The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-04-22
RIGHT UP TO DATE
Norton One of Finest Little Git
les i'm N. w. Kansas.
Country Surrounding Is Famed
for Rich Soil.
A CITY OF CHURCHES.
Is Populated by a Happy and
Prosperous People.
Residents Pull for Norton and
Result Plainly Evident.

city anywhere, that has a brighter
future than Norton, and my business
has made me familiar with hundreds
of towns during the last few years.
Norton is the county seat of Norton
county, Kansas county famed for
its rich agricultural resources, SPLEEN
did farms, bountiful crops and vast
herds of well-bred cattle and hogs.
The city itself, is modern in every
particular, possessing a splendid sys-
tenn of schools, including county and
city high schools and ward schools,
all housed in substantial, new sanitary
buildings and presided over by a corps
of instructors of exceptional ability
add to this first class business col
lege, and you will have an idea of
Norton's educational facilities, and
how inviting it looks to the outsider
is seeking for a wholesome and Gull
tured environment.
All Religions Are Represented.
In religion every denomination is
represented, the Methodist, Catholic
and Christian societies have five
church edifices. and the other de-
nominations all being provided with
comfortable and commodiouS places of
worship. Norton possesses one of the
most beautiful and well appointed
theaterS in the state; a stately court
house, situated in the center of a
lovely little park; about ten blocks of
substantial business houses (Many of
which would be a credit to Topeka or
Kansas City, and many miles of resi-
dence streets, nicely graded and
cement sidewalked. bordered with
fine shade trees, and along which one
scores of more pretentious residences
and palatial modern homes, beautiful
with we'll kept lawns, flower gardens,
shrubbery and fruit trees, attesting
the comfort, prosperity, and happiness
| of the mechanic and artisan and the
| culture and artistic taste of the mer-
| chant and professional man.
City Lighted by Electricity.
The city is electric lighted, owns a
modern ice factory of large capacity,
and a construction company is now
LAYING mains for an extensive water
works system. which will supply the
people with abundance of pure spring
water for commercial and domestic
use. Immediately adjoining the city
limits is the most beautiful natural
park in the state of Kansas The
landscape is romantic and picturesque
in the extreme-shaded groves. wind
ing paths, deep wooded grottos,
river of sparkling water and wealth
of big natural forest trees, combining
to make this one of the most delight
full, cool and attractive summer re-
sorts in the state This is where the
Norton county fair is held, and it
proves an ideal place for that big
yearly event.
Norton Is the Halfway Place.
In the parlance of the man of the
road" Norton is "the halfway house"
That is, it is located geographically just
half way between Topeka and Denver,
This means a great deal. 1t means
that Norton will always remain the
metropolis of western Kansas; that 1t
is the commercial center of a vast and
wealthy territory, and the natural home
of a great jobbing trade. Several large
wholesale houses are even now pro-
jecting the establishment of branch
concerns in this city
Both wisdom and economy are dis
played in divining Norton's position as
a distributing point. What the city
needs Just now, and almost feels assur-
ed of possessing in the near future, is
a north and south railroad. With such
a convenience, many wholesale houses
would be added to her commercial ven
lures. and more than likely a hundred
or more travelling men would help swell
the city's population. the major por-
lions of whom. would build neat homes,
become permanent residents, and prove
a most desirable acquisition to her cit
izenship. Norton would encourage legit-
innate manufacturing enterprise. 1t
would be a splendid location for beet
sugar factory.
To Become a Manufacturing City.
A strong corporation is about to
commence the manufacture of windmills
here; an alfalfa feed mill is needed;
canning factories, broom factory, or
other enterprises, would be welcomed.
and would be financially aided, if need
be by the thrifty business men of Nor
ton, who are ready to put their should
ers to the wheel-if it means progress.
Land values near Norton are high.
Only recently 40 acres of desirable land.
one mile from the court house, sold for
$3.50 per acre, above improvements. The
Commercial club here is a live organi-
cation, composed of an up-to-date
crowd of business men. The utmost
harmony seems to prevail-a rare vir-
tue in such a community. 1t is pleas
ure to visit the club rooms, and the
stranger whether he comes on bust
ness or pleasure. is always welcome.
Norton will always have to be recOg-
nized as one of the really big business
centers of Kansas.
Farmers Telephone Company Is Sold.
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