The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-01-14
OUT OF THE ASHES
The Town of PaIcO Coming to
the Front Rapidly.
In March, 1892, Was Destroyed
by a Fire.
LEFT TWO BUILDINGS.
Several Business Houses Costing
Thousands Going Up.
Growth of This Rocks County
Town Phenomenal.
LEFT TWO BUILDINGS.

Palco. Kas., Jan. 13.-No less than
a dozen new residences have been
erected here lately. costing from $500
to $4,000, and at least five new bust
ness houses. including the State bank
building at a cost OF $4,000, the bust
ness block of the pioneer merchant
Geo. Tribe. at cost of $4,000, and
the Methodist church a a cost of So
O0O- The growth of this Rocks coun-
ty town was phenomenal during the
year just closed. 1T was i'm March,
1892. on a Sunday afternoon, when
prairie fire practically destroyed the
place. leaving only two buildings. the
Methodist parsonage and the general
store of Geo. Tribe.
In the country it is said the farm
ers have made greater Improvements
than have the people Of the town. 1t
is claimed no less than seventy-five
houses and barns have been erected
i'm the same time And the building
IN both town and country would have
been greater but for the scarcity of
lumber. One of the big barns built
I'm Rocks county is that of C. A. Fess-
Ter, adjoining the town, at a cost of
l,5Ou' with every convenience for the
feeding of stock and handling grain.
one or the PalcO grain men estimates
there are upwards of fifty cars of wheat
or last years crop yet to move from
Palco, besides about IS cars of corn.
ana the prospects for the new crop is
a bOve the general average at this time
The new elevator of G. e. Robinson,
Of Lincoln, has capacity of $4,000
bushels. j. r. Cunningham is the man
ager- This elevator is one of the most
modern on the Salina and Oakley
branch
The farmers are feeding a number of
cattle. and a u a them have hon-c
The business house of Geo. Tribe is
the largest in Rocks county. 1t is 50x160
feet with basement. This house handles
about everything. including general
merchandise, hardware and implements,
wagons and other vehicles. Mr.. Tribe
estimates his business for 1905 at about
$4,000 He commenced ia 1889, and says
the last year was his best business year.
He looks for another good season of
prosperity this year.
Tribe e. Parrish have opened a real
estate office in PalcO They have en-
jOyed a good trade, as have the land
men throughout this section. They have
large numbe of farms listed i'm Rocks,
Graham. TregO and other counties.
The new state bank building is near
ing completion. 1t is constructed of
stone. and presents a fine appearance.
This bank is only two years old. and in
August last, the deposits reached $95,-
600. Ehe capital stock is $4,000. ". Il.
Miller is president c.. L. Miller vice
president. and J. o. Miller. cashier.
j. z. Robson. who has been a resi-
dent since 1873. says the country is rap
idly advancing in price, and in every
wav is developing fast He has been a
business resident of PalcO since 1895 and
opened a real estate office. He is the
owner of half a section Of Rocks cOun-
ty land. and is big wheat raiser
one of the old standbys of Palco and
Rocks county is G. A. Fessler, who has
a beautiful home adjoining town. He
too. is one of the pioneers. and owns
several hundred acres of land. which is
mostly improved. He has had more fun
than many writer's. and his stormy
notes have been widely printed. Mr.
and Mrs. Fessler enjoy company and
home and they entertain their host of
friends with the best there is in the
market. He has served Rocks county as
treasurer two terms. He is a Demo-
crat and he must have been honest and
popular, or the people would have sat
down on him for a second term He
has recently completed one of the best
barns ln Rocks county
Israel Norris is one of the farmers of
Rocks county everyone likes to meet He
lives three miles from Palco. He and
his splendid wife saved themselves a lot
Of hard work by not having d telephone.
Most everybody else in the county Tas
one He is the owner of a large tract of
land and is feeding several loads of CAT
and Cy Leland Republican and don't
seem to care who knows it, He has lots
of company.
The people of Palco are proud thew
live in so pleasing a town and so good a
community surrounding The place will
keep on growing and business will keep
increasing Hhe demand is for more res
licences and a good Touring mill. and
when a good miller comes here he win
find am enterprisng people who will share
with him i'm building a mill.