From the Lawrence Daily Journal-World for May 21, 1916:

• “W. D. Ross, state superintendent of public instruction and head of the moving picture censorship board, in a letter to Edmund P. Learned, president of the high school boys’ club, commends highly the stand taken by the high school boys against the use of tobacco. Mr. Ross makes it plain that he would willingly grant the request of the Lawrence high school boys and prohibit the use of tobacco by actors who appear in pictures shown in Kansas had he the legal power to do so…. In his reply Superintendent Ross says: ‘I am extremely pleased to have your communication regarding the use of tobacco and to know of the stand that you are taking, and I want to assure you that I shall do all in my power to eliminate smoking scenes from the motion pictures, yet I think it is fair to tell you that under the present law it is impossible for me to act arbitrarily in the matter and be sustained. But, such letters as yours will help to crystalize a sentiment that will be great assistance, if not in wholly eliminating it, to reduce it to the minimum.'”
• “The work on the deep drainage ditch of the Maple Grove project is hampered by ground water in the bottom of the ditch which makes it almost impossible for the work to proceed. Working in quicksand and with the water running in faster than it can be taken out, the laborers on the job are unable to make headway. A. R. Young, the contractor, has asked the drainage board to permit a postponement of the work until the ground water recedes. The rain last week raised the stage of the ground water eighteen inches. A meeting of the drainage board has been called for tonight to consider what is the best thing to be done.”
• “The stock judging practice held on Vermont street Saturday afternoon resulted in thirty-four boys enrolling in the stock judging contest which will be held during the county fair in September. ‘The boys realize that they will be the stock buyers and sellers in only a few years and seem anxious to learn all they can now about this feature of agricultural work,’ C. W. Murphy, secretary of the fair association, said today.”
• “The largest class in the history of the Lawrence High school will graduate June 2. The number of graduates will reach 116. It is possible that several more will be added to the list. The nearest approach in size to the present class was in 1914 when 100 pupils finished the course. The graduating exercises will be held Friday, June 2, in the Bowersock theater.”
• “Material for the Eggart bridge on the Wakarusa five miles southeast of Lawrence was unloaded at Noria yesterday. The work of replacing the bridge will start immediately. The bridge was taken out by high waters nearly a year ago.”
• “A carload of black bass from the state fish hatchery at Pratt was left at Lake View last evening. The fish were large fellows. An earlier car was used to stock the lake about four weeks ago. Patrons of the Lake View club are looking forward to one of the best fishing seasons they have ever known. The fishing there is excellent at the present time.”