ROSSTON RESOURCES-A VISIT TO THE PLACE DEMONSTRATES THAT THERE'S LIFE IN THE OLD TOWN YET The following article appeared in the July 21, 1906 issue of The Nevada News. See Map I for the location of Rosston. This town still exists. Probably no place in Nevada County outside Prescott is better known than Rosston. Located near the center, it became as it were a gateway for passage of most travel through the county north and south, and has tributary to its markets a large scope of valuable territory. W. H. Hendrix and Bob Fairchild do a thriving mercantile business while Dr. T. J. Mendenhall has a small stock of drugs and stationery in the post office building. The principal pursuit of persons in the vicinity of Rosston is farming and they seem to be prosperous. The soil produces well, and it is good, strong sandy land. Around Rosston strong evidence of iron appears plainly in the rock that abounds in abundance on the hills close by. No actual test has yet been made of the exact amount of iron to the ton of ore, it is our opinion that with proper capital and ample transportation facilities, the mining of iron could be made profitable. Coal also exists in the neighborhood. Within two miles of Rosston is a strata of good coal in limited quantities. A saw mill this past winter operated with this fuel taken from a 3 ft. vein that lies near the surface, and it is believed this vein is but the outshoot of a bed of coal that may make this section rich. There is still left an abundance of pine timber in this section, although the mills of the Cotton Belt a few years ago ran a spur into this territory, and took away considerable of the the choisest bodies of yellow pine. The mail facilities of Rosston are excellent. A daily route from Prescott carries the mail there, where it is distributed by rural free delivery through Caney, Jackson, Taylor, Parker, and a part of Albany townships. The mail that heretofore went to Caney, Young, Brisbane, and Irma post offices is now supplied out of Rosston, and these offices have been abolished. Carriers also pass the post offices of Bodcaw and Willisville, and furnish mail to many former patrons of these two places. Route No. 1 is in charge of J. T. O'Keefe, who travels east, supplying the Caney and Young neighborhoods. W. H. Bolt is the carrier of Route 2, which goes by Brisbane and Bodcaw, while J. W. Holloway carries No. 3 south supplying Irma and Willisville. Inspectors have been at work recently, locating other proposed routes, which will probably be passed upon soon. Dr. T. J. Mendenhall is the postmaster and has a neat office conveniently arranged with modern furniture. Rosston is in strong hopes of securing a railroad. It is said that the Ouachita and Valley Road, which is coming west from Lester on the Camden branch, is destined to Rosston and on to Hope. The road is already built several miles into Nevada County, and the survey for a considerable more has been made. Rosston is one of the old towns of the county, and was once the county seat. During the early 70's it was the home of a number of prominent lawyers and politicians and was quite a lively place. But after Prescott was chosen as the capital of Nevada County, most of the people left Rosston and for a while it went down. But recently there has appeared a new spirit in the place. The putting in of telephone systems that run in every direction, the establishment of rural routes, and the prospect of a railroad are some of the enterprises that destine Rosston to a renewal of her old time vigor. Some of the best people in the county live here. They are alive to their interests, public spirited in matters of civil improvements, and are in comfortable circumstances. You only have to call in mind Z. W. Bailey, Tom Whitehead, W. H. Hendrix, T. J. Mendenhall, the Fairchild's, the Haynie's, the O'Keefe's, the Wortham's, the Luck's, the Holloway's, the Dixon's, the Almand's, the East's, and dozens of others to convince yourself of this truth. Rosston has one of the largest woodsmen's camps in the county. They recently built a splendid hall, and sovereigns are all enthusiastic in their work. The Masons also have a lodge, one of the oldest in the county. Rosston supports a good school 6-8 months of the year, the last one taught by Prof. J. B. Silvey. District 29 always votes a full 5 mill tax. At present, quite a few are interested in stock raising and several citizens are dealers exlusively in horses and mules. Another contemplated improvement is a new post office and store building to be erected soon by Dr. T. J. Mendenhall on the vacant lot in front of his present building. The new structure will also serve as a post office.