Leonardville is situated on the Kansas Central railroad, a little north and west of the center of Riley County.  It is nineteen miles east of Clay Center and one hundred and twenty-eight miles west from Leavenworth.  There is no town of importance nearer than Clay Center on the west, and Garrison on the east is not likely to interfere in the least with the future growth and development of Leonardville.  South, there are no trade centers nearer than Junction City and Manhattan; and north none nearer than Waterville and Blue Rapids.  Hence it will be seen that there is a large scope of Country tributary to Leonardville, in which no rival town can successfully compete.  The town is beautifully located on the high-rolling prairie, which recedes in graceful undulations as far as the eye can reach in all directions.  This grand stretch of magnificent prairie is dotted here and there with artificial groves, with now and then a small stream of water meandering through a belt of timber, giving variety to the landscape as well as furnishing water and shelter for the LARGE HERDS OF STOCK that graze on the prairies, and also furnishing timber in limited quantities for fuel and the various purposes for which timber is indispensable.  

This whole region is under an advanced state of cultivation, and thickly dotted with well improved and highly productive farms that are from year to year yielding abundant crops of rye, wheat, oats and corn, under the tillage of the hardy, energetic farmers who came here twelve or fifteen years ago empty handed, and took possession of the wild domain, and with untiring energy and persistent toil subdued the soil, built up beautiful homes, and surrounded themselves with an abundance of the comforts and luxuries of life.  All over these prairies, speckled in all directions, thousands of cattle feed, and thousands of hogs consume thousands upon thousands of bushels of the almost FABULOUS CORN CROP produced from year to year.  Large herds of sheep also graze in various localities, and horses of the finest stock in the world, among them several imported stallions, are owned by the enterprising farmers of the surrounding country.  The farmers who have subdued this fine region of country and brought it under such a high state of cultivation came here from all parts of the Union, and a large proportion from the other side of the Atlantic – Sweden, Germany, Great Britain, Wales and Ireland.  They are all men of grit and courage or they never would have braved the dangers, privations and toil of pioneer life, nor could they ever have gained so signal a victory over the wild waste they have transformed into such a paradise of beauty, grandeur and plenty.

This being the character of the men who have FOUGHT THEIR WAY UP, from nothing to opulence and plenty, what may we not expect from them in the future?  May we not safely assume that the pluck, energy and tact that have brought about such grand results in so short a time from the wild prairies of the frontier, will in the future, from the fertile farms of northern Riley, with railroad facilities and home markets bring about a state of prosperity almost beyond the power of the mind at the present time to grasp.  We feel assured that there is scarcely a limit to the possibilities of the future development and prosperity of this fertile and productive region, whose fame has hitherto been permitted to remain unheralded and unknown.  Immense crops of rye, wheat, oats and corn will be produced from year to year, thousands and thousands of hogs and cattle will be raised, fatted and sold, and Leonardville will be the COMMERCIAL CENTER where all these vast products will be put upon the market.  These products will increase from year to year as the country continues to improve, and the facilities for handling and storing them much increase in a like ratio.  Not only will the products of the country increase, but as the facilities for handling them are increased and improved, the radius of tributary territory will be extended, so that in a few years, if the business men of the town are WIDE AWAKE and provide facilities adequate to conveniently receive, store and handle the products of the country, which will without doubt be the case, this live town will have grown to a busy, booming metropolis, with mills, elevators, ware-houses, manufactories, and all the various routine of trades and industries that go into the make-up of a live, progressive western city.  This, to some, may seem an overdrawn picture; but it is not.  It is all practical, possible and probably; in fact, with ordinary sagacity and business tact in the management of the business interests of the town, it is inevitable.

LEONARDVILLE  TOWNSITE was surveyed and platted in September, 1881.  The site comprising a portion of the farms of Lucien Kilbourne, John Ford and Erpelding Bros.  Erpelding Bros. and Mr. Kilbourne, donated the right of way through their farms, and each alternate lot; and Mr. Ford gave each alternate lot, to the Railroad company as a consideration for locating the town and surveying and platting the same, and recording the town plat, which they did in September, 1881, as above.

The first house built in town was B. F. Quinn’s LUMBER OFFICE, which is now occupied by Mr. Bacon as a portion of a residence.  The second building was Mrs. Tuttle’s boarding house, next Sikes’ store and the post-office, and following these several other buildings, both business and dwelling houses.  Several buildings were also brought here from Riley Center, and the town of Leonardville became a materialized fact, a living town, the nucleus of the present live and promising city, and future metropolis of northern Riley.  Since that time, it was grown rapidly, men of means have been attracted by its unusual promise, and its circle of commercial influences is widening as the weeks roll by.  To give an idea of the resources of the town and the increase of the volume of business transacted, we append a brief sketch of the more prominent business houses and trades of the place, and the business men who are closely connected with its history and development.

opened the first store in town on the 3d day of November 1881, in a room twenty by thirty feet, which was then located on the west side of Erpelding avenue, north of the site now occupied by the post office.  During the summer of 1882, he moved his store-room to the corner of Second Street and Erpelding Avenue, where it now stands, and added twelve feet to the front, and a year later added twenty-four feet to the rear of the building, making a room twenty by sixty-six feet, with an adequate wareroom added.  From a small beginning less than three years ago, his business has grown to large proportions:  and his customers are scattered over the entire country for many miles in all directions.  Mr. Sikes, in addition to his mercantile business, has been engaged in buying and shipping corn, of which he has shipped many thousand bushels.  Mr. Sikes came here from Garrison, and the Garrison folks made light of his adventure, saying that he was coming to a place where there was no money.  About two months after he left, nearly the entire row in which he had been located, including the building he occupied, was burned down.  Three failures have occurred since he left; but fortune has smiled on him and his business is now flourishing in one of the liveliest young towns in Kansas.  Mr. Sikes was led to the decision to come to Leonardville by the impression he formed of the surrounding country while riding over it buying up a lot of young cattle.  The character of the country was such that he arrived at the conclusion that a town located in the midst of such a country could not but be a desirable business location, and he at once resolved to make it the scene of his future business operations.

These young men commenced business here in the fall of 1881, in the building now used by them as a warehouse.  The next spring they built fifty feet of their present store-room, and the following fall built another fifty feet, making a building 26 x 100 feet, two stories high, tin roof, built in good style, glass front on Erpelding avenue and glass side front on Second Street.  The entire lower part is occupied by them as a general store.  The upper story contains a public hall, which is a great convenience, and in fact a necessity to a town of the pretensions and attainments of Leonardville.  They keep a general stock of merchandise, embracing in addition to the stock usually kept in a general store, a full line of harness, hardware, groceries, etc.  They are energetic, enterprising young men, and have contributed largely to the advancement of the interests of the town with the founding and early history of which they are so prominently connected.  They are now building in Leonardville and will finish this Fall, one of the finest residences in Riley county.

built the store room now occupied by himself on the west side of Erpelding Avenue during the months of April and May, 1883, and opened up a stock of General Merchandise therein during the latter part of May of the same year, and is still carrying on the business, keeping on hand a large and well selected stock of goods, doing a first-class business, having by close application to business together with fair dealing and the exercise of the genial, courteous disposition for which he is noted made himself popular over a very large scope of country.  The building occupied by Mr. Burk is 25 x 60 feet, and affords a commodious and convenient room for the handling of his extensive stock of goods.  Mr. Burk is a native of Germany, and came to the United States in 1862, settled on Fancy Creek, in this county the same year.  He kept a store there for 13 years previous to commencing business here.  He is assisted in his store by L. H. Bennett who is an efficient, thorough business man, as well as an accommodating gentleman and has a host of friends all over the country who trade at Burk’s when they come to town.  Mr. Burk makes a specialty of boots and shoes and is noted for keeping the best grades of custom made work.

W. H. Rogers and S. S. Rogers came to this place in June, 1884.  W. H. Rogers came from Atchison, where he had been engaged in the hardware business about a year.  He had previously been engaged in the business in Onaga for about six years.  S. S. came from Onaga to this place where he had been engaged in the hardware business for some time.  They purchased the stock of hardware then owned by O. E. Castor, who had established the business here early in the spring.  They have been doing a large and steadily increasing business since that time, not only in hardware, but also have a very extensive trade in agricultural implements, wagons, buggies, etc.  They have built a new store-room this summer, 26 x 60 feet, which they now occupy in addition to their original quarters.  They have a tin-ware establishment in connection with their store, and furnish everything in that line, and do all kinds of work usually done in a first class tine-shop.

A. G. Cress & Co., furniture dealers, have a large furniture establishment and are doing an extensive business.  A. G. Cress commenced the business here on the 19th day of August, 1883, at the stand now occupied by A. G. Cress & Co., on Erpelding Avenue, with a six hundred dollar stock of goods.  He conducted the business alone until March 6th, 1884, when he associated with himself in the business Mr. Enoch Starcher, who is still connected with the firm.  The business has increased since the opening of the store by Mr. Cress more than four fold, and the goods now in stock would invoice over twenty-five hundred dollars.  This is a find showing for a business of only one year’s standing and not only speaks well for the enterprising managers, but it indicate the extensive resources of the country tributary to our city.  The business is still on the increase, and the firm will be obliged to build additional room at an early day, in order to meet the demands of their growing trade.

who has been engaged in the mercantile business at Bala in this county for fourteen years, and still carries on a store there, built a two story building on the corner of Erpelding Avenue and Second St., now occupied by himself as a general store in the first story, the second story being fitted up for a lodge room, and occupied as such by the Masons, Odd Fellows and Knight of Pythias.  The building is a frame, 24 x 70 feet, well built and finished up in good style.  The building was finished and occupied by Mr. Davies with a stock of general merchandise in the early part of August, 1883.  He now has an extensive and well established trade and is doing a large business, which is increasing steadily as the town grows and the country improves.  Mr. Davies is a native of Wales, but has been long enough in America to become thoroughly Americanized, and to form a large circle of warm friends, and establish a reputation as an upright and thorough business man.  He is at present a resident of Bala, but as his interests are mainly in Leonardville, he will of course, at no distant day become a resident of the city in which his large business interests are mainly concentrated.

Dr. J. Crans graduated at the Medical College of Keokuk, Iowa.  Came to Kansas in 1869, and engaged in the practice of medicine in Riley Center in this county.  In connection with his practice, and in response to the demands of the country, he opened up a drug store at that place during the winter 1874-5.  In the winter of 1882-3, fore-shadowing coming events, he removed his drug store, building and all, together with his dwelling house to the new town of Leonardville, where he associated with himself in the drug business J. W. Beck, and together they have done a prosperous and growing business since that time, and are now well established as one of the leading business houses of our city.  Dr. Crans still continues the practice of medicine and having established a reputation as a skillful and reliable physician has a large and growing practice.  He possesses a strong faith in Leonardville, and is always at the front in whatever scheme is up for the purpose of advancing the interests of the town.

Lucien Kilbourne was appointed postmaster of the 15th day of February, 1881, and the post office, which he kept at his house on the farm, was established as Alembic post office.  The office was kept at his house until December following, when it was removed to the present site, Mr. Kilbourne having erected a building purposely for it.  On the 28th of June 1882, the name of the office was changed to Leonardville.  When first established the Post Master received the enormous salary of $1.80 per quarter for his valuable services.  The business of the office has increased to such an extent that a large number of glass and lock-boxes are brought in requisition, and readily sold, and the business of the office is rapidly increasing as the town grows.  Mr. Kilbourne, the Post Master, is an old soldier, served over three years, was wounded in the arm at Spotsylvania Court-house, Va., on the 12th of May, 1864, from the effects of which he has lost the use of his right arm.  He is one of the founders of Leonardville, and a portion of the town site is located on the corner of his farm.

from Leavenworth to Miltonvale, in Cloud county, was completed to Leonardville in November 1881, and its business, which was fair from the first has been steadily increasing, until it has reached dimensions far beyond anything dreamed of at the opening of business here.  To give an approximate idea of the rapid increase, we append a couple of items illustrative of the rate of increase.  The increase of business for the month of April 1883, over that of April 1882, was almost $1,400; and the increase for November, 1883, over November 1882, was over $1,500.  The increase of April 1883, was not so large, owing to temporary causes; but the receipts for November, 1884, will show a much larger ratio of increase that did those of 1883.  The Kansas Central is a narrow-gauge road, but it will readily be seen that it is doing a broad gauge business, and that is does business with at lead one broad-gauge town.

was opened June 9th of this year in a new building built especially for it, by P. D. Smith, late of Osborne, Kas., where he has been engaged in the mercantile business about 6 years.  The business transacted by the bank so far has been highly satisfactory to the proprietor, and will steadily increase as the town grows.  It is supplied with a Beard Bros. safe, with screw door and time lock, considered the nearest burglar proof of any safe manufactured.

came here from Clay Center early this spring and built the livery stable opposite the Pacific House, now owned by Wilcox & Deputy.  After carrying on the livery business for a short time he sold out to the parties about mentioned and built a business room on his lot south of the bank, and about the 1st of August opened up a fruit and confectionery store in connection with which he keeps a lunch house and ice cream parlor, and will serve oysters in their season.  He started out with a nice business which will of course grow with everything else connected with the town.

established their lumber yard here in March, 1882, putting in a large stock of lumber to begin with.  Business opened up well at the start and has steadily increased until at the present time they are doing a very extensive business, not only supplying the demand for lumber in the immediate vicinity but also sending large amounts to distant points, some as far as Washington Co.  They are a strong firm and are permanently located here and fully identified with the interests of the town, and like all other shrewd business men have an abiding wish in the future of the young metropolis.

after selling out his hardware business to Rogers Bros. in June, 1883, engaged in the well drilling and pump business and since that time has drilled over 20 wells in Leonardville alone, and in town and vicinity about 50.  He has also done an extensive business in selling and putting in pumps.

In April of the present year Christenson Bros. build a skating rink 24 x 60 feet, which has been well patronized and furnishes a place of resort, recreation and amusement for the young people of the town, as well as many older ones with young hearts.

a native of Sweden, opened a blacksmith shop here in June of this year, and is doing a prosperous business at present, which, of course, is steadily growing.

J. H. Jenkins and Chas. Bacon opened a drug store on the corner of Erpelding Avenue and Second street during the month of May, 1882.  They carry a large line of drugs and keep in stock everything usually kept in a first-class drug store.  They have established an extensive trade, which, in harmony with the spirit of progress that pervades everything connected with the town, is steadily increasing. 

(Continued in next column.)

Leonardville, from the RR tracks looking north. (circa. 1886)

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Mr. Bacon is a native of Cardiff, South Wales, where he was for a short time engaged as a clerk.  He came to America about two years ago and entered into a business arrangement with Mr. Jenkins as above.  Mr. Bacon has charge of the drug department, while Mr. Jenkins looks after the interests of the other department.  They are a strong, reliable firm and fully and permanently identified with the interests of the town.

BAKERY

F. J. Ward started a bakery here about the middle of October, 1883.  He has been doing a good business since that time, which he finds is still increasing as the population of the town increases, and will be obliged to increase his facilities in order to keep pace with the growing demand.

HARNESS  SHOP

Mr. L. L. Swagerty started a harness shop during the latter part of March, 1883, in a small building on the south side of Erpelding Avenue.  He carried on the shop until May 16th, 1884, when he sold his business and rented his building to

C. E.  MOFFETT.

Mr. Moffett had previously, about April 1st, this year, opened a harness shop and put in a large stock.  After purchasing Mr. Swagerty’s business he removed his stock to the Swagerty building.  Mr. Swagerty having built a large addition to the front of his shop, and has since that time been doing a large and increasing business, and now finds it necessary to employ two hands to supply the demand.

These gentlemen carry on an extensive business in their large blacksmith and wagon shop near the depot.  They make and repair wagons and buggies, and do all kinds of work in that line, carry on a paint shop, also do a general blacksmithing business.  Mr. Smith presides over the wagon department, and turns out first class work, while Mr. Griffith superintends the blacksmithing department, in which business he is a skillful workman, especially in horse-shoeing, in which he has a State reputation.  They are crowded with work, many of their customers coming from a long distance.

Mr. B. Jones, the proprietor of this hotel removed the building here from Riley Center, where he had been engaged in the hotel business about a year, in March, 1881.  Since then he has built an addition on the south 16 x 30 feet, and one on the east 20 x 20 feet, one and a half stories high.  Notwithstanding this additional room, and the building of another hotel in the city, he is crowded for room.  He has a good business, which like every other business in town, is growing better every day.

Ira Wilcox removed his livery stable from Riley Center to this place in September, 1882.   He has been engaged in the business since that time, and has had extensive patronage from the first which is still increasing.  His stable will accommodate thirty horses at present, but he will be obliged to add more room in a short time to accommodate his increasing business.  His son, Hubbard Wilcox, has been associated with him in the business until recently, but about three months ago, in company with D. E. Deputy, he purchased Wm. Raymond’s livery stable near the depot, which is now run by

and is now doing a thriving business as a livery and feed stable, and will soon require additional room in order to keep pace with the steady increase of business.

D. D. M. Eaton, painter, carries on the business of painting in all its departments, and has been kept busy during the present year.  The large number of new buildings erected making business in that line abundant.

A. W. Newman, contractor and builder, came here and commenced business in 1882.  He has been the main man in his line of business since that time, and has built over two thirds of the buildings in town.  He is a thorough workman and understands the business in all its branches, as his work will fully attest.  He is permanently located here in a fine residence of his own, and expects to build many more fine residences in our beautiful city.

graduated at the St. Louis Medical and Surgical College in the year 1876.  He is a native of Germany, came to this country in 1870 and followed the medical profession since that time in St. Louis.  Came to this State four years ago, was located at Mayday (sic) three years, then came to Leonardville where he is now located, and engaged in the successful practice of his profession.  Dr. Meier is at present coroner of Riley county.

graduated at Belleview Hospital Medical College, New York City, in 1869, immediately entered upon the practice of medicine in North Umberland county, Pa., from there, removed to Brooklyn, N. Y., from whence he came to Kansas, located in Leonardville, March 8th, 1883, where he has been successfully engaged in the practice of medicine to the present time.  He has built him a neat residence in the city, and it pleasantly and permanently located, and identified with the interests of the town and community.

have a church organization here and hold regular services in Erpelding’s hall.  They have purchased ground for a church building, and will in a short time commence the erection of a church edifice.

This denomination have built for themselves a neat and commodious stone church, which is pleasantly located on the south side of North Second street in the eastern part of town.  The church has a large membership and is in a prosperous condition.  They have a good Sunday school connected with their church which is also prospering.

This denomination has a society organization here and will build a church building as soon as practicable, which will no doubt be in the near future.  Rev. H. R. Lewis is in charge and being a thorough worker, will soon have his society in a house of their own.

This denomination is quite well represented here hand have a neat and commodious church edifice on the south side of the railroad.  They have regular services which are well attended.

Rev. G. W. Havermale, pastor, has a membership of 23.  The society has no church edifice, but owns a half block of ground beautifully located on an eminence overlooking the town, upon which they have a comfortable parsonage, and upon which they will also erect a church at as early a day as the prosperity of the society will admit.  With the church organization is connected a Sunday school, of which Dr. Thomas is superintendent.

In 1882 James C. Kelly built the Pacific House on the west side of Erpelding Avenue near the depot.  It is two stories high and consists of a main building and a wing.  Mr. Kelly furnished the house and conducted it from the time it was finished until April, 1884, when he sold the hotel and furniture to

who has remodeled it, built some additional room and fitted it up in first-class style.  He has an extensive patronage and will soon be obliged to build more room.

is dealing extensively in stock, buying and shipping large quantities of both cattle and hogs.  His business is of course on the increase and will so continue.

a resident of Leonardville, is extensively engaged in buying and shipping stock.  His shipments the present season have been large, and are steadily increasing.

has charge of the depot at this place, and looks after the complicated affairs of that institution.  He performs the duties of ticket, freight and express agent and telegraph operator, and performs the various duties of his position with promptness and dispatch.  He will soon however need more help, more room and better facilities.

Peter Wettstein is carrying on a large hennery adjoining the town site on the east.  He is putting in an incubator, which will greatly enhance the profits of the institution.

Dr. Stewart is located here as a dentist and is doing a growing business in that line.

is carrying on a furniture store on the north side of second street, west of Erpelding Avenue, and is doing an extensive business.   He is a native of Sweden and came to Kansas in the early times and took a homestead.  He has had ample experience in the furniture line and literally grew up with this country.  He is therefore thoroughly identified with the interests of the town and country, and as the Swedish people constitute a large portion of the population his business is well patronized and steadily improving.

sits in the chair of justice in this city, occupying the honorable and lucrative position of Justice of the Peace.  His court is frequently in session and is presided over with dignity and judicial ability, and judgments of the judge are seldom reversed.

The Clay Center creamery company is gathering cream at this place, running several wagons and making this their center, expending over five hundred dollars per month in our town and neighborhood.  They expect to build a creamery here this winter ready for Spring business.  This will be another improvement auxiliary to the business of our town.

Mr. Rogers and Miss Evans opened a millinery store in May this year in room over Rogers Bros. hardware store and have been carrying on a successful business since that time.  They (?) and are building up a prosperous business.

Mr. Lewis Laflin has built a commodious stone ice house on the rear of his billiard hall lot, which he filled with ice last winter, and has been supplying the market with it during the summer.  It has not only been a profitable investment to Mr. Laflin, but has also been a great convenience and luxury to the community.  Mr. Laflin is a man of large means, good business qualifications, and although not at present engaged in business, will probably soon open up in some new enterprise that will add largely to the volume of business in town.

Wm. McBryer is building and will soon complete a bowling alley 75 feet long.

In June, 1883, Philip Young built the billiard hall on the east side of Erpelding Avenue, finishing it about the middle of August, in the same year.  He occupied it until December 28th of the same year, when he sold it to Lewis Laflin, of Clay county, who occupied it as a billiard hall until the 1st of the present month, when it was occupied for the same purpose by B. L. Bredburg to whom he leased the building and furniture for the term of one year.  Mr. Bredburg also carries on a billiard hall in the building in which the MONITOR office is now located, making two billiard halls in town.

Henry Boy, a German, and an industrious and skillful workman, carries on a boot and shoe shop in a building of his own on Erpelding avenue, and is doing a prosperous business, having all he can do.

Mrs. R. D. Williams is proprietor of the first millinery store in town, and keeps a well selected stock always on hand, and is doing a prosperous business.  She carries on the business in a building of her own, located on Erpelding Avenue, near the business center of the town.

D. Winters had been carrying on a meat market here for some time, but on account of failing health, thought best to go out of the business and during the spring of this year sold his tools and business to

of Manhattan, who immediately erected a new and commodious building, put in a first class ice chest and other improvements, and has been doing an active and steadily improving business up to the present time, with ample promise of a steady increase in the future.

These gentlemen are natives of Germany, having but recently come to America.  They are energetic, industrious men, and good mechanics.  They do an extensive black smith business, turning out good, honest work, although crowded continually.  They also carry on a wagon and carriage shop, also a paint shop, and do a rushing business in both these lines.  Their work is of superior quality, and their business is growing steadily.  Their business this season has been crowding them, especially in the line of painting, and they have been obliged to employ assistance in order to be able to do the work.

This important acquisition to our town, though not yet completed is progressing steadily in that direction.  The main building is up, enclosed and painted.  It is 28 x 40 feet, and two stories high above the basement.  The addition, which is now being enclosed, is 21 x 40 feet, and one story above the basement.  The basement extends under the entire building, and will contain the boiler, engine and other machinery.  There will be three run of burrs, two for wheat, and one for corn.  These will be located on the first floor.  The capacity of the mill will be about sixty to seventy five barrels per day.  The mill is being built by

Mr. Condray is an experienced engineer and has had extensive experience in the milling business, and understands how to carry it on.  Mr. Sumners has had extensive experience in handling and dealing in grain, and understands that part of the business thoroughly.  Together they will handle the mill to good advantage, and make it a paying institution to themselves, and a valuable addition to the steadily multiplying industries of the town.  They expect to have the mill ready to grind by the first of October.

A lodge of the above order was organized here in May of this year, and is yet working under a dispensation.  It bids fair to be permanent, as is (?) with lodges of that order usually, and will be one of the future active organizations of our city.

A post of the G. A. R. has been running here for some time and now has in the neighborhood of forty members.  The Post has a good hall in which to hold its meetings, which is beautifully adorned with (?) is a roomy and pleasant place of meeting.

The above lodge was organized last fall, with a large membership, which has since that time been considerably increased.  It is the strongest lodge in the city, and steadily growing stronger.

A lodge of the above order was organized at this place on the 7th day of May, 1884.  It now has sixteen members, and more are coming in.  It is in a prosperous condition, and will steadily grow into a large organization.

The Erpelding Bros. have just donated to the town and school district for a

a block of ground containing about five acres, situated south and adjacent to the present town site.  This is a beautiful location, and while not so sightly as might have been selected at an earlier day, is nevertheless a fine one, and when improved, as it no doubt will be and adorned with shade trees, evergreens, etc., will be a most delightful and inviting place. 

They will also donate to the city a park, consisting of several acres of ground in the vicinity, and lay off in connection with these an addition to the town site, embracing several acres of ground.  Thus will be supplied a pressing demand for lots for building purposes, the scope of the town greatly enlarged, and its population rapidly increased.

A proposition will be submitted to the school district to vote $1,000 bonds for the purpose of erecting a school house, with a view to supplying for the present the necessary room to accommodate the largely increased school population of the town.  It is expected, however, that within two or three years, it will become necessary to build a large and expensive school building, in order to keep pace with the increase of population consequent upon the growth and prosperity of the town.  The district still owns the old school building and site, which will be used for the present for school purposes.

On the third day of April, 1884, the above unpretentious craft steamed into the ring and opened fire in the interest of progress, good order and social advancement, and has been doing effective work since that time in the interest of the young city to whose prosperity and development it is chiefly devoted.  The MONITOR makes no flaming pretensions, is meek in manner and calm in deportment, but at the same time it is vigorous and unwavering in its devotion to principle, and does not hesitate to speak out with emphasis on all subjects involving principle or questions of public economy.  But the mission of the MONITOR is mainly of a local character, and its chief object is to advance the interests of our young city and its surrounding country and contribute as much as possible to the growth and development of both.  The paper now has a large circulation, which is increasing every week.  Its field of usefulness is being widened and it is being recognized throughout the State as a paper far above the average country newspapers.