Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1895-10-17

r Prairie.
 During the years 1s86, 1887 and 1888 Greensburg, Kiowa county, was one of the bustling, thriving little cities in Kansas, but little beyond the center of the state 1t then had population of 2,7o0 and the hopeful residents and property owners believed that before the year 1895 there would be 5000 souls ill the city. The energy and rest less western grit' of the population caused it to anticipate the future, be- lieving that having paved the way to wealth it might enjoy the luxuries as well as comforts of the day, leaving the settl' s1ent of the costs in the hands of posto-.ty.
 During 1886, 1887 and 1888 the county was bonded for internal improvements. Iron bridges, county courthouse and county jail were erected. These inn provements but excited desire for those things found i'll city. Municipal bonds to the amount of $45, 900 were issued and sold for par, the proceeds being used to put in a waterworks plant and establish an electric light plant. Then school district bonds to the amount of BIO, 900 were issned and two handsome schoolhouses were erected
 Property was constantly changing hands at increased figures with each transfer, and, although many bank bal improvements that promised wealth as we'll as convenience. There had been a good crop of wheat while there was no Touring mill. As an inducement to a company of contemplating men the city gave $3, 600 cash toward the erection of the building, which was to cost $10, 900. Taxes were paid on property assessed at high figures, and there was plenty of money in the city treasury. Such a small sum was not missed.
 Hotels and restaurants were so crowd ed with buyers and speculators that large hotel was added to those already doing business. So firm was the faith of all ill the city that hotel proprietors donated generously to the bonus given by the business men to the new house.
 The original town site was found to be too small, so farms were cut up into town lots and land worth possibly $15 an acre was sold ill its new form for $500 an acre and found ready purchas- CTS. These lots were soon covered with dwellings, all of which were occupied, and but few of them for sale at any price, the owners holding them for ad. vanees. A $700 house would be erected on lot costing $100 to $50 and then the property held at $2,000
 In 1SSS-9 there were crop failures, and houses OH the outskirts began to be empty In 1S90-1 there were not only additional crop failures, but the reac- tion came, speculation was at an end, and the owners of property were willing to sell for cost, provided they could get cash. There was no more building, so carpenters, plasterers, painters and bricklayers moved away Fully one- third of the population was thus lost Some of the smaller business houses were closed, and tho city began to have the deserted look that was so frequently seen in western towns.
 In 1892 the population was reduced half, but those who could not get away, men who were property poor and who could not afford to abandon all l they possessed on earth, staid on, hop ing against hope. But they, too, were soon forced to move, for they could not make enough money to pay taxes, let alone live This year the unredeemed city property, after the usual sale of lands and lots for unpaid taxes, exceed ed ill quantity the property that was still kept clear in hopes of better times. In 1S93-4 hope was practically aban- doned, and the population dwindled down to 600 or TOO Crops were still i'll 1 the future Nothing or almost nothing was raised, and there was nothing to sell Then commenced the final hegira, until now, in the middle of 1895, there are but 123 men, women and children 1 ill the once thriving city, and they are not holders of real estate. Taking out the county officers and their families, who live upon salaries, there are not S0 men. women and children living in | Greensburg.
 When delinquent lots were offered for 1 sale there were no purchasers, the couh- /, ty being forced to bid them in The tax certificates were offered for sale at 10 to 25 cents on the dollar, which were bought up by farmers who could raise little money and who wanted buildings on their places. Houses that cost $l 900 to $2, 900 were thus purchased for as low as S15. They were raised and put on wheels and hauled across the plains to some farm, where they were made to do duty for farmers who had been nv ing ill sod houses or dugouts.
 But the city bonds and the school dis trict bonds will be on little spot of worthless territory that can be and probably will be vacated by simple act of the legislature, and therefore are worthless to the owners except as remi- niscences of a once prosperous city, now l tla s;+a of ,,rairia dooS owls and snakes.