Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1919-05-01

The Giant Town of the Western Kan
sas Border, Only a Year Old, But
The Pride Of All Who
Behold 1t

March s, 1879
1t is the aim of this article to de-
Iineate in brief, the Wa-Keeney OF to-
day. Tt is hoped that no residence or
business building in town Will be mss
ed in this summary; and where mis-
take of this character occurs, the own
or of the building sighted can have
the error righted in our next issue.
Wa-Keeney is the principal town
in Treeo County, and its site IS Sec
ton 9. Township II, range 70 West
The town is divided into two nearly
eouaI parts by the Kansas PACING
railway running through 1T east ana
west. Up to this time, most OF the
building has been done north OF the
track that on the south being comm
ed to few residences, two or three
bIacksnniths shops, a lumber yard ana
an agricultural implement store Ihe
greatest altitude in this place IS at It's
northern limit, and thence there IS
a gradual depression until the south
side is reached. This doubtless ac-
counts for the bulk OF the buildings
and the trade being north of the
railroad track. There is, however,
general tendency in the direction of
building on the land south of the rail
road Lots in this part of town al
ready command fair prices
This town, which is the wonder of
Kansas enterprise-and Kansas leads
all other states in startling develope-
ment-contains about three hundred
inhabitants, who, in point of broad IN
teilectuality and progressive energy,
are not surpassed by those of any
locality, old or new, in the West. They
are, for the most part, from the state
of Illinois, very large percentage
of them from the business elements
of Chicago, while natives of nearly
every state can be found
No rowdyism, no law1essness, no
idling-these are the characteristics
which distinguish Wa-Keeney from
the average new town anywhere in
the west.
The contemplation of the town of
'Wa-Keeney dates only to October,
1877. The contemp1ators were War
rem, Keeney & Co., of Evanston, Ill
These gentlemen had determined to
establish colony somewhere in this
state, and with this project in view,
they took projecting prospecting
tour over the Atchison, Topeka &
Santa Fe railway, and failing to find
such location as they desired, they
came out on the Kansas Pacific, and
Wa-Keeney was the result. These
gentlemen have been located here
most of the time since. The first
building erected in the town was what
is now the Halstead Hotel, and was
ready for occupancy about the middle
of February. The town was laid out
January 10, 1878. About the first of
March following Keeney Brothers
opened a general supply store. New
buildings now grew up with greater
frequency, and up to this time, the
growth of the town has been steady
and healthy. And, although the diff
ferent classes of business are well
represented here, as will be seen by
our advertising columns, it can hardly
be claimed that business is in danger
of being overdone, when in addition
to the trade from our own county, we
consider that from the counties of
Ness, Graham, Norton and Cove
owe are only publishing a partial
list of the residence and business |
buildings which are as follows:
w. H. Fuson has house with three |
rooms on lot IL, block 49,
The court house square is on block
81. On the southeast corner of the |
square is the public well. 1t is nearly |
two hundred feet deep, and is operat- /
ed by large costly windmill.
Joseph Escher owns the large |
boarding house on lot 21, block So.
He Is a genial gentleman and is well |
patronized.
The commodious two-story build
ing on lot 10, block SO, is W. T.
Hunters The upper story is used as
a residence, the lower as an office for
his lumber yard Mr.. Hunter believes
in printers ink, as will be seen from
our advertising columns and has
stock of lumber worth advertising
The World office stands on the
north half of lot IS, block SO, and its
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