From the files of the June 2, 1887, edition of the Kanopolis Journal.

CITY DIRECTORY

Mayor — A.O. Whaley

Police Judge — G.R. Brown

Councilmen — S.A. Day, L.M. Eby, F.M. Croy, G.A. Hirst, J.F. Reid

City Clerk — R.V. Morgan

City Treasurer — F. N. Wick

City Marshall — J.B. Ziegler

...

MORE UNDISPUTED FACTS

The voters of Empire township should remember that it is for them to decide next Tuesday, whether they and the city of Kanopolis shall have the Missouri Pacific railroad, or in other words the Kanopolis and Kansas Central, and we trust that they will give the matter the consideration which its importance demands. This road if built from here, will place us at once in direct communication with the grain markets of the south. From Geneseo the Missouri Pacific railroad now owns and is operating a line from there direct to Wichita and thence down to New Orleans and Galveston, Texas.

This road also reaches the immense hard pine districts of Arkansas and the coal fields of the Territory of the southern portion of the Missouri. The best soft coal now used in Kansas is the McAllister from the Territory. This company is now the strongest company operating in this state and if this road is built to Kanopolis, it is but a question of a few months at furthest when it will be built on to Beloit or some other point on the northern line of the Missouri Pacific, thus placing us on one of its most important through lines from the north to the south.

It is not at all probable that the people of Empire township of Kanopolis and Ellsworth county will ever have another as good an opportunity to get a first-class road and that too without having to wait for months. We are assured that if these propositions carry, the road will be completed within ninety days after the subscription is made, and will be here in time to carry off our products for this year.

If the people of Empire township stop to consider the matter they cannot but see that they will get at least two dollars for every one paid out. Every land owner, in the township will be benefited in the increased value of his land, from five to twenty dollars per acre, according to his location. Of course those being nearer the road may secure more benefit in this way, but if land along the road increases in value, land further away must and will also go up with it. We trust voters of Empire township will consider these things well and on Tuesday next decide that we shall have this Kanopolis and Kansas Central railroad and have it at once.

...

ELLSWORTH

HAPPENINGS

— Fresh Saline river fish are sold daily on Ellsworth streets, from wagons.

— The sporting men had an extra day of racing Saturday.

— The new bicycle club now astride the $125 wheel with all the improvements.

— The Tarr farm just above town is to be laid off into lots and blocks immediately.

— Mr. Strong, cattle king of the Rochester Company, is around offering to sell the Sternberg ranch, south of Kanopolis.

— In the baseball game Monday, wherein Ellsworth stood 51 to Kanopolis 22, it was charged the old town had good help from Salina.

— It is reported that the Ben Rice farm below town had been taken back from Russell at $10,000 and sold again for $15,000. One hundred and sixty acres in the piece.

— Ellsworth can support more livery turnouts these evenings than any town in central Kansas. So say the traveling men, and they are authority on all matters of comparison.

— The pastors of the fashionable churches keep boarders for company, and de colored preachers does whitewashing and begs old cloze; be we all ’specs to get dah jest de same. Brudder Jonson, cain’t you lend us a quarter, just for de Hancock section.

— The trouble between Esquire Conway and his old lady of Ellsworth, is now up again in the nature of a suit by the wife for separate maintenance. It is a pity the old couple cannot live out their few remaining days without resorting to law and the neighbors.

— A party of young folks are talking of a summer garden in Ellsworth, where open air concerts, platform dances, socials and refreshments can be had for all. Not a bad idea, as the school ground is a sort of public property, and yet the public can have but little good of it.

— Sunday afternoon as Mrs. aJ. W. Borrks, Miss Jennie Hill and two children were out riding, the horse shied off the approach of the Ellsworth bridge, capsizing everything down a twenty foot embankment. The buggy and harness were broken, and the ladies got bruises, but the children escaped unhurt. Proper guards at the bridge would well demand the City’s attention.

— The household and kitchen furniture of J. W. Powers, was sold on Ellsworth streets Saturday. The family moved to Springfield, Missouri.

...

KANOPOLIS AND

VICINITY

In our travels lately through the country we noticed that the acreage of corn was the largest we had ever seen in this portion of the state. We never say any finer corn, it looks thrifty an if the season proves any way favorable a large crop will be assured. Oats and wheat have taken a start since the recent rains. That is astonishing, while a full crop is not expected a good yield will be the result. The transformation lately is truly wonderful, while a week ago the crop looked parched, they are now of a healthy growth and are doing their utmost to help the boom of Kansas along.

— One pleasant evening last week a young man from this city, was taking his best girl out to her parent’s home in the country, and when on the road he was met by the girl’s “stern old dad” who in language more emphatic than elegant demanded to know “who in h___ that puppet was she was riding with in the buggy”, and ordering her to get out and ride with him. The girl reluctantly obeyed and the afore said young man had to return to town a sadder man than when he left. He has endeavored to keep this matter quiet but the fact leaked out somehow.

— Don’t mind what your physicians say, but if you want ice cream, go forth in the cool of the evening and down it.

— More than 400,000,000 fly traps have been at work in this country this summer, and yet you didn’t miss your favorite fly, did you?

— Brookville has a state bank now. The directors are Wm. Furtin, Hugh Carlin, M. D. Smith, Jas Saunder, E. E. Parker and M. Padden.

— Go to S. L. Vinsonhaler for your painting, graining, calsomining, sign writing, paper hanging and decorating, four doors west of post-office.

— There will be some fine races here on the Fourth. Several of our noted horsemen are making preparations to throw their castors into the arena and among the many we hear that Col. Snyder will place his trotter, “Sorrel Dick”, under training and give the boys a deal.

— Strangers are plentiful and the natural query is where do they all come from. The boom of Kanopolis is not only being heard but is being felt far and near.

— The boys of this vicinity are reaping a rich harvest now days in prairie dog scalps. They are getting ten cents for every scalp they kill. Go in boys and reap while you can.

— First class cabinet photographs made at the Kanopolis gallery for $4.50 per dozen.

—Adjustable window screens to fit any size windows, and door screens at Norris & Feistel’s.

— The Missouri steam washer beats them all. See them at Howenstein & Orrs.

— Will Caleb Cushing please step this way for a moment: there are about 99 dogs in Kanopolis which don’t want a cent for sitting at the corner of a house and ki-yi-yiping according to Cushing’s manual for three consecutive hours, with only a five minute interval for sitting down in a new place.

The historic items on this page appear as they did in the original publication.