The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-09-19
A FERTILE VALLEY
Alfalfa and Water Features of
the "Prairie Dog"
Thousands of Sheep Are Fed
There Every Year.
ALMENA is BEST TOWN
Many FlOurishing Industries
and Splendid Homes.
Expects to Become Division
Point of Rock Island.
ALMENA is BEST TOWN

N-~~~~ -
has an inexhaustible supply of water,
the people of Almena anticipate the
water question will attract the Rock
Island people to such an extent that
they will put a division here. The
pump at the waterworks has capaciy
for pumping 800 gallons per minute.
The standpipe is located on a hill near
the Rock Island depot, and oVerlooks
the town and country for miles. Those
who profess to know about waterworks
plants, claim that the one recently
completed in Almena is first class, and
in the valley of the famous Prairie
Dog creek there is an inexhaustible
supply of water.
The Prairie Dog valley from its
source to it's mouth is full of alfalfa,
and Almena seems to be the center of
raising it, besides it will be remem-
bered that this town was the first one
in the state to hold an alfalfa carni-
val, as was Atchison the first town in
Kansas to hold a corn carnival, and
Clyde the first to give a free water
melon show.
For several years sheep feeders have
fed and fattened thousands of sheep in
the vicinity of Almena. Some years
not less than $4,000 head have been fed
here on account of her corn supply and
the alfalfa feed. This year the Prairie
Dog valley gets a black eye on account
of the shortness of the crop of corn.
The hot weather appeared to cook it
too soon.
Among the feeders this winter are
]. M Wilson & Son, the Standard Live
Stock company of Denver, and c. r.
Wilson, who will feed few thousand
head this winter.
Almena's new brick school house, the
| pride of her people, is now occupied Dy
| the school children The building has
seven rooms, and owing to the rapid
increase of the school population six OF
the rooms are occupied this term. The
enrolment the first week was about
$50, which will be increased as the
school year advances. The population
of Almena is about 1000
There are not less than seven mics
of cement sidewalks in Almena, and
more is being laid. The width of the
\ walks on the main business street is
| ten feet.
| Athena is freer of empty buildings
than for several years. There isn't an
| empty residence in town
| The Almena postoffice has been maze
| a presidential office, which is further
I indication of her growth and pros
/ perity.
The town has her Almena Mercantile
company as well as her Square Deal
| Mercantile company. WneIn0r the ldI-
| ter takes its name from the new politi-
| cal party or not the two stores are
| alike creditable to a place ten times
| the size of Almena-
| For a town the size of Almena her
| two banks, one a national, there are
| few towns who can claim larger
| volume of business or more healthy de-
posits.
! Almena has two railroads, the B. &
M. and the great Rock Island main
| line. The B. & NJ. leaves the main line
at Republican City, Neb., and follows
up the Prairie Dog to Norton. and
| thence west to Oberlin. And 1t takes
three dray lines to handle the bushes
from these two railroads which come
to the merchants. Besides two we'll
equipped lumber yards, two large drug
I stores. newspaper, hardware and i'm
Elements, two hotels, poultry house,
| two elevators, harness, stock buyers
and many other branches Of business
is represented in the general makeup
| of Almena.
And DR.. Bennie sports a handsome,
two seated auto, and there are half
dozen others. The doctor has no idea
of riding to the legislature in his auto
| for he is the Socialist candidate Tor
| that office in Norton county.
The people of Almena are wideawake
as the visitor will see in a walk
through the business and residence
district. The Prairie Dog valley has
few towns so pushing as Almena.