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Winfield Courier, Thursday, February 5, 1885.

A few wide awake farmers were found at the opera house about 10 o'clock, and after some discussion effected an organization as follows.

J. F. Martin was elected chairman; F. A. A. Williams, secretary; Dr. Perry, treasurer, and J. S. Baker and Mr. Foster, vice-presidents.

The morning programme was postponed.

The following committee on reception and entertainment was appointed: F. A. A. Williams, J. S. Baker, D. M. Adams, R. I. Hogue. After instructing the committee to meet the professors at the Santa Fe depot at noon, the meeting adjourned to two p.m.

At the afternoon session there was a very good attendance. We were glad to notice a number of ladies, and some farmers from distant parts of the county. Profs. Shelton and Fallyer and Supt. Thompson of the agricultural college were on hand--also Mr. Heath of the Kansas Farmer. The exercises were opened by President Martin in a paper on forestry, which excited a good deal of interest and discussion. In the discussion Mr. Adams favored the improvement of school grounds by the planting of trees--suggesting that each child plant a tree.

Forestry is the science or art of growing forest trees. So much has been said and written on this subject that it would appear unwise for any, except master minds, to add thereto. Indeed, it is more difficult what not to say than what to say. But, notwithstanding this and the inexpressible importance of forestry, thee is, from the statesman in the legislative halls to the humble cottage, an alarming indifference on the subject. The divine method of impressing moral truth, in giving "precept upon precept, line upon line," "here a little, there a little," is no less needful or imperative in teaching God's physical laws. Every method, though somewhat imperfect, should be used until the people are thoroughly aroused and instructed on this vital subject. It will not be expected that in a short essay anything like justice can be done.

I have selected but two topics for present consideration.

1. The government's duty in regard to forestry on the plains. That the unbroken forest is only suited to be the home of the savage, and the treeless plains to the nomadic tribes, at best they will not sustain a dense population or develop and sustain a high state of civilization, are well-admitted truths. The great questions now being considered by economists, are, what can be done to prevent the destruction of the American forests? How can they be restored when this destruction has already gone too far? And what best to do to secure a timber growth on the plains?

In the discussion of these problems, vital principles are involved, and, if justly solved will bring blessings co-extensive with the race of man. The general government has made some feeble efforts to secure tree planting on the plains. These efforts have been feeble, from perhaps two causes: Lack of interest in the subject, and want of knowledge as to the means to be used in its accomplishment.

2. What has been done? Congress in passing the timber act says that a person may occupy one hundred and sixty acres of land, of the treeless domain, and by planting and caring for forty acres of the same in forest trees, for a term of eight years, he shall have a deed for the same. The further acts pertaining to this matter are to force a compliance with the conditions of the law. Is not this about all? To the uninformed as to the difficulties in the way the legal inducements are important and usually are not highly esteemed by the homeless in the over-crowded eastern states and countries of Europe. Add to these inducements the monthly and bi-annual reports of the State Board of Agriculture, of Kansas, showing the wonderful resources of the state, and the rapid development of our material interests, and the pictorial railroad advertisements, frequently overdrawn, which are scattered lavishly everywhere and the impression is too frequently made that ours is an El Dorado land; a bonanza, to be had by simply coming and occupying it. It is now known, or considered, at least--the difference between the eastern and western Kansas, and that a practical knowledge of the surrounding conditions is a matter that must be learned by every settler, that of trees, plants, and grain, that were grown with success in the east, some will partially succeed and others utterly fail; consequently in many instances, the settler sooner or later, after expending his cash, capital, and much hard labor, finds he has not succeeded, gets discouraged, and abandons his claim, which is too soon used by cattlemen for pasture. The settlers on timber claims, are in one sense agents, and should be so regarded, of the government to aid in timbering the prairies, and they should be fully instructed and otherwise aided, if need be, that they may not fail. It is somewhat humiliating to our intelligent American to confess that our government, and even our own state, have very unsatisfactory means of giving a list of trees suited to plant in the western part of the state. Every settler finds that he is groping his way in the dark, and that his neighbors are in no more fortune than himself, fully sensible of his need of help, yet conscious that his country is as helpless as himself. Is not this a pitiable state of affairs? A nation that could subdue a mighty rebellion, liberate four millions of slaves, and shoulder with perfect ease a debt of four billions dollars, is powerless to tell a pioneer what, how, or where to plant a tree, that it may become a monarch of the future forests. What a giant child!

Individual effort in experimenting has given many valuable lessons, and local organizations have done good service in gathering and disseminating these facts; but the work is scarcely commenced. The general government should establish at once a forestal school by liberal appropriations, and wisely connected with forestal experimental stations. In the meantime our own state, through her legislature, should step forward in the line of duty to her citizens, present and prospective, and make an annual appropriation of not less than $5,000, that one or more experimental stations may be maintained.

Let the directing power be under the control of our state agricultural college, but the appropriation to be expended mostly in one or more stations other than the college farm. The state board of agriculture would act wisely and justly in enlarging its field of usefulness, while using the valuable information it collects and disseminates, in inducing emigration to the state, that it may also inform these emigrants that if they settle on the public or railroad lands of extreme western Kansas, they need not expect to make money in growing corn and wheat, that at present, at least, grass is king, that the stock interest is the chief one at present. To tell them in a word what they may not try to do as well as what may be done to make them prosperous and happy in their new home.

Such information the emigrant needs to know, that he may not be compelled to pay the costly price of experience by repeating unsuccessful experiment, so frequently tried by those who preceded him. No individual organization, or corporation, is justifiable in misguiding the inexperienced and confiding emigrant. I am aware that Dr. Hough and others, operating under the forestal bureau, as well as many public citizens, have done invaluable service in disseminating facts in regard to forestry, and thus creating a great interest in the subject, yet this knowledge is too much of a general nature to be of much benefit to the inexperienced planter, especially so if the planter is located on the plains. Definite facts, plenty of them plainly stated, are what he wants and what he must have through some agency, before success can be assured. In no way can these facts be gathered to better advantage than by experimental stations and schools of forestry. Their importance is being recognized, and their necessity should be urged upon the proper authority until action is taken, and the work prosecuted with energy. They will be of national utility as well as economy, for no doubt there is annually more individual effort and self-sacrifice put forth in this state, to no purpose whatever, that would aggregate the cost of one hundred experimental stations. The plains must be reclaimed. It can and will be done. Shall it now be intelligently undertaken? One-fiftieth part of the labor that was required to clear the state of Ohio of its forests and bring the virgin soil into a good state of cultivation, if intelligently applied to the plains of our state, would cover them with orchards, forests, and gardens, "and the wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them and the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose."

This brings me to the effects of forestry on navigation. Eighty years ago the hardy pioneers began cutting the timber from the banks of the Ohio river, and long ago its fertile banks, failing to receive the protection of the forest trees, through the agency of the freezing of winter and the washing of the stream, have been caving in, thus each year increases the distance between its banks; thus robbing the farmer of his best soil, which contributes to enlarge the sand-bar and islands of the river, and a portion is added to the delta on the gulf.

But these are not the worse results. As the stream has grown wider, the depth of the water has decreased, which has greatly aided in making navigation passable during the great part of the year to only the smaller class of boats. Had the primeval forests continued to line her banks, their washing away would not have occurred; or should they once more become fringed with willows or other suitable trees, the reduction of the banks would not only cease but the process of rebuilding would commence and appreciable difference in the depth of the channel would be observed. It would also add to, instead of diminish, the value of lands adjacent. I thus refer to the Ohio river, not because it is an isolated case, but because, for many years, I had abundant opportunities to witness these operations; and deplore the results. Like causes produce like effects, and other rivers are affected in a similar manner.

There are great causes operating against internal navigation, viz: The deficiency of a regular supply of water in the rivers, caused by the destruction of the forests at the sources of the streams; but I must confine this article to forestry on the banks of the rivers.

Other causes being the same, the depth of a stream will be proportioned to its width. Thus, if it averages one foot in depth, it will be two feet deep if it becomes contracted one-half; and this additional advantage would be secured, that this depth would be more likely to be continued than if the stream had remained at the previous depth. This law is, perhaps, generally understood; but how shall we apply it successfully to our navigable rivers? We cannot wall them in with brick and mortar. We cannot hem them in with a mighty frame work of sawed lumber. No, but man can exert almost miraculous power in fixing their boundaries by walls of forests. Obstructions on opposite banks, such as suitable trees, that will reduce the width of the stream, are the means, and the only means available to man that will ever permanently and sufficiently secure such rivers as the Arkansas and Missouri to navigation. Let the native willows be systematically planted and cared for along the banks of these rivers, and so managed that they will continue to encroach on stream until the desired width and consequent depth is secured, and the great object will be attained. Me thinks I heard someone say, "impossible." It is your privilege to exercise your judgment. But permit me to ask you to give it some careful thought. It has pleased the creator to place to man's use the powers of nature in combating like powers, and it seems plain to my mind that the mighty forces of forest growth are designed in this case to be utilized by man in fixing the banks of streams in such a way that their waters may be made available for the purpose of navigation. When this growth becomes permanent and the river becomes swollen above its artificial banks, in consequence of the sluggish condition of the water in and along the young timber, a deposit of sand, clay, leaves, etc., will take place, which will be repeated at each rising of the stream. At the same time, in consequence of the contraction of the banks, additional depth and also weight of water being secured, which accelerates the movement of the current, thus it plows a deeper channel and continually forces the movable sand, etc., toward either bank, thus the double operation is secured, viz: building up and fixing the banks, and furrowing out the channel. I might here give another outline of the plan of operations, but will defer it for the present. I believe this plan is entirely practicable, and the only one by which the Arkansas, Missouri, and like rivers can be utilized for purposes of navigation. Here is room for the exercise of a broad statesmanship. Here is an opportunity for the government to extend its helpful arm and confer untold blessings in the immediate future upon man, which blessings may continue to the end of time. Railroad men will sneer at these propositions; statesmen may think it rather dirty work for their dignity; and small politicians will not vociferate in their favor, except they see a prospect of inflating their purses thereby. In the meantime the industrial classes will continue to submit to the exactions of railroad and other monopolies until, through the power of a better education, they will rise in their might and demand of their servants proper attention to their best interests.

In reply to a question, the chairman stated that one year old cottonwoods were the best for transplanting.

Mr. Hogue said this is true for all trees, and a great mistake has been made in this country by planting trees too large.

In most cases a one year old tree will be larger and better after three or four years than one set at three or four years old.

Prof. Shelton said in our cities very poor trees are being transplanted, often a tree two inches in diameter with all the top and nearly all the roots cut off. These generally die. Also some trees will not bear transplanting--black walnut should be planted from the seed.

In answer to a question, Prof. Fallyer said the growth of the walnuts could be very much enhanced by cultivation; he plead for good top on trees for transplanting.

Prof. Shelton in regard to trimming: one says he trims whenever his knife is sharp; another does not trim at all. We must take our choice between these two extremes. I cannot give any rule about it.

After further interesting discussion, the chairman announced that it was now time for the discussion on tame grasses. This was opened by a paper from F. A. A. Williams.

Mr. Chairman, and Fellow-farmers:

While the subject assigned me for today is one in which I have taken great interest ever since I came to this country, yet I am satisfied that there are others here whose experience would enable them to edifying all more than I can; and I am therefore glad that it is simply my duty to "set the ball rolling," or to open the discussion.

It is probably still thought by the majority of the farmers in our county that while tame grasses are both successful and profitable in the older states from which they came, it is not worthwhile in this new and fertile county to fool with them. To illustrate the impression still too common, let me give an incident. When I moved to Cowley County in September 1881, I brought a carload of stock, and fed them on the road with timothy hay. It was heavily seeded and the floor of the car was pretty well covered with the waste hay and seed. "There," said a bystander as I was unloading my car, "is timothy seed enough to sow an acre of land. You ought to save and sow it." "Yes," said another, "there's lots of nice seed, but you might as well burn it up as to sow it here." And it did look like it just then, in the midst of the drouth and hot winds; yet in three or four weeks the rains began, and we had the wettest fall, and the finest growth of wheat, for three years before or since! And those who had the pluck to sow grass seed that fall got as fine a "stand" as was ever seen in Illinois.

It seems to me that the somewhat peculiar conditions under which we farm here are the very ones which should stimulate us to the increased culture of grasses. Our distance from market and the high cost of transportation take most of the profit from grain raising, and the two most important problems with us are how to save freight and labor. We do much toward solving the first problems when we feed our grain to stock, and thus ship in concentrated form; but is not the second problem still more important, and could we not solve it by sowing part of our land in grass, and letting nature perform the labor of raising our crops, and our livestock do the work of harvesting them?

Take hog-raising, for example. It is admitted by most of our farmers that they are making more money out of corn and hogs than anything else, and yet could they not save half the labor, and nearly double their net profits, by putting half of their corn land in grass, and pasture their hogs on it? Clover is considered an essential to profitable hog-raising in the older states, but here we try to raise hogs in a corral, ten rods square, and nothing but corn, corn, corn from one year's end to another. It is claimed on good authority that an acre of clover will produce more pork than an acre of corn, but even suppose it only produces as much, is not the saving of the labor of producing an acre of corn a very large item, and is not the saving of machinery another important item? Then your hogs will be far more healthy on clover pasture half the year than when confined in small lots and fed nothing but corn, and not only will your hogs be healthier and less liable to disease but your pork will be far more wholesome and palatable, more likely to have the muscular growth, the sprinkling of fat and lean, which is so desirable in meat for our own eating. But the fencing of pastures is too great an expense, says one! Well, against that I put two items not heretofore mentioned which I think will more than counterbalance it; first, your land will be growing richer all the time, instead of poorer, as it would in corn; second, it will be kept clean instead of growing foul with "careless weeds," cockle burrs, and sunflowers as it is almost sure to do where tended in corn. I am sure it would richly reward every hog raiser in Cowley County, who has not already done so, to sow an acre of grass (Alfalfa is my preference for hog pasture) for every ten head of hogs he intends to keep. Last summer I completed a hog pasture of about five acres--mainly of Alfalfa--and I have not made any improvement on the farm which has given me more satisfaction. My hogs would often refuse to come for their corn when called, and would keep on eating clover.

Perhaps I have said enough as to the desirability of tame grasses in this county, and I hope we will have testimony enough before this discussion is closed to convince those who are not already satisfied that the raising of grasses in Cowley County is no longer an experiment, but--with proper knowledge of sorts adapted and culture, and the exercise of that knowledge--is a decided success. The seed of tame grasses in Cowley County being recognized, and their success under judicious culture grand, granted we should inquire first: What kinds of grass to grow? Writing for the state of Kansas, and more especially the central and western parts thereof, Prof. Shelton, of the state University (one of our best authorities on this subject) names of the grasses as follows in the order of their importance: For pasture, orchard grass, Alfalfa, red clover, English blue grass, and Kentucky blue grass. For mowing, Alfalfa, red clover, English blue grass, perhaps meadow oat grass and timothy. Writing for Cowley County from the best light I can gather, the experience of others and my own, I would change his order a little and put alfalfa first for pasture and timothy first or second for mowing. Let us notice briefly a few of the characteristics and adaptation of the grasses mentioned.

From my experience of 1882, I was disposed to rank red clover ahead of its western relative, but the latter made so much better growth and furnished so much more pasturage, both in spring and fall last year, that I am now inclined to place it ahead. The great objection to it heretofore has been the high price of seed, but that is being gradually removed, and last year it was quoted in Kansas City at but little more than the price of clover seed. The merits of alfalfa are the ease of getting a "stand," its tenacity of life's power of enduring drought, very early and late growth, and amount of pasture or hay per acre. In this latter respect it exceeds any grass I have tried. Its demerits as a pasture grass are none, so far as I know; but it is open to some objection for hay as it is difficult to cure and its first and heaviest crop must be cut in June when we are liable to frequent showers and to get our clover spoiled before being sufficiently cured to stack. Moreover, owing to its peculiar form and amount of foliage, it does not save well in stack; and if cut for hay, should be put in a barn or shed or else the stack thatched with prairie hay or millet.

Our old favorite

succeeds well in this country, and furnishes a large amount of either pasture or hay. For the latter, however, it is open to the same objections as alfalfa, of being difficult to cure and keep in stack. Prof. Shelton wrote of it some time ago: "When land is once seeded to clover, it never "runs out" as in the easter states but thickens and spreads continually by self-seeding." A neighbor said once in passing my patch of orchard grass that I would "repent sowing it, for I could never get rid of it." I think he was mistaken; but if either orchard grass or clover will hold its own against the heat and dry spells of our climate, and not run out, then indeed is the future of Cowley County assured.

is ranked first, for pasture, by Prof. Shelton. I cannot speak much of it from my own experience, but have seen one very fine field of it near Winfield, which furnished a large amount of feed the first fall after it was sowed. Prof. Shelton said of it a year or more ago, and I have not learned of his recalling his favorable opinion: "Two years ago in giving our experience with this grass, we stated that it had proven to be one of the very best and safest of all the pasture grasses that we had tried." The same must be said of it today with emphasis. We feel confident that it will yield fully twice the feed that can be obtained from the same area of blue grass or timothy, and in nutritive qualities it is certainly greatly superior to blue grass."

Of English blue grass, I sowed only a small piece in the spring of 1882, but got a good stand, and my horses prefer it to anything else when running in the field. Indeed, they pastured it so close during the dry part of last spring that I feared I should never see it again, but as soon as I stopped pasturing, it grew up and raised a fine crop of seed. I believe it for horse pasture, especially very desirable, but it does not make much hay.

Timothy is, I believe, very successful in this county, and in view of the rapid disappearance on our prairie meadows, it behooves every farmer to sow at least enough of it to furnish hay for his own horses. I sowed three or four acres in May 1882 on a piece of low, wet ground which had before been almost worthless and the following summer it produced a fine crop of hay as I ever saw anywhere. Last year it did not produce so heavy a crop; but still the land paid better than it ever had before.

or Evergreen grass, has been very highly recommended by our best authorities, and is no doubt worthy of a trial by the farmers of Cowley County; but as I have neither tried it myself or seen it tried here, I will not speak of it further; but hope we shall learn something about it in the course of this discussion.

On this division of my subject there are three important points I would emphasize. First, thorough preparation of the soil. It is not likely that any farmer who is sufficiently enthusiastic and painstaking to try to raise tame grasses in Cowley County will select this point, and yet we all need "line upon line," and are often tempted to do things poorly when we are in a hurry, as farmers generally are. But if you have not time to prepare your grass land well, do not sow at all. It will just be time and money thrown away. The ground should be old and well-cultivated: it will not do to sow on prairie sod or on ground lately broken. It should be cleaned of trash, well-plowed, and then thoroughly harrowed. It is of greatest importance to have the soil fine and mellow. Then sow your seed--preferably with a seeder--cover well with a light harrow, and follow with a roller. Do not seed with any other crop. On this point all our best Kansas authorities and experience agree. There are of course cases where grass has succeeded with other crops, but this is the safe rule for Kansas climate, and where one side is doubtful and the other side safe, we should always take the safe side.

is in the spring, and not too early in the season when it is apt to be dry and windy. Wait until the spring rains commence as a rule about the middle of April and you are reasonably sure of a good stand. I have sowed in May with very good success. The trouble with fall sowing is that the ground is almost always hard and dry in August and September, often almost impossible to plow, and even if plowed early and reduced to good condition, the showers at that period are so scanty and uncertain as to make grass growing unsafe. And if you wait till October, when the fall rains come, the grass does not get a sufficient start to withstand the winter.

In conclusion, one thing is certain: our prairie grasses like the Indian and the Chinese "must go." It remains for us to say whether our farms and farmers shall be worn out or whether both shall be enriched by a judicious mingling of grass culture and dairying with grain farming. Our best authority on stock and grass says: Tame grasses will carry at least 15 head of three-year-old cattle on twenty acres from April 25 to November 15, or 6 months, equally as well as wild pasture will carry eight head from May 1 to October 1, or 5 months. In cutting both kinds for hay, the difference is fully as great aside from having the late pasture on tame grasses." In a late paper it is stated that Kansas farmers will sow more grass seed this spring than ever before. Shall we of Cowley County fall into line? This subject of raising tame grasses is a vital one to the farmers of this county; and if this discussion shall serve to increase the interest in their cultivation, it will be time and labor well spent.

Mr. Meredith asked what kind of grass to sow to produce the best hay for cattle: both quantity and quality considered.

Prof. Shelton said: "I would advise orchard grass and red clover, one and a half bushels of the former, and four or five pounds of the latter, per acre. We have a field of clover on the college farm sown in 1872 on high prairie land which is now good as ever; it produces heavy crops without any fertilizing and to all appearance will be good one hundred years hence. We have another field of orchard grass equally good sown in 1885. I can speak very favorably of alfalfa, but be particular to get western grown seed and not European or eastern seed. Sow about twenty pounds to the acre, and do not pasture this or any other grass the first and critical season. The secret of many failures with tame grasses, even after the first year, is too close pasturing in early spring and late fall; timothy may succeed if sown in the fall but all others should be sown in the spring. In Riley County grass growing is no longer considered an experiment, but our best farmers are seeding land in orchard grass, clover, etc., eight quarts timothy, and two or three quarts clover for meadow."

Mr. Baker had failed with alfalfa.

Mr. Jarvis, from Colorado, spoke highly of alfalfa and thought Kansas well adapted to it; advocated heavy seeding, twenty-five or thirty pounds to the acre, had seen no crop which equaled it for feed.

Prof. Shelton thought that Mr. Baker's failure resulted from having sowed eastern seed or else to some peculiarity of soil.

Dr. Perry asked the question, "Prof. Shelton, is there any other grass you can recommend for hay?"

Prof. Shelton responded: "Yes, there are other kinds such as English blue grass and meadow oat grass which have done well with us generally, but they will not stand drouth and are not so reliable as the varieties before mentioned."

The subject of blue grass was discussed at some length, the impression seeming to prevail that it was a success in this country. After announcements for the evening, the institute adjourned.

Owing to the omission of the morning programme, some change was necessary in the published programme, and Mr. D. T. Armstrong was requested to give his paper on small fruits. This was followed by general discussion on the subject of the paper.

Mr. Hogue was requested to give his experience. He stated that the Charles Downing, Crescent seedling, Captain Jack, and Green's Prolific were the best varieties of strawberries; thorough cultivation was necessary; Doolittle was the best blackcap raspberry, but red raspberry was a failure; the Sharpless, Bidwell, Wilson's Albany, and Seedling strawberry were comparative failures.

President Martin had made some failures with small fruits, and some successes, especially with strawberries; had sold in 1884 from ½ acre of strawberries $118 worth of fruit.

Mr. Hogue said, "We did not keep a full account of our proceeds, but I know that the sales in one day were $32. This was from about ¼ acre of strawberries." The general opinion seemed to be that with proper care in selecting varieties and planting and thorough cultivation, strawberries and blackcap raspberries were successful here, but red raspberries a failure. Mr. Hogue stated that currants had been always considered a failure in Cowley County, but he knew of two parties who had grown them successfully by mulching; one of them was Mr. Sumpter, near Winfield.

Mr. Armstrong suggested pinching off the red raspberry when about two feet high so that it would throw out laterals; he thought it might succeed here by that treatment. No one present had tried it in that way. All agreed that grapes were a decided success here, Concord the standard variety.

Mr. Hogue: "The Dreacut Amber has done well with us; the Catawba is too late for this climate--does not endure the hot sun."

Pres. Martin: "I would not plant any of these transparent seedless grapes sold by nursery agents at a dollar a vine."

As to trimming grapes, Prof. Shelton and Mr. Armstrong advocated cutting back severely every year, leaving only a stump of old vine a foot or two high. Mr. Hogue trims according to the strength of the vine; a week vine should be trimmed back to stimulate good growth, while the strong one should be allowed more wood to produce fruit.

Following the discussion on small fruits, Prof. Fallyer of the Agricultural College gave a very interesting lecture on fuel for heat and light. It would be difficult to report even the substance of the lecture as it was one of those which must be heard to be appreciated. His description of the composition and refining of petroleum and kerosene were especially interesting and important. The three principal products from petroleum are paraffin, kerosene, and naphtha, and because kerosene brings more than either of the others, they are run over with it in distillation, the paraffin making it heavy and poor for light and the naphtha making it explosive. Compounds sold to prevent kerosene from exploding are humbugs.

Prof. Shelton was then requested to give some facts as to the State Agricultural College at Manhattan, Riley County. The College received from the United States about 80,000 acres of land, which was very well located and has now all been sold, producing a permanent endowment fund of about half a million dollars which cannot be used for buildings but must be permanently invested and now brings about $32,000 interest per annum. The College is not dependent upon the state, but all salaries of professors and running expenses are provided for by this endowment fund. He gave many other interesting facts as to departments, government work, etc., which we have not space to give but which anyone interested in can obtain by writing to Prof. Fairchild, at Manhattan.

The morning session was opened according to programme by Mr. McClellan's paper on stock-breeding. This contained many valuable points.

The first query of the average American when thinking of engaging in any breeding is, will it pay? And in stock breeding, as in any other pursuit, this will be the question of the first importance. To this question we answer "Yes, No." Yes to a person who enters upon the business with a proper location, necessary arrangements, and a proper knowledge of the business, or such a love for stock that he will attain that knowledge. No to one that does not have these and will not take the trouble to acquire them.

I would not have you understand me as having reference to any particular breed or stock, as what tends to success in one will apply as well to the others. It will be impossible to give all the reasons why it will pay and why it is advisable to engage in stock raising. Among the reasons, if not the first reason, it keeps up with the fertility of the soil. Continual grain raising of whatever kind will exhaust any soil, so that the profits even with good prices will be but nominal while with stock the land is being continually enriched and not only are the profits greater from increased crops but the value of land is increased. I will give a case to illustrate.

I commenced to keep stock on the farm I was living on in Illinois: cattle, sheep, and hogs. I was told by the neighbors that I could make more money by raising grain, as the markets were handy and it would not pay to raise stock on such high-priced land. My crops increased from 40 to 50 bushels of corn to the acre to 75 and 80, while theirs decreased to 25 and 30 bushels by their system of grain raising. A neighbor, whose farm joined with mine, paid me 55 cents a bushel for corn to keep his hogs through the winter, and he had as many acres in corn as I did. I sold my farm for ten dollars an acre more than he asked for his and he has his yet. It paid me to raise stock. I might say here that other crops increased in like ratio. It will pay because the expense of shipping the crops to market is less when fed to stock and besides the stock leaves about 56 percent of the feed as fertilizers to increase the succeeding crops. In grain we have Russia, India, and other countries to compete with, while they draw on us largely for their meat supplies. Then in our country the demand is increasing faster than the supply. The increase of cattle to the population is as 7 to 13 percent, or only about half.

While stock raising will pay under certain conditions, it is advisable for a person who thinks of engaging in it to consider well the contingencies necessary to make it a success. To succeed he must not only like to attend to their wants because it is a profit for him to do so but he must take a pleasure in doing it and must find enjoyment not only in administering to their wants but also in contributing to their comfort. In one respect he must think more of them than he does of himself. In cold or storm he must be out until he knows his stock is as comfortable as it is in his power to make it. If he is not willing to do this, he would be better to leave this business severely alone for he will not succeed. A person who has never had any experience with stock should go very slow in engaging in the business, but I will not say let it alone, for if he has a natural love for stock and the determination to master the details, he will succeed. There is one idea prevailing to a great extent and the sooner the people can be disabused of it, the better. It is that anyone can make money with stock and that all they have to do is to buy and turn them on the range and the golden dollars will begin to roll into their pockets and will continue to roll in a geometrical progression. All such generally find the dollars rolling the other way.

The first requisite after one has decided to engage in stock breeding is to select a location suitable to the kind of stock he wishes to raise, as to soil, lay of the land, water, etc.; also to markets, and those who are already located should select stock suited to the location. While we admit that on most farms any of the different kinds of stock do better than no stock, yet there is hardly a farm where there is not a greater profit in some kinds than in others.

The next after the location is the selection of stock and I cannot urge too strongly the necessity of great care and judgment. Be sure you get as near what your judgment tells you you want regardless of the price if within your means. The lowest priced animal is often the dearest. When we take into consideration the differences in the value of the progeny there is often no comparison in the prices of two animals, the highest priced being incomparably the cheapest. There are various considerations that make this so. Put the two or their progeny on the same keeping and there will all the time be a difference in gain. There is a difficulty arises here that cannot always be overcome. In buying breeding stock one cannot always tell how they have been kept. A fine looking animal may have been pampered so as to be nearly worthless for breeding while another that does not look as well, having had only ordinary care, may be one that will be very profitable. Even in the herds that we handle for years we, in our present way of doing, cannot tell to a certainty if we can in any way approximate to a decision as to which of our animals is the most profitable when all things are taken into consideration. The dairying branch of the business may be taken as an illustration. How many of our dairymen can tell which one of their cows are making a profit on the feed, value of the cows, expense of labor, and what profit each cow makes? It is true they are awakening to the importance of knowing and are making tests to determine, and are weeding out the unprofitable ones. This must be the case with all classes of stock. The animal that will not yield a profit on cost, feed, and labor must go and the place occupied by one that will weed out the culls, and do not be afraid to reduce your herd for fear you will not have as many as your neighbor, but bear in mind that success consists more in quality than in quantity. It is a safe rule always to understock rather than overstock. If the season is favorable throughout for a luxuriant growth all may be well, but if by drought or any of the many causes by which crops and pastures are shortened, an unenviable situation to say the least is forced upon the stockman. The profits on a few extra fine animals will be far greater than on a large number of inferior ones. This is clearly shown by our market reports. The same report of the Chicago markets, quoted ordinary steers at $4 to $4.50 per cwt., and the thirty-four Iowa steers at $7.75 per cwt., and another of the sale of W. D. Gillett's at $8.00, I think. This makes a difference of about $4.00 in the extreme prices. Another element of success is to have suitable shelter for the stock; we say suitable for it must be adapted to the location and severity of the climate. While in Minnesota and other extreme northern sections, warm barns are necessary, in other sections sheds to keep off the storms and protect from the winds of winter and the burning heat of summer may be better. In any location stock must be kept comfortable, either by natural or artificial shelter, as the owner will have to burn corn or its equivalent to keep up the heat consumed by exposure.

Another thing to be taken into consideration is to place a true estimate of value on your stock. With many a cow is a cow, and is worth about so much, and a horse is a horse, and so on through the list. One animal may be worth several times the value of another apparently as good. She may be a more prolific breeder and her progeny may be much more hardy and growthy. When we consider the difference in their increase and the increase of their females, we can hardly estimate the difference in their value. Feeding is a prime consideration in successful stock raising. It is not the one who feeds the most that feeds the best. A man to succeed must, as we said before, love the stock he feeds and must make the stock love him, and must also use intelligence and judgment. In changing from one kind of feed to another, it should be done gradually so the system can become adapted to the new rations. Many valuable animals are killed, and vastly more injured, by sudden changes in feed. We find it works well in spring to give stock a good feed of dry food in the morning before turning to grass and keeping it up for several days; and in the fall, give them part of a feed of dry food each day before keeping them on it altogether. It is also good to have a stock of dry feed for them to run to while the grass is young and watery. For a few days they may let it alone but it will not be long before they will begin to visit it. While you are careful to have plenty of feed for your cattle, be just as particular to have plenty of good water for them to drink, either have them have access to a good stream or a good well. Let ponds and mud holes severely alone. It is a question if a large portion of the stock losses of the average farm do not arise either from a lack of water or from drinking impure water. It would be safe and also humane not to let our stock drink water that we will not drink ourselves. There are many other considerations, but we will not weary you enumerating them, but will merely say weigh well the matter, be sure you are right and go ahead.

Then followed general discussion.

Mr. Adams: "I would like to ask whether animals for beef should be well fed with grain through the whole period of growth, or fed mainly on roughness, grass, etc.?"

Dr. Perry: "The plumpness of the young animal should be kept up by feeding grain whenever it is necessary."

Mr. Gale, Rock Township. "I have had good success in feeding steers corn alone without roughness; would say especially never let an animal intended for beef shrink or lose anything. Whenever you let it lose a pound, you are losing money with compound interest."

Mr. Thomas. "Stock hogs run on red clover would bring a cent a pound more than those fed in corn alone; probably because their digestive apparatus was better developed and they could gain more when fattened."

Mr. Meredith of Dexter: "My cattle fed mainly on roughness gained faster, and made a better growth when put on pasture than those of one of my neighbors who had fed mainly on grain."

Mr. Gale: "The fattest lot of steers I ever saw in Kansas were two year olds which had been fed almost entirely on corn sold for $72 a head the spring they were two years old. Steers taken from grass, fat, and put on grain will lose, or at least, not gain any for four weeks or more."

Mr. Markham: "A Kansas City buyer in our country said that millett should not be fed to feeding steers; he himself thought that corn in the ear was the most profitable feed for steers; several others coinciding in the opinion."

Mr. McClellan made a very wise distinction between feeding young and old cattle: the young cattle should have a good deal of coarse food in order to develop bone and muscle, while the older cattle to be fattened should be fed mainly on fat forming foods, such as corn.

Prof. Shelton closed the morning session with his most interesting and practical lecture on farm experiments. This we would like to give in full, but the substance of it, with much other valuable matter, will be published by the Professor in his report for 1884, which those interested can probably obtain by addressing him. Two points of special interest, however, were the greatly increased profits of feeding pigs in a warm barn in winter over those fed in an open shed and the large amount of pork obtained from one half acre of alfalfa--much more than the average amount obtained from one half acre of corn.

The first business taken up was the formation of a permanent farmers' organization for the county.

Mr. Adams moved that a committee of one from each township be appointed to perfect a plan of organization. Carried.

It was also agreed that the present officers hold over until the final organization be effected. It was moved and seconded that sub-committees on organization be effected.

It was moved and seconded that sub-committees on organization and plan of work be appointed. Carried.

The chair named the following gentlemen on organization--Dr. Perry and F. A. A. Williams; and on plan of work--M. A. Markham and F. W. McClellan.

The full township committee was made up as follows.

Bolton Amos Walton.

Beaver F. H. Burden.

Vernon R. J. Yeoman.

Ninnescah L. Stout.

Rock S. P. Strong.

Fairview T. S. Green.

Walnut F. W. McClellan.

Pleasant Valley A. H. Broadwell.

Silverdale George Green.

Tisdale J. S. Baker.

Winfield Dr. Perry.

Liberty J. C. McCloy.

Richland D. C. Stevens.

Omnia W. R. Stolp.

Silver Creek John Stout.

Harvey R. L. Strother.

Windsor Samuel Fall.

Dexter W. E. Meredith.

Cedar J. H. Service.

Otter Mr. Mills.

Sheridan J. R. Smith.

Maple Mr. Fitzsimmons.

Creswell Ed. Green.

Spring Creek H. S. Libby.

This committee with the sub-committees and officers were requested to meet at the Courier office on Saturday, February 14^th, at one o'clock P. M.

A short discussion on stock raising followed, introduced by a question as to the profit of feeding yearling steers. The general opinion seemed to be that with a good grade of cattle, it might be done profitably.

Prof. Shelton stated that an acquaintance of his fed young steers (high grade short horn) which he marked at one and a half years old, and found them more profitable than any others he handled; he also stated that fine stock must be well kept or they would rapidly deteriorate. You may take two pure bred short-horn heifers and breed them to the same or equally good males, but starve and expose the one and well treat the other, and in two or three generations the progeny of the one which was starved will be miserable scrubs, while the descendants of the other will hold their own or improve. If a man is going to starve and expose his stock, he had better not handle anything but Texans; they are the only kind that will prove profitable under such treatment.

At this point the chairman rose and stated that the college professors would have to leave at 3 o'clock and if the institute wished to get any more light from them, they must do it before that time and carry on any desired discussion afterwards.

Dr. Perry: "I would like to ask Prof. Fallyer whether any analysis of soils has been made at the college and what are the results?"

Prof. Fallyer: "We have done something at soil analysis but we do not place much dependence upon it in determining the fertility of the soils or the proper fertilizers to apply; this is the point where theory and practice do not agree."

Several questions were asked the Professor as to land being injured by being plowed and left exposed to the sun or benefitted by shade of crops or buildings. He did not think these things would affect it except when land was plowed too wet and exposed to the sun, when it would bake.

Mr. Markham offered the following resolution, which was unanimously adopted.

RESOLVED, That it is the sentiment of the Cowley County Farmers' Institute, held at the Winfield Opera House Jan. 29 and 30, 1885, that the services of Profs. Shelton, Fallyer, and Supt. Thompson of the Kansas State Agricultural College have been highly appreciated and for which they have the hearty and sincere thanks of the members of the Institute.

Prof. Shelton, on behalf of the faculty, very gracefully thanked the meeting for this expression of their appreciation of their services and expressed his belief from what he had seen of the farmers of Cowley County that they had the material to form a permanent and successful farmers' institute which would be of lasting benefit to the people of the county.

Supt. Thompson then read his paper containing many timely suggestions worth heeding. The following is a summary.

The Professors then took their leave and the discussion was carried on by home talent.

Mr. McClellan: "Has anyone here tried raising mangel wurzels for stock and with what success?"

Mr. Adams: "I planted a row about ten rods long last spring, which grew well in spite of the dry weather and yielded about ten bushels. I believe they can be grown here successfully."

Mr. Broadwell stated that artichokes were very successful in this county and were desirable for hogs.

Mr. Croco: "The English artichoke is very profitable in Ohio, and I think they would be here."

Mr. Gale: "A patch of oats makes fine pasture for hogs and is the next thing to red clover."

Dr. Perry: "A gentleman from Barbour County raises hogs mainly on sorghum with great success."

Mr. Thirsk: "I have found the blood turnip beet profitable here, also think sorghum the most useful crop we can grow."

Mr. Martin: "I am encouraged about the future of the farmers of the county; we can succeed (as you have learned from what has been said here) with tame grasses; and if beets, artichokes, and such winter feed can be raised successfully for our stock, we are on the high road to prosperity."

Mr. McClellan and Dr. Perry recommended sorghum highly as feed for cattle.

Mr. Adams moved that the thanks of the institute be tendered to the press of the county for their assistance in making the institute a success. Carried unanimously.

The chairman gave notice of the meeting of the County Horticultural Society at the Courier office on Saturday, February 4^th. There being no further business, the institute adjourned.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, February 5, 1885. Front Page.

The action of the Executive Committee of the Inauguration Ceremonies at Washington in designating the Baltimore & Ohio ticket offices in the principal cities, East and West, as special depositories for sale of Inauguration Ball tickets, cannot but prove of great advantage, as heretofore tickets could not be obtained for the ball until after arrival at the national capital. Everybody knows where the B. & O. offices are in the leading cities: 83 Clark St. in Chicago; 5 N. High St. in Columbus; 173 Walnut St. in Cincinnati; 130 S. Illinois St. in Indianapolis; 101 N. 4^th St. in St. Louis; 152 W. Baltimore St. in Baltimore.

Letters relative to the ball tickets, address to the B. & O. ticket agent at any of the addresses given, or to ticket agent B. & O. office, Louisville, Wheeling, Zanesville, Newark, Sandusky, Cumberland, or Frederick will receive prompt attention.

At the offices named, those who desire can purchase the ball tickets same time as they do their railroad tickets; while those who may want them as souvenirs do not have to send to Washington for them. Preparations for the Inauguration ceremonies are being carried forward with the determination to make them memorable. The Baltimore & Ohio, as the only direct line from the West into Washington, has extended every facility to executive and other committees in so shaping matters as to bring complete success in every particular. The B. & O. has announced the lowest rates ever made for an inauguration, in most instances less than half-fare for the round trip, with a limit on the tickets of the most satisfactory length. By the B. & O.'s recently put on fast train schedule, its noted limited trains make the run through to Washington, from all points, from one to six hours quicker than any of the limited trains on other lines. Not a nickel extra is charged for the fast time, which is directly to the contrary of the rule followed by the other lines with their limited trains, for upon them double fare is the only way one can travel, and must take sleeping cars through, whether wishing so to do or not. On the B. & O. one exercises the good old American custom of going as he pleases. Trains run through solid, no change of cars, of any class, and pay only for what is asked for--not a cent more, no matter what may be the custom on other lines. All these things are well worth considering before starting.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, February 5, 1885. Front Page.

The boom in wheat and corn and hogs, and the general tone of business illustrate fully what the Inter-Ocean has many times said during the past two months. The depression was but temporary, and croakers and growlers should be ordered to the rear. This great, big country, full of live men, and storehouses bursting with riches, is not ready to lay down and squeal. Chicago Inter-Ocean.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, February 5, 1885. Front Page.

THE WEATHER, Lieut. Charles W. McKim, Portland, Ky., states: "For twenty years I suffered with rheumatism. During the bad weather my suffering was terrible. I was about give up. Someone suggested the application of St. Jacobs Oil. I tried it and its relief was rapid. In half an hour I could stand up. I no longer suffer with the pains."

Winfield Courier, Thursday, February 5, 1885. Front Page.

Down in Kentucky it is said they are keeping green the memory of the last presidential campaign by hunting skunks during the winter months.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, February 5, 1885. Front Page.

him. We will frankly admit that we have murdered prices, and will gladly devote the time to showing you how we did it. We feel confident that we can prove to your satisfaction that we have an immense

Owing to the great depression of the trade we have determined to put prices within the reach of everybody, which the following prices will show. (Space will only permit of a few enumerations):

Brocade Silks and Satins, $1.30, worth $1.75.

Brocade Silks and Satins, $2.00, worth $2.50.

Heavy Gros Grain Silk, 50 cents, worth 75 cents.

Heavy Gros Grain Silk, 75 cents, worth $1.25.

Gainet's Standard Gros Grain Silk, $1.05, worth $1.50.

Gainet's Extra Heavy Gros Grain Silk, $1.50, worth $2.25.

Ottoman Silk, $1.25, worth $1.65.

Cashmeres, 37 inches wide, 30 cents, worth 50 cents.

Heavy French Cashmeres, 55 cents, worth 85 cents.

Extra Heavy French Cashmere, 75 cents, worth $1.15.

Superfine French Cashmere (17 count), 90 cents, worth $1.25.

Silk Velvets, $1.80, worth $2.25.

Brocaded Silk Velvets (20 inches), $1.50, worth $1.75.

Chenille Fringes, in all colors, 55 cents, worth 75 cents.

Fine Dress Plaids, 12½ cents, worth 20 cents.

Fine Dress Plaids, 15 cents, worth 25 cents.

Fine Dress Plaids, 25 cents, worth 40 cents.

Fine Dress Plaids, 7 cents, worth 12½ cents.

Brocaded Dress Goods, 12½ cents, worth 20 cents.

Brocaded Dress Goods, 15 cents, worth 25 cents.

Best Prints, 6¼ cents, worth 8½ cents.

Good Prints, 4 cents, worth 5 cents.

Lonsdale (make) Muslin, 9 cents, worth 12½ cents.

Androscoggin Muslin, 9 cents, worth 12½ cents.

Hercules' Shirting Muslin, 8 cents, worth 10 cents.

Indian Head Sheeting, 7 cents, worth 10 cents.

Dwight Sheeting, 7 cents, worth 10 cents.

P. S. Everybody owing me will please call and settle their accounts by January 1^st, without fail.

[Please note that this ad was run on the front page of February 5, 1885, issue. MAW]

Winfield Courier, Thursday, February 5, 1885.

You can again buy goods at almost your own prices. Grain of all kinds is Cheap, money scarce, but I have inaugurated a business that overcomes all of these difficulties. I buy nearly all kinds of Country Produce and not only pay Market Price, but the top of the market. I have made Winfield the

And no one can deny this, and I only ask the Trading Public to come and examine our Stock and Prices. Bring your Wives, Mothers, and Mothers-in-law with their children and I will try and make you all happy with more goods for your money than any House in the State. Remember the place.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, February 5, 1885.

The people who never blunder would be splendid company if they were not all dead.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, February 5, 1885.

The Nicaraguan treaty failed of ratification by the U. S. Senate by a vote of 32 to 23, it requiring two-thirds to ratify.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, February 5, 1885.

The West Shore railroad has advanced emigrant rates from $1 to $3 from New York to Chicago.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, February 5, 1885.

Senator Plumb is of the opinion that nothing can be accomplished this session of Congress toward opening up Oklahoma to settlement.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, February 5, 1885.

Gordon will be relieved and the capture of Khartoum prevented. But how Egypt is to hold the Soudan without a permanent English army of occupation is to be explained.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, February 5, 1885.

Passenger fare between New York and Chicago seems to be settling to the basis of a cent per mile. Railroad companies will be very pleasantly surprised at the results of that rate if it becomes standard.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, February 5, 1885.

Friday Senator Sol. Miller asked leave of absence from the Senate until Tuesday because he wanted to go home and celebrate "ground-hog day." The Senate thought it a ground-hog case and adjourned over.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, February 5, 1885.

Last week a passenger train on the Fort Scott and Wichita railroad was snowed in for two days among the Flint Hills and provisions were hauled to the train by teams to sustain the passengers, so it is reported.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, February 5, 1885.

It is reported that Cleveland is very much dissatisfied with the do nothing course of the Democrats in the House of Representatives and has sent for Carlisle and Randall and urged them to inaugurate a vigorous policy.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, February 5, 1885.

The legislative appropriation bill, which has become a law, appropriates thirty thousand for the payment of per diem and mileage of members of the legislature, lieut. Governor, officers, clerks, pages, and chaplains of the senate and house.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, February 5, 1885.

The National Board of Trade, in session at Washington, calls upon Congress to suspend the silver dollar coinage. The silver convention in session at Denver calls for the increase of such coinage. Between the two Congress will probably take no action on the subject.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, February 5, 1885.

The Boston Advertiser suggests that the Government should provide a stamped letter sheet, with lines on the middle of the face for direction, and on its back for the message. This could be folded twice and sealed. Its weight would be that of a postal card, and its price should be one cent.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, February 5, 1885.

The supposed dynamite infernal machine found in the hallway leading from the British consul-general's office in New York turns out to be filled with a harmless compound by printers. A scare only intended. A similar "joke" in the national capital might expedite the passage of important bills.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, February 5, 1885.

Will J. Wilson came home from Topeka Saturday morning and returned Monday evening. The Legislature had adjourned over until Tuesday. Ed. Greer and Frank Jennings did not come home. They were on a tour of inspection of the State charitable institutions, each being a sub-committee of the Ways and Means Committee of his House.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, February 5, 1885.

When an old soldier looks over the report of debates in the United States Senate and reads the declaration of a Senator to the effect that "Jefferson Davis is a man of honor and a patriot beloved by millions of his countrymen," the old soldier in question is apt to ask himself what the disturbance was about when he was called upon to enlist, and give four of the best years of his life to the military service of the country.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, February 5, 1885.

The Wellington Standard wants to know "why it is Wellington uses twice as many postal notes, registered letters, and money orders as Winfield." Well, if this were true, there is a good reason. Winfield has some first class banks in which the people have unlimited confidence, such as they have in Uncle Sam, and therefore make their remittances by bank drafts, which are cheaper. But the premises are not true. Winfield issues more money orders than Wellington and about the same number of postal notes and registered letters.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, February 5, 1885.

Mr. Greer, in introducing House bill No. 313, relating to postage, moved that the rules be suspended and the bill read a second and third time and put upon its final passage. Someone asking what emergency existed for such action, he replied by stating that the Postoffice Department of the United States of America wanted its money for $1,600 worth of postage furnished the members of the Legislature, and had already "hinted" to the Secretary of State its readiness to receive pay. This being satisfactory to the members, the motion prevailed and the bill was read and passed. Capital.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, February 5, 1885.

The Wichita Eagle calls Mrs. Helen M. Gougar "a tramp female politician," and a "night street talker," and the House of Representatives "a cranky house," because it "permitted: Miss Gougar to address the House. If the editor of the Eagle had one-fifth of the good sense, high character, and ability of Mrs. Gougar, he would not air his own crankiness, his little narrow prejudices, and conservatism against women on all occasions. Mrs. Gougar is a noble woman, one of the ablest and most eloquent orators of the times, her theme is of the highest interest; and the House did well in spending an hour to hear her.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, February 5, 1885.

The postoffice appropriation bill, as completed by the house appropriation committee, provides for a total appropriation of $52,253,200. The estimates as prepared by the postoffice department amounted to $56,000,169; the appropriation of the current year amounted to $49,640,400. It changes the postage on letters from two cents per half ounce to two cents per ounce and second class matters from two cents per pound to one cent per pound. It also provides for immediate delivery within a mile of the postoffice in cities of over 4,000 inhabitants designated by the postmaster general when the letter is prepaid by an extra ten cent stamp.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, February 5, 1885.

Mr. Greer, of Winfield, has introduced a bill in the House locating the school for imbecile yo8uths in his city. Senator Hackney introduced such a bill last session, which passed the Senate, but failed in the House. In the present bill it is provided that Winfield shall give the State from forty to eighty acres of land on which the new school is to be erected. As Wichita is bidding for this same institution, it is expected that the State will be able to secure not only the land but enough money to build the school and thus give it a good start. Lawrence has not been heard from yet, but probably will be now that two other cities are striving to gather in the fruit. Winfield offers a good, healthy location, and is a quiet, moral town, where the pupils, whenever they arrive at a state of understanding, will never have bad examples set before them. Kansas City Journal.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, February 5, 1885.

The warmest advocates of a constitutional convention are those who are most bitter against the prohibitory clause of the constitution, and their principal object appears to be to get another "whack" at that provision for a constitutional convention, which is resubmission in an indirect way.

Of course they present many other reasons for calling the convention, among which is the need of more judges of the Supreme Court than the present constitution provides. This admitted need can be much more expeditiously supplied than by a convention. The election to decide whether a convention be called or not could not take place until November, 1885, and the new constitution could not be ratified irregularly before November, 1886, and regularly before November, 1887. In any event the new justices of the supreme court could not be elected and qualified earlier than January, 1887. Now, if the legislature should submit an amendment to the present constitution, it would be voted upon in November, 1885, and the new justices appointed and qualified by January 1, 1886, which would be a year earlier than possible by way of the convention.

The same may be said of the two or three other changes in the constitution which seem to be demanded. The changes can be effected a year earlier by way of amendment than they can by way of a convention. If the amendments demanded are too many to be all submitted at one election, the balance can be submitted at the next annual election and still go into effect as early as by a convention, for there must be a session of the legislature in 1886, to reapportion the state, as required by the constitution.

There are much stronger and at least as many valid objections to the convention as there are arguments for it. The submission of amendments costs the state nothing, while a convention would cost the state probably from twenty to thirty thousand dollars, possibly more. Then the people are so divided in opinion as to what changes are needed that it is scarcely probable that no change would be inserted which would be objected to by a majority, and it is highly probable that the new constitution would be rejected by the people at the ballot box, and thus would the cost of the convention be a dead loss to the state, and the changes really needed be delayed until they could be effected by submitting amendments.

The fact is that a constitutional convention is the meanest way to improve a state convention. It is merely a scheme by which a lot of politicians can meet, and have a high old time for a few months, draw their pay from the state, and at such rates as they themselves shall have the brass to demand, fix up a kind of a constitution which shall contain some provisions in the interest of the schemers which would be voted down separately by the people, but which are so sugar coated by the balance of the constitution that the leaders of the convention will believe the people will swallow the dose. The only honest way to change constitutional provisions is to submit them separately to the people; and the surest way to make the people swallow a provision they do not want is to sugar coat or disguise it under a new constitution framed by a convention.

In the absence of constitutional provisions restricting a convention, it is an oligarchy with almost unlimited powers, which it never fails to exercise. The genius of our government is opposed to vesting such extensive powers in an emperor, an oligarchy, or in any body of men short of the people at the ballot box.

We are therefore opposed for the calling of a constitutional convention, not only because it is resubmission, but because it is useless and expensive, and probably would be a fraud and a tyranny.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, February 5, 1885.

There are no less than three important treaties now engaging the consideration of the country and the Senate. There is apparently a becoming disposition on the part of the treaty ratifying body not to act hastily or inconsiderately. The probabilities are strong that the Senate will neither ratify nor reject any of the pending conventions during the present session.

There are points and provisions relating to all these treaties that will in time, doubtless, be better understood. Whether the Nicaragua treaty is or is not in disregard of our existing treaty obligations with England, it would certainly seem that it is altogether too advantageous to Nicaragua. We make that power a present of four millions of dollars in perpetuity to begin with, at the nominal interest of three per centum. For this sum we do not secure the right of way, because this must be paid for to private owners, but only the right to spend more money. How much money must be spent to complete the canal no one exactly knows. The estimates of the civil engineers have varied from fifty to nearly two hundred millions. After spending some unascertainable amount, all of which must be furnished by the United States, we divide the control of the completed canal with Nicaragua, and pay over to her one-third of all the profits for all time. While this is manifestly a good bargain for one of the high contracting parties, it is not so clear that it is a good bargain for both. But time may modify this view and perhaps the treaty also.

The Spanish treaty, as it stands, is a very advantageous treaty to Spain. Emilio Castelar and other Spanish statesmen so consider it. But whether the loss of thirty millions of dollars per annum by the removal of the duties from Cuban and Porto Rican sugar and tobacco is compensated by our increased export trade to those islands, is to say the least, dubitable. Some thirty millions of revenue have hitherto been received from these two staple articles, imported from other countries. There must necessarily be a falling off in the revenues received from sugars and tobacco that pay duty if half of those importations are to come in free. The east India and Brazilian sugars and Sumatra tobacco would find other markets. Precisely how there can be perfect reciprocity in trade between fifty-five millions of highly civilized people and the two millions of blacks, Indians, coolies, slaves, and slave traders who inhabit Porto Rico and Cuba has not been set forth by Minister Foster as minutely as we could wish. That the Spanish and Cubans will make this treaty truly reciprocal, or make it almost anything we may desire, seems probable from the manifest anxiety they exhibit to have it speedily ratified and put in force.

Of the Mexican treaty little need be said except that it is more advantageous to this country than either of the other conventions. If the Mexicans have really a fixed, stable Government, so that the property of Americans is safe from confiscation there, and so that contracts entered into by those now in power will be fulfilled by their successors, then there is no good reason why closer commercial relations with Mexico may not prove equally profitable to both countries.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, February 5, 1885.

O'DONAVAN ROSSA, the infamous dynamiter and blow hard, was shot in New York on Monday while standing on the sidewalk by a handsome, plainly dressed young lady. Rossa fell heavily on the sidewalk and she fired the remaining bullets in her revolver at him, and then walked away. She was arrested and gave her name as Yeslet Dudley. Rossa was still alive. It may have some connection with the murderous assault made upon Phenlan, of Kansas City, in Rossa's office, believed to have been instigated by Rossa.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, February 5, 1885.

The tariff question seems to be very imperfectly understood by the mass of people. They do not seem to understand the difference between "tariff for revenue only, and a tariff for revenue and protection." We will try to show clearly the difference.

A tariff for revenue only is one in which no article of import is taxed higher than the rate which will produce the greatest amount of revenue but may be taxed much less or nothing. The nearer to nothing the tax is the nearer is the approach to free trade. Absolute free trade would be no tariff at all. When articles are taxed at so high rates as to make the amount of revenue derived therefrom less than the highest amount that could be produced, that tariff is protective to that extent.

To illustrate we will notice the tariff on wool. Under the former tariff law in force prior to 1883, the taxation on imported wool was nearly equivalent to 50 percent, advatorum. It was so high as to discourage importation and to keep down the amount imported. Suppose for instance the amount imported was worth two millions of dollars in the foreign market. The tariff revenue therefrom would then be about one million. By the new tariff of 1883 this tax was reduced about one fifth, or to about 40 percent advatorum. Under the stimulus of lower taxes, the importation of wool was so augmented that the revenue therefrom was nearly doubled. Suppose that the importation was increased from two millions to five millions, you can see that 40 percent on the latter sum would produce two millions of revenue instead of one million as formerly. Under Morrison's horizontal tariff bill of last session, the tariff on wool would have been reduced nearly to 30 percent advatorum. It is probable that had this bill become a law, it would have stimulated wool importations up to eight millions, which at 30 percent, would produce $2,400,000 of revenue, an increase of $400,000 over the present tariff, and still it would be slightly protective. A still farther reduction of the import tax to 25 percent advatorum would still further stimulate importation probably to ten millions, which at 25 percent would produce $2,500,000, still an increase over the last of $100,000. Now if the rate were reduced to 21 percent, it would probably raise the amount of importations to twelve millions and produce $2,520,000 revenue, and if reduced to 20 percent, would probably make the revenue a little less. Therefore, it would appear that 21 percent was the rate which would produce the greatest amount of revenue and is the very highest rate that could be called a tariff for revenue only.

Now if all the articles of importation were taxed in this manner, including coffee, tea, and all other articles on the free list, it would raise an enormous revenue, perhaps a thousand millions, for it must be remembered that articles not produced in this country would bear a very high rate of taxation without being protective and without materially decreasing importation. So a tariff only for the purpose of raising the highest amount of revenue would tax all articles of transportation, the like of which cannot be produced in this country, at very high rates and all articles, the like of which can be probably produced in this country under protection, at very low rates. Such a tariff would be the most burdensome to the consumers in this country that could possibly be conceived, for they would have to pay whatever prices the foreign producers could get, and those, in the absence of American competition, would not be moderate by any means, and in addition would have to pay all the import taxes which would be particularly burdensome on coffee, tea, and other articles now on the free list.

But the amount of revenue derived from such a tariff would be far in excess of the wants of the government, perhaps three or four times as much as the government needs.

The Democrats of the Morrison school, even those of the most ultra free trade notions like Watterson, do not advocate such a tariff, but adopt the Republican principle of putting all articles not produced in this country on the free list, thus keeping down to a large extent the amount of revenue collected and at the same time the cost to consumers of such articles. Still the revenue derived from the bulk of the list would be far in excess of the wants of the government and is even now under the present tariff, in excess of its needs, and all parties admit that the amount of revenue collected should be reduced. The only question is how shall it be reduced, and it is right here where the two policies divide. The "tariff for revenue only" party demands that the tariff rates on all articles which have American competition be reduced (horizontally) by cutting and trying, until below the profit which produces the greatest revenue, down, down, to a point which will produce no more than the wants of government; and the protectionist demands that the tariff rates be increased on such articles to such point as to reduce importations to such extent as will produce no more revenue than the government needs.

To illustrate again, the revenue only tariff man wants the tariff on wool reduced below 21 percent, down to perhaps 10 percent, for below 21 percent the importations would not probably increase and therefore the revenue would diminish. On the other hand, the protectionist wants the former tariff of about 50 percent on wool restored and thus reduce the amount of revenue derived therefrom to near the former amount and in like manner raise the tariff on any and all articles on the list of such articles as this country can produce which produce too much revenue.

Of course the effect of the former policy would be to encourage and increase importations and to discourage and decrease home productions; and that of the protective policy would be to discourage and decrease importations and to encourage and increase home production as everybody must admit.

We do not propose at present to discuss the further merits of the two policies, but will merely say that we claim for the protective policy that it does not increase in the long run the cost to consumers but in most cases diminishes it; that it builds up factories in our midst, creates a demand for home labor, enhances the prices of labor and farm productions, saves the money in this country which would otherwise be exported for foreign goods, makes our people wealthy, comfortable, intelligent, and refined, and has made us the most prosperous nation on earth; and we claim for the tariff for revenue only policy that it makes foreign producers rich and our people poor with all that the word implies.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, February 5, 1885.

The Senate is traditionally the conservative branch of the legislative body and our state senate seems determined to preserve its traditional character. The House readily constituted a committee on the political rights of women and listened to the address of a leading champion of Woman suffrage. The Senate refused such a committee and sneered at Mrs. Gougar. It said by its action that it is far behind the spirit of progress of the times and will adhere to the old worn out conservatism that women have no political rights or any other rights not exercised through the protection of men. It is not strange that ignorant people should adhere to the old ruts of tyranny, but a body of men sufficiently intelligent to make respectable senators should be able to comprehend the spirit of advancement and reform.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, February 5, 1885.

The Denver silver convention promises to give the silver coinage a strong support. There is no present prospect of the suspension of its coinage.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, February 5, 1885.

DEAR COURIER: Friday evening was spent at the most novel entertainment it has ever been your correspondent's fortune to attend. It was given at the State Insane Asylum near Topeka by the attaches for the benefit of the patients, and consisted of two hundred and fifty patients, and a more appreciative congregation I have never seen. I sat where I could look back at the upturned faces of the unfortunate inmates and noticed the expression of intense interest on the part of the men, and the wild, weird, but always sad look depicted on the faces of the women. There was much food for serious thought in the picture thus presented. The effect of the loss of mind and reason upon the personal appearance was brought out strongly. The men looked crafty, savage, and abandoned, while the women looked timid, half frightened, but neat in person, and still retained many of those womanly and gentler traits of character. They were rigged out in all the peculiar fashions which their fantastic fancies had suggested. Some wore bonnets trimmed with bits of calico, and others had shawls tied over their heads in many ways. It was a sort of gala evening for the Asylum. The next morning I made a complete tour of the institution and observed many strange and novel things which it may be possible to give the COURIER readers at another time. Everything is run in order, clean and neat, and the patients seem to be satisfied. These Asylums are the keystone of our public charities, and should be wisely but liberally dealt with.

Important legislation has as yet hardly crystallized, and but little can be known of the probable disposition of the railroad matter. The committee obtained leave to have the maximum rates bill printed last week and it is now before the members and is being carefully scrutinized.

The prohibition question is assuming a very definite form, and all efforts for resubmission, constitutional convention, or any other form of retreat from the present law will be ignominiously defeated. The people of Kansas evidently intend that prohibition shall stay, and the sound that is coming up to their representatives here is in no sense uncertain. It is also settled that the present law shall be amended in its weak places and given all the strength that can be added to it. The first test vote on this question was reached in the House last week on the bill compelling teachers to qualify in elementary physiology and hygiene with special reference to teaching the effects of alcohol and narcotics in the human system. While many would have voted against it because of putting more work on our already overburdened and underpaid leaders, they were driven to it by Overmyer, of Shawnee, making it a square prohibition issue. His speech was intensely bitter, and, for a man of his ability, very thin. Your correspondent is extremely sorry to see a man of Mr. Overmyer's mental vigor and logical force using them in the interests of a few parties who are trampling upon the constitution and laws of the State. I honor his judgment better than to think that he is upholding a doctrine which he believes to be right. He is the representative of a hundred saloons and, true to his instincts as a lawyer, "sticks to his clients." The final vote, on being reached under gag of the "previous question," registered three to one for the passage of the bill. The result was announced amid much applause.

The "Oklahoma Resolutions" called out a great deal of discussion, pro and con. Those opposed did not want the Territory opened to settlement until the western part of our own State was fully developed, while those favoring the resolutions, among whom was your member, argued that the Territory was a great barrier to the development of the southwest in cutting off their legitimate market to the south; that the necessities of the people demanded more land, and that the general good would be better promoted by opening Oklahoma to homestead settlement than leaving it for the sole use and benefit of a few cattle kings. The resolution passed by a large vote.

The special Committee on Penitentiary investigation have been at work, and spent the greater portion of last week at that institution going through their affairs and sifting them thoroughly. In a private conversation with a number of the Committee, your correspondent was informed of some very startling developments which he is not now at liberty to print. Suffice it to say that things at the "pen" are not in that prosperous and harmonious condition which Gov. Glick presented during the campaign. There is an "unwritten work" connected with the letting of coal contracts, and the general conduct of the institution which will not look well in a committee report.

One of the peculiar institutions of this Legislature seems to be the "third House." The corridors of the Capitol and the lobbies of the leading hotels are crowded with the members of this numerous body. They come with schemes of every kind and character. Texas has her delegation: fine appearing men with big white hats and gold log chains and lassos strung over their vests. They want to convince the Kansas Legislature that it is entirely proper and will be profitable to have a national cattle trail running through their domain. Then there are delegations from almost every town of any importance wanting appropriations for public institutions or private charities of some sort. The fight over county lines is fierce and bitter, with rival "visiting statesmen" vying with each other in the exercise of "influence." In fact, half the State seems to have gathered here in the furtherance of some legislative scheme, while the other half stays at home and makes faces at those who do not succeed. To the new member it is amusing for a time, but soon becomes monotonous. However, it is calculated to make one believe that selfishness is the supreme ruler in communities as well as individuals.

The bill for enabling cities of the second class to extend their corporate limits has been reported favorably and will be reached on the House calendar during the week. It will probably become a law. The matter is one of much interest to Winfield, as it will enable her to take in some of the outlying territory which should have been included in the corporate limits long ago, and by right belongs to the city.

The physicians have had a serious time agreeing upon a bill regulating the practice of medicine. Each of the many different schools have met here in convention and each recommended a different measure. Finally they have all combined on a bill which has been introduced in the House. It has not yet been printed and I am not familiar with its provisions, but will write of it as soon as possible.

The Senate had an exciting discussion on the question of a constitutional convention Friday, almost all the Senators taking part. The opposition was led by Senator Buchan, of Wyandotte, while the prohibitionists rallied under the leadership of Senator Blue, of Lyon County. Both made very able speeches. The discussion was continued and made the special order for Tuesday evening.

There has been very little of importance that has transpired here as yet. About five hundred bills, covering every conceivable subject, have been introduced; but as only a small portion of them will ever reach the statute book, it is much too early to comment on them--at least until their passage is reasonably assured.

As indicated in my last, the bill compelling railroads to fence through lands already enclosed with a lawful fence has been amended by the committee to compel them to fence the full line of their roads without regard to whether the lands through which they run are enclosed. Already the railroads have risen up in arms against it, and I fear it will not pass unless reduced to more reasonable requirements.

The mantle of Senator Hackney is sought to be preserved by the introduction of a bill by your member Monday, making an appropriation of $20,000 for the erection of an Asylum for imbecile youth at Winfield. Wichita is also an aspirant for the honor of this location and the Cowley and Sedgwick delegations will proceed to vie with each other as to which can show up the best living and breathing evidence of the local necessity for such an institution. While the tendency is to centralize these institutions, there are many points in favor of Winfield's proposition, which your member will endeavor to present as strongly as possible. It will take hard work, and success can only be hoped for. The House is a hard body to handle and rather erratic in its movements.

One of the most important bills pending is one providing for a year's time after sheriff's sale of land under a mortgage in which the owner may redeem. This measure, in the estimation of your correspondent at least, is a most important one for the farmers of our State. Many farms in Cowley County have been sold under mortgage when, if the owners had been given a few months more, might have been able to save their homes. The bill has several warm friends and a great many bitter enemies, so its future is doubtful. E. P. G.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, February 5, 1885.

Ed. Greer, one of Cowley's statesmen, has introduced a bill in the House providing for the appointment of county printers. We confess we have a desire to see this bill and learn what kind of a scheme Ed. is trying to work. It may have merit, and then it may not. We strongly suspect it is a partisan scheme, and that Edward is working on the plan of three for me and one for you. Telegram.

Our Cowley County boys figure on legislative committees as follows: Frank Jennings, in the Senate, is Chairman of the Committee on Roads and Bridges, a member of the Ways and Means, and Fees and Salaries. In the House L. P. King is on the Penitentiary and Temperance Committees. J. D. Maurer, County Lines and County Seats, and Agriculture and Horticulture. E. P. Greer is Chairman of House Committee on Printing. Telegram.

Ed. Greer has not introduced such a bill and will not. The Telegram has been imposed upon by someone. A bill on the subject mentioned has been presented, and Ed. being chairman of the House Committee on Printing, will have that and other bills on printing to report upon. His report will doubtless be satisfactory to the Telegram. By the way, why did the Telegram, in the second paragraph above, omit to state that Ed. is a member of the House Committee of Ways and Means?

Winfield Courier, Thursday, February 5, 1885.

It is said that Cuban parties interested in the Spanish treaty have sent to Washington a corruption fund of $25,000 to buy senatorial votes for the treaty. This shows a very low estimate of senatorial integrity, but was derived from their experience with Spanish officials we presume. Any senator who will sell out for less than $10,000 is too small fry for anything, and at that rate, it would take $300,000 to buy a majority. We hope the treaty will be defeated as it is a kind of protective tariff for Cuban and Spanish products and a sort of free trade for American products which come into competition with them. It is a measure that affects our revenues and as such, the Senate should not be allowed to decide the question without the concurrence of the House.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, February 5, 1885.

Three explosions of natural gas occurred January 31^st near Thirty-fourth street on Pennsylvania avenue, Pittsburgh, Pa. Six people are reported killed, twenty injured, and six to eight houses wrecked.

Shortly before 12 o'clock there was an alarm given on the big bell in Municipal hall. It was such an irregular character that even Chief Evans, who was in rotunda hall at the time, was at a loss to know where it came from. In a moment word was transmitted by telephone at the mayor's office and at the engine house that a disastrous explosion of natural gas had occurred at Fourth Wharf road, otherwise known as Thirty-fourth and Butler street, and that there had been serious loss of life as well as great destruction of property. The details which could be secured over the telephone were to the effect that the explosion occurred in August Ruh's saloon at No. 3, 351 Pennsylvania Avenue, and that an adjoining building had also been wrecked by the explosion. The concussion created the wildest excitement in the immediate vicinity, and hundreds of people gathered about, as the ruins had taken fire and rumors were current that a number of persons were buried in the debris. Just a few moments after the occurrence, a Citizen's fine car passed in front of the wrecked buildings, filled with passengers, when a second explosion occurred, and the car was thrown from the track by the force of the upheaval.

The consternation among the passengers was awful and scarcely one of the whole number escaped without more or less injury. The driver was thrown from his position and so severely injured that he may not recover. At the same time pieces of timber and flying debris of all kinds were hurled in the air by the second explosion. It caused havoc among those who had gathered in the vicinity. The crowd had swelled until it reached between 200 and 300. Several other eruptions followed, and the number of houses embraced was increased to ten or fifteen. At twenty minutes past 12 o'clock a signal that the fire had been extinguished was sent, but scarcely ten minutes had elapsed until another alarm was sounded from the same box. Eight additional steamers hurried to the spot, not only to aid in extinguishing the flames but to assist in caring for the injured and in hunting for those who were supposed to be buried under the buildings which had been involved in the general destruction.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, February 5, 1885.

Gen. Hatch reached Caldwell, Kansas, from Stillwater last Saturday. He states that Couch refused to surrender until the order was given for the soldiers to advance up to the camp, then the boomers agreed to capitulate. The colonists then under escort of the troops marched to the Kansas line and crossed to Arkansas City. Here Couch and his three lieutenants were arrested on federal warrants for resisting troops in the Indian Territory, and were taken to Wichita. Gen. Hatch sent a detachment from Stillwater to intercept a company of six hundred boomers en route from Arkansas. He estimates that there were altogether nearly fourteen hundred invaders in the Territory. All of these have left too, or been removed from the Territory without bloodshed. Guards have been stationed at the avenues of ingress which, it is thought, will prevent further invasion at present. The boomers, however, declare their intention of returning. A meeting was held at Arkansas City Friday, addressed by Couch and others, at which resolutions passed, denouncing in unmeasured terms the action of the government, and declaring their intention of an early renewal of their efforts to colonize the Oklahoma county. It was resolved to meet at Arkansas City March 4^th next, and start again on the following day, equipped with thirty days rations. It was asserted that their force would then be greatly augmented owing to the opening of the season and the change in the national administration.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, February 5, 1885.

Robert A. Wallace, of Buffalo, N. Y., died about eight years ago, and although he had repeatedly told his children and friends that he had provided for his children, four in number, by a former wife, at his death no will could be found and the estate was settled according to law, each child receiving a portion and the widow her third. The widow was also appointed administratrix and at her death about a year later she left a will disposing of property that remained to her own children and a daughter by her first husband, but leaving out the earlier branch of the Wallace family. Interested persons, still searching for the original will, conceived the idea of exhuming the body of Wallace himself and there between the vest and shirt in which the body was prepared for the coffin was sound the long sought for will.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, February 5, 1885.

Committees reported back with favorable recommendations bills to regulate warehouses and inspection of grain, regulating the receiving and transportation of grain by railroads; to establish the salaries of state officers, judges, and officers of the state legislature; to establish fees for conveying persons to prison or other state institutions; relating to counties and county officers; regulating fees of county attorneys; fixing the fees of certain officers; to create state and local boards of health; concerning lunatics and drunkards; authorizing a geological survey; to compel railroad companies to fence their roads; appropriations for State Asylum at Osawatomie and Topeka.

Bills were presented from No. 173 to No. , to-wit: Relating to cities of the second class; amending chapter 83, laws of 1879; to authorize county high schools; to amend "An act for the regulation and support of common schools," chapter 122, laws 1876, and to repeal section 1, chapter 149, laws of 1881; an act to amend section 3, chapter 122, laws of 1874, an act supplemental to the amendatory chapter 92, General Statutes of 1868, and chapter 86, laws of 1869, and chapter 183, laws of 1872, and to authorize the condemnation of lands for schoolhouse sites; to amend section 71, chapter 81, laws of 1868, "As an act regulating the jurisdiction and procedure before Justices of the Peace in civil cases; an act regulating the State Library and repealing chapter 122, laws of 1870, and chapter 143, laws of 1871, and chapter 130, laws of 1872; to manufacture of sugar; concerning highways; to secure manufacturers and owners of railroad equipments and rolling stock in making conditional sales and certain contracts for the sales thereof; relating to Grand Juries; amending section 73, Criminal Code, being chapter 82 of General Statutes of 1868, and to repeal laws in conflict.

Several bills passed to a third reading.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, February 5, 1885.

Senate bill 79 making appropriation to pay the legislature, passed.

Several petitions were presented.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, February 5, 1885.

Mr. Hogue: Relating to religious and charitable institutions. Mr. Ogden: Relating to bridge commissioners. Also one amending law relating to stock. Also one relating to Sheriffs, Coroners, and Constables. Mr. Lewis: Amending manner of summoning grand jurors. Mr. Dwight: to encourage organization of fire companies. Mr. Caldwell: Amending law to enroll ex-soldiers. Also one appropriating the military fund in the State Treasury of Lincoln County. Mr. Faulkner: Appropriation for Blind Asylum; also, appropriation for boilers at Blind Asylum. Mr. Hatfield: A joint resolution to remove the Asylum for Idiotic Youths to Wichita. Mr. Bates: Providing for a State Reformatory. Mr. Slavens, by request of Jones, of Finney: Amending law governing organization of new counties. Mr. Gillette: Redemption of real estate sold under process. Mr. Veatch: Funding bill for Washington County. Mr. H. C. Cook: Raising fees of Probate Judges. Mr. Clugston: Relating to lands that have escaped taxation.

Numerous reports of committees were received.

Joint resolution to ask for pensions for all living soldiers was postponed.

Joint resolution to ask congress to adjust disputed land titles between railroads and settlers passed.

Joint convention of both houses declared that John J. Ingalls was duly elected U. S. Senator.

Burton's resolution asking for the pensioning of soldiers who have been confined in rebel prison, passed.

Buck's bill to relieve the Supreme Court was approved in committee of the whole, as also his bill to require teachers in public schools to pass examination in hygiene and physiology. Also Kelly's bill relating to meetings and pay of county commissioners, which proposes to grade the maximum compensation of county commissioners. It gives one hundred dollars a year in counties having less than 10,000 population; between 10,000 and 17,500 population, the pay to be two hundred dollars; from 17,500 to 25,000, three hundred dollars.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, February 5, 1885.

After the reports of the several standing committees, Senator Smith offered a resolution relating to maximum rates, rates per carload, etc.

The resolution was adopted for a committee of five on House concurrent resolution No. 11, to investigate the cause of unequal assessment, and report bill or otherwise. Senator Pickler showed some items in comparison of taxes in 1883 and 1885. He showed that in some counties the assessed value of horses was but $20 to $25, while in others they were assessed at $46 per head. As this will cost the State nothing, it would do no harm, but the appointment of a committee would bring about a better understanding.

The resolution was adopted and Senators Pickler and Allen appointed on the part of the Senate.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, February 5, 1885.

Bill was introduced from No. 185 to No. 195 inclusive, to-wit: To amend an act for support of common schools, approved March 4, 1876; relating to the collection of taxes; regulating salary of County Clerks; relating to laws and journals; relating to criminal procedure; to relieve Pawnee County from illegal taxes of 1883; to prevent certain officers from accepting free passes; relating to County Boards of Examiners to amend laws of 1881 fixing compensation of County Superintendents; relating to jurisdiction of the Supreme Court; to remove political disabilities of certain persons therein named; to restore or recreate the counties of Mead, Clark, and Kiowa, and defining their boundaries, and the boundaries of Seward, Finney, Hodgeman, Edwards, and Comanche counties; relating to banks and bankers; to encourage the growth of timber, on school lands.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, February 5, 1885.

Senator Kimball in the chair. Senate bill No. 35, to amend the act to establish code of civil procedure, was laid over; Senate bill No. 36, relating to civil procedure before Justices of the Peace, and No. 72, to prohibit holding of courts on election and certain other days, were recommended for passage. Report adopted.

The Joint Resolutions No. 4, for a constitutional convention, was discussed lengthily, Mr. Redden taking the lead in favor of the measure.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, February 5, 1885.

House. Mr. Butterfield, by request from Greenwood County, asking amendment of law governing executions for wages of clerks. Mr. Patton, for the school law about instruction in hygiene in public schools. Mr. Bryant, for legislation relating to livestock and fire insurance.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, February 5, 1885.

Mr. Lowe, appropriation for the woman's department of the New Orleans Exposition. Mr. Hunter, for bridges in Lyon County. Mr. McCammon, relating to floating liens on real estate. Mr. Corwin, relating to exemptions from executions. Mr. Butterfield, relating to common schools. Mr. Faulkner, by request, relating to cities of the second class. Mr. Blaine, legalize acts of Ottawa County Treasurers. Mr. Vance, amending the civil code. Also one relating to appeals in misdemeanors. Also one changing compensation of County Superintendents.

Bills on second reading read and referred.

Committees reported unfavorably on bills in relation to obstruction of streets by railroads; on one insurance bill; to prevent deception in dairy products; to protect shade trees; to give bounty for destruction of the loco weeds; and favorably on bill to punish deception concerning breeding stock.

Committee of Printing reported substitute for the bill to create the office of county printer.

In committee of the whole, considerable discussion followed on the Oklahoma resolutions. The conference report was adopted.

Mr. Kelso presented a bill to redistrict the judicial districts of the state.

The bill hanging the compensation of judges and clerks of election passed. The Telephone corporation bill passed. Bills concerning bounties for wild animal scalps; concerning law graduates and some others were approved. Several bills were finally rejected.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, February 5, 1885.

The report of the Conference Committee, which had passed the House, was adopted without division.

Bills were presented from No. 201 to No. 209, inclusive, to-wit: Relating to bridges; to appeals under ordinances of third class cities; to free libraries in first-class cities; authorizing a Court of general jurisdiction to stay execution upon judgments pending preparation to make a case in Supreme Court; making an appropriation to Christ's Hospital, Topeka; appropriating for postage stamps; to govern mutual fire insurance companies; relating to counties and county officers; making appropriation for Woman's Department at the World's Fair at New Orleans; to create 19^th Judicial District.

Senate Bills Nos. 36 and 10, which passed committee of the whole yesterday, read a third time and passed. No. 71, to prohibit holding courts on election and other days, was defeated.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, February 5, 1885.

Senate joint resolution No. 4, to provide for a Constitutional Convention, was taken upon the motion pending to recommend its passage.

A long discussion ensued on the question.

Senator Jennings was not anxious to take the vote yesterday because he believed that no discussion would change a vote. The question is not on prohibition or anti-prohibition but it is a question whether we shall submit a vote to the people which, under the Constitution, cannot be taken until 1888. Between now and then there will be another howl fresh from the people, and we might as well pass a law to take effect four years hence as to presume that the people wanted this Legislature to submit the question four years in advance, and thus forestall the people's action two years hence in electing representatives. He spoke eloquently in favor of the present homestead exemption, and said the Senator from Butler, if he went before the people on that question, would find that the popular voice would as completely overwhelm as it had when this question was decided four years ago. While he was in practice, a prohibitionist, he would greatly prefer to vote directly for a resubmission than to vote for a convention. He would meet it squarely rather than by indirection. The whole discussion would turn upon that one question, and the other great interests of the people be made subservient thereto. The decision of the Supreme Court referred to had no effect in preventing the execution of the law.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, February 5, 1885.

The following petitions were presented.

Mr. Turner, for scientific temperance instruction in public schools.

Mr. Drought, for payment of raid claims.

Mr. , from Marshall County, asking for maximum freight rates.

Mr. J. B. Cook, concerning dentistry.

Mr. Turner, amending certain fee bills; Mr. Johnson, concerning assessments of winter-fed cattle. Mr. McNeal, for survey of a township in Barber County. Mr. Collins, for formation and regulation of Mutual Insurance Companies. Mr. McNall, for taking census for 1888.

Mr. McNall moved a second reading of this bill now. Carried. The bill was so read and referred to Committee of the Whole.

Mr. McNall, making appropriations for taking census for 1883. Mr. Pratt, creating counties of Meade and others. Mr. Drought, amending civil code. Also one amending law relating to Street Inspectors. Mr. Hardesty, to remove disability from persons named. Mr. Vance, by request, making a donation to Christ Hospital, at Topeka. Mr. Barnes, relating to study of hygiene and physiology in public schools.

Under head of second reading in bills, Mr. Lower moved that H. B. 279 be placed on calendar for third reading, subject to amendment and debate. It would appropriate $5,000 to woman's department of the New Orleans Exposition. The motion prevailed.

Committees reported favorably bills to create 19^th judicial district; to make a superior court for Shawnee County; bill on Topeka school bonds; bill to prevent Insurance Companies making rates; on State bonds of public wealth; on appropriations for reform school; and to provide stenographers for District Court.

Resolutions adopted asking for repeal of the limitation clause in the pension act.

Bill No. 4 for the appointment of two assistant judges of the Supreme Court, passed.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, February 5, 1885.

Mr. Roseberry: For a Grand Jury. Mr. Bond: For a law to squelch irresponsible mutual insurance companies. More petitions for geological survey. Mr. P. J. Smith: For a law to regulate the dentists. Mr. Beates: To change name of Knowles to Haddam City. Mr. Bonebrake: For a bridge in Douglas County.

Mr. Burton: Relating to stenographers for District Courts. This was crowded forward to second reading and referred to the Judiciary Committee. Another by Mr. Burton to stop gambling. Mr. Gillett: Amending the civil code. Mr. White: Amending assessment laws. Mr. Beatie: To create the Twentieth Judicial District. Mr. Bryant: To authorize Lincoln County to create a bridge fund.

Mr. Greer: Appropriations for postage stamps. This was ground through to final reading and passed.

Mr. Greer introduced Hackney's old Idiotic Asylum bill for Winfield. Mr. McNall: To repeal the Veterinary Surgeon law, in toto; the law enacted by the special session. Mr. Reeves: Amending probate laws. Mr. Wentworth: Amending fee laws. Mr. Vance, by request: Relating to the competency of witnesses. Mr. Cox: To authorize Douglas County to build two bridges.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, February 5, 1885.

Among other reports was one from the committee to investigate the work of the State Board of Equalization, to the effect that the committee are at work, but ask further time. Granted.

A communication was read from the State Board of Agriculture favoring a State geological survey; also, the appointment of a State entomologist.

Mr. Bryant, by resolution, proposed to give the use of Representative Hall to the teachers and pupils of the Wyandotte Institution for the Education of the Blind for the purpose of giving an exhibition before the Legislature, on the evening of February 5. The resolution was adopted.

Mr. Reeves, by resolution, sought to have his H. B. 69, to cut down legal rates of interest, printed. It received eight votes and a crowd of negatives.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, February 5, 1885.

Mr. Bollinger, by a series of resolutions on the subject, wants an investigation of the question of the value to the State of the Livestock Sanitary Commission. Laid over.

H. B. 5, to compel teachers to graduate in hygiene and physiology, with special reference to the effects of alcohol, and stimulants and narcotics upon the human system; and to compel the teaching of these topics in all schools of the State, was read a third time and was passed: 63 to 27.

Mr. P. J. Smith's H. B. 29 relating to fees of Judges and Clerks of Election was passed: 91 to 1.

Mr. Butin's H. B. 85, for the formation of telephone companies, was passed.

Mr. Lewis' H. B. 63, raising the bounty on wolf, coyote, wild cat, and fox scalps from $1 to $3 was passed; 81 to 4.

Mr. Roberts' H. B. 80, giving diplomas of graduates of the law department of the State University the force of an examination for admission to practice, passed.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, February 5, 1885.

The executive committee of the Republican State Central Committee met in Topeka Jan. 28 and audited the accounts of the receipts and expenses of the campaign of last summer and fall. The receipts and expenses were a little less than $5500, which is a very small sum considering the spirited canvass, the number of big rallies, the amount of telegraphing, printing, and speaking done under the auspices of the committee. Some candidates for the State Senate on the other side expended that amount each and yet got left. The committee passed the following resolutions.

Resolved, That on behalf of the Republican State Central Committee, and the Republicans of Kansas, we hereby tender to Hon. P. L. Bonebrake, chairman, and to Hon. Wirt W. Walton, secretary of the committee, our grateful thanks for their earnest, untiring, and successful efforts in behalf of the Republican party during the late campaign, and as a slight testimonial of our appreciation, we hereby give to Chairman Bonebrake the flag, and to Secretary Walton the office chair belonging to this committee, as mementoes of the canvass of 1884.

Resolved, Further, that duly attested copies of this resolution be furnished for publication, and one given each to the president and secretary.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, February 5, 1885.

RECAP: F. M. Savage, Plaintiff, vs. Thomas J. Jackson, Martha Jackson, and George F. Crestenberry [non-resident], Defendants, request for judgment of $100.83 debt and $15.10 costs and interest, relative a deed to real estate. HACKNEY & ASP, Attnys. for Plaintiff.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, February 5, 1885.

RECAP: James F. Miller appointed as Administrator of estate of Frances Hays. Hackney & Asp, Attorneys for Administrator.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, February 5, 1885.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, February 5, 1885.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, February 5, 1885.

Monday last was ground hog day. Tradition says that if the hog emerges from his hole on this day and sees his shadow, he immediately returns to his burrow and pulls the hole in after him and there remains for six week. As the sun shone the greater part of Monday, his hoggish weather adjuster certainly saw his shadow, which means cold weather till the middle of March. But we don't believe it. Down with antiquated superstitions!

Winfield Courier, Thursday, February 5, 1885.

A "Young Beginner" sends to this office an alleged poem about three feet long, entitled "How We Miss Herr." Yes, we should say you do miss "herr." You've also missed about every other word in your "poem." We would advise you to desist writing poetry, and take out-door exercise. Have someone introduce you to some of our prominent citizens who have wood to cut.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, February 5, 1885.

Died, at her late home in Winfield, Kansas, on the 25^th ult., Mahala Jane Gamble. Mrs. Gamble was born in Bedford Co., Pa., May 4^th, 1822. At the time of her death she was 62 years, 8 months, and 25 days old. She leaves two sons, W. H. and I. B. Shell, to mourn her loss. The funeral services were conducted by Rev. J. H. Reider, pastor of the Baptist Church.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, February 5, 1885.

The series of meetings now in progress at the Baptist Church are increasing in interest, and we believe much good is being done by them. They will be continued through the week. Preaching each evening, commencing promptly at 7:15. Prayer services in the lecture room at 3 P.M. All are most cordially invited to attend all of the services.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, February 5, 1885.

The registration books of the city will be open till about t he first of April, and City Clerk Buckman is collaring every man who enters his portals and investing him with the municipal power of voting. You must register every year to move beneficially that powerful little article, the ballot, and if you want to vote in April, register.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, February 5, 1885.

From this date and until after our dissolution, we will positively sell goods only for cash. All accounts now on our books must be settled up either by payment or note. To accomplish our purpose we must reduce our stock and now will sell our goods at cash. Come and convince yourselves that such is the fact. Winfield, Kan., Jan. 21, 1885, Bryan & Lynn.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, February 5, 1885.

School opened Monday last in the new Third Ward school building, with Miss Campbell, principal; Miss Iva Crane, intermediate departments; Miss Kate Rogers, second primary; and Miss Jessie Stretch, first primary. Miss Davenport takes Miss Stretch's place in the primary department of the First Ward.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, February 5, 1885.

Cowley's quarterly school fund apportionment is now being disbursed by County Treasurer Nipp, and the teachers of the county, some of whom haven't had a nickle yet for their winter's labor, excepting on discounted script, are rejoicing. The apportionment for Winfield City is $4,619.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, February 5, 1885.

Wendling will give us the Devil at the Opera House Tuesday evening next. Don't fail to catch it. Tickets at Goldsmith's, 50 cents; no charge for reserved seats. Proceeds for the refinement and education of Winfield in the maintenance of the Ladies Library Association.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, February 5, 1885.

Bring your wheat to our mill and get 25 pounds O. B. flour and 10 lbs. bran for a bushel of good wheat; 30 lbs. Superb flour and 10 lbs. bran for a bushel of good wheat; 35 lbs. Homo and 10 lbs. bran for a bushel of good wheat. A fair exchange robs no one."

Winfield Courier, Thursday, February 5, 1885.

The Young People's Social and Literary Society was delightf