The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-05-01
REAL LIVE TOWN
Goodland, Kan., Is Enjoying
Great Prosperity Now.
Correspondent Tells of Days
When Rainmakers FlOuriShed.

Goodland, Kan, May 1.-Mr. and
Mrs. VIM. Walker, jr.. will never get
lonesome in their new modern bum
galow home in Goodland. 1t stands on
a site adjoining town, on the famous
Golden Belt auto route, where in sea-
son 500 autos have travelled daily going
to and returning from Colorado points.
The Walker home cost about $500.
This spring Mr.. Walker has set out
several hundred shade and fruit
trees.
Mr. Walker is a believer in autos.
He owns one himself. He is also
postmaster. He believes the western
Kansas farmers have reason to be
thankful upon the advent of the autos.
Now their mail matter is supplied by
autos They come to town IN autos
bringing in the produce, and carry
home the groceries in the same con-
veyances Mr.. Walker has been in the
implement industry for more than
quarter of a century in Sherman coun-
ty. The biggest business year OF all
was in 1892 when his sales aggregated
$4,000.
The steam tractor has come to
Sherman county to stay. In one week
Mr.. Walker sold five. 1t is the opln-
ion of scores of people that more SOD
will be turned over in the county this
year than in the last dozen years com
bined. There is money in farming IN
Sherman county. many farmers sell
ing their surplus wheat this year Tor
big prices and several of them mar
vested from 10000 to 1900 bushels.
Many New Settlers.
Many new settlers have moved to
Sherman county since spring opened
The. T. V. Lowe Realty Co. has so far
sold IA quarter sections since July,
1916, and many of their customers
have already moved on their lands
The company believes the land values
in the county will largely improve this
wear. These farms sold for $2,0OO
to $4,000. Three noted ranches have
lately been sold. That of Herman
Greiger brought $4,000. The Lee
Conquest ranch sold for about $780, O0,
and that of John Knight for $35,OOo-
These ranches embraced from 500 to
1000 acres.
1t is estimated there is upwards of
$4,000 worth of farm improvements
under way at this time tributary to
Goodland. The late rains in Sherman
county have been beneficial not only TO
the faces of all, but the people are put
ting in all the crops they can, ana
the townspeople are making gardens
GoodIand Pioneers.
Goodland is the home OF f. H. Mur-
ply. He has lived in the county Since
the days of the pioneers He was Tor
sherman Center for the county seat,
and when his town failed he moved TO
Goodland opened a law Office, anu
STAYED. His law practice aggregates
$4,000 a year and more IN western
Kansas and eastern Coloraoo- oudse
Langmade, of Oberlin, who presides
over the courts in another district,
considers him one of the best lawyers
in this section of the state
VIM. Walker, jr., came to sherman
county in 1885, locating in Eustis, the
county seat at the time. He has seen
the ups and downs of pioneer western
Kansas life. The permanent county
seat election changed the complexion
of affairs in Sherman county GOOD
land started to build after Eustis'
sherman Center, Voltaire, 1tasca,
Leonard and Candy had their founda-
tions laid for seat of government The
Goodlandites had the longest pole and
won and most of the people moved
here and have built up solid, sub
stantial town, and the Rock Island
railroad division and shops pay out
about $4,000 monthly. Careful esti-
mates of the amount of new improve
ments completed and under way this
year aggregate $125,000.
Had Rain Companies
The rain companies tried to make
it rain here along about 1889 Two
Goodland at the time. One of them
widely advertised a rain-making trial
a certain date. People flocked here
for miles. The day came for the Eek
pertinent the people were here to see.
On account of an accident and the be-
lated train the rainmaker didn't reach
Goodland the day advertised. Extra
trains carried the visitors to their
homes and all seemed disguised and
called the advertised rain making ex-
pertinent a fake and fraud. Late in
the evening the clouds came up and
gave Sherman county a thorough
, soaking. Had the rain-maker arrived
on time, he would have got the credit
for the rain. AS it was the rain came
in time to make good crops without
the aid of a rainmaker. About all
that is known of him now is now and
then a letter comes to the Goodland
postoffice asking if the rain making
companies are in existence yet, and
whether there is any money in the