The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-04-28
Liberal. Kan., Coming to Front
by Leaps and Bounds.
Building Boom on in Little
Southwestern City Now.
PROGRESS is MOTTO.
People Up-tO- Date and Find
Boosting Pleasure.
Some Facts About One of the
Best Places in the State.

Liberal, Kan, April 2S.-Very few
Topeka people can have any idea
about the town of Liberal county seat
of Seward county. and metropolis of
the six southwestern counties of the
state. Former Liberal citizens who
moved away from here four or five
years ago would be astonished at the
growth and progress here since then.
There Is not a town of 1000 or less
population in the state that has any
thing on Liberal in appearance or
modern Improvements.
Liberal claims 1000 and has at least
1,5OO population. It owes its pros
perity to the fact that the Rock Island
spread out the tracks of it's Chicago
to-the-Pacific coast road at this point
and established a division here and
built a round house. Yes and to the
progressive spirit of it's citizens. too.
Nothing very much is ever accom-
plished by any town or city, no matter
what its advantages. without the spirit
of progress.
The late Benton Murdoch wrote a
story about the automobiles in Pratt
on the occasion of his first visit to the
fish hatchery there. Mr.. Murdoch saw
40 automobiles at Pratt. Liberal has
today rs machines Of all kinds and
sizes, from big Winton Six to little
Spluttering runabout.
Everyone here is a chauffeur. Every
one talks the language of the clutch
and sparker. They have a garage here
larger than any in Topeka. built of
stone and modern and convenient as
any place of the kind in the larger
cities. This is a country of distances
and level roads and the auto is as
much of a necessity now as the horse
used to be in pioneer days.
Real Commercial Club.
Liberal has a live commercial club.
G. w. Ellsaesser is president of the
club and L. D. Weidensaul secretary.
Liberal has no stream of water avail
able nor does it rain here with regu-
larity, but the town has an adequate
water system nevertheless. They drilled
wells and pump the water up into
tanks. 1t is good water, too. Liberal
also has light plant and a twenty
four hour service. The plant has only
had two breakdowns in the past two
years.
Building Going On.
over 500 residences were built here in
the past two years, and the boom con-
tinues. Everyone is putting in cement
business property. and the city is put
ting in cement cross walks and Gull |
verts. Several miles of cement walks |
have already been laid, and as the new
houses are all handsome and modern,
and the business section is well built |
up with pressed brick and cement |
buildings. Liberal looks prosperous and |
inviting to the visitor.
Prosperity is sure to continue
the year. as the wheat crop
promises a good yield. The largest
broom corn acreage has been put in
in the historv of this county. This i'm
portant crop will also add to the pros
perity.
Republicans Strong in City.
The political sentiment in the county
seems to be equally divided as between
the Republicans and Democrats. While
there is a disposition to hesitate in
making a forecast as to the relative |
of the square dealers and Re-
publicans, 1t is admitted by the latter
that the Stubs strength in the coun-
try will likely offset the opposition 20
him in town.