The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1873-11-13
A WORD WITH OUR BUSINESS
MEN.
w,ch,ta ana Her interests.

A WORD WITH OUR BUSINESS
MEN.
Wichita and Her Interests.
The time is. rapidly approaching
when our business nlca aud the capital
lists Il our city must cast about for the
introduction and building up Of manu-
featuring aud industrial establishments
ia Wichita. Upto the present time We
have been purely a commercial town.
Upon our trade alone has all the pros
pcrity of the place depended. Her ra-
pid growth, aud her every interests have
been stimulated aud sustained upon a
commercial basis. The benefits dcriv-
cd from the Texas cattle trade have
bs~n wholly in the way Of traffic and
trade brought here by that interest. In
mo- sense has the capital Of Wichita
been employed in the profits direct of
the purchase and sale Of cattle. This
cattle interest has been inmcnse, en,-
ployimy thousands Of men aud millions
Of capital, bringing to Ms, through our
town trade, money, life, aud activity,
but as far rs our people were concern
cd, il mattercd little with them whether
the eastern livestock markets were up
or down. The commercial interests
developed by this trade have in turn
created q market for large per cent.
of the surplus productions of this and
surrounding counties
To maintain this commercial suprcm-
acy over all towns in Southwestern
Kansas, and 10 remain in the future
the central market, the cntrcpoi, as al
30 the consumer Of the surplus produc-
lions Of this great valley, is all that Is
necessary to make Wichita city Sc
cond to none in the state in population,
wealth and Importance. BY the intro
tluction, encouragement and successful
operating OF manufactures and kindred
industries alone, can this be done, in
our humble opinion. Deprive us sud-
denly Of our cattle shipping business
aud much Of our trade and life would
die out. and our present market prove
utterly inadequate in satisfying the
producers of the surrounding country.
Wichita, situated ut the confluence
OF the two greatest and finest valleys
In the west. being tho terminus Of
railway. located on the government
highway TO the Indian territory, con-
trolling the commercial interests that
hinge upon the entire cattle trade of
western Texas. has made wonderful
progress in her development towards
n big inland city. And while she has
made few mistakes. and gained her as
tendency without n serious struggle,
aud while all strangers conccde and all
our business men strongly believe, that
there Is hardly a possibility Of her fail
Ing to make the important point Of tins
valley. We yet warn our business men
against a lcthcrgy bcgotlen Of security
and too much confidence.
Every manufacturing interest COM
nani- capital, hands 10 work, bread
10 consume. and trade 10 supply, just
in proportion to its magnitude. And
there !. hardly manufacturing inter-
est outside of iron from the raw ore,
that might NOT do well now, and grand
Is la the future, in Wichita. The ma
nufacturc OF wagons, agricultural int
plcmcnts Of all sorts, brcadstu1s, oil
from fax, castors aud peanuts, starch
from corn, cheese. etc. Some Of these
We must have.
Some time last spring couple Of
experienced men were here from ILL.,
nois for the purpose Of establishing q
packing house. but for some cause, un.
known to us, they failed to carry out
their enterprise. Gen. Harris aud other
Texas men seriously discussed the
same enterprise during the summer.
That such an investment would pay
largely there is but little doubt. Twcn-
ty-two thousand head Of bccvcs have
been slaughtered and packed in Kansas
City this season. The shrinkage on
each animal transported from here 10
Kansas Cityis something over seventy
i've pounds. enough, if saved, to pay
Cor the killing and packing. We have
III sl.., r.;l;s;ar :o,.., f.,, e,,..l =, nm or
prise. with am unlimited supply Of beef
fresh and cool from the range, and
when supply Of Texas cattle will be
no longer accessible, the native beef
and hogs that this county will produce
would keep one establishment of that
kind running TO its fullest capacity. A
packing house would not only supply
y large number Of men direct but would
furnish people Of the town and country
with good meat at one half the present
rates. Not only that, but a packing
house would ncccssiatc, in tho first
place, a cooper shop, secondly, a soap
factory, thirdly tanncry, all Of which
would employ men ard turn of those
products that would bring in money.
One mandatory or Industry always
creates demand for others.
The truth il, there is too much mo-
ney going out OF this country and too
little coming in, and this article is
written 10 call the attention Of those
interested in the future Of our yoang
city TO the danger ahead, and to the
necessity of putting forth an effort 10
secure the investment of capital in our
city in channels outside OF merchandise
aud trade.
United States Senator.
Last week We were taken 10 task by
n friend. signing himself s.citiZen of