The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1872-05-31
TOPEKA MUST LOSE THE CAP
TTAL.
Emporia as a Competitor.

Those who are in the habit Of notin
the rapid development of this state
aud who possess the ability TO inter
pref the signs of the times will coin
eide WITH the conclusion expressed il
the head Of this article. The, mus
at least acknowledge that there is goot
reason for the prophecy. We writ,
this out of no i'll feeling towards To
pcka. Our only desire is to call the
attention Of the people of southwestern
Kansas to the end that their represent.
ativcs and senators may give the mat.
ter careful consideration before voting
any further appropriations toward
completing the capitol building al.
ready commenced.
As all know, who know aught of the
geography of Kansas, Topeka is east
of the center Of the the northeast
quarter Of the state. Cut the map of
the state into eight equal squares MS
nearly as may be, and Topeka will be
found to be located near the center of
the northeast eighth.
We care not what may be said by
those living east and north Of Topeka
about the barrcnncss of the west
ern part Of the state, or want of pop
ulation. Our assumption of the flu
turc removal of the capital Of our COM
mOnwcalth is based on a proposition
that lOps off one hundred and fifty-six
miles Of the western end of the state
or to point MS far east as Fl. Larned,
Ms uninhabitable. But is it! With all
that cut of the center would not fall
far from Council Grove, in Norris
county.
The southeast quarter Of this state
will, in another year or two, if it is
not already, be as denscly populated as
the northeast fourth, while the south
west quarter will have in ten years
population equal to either, and far i'm
excess Of that Of the northwest quar-
ter. We conceive this statement to be
true and ono that will be conceded to
be fact by all before long. Upon it
we base the prophesy that Emporia
will stand good chance to become
the future permanent capital of Kan
sas. Junction City is not geographic
ally much too far north, but as to pop
ulation she probably will he. Salina
is nearer right geographically, but too
far west for the future center Of popu-
lation.
EmpOria, will be, within five wears, the
nearest the centre of population of any
considerable town, while to-day she is
about as accessible to the great bulk
of population of Kansas as is Topeka.
With the completion Of the Carbonate
road from Lawrence the Holden road. |
west from PaOla. and the Solomon or
Republican valley roads north from
Junction City, Emporia will be far the
most accessible of any point in the
state. Now, all southeastern and
southwestern Kansas has direct con-
nectiOn with her, rs has also all the
larger cities Of the state, together with
the Kansas valley west Of Junction
City.
Kansas has four grand distinctive
valleys In the State, the first of which
in importance is the Kaw; the second,
the Arkansas; third, the Neosho, and
fourth, the Republican. The three
first of these valleys are already con-
ncctcd by rail with Emporia. and the
last is virtually SO at Junction City.
Take your map and satisfy yourselves
upon these propositions.
VIC care nothing for what may be
said about the expense consequent
upon such removal. The people pay
the tax and the people do the voting.
To wealthy state like this will be in
n few years, the extra tax to a great
of the voters would be but
a few cents, and would not have the
least influence, providing two or three
millions of money is not expended on
The present building before the ques-
ton is tested. Topeka was far west of
line center Of population ten years ago.
Now she is far north of it; soon she
will be far east and north Of such
renter.
The present building was brought
some sixty miles to its present site, the
material being cartcd across the river.
1t surely could be taken sixty miles
further.
But We did not start out to discuss
he proposition, only to say that we
rad been thinking the matter over. and
70 get Others as much interested as
to thinking also. Topeka
nay boot the idea and the eastern Kaw
ALLEY laugh, but the Kaw valley is
asst becoming northern Kansas, and :
he first time that an appropriation of
wo or four hundred thousands is
Isked for building another wing of the
;apitol, this question win be seriously
discussed. and the next thing the peo- :
de will demand vote upon il.
A remarkable fatality has fallen up
N the evergreens over great part OF {
he country during the past winter or
pring. The young cvergreens of var Q
l.: a., l.. l-.l A.