From the Lawrence Daily Journal-World for Sept. 11, 1914:

• “The present war excitement is not without its effect on every industry of the country. It affects us locally in holding up the construction of the interurban line from Bonner Springs to Lawrence. The route from Bonner Springs to Lawrence has practically been settled and everything has been prepared to start the construction, but before the actual work can begin it is necessary to sell bonds, and in the present condition of financial affairs it is a hard matter to dispose of the bonds. Mr. Heim, the promoter of the line, has had business connections in the eastern countries, but now it is impossible to get money from those sources. One man says, ‘When enough homes have been devastated to bring the people to common sense they will lay aside their guns and business will again be resumed.’ As soon as the guns are laid aside business will again be resumed and the construction of the line can be begun.”
• “The rain has held up the pumping west of town, but the pump is being used to a good purpose. Mr. Pendleton has secured it and is using it to take the water from his pumpkin patch east of the canning factory. The patch is surrounded by high ground and there is no way to drain the water off and consequently it must be pumped off.”
• “A Yacht Club has been formed at Grinter Heights in Kansas City and they will use the Kaw river for their navigation. The channel of the river will be marked from Kansas City to Lawrence so that it can be used without danger to the boats…. They now have about 40 boats, two of which are 40 horse power racing boats. Everything will be in readiness for the pleasure trips on the river next spring as soon as the weather is favorable.”
• “Yesterday was Lawrence day at the County Fair and it proved to be the best day that the Fair Association has had this week. The early weather of yesterday was not at all promising but before noon the clouds cleared away and at 12 o’clock all of the business houses of Lawrence were closed and several thousand people went to the park…. All of the concessions did a good business, the Carnival Company had a good day, the North Lawrence Christian and North Lawrence Methodist Churches sold everything they had at their places of business. The First Regiment Band furnished the music for the day and things were lively everywhere. It was a great disappointment yesterday that the track was not in shape for the races and the secretary said that if the track dries up the fast races will be pulled off this afternoon…. The fancy work and pastry displays were judged by Frances L. Brown of Manhattan and she said that they were the best she had judged this year and she has been sent out to several places by the State Agricultural college. The cattle, horses, pony, hog, and poultry displays were fine.”
• “From now until mid-October there will be thousands of bushels of sweet potatoes harvested in Kansas. ‘One of the most important factors in profitable sweet potato growing lies in careful and timely digging,’ said H. W. Doyle, of the State Board of Agriculture, in discussing the subject today. ‘Sweet potatoes are fit to be eaten as soon as they are large enough to cook, but should not be dug for shipping or storing until ripe. When the tubers are ripe the leaves assume a yellowish hue. An old-fashioned, Southern way of telling when they are ripe is to cut or split open a few potatoes and if the cuts dry white, dig; and if they dry dark let them go for a few days.”