James Hunter. who has been working roads in Thomas County for some time, wrote to Stockton relatives that during work one day last week, the grading machine uncovered 32 quarts of hootch. It is the supposition that the liquor was transported by a rumrunner and fearing the law would nab him, buried the stuff. Plus, graders on a road near Densmore a few days ago unearthed a human skeleton. It is supposed to have been a member of the Buck party, sent out by the government in a very early day to make preliminary surveys. The party completely disappeared and years afterward the surveying instruments belonging to the party were accidently dug up not far from where the bones of the man were found.

The agricultural progress train of the Missouri Pacific proved of considerable benefit and amusement to the people of the county last Thursday. Hundreds of the citizens attended. The visitors were much interested in the exhibit and took time to study them. These exhibits were loaned to the Missouri Pacific through the U. S. Department of Agriculture. These exhibits, which are carried in four cars, are said to be the best arranged and most instructive agricultural and educational of its kind installed in railroad cars.

The baccalaureate services of the Stockton High School will be held at the M. E. Church on May 25 at 8:00 p.m. Reverend Marlatt will give the address and Professor Osborn has charge of the musical program. The commencement will also be held at the M. E. Church on May 28 at 8:00 p.m. Reverend McDonald will give the address and Miss Nordstrom will have charge of the music. Both of these services will be good and everyone is urged to attend. The following graduates for this year are: Ruth Leighty, Franc Reed, Janet Felible, Ruth Marshall, Mary Lawson, Merle Sutton, Jessie Spealman, Ira Stewart, Faye Fitzpatrick, Florence Tarbell, Doris Gartrell, Verna Hamit, Fauna Harwood, Winnie VanDoren, Dorothy Johnson, Dale Roskilly, Mildred Dunahugh, Dorothy Hill, Jessie Hammond, Elsie Sell, Grace Kelly, Evelyn Swim, Hattie Balderston, Ethel Colburn, Verna Newbrey, Elmo Koken, Hugh Bigge, Judson Flint and Clara McNulty.

The residence known as the Aunt Milly Taylor property, in the southwest part of town, was the scene of a disastrous fire. The fire occurred when a small gasoline stove exploded. When the fire alarm was sounded, the fire had already made rapid headway and aided by the high wind, the house was completely demolished. A family by the name of Swift occupied the house. The Red Cross collected some housekeeping articles and moved the family to a home south of the track. They have the sympathy of the entire community, as the fire resulted in a total loss for them.

H. G. Eades of this city has a bunch of chickens, which he keeps as a little sideline to break the grind of the inside work at the store. He says the chickens are not only profitable but that he gets a lot of enjoyment and recreation in caring for them. He has kept a record of the income from his chickens since the first of the year and figures that from his forty hens he has sold $70.00 worth of eggs for hatching besides sold some for the market and had what eggs they wanted to use for themselves. He not only sold eggs to the amount of over $2.00 per hen, but he also has some 70 fine young baby chicks, some of which are all feathered out, and also has five hens setting. Bert handles nothing but barred rock fowls and is only satisfied in raising the very best in this line. He has one pen of chickens, from which he is selling eggs that were hatched from eggs that cost him $1.00 apiece last year. If you have not seen Mr. Eades’ chickens, and are a fancier of chickens, you should make it a point to visit Mr. Eades’ home and take a look at as fine a bunch of chickens as you ever saw. His chickens carried off all the prizes during the past year at all places where he placed his chickens on exhibition.

Continued increases in the volume of freight handled by the Missouri Pacific are recorded in the regular monthly statement issued by President L.W. Baldwin of that railroad. Notwithstanding cold weather, snow and rain, which prevailed the greater part of the month, the total local loading along the lines of the Missouri Pacific during March amounted to 82,619 cars while receipts from connections were 34,400 cars, a total of 117, 028 over the month, an increase of 14 per cent over March 1923. The daily average local loads and receipts from connections numbered 4,501, exceeding any previous March in history of the railroad. According to Mr. Baldwin, these figures bear out optimistic forecasts for a continuation of prosperous conditions. The statement contains an optimistic note throughout, and points out that the Missouri Pacific, especially and railroads generally, are preparing to handle efficiently another record-breaking volume of business this year.

Scotty Muir is no more! The announcement of his death last week cast a cloudy of gloom that saddens every heart. Possibly no death in this community has caused the pall of sorrow to rest over the entire community as the passing of Andrew G. Muir. “Scotty,” as he was more commonly known by friend and child, lived his life in Rooks County. He grew to manhood here, married here and gave the world a fine family of children. Scotty came to this county in the latter seventies and was one of the first settlers in Lanark Township. In fact, it is said that he named the township after Lanarkshire, Scotland, his birthplace. He gave his life to the great and noble organization— Independent Order of Odd Fellowship. He was one of the charter members of the local lodge and with his talent and heart in fraternalism; he has watched the local order rise to one of the strongest in this part of Kansas. He has spent his money and time as representative to the national conventions of the Odd Fellows order and was recognized as Scotty Muir of Kansas to Odd Fellows all over the nation. The loss of the fellowship of Mr. Muir will be a severe blow to Stockton lodge, of which he was also the last surviving charter member. The entire community joins the local order and some sixty relatives in paying the last tribute to the member of the greatest lodge worker of Kansas.

You paid $68.00 to run the local, state and federal government in 1922. Directly or indirectly it came out of your pocket. The people earned $65,000,000,000.00, but the government took away $7,000,000,000.00. The cost of the federal government to each man, woman and child was $29.00 last year. As recently as in 1916, it was only $7.00. The war is not over; each one of us pays $10.00 a year interest instead of the pre-war 24 cents, and each person is loaded with $200.00 of the huge federal debt. Among the immense government departments, the veterans’ bureau takes 18 per cent of the expenditures, close behind the navy department with 21 per cent and the war department with 20 percent. State and local government got $39.000 of the $68.00. The average citizen paid 183 percent more to the state in 1922 than in 1912, 141 percent more to the county and 80 percent more to the city. Debts for these divisions, plus the federal government, saddle each worker in the United States with $780.00. Each eleven of these workers over sixteen are supporting one public employee—and it is costing out many wage earners over ten years of age some $91.00 a year to support these 3,5000,000 public employees. How can it be stopped? Ray Emerson, son of Mr.

After two or three attempts to take his life, P.P. Grindstaff, an inmate at the county farm, was adjudged insane before a commission of Drs. E. E. Colby and R. B. Osborn at the courthouse. It is not a settled fact at this time which state institution Grindstaff will be placed. Last week he had slashed his throat with his knife, inflicting three bad gashes. Sunday he made another attempt. He butted his head against a stonewall until his head was badly bruised and finally finding that a hard way to end life, he waded into the river trying to find a place deep enough to drown himself. Frank Richmond succeeded in getting Grindstaff out of the river and he has been closely guarded since that time.

Probate Judge Case reports that marriage licenses have gone begging over the past week. Too much snow, he says, yet one couple came in on the train to have the knot tied. Ezra George Herman of Harlan and Laura R. Harsh of Downs were married in the Judge’s office last Saturday.