The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1879-02-06
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EDITOD EAGLE :-In the language Of AttoE-
ny GenenlD eseas / hare s'hsd ny attention
called' 70 n article in last Saturdays paper.
believe It IL now the proper thing for big
men Ike Hayes, Devens and me q stan - 4
legged in the article to which my attention has
been called not to notice anything ourselves
but to simply hsye our attention called. The
article TO which my attention has been called
il subscribed BY one WHO'S pleased 70 sdopt
- . synonym tzite slang phrase, and d.
sire to briefly consider some Of its most 60
lient features reIative to some facts stated and
others perverted:
: II. Ny intsssst On Douelas avenue il lin
tied, Qike English corporations); my charter
calls for forr hundred square feet 1t the rate
Of Eve dollars per month, and in advance, but
never yet has been paid according to con-
tract. Ny interest in the avenue really
amounts to . personal pride in having the
street ON which rent present the most busi-
ness-like, attractive and solid appearance. Ny
advocacy Of the site selected for the opera
house sprang from the existence Of the fact
that the lots are owned by the largest factor
In this alleged tripartite agreement. The 1.
q. o. F. are surely not bad crowd to hold
one corner Of this triangular projectt II
Barkis will enlist as much capital, owning
lots rs desirably situated and centrally locat-
ed, and said capital will take as much stock
As the l. o. o. F. are expected TO take, then,
IL any money is to be gained or saved ! am
willing to put 600 in the Barkis opera house.
I simply want to see an opera house in Wich-
ita, and care not by whom owned, controlled
or where located. As to the statement that
Barkis would rather give 800 and have the
credit of generous act than to take 800
stock and be called greenhorn after the
venture proves failure, We have to say:
LIST. The situation is open for him to give
his 800, but he can never have the credit Of
doing generous act, because the only reason
he gives the 800 is to avoid being called
suspicion that If he thought the venture
would prove successful he would take stock
and not desire credit for generous act.
I'd. His language is also open to the delicate
suspicion that II this project was to enhance
Main street lots then his generous impulses
would not be called forth, because the dona-
ton would arise not from his too generous
disposition but from the knowledge that his
property would be enhanced to an amount
over 800. In fact there is an attempt
throughout the article to disguise = sordid
motive under the generous act for which he
wants credit. The location Of the proposed
site, jealousy Of Douglas avenue, visions Of q
downward tendency in Main street lots, to-
gether with = bad digestion and too much
bile may have superinduced his sanguinary
attacks on one so modest and enthusiastic
as I.
Again. His article discloses the fact that
he has been paying taxes on full valuation
on real estate. He ought to be photographed
and put on exhibition his autobiography
ought TO be in the hands Of every school boy
his bust in marble should adorn every Treas
urer's office Congress should be memorial
lied to grant him pension the first steamer
should be named after him, and the Ameri-
can people should cherish his memory and
teach his example, with the legendary cherry
tree story.
Any candid man can figure the worth of his
property and then look at his tax receipts and
see the per cent. he pays on the real value.
There is not taxpayer on Main street or
Douglas avenue pays taxes on over one-third
valuation on his selling price, unless by the
mistake of the assessor, and if by mistake the
moment the owner finds it out he will present
q petition to the County Commissioners for
rebate.
Again. He admits the correctness Of my
theory as to Eagle Hall, but demurs to Rus
sell Halls complimentary notice. This again
leads US to the conclusion that he at least
sympathises with Main street. 1 am for
Douglas avenue but am ashamed Of Eagle
Hall and want hall on Douglas avenue. He
is for Main street and Russell Hall. Has he
any interest in Russell Hall?
am through. l want an opera house ; l
care not who is to own it, and ain willing to
invest 900 in any wel-regulated and we'll
ventilated hall in Wichita, whether on Main
street or Douglas avenue. For the benefit of
Barkis will remark that one Of the tripar-
tite agreement chaps owns $4,000 worth. of
real estate on Main street and favors the
Douglas avenue project. l also wish to say
that have no idea that Barkis reflects the
sentiments of Main street, but that he is
alone in his selfish motives. There has been
enough Of town fighting and street jealousy,
and if everything in the way of a public inn
provement is to gravitate back to the feud of
three and four years ago Barkis ought to have
sense enough to see that Main street has
nothing to gain by it. o.