The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-08-26
WERE NOT PLEASED.
Hill City People Objected to the
''Write Up of w. E. Curtis.

Hill CITY Kan, Aug. 26.-Ihe Hill
Cityites were not pleased with the re-
cent write up" in a Chicago paper of
Hill City and Graham county by the
well known correspondent. William E.
Curtis. There are other farms in Ora
ham county besides the Model farm
ana while the people generally are
pleased with the mode of farming on
this farm. there are hundreds of farm
erS IN the county who have been equal
~ successful, and are making money.
The fact of it is, that Hill City has
three solid banks, the aggregate de-
posits running up close to $4,000
the majority of which is owned by the
farmers.
The values of farm lands in Graham
county are increasing rapidly. F. D.
Turck tells of a quarter section he
paid $500 for a few years ago, and
recently refused $4,000 for the same
tract. He considers it worth more.
Graham county lands are sought
after. Lieutenant Governor Hanna has
sold a farm a day since the first of
August. Besides. there are several
others in the real estate business here
T. H Magfll, another real estate man,
was showing. no less than five eastern
men Graham county lands.
A. J, Rice, the big wheat and alfalfa
raiser of Graham county, believes the
county will grow successfully most
everything. He has been a successful
raiser of both. and is enthusiastic with
good words for Graham county.
The Touring mill is nearing compile
ton, another indication that Graham
county raises wheat. The projectors
of this enterprise hope to complete and
have the mill in operation on or before
the first of November. The mill will
have capacity of about 200 barrels
daily.
Last year there was activity in build
ing business houses; this year the
I
residences. Carpenter and mechanic
of every sort are at work, while many
others from other sections are here
and find plenty to do.
The wheat crop was saved, but the
corn is being cut some by the con-
tinued dry weather. Most of the crop
was out of danger. Take it on all
sides, Graham county and Hill City
will witness a prosperous fall and
winter.
That Hill City is enjoying a good
growth and trade, would indicate from
the number of hotels and restaurants.
In the former there are four and five
of the latter. Two of the hotels are
tween 500 and 700 inhabitants. There
is such rivalry in business, in lun1-
Der, dry goods, hardware and -imPle-
ments, drugs, furniture, banking, har-
ness and groceries, that the town pulls
trade for miles in every direction This
good natured rivalry has built upsa
trade center which has. few if any
equal in northwest Kansas And Hill
City is the only town in northwest
Kansas having two well patronized
opera houses.
A few years ago there wasn't tree
on the townsite. Today most eve.
home has started to grow shade trees.
And some of the lawns are as attrac-
tive as can be seen anywhere in this
part of the state. And the women of
Hill City are claimed to be the biggest
ruStlerS any town has. One will find
them holding county offices, one is
practicing the profession of medicine,
many are filling clerkships in the
banks and stores. one has the only
complete set of abstracts in Graham
county, some of them have been on the
school board, and three of them have
taught school SO long that it is next
to impossible to get along without
them; another is a registered phaFma-
ciSt, others are in the hotel and res
taurant trade and some of them are
partners in business. And others will
be candidates for county offices next
year
The writer has witnessed the growth
of Hill City from the start. Other
towns have outstripped her in popula-
ton, but few rank with her in business
prosperity. One of her newspaper
men commenced business on nothing;
today he is worth $4,000 or more.
Will Hill and his Republican have been
rustlers. Another located in Graham
county in an early day, poor as a
church mouse, today he is lieutenant
governor of the state, and worth not
less than $4,000, which he made sell
ing Graham county lands. There are
dozens of instances of this nature. Her
people are good to meet, do business
and visit with.