The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-03-12

LUDELL TO LIFE
Rawlins County Town More
Prosperous Than in Old Days.
State Journal Correspondent
Tells of Its Re-Awakening.

LudeI. Kan, March 12.-It has
been thirty years since the state Jour
nal correspondent first visited Luoell'
in Rawlins county. Crossing Beaver
creek after an all nights ram IN com
pany with deputy United States col
lector Noble L. PrentlS and the
driver, the water in the creek was out
of its banks. The collector mad TO
visit the town to renew some licenses
while Prentis and the writer having
no business in the town at first re-
fused to cross. The stream was
treacherous. and we refused to cross
at the ford, there being no bridges
across Beaver creek in those days
Finally the collector guaranteed to
stand all losses if any should occur by
the drowning of the horses or to the
carriage. Prentis suggested to the
driver to prepare StrawS, and the one
drawing the long straw should decide
what to do about crossing the creek.
The collector won, and the horses and
passengers We're soon on the opposite
side AS the horses plunged into the
middle of the stream the water was
so deep all we could see were their
heads out of the water, the driver
urging them to travel faster. and the
United States collector, Prentis and
your correspondent standing up on the
seats trying to keep from getting wet.
1t was a miraculous escape for the
horses and passengers.
! Ludell at that time had large
hotel, bank, newspaper, two saloons
lumber yard and several business
| houses and a population larger than
today. 1t was in the boom times. and
people were coming IN and homestead
ing. A few years later the boom
died away and Ludell lost her bank,
newspaper, lumber yard, hotel and
saloons besides a number of her mer-
camille houses.
Business REEVES.
In later years Ludell took a new
| lease of life. Another bank started,
| a lumber yard put in it's appearance.
| Two garages are in operation as well
as cement plant. A large school
| house has a commanding view of
miles of fertile country. a church,
| three elevators with a combined ca
pacity of about 40, 900 bushels, rail-
road. two general stores, hardware
and implements, hotel and other small
er houses have been erected.
Julius Biltz. cashier of the bank for
several years, has resigned and will
live in Manhattan for the present to
educate his children. He has been
succeeded by B. NJ. Tobias. Henry
Rodenbeek. one of the pioneer set
tiers, prosperous farmer and large
land owner, is president. The business
men report good trade.
big crop of wheat was raised here
in 1916. The scarcity of cars has
compelled the wheat raisers to hold
| their crop, and it is claimed only
about one-half of the yield of the
tributary to Ludell has been marketed.
/ The outlook this year is not so good
as ytlr ago at this time but no one
is scared.
The State Journal correspondent is
pleased every time he visits Rawlins
county and northwest Kansas Every
visit he sees improvements going on
and the farmers and townspeople gen
orally contented and apparently pros
porous. Every day brings in new
corners and many sales of farm lands
are being made. And this means set
Element and development.