From the Lawrence Daily Journal-World for Feb. 4, 1914:

• “Another ancient landmark has been wiped off the townsite. The old hovel back of the city hall that served the purposes of a city jail for many seasons has passed away. In the same site today stands a modern structure of brick and concrete to do the offices of a place of detention for evil doers…. Quietly, yes almost mysteriously, this new structure has sprung up out of the old. City Engineer Dunmire, Street Commissioner Fitzpatrick and Councilman Rocklund, chairman of the committee on city property, combined their energies in this piece of civic improvement, and now after a few weeks of labor have given to Lawrence a better standing among the cities of Kansas with respect to jail accommodations…. The Kansas State Board of Health furnished the inspiration for this bit of long neglected work. Several weeks ago an investigation of the conditions was made by Dr. S. T Gillispie, county health officer. Dr. Gillispie then reported to the State Board of Health and via return mail came orders to the City of Lawrence from the Topeka office of the Board to ‘clean up’ at once. That order from Topeka evidently jarred the pride of the city authorities responsible for it and immediately they started operations. Without saying anything about their plans they began by cleaning out the interior of the building. Dark corners in the cell house were probed, and with shovels and wheelbarrows the accumulations of years were ousted. The walls were attacked and the brick and mortar used to good advantage. Gradually, from the inside out, there grew the new building that is now practically completed and ready for service…. The new jail of today affords all the conveniences of home for the city’s guests, including electric lights, steam heat and shower baths…. And this is a also a real jail, a place where persons are confined…. There is a steel sheeting about the walls of the cells, the ceilings are of the same material and the floors are of concrete. Not much hope of escape there. It formerly was the custom of disgruntled guests to shove out a section of the wall of a cell and leave whenever conditions became unbearable.”
• “Membership petitions for the Student Union at the University were circulated on the campus this morning. Students are eager to sign these petitions and the committee of the Men’s Student Council is confident that before another week passes the University of Kansas will have a Student Union at 1200 Tennessee street…. The house will be furnished modestly but adequate. There will be a library, writing room, lounging room, a room for meetings of classes, a place for members to mingle, and a place to start rallies. it is hoped that this Union will revive the school spirit at the University which has been dead this year.”