The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1906-02-20
ROOM FOR LOAFERS'
KANSAS TOWN SOLVES PROBLE EN-
OF SIDEWALK AND GROCERY
STORE PEST.
Provides Loafing Place Under Cen
tralIy Located Band Stand for
Their Accommodation
Good Scheme

Sedan is probably the only town in
Kan as, and probably IN the west,
where official provision has been
made for he town loafer. The public
/ treasury has been drawn upon to pro
vide this familiar town character with
| a comfortable and pleasant place 70
spin his yarns, indulge in town gossip
/ and occasionally dabble in HE heavier
questions of state
If Cairo had suitable location
where she could erect such structure
IT would prove an economical measure
in Kidding the corners Of the Ioafers
congragated under sheds. ana in front
of business houses.
Sedan is typical Of the smaller
county seat towns Of Kansas with
a population Of 1000 like all other
county capitals, il number. among
iG citizens many retired farmers. old
soldiers and quite q sprinhing of
former county ohic ais.
Until the oil boom came and add
ed much 10 the business OF the com,
munity these men who by the very
nature Of circumstances have little
to do ana therefore lots Of time.
found warm welcome about the
friendly stoves Of the grocery stores.
They disturbed not the current OF
commerce, but were always on hand
10 greet The farmer customer on
Saturdays and withal were not de-
-irahle guests. When the oil business
quickened the pace OF the community
things became different and the will |
age loafers received less attent on |
from the busiar store keepers. In fact |
The stores became too busy for them !
and the space that the motley circle (
had been filling wa. needed for stock.
About This time the town decided /
hat 10 needed q band stand for with
ts other progress. the musical side
had progressed also, A careful
search over the community for talent
lad revealed no less than fifteen
Boys and men who had courage
'nough 10 give weekly band concerts.
50 when the city council finally de
.ided 10 devote at least $l00 to the
ause of music by building a band
tand the town loafers promptly
skad that IT be made a TWO story
flair and that The lower room be
ed for a police station"
The request was not taken ser.
ously, however until The towns
CAGE officers added the strength of
heir official enforcement TO the pro 4
'ct The night officer is an old sol. =
Ter and wanted company He knew ,
hat if a sort of a police station were {
uilt he could get plenty Of IT, So the {
ouncH granted the request and gave ,
la first floor to- the town loafers andc~ =
Pc suise of building a police sta I
en-
A tove has been put mp. chairs +
royidel, and lately an enterprising 6
erchant has accommodated the in lC
easing members hip by donating sew. IC
raj advertising covered benches. The \
'Om viii hold upward Ct thirty men n
id 1t IS FUN every evening There \
.e no loalers az an in the stores. They
'ugdt TN more hospiiable band .,
ana pol CO tation
The l0afers have namoI their
.adquartcrs the "Houka Tonk." and
cigar is named in honor Of them.
ven a box of these cigars the ses- ~
ms open with fret the village Cos ~
b. then follows a discussion OF
lnicipal AFFAIR.". which are made in '
-e-t ng now hy public Improvements %"
20 are making Then comes the final
nd down of decisions upon lawsuits -
ID may have been tried that day in ~
local courts FOR to the Honk-a- ''
nk. sooner or later an appeals must D..
me. w