The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1872-06-28
Correspond nee Junction City Union,
From Wichita.

What . know about Wichita wi,
furnish material for this brief sketch
What | don't know about ii. woult
perhaps overtax the columns OF youl
paper. We often arrive at conclusion
by method of comparison. Tbrc,
and half years ago. or Whereabouts
passed over this ground on horseback
Not a solitary house was then staudins
on the site now occupied by one of til,
busiest trade maris have ever seen !.
the west. 1t reminds one forciblv o
junction City in the palny days whci
You could point with pride-aiter III,
! manner OF Col. Forney-fo INV two
newspapers. one daily"
To carry out an idea expressed above
should say that Wichita was a. large
as Junction City, fewer aweilin.
houses, perhaps. but treble the place,
of business surrounded by country
unsurpassed in all that makes land val.
liable for agricultural purposes. and
rs much Of it to the acre. too. a na-
ture can make perfectly level: Sc
level and smooth in fact, that from
where am writing | have in view 8
grove Of trees, said 10 be distant SIX
miles. But the eye wearies oi il, and
though a relief and novelty for q
time, to one accustomed to rough
broken country. would fam rest them
again Oil the bald bluffs Of the smoky
Hill.
4 fine truss bridge (wood, noi iron,
as ! saw ii stated Iii your paper spans
the Arkansas here for 900 feet. and
over which stream of pedestrians.
horsemen and teams are continually
passing.
This Southwest Kansas is Il glorious
country, equal i'll soil and water priyi-
legcs to the most favored portions OF
Illinois, and hither the great tide oi
emigrarion is rushing.
The old soldiers OF the 10Th will be
surprised to learn that the entire coun-
try from here to the Nenescah river,
and beyond, is thickly settled. and that
stream has upon its banks two -four
islling villages. Here it was that we
camped for the night the first day out
from Wichita. Few that were there
viii ever forget that night of suffering
how terrible norther swept near
the sand hills. frOzc the wet oyercoat.
until the capes were as stiff a. raw
hide, blowing icebergs ali the time.
and precluding the possibility Of hav-
ing firc-how they endured all his
without tents or shelter OF any Kind.
without supper or breakfast-not.
however, without some cursing. or
words to that effect. III admit.
with regard to the Gland frauds. =
about which there has been some fuss
and few feathers, which are alleged
to have beeu perpetrated here. know
nothing, but do know that fully one
third of the men have met who are
laboring or doing business in town
have claims il the country, siirew,,,
If not very creditablc way of whip
ping the - round the stump" Snug
fortunes have been made here ia land
speculatlOns. One OF the leading and
wealthiest citizens here. Mr.. Grciffcn-
stein, or Dutch Bill as he is used to
being called, took the claim upon
which the business part Of !he town
now stands. | was informed that he
had sold lots to the amount OF SGT. 600.
and had nearly half his original claim
left. There is spice Of romance in
this mans history. On our expedition
against tlp Indians in 1868, we fire.
quentiy heard the name OF Dutch BIZ
mentioned. He came direct here, took
his claim. and to-day is president Of a
national bank. proprietor Of one Of the
finest hotels in the state, and owns
nearly half the town site Of the lvest
city III the west y young man hom
! knew as private soldier. came here
broke, took a claim near Tie present
site, sold one half of il last fall for
s., 600, and would take il to-day a. an
insult if YOU were TO offer him double
that amount for the balance. Since
have been here, have seen lots - feet
front sold for 81 eco. The question
will naturally be asked what is there
to build up town." Ny answer
would be that Wichita is in the heart
of vast and fertile country. rapidly
filling up with cntcrprising farmers.
1t is the depot of supplies for the eli
tire Southwest South Of the Atchison.
Topeka and Santa Fc railroad) includ-
ing all government freight For Indians
and troops. 1t is The terminus Of
branch Of the ab0vc named railway.
and will probably remain such for
the next two years. Ii is a second
for the Texas cattle trade and
last. but not least, il has secured to il
a United States land office. and all
kansans know how TO appreciate chat.
! have met quite number Of June
ton City eX-residcnts and lookcrs-on-
ln-Nenice here. They are in fact 80
that were the quotation not
worn SO thrcadbare, | shoail saw throw
a stone into any crowd. and tle
chances are. the first man that baWlcd
out would bear upon his agonizing
features the impress Of '.Sawc! stone"
Wichita has several churches. . good
school, two newspapers. two balis,,
two fine hotels. one theatre. and places
for amusement al iafHitHm. Ms.