From the Lawrence Daily Journal-World for April 1, 1913:

• “The east is rapidly turning toward municipal ownership of its water plants, according to City Engineer E. H. Dunmire, who returned Saturday evening from a two weeks’ tour of inspection through five states in the east. Mr. Dunmire visited a total of 18 water plants and of those all but three were owned by the city. Of course, Mr. Dunmire selected some of the best known plants for inspection and saw some splendid water systems and as a result noted very little trouble or dissatisfaction in the conditions with regard to water…. ‘There is one thing that I am convinced of,’ said Mr. Dunmire this morning, ‘that is that Lawrence should develop its ground water supply and avoid the use of river water if it is at all possible. I found that it is a great expense to operate purification plants because of the expert chemists required and of the high salaries that must be paid them. Even then and with the best of supervision, contamination is liable to occur. I am convinced that we should keep away from the river.'”
• “The city library will receive tonight a rare gift from the surviving members of the first Chamber of Commerce which governed the city of Lawrence. The gift is the group picture of the entire body of men which composed the Chamber of Commerce and was taken in the year 1880. These twelve men were incorporated to govern the city of Lawrence the 10th day of December, 1878, and it was due to them that the great indebtedness of the county at that time was reduced. They were also the leading factors in the launching of the Bismark fair which proved to be the largest fair the state ever had. They also secured the many industries we now have on the river. In fact they practically built Lawrence, commercially. The picture is in the possession of George Leis, one of the three surviving members of the Chamber, and will be presented to the library board at its meeting tonight. It is about 4 feet wide and 3 feet long, and is surrounded by a heavy oak frame.”
• “The Junior Civic League will give out more seeds for the use of the public school children of the city tomorrow morning at the Merchants Association rooms. Nasturtium and tomato seeds are to be distributed at this time.”