The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-03-27
KANSAS NEWS.
The Population Increasing Rap
idly in Western Kansas.
Constant Demand for Short
Grass Land.
LAND OFFICES BUSY.
The Price for Halves and Quar-
ters Steadily Advancing.
Henry Black Says There Is
Money i'm Cattle.
LAND OFFICES BUSY.

Atwood, March 27.=No section OF the
state is populating more rapidly than
is northwestern Kansas Every train
on the Missouri Pacific. Rock Island
and B. & NJ railroads which run
through this section carry land seekers.
The rush for western Kansas lands
is as great now as it was in the early
days of the opening of the government
land offices. The hotels are crowded.
dailv with people who are after north
western Kansas lands. and the price is
steadily advancing. Every town has
its dozen of local land offices, and one is
seldom away from vehicle carrying
load OF people who have come from the
east to see. and they are hard to please
If they don't buy a quarter or half
section
Every town shows life in building
operations. New residences and bust
ness houses and barns make the towns
and country look more Ike the hereto
fore favored east It has now been
transferred to northwestern Kansas
New banks and lumber yards are
springing up, reminding those who
came early of the scene in the days of
the first settlement of this part of Kan
sas, when many of the towns had two
and three banks and the same number
OF lumber yards. Then came the hot
winds and almost depOpuIated this sec
ton. and a quarter" could be bought
for most any price Later change
came about so that the second popula-
ton came in and during the past sew
era1 years the farmers of northwestern
Kansas have been making money. Now
are the lawyers doing as well in these
good times as are the land agents
Everybody in northwestern Kansas
will concede that the country never
looked so good as now. The prospects
for big crops in almost everything the
farmer raises was never so promising
The late fall rains and the winters
moisture has been all that Nature could
do. There is not a kick coming from
any source. It is gratifying to note the
changes for the better. Cy Anderson,
clerk of the board of railroad commits
sioners, and who is a. RaWlins county
pioneer. would scarcely Know his coun-
ty so great has been the changes in the
last few years. In the last year many
new people from all parts of the cOun-
try have located in Rawlins county, and
are today healthy and prosperous. The
land in this county is too cheap COM
pared with the s100-acre land in adjoin-
Ing states on the east.
Atwood merchants are doing fine, and
the business is all they can hope for.
The town has made great gains in pop
ulation in the past few years. and if
her people secure the Gulf. Hutchinson
& Northwest railroad, there are some of
her people who will claim she will be
the metropolis of northwest Kansas
Ex-County Attorney J. H Briney. who
Tor the last two years has been engag-
cd n running down and prosecuting
criminals now engaged in the real es-
tate and law business. is certain At
wood viii be the metropolis of this part
of Kansas. Not one of her people have
cause to regret they live in so wide
awake and good a town as Atwood.
For more than a quarter of a century
the writer has visited Atwood and OBJ
erin by spells and every visit he is
glad he is here. He has seen most of
her buildings erected, helped the old
soldiers eat their beans. and listened
TO the entertaining "reminiscences rela-
scd at the old settlers anniversaries.
The only regret is that he doesn't have
the time to stay longer.
over in Decatur county, near Ober-