The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-01-08

has seen the city increase at least 1000
in population. All this is the history
of live town, and Abilene is pre-emi-
nently live town.
Abilene-strOng, healthy and full of
promises proud of the magnificent
county of which she is the capital. She
sends greeting to her sister towns and
the people of the county. She is ready
and anxious to welcome into her borders
desirable people from the East, West,
North and South. To all such she
offers enviable business chances and
desirable place of residence. Next
spring the city viii be incorporated as
a city of the second class, having four
wards; second fine school building
will be built on the south side: the adj
mirable system of Holly water works
improved and extended to the
amount of $4,000 last year-will be
further enlarged; gas will be manufac
tured: wholesale houses will be put up
and Abilene will become the trade CEN
ter Of Central and Western Kansas.
ABILENE'S IMPROVEMENTS.
During 1884, Berry Bros. added a
large double brick building and a
large warehouse to their business at
a cost of about $4,000. II. Levi
put up handsome three-story brick
business structure at a cost of about
$4,000. Meek, Hughes & Co., and
Hodge & Reed have about cOmplet-
ed brick business block of three
buildings at a cost of about $4,000.
7. c. Henry 81 Co. have had the
foundation laid for fine, tire-pressed
brick bank, and d. G. Smith has had
ground broken for substantial bus
mess brick on the south side. Be-
sides these buii dings Paul & Jacobs
have put up 81 buildings at cost of
S57,OO0,a land their shop work amount
ed to about $1,000. Hoffman d
Speers put up buildings at a cost
of $4,000. d. p. Hoffman put up
, buildings at cost of $3.50. Kru-
ger d Thompson put up II build
ings at a cost of $4,000. ii Nc
Curdy 81 Sons put up 40 buildings
at a cost of $4,000, and &. Halleck
put up II buildings at a cost of $685.
coo. The new buildings number
Ill, costing about 100000. There
were a few contractors we were una
bic to see, but it is safe to put the
of buildings put up by them
and other parties at 80, with prob
able cost of $4,000. This would
put the number of new buildings up
to al, with an aggregate cost Of
nearly quarter million of dollars.
TIE WATER WORKS.
the admirable Holly system, date
their existence from 1882 with one
nile of main pipe. There are now
more than miles Of main pipe. The
have improved their works
very year. Last year they added
o their water supply by digging a
we'll 40 feet in diameter near the |
.reek, and they now have an mex
supply of water. The city |
5 as well protected from fire and as
veil supplied as any city of five times
is size. Mr.. j. Z. Bonebrake is the |
genius and inspiration of this enter /
rise.
PUBLIC SCHOOL BUILDING.
The front half of Abilene'S Public !
school Building, which now occu-
lies so prominent position and is
o imposing in appearance, was
,uilt in 1878. The second or back
lalf was added in 1882. AS it now
tandS, surrounded by extensive and
veil kept grounds, it cost not less
han $4,000 or $4,000. 1t is prob
bly, the best arranged school build
NC in the state, having wide halls,
Droad staircases and perfect ventila-
ion and conveniences. The three
lOOrS contain twelve large rooms,
.leven Of them being used for school
purposes and one being occupied by
he janitor. The primary school
is located on the south side.
There were last March in this school
district Il67 children of school age.
t is impossible, with present facili-
les, to adequately accommodate the
verage attendance of children, and
he building of a second large and
handsome school building this year
$ almost a certainty. Certainly it
5 necessity. The directors. Z.
5onebrake, Treas, John Johntz,
Ilerk, and \. S. Davidson-are wide
wake and liberal men from an edu-
ational point of view at least. SO
re the taxpayers of the district.
Prof. a. '. Jewett is probably the
'est organizer and disciplinarian in
he state, and he is ably seconded by
Kisses Jessi Austin, Mary E. Wilder, /
Della Thornton, Minnie Hutchins,
Anna Gleissner, Anna Murphy, Stel-
a Rugh, Whilsey, Bonnell, Winnie
IcNaul and Ella Reams. The pay
oil amounts to $500. per month, and
chool district tax rate last year was
lao. Abilene's public schools are
er pride.
FREIGHT AND PASSENGER BUSINESS.
There were shipped from this city
lSt year l16S cars of wheat; 1920
f corn ; of oats; Is of rye SO of
eed; lS+ of flour; 9 of broom corn
80 of hogs; 236 of cattle; 80 of
heep, and 80 of miscellaneous, max
ne total OF 3O41 full cars for the
ear. The local freight amounted to
bout so cars additional. The total