The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1879-04-03
HoIton, the Seat of Government
Her Business Men, Newsps-
ps-s, Buildings. Schools,
Churches, etc.
Some Facts and Figures Relating 10
Popul ten, Growth, I'm
provement and In
migration.
Tbs County Historically and Stats
tcsIly-The Pot,swstomie
Rsserye-The Red
Men.
Her lndebte6nsss-Financiai Gen.
dition-A Satisfactory. Show.
ing in Regard TO Mon
e. Matters.
Assessment of Per;onsi and Real
Properiy-Water---srszing
Facilities - Manufsc-
lures and Fam
Products.

lures and Fam
Products.
Correspondence OF THE TIMES
JACKsOS's SEAT OF GOVERNMENT.
HoLroS, March 27.-The county seat of
Jackson county, Holton, is the largest
town upon the line of the Kansas Central
railroad, and is ifty-sIx miles from Leay-
enworih. 4 prettier location for city
could not have been selected, and with the
Difference due beautiful site beautiful
city has been erected thereon. The major
ity Of the business houses of the place are
bailt upon the square surrounding the
county courthouse, a substantial brick
structure, with stone facings, erected at a
cost Of S2l, goo. The square has been set
ont in shade trees, and when the laying OF
the stone walks is completed and
THE COURT HOUSE GROUNDS
cleaned NJ, it viii be IS pleasant and pic
turesque place as can be found in the
West. The thoroughfsres OF the town are
broad, the sidewalks sre in good condition,
while upon the residence streets trees have
been plsntifully set out, which add greatly
to the beauty of the town. Its conceded
fact that Holton is one of the pre;tiezt little
cities in Kansas, and ours ia Stste which
can lay claim to about az many beautiful
towns as any OF the commonwealth of the
Union, old or young, while in this regard
she leads all the new States and surpasses
many of the cid ones.
Hoiton was named after a
New Englander, who in return for this del
icate compliment, offered the gift of $500
he'll TO the religious denomination which
should be the first to erect place OF wor-
ship in the city. The Presbyterians were
the successful ones, and the bell rings ont
from their church steeple to this day. Ho!-
tons settlement or foundation dates back
to the Spring OF 1856, when the first house
(which is still standipg), was built by W
+. Cretz since which time she his steadily
progressed, until, at the present day, she
is a live city Of 200 inh abitan:s, with
eighty or ninety business houses,
SCORES OF FINE RESIDENCES,
ard good trade which il daily on the in
crease. Hoitoa has seven dry goods stores.
four grocery stores, four drug stores, three
hard ware stores, three banks, two good
hotels, six churches fine public school
building. court h0use, several manuf4c,ur-
in, institutions and all the other concomi-
tants which go towsrd making up a busy.
thrifty. live, busting city. During the
years OF Holton's life there have been but
three business failures, if, indeed, failures
they could ne legitimately called, az in each
case the liabilities were paid up in full
and the creditors lost nothing Sucn n
showing as this is matter of surprise, as
ell as fact, inasmuch az it il very natur-
ally expected that in a new country bust
ness will, ard il is usually the case, be
done upon the high pressure and not al
ways safe principle, where failures are "a
numerous "a the days OF the year, snd where
business men make more money by going
into bankruptcy than by continuing legiti.
mstely. HOlton's business men are solid
ard substantial, as their record shows. and
it Is such men who build up to6n and
county and State.
CITY OUT OF DEBT.
Holton Is out Of debt; doesn't owe a cent :;
every thing ia paid for, and what the city
buys it pays for. There are a few CITY or
ders outstanding, amounting 10 about $3.50,
viii h will be taken up so soon "a the June
collections are made. There are scores ii
cities IN the State OF the size of Holtou
who are in debt TO the extent Of half of
their assessed valuation, which have placed
milestone around their necks through
criminal extravaganza and gross negli-
gence Of their own best interests. Holton
is msnsgei economically, and the CITY
Council, while taking care that the inter
ests of the town do not suffer, are still lib.
eral enough to provide everything neces-
sary to the advantageous administration of
public affairs.
THE BUILDING MANIA.
Holton has the building mania, which il
amounting IN fact TO raging epidemic,
and upon every side new houses are Using
as il by magic. While there are compare
lively few business blocks going up there Is
4 fur0re for residences, and they are going
up on every hand. Al the present time
there are forty residences in process OF
erection, all of them neat and comfortable,
many If them tasteful and elegant, while
a: least twenty Others are in contemplation,
the erection Of which will BE- begun very
shortly. There are also several business
blocks in contemplation, the erection of
which will be begun as soon "a the weather |
becomes settled. 1t il a good indication !
when the residence building epidemic be |
gins to rage, and it Is raging most furiousiy |
10 Holion.
IRE INCREASE N THE cITY's PoFULA-
TON
ior the present year, is msde all the more |
apparent from the fact that there is not
vacant dSelling house in the city, and |
here is not a single one of the residences /
now going W that Is not already chartered
Scores Of families who have come in of late |
are forced to content themselves with any
they can find, and there
was never time in the history OF the city
when there was such scarcity of houses
q live In. Every Indication points TO the
act that the increase in Holton's popula.
ion for the year 1879 will hardly be less
han FIVE hundred, If they keep pouring in
It the rate they have been during the last
hree months.
GREAT DEAL OF GPAIN
has been shipped from Holton during the
,a-t six months, the estimate, bssed upon
igurss taken from the books of grain deal
rs here being that not less than 9OOOO
'ushels Of grsin of all kinds, wheat, oats
oru and rye, have found their way esst
rom here during that time. Hundreds
4 carloads of cattle sl-o find their way to
astern markets from here every year.
One Of the principal industries Of the
ity is the Touring mill, containing three
uns of burrs there are also several fine
nils in the county which are kept busy
be year round.
HoLToN's SCHOOLS. /,
Holton has provided literally for her !
chools, a sufficient tax being levied to run
hem in fine order, the instructors employ
! being paid good salaries and only =
lose who are thoroughly competent bel,
lg employed. The city school building il c
substantial brick structure, but large as 4
Is, is insufficient to accommodate the y
hool population, and another building :
to be erected. The number of pupils
attendance upon the schools is abou; !,
Zee hundred.
A reading room, we'll supplied with I
'pers, periodicals. and the current litera- 4,
re OF the day, hiss been established, which a
a favorite resort, n ore especially for the n
nth, more particularly for whom it was i.
tended.
The fair grounds. situated q short dis n