From the Lawrence Daily World for April 30, 1908: “The assessor for the Second Ward has just made public the assessment of the personal property of J.D. Bowersock with Bowersock’s permission. The figure does not include any stock in banks, manufacturing or other corporations. The total personal property returns amount to $204,570. This is believed to be the highest personal property in the state. The amount includes the Bowersock dam and the Bowersock flour mill. … The promoters of the proposed Lawrence Chautauqua for this summer appear to be giving up even though they say they have offered everything possible to get local approval. It seems there are too many loose ends to bring the event about this year. … Several people going door to door here for an alleged art company may be fraudulent and those who deal with them should exercise great caution. They are selling cards for a drawing, we are told, that may never come about.”