Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1885-11-21
WALLACE, KANSAS.
Its Position and Some Of It's Ad.
4r vantages.
Something Concerning Its People
and Its Prospects.

Something Concerning Its People
and Its Prospects.
Editorial Coyrcsfosdence.
In and around Wallace centers very
much of the interesting and even roman
tic.
Its creation as railroad station dates
back to about: 1870. The Smoky Hill
river runs about mile and half south
of Wallace, and on her banks, down the
gently-sloping surface from Wallace can
be seen large numbers of small trees.
Six miles southwark from town is the
range OF hills which form the southern
limit: of the Smoky Hill river valley.
These hills seem to be high enough to en-
title them to the dignity of being called
miniature mountains. They curve de-
cidedly to the north as the eye follows
them westward, adding materially to the
landscape picture as seen from Wallace.
Tales of the beautiful scenery to the
north of Wallace were told us. The
town is not high enough on the crest OF
the hill to enable one to see it, except
through mirage or taking trip. We
took the word of our infornants.
In her early days Wallace was a city.
She probably had nearly everything
either good Or bad, except preachers, wa
ter works, electric lights and street car
lines. The Kansas Pacific was in process
of construction. Sheridan station, in
Wallace county, had let 60 its grip on the
several thousands of inhabitants which
had been making it even more than a
second Junction City, Abilene or Ellis
worth. Sheridan, in those days, was the
home of Hon. Simon Motz, now of Hays
City. He then conducted a saloon, made
his entry into politics, and was elected to
represent Wallace county in the lower
house of the state legislature.
AS we were going to say before, the
civilization of Sheridan in all it's glory
moved westward as the star of lem
pire wendell its way to Wallace.
The fame of Wallace fell as the K. p.
was pushed toward Denver. Wallace
county was disorganized. It is said that
Judgment of over one thousand dollars
hangs over it to-day, and that this will
have to be met before a reorganization
of the county can be perfected.
Since the glory of Wallace as city
departed, the town and the surrounding
country have been occupied principally
by stock men. Many Of them have made
fortunes in the business. The buffalo
grass range affords living for cattle in
this region, not 80 much because of the
intrinsic merit of this grass as the sole
feed for stock as for the reason that the
extent of the range has been practically
unlimited.
AS TOWN,
Wallace is well-known throughout
western Kansas, although as far as its
real importance is concerned, it perhaps
is underestimate. In the infancy of the
town, Fort Wallace, which is about two
miles to the southeast, gave the citizens a
chance for their lives against the raids OF
the redskins. A little later, the K. p.
railway company located roundhouse
at Wallace, and still later division head
quarters for the railway company were
located there. Including the ten or a
dozen houses which are occupied by rail-
road employees, there are about twenty
five residence buildings in Wallace. Sew
eral of these are good buildings. The
residence of Mr.. Clarke, the cattle man, is
mot equaled in the matter of original cost
or splendor by any other residence build
ing between Hays City and the Colorado
line, and Hays City has not more than
one which is as good. The residence OF
the late Joseph Grogan is said to be ele-
gantly-furnished, though its appearance
from the outside is not elegant. The
Wallace House, alias the Railroad House,
J. s. jerks, proprietor, is one story high,
about $50 or 200 feet long and perhaps
thirty feet wide. Small trees, fountain
and other evidences of taste and comfort
are in sight in the yard just to the south
of the building. The headquarters build
ing of the railroad officials and their
clerks and the telegraph Office is neat-ap-
pearing, though not large, two stories
high and built of stone. Thomas Madi-
gan has been in business at Wallace since
1870. His stock of general merchandise
would be credit to any store along this
line of railroad in western Kansas Mr..
Madigan's main store room was moved by
him on cars from Buffalo Park few
years ago, and rebuilt in good shape.
At Buffalo Park, it was the Star House.
Mr.. Madigan is genial man, plainsman
since before the sixties, and a successful
handler of cattle. Peter Robidaux has
run a general store at Wallace for good
many years. He carries an extensive
stock of goods.
Our former townsman, ]. K Grover,
has built large hotel building. It is
well built, and would be credit to a
place larger than Wallace. Besides the
main part, two stories high, there is q
long L, which serves as dining room and
kitchen, and joined to the kitchen is q
room which is used for months store OF
provisions. Mr.. Grover has, as the west
ern phrase runs, 'fstruck it rich" Hehas
more guests than he can accommodate.
He manages, as it is, to feed an average