Free press., 1906-11-24
. Rnck East. and Here.

II IDS 1dII0H 10 Tie IOL OI your SUI-
tor to this fall travel from the Pacific
to the Atlantic on business, visiting the
big and little cities, and seeing farms
on main lines of railroad, and without
an attempt to fiatter the people of this
section it can be truthfully said that
no town of equal size has yet been
found that equals our little city.
Unless we had LOTS of money we
found no place we wouldsE=rather. have
our newspaper or land business at, and
no place we would recommend our bu-
siness men to move to.
No general farm with as easy work
would we trade an Ellis county farm
for, no cattle rancho to make money
as easy as the Dalton rancho in the
Saline valley.
We foundfNO railroad with better
track, general running time or anyway
near the comforts to travellers equal to
our Union Pacific. In fact we were
surprised at the uncomfortable general
coaches in the east, railroad men say
ing the travel is so immense they could
not furnish chair cars, smoking room,
toilets and comforts on their trains.
~ - ~
This is just the town and county to
settle down in and enjoy life. While
away we carefully compared prices in
nearly everything we buy. In some
thing we could buy cheaper, for many
things the charge was much higher.
Our figures footed up that $15 here was
better than S25 there. While in the
towns rents were triple rent here.
- ~ ~
True, there are no merchant princes
here, as are often foundFin the larger
cities, but at the same time the town
is remarkably free from the class that
is watched with tender solicitude by
the wholesale houses, and Fwhose de
vious ways cause much Fforeboding to
| their numerous creditors.
~ ~ "
No city of our size or county of our
population in this state or east offer
such educational advantages. With
our State Normal, with the whole wes-
tern half of Kansas pusRingl it; with
our Public and our church schools that
our citizens have spared no expense in
their erection and maintenance; that
are inviting and comfortable, offer a
school home that anyone can be proud
of. Our buildings are all that coulc
be desired, yet are to be enlarged; oul
teachers are the best that money anC
wise school boards can employ.
Our churches are not large but are
comfortable and credit to city o.
this size, and town is judged by it:
schools and churches.
~ ~ ~
Back east no one knows their neigh
bors, everybody stiff and formal, NJ
parties and little sociability or calling
everybody for themselves.
Our town is noted far and wide fo
its hospitality and cordiality. The NAL
meets his fellows here with "Goo'
morning 80 knowing every man {
woman by name. The ladies meet an
chat or greet over the phone; as the.
toll at home hum merry tune, becaus
! Glove lightens labor. And over thei
tea cups at an afternoon function, or a
their club gatherings they discuss top
les intended to elevate. A visiting Ia
dy, young or old, are made welcom
in a whirl of sociability.
1ys ~ ~
: When you want to leave the farm
E or if back East and coming west com
to our town and build nice home an
: be among the best people in the world
: Your money don't count; you can b
the best in the town if you and you
2 family are worthy of it. There is n
! Caste in Heaven or in Hays.
r ~ ~ ~
. The only thing we lack is larg
: hall, holding 75O to 1000 and lit by cleo
{ tricity, where school commencement
and their entertainments, union churc
gatherings and church and politica
gatherings can be held, as well as tn
passing show to entertain the people.
We failed to find a town of this size 0
smaller in our trips that didn't hav
such hall costing to Is thousan
dollars. They are going up all over thi
state and Hays should have one.