The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-02-22
A FARMERS TOWN
Three of Athol's Industries Are
Controlled by AgricuIturists.
Good Work of a Thriving Smith
County German Colony.
A NEWSPAPER WANTED
Is a Great Shipping Point for
Grain and Stock.
The Rock Island Can Not Fur
nish Enough Cars.

Athol, Feb. 22.-Tributary to Athol
there are from 80 to 100 families of in
dustrious German farmers who own
from 100 acres to a section of land, most
of it in cultivation. Besides all of them
have either hogs or cattle. This sec
ton of Smith county has always been
considered one of the best improved and
most prolific because of these foreign
ers, and they can and do make money.
They own a church a few miles in
the country, and a resident minister,
the Rev. A. F'inkbinder. The German
population is increasing, which necessi-
tates an addition to the church, and
this will be attended to this summer.
Lane township, in which Athol is Sit
uated, refused to vote bonds to aid the
Rock Island road but it was built all
the same, and Athol Jared as well as did
the township which voted aid. The
town has a good depot conveniently To-
Gated, as we'll as stock yards.
The farmers are getting a big hold
in Athol. This is thought to be for the
best. They are investing their surplus
cash in enterprises for the best good.
The Athol Cooperative Grain company
will increase the capacity of their ele-
vator from 5000 to $4,000 bushels ca
pacity. G. c. Ramming is president
c. A Boardman, secretary, and G. w.
Douglass is manager. There are up
wards of 100 stockholders. In 1906 this
elevator handled 100 car loads of grain,
and the Home Grain company "a car
loads.
The farmers have a well organized
shipping association, with a. member
ship of about 200. 1t has been success
full since it's organization. The officers
are: President, G. c. Ramming; vice
president, c. A. Cowan; secretary, f.
NJ. Myers; treasurer J. A Wherry;
manager, G. A. Douglass. At the close
of their annual business, in 1906, the
auditing committee find that the as
sociation handled 129 cars of stock. and
the net sales amounted to $130, 656 u,
besides $253.SO damages collected from
the railroad. OF this amount the farm
ers in the vicinity Of Athol received
S129, 354 80. The home expense of the
association for the year, including the
fees of the manager, was $1,11S06. The
business was entirely satisfactory to
the association.
Now comes the Peoples Lumber COM
pany, chartered for $4,000. with the fol-
lowing officers: President c. A.
Cowan; vice president c. NJ. Post; sec
rotary and treasurer, w. H. Lewis. Up
to this time about $4,000 has been sub
scribed, the shares being 500 each.
These three organizations are vir-
tually in the hands of the farmers. So
far they have put their money in them
with satisfactory results. The leading
business men of Athol believe the new
lumber yard will save the farmers
thousands of dollars, and will be of
vast Importance to the business in
terests of the town as well. There isn't
a kick of any kind from the townspeo-
pie of Athol because the farmers con-
troll and own these three big business
enterprises. They have been so success
full in tilling the soil that they have
willingly invested their money where
they believe 1t will do them the most
good, as well as benefit all the business
interests of Athol.
Athol has one church completed. the
Congregationalist, and a fine public
school building, not yet completed, with
W. H. Lyons principal, and Miss Eva