- Hamilton, Kansas 1921 - (Part 1 of 2) - submitted by Mike Pitko “A largely attended meeting of those on country telephone lines, along with some of the town subscribers to the Hamilton Telephone Exchange was held in the Star Theatre Saturday afternoon. One decision of the meeting was unanimous, that was not to stand for any raise in rates or the dropping of service to Eureka and Madison on the basis that now exists. Until the Court of Industrial Relations makes their decision as to rates the old status seems to exist.
One thing for sure Hamilton would have very little use for a telephone system without being able to talk to the country, the two naturally must work together for satisfactory results. Two telephone systems in a territory where one hardly pays is unthinkable, even if it would be permitted by law, which we very much doubt. It seems to the Grit that the only thing to do is to demand good service of the Exchange we have, see to it that we get it, and pay for what we get.
A big wolf hunt is being organized to take place Sunday. The catch will be auctioned off, the proceeds to go to the American Legion Post No. 274. No firearms except shot guns allowed.
The big wolf hunt Sunday over nearly fifty square miles drew a big crowd, but only two (coyotes) were caught, some ten or more being seen to get through the lines. One was sold bringing over eight dollars.
Mr. Ulrich and Hughes came back with some more questions and answers throwing more light on the election to have lights in Hamilton. 1. What would be about the cost of wiring an average three-room house? About $15, with drop lights for wiring and fixtures. 2. How many buildings including separate offices that could use electricity? 160 3. How many do you estimate would use electricity? 95 or 60% of the buildings. 4. How would the city do in regard to paying for the street lights? The city would pay out of the general fund to the light company. 5. Has the city had a chance to sell the bonds yet in case they get voted for? The City Clerk had a letter last week from a reliable firm wanting first chance at them. 6. Why do we all dislike to pay our taxes? Because we have to. We pay out twentyfive for a repair job on the automobile and think nothing about it, but if our taxes are raised a five spot, we nearly drop dead.
A good deal of interest was taken in the electric light proposition to vote $30,000 for bonds for a transmission line to, and distribution lines in Hamilton. There were 158 votes cast, 126 votes for and 32 against.
In March 1921 petitions were being circulated calling for an election for a Rural High School district in a territory that is practically all of Janesville township, except a few square miles on the southwest border, and in addition some territory outside of Janesville. The proposed district would have a valuation estimated over four million and would maintain a High School on a very small tax. We have a good High School here now, but it isn’t fair to ask the tax payers of one small district to maintain it for the many districts that send pupils here. This present good school can be much strengthened and enlarged in the new plan. Let us put our shoulder to the wheel and secure for the children of the township the best that’s to be had.
About 50 per cent of the money spent by University of Kansas students is from their own earnings, according to questionnaires sent to every student of the institution. The tabulation shows the sources furnish the K.U. student’s money: Personal saving-32%, earned while in school-17%, received from parents-43%, borrowed-8%. The total enrollment of K.U. for the present school year will be 4,400 exclusive of students under college grade, and those enrolled in correspondence courses. The average board cost per week is $6.67 and the average cost of rooms is $9.88 monthly. Nearly three-fourths of the students are church members and 60 per cent attend church.
Rural High School: 70% of the electors signed the petition for a vote. The county commissioners call a board election. No bonds are voted at this time. This is not a consolidated school. Transportation is not provided for anyone. Graduates of all districts may enter this High School free. It provides a practical course of study; namely sewing, cooking, carpentering, farming, stock raising, business calculating, citizenship, history, English.
The limit of tax is six mills. Safe estimate of next’s year’s cost is 2 ½ mills. The territory is the largest in the county. No building can be erected without the approval of electors.
The election for the new district for a Rural High School drew a blizzard day with freezing weather and snow, but 380 votes were polled, 340 of them for and 40 against. This is a very large district in area, embracing 158 sections of land.
The new automobile law makes the color of motor license tags black and orange and will only be good until January 1, 1922, when you will have to buy again for 1922. Heretofore, the fee has been $5.00 a year. Beginning with June of 1922, the fee will be based on the weight of the car, starting at $8 for a Ford and other small cars and running up to about $30.00 for the heaviest passenger cars. The trucks will have a tag slightly different in design from the passenger car. The truck license fee will be $15, for a 1-ton truck, up to $125, for a truck with a carrying capacity of more than five tons.
In May of 1921 the Hamilton Telephone Exchange had received an order from the Public Utilities Commission discontinuing the flat rate to Madison and Eureka and making a charge of 10 cents for a 5- minute talk, and making a rural switching charge of 50 cents a month. Other rates to remain the same as now.
In September of 1921 a trip through the Virgil oil field in the northeast part of Greenwood County by a Eureka Herald reporter was also printed in the Grit. The reporter was surprised to see the activity in the Virgil area. With ninety wells on the pump and others being drilled in almost every day the Virgil pools showed little evidence of a depressed oil market.
The wells in the Virgil field run from 20 barrels to 150 barrels daily production. The oil is high grade and is found in the sand at around 1550 feet and in the limestone at about 1700 feet. The Virgil field is one that has not been appreciated as it should by persons familiar with the Teter and Sallyards pools in other parts of the county. It has been developed without the usual publicity that attends the opening up of new oil territory, but it is now recognized as one of the best pools in Kansas.
A letter appeared in September of 1921 from Hamilton football coach Kennedy on behalf of the school, football team and Superintendent thanks the business men of the town for their generous aid in securing football jerseys for the team. The coach thought proper equipment and the right kind of training were the two leading factors in making football a safe and harmless game.
The greatest percentage of injuries in the game in his thought were due to careless habits, inadequate equipment and not enough of the right kind of training. All of the boys are fitted out splendidly now, except in a few cases, for pants. Only one of the players got a scratch Friday from the last game and he could put his foot thru the knees of his pants.
Coach thought football is a great character-building game. A boy must be full of real red blood and have the stuff in him to play football and if he needs to build up a backbone that will carry him thru the hard knocks later on in life, football is the quickest and surest way.”
