Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1899-10-27

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columns to devote space to the
details connected with the very
early history of Ellinwood. Our
business is not with the past but
with the present; with living men
and their daily occupations, en-
terprises and successes, what
they are doing for themselves
and their city III commerce and
finance and in contributing to
the progress and advancement OF
the locality.
Ellinwood may be said to be
unique in the way chat for its
size it is without q single excep-
ton the most enterprising and
prosperous little city in the state
OF Kansas. 1t is located on the
main line of the A., T. & Santa
F'e Ry., 245 miles west of Kansas
City. It's population not exceed
ing 800 souls, is made up mostly
of the German element, and it
has been said that there is not a
single mortgage on any piece OF
property within the corporate
limits. The city is situated in
the midst OF the most extensive
farming section in the West, and
the farms all have the appear
ance OF prosperity.
The municipal government con
sists of a Mayor and five Coun-
cilmen. The local government is
based upon strict ideas of econo-
my consistent with safe and Sc
cure progress. Joseph Sprinkler
is mayor; Fred Wolf, clerk; w.
Leo Bockemohle, treasurer; V. S.
Musil, police Judge; and Geo. w.
Logan and VIM. j. Herman,
IN a rshals. Councilmen: II. G..
Arnold, Fred Stephan, Gus KEN
eel, John Dick and VIM. Steckel.
There is a good weekly paper,
the Leader, published by j w A.
Cooke, which is ably edited and
well sustained. The travelling
public is looked after by one first
class hotel, "Wolf," of which ex-
tended comment is made further
on. There is an abundance of
fine water for all purposes, and a
home telephone line with so local
subscribers is now being con
structed by Messrs. Dick and
Bockemohle, and which will be in
operation within three weeks.
Connection can be made through
the local company with Great
Bend, Hoisington, Lyons, Nc
PhersOn and intermediate points.
The Western Union and Postal
Telegraph Companies each have
an office here. The Baptists;
German Lutheran and Roman
Catholics each have places of
worship, the latter organization
now having under construction
a handsome, large stone edifice
that when finished will be a great
attraction to the place. The fra
ternal orders having local organ
izations are: Masonic, Eastern
Star, Knights of Pythias, Ancient
Order of Pyramids and Modern
WoOdmen of America. a vOlun-
teer fire department has lately
been organized, with a chemical
engine. The public school sys-
tenn is as good as can be found
anywhere. There is also d good
opera house with a seating ca
pacity OF about five or six hun
dred.
The surrounding country for a
radius of many miles is practic-
ally tributary to this city in
most OF its lines of retail trade.
1t has never been bothered to
any great extent with temper
ance cranks, which in a measure
accounts for its mercantile pros
perity. The business houses as a
rule are conducted by individu-
ais and firms composed of men OF
enterprise, experience and integ-
rity, and their stocks will com
pare favorably with many places
OF greater magnitude, either in
character OF goods or prices.
CoMPILER's NoTE:-The foregoing
general description, [ trust, will give
correct idea of what Eilinwood is as
a place of residence and as a field for
business. enterprises and an invest
ment of capital. That business is in
creasing Year by year and the march
of improvement is forward and on.
ward, are facts Indisputable. The
same opportunities that made EIiin
wood prosperous in the past, are pres
4 ent today, aiding in an increase o.
wealth, vesting security on the solo
\ foundation of trade and bust ness con
stantly increasing.
Following viii be found shor