The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1874-04-30
For the EAGLE.
Bridge Talk and Other Matters.

EDITOR EAGLE: Our worthy COM
missioncrs did not escape without
their share of abuse: yet the PROPOSE
ton as submitted showed, if it showed
anything, that these men had the inter-
est of the whole county at heart. But
now that il is voted down, it might
not be amiss to continue 10 agitate the
question until the bridge at Wichita,
at least, is free. One of Wichita's bus
incss men said to me the other day that
the bridge there could be bought for
eight or ten thousand dollars. Two
hundred subscriptions, each equal in
amount 10 the three weeks toll paid
by Lady Changers" folks, would thus
give us a free bridge. The river cours-
ing through our county as it does gives
us over 100000 acres Of choice valley
lands. Its tributaries and attendant
subirigation is worth a million to
Sedgwick county. Now if eight, nine
or ten thousand will free this bridge,
call We uDOtu ~ IL
wise? Those directly interested might
reasonably act first. IL Wichita aud
west-siders were 10 raise half the
amount by subscription, and the east
siders help them vote direct tax FOR
the other half, no doubt all parties
would get their money back ere taxes
are collected next spring. The west
siders are saying. I'VE will build a
town on our side" This is easier said
than done. Ii takes money TO build
towns. and the farmers over there, like
farmers on this side. need their money
and more with it, to open up aud i'm
prove their farms. We Lad better
build up Wichita, not with our own
money. but. by united effort, induce
Others to come, bring theirs, and with
it build grist mills, packing house,
aud so forth. With packing house
In Wichita last winter, farmers would
have realized $500 per head more on
every hog they sold, and the packer
ION a small scale) might also have made
his business profitable.
don't like burdensomc taxes any
better than other people do, but our
taxes now are not burdensomc, only
TO those who have more land than they
can use Neighbour ID. has eighty acres
of land. lie sol.spf his last years crop
$3.50 worth of corn and twenty-five
tons of nice hay. He says his taxes
never felt lighter since he has been
tax-pavcr eighteen years.. Another
nci.hbor also has eighty acres. and has
sold more corn the past winter Than
many who have half-section- When
taxes are so light that poor man can
afford to owns surplus quarter section
or two. they are too low for the rapid
growth and development of the COM
try
My slang CRATES harshly on Adam
Grangcr's" ears. beg pardon. and
explain. Friend Adam. was early
taught that ''prayer is the sincere de-
sire of the heart, uttered or uncN-
pressed" and have learned later that
words are often idle declarations, while
action may be ever recognized rs The
exponent OF the desires. heard the
inducements offered. SAW the action
which followed. and reported accord
in-ly: and when added. Especially
the farmers who want grange. | cn-
closed 80 the editor slip from the
grange column of the Cincinnati Times.
Said slip called the attention of Trans-
ers TO the fact that those who were not
members af the order were gettin. i'm
plcmca.s as clseap rs they. and EN-
treated thcm 10 consider this matter
in their meetings. and added. IF this
be No; stopped, then our order is AT an
end" Please pardon. il Won can. Adam
II is easy enough 10 assume thai
grsngeism has reduced the price of
groceries, implements, etc, and II is
lust as easy and reasonable TO assume
that had il not been for grangers we
would have had small packing house
In Wichita the past winter; for any
man with a knowledge of the laws of
trade and commerce can sre that there
10 money to be made at the business.
ifaliowcd to, buy at ~sucir rri~es as
competition between themselves and
shippers to Kansas City would give
them: but il they had to contend with