The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-12-01
IS A DANDY Town
Smith Center Has Many Causes
for Rejoicing This Year.
Have Lately Completed a Dozen
Miles of Cement Walks.
MODERN SCHOOL HOUSE
A Splendid Electric Light Plant
Installed.
A New Church and Handsome
Homes by the Score.

Smith Center. Dec. If there is a
a set Of people who pull for their
town they are the Smith Centerites
There isn't a kick coming from one OF
them. They have pulled for their
town through thick and thin, not to
say anything about grasshopper in
vasions and drouth Today they
boast Of a town close to the 1000
mark. This year they have built the
most modern school house in the north
part of the state at a cost of 5000;
they have put down close to a dozen
Baptists are completing a $4,000
house of worship; an electric light
plant has been Installed and the town
is lighted, the mill. elevator and light
company have overhauIed their plant,
and at this time have not less than
$35, 900 invested. and last but not least
is the establishment of the Kelley
Cigar com pany3 y wholesale n1anufac-
paid UP of $4,000 D. n. Kelley Is
manager, and w. r. Kelley is secre-
tary, with five reDr esentative business
men as directory as follows: Henry
Williams, J. H. Detwiier.. F. H. Bur
row. sOns-of- Secretary State j. r.
Burrow, c. ". Hobbs, and D. N.
Kelley The company employ fif-
teen hands, and the output is $500 TO
5000 cigars daily. The manageme emf
are practical cigar makers The fac
ed across the sidewalk changing eight
times a minute, reminding the visitor
that Smith Center is becoming gifted.
Probably in no town in north CEN
trail or northwestern Kansas has there
been more modern residences built
this year than in Smith Center. One
Of her representative citizens and bus
mess men is of the opinion that the
year will reach about $125.000. The
best of these residences will cost from
$4,000 to $4,000. 1t is a place of
fine homes. and in most cases the own
ers made their money here.
1t seemed many years before Smith
Center people realized that the country
tributary was far In ADVANCE of their
town. With continued good crops, the
town took a sudden start, and from that
day to the present building has pro-
crossed, brick business houses are fast
taking the place of the old, dilapidated
shacks, and business and residence
buildings have progressed forward for
several years. Nor does there appear 20
be any over production, there isn't an
empty business building in Smith Cen
ter, and it is impossible to rent a resi-
dence. And on every hand indications
point to repeating the building boom in
1907.
one of the business improvements for
the new year will be the erection of the
Odd Fellows building. with modern
opera house on the nrst floor. The build
ing will be 72x12O feet and cost not less
than $25,00O-
Smith Center people are not given to
footing their own horn as some towns,
but they do like to show the visitor
around town. Chas. UhI is a good man
to meet, and if there is anything worth
seeing he will point it out. And he has
seen the town grow up. And like most
OF her people. he has made money. and
when he sees a good thing he invests 1t
where it will make him some more He
is for Smith Center an Smith county
Smith Center is the abiding place of
Secretary Of State J. r. Burrow. Dick
Picker, judge Of the Fifteenth district,
Captain j. S Mcdowell, member Of the
board of regents of the Manhattan Ag-
ricuItural college, and the Messenger
newspaper, which is about the only
fopulist newspaper left in the state