or posts to check their progress.

They had gained considerable momentum and of course plunged over the abutment, and fell thirty feet to the ice below. The wagon was smashed to atoms. One horse had his leg broken, and laid on the log for twenty-four hours before anyone removed him; and the other horse got up, walked across on the ice, and went on home. If the man hadn't been drunk, he would not have fallen out, and would probably have been killed; consequently, liquor saved his life. Another argument for the free whiskey forces.

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CASUALTY. On Tuesday evening Bob Marks, as he is known, living on Silver Creek, having been in town drinking, started for home racing his team and whooping. In the east part of town he drove over a stone pile, which threw him out on the ground with such force as to kill him. He was a bright, active young man and were it not for liquor would have been a valuable citizen.

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JANUARY 20, 1881.

WHEREAS, We have learned with deep regret of the decease of our worthy and esteemed brother, J. L. White, which took place at his residence near Winfield, Cowley county, Kansas, November 26th, where he had recently removed, and

WHEREAS, During his long residence in this Lafayette county, Missouri, he had, by his kind and genial manner, endeared himself to his many friends, and

WHEREAS, He was a good and true Patron of Husbandry, now we, the members of the Davis Creek Grange No. 155, of which Grange our brother was an ardent and working member, in regular meeting assembled, do hereby testify our deep concern for the loss this Grange and our order generally has sustained.

Resolved, That a copy of this resolution and preamble be transmitted to our bereaved Sister White, the wife of our deceased brother, and her family; and be it further

Resolved, That a copy of this resolution with preamble be sent to the Journal of Agriculture for publication,

Resolved, That a copy of the foregoing be furnished the Winfield papers for publication.

JAS. E. GLADISH, )

M. D. MILLS, ) Committee.

J. A. SNYDER.

F. F. MILLS, Secretary.

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JANUARY 20, 1881.

The editorial convention, which met in this city today, was held in the Beacon office, and presided over by Mr. Ashbaugh, president, of the Newton Kansan.

The main reason the convention was not more largely attended: the trains did not make connection at Newton by over three hours, and several went on to Topeka.

On motion it was agreed to hold the meetings semi-annually instead of quarterly, as now, and to meet on the second Friday in May and November of each year. The old officers were held over and re-elected for one year, with the exception of Loyd Shinn, of Dodge City, who was chosen secretary; H. C. Ashbaugh, president, T. L. Powers, of the Ellinwood Express, vice president; J. E. Conklin, Winfield Monitor, treasurer. But little business was transacted. The party were highly entertained and served a good dinner at the Occidental, and if they didn't get enough to eat, the fault doesn't lie with the hotel. Those who were present and embodied as members of the society, we believe were: H. C. Ashbaugh, Newton Kansas; Judge Muse, Newton Republican; J. E. and R. Conklin, Winfield Monitor, Mr. Richards, Wellington Press;

R. P. Murdock, Wichita Eagle; F. B. Smith and Captain White, Wichita Beacon; Chas. Black, Winfield Telegram; Ed. Greer, Winfield Courier; C. S. Finch, Harper Times; F. Meredith, Hutchinson News.

The next meeting of the society will be held in Dodge City in May. Wichita Daily Republican, Jan. 8.

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JANUARY 20, 1881.

The annual meeting of the Ladies' Library Association for the election of officers will be held at the library room on Tuesday, the 25th of January at 2 o'clock p.m. A full attendance is desired. The new books will be on hand at that time, it is expected.

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JANUARY 201, 1881.

Another of the model farmers of Cowley county is Mr. Jacob Seeley, of Pleasant Valley township. His farm is three miles due south of Winfield, lies on the second bottom of the Walnut, is well watered, and under a splendid state of cultivation. It has a fine orchard, large, commodious stone barn, pasture with living water for stock, corrals, sheds, etc., and is well fenced with Osage orange hedge.

Mr. Seeley is a thorough farmer and believes that a thing which is worth doing at all is worth doing well; hence his crops are always planted in time, his ground in good condition, and with a fair season bounteous harvests are always assured. He is ably assisted in the farm labors by his sons, Frank and Charles, and two brighter, more promising boys cannot be found in the county. In days gone by the writer has enjoyed the hospitality of Mr. Seeley's home, and found it as broad as his acres. It is the thorough, effective work of such men as Mr. Seeley, which makes our agricultural statistics compare favorably with those of any county in the state.

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JANUARY 20, 1881.

The Government has asked the Osages for ten children, to be sent to Carlisle to be educated.

A Payne-killer is wanted in Southern Kansas, warranted to remove Payne for good on short notice.

Miss Jessie Millington, of Winfield, who is quite a versatile and interesting young lady, has been spending several days with Miss May Roland, of this city.

From a letter to one of our citizens, we learn that Capt. Payne will be here with the Oklahoma boomers sometime this week. He may come, and he may not.

J. A. Wickline, for some time past of Santa Fe, New Mexico, and formerly of Bolton township, returned to this county last Saturday, and will probably spend the winter in Kansas.

We understand Secretary Schurz has instructed Agent Miles to order all white herders off the Osage reservation, and to issue permits only to those who may be employed by widows and orphans.

Some of the soldier boys had a "bit of a time" last Monday, trying to get up a corner on whiskey. After they had sobered off somewhat, the Lieutenant let them carry logs by way of amusement.

Cowley county's legislative team left for Topeka last Monday. There are no stronger three men in the state than Hackney, Mitchell, and Lemmon. The editorial friends of our State Senator are working up quite a prospective boom for him in the Congressional race two years hence. Here's willing.

Two gamblers from Caldwell, named Kinney and Phillips, came over to this city last Friday for the purpose of playing the soldiers out of their money. Lieut. Wood notified the authorities of their scheme, and on last Monday night the gentlemen were "pulled" at their game by Marshal Sinnott, and on Tuesday the Mayor called for fifty dollars and costs from them. Good for our Mayor. If the game is repeated, they will get a heavier does next time.

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JANUARY 20, 1881.

Fred Hunt, Jim Finch, and Wirt Walton went into office without opposition.

On Monday we had a call from Angell Mattheson, of Parsons, who is now doing some important work for J. Gould.

On Tuesday Judge Torrance went to Wichita to piece out a term of court for Judge Campbell, and tried his first case last Wednesday.

The New Enterprise will publish a history of Burden next week. That town can well afford to give their paper a hearty support, for its enterprise is untiring.

Commissioner Harbaugh is still in Shelbyville, Illinois. He was called there by sickness and is detained by reason of the serious illness of two of his children.

On last Sunday the two cars of coal donated to the poor of Winfield by the Santa Fe road arrived, and is now being distributed under the direction of Mr. Jillson.

MARRIED: By Simeon Martin, at his residence in Maple township, Cowley co., Kansas, January 5th, 1881, H. R. Schubert and Miss Clara M. Daniels, both of Maple township.

DIFFERENT ACCOUNT RE COLORED GIRL GETTING BURNED!

Last night about nine o'clock the home of W. C. Carruthers was the scene of a terrible event. C. C. Harris and Joe O'Hare were visiting at the house and they heard screams from the dining room. They rushed to the door and a living mass of flames burst into the room and ran screaming through the parlor and into the bedroom. It was the colored servant girl who had set fire to herself from the stove. After reaching the bedroom, she jumped on to the bed, but before any relief could be given her, she jumped up and ran through the rooms into the kitchen and jumped into a tub of water. By this time, Mr. and Mrs. Carruthers, who had gone to bed, came rushing to the scene. Mrs. Carruthers commenced tearing the clothes from her, and she and her husband pressed her into the water and extinguished the flames. Judge McDonald, from his residence on the opposite side of the street, heard the screams, saw the flames, and reached the unfortunate girl about the same time Mrs. Carruthers did. He gave what assistance was possible. Doctor Davis was called, and he says the girl was literally roasted alive, and will die as a result of her injuries. The rooms were set fire to in several places, but the flames were extinguished without any serious damage. The authorities took the case in hand, and have removed the girl to the poor house, which is the best under the circumstances. Her name is Ann Garr, and of large and strong build. She came here last summer with a party of "exodusters." Her present sufferings are frightful and death will be a relief.

JANUARY 20, 1881.

Our old friend, John Smiley, left last Monday for the land of the greasers, where he is engaged to work for the Santa Fe at three dollars and a half per day.

From the present outlook, every one of the Winfield delegation who wanted anything from the legislature got it. We are sorry we did not apply for something. The passport for public favor in Topeka is: I am from Cowley county.

Mulvane wants a bridge across the Arkansas bad, and threatens that unless Sumner gives them a thousand dollars for such purpose, to secede and attach themselves to Sedgwick. Go slow, gentlemen; secession is decidedly unprofitable in this great and glorious Yankee nation.

Messrs. Boyer, Hill, and Boyle will go west early next week on a prospecting tour. Judge Boyer expects to visit Durango, which is on the border of the San Juan country and is the Mecca toward which thousands of eyes are looking. We wish the gentlemen both pleasure and profit. Their stay will be indefinite.

W. M. Allison has purchased the Sumner County Democrat at Wellington, and he is now at Topeka. While the Telegram under Mr. Allison's management gave us many head rubs, yet it was always within the proper sphere of journalism, and we respect him for his boldness and independence. He has proved himself to be one of the best newspaper men in the state, and we wish him success in his new venture.

We are under obligation to W. F. White, general passenger and ticket agent of the Santa Fe, for a new paper in the interest of that road, and called the Santa Fe Trail, and also a map of the United States and Mexico, showing the completion and proposed lines of this vast corporation. Any of our readers desiring the Trail, can be placed on the subscription list free by addressing the editor, Chas. S. Gleed, Topeka.

The Arkansas river is a navigable stream, or so reported, and a party of United States employees are now clearing it of snags and obstructions as far north as Wichita, and the Oxford people are trembling for their pontoon bridge and the water power mill of Bates & Thompson. The latter enterprise alone is worth more than all the navigation of that stream will be in the whole state of Kansas.

The Arkansas City Traveler of this week has a long and interesting article on the canal scheme of uniting the Arkansas and Walnut rivers. It is estimated that the cost will be forty thousand dollars. We think the scheme an excellent one; but with their present taxes, it is too big an additional burden for Arkansas City to attempt to carry.

On Thursday last, Oxford voted to sell her stock in the Kansas, Southern and Western railroad, amounting to eighteen thousand dollars, for twelve thousand seven hundred dollars, which amount was used to cancel an equal amount of the indebtedness of Oxford township. This leaves only five thousand three hundred dollars of a balance of township indebtedness, and the interest on this sum will be paid by taxes on railroad property. This leaves Oxford in a better condition financially than it has been during the past ten years. Stock and bonds are now in M. L. Read's bank.

Miss Laura Watson was married at her home in Jefferson City, Missouri, last week. This young lady made quite a number of friends in this city last summer while visiting her cousin, Miss Nellie Cole. During the war we were acquainted with the family of Miss Watson, and her bright and engaging manners called up the scenes of more years ago than we like to number. The bride's new home is now at St. Louis. Her husband is a man of wealth and position, and the bride will do "credit to both."

Winfield Courier, January 20, 1881.

Bliss & Wood, proprietors of the City mills, though they have one of the best water powers in the state, have got tired of depending upon the Walnut river for their power, and have now let the contract to put in a hundred horse power engine and boilers. The engine house will be of brick, 24 x 60 feet, metal roof, and with a brick stack fifty feet high above the base. It will be so arranged that a part of the power can be carried across the river when a woolen mill is erected. The engine will be from the celebrated Bass [? Bess ? Buss ?] machine works at Fort Wayne, Indiana. The contract price for this work is six thousand dollars, and it will commence at once and be completed, if possible, by March first. Samuel Clarke, the original owner of the Southwestern machine shops, is the contractor, and left Tuesday for Fort Wayne. We are glad this gentleman secured this contract, for he is an honest man and a splendid mechanic.

The pontoon bridge at Oxford is now free, which will be of great benefit to that town.

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Winfield Courier, January 20, 1881.

On Wednesday night there was a meeting held at council rooms, embracing a number of our prominent citizens, to secure, if possible, one of the two roads that Gould proposes building. All the gentlemen present were in favor of doing what was possible to secure this end. W. H. Smith, Col. Alexander, J. L. Horning, T. K. Johnson, Mayor Lynn, and M. L. Robinson were appointed as a committee to confer with the managers, and obtain from them, if possible, a proposition. Messrs. Myres, Read, and Seward were appointed a committee to defray expenses.

JANUARY 27, 1881.

BY A NEW COMER.

The stranger, when he first arrives at Arkansas City, is attracted by two very marked contrasts which at once challenge his thought and sharpen his curiosity. One of these is the school. As matters of general interest to all communities are involved, your correspondent proposes to devote his attention first to this particular view of one of the frontier cities of Kansas.

That wonderful inland city and "metropolis of all the Hoosiers," Indianapolis, had a citizen who was pre-eminent in all the years of its early growth, in his zeal and success in developing the excellence of its schools. It was Calvin Fletcher, the self-made and astute millionaire of that town, and he used to say that "extra results could only be expected from extra efforts," and insisted that "no taxation and no toil should be spared to make the public schools of their beloved city excellent and superior, so that intelligent families would rejoicingly make it a home in which to educate their children, in the most thorough manner. As the new comer approaches Arkansas City, the existence of some such spirit among its inhabitants is at once suggested. High and commanding stands a spacious building of elegant structure, which the American citizen at once recognizes by its form and location as a graded public school house. It stands on a gentle elevation overlooking the railway and the river valleys of the Walnut and Arkansas, and although the yard and noble grounds are bare of trees at present, or of a fence, yet the stranger learns with delight that provision was made at the last annual school meeting for an abundant supply of trees for a grove, and a fence to protect it; and that the Arkansas Traveler warmly advocated this very judicious and benign measure, so that the enlightened spirit of the town press may be counted on in support of the next step of educational progress.

The school is supported, he learns, nine months in the year. The stranger begins to think he will love this people who are so appreciative of the educational needs of the rising generation. Here seems to be the right forces at work. But the inner life and character of all this he has yet to learn. He pauses and ponders. He is not unmindful that there has been and is a great struggle going on in the older states for better methods of instruction; for such training as will best fit for the actual duties of life. For such thoroughness mental discipline as will enable the pupils to be independent thinkers, self-helpful, self-reliant, self-governing.

But the attainment of this excellence in the internal working of the system of instruction is always hindered or delayed by the bitter opposition of those who dislike to be partakers in the necessary toil; by those who prefer ease to progress; by those who crave for flattery and amusement; and white washing, rather than for substantial acquisition.

Which spirit will the new-comer find to be dominant in Arkansas City? He hopes that the external evidences of superiority are an index of an enlightened and just understanding of what the internal working should be. But, in this enterprising city, with its evidences of advanced culture, then, that wild-town of fame, far away on the frontier adjoining the Indian Territory, the new-comer asks the following questions.

Is this that outpost of civilization where the red men gather at will from the agencies, and throng upon the streets in their fantastic garments of the savage, and many of whom were recently upon the warpath? Where, sometimes at night, they re-enact their wild revelry of the war dance, and make the darkness resound with such fierce songs as have often been heard by the poor captive awaiting torture and death?

The memories of the bloody past are indeed renewed, by these grim aborigines who have acted their part in the dismal tragedies of border warfare; but it is sublime to see the citizens of Arkansas City serene in conscious safety, and dependent on no army, but secure in the silent strength and majesty of that power of civilization, which surrounds the savage like an atomosphere, and awes the fire in his heart.

The cloud has been lifted, and their chiefs, like the famous Black Hawk, have returned from their visit to their "Great Father" at Washington, impressed and overwhelmed with the vastness and resources of our republic and convinced that to rush upon destruction, and to fight it, they might "as well fight with the ocean."

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WHAT A HORRIBLE ARTICLE! TYPESETTER GOOFED UP EVERY WHICH WAY...AND MUCH OF IT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE! MAIN THING: REFERENCE TO SCHOOL...LAND...LACK OF TREES, FENCE!

JANUARY 27, 1881.

The Baptists closed their protracted meeting last Sunday night. Elder Thomas immersed two new members last Sunday, by cutting a hole in the ice on Timber Creek on Capt. Stephens' place.

DIED: Frankie Wright, on Friday, 7th inst., at 11-1/2 o'clock, of typhoid malerial fever. Aged eleven years. The bereaved family have the sympathy of the entire community.

Mr. N. L. Yarbrough has his sheep up in Butler county this winter on account of the cheapness of feed in that section.

Two of Mr. Thompson's boys are sick of billious fever.

Mr. Casper makes occasional visits up Timber Creek. The "boys" are preparing their musical instruments. "Let the good work go on."

Local politics is all the talk now among the loafers at Read's store. L. B. Stone is talked of for township trustee. I think we could not do better than select him.

Mr. Lewis, near Summit, died of typhoid pneumonia, on Saturday 15th and was buried Monday the 17th inst. His daughter is very sick of the same disease.

Mr. Edgar has rented Mr. Robinson's farm over near New Salem, and will remove to it early in the coming spring.

It is reported that Mr. Lee Dicken makes daily visits to Mr. Capt. Stephens'.

Mr. Dalgarn will remove to a farm near New Salem, next month.

Rev. Thompson is holding a protracted meeting at Richland.

Mr. J. W. Cottingham's mother is visiting him from Kentucky. January 18, 1881. SIMON.

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JANUARY 27, 1881.

This is the last issue of the COURIER before the election of Tuesday, February first, at which the two propositions to authorize the sale of the railroad stock owned by this county will be carried or defeated. We have conversed with a great number of voters from all parts of the county and the expression has been almost unanimous in favor of the propositions. Yet though there should not be a single vote polled against either proposition, there is great danger that both will be defeated. The affirmative vote of two thirds of the electors of the county is required to carry the propositions and there is great danger that less than two thirds of the voters will appear at the polls and vote.

HE GOES ON AND ON! SKIPPED MOST OF THIS!

There is not reasonable doubt that it is the best thing that can be done; that now, while railroad stocks are inflated more than ever before, is the time to sell, and not wait for a panic which will make our stocks of even less value than we expected when we voted the bonds.

There is little doubt but we shall be able to realize at least $50,000 for our $68,000 of S. K. & W. stock, and we can take up the 7 percent bonds at par or less, to the extent we desire after providing for cancelling our $33,000 of 10 percent bonds.

This will reduce our county debt $50,000, and our yearly interest $4,490, which is a big item in the line of reducing our taxes. Under the same election the time will probably come when we can sell our $128,000 of C. S. & F. S. stock for $83,000 or more, and this will take up the remaining $51,000 of 7 percent bonds and $32,000 of our 6 percent bonds, making a further reduction of our annual interest opf $5,490 and leaving us in debt only $$96,000 at 6 percent, an annual interest of only $5,760 in plece of the $15,740 which we are now paying.

Let every taxpayer turn out and work for both propositions.

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JANUARY 27, 1881.

We would call attention to the statement of A. A. Wiley, and many others state the same, that in the fall of 1879 the whole country of the Indian Territory south of us was burned over. It is well known that the greater part of the prairies of this county were also burned over. The same thing happened in the fall of 1873. Since then there has been no year in which these fires were general in the country about us and southwest of us except the fall of 1879.

The summer of 1874 was our dry season when most of our crops failed and we were surrounded by distress and want. The editor of this paper spent a great deal of time during the fall of 1874 obtaining and comparing information, statistical and otherwise, with regard to all countries which have suffered for want of rain, so far as such information was in his reach. He examined the theories of the writers on physical geography carefully, examined and compiled the facts, and gave the general conclusions to which he arrived in a lecture which he subsequently delivered to the teachers association in this city; to the affect that always in those countries where the ground is well covered with forest or vegetation, whether dry or green, there is always plenty of rainfall, and in countries where dry ground, whether rock, sand, or clay prevails, there is little or no rain; that in a country which is bare one year and covered the next, will be drouth one year and plenty of rainfall the next; and he predicted that for the future of our country in those years following the widest range of prairie fires, there would be the greatest drought; and in those years following least prairie fires, would be most rain.

He reasoned that as there is always during the spring and summer months enough moisture in the vapor of the upper currents, which are always passing over us in a northeast direction from the equatorial seas, to deluge the whole country if rapidly condensed; that as this is the source of nearly all our rainfall, that all other sources are "but as a drop in the bucket!" The vapor in these upper currents must be more or less condensed while passing over us or we can have no rain.

He called attention to the facts that on account of electrical and other changes in the atmosphere, there condensations would frequently take place if not prevented by warm air rising into them or the radiation of heat from the earth; that the direct rays of the sun do not heat the atmosphere, nor to any considerable extent ground covered by forests or vegetable matter, but that they do heat bare ground to a very important extent; that the air is only heated by coming in contact with something hot, as heated earth; that hot air rises and warms the vapor laden currents, preventing the chill which condenses the vapors; and that therefore it cannot rain on wide tracts of bare earth except in times of rare and violent convulsions. The predictions he made that year have been verified every year since.

In the fall of 1876 [think this was a typo...1879 seems more likely as the date that should be used], the prairies around us and southwest of us were generally burnt over and the result was very little rain and failure of crops in 1880 following. Since 1879 he has frequently repeated these views in the COURIER.

The outlook is now bright for 1881. The prairies are not yet burned over. Do not let any fire get out this winter and spring if it can possibly be prevented. Do not say it is a mere hobby but act on it if possible this year and see the result.

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JANUARY 27, 1881.

Udall is a little village situated 13 miles northwest from Winfield. It is the oldest railroad town in the county. About 15 months ago Udall bid fair to be quite a town, when the railroad company struck it a severe blow and pronounced it dead; but such is not the case. It was only stunned, and after a few days commenced recovering from the shock. The entire community being of one mind that if there was to be any town in this part of the county that there was no more suitable place for it than Udall thus situated on the rich divide between the Arkansas and Walnut rivers. Each day the people are becoming more convinced of the fact.

Since the first stroke of the hammer, it has grown slowly in spite of opposition; and if we are blessed with good crops this coming year, all doubt will be removed even from the most skeptic, and Udall will contain a population of 300 or more persons.

There will be commenced in a few days two new store buildings. One by H. H. Martin and the other by Richards & Mudgett. One will be used for general merchandise and the other for drugs.

Napier & Dale, of this place, have several lots of hogs to ship which they will have to take to Seeley to ship. The majority of the shipping business of Seeley goes from men who are much nearer to Udall, but have no shipping facilities. It is a wonder that men doing business could make such mistakes as have been made in the locating of depots in this country; that is, if they take the interests of the people into consideration.

Dr. Burnham expects his family in a few days.

Our friend Enos Harlan is fearful lest the schoolma'am's school expires and she returns to her home before he gets the long studied question asked.

C. A. P.

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JANUARY 27, 1881.

Considerable sickness at present.

Mr. Sweet is very low with a fever.

On the 20th it snowed, thawed, and froze at the same time.

Mr. A. L. Crow is teaching the Omnia school.

Mr. W. E. Phelps is again seen amongst his friends. He is in the sheep business in Chautauqua county.

Several families are talking of going to the Pacific coast in the spring.

It keeps our merchant busy to attend to his store and the post office.

January 22nd, 1881. JULIUS.

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JANUARY 27, 1881.

Among the bills of interest are House Bill 174, which provides for a geological survey of the State; 179, for protection against prairie fires, and providing a fire tax which can be worked out; 181, by Joel, Moody providing for the erection of an asylum for feeble minded children, and to be located at Lawrence. As you know, Mr. Lemmon has introduced a similar bill, the institution to be located at Winfield. It is No. 118. This is, of course, the bill that ought to pass, but as to whether it will pass, I couldn't venture an opinion. The governor has recommended such an institution, and some papers have made favorable mention of it.

There is one bill reducing the salary of county clerks. That's the worst one on the calendar. Bill No. 130 provides for a bounty of $1.00 on every rattlesnake killed. I think that is a good bill, and if it passes, I will buy a good snake farm and stock it. There are four bills providing for the taxation of dogs as a protection to sheep. Mr. Lemmon has introduced a bill in relation to county superintendents, but I have not learned its import. The two subjects important above all others for consideration this session are temperance and railroads.

MUCH MORE! I SKIPPED!

CARL.

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JANUARY 27, 1881.

Owing to an uncalled for attack being made on Mr. John C. Roberts, the present trustee of Walnut township, I respectfully ask a place in your columns for the following communication.

Mr. Roberts, the present trustee, has acted in that capacity for two years with perfect fidelity and integrity to his constituents. The great cry of those opposed to him is his inefficiency to perform the duties pertaining to the office of trustee. To satisfy these persons I refer them to the Walnut township books, which are in possession of Jas. Hunt, our worthy county clerk. The most difficult thing a trustee has to perform is that of getting the different lots of land correctly stated and accounted for. Before Winfield was made a city of the second class, this was a hard feat to perform; since then the labor has been less laborious, yet in the main its difficulties are almost the same as before. Mr. Hunt says that Mr. Roberts executed this difficulty admirably and with credit to himself.

The Democrats of Stringtown are anxious to beat Mr. Roberts for no other reason than that he completely scooped them one year ago. They have put in circulation false reports concerning his official career, which are as false as the perpetrators themselves. The maliciousness of certain individuals in this affair was prompted in order that they might obtain the office of trustee and thereby gain a little notoriety.

Hoping the Republicans of Walnut township will again lay the Democracy in the shade, I will close for the present.

JUSTICE.

QUESTION: STRINGTOWN? WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

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JANUARY 27, 1881.

Wellington township voted to exchange their $20,000 in railroad stock for $15,000 in their own bonds. But when the bondholders came to fulfill their part of the contract, they proposed to pocket $2,000 as commissions, which put an end to all negotiations with them. To all others we say: beware!

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Judge Torrance adjourned court Friday afternoon until the next regular term. He held court for four days. It was his introduction to this circuit as judge. He made a very favorable impression, not only on the bar but on the public. He means business. Court was called at 9 o'clock a.m. promptly and there was no lagging permitted. He is attentive, prompt, and careful, and his decisions show careful reading and a retentive memory. The situation was new, and to many it would have been embarrassing if not confusing, but Judge Torrance seemed as cool as an old Judge. The bar, so far as we have secured an impression, seem to think there is the stuff in him for an able judge.

NOTE: THIS WROTE "TORRENCE"...APPARENT THEY WERE NOT FAMILIAR

WITH HIM.

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From the report of the legislative proceedings in the Topeka Commonwealth, we note that Senator Hackney, in the senate, and Representative Lemmon, in the house, have each introduced a bill for the establishment of an institution for the feeble minded and idiots; said institution to be located within two miles of Winfield, in Cowley county. We are not accurately informed as to the strength of the greenback vote in Cowley, but we believe it will be cheerfully conceded that a large measure of expense in the way of car fare would be obviated by locating the proposed asylum in a community which is strongly tinctured by the soft-money fallacy. Emporia News.

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JANUARY 27, 1881.

Charles Clayton's school is still booming.

Mrs. O. F. Boyle is visiting friends at Parsons.

Ex Saint left on Tuesday evening for Raton, New Mexico.

Oxford has bought the pontoon bridge at that place and made it a free bridge.

Mr. James H. Finch has a title. He is "Col. Finch, of Allen county," at Topeka.

Fred Hunt is making a splendid Jourrnal Clerk and is popular with the House.

Charley Black's "canal scheme" was the best all of the season. It has been copied all over the State.

Mrs. J. Ex Saint has presented her husband with another girl. This makes three and Ex is smiling and happy.

W. A. Lee has rented the old Winfield Bank building for an implement house, just back of the new bank building.

Capt. C. M. Scott is doing good work in reporting the proceedings of the House for the columns of the Commonwealth.

REMOVAL. August Kadau has removed his boot and shoe shop to Main street, in the building two doors north of Best's music store.

The Monitor's locals are on our fourth page this week. That's the way we take our revenge for the mean things he says about us.

Joe Conklin went to Topeka Friday. He is interested in Hackney's idiot bill. His presence will be a powerful argument in favor of its passage.

Mrs. Lincoln is said to be in destitute circumstances. She had only sixty-four trunks full of clothing when she recently returned from Europe.

G. H. Buckman, finding his law business requires too much of his attention to allow him to sit as a court, has resigned the office of Justice of the Peace.

Mr. O. F. Boyle will soon start on a prospecting tour among the silver mines of Old Mexico. If there is a chance to make money there, he will find it.

Burlington claims the finest hotel south of Topeka, called the Morris House. Winfield will soon have the finest hotel n the State, called the Brettun House.

We don't exactly like Hackney's idea about building the asylum for idiots and simple-minded people at Winfield. It will bring all the Oklahoma boomers here sure.

Mr. M. Frank, brother-in-law of I. Levy, and son, have been visiting here for some days. Young Mr. Frank will probably remain and assist Mr. Levy as salesman.

The Arkansas City Democrat laughs and booms all over in every imaginable style and kind from Oklahoma down to Okolona over the vote of $20,000 in city bonds to dig a canal.

Sim Moore came down Monday and bailed out the Burden saloon keeper, who was indicted by the grand jury. His family was in a destitute condition, and he was needed to support them.

Mr. Harbaugh is having quite a serious time of it in Illinois. Last week his wife's mother died, and her father is now lying very sick and is not expected to live. His two children are better.

Cowley county has about 100,000 sheep and no woolen mill. Come, you men who have money, and form a stock company for the manufacture of woolens. It will pay if well managed.

J. H. Finch, the gentleman from Allen county, came down from Topeka again on Saturday to remain over until Monday, when he returned again to his fat office at the portals of the Senate.

Some wicked boys were skating Sunday and one of them broke through the ice, which was a just punishment for his wickedness. The same boy broke through on Saturday, but that was an accident.

Fourteen wagon loads of hogs came in Monday and were readily disposed of at $4 per hundred. Five or six loads of wheat also came in; 85 cents was the highest bid. Wood is worth $5.00 per cord.

The complaint against Geo. W. Rogers before Commissioner Webb last Friday was dismissed by District Attorney Hallowell as not having sufficient evidence and importance to warrant his being held for trial.

President Welch, of the Emporia Normal School, will lecture on Friday evening, Feb. 4th, at Manning's Hall. The proceeds of the lecture will be given to the public schools of Winfield for the purchase of apparatus.

Charley Black's twenty-five thousand dollar hotel grows slowly this cold weather, but the warm days will come and ere long the most magnificent hotel in Kansas will be standing complete on the corner of Main and 7th.

Col. R. L. Walker called on us last week, and in conversation in relation to the Wichita land office, informed us that last fall during 24 days 1232 entries were made and $180,000 paid in for land in this district. On one day the receipts were $40,000.

Mr. George Buckman has sent in his resignation as Justice of the Peace. This is made necessary by the large increase in the law business of his firm, and because Mr. Jenning's duties as county attorney throws more of the business on his hands. We are pleased to note their success, but sorry to lose George as "J.P."

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ANOTHER BURN OUT. Wednesday morning most of our citizens on striking Main street discovered that there had been a fire during the night; that Sheel's furniture store, Rhodes' coal office, and Graham's meat market were a smoking mass of ruins.

To most everyone this was a surprise, as no alarm was heard during the night. The fire-bell was frosty, and although it was rung long and hard, yet the sound could not be heard more than two blocks away. The fire machines were got out, but unfortunately they are of the kind that won't operate successfully without water, and as that article is very scarce at present, the machines were useless.

The Buildings were old frame ones, dry as tinder boxes, and burned rapidly. The fire is supposed to have caught from the stove in Rhodes' coal office. It was discovered about three o'clock in the morning and was under full headway.

Mr. Sheel loses his building and stock, estimated at about $3,000. He is insured for $1,000. Mr. Rhodes loses his building, worth about $2,000. Mr. Graham's loss is about $500.

The brick houses on either side of those burned were hardly scorched. This is a splendid opportunity for a lecture on our means of controlling fires, but we desist.

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ARKANSAS CITY WATER POWER. A charter has been obtained and a company formed by our citizens for the purpose of developing the Arkansas City water power. The city has voted $20,000 [?? THIS FIGURE MIGHT BE $29,000...IMPOSIBLE TO READ SECOND FIGURE]

of the stock, and $30,000 more has been pledged by our citizens, which makes all the capital necessary to complete the project. An accurate survey and plat has been made, which demonstrates these facts: That the fall from the Arkansas to the Walnut river is 21 feet and eight-tenths; that the average cut is about 12 feet, and the distance is two and eight-tenths miles, and will cost about $45,000. It is proposed to make the canal ten feet wide at the bottom, 34 at the water line, and six feet deep, which gives a capacity of 500 horse power, with the head gates much larger, so that the capacity can be increased without extra expense of mason work. The building of the canal is an established fact. Our people have confidence in its utility and feasibility. The work will be commenced as soon as the weather will permit, and pushed forward as fast as possible. It will give employment to two hundred men for five months to excavate the canal and build the mason work. Parties have already made application for the use of water power. The boom has commenced, which will double our population and wealth in the next year. Let the boom come! Democrat.

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MR. AND MRS. J. C. FULLER. Socially this has been one of the gayest winters in the history of our city. Almost every week has been made pleasant by a social gathering of some sort or other. One of the most pleasant of these was the reception by Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Fuller last Friday evening. The guests were many and the arrangements for their entertainment were complete.

Among those present were: Mr. and Mrs. Loose, Mr. and Mrs. James Harden, Mr. and Mrs. J. S. Hunt, Mr. and Mrs. Hodges. Dr. and Mrs. VanDoren, Mr. and Mrs. McMullen, Mr. and Mrs. Eastman, Rev. and Mrs. T. F. Borcher, Mr. and Mrs. T. R. Bryan, Dr. and Mrs. Davis, Mr. and Mrs. Gene Baird, Mr. and Mrs. Short, Dr. and Mrs. Graham, Mr. and Mrs. Boyer, Mr. and Mrs. Trimble, Mr. and Mrs. Moffitt, Mr. and Mrs. Speed, Mr. and Mrs. Doane, Mr. and Mrs. Kretsinger, Mr. and Mrs. J. G. Shrieves, Mr. and Mrs. Millington, Mr. and Mrs. Spencer Bliss, Mr. and Mrs. Scovill, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Brown, Mr. and Mrs. Allen Johnson, Mr. and Mrs. Carruthers, Mr. and Mrs. C. C. Black, Mr. and Mrs. S. L. Hamilton, Mr. and Mrs. H. C. Fuller, Rev. and Mrs. Hyden, Mr. and Mrs. D. L. Williams, Mrs. Mansfield, Mrs. Mullen, Miss Mary Stewart, Miss May Williams, Father Kelly, O. F. Boyle, and Charles Fuller.

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The Ladies' Library Association met at the library rooms on Tuesday, January 25th, and elected the following member