Western Kansas world., 1893-09-30
From Oklahoma.
ALvA, o. T., September %, 1898.

18th of September. On the evening OF
September 16, Alva was city of white
tents and not frame building ON the
townsite except the IS. land Office and
postoAice Sunday was generally re-
spected and no work was done. On
Monday but little was accomplished as
there was a hitch in getting lumber
upon the ground, but by Tuesday morn
ing two large lumber yards were ready
to accommodate all, and the work OF
building new city began. To-day
just one week from the grand opening
nearly every lot on the principal street
is covered with a frame building and
some of them are large and substantial.
The only limit to the work accomplish
ed has been caused by the inability to
secure all the labor required, although
there is a small army of carpenters on
the ground.
Business of all kinds is we'll represent
ed. There are at present half dozen
grocery stores. several of general mer-
chandise, clothing house, drug store,
three hardware stores, dozen or more
eating houses and restaurants, lemon
ade and peanut stands and land offices
galore. AS we write the lemonade ven-
ders are making more noise than they
usually do at country fair or circus.
Almost adjoining our tent is strong
lunged young man who deals in ''fresh
roasted popcorn and baled hay" Blair
says "inform our wives that we are in
no immediate danger of starvation so
long as our neighbor continues in busi-
ness"
Frank Mcknight, a former we'll known
real estate dealer in Wa-Keeney, is here.
Frank was unfortunate in securing lot
block or more from the land office, but
being fertile in devising expedients he
gives open air concerts every evening
which are largely attended. He has en-
ployed colored vocalist and violinist,
and after each performance mounts a
dry goods box and informs the crowd
that he has had much experience in the
land Office business, in fact that he is
the only attorney who can do anything
and everything necessary to perfect a
title to homestead. His remarks are
always vociferously applauded and then
follows another song and some more in
strumental music.
The filings here reach over 100 day.
Those waiting to file number 1900.
Tickets are given out from the land of
flee which entitle the holder to his turn
and he need not remain in the ranks.
The question of most vital Importance
the water supply-has been settled
most satisfactorily A well about 80
feet deep was sank and an inexhausti-
BILE supply of pure, fresh water was OBJ
tanned. The pump throws an inch
stream and has been kept running day
and night. 1t has until now been the
only well in town and several thousand
men and horses have been supplied
daily. 1t is much in the nature of an arte-
sian we'll the water rising almost to the
top of the ground and cannot be lowered.
The irrigation problem can easily be
solved in this community. If Trego
county had such a supply of water at
such a reasonable depth it would be
worth millions. Alva is the only land
office and county seat town in the strip
where pure water in abundance can be
obtained and it is very much in it's
favor. Several business men who had
contemplated locating at Enid and Pond
Greek were in this place this week and
signitied their intention of locating here
principally on account of the water sup
ply.
The following concerning Alva is from
the Chronicle, the first paper published
!. in the city:
Nature has surrounded the townsite
of Alva with every natural advantage
that goes to make city great and pros
porous. The townsite may truly be
called beautiful. Groves of splendid
trees are about us on every hand. We
have secured an inexhaustible supply of
pure sparkling water at the very reason
able depth of 80 feet. The drainage of
the city can be made perfect at trifing
expense. In fact our embryo city is To-
Gated in one of natures beauty spots.
"M' county, Oklahoma. is situated
midway between the eastern and west
ern boundaries of the territory. 1t has
a mean altitude of l 800 feet, considera-
bly, less than that of Trego county.
Those who can speak from personal
knowledge assert that the climate is de-
lightful, being neither excessively cold
in winter nor excessively hot in sum-
mer and that the atmosphere is always
pure and invigorating. There is but one
doctor in this city and he makes his
daily rounds inquiring from house to
house and from tent to tent if anybody
needs his services. He has just left our
office and stated that there was abso-
lutely no sickness in the city or county.
The soil is rich, sandy loan and we
have every reason for believing that it
will prove very productive. Barber
county Kansas immediatelv north 10