The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1873-07-24
WICHITA, July Is, 1873.
MORE FROM THE ILLINOIS
PRESS

The following in addition to what
will be found upon the outside, we
clip from the Oquawka Spectator,
whose editor was among the party
that visited Wichita:
AS we came in sight of Wichita,
myself compelled to confess that my
preconccived opinion has not done the
city justice. and before we left next
morning had candidly permitted fact
TO dispel fancy, although it Invested
me of all claim TO be considered a
prophetic geographer. | expected to
see town of perhaps 1900 inhabi-
tants, with few good houses. little
more business than an Illinois town of
the same size, and class of inhabitants
somewhat ahead of our own i'm the
point of enterprise. What | did see
was a city containing about 5000 peo-
pie, with floating population of per-
hapse 500 mOre-border men. cattle
drovers, and land hunters: streets
thronged with people handsome resi-
dences in the suburbs; fair business
houses, sandwiched' between small
frames crowded with goods, in the
central portion of the place. new
brick blocks going up; and an irreg-
ular chaos of signs-legends smacking
of business, inviting to recreation, and
Turing to contraband pleasures, on
doors, over doors. in windows. on
sides, on gables and along ridge poles
of houses, while browning all wood
Ell effigy of Americas noble bird, redo
lent with gold leaf, spreads its station
airy wings through sixteen feet of air,
over the tall block where the eagle"
is published.
Our party was received at the depot
by the mayor, who made brief speech
that made the visitors feel that they
were welcome guests. A response was
made by our president, Rodney Welch.
of the Prairie Farmer, in a very hap
py strain.
We were conducted to carriages,
and, preceded by brass band, were
paraded through the city; and whether
the town and its people were the great
er show to us, or the quill-drivers of
suckerdOm the greater exhibition to
the crowds that thrOnged doors, win
dows and streets corners, will perhaps
ever remain an unsolved prOblem-but
- 80 vntIrcIy sarc say that suLsy-
quent events bore ample testimony to
the fact that there was no lack of mu-
tual admiration.
After supper at the Planters House.
where we were entertained in excellent
style by G. +. Gilbert, who "knows
how to keep hotel" Ia new note for
our friend the bridge superintendent
and bank director etc. the party went
their divers ways, to see life in Wichi-
ia under the Kerosene lamp, until 10 D.
m, when all were to assemble at Eagle
Hall, i'll respOnce to a summons each
had received, in these words ..Grand
Ball, in honor of our visitors, the Hi
nois editorial excursion, an Eagle Hall,
Monday evening, June l6, compliment
tarv."
l cannot undertake to detail the adj
ventures of all, but it speaks well for
the average morale of the party to
know that none of their names were
mentioned in next mornings police re-
port. nor did any of them manifest an
inordinate degree of thirst next day
Some, to whom the opportunity had |
for the first time come to witness
''plains dance house." took a carriage |
and policeman and gratified their curl |
osity beyond the city limits on the
south side of the Arkansas river;
Others interviewed the stalwart sons |
OF Texas. who had left their droves of |
cattle few miles from the city and |
come i'll to prospect" the market
The writer called on George and Gree |
ley Matthews and visited G. b. Mat
thews and family, with whom we enjoy
ed pleasant hour and an old-time
chat. c. b. and his sons are doing |
well; the father is selling large quanti-
ties of jewelry and watches, and look
ing after good farm he owns near
town, but the migratory instinct is
strong within him, and he is talking of
pulling up stakes and removing 10
Southern California George is carry
ing on large drug store. Specializing
in lands and lots. and getting rich.
We afterwards dropped in at the
hall. where we had the pleasure OF
meeting and talking with number of
the best citizens of the place.