The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-02-12
BOOM is ON AT
PHILLIPSBURC
Few County Seat Towns Rival
Claim to Progress.
Small Kansas Town Shows
Growth and Prosperity.
TO BRING SALINA NORTHERN
Business Men Plan to Get the
New Railroad.
PostOffice and Other Buildings
Among Improvements.
TO BRING SALINA NORTHERN

Phillipsburg, Kan, FEB. 1Z.-haHy
signs of prosperity greet the visitor
here. Few county seat towns III
northwest Kansas have made more
material progress in the last year than
has Phillipsburg. AT all times the
wide-awake citizens stand ready 10
boost for things worth While with
good results apparent on every hano-
A number of live wires among her
business men are already planning 10
put forth efforts to bring the Sauna
&, Northwestern railroad, now com
pleted west of Salina as far as LIN
coin, to PhillipsburS. In the carry
spring work will be resumed on TINS
road, ard pushed to Denmark' lip
ton, Osborne ana Downs
The new postoffice erected by Geo.
w Townsend is one OF the supStah-
tial buildings of the town II was
built at a cost of 100000 1t is two
stories above the basement, and IS 20
nv 100 feet deep. 1t is heated with
steam, and has all the modern con-
yeniences The new office fixtures
cost about $4,000. The second story
is fitted up for offices.
Other Improvements Planned.
Another substantial improvement
is the remodeling of the Winshlp ousl-
ness block, better known as the Opera
House block, which will be put in
first-class condition When complet-
ed Phillipsburg people will boast or
one of the best arranged theater
blocks in this part of the state.
Rumors are afloat that several
brick business buildings will be erect
ed this year. Some of them are need
ed to take the place of the dilapidated
frame buildings built in the early days
of the town.
A Livestock Market.
Philiipsburg is noted for the posi-
ton she holds as horse and mule
market. There are four local buyers
here E, A. Bracken, F.. A Dixon, l.
c. Mcdowell and a. H. Turney. who
have handled a volume of business
aggregating over 100000 in the year
1915.
Among the new business enterprises
in 1915 was the organization of the
new bank. the Farmers National,
which commenced business early in
October The new bank gives the
town three solid banking houses. The
officers are: President, Joseph Brown;
vice presidents, James Carman and
Harry sims; cashier, w. C. Smith; as
sistant cashier, A. H. Granger. AT
the close of business December 81,
last, the deposits aggregated sea-
542.90. Among the officers and di-
rectors are a number of Phillips
county's substantial farmers.
Has Good Schools.
In school matters Phillips county
schools in the county and ia organ
lied districts. The teachers wages
range from $45 to $50 month. Net
tie w. Barber is serving her third term
as superintendent. She is also a
member of the State Teachers board
of directors. Two lady teachers of
the county who have been teaching
several years attended the last meet
ing of the State Teachers association
for the first time. They were nicely
entertained, and promise to attend the
future annual meetings.
Many Banks in County.
There are ten banking houses in
Phillips county, and they are doing
business with ample capital. The
good crops raised the last two years
make them bulge out with deposits.
The county has five newspapers, and
they are working for the upbuilding
of town and county. There was
time when ten newspapers were try
ing to exist.
The writer of these notes remem-
bers the time when the few buildings
around the public square were frame
shacks, most of them, and the first
court house was in the same class, and
buffalo grass was growing in the
streets. Today a modern $4,000
court house graces the town, and
many of the business houses are sub
stantial brick The old frame hotel.
the Albaugh house, where the writer
ate his first meal nearly forty years
ago. burned down, and a modern,
three-stor brick, the Bissell hotel, is
doing a big business. In the pioneer
days tallow candles and kerosene oil
lighted the houses and today the
homes and business houses are light
ed with electricity. The old stage
coach and horse vehicles carried the
people, today they ride in automobiles
and on the Rock Island railroad.
Many Changes Wrought.
Waterworks, fine schools and
churches Masonic temple building,
auditorium, three garages, railroad d.
vision and roundhouse. cement and
brick walks, Touring mill and other
industries have been built here. The
little frame town the writer first saw
forty years ago has made wonderful
DEVELOPMENT the last few wears