The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-04-15
DWIGHT IS BUSY.
Little Kansas Town LIS Getting
the Prosperity Bug.
Working Hard to Be Listed as
City of Second Class.
FIRE DID NOT HURT.
A $4,000 Loss Failed to Make
Citizens Lose Their Faith.
Other Items of Interest in Kan
sas Towns and Cities.

When the average town loses one of
ats largest department stores, a big no
tel, a depot and several other buildings
by fire and the total loss of $4,000
stares the citizens in the face. together
with the charred ruins and the vacant
dots and the black eye. to their main
business street, good slice OF the en-
ergy is taken away. A loss or TINS
kind to the usual run of towns with
population Of about 300 people Is para
Lying.
But not so with Dwight, Kan. Dwight
wasn't built with that spirit. The citf-
gems of this growing Kansas town are
not expecting their buildings 10 last
Moreover and they are not building ana
working with the idea that everything
win be peaches and cream and all they
have to do is to follow the long ana
narrow rut.
Dwight had been having her share
of hard luck this spring-ln faet sne
has been given large enough share TO
keep controlling stock IN the Haro
Luck company for many years to come:
But with this handicap. the people OF
the city are shouldering their burdens
in great shape and have already per
fected plans for the building OF plgger
and better hotel. a more modern and up
to date business block-with the addi-
ton Of a few coverings Tor some more
vacant lots in the business district
New Rock Island Depot
And as far as the depot is concern
ed-the Rock Island saw what was
coming-they realized that 1t took more
than fire to keep down q i've grow
ing town like Dwight and they rushed
material to the ground for new struc-
-ture-and today the finishing touches
are being placed to one of the prettleSr
little stations in central Kansas.
This action of the Rock Island IS
simply a forerunner OF what is coming
to Dwight-and the spirit and the en-
ergy of the people of this city. When
the railroad officials decided that they
should give Dwight something better
than they had formerly they took just
the move that was contemplated by the
Dwight is a town of 800 people on
the main line of the Rock Island, about
o miles this side of Harrington and
about so miles southwest OF Topeka.
1T is situated in the northeastern part
OF Morris county-with the city limits
on the north almost in sight of Geary
ctur.ty and the city limits on the east
within short riding distance of wa
baunsee county. IN fact Dwight Is
such a lively little business center thar
the trading among the merchants IS
evenly divided among the people from
the three counties.
When a State Journal representative
asked Mayor johnson the meaning or
Dwight, the other day, the mayor
shook his head and said:
"I don't know what Dwight means
directly but do know that in this part
of the country it stands for prosperl-
ty."
And a single look around the little
city reveals the truth Of the statement.
Dwight was named after an old set
tier, Dwight Rathbone. who now lives
ir the state of Washington. The town
was first organized in 1887 when the
Rock Island was built through that part
of the state.
Banks an Index.
There are two ways to tell good
town-one of them is to ask concerning
the condition of the banks and the other
is to call on the lumber dealers IN the
city and ask them if they have much
business. Dwight has a busy substan-
tial bank with a surplus larger than
the capital and a lumber yard that Is
keeping the drivers busy at all times.
With these two proofs of the energy
and the prosperity Of the town the
facts are drawn
The Dwight State bank is one of the
most substantial in this part of the
country. 1t has a capital stock of $10,-
900 and a surplus of $1,000 The indl-
vidual deposits alone amount to $11O,-
776 The officers of the bank are W.
O. Sturgeon, president: w r. Forsyth,
vice president; Charles W. johnson,
cashier; Harry c. Johnson assistant
cashier; n. W. Nelson. j. A. Hirst. r.
Goss, A. Nordeen. Charles w. johnson,
directors. The bank was organized in
1903.
Dwight has one bank. three general
stores, two hardware stores Two uruS
stores two blacksmith shops, one hv-
cry. three physicians, one barber, one
lumber yard, one hotel and several
other necessary places of business. More
than that the citizens are confident
that this list will be almost doubled
in the next few years-and they are
going after the increase.
The officers of the city are: Mayor,
Charles w. Johnson: city clerk, Harry
c. johnson; city marshal, E. A. Royd.
The city cOuucilmen are w. R Forsyth,
N. w. Nelson. H. Wright. c. Nordeen,
and J. h Herndon. Dwight was incor-
porated as city of the third-class four
years ago. To be q city of the second
class is the ambition at this town.
every day.
Farmers to Have Electricity.
Atchison, Kan, April 15.-Electric
lights are to be added to the Injuries