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Newspaper
Topeka State Journal
Location
Topeka, Kansas, United States of America
Date
May 31, 1897
Page
5
A mixed Topeka page summarizes civic brisk activity and personal news. Mentions include street repairs, furniture and business movements, a new daughter born to Mr and Mrs E J Whitaker, planning for education trips to Nashville, and updates on local officials and teachers seeking transportation funding for National Education Association events.
The article mentions police and civic items including Chief Steele returning from Leavenworth with John Isham charged with bicycle theft in Topeka. It notes the Gilbert divorce case dismissed, a 4 year old orphan DewWalfe adopted, and festival chorus rehearsals at the First Presbyterian church. Also covers Memorial services, a power theft crackdown, a wagon accident on Third street, and local portraits by artist George M. Stone of Mrs. Chansing J. Brown.
President Ripley leads a Santa Fe special train from Havener to Kansas City and back, covering 490 miles in under 12 hours. The run includes 47 miles Florence to Emporia in 49 minutes and 13 miles Cedar Grove to Elmdale in under 10 minutes, with engine No. 630 aiding beyond Newton. The trip speeds through Emporia Junction and return to Chicago, showcasing rapid, era-defining rail travel.
J J Frey, funeral manager of the Santa Fe company, reports from Kansas City on May 31 that Kansas crops are thriving. He notes excellent corn and wheat prospects, strong farm morale, and rapid railroad improvements aiding shipment of machinery and track upgrades across Oklahoma and Kansas.
The Frisco system announces the terminus from Burrton will shift after July 1. Mr. B. Robin, president, accompanied by director B. P. Cheney of Boston, and transportation superintendent A. J. Davidson, with F. M. Bisbee, bridges and buildings chief, and George T. Nicholson, general passenger agent, were involved in the announcement.
In Wichita D S Robinson president of the Frisco railroad and officials spent hours in the city. He indicated Wichita likely to become the western terminus of the Frisco, with services from Burrton transferred to the Santa Fe. If approved, rail traffic west of Wichita would move to Santa Fe. In Albuquerque, washouts force Santa Fe to reroute El Paso trains via Deming Rincon and Silver City until repairs are completed.
A Vatican verse presented as a Latin poem of 30 stanzas and a long Precept on frugality. It extols abstinence from excess, praising simple foods and moderate wine while warning against Bacchus and excess. A second section describes a banquet of oysters and spiced fare, ending with disputes and tension.
Joe Jefferson arrives at a summer home finds locals riding bicycles and salt ponds. He sends for a wheel from New York and makes several attempts to ride. After hard effort and a wobbly start he gives up and passes the machine to his eldest son Charles.
In Montpelier Vermont on a Saturday evening Miss Mildred Brewster shot and fatally wounded Miss Annie Wheeler in a lonely outskirts spot. Brewster, daughter of a Huntington farmer, reportedly acted out of jealousy. The assailant then fired at herself, ending multiple possible injuries.
Wichita editor David Leahy, a longtime Eagle staff writer and editor, will assume charge of the Kansan City Times state bureau in Topeka. The move follows his six years as a central Eagle correspondent and editorial writer, with best wishes from his current colleagues. Hanna Denies rail pooling report amid allegations of aiding Republicans, saying the claim is false. Frank Wilson responds in court over Anna Howard dispute, asserting Howard was suspended for threats and misuse of funds rather than expelled.
In Leavenworth the Populists challenge the police commission, backed by country county central committee members, as they plan to petition Topeka for the removal of commissioners Bare fried and McGhiffe. Governor Leedy faces pressure tied to Atwood’s influence and party dynamics, with country allies seeking broader reform while city leaders stay seen as up to date.
The American Mutual Live Stock Association seeks charter to operate in Kansas on an assessment plan to insure livestock against loss from disease or disaster. Directors include Andrew Lisana gor and J F Harpster. George W Brown & Son form State Bank of Augusta with capital stock. the Brown family holds all bank stock. Security State Bank of Wellington chartered with 45000 capital. Salina Masons incorporate Isis temple of the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine for North America, valued at 4000 with directors James A Kimball H Winterbotham Oscar Seitz Jacob De Witt J G Mobler.
The end of the investigation into charges against the Kansas City stock yards company is not yet clear. W J Sings the Topeka accountant remains a key witness as the state aims to prove that legal charge schedules mask profits and that watered stock exists. The case features expected rigid cross examination and potential developments from Stagg’s testimony as adjournment nears. Big Mascato Minnesota failure news follows a separate report of the Fruv kard Milling company and Hubbard Offin facing liabilities and asset losses amid a stock decline.
The northeastern Kansas Dunkard churches held their annual Sunday school convention at Oakland church. Delegates and visitors from across the state attended as meetings ran through Sunday evening. The program included devotional exercises, talks on teacher qualifications, sermons, and discipline, with speakers such as Prof. T. Sharp and A. Mosier guiding sessions.
Elroy E. Swan dollar, 19, son of a local clerk, faced arraignment for clothing theft. On the stand he could not speak until a physician gave him morphine by hypodermic injection, after which he testified. He was bound over to the district court. friends hope prison may help break his morphine habit.
The national executive board of the United Mine Workers orders a general strike across Pennsylvania Ohio and West Virginia to secure a 6 percent rate for minim. More than 30 000 miners will be affected as a struggle between miners and operators looms amid reports 13 large coal companies in the Pittsboro district control lake front dockage.
The Saturday Night club schedules its annual banquet at the Throop hotel on June 4. The event features a novel programme with retiring president Jno A Dailey delivering an address and various entertainments including Jetsam and Flotsam, Folk Lore, and a Contemporary Review.
May 7 report from Elizabeth New Jersey describes an unusual funeral cortege where mourners rode bicycles after the hearse. Jane Rhea’s funeral featured two carriages and fifteen bicycles with more men than women riding. The procession began at the church, bikes left in the yard during the service, then proceeded to Evergreen Cemetery as hundreds watched along the route.
A Rathbone Sisters of Topeka temple No 2 hosted a reception Friday evening at X of P.hell honoring Mex. Wm. Stewart newly married in Arkansan City where he has been promoted by Wells Farge company as agent. Attendees included numerous couples and Miss Lilie Batterzhill led the punch bowl. the Text Book Board adjourned for two weeks after completing book selections save for one reader group.
May 31 in San Francisco reports an interesting meeting of the Brotherhood of the Cooperative Commonwealth at 418 McAllister Street waterday. The group aims to legally pursue social reform inspired by Debs and other writers, outlining possible colonies in middle Tennessee and nationwide funding from members. A concert and travel news item about Philadelphia medical associations is included, along with an arrest report of a Kansas City crook Holt Nevin and a Band concert at Garfield Park.
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