The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1880-06-03
WICHITA.
THE GREAT TEN-YEAR-OLD Me-
TROPOLIS OF THE GREAT AR
KANSAS VALLEY REGION.
COMPLETION TO THAT PorST OF TIE
ST.. LOUIS & SAN FRANcIsco
RAILROAD.
MAaNIrICENT UNEMPLOYED WATER
POwER-SPLENDID FUTURE IN
STORE-MANUFACTU


POwER-SPLENDID FUTURE IN
STORE-MANUFACTURING.
Specia! Telegram to the Inter-Ocean.
WICHITA, May 26.- The last rail OF
track in the completion Of the st. Louis
s San Francisco Railroad to this point
was laid tO-day-an event of unusual
importance in the history Of far-western
development of Kansas. This road, by
an arrangement or combination with
the AtchisOn, Topeka & Santa Fe Rail-
road Company, will eventually extend
its line westward from Santa Fee, n. NJ.
over the old ''thirty-fifth parallel route.
to Prescott, A. L., and to the Pacific
coast. At present its western terminus
will remain at Wichita, giving this -four
ishing western city direct and Compel
tive line to ST. Louis and the East. Tho
Occasion is one which is celebrated here
as marking an era in the development
Of the great Arkansas Valley, and as a
landmark in the astonishing growth
which has made Wichita so well known
throughout the East. Ten years ago
this little city of Z 200 inhabitants was a
cattle station, in the midst of waste of
country believed then to be a part of
the arid and uncultivable Great Amer
lean Desert As o shipping point for
the cattle Of Southern Kansas and the
Indian Territor, il enjoyed great pros
perity, but at the same time an unenvi-
able reputation in public morality, until
the year 1876. During these years the
mysterious influences which had increas-
ed the rainfall and reclaimed to the uses
Of agriculture this section of Kansas
were at work, and the stock ranges were
pushed further west to make place for
the farms and homes that occupy now
the area of Sedgwick and adjoining
counties. Wichita lost the cattle trade,
but became instead the metropolis of a
rich and populOus agricultural section.
Two years ago MT less than 5000, 600
bushels of wheat were brought from the
wagons in the Wichita market and ship
ped east from this point. This year the
area of wheat in cultivation in Sedg-
wick county alone has been increased not
less than l00,0 600 acres. ii troubles new
or come singly the same rule seems now
to apply to the advent of fortunate hap
penipgs to Wichita and Sedgwick coun-
ty. simultaneously with the approach
of this new line of competing railway,
drenching showers of rain have fallen
upon the earth in all of this section of
Kansas. One hundred miles west the
country is suffering from q protracted
drought ; but the record Of good crops
for five successive years has established
the fact that the rainfall is here ample
and certain. a magnificent crop of
wheat and corn is now assured for this
year.
Upon the same day that the smoke of
the first locomotive on the road which.
it is hoped, will relieve the industry of
this section from the thralldom of mo-
nopOly in transportation, was seen, in
formation was received by letter from
Mr.. SchOficld that the iron had been
purchased with which the extension of
the Burlington & Santa Fe Railroad will
be built to Wichita, giving it still an
other competing line to the East. The
navigation Of the Arkansas river 10 thir
point is question which has been much
discussed, and the weight of opinion on
the part of those competent to Judge
seems to be in favor of the feasibility
OF Improvement which will make this
river a highway Of transportation to
the Gulf for the immense grain product
of this country. Congress has appro-
priated $4,000 for the survey of the
river between this point and Fort Smith
and, if found practicable, the improve
ments necessary will probably be made
The completion of one and the build
ing Of still another competing line of
railway to the East, with other causes,
have operated to stimulate new indus
try, for which the greatest demand ex-
lists, but which many circumstances have |
and that is the business Of |
The advent of the st. !
Louis & San Francisco Railroad. besides |
offering lower freights. has opened 10 |
Wichita direc communication with the |
vast coal fields of Eastern Kansas, and
IN inexhaustible supply of cheap timber
70 be found in the forests Of Western
Missouri. In this tinberlcss prairie the
ack OF fuel and lumber has been the
greatest bar to progress in agricultural
development and an insurmOuntable OBJ
tacle to the establishment of such man
enterprises rs the conditions
II this wealthy and pOpulous agricultu-
al region demand. There is probably
10 section Of country in the West of
quail population and prOductiveness
which is so poorly supplied with manu-
acturcs as this. Five hundred car loads
# hogs are shipped from this point in
me year, all, and more than all, of
which comes back here and west OF here
n meats and lards, paying heavy toll
'yer 200 miles of railr Dad : and this, in
piic of the fact that the abundance of
&c in the Arkansas river, and every
thcr necessary facility for CARRYING oh
packing business, are at hand here.
'hese prairies furnish wild grass
which, when cured. has been found in
'ebraska to be peculiarly valuable as an ,
Ingredient in the manufacture Of brown ,
nd coarse paper. An immediate and
eliabIe market would be afforded here
Or the product of half dozen paper |
Hills. as well rs oatmeal mills, cracker ,
lctOries, carriage. wagon. and agricnl-
lral implement manufactures, and iron
,undrics. IL
One-haif mile from the city limits is 4
seated one Of the finest watcr-pOwcrs !,
! the State. The cold. clear waters of
&c Arkansas river are partially divert
| by race into Chisholm Creek, fur 5
ishing for several years a never failing /.
nd ample power for large grist-inill,
hich, however, recently burned. The s
armers and Merchants Bank, which
ow owns this power, offers it at nom
lal price to any one who will give a 2
tisfactory guarantee of its immediate
n"rovement for manufacturing enter
Uses. Water.works are soon TO be es- II
blished in the city, and a part OF this il
over will probably be utilized in this D
ay. ;,
The influence of these railroads hasten y
& to this point as the established me- n