Greenwood County History- 1930s
submitted by Mike Pitko The following history of 1930 is the continuation of the column created by Mike Pitko in a chronological order.
While Eureka does not have factories and a big industrial payroll, it does have a sales ring, the Eureka Auction Sale, that is weekly attracting hundreds of buyers and sellers from far and near.
This sale venture gradually is becoming one of the premier events of southeastern Kansas, headed by Roy Vaughn and Lambert Ladd, both well known in livestock circles. The Eureka Auction Sales is housed in a new, modern pavilion, located just east of the Eureka city limits.
The successful operation of the sale is due to farmers and stockmen of Greenwood County. With their assistance a market here is being created for anything they wish to sell. Since the sale started in the new location on July 27, 1938 there have been 1,706 head of livestock sold. In the month of September alone 801 head were sold.
To keep such a concern going at top efficiency it is necessary to have a capable group of employees. Every article whether large or small, receives the same efficient care from the time it is sold until the consignee is paid.
In addition to Vaughn and Ladd, managers of the sale, is Phil Miller, who keeps the record of articles sold; L.A. Gould, settling clerk and bookkeeper, and last but not least, five men in the yards to see that stock is properly handled. Vaughn and Miller hope to make the auction one of the largest in this part of the state. Last’s week’s sale amounted to $6, 043. Added proof of the popularity of the sales may be obtained any Wednesday by driving into the sales ground. Hundreds of parked cars, trucks and trailers, the big pavilion packed and many lining the yard fences give evidence that the sale is becoming more popular each week. When license plates other than the familiar No. 32 ( counties were identified by number back in the 1930s) are seen it is an excellent sign.
Work began on October 10, 1938 on enlarging Eureka’s water purification plant. The project to be operated by the WPA. An additional filter unit, installation of chemical feed machines, a new chlorinator and increased capacity in the settling basin are all in the project. The new filter unit will allow for cleaning of the present filter, which have not been cleaned in 12 years. The installation of a new chlorinator will replace the one now in use which is so obsolete that the manufacturer has discontinued a regular maintenance department and furnishes repairs on special order. All these improvements will mean the elimination of taste and odors, the elimination of hardness and iron, the elimination of corrosion of plumbing fixtures, hot water coils, pipe and tanks.
There was a new grading system to be used in Eureka’s public schools this year.(1938) In the primary and intermediate grades no scholastic rating will be shown on the card but instead a record of the student’s progress. Under the new setup only the subjects in which needs improvement are checked. One section checks the student’s courtesy, obedience, work habits, play habits, imitative and cooperation.
The junior and senior high cards will be the same as before with a few additions such as interest, attitude, cooperation, dependability, self confidence and orderly work habits. The teachers worked out the new system themselves with the help of the superintendent. “This change may be only temporary since it is a part of the experimental program.” The honor roll is abolished. By most teachers this is considered a good move because the honor roll, in many instances, caused jealousies, hard feelings, and antagonisms.
The voluntary brand law recently enacted by the Kansas legislature, is regarded by stockmen as a long step in a program that will make it hard on rustler’s who prey upon farmers and stockmen. The law does not compel owners of livestock to brand their animals, but if they do brand cattle, horses, mules and sheep, they must register such brands with the State Brand Commission. The cost of registering a brand is $2.00. The Commissioner decides upon the availability and desirability of any brand sent in for recording. He may refuse to record any brand or brands submitted, if in his judgement they conflict with brands previously requested. Any person desiring a brand shall forward to the Commissioner a facsimile of the brand desired, with the $2.00 fee. If there are no conflicting brands, it will be registered and a certificate will be issued. For the purpose of revising the brand records, it shall be the duty of the Commissioner to collect a renewal fee of $1.00 on all brands of record five years after the taking effect of this law and every five years thereafter. The brand of any individual who fails or refuses to pay such renewal fee shall be dropped from the record within six months after notification. Livestock may be branded in any way and on any part of the animal, except hoofs and horns, but shall be so branded that they may be readily distinguished should they become intermixed in herds.
In March of 1939, the Interstate Commerce Commission in Washington examiner recommended the Missouri Pacific railroad abandon its 29.5-mile line between Madison and Leroy. The action is not final, but the commission’s approval of recommendation is regarded as practically certain.
Two bronze plaques were to be placed at Eureka Lake in April, 1938. The larger of the two was to be placed near the dam and it bears a brief account of the construction of the lake. (It is still there, near the public swimming area) The other plaque bearing the name “Lake Eureka” was placed on the gate at the entrance.
Construction of the pipe line to carry water from Lake Eureka to the purification plant located west of south Poplar Street was started. By late March 1938 the pipe line was within 500 feet of 13th and Poplar Streets. When the pipeline reaches that point, it will go one mile south down Poplar to the purification plant. (That line is still in place, even though water now comes from W-7 watershed) Eighty-six men, each receiving 15-days’ work a month, have been employed on this project the last two months. All labor has been furnished by the WPA. Local WPA workers have been trained to do all phases of the work connected with this project, including the yarning and caulking of joints. The City’s estimated portion of the completed project was $54,366.
In April 1938 the WPA was ordered to slash its rolls by 2,690 to bring it quota to 30,810 because of reduced congressional appropriation for the program. The reductions will be on the basis of reducing employment on projects when effective operation will not be penalized, or by closing out sections of projects where the use by the public will be least affected. Not more than 10 to 12 men were to be taken from the rolls in Greenwood County.
A startling discovery was made at the Colburn building at 107 Main Street when workmen were taking up a section of floor about sixty feet back from the front of the building where there was no basement. One of the workmen found a good size wooden box. When he lifted it out and opened it, he was horror stricken to find it contained one hundred half-pound sticks of dynamite. Further investigation brought to light seven other boxes of similar size, each containing 50 pounds of the high explosive. There before his eyes were 400 pounds of dynamite, enough to blow up the whole block.
When or who cached the dynamite there, or how long it had been there, remains a mystery. The two-story stone building, erected in 1888, has been occupied by numerous business firms. The past two years 193737 it was a bowling alley. Thousands of people have walked over the floor, unconscious of their nearness to the death-dealing explosive.
The owner notified a man who lived in El Dorado and was a shooter for the National Torpedo Co. of the find and ask him to come over and get it. They came over and took the dynamite to their magazine in Butler County. Local dealers refused to take it, saying they would not be permitted to have that much of the explosive on hand.
