The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1906-08-03
GOODLAHD'S MIGHTY CHANCE
TO BECOME BEST TOWN WEST OF
TOPEKA.
Opportunity for Business Interests in
Territory Large as Five East
eFn States.

Some cities, like some men. have one
decisive chance to direct the tide Of
circumstances in their favor, and
GOOdland IS one Of them. We mean
by this that she is confronted with the
ingalls, kind Of opportunity, that's all;
and what she IS TO be depends upon
how hard a blow the business and 9TH
er interests Of this city strike for its
accomplishment
Here GoOdland is in the midst OF a
wonderful and fertile plain, far from
any OYer-shadOWing or ingulfing city
influence Denver lies 200 miles to
the west and Topeka $50 miles to the
east, and between these two cities
there IS not place along the line in
the northern half OF Kansas that can
rival GOOdland In a weu-planned and
mighty march toward progress North
and south IN the west half OF Kansas
not one town can successfully chal-
lenge her in such a contest, and across
the line in Colorado, GOOdland can
even divide hOnOrs in a contest with
Denver for trade OF eastern Colorado.
So, in point Of territory, GOOdland has
a wonderful opportunity for trade ex-
tension territory equal IN extent TO
the combined acreas Of Connecticut,
Delaware New jersey Rhode Island
and Massachusetts,.
Again, not another town in this
territory has so large and prOmis-
ing railroad center, Is GOOdland.
The train service in and out OF here is
eXceptiOnal-ten passenger trains in a
day and almost as many freights.
There is ample outlet east and west
along the trunk line Of the Rock Is
land for the building up Of a comfort
able wholesale business in groceries
and other lines Of merchandise. Upon
the suppOsitiOn that the Bucklin-
Dodge City branch Of the Rock Island
is continued to GOOdland northwest
and there is no question about its be-
ing built sooner or later-it would
open up an additional fertile field for
traffic. With the Rock Island, this
city is a freight distributing point;
that is, freight destined for small
towns east and west Of here, is ship
ped to this point in a through car
sorted and reloaded for the respec-
tive destination. If GOOdland was a
jObbing point for a wholesale grocery
house, for instance, it would only be
a natural parallel to what the Rock
Island finds necessary in handling
western freight. Goods would be ship
ped here in car lots to the wholesale
house, and then it would be distribut-
ed to merchant customers west in
Colorado, and eastward in Kansas.
But some one says, the freight rate
would put you out OF business In COM
parisOn with what a Kansas City or
Topeka house could get. Not at all
GOOdIand could get what is known as
terminal rates, in fact, it has been
whispered by Rock Island official,
that II some one would eSLaDllSn
wholesale grocery house here, termin-
al rates would be granted, which
would give this city as cheap freight
rate from Chicago, say as Topeka Sa-
lima, Wichita and Denver If the
GOOdland wholesaler buys goods as
cheap and gets the same freight rate
from Chicago as other wholesale dis
triDuting points in the west, why, the
problem is solved And all this is not
mOOnshine, but fact. Small manufac-
lures would spring up amid such a
condition
So, GoOdIand has the geographical
position, the railroad facilities, the Op-
pOrtunity TO get terminal freight rates
And more: She has the finest eli
mate and purest water in the world
and these things invite population
GOOdland can become a city OF 5000
population in three or four years I'M
der the influence OF the one great Op-
pOrtunity; and in ten years, maybe
10000. Let GOOdland have the for
nation Of a live commercial club TO
lead our city out into broad avenues
OF larger business life, and her light
will shine more and more In the
galaxy Of western cities.