- Hamilton, Kansas 1919 - (Part 2 of 3) -
“In the new road law, the U.S. government pays 50% of the cost. It is proposed that the State pay 25%, though not yet enacted into law, the county 12 ½%, the township in which the road is 6 ¼% and the land owners of the benefit district 6 ¼%. If state aid is not secured the township will pay 12 ½% and benefit district 12 ½%. Under this law three kinds of road may be built: gravel at approximately $12,000 per mile: bituminous macadam at $22,000 or concrete at $35,000 per mile. This is the law the Booster Club is looking at, to put a road north and south from Hamilton.
A weary willie rested his bones in the city hotel, (jail) De Hardman, Saturday night, and Sunday morning was sent on his way rejoicing towards Emporia. The tramp problem has never bothered Hamilton, about one every two years is the record. By the way: The University of Kansas through its Extension Division is asking all municipalities to deal with the tramp problem during the harvest season in a uniform was: lock them up, or put them to work, not shift them from one town to another; and especially do not let them band together and start something. City Attorney Huxman, of Hutchinson, is quoted as saying: “Act, then deliberate.”
Eight years ago, a dozen automobiles were about Janesville township quota, now around one hundred and fifty. Then two or three silos, now practically every big farm has one or more. As late as two years ago there was not a farm tractor owned in the township. Last year John Jensen brought one in and O.E. Short and E.R. South were the pioneer purchasers, each buying one. This year tractors have been sold to F. R. Mossman, H.R. Samuels, F.B. Piatt, F.W. Ott, Wiggins and Lindamood, Herrman and Gordon, Frank Carson, Charles McClintick, Cliff Worley, Roy Herrman and E.L. Myers. Perhaps more than this number are seriously considering the purchase of tractors.
The Grit could locate 25 harvest hands right now if they were available. Harvest will be on in full blast in another week, with not nearly enough help in site. Farmers are willing to hire the hands now in order to have them when needed, pay them wages, for days they can work, and board on rainy days, with regular harvest wages at harvest time. If you are an able-bodied man, do not be a slacker, but enlist for harvest, it is just as patriotic as fighting Huns, lots less dangerous, and lots better pay.
Farmers should let E.B. Kelly, at the Hamilton Grain Co’s office know at once how many hands they will need, as he has been appointed local labor agent by County Farm Agent Wright.
O.E. Hover had an experience while at Kansas City last week he will not soon forget, though the final outcome was fortunate. Oscar wears a sparkler as big as a head light on his shirt front and this attracted the eye of a smooth guy stopping at the same hotel, the Dixon. During the night he got into Mr. Hover’s room, secured the diamond and fled with it. When the loss was shortly discovered detectives were put on the job and the nipper was quickly located at the Muelenback hotel; after a sweating process the thief admitted his guilt, told where he pawned the jewel, and it was soon secured. Floyd Stevenson who was at Kansas City at the time, and had seen the swift guy talking to Mr. Hover had to stay a day longer than he intended to be in the city to identify the man.
Earl Behmer’s new Ford roadster that he bought three weeks ago was stolen at Soden’s Grove at Emporia Saturday night. Earl was away on his wedding trip and his brother Russell used the car, parking it in the grove, when he came back to where he had left the car, there was nothing there but an empty space. This was at 11 p.m. Saturday night. To this mix sunshine and shadow by getting married and having one’s new car stolen all in the space of half a week shows that life is just one blamed thing after another. A late report is that two Madison young men have been arrested for the crime, and the car located.
Earl Behmer’s car, stolen at Emporia August 28, was recovered at Eufaula, Oklahoma, in the possession of Valentine Recek, of Madison, who was brought back and lodged in jail at Emporia. His brother George Recek and Lawrence Milner having been previously arrested for taking the car. The bond of each was fixed at $3,000.
The latest report is that two other Madison men have been charged with complicity in a previous car theft.
Police officials believe a wave of crime, confined principally to automobile stealing will sweep over this section of the country within the next few weeks. The police of the larger cities are warning the local authorities in the towns and villages to be on the alert for auto thieves who will work on farms during harvest time.
These spotters will be followed by the men who are to do the actual stealing from the farmers. The latter will know where all spotted cars are kept, how they are protected, the habits of the owners, the best time for stealing the cars, necessary road information and in fact all the “dope” necessary to insure a perfect job of thievery and a successful getaway.”
