It had four banks, two newspapers, several general merchandise stores, livery stable, hotels, a blacksmith shop, and residences, all housed in rude structures built of rough Pine Ridge lumber, supplemented by canvas.

The railroad grade of the Burlington which had been rapidly pushed westward during the spring and summer of this year from Anselmo, closely followed by the laying of rails, reached Alliance about January 1st, 1888. A station was opened and named Alliance, the company refusing to recognize the name Grand Lake because of its similarity to that of Grand Island, which it was claimed would result in a

confusion in train orders. F. M. Phelps, a resident of Alliance, was the first agent.

Following this the town site was platted, recorded and widely advertised throughout the east, and a sale of town lots in the coming metropolis of Alliance was held on the 25th day of February, 1888. To assist in bringing people to the new city, the Burlington railroad, through posters and the press advertised that they would run an excursion train from all Missouri river points to Alliance and return, and the fare for the rcmd trip would be five dollars. This brought a train load of prospective citizens, mechanics, artisans, merchants, hotel men, and included all the elements that generally rush to a new mining discovery or a new town. The little village of Grand Lake was overrun and was unable to adequately shelter or feed the train load of excursionists. Many men came already prepared to go into business, their stocks of goods were bought, lumber was in cars on sidetracks with which to erect buildings, there was an abundance of carpenters, plasterers and other workmen who had come with their tool boxes all prepared to build a city.