The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-06-21
HOW COLBY IS GROWING
The Banner Crops I'm Thomas County
Aiding the Town.

| Colby, June 21.-The amount of
building going on in Colby ought to
| convince every visito, that Thomas
crops. That the outlay of money being
| expended on the new improvements in
Colby this year will far surpass any
year In all her history there is no
| stantial nature that it means that Col
by is forging forward at as lively rate
| as THOMAS county has grown in popu-
lation and development. The new
cost of $4,000, will be completed
| about the LIST of September, and then
all or Thomas county will point with
pride to her magnificent capital build
ing, which will be the handsomest
courthouse west of Mitchell county.
Nor is this all: The high school
building will cost not far from $780,
600 to complete and furnish; then
there is her opera house, which will
cost $4,000; the cost of the T. o. o.
+. building will be not far from $1O-
900; the new Farmers and Merchants
State bank building will necessitate an
outlay OF not less than $4,000: the
farmers elevator with a capacity of
$4,000 bushels, will cost not less than
$4,000; the new home of the Free
Press was erecte dat a cost of about
$1,000; and the Catholic church will
doubtless be erected this year at an
expense of $1,000. These improve
ments foot up close to $125,ooo, a good
starter for this year 1907 in a town
which has been dubbed by eastern
kansas newspapers as situated in the
short grass section of northwestern
Kansas.
Colby has two as solid banks as
there are in the Sixth district The
chants State bank aggregate $751;
600 and of the Thomas county bank,
$23O,O0O, or total of more than
SAP, 900. This don't sound as if Col
by and the farmers who carry their
ban kaccounts here, live in a short
grass region
To see the plans of the new bank
building of the Farmers and Mer-
chants State bank, now being built by
A. Lauterbach, its owner and presi-
dent, the visitor will scarcely believe
he would erect such a structure if he
thought he was living in the short
grass region. He came from Nebras-
ka the Colby in 1886. He was willing
to try his luck here, and here he has
made money from that day to this.
His block is double building, so feet
front, by 80 feet deep. The bank room
will be heated with steam, tile floor,
plate glass front, new fixtures and fur
niture, and modern and up-to-date in
every respect. Crosby e Son, the we'll
known Kansas City contractors. who
are building the new courthouse are
putting up the building.
Eight automo bileS are owned in
Colby. Before the close of the year
double this number will be in use
All of the Colby politicians are think
ing of buying them. they will get over
the county much faster than riding in
a horse vehicle, providing they are
chasing after office.
Colby is the banner wind mill town in
the Sixth district having 1853 to 1852
claimed in Plainville. To see these wind
mills in operation watering the lovely
shady lawns which Colby is getting a
goodly number of is a pleasing sight to
all visitors.
Geo. Idzorek, the Polander, and one
of Colby's real estate dealers, has sue
ceeded in locating about forty families
on Thomas county lands. He has been
here about two years. His people like
this section of country and they make
good farmers
Prof J. E. Chamberlain, from La
Cygne, succeeds Prof. W. E. Ray, who
has been at the head Of the high school
for the last five years.
The Thomas county school normal is
in session, with large attendance of
teachers.
The Colby editors, N. E. Turner, of
the Tribune, and John Connolly. Of the
Free Press, who are, politically, as far
apart as morning and night, are meeting
with deserved prosperity. Each have
fre-proof offices, whether hot winds
are blowing or fire is raging.
Miles of cement sidewalks are being
work of building and making the town
more attractive and permanent is going
on, workmen are putting down walks
of moro substantial character.
The Colby people could hardly be any
other way than progressive in the mat
ter Of schools and churches. She is
away ahead of many rival towns. The
people appear to pull together better
than in some northwestern Kansas
towns. The writer has watched the pro-
greSS of the building I'D of Colby before
she got her first railroad, and at that
time the hundreds Of people in Thomas
county were few and scattering. Now
it is thiclxly populated with prosperous
bank deposits, and the early sod homes
have been succeeded by modern resi-
dences, many of them, while Colby, the
county seat, has grown from frame
buildings in the business portion to SUBJ
stantial brick blocks. If it is little dry
one will scarcely hear of anyone going
away to better themselves. The Colby
Of today will grow as she grows older.