From the Lawrence Daily Journal-World for May 15, 1912:

• “W. G. McFarland, who lives in the Kaw Valley just east of Lawrence, has purchased an E. M. F. touring car through the Lawrence Street Motor Car Co. This is one of the famous Studebaker cars which are being advertised from time to time in the Journal-World. The farmers will soon use more automobiles than their city cousins because they will find them useful and economical. The automobile means a saving of time, rest for the horses and greater convenience. Another improvement that will follow the use of automobiles by the farmers will be better roads, and better roads will mean bigger profits for the men who own and operate farms.”
• “The Douglas County Institute of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union met today in the Y.M.C.A. parlor. The attendance was large and very much interested. The audience gave close attention to each talk and took an active part in the discussions. A picnic dinner was served in the Y.M.C.A. auditorium by the Lawrence members. It was delightfully informal and was much enjoyed.”
• “The first Children’s May Fete ever held in Lawrence was put on at Pinckney school this afternoon by the pupils of that school. The Pinckney Festival is but a preliminary to the big city festival that is to be held a week from Saturday at South Park.”
• “Douglas county real estate is worth over 23 million dollars, to be exact $23,013,363, according to the figures of the county assessor which were submitted to the Kansas State Tax Commission today. C. E. Engle concluded the year’s figures this afternoon and immediately forwarded his results to the Topeka office.”
• “A cigarette thrown into a pile of straw by a tramp is believed to have started a fire which swept a portion of the Kansas City stock yards this morning. The cause of the damage is estimated at $50,000. Fanned by a high north wind the flames threatened the entire yard. Two hundred cattle, 100 tons of hay and five acres of pens and government tuberculosis testing station were destroyed.”