The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1881-04-22
a PRRTINENT INQUIRY,

ed for its support. With the op
portunities of observation which fall %
the average American citizen, and
through period OF years covtring
more than third of n century, the writ
er fails 10 recall, in the case of any other
town, conditions exactly parallel 10
those under which Imports has estaD-
lished her footing as q leading city IN al
great commonwealth, ana the excep-
tional character Of her growth, which
has been attained Ia theabsence of those
forces which are ordinarily requisite TO
the advancement and prosperity Of all
substantial communities, is a matter
which has puzzled not little, even those
who have been closely identified with
the progress of the town.
The most striking feature of the popu-
lation of Emporia Is the wide discrepan-
cy between the producing and consum-
ing classes. As an evidence of this, we
have but to compare the extent of the
mercantile interests in this city with its
industrial enterprises, and il at once be-
comes apparent that the business of the
town is substantially limited TO selling
and buying the ordinary commodities of
commerce, and that in this operation
but very inconsiderable proportion of
the community are benefited in the di-
rection of growth in their material
prosperity. The statistics of the carry
ing trade at this point show the same
l. 90
ments to Emporia, but for every ten car
loads of merchandise which arrive at
this point, how many go out?
Here we have town of six thousand
Inhabitants. A business avenue which
is the just pride of the city is occupied
by dealers in every branch of retail
trade; the professions are all filed to
OVERLOOKING with able representatives;
the local banking interest has attained
magnitude that is not rivaled by any
town between Kansas City and Denver,
and available capital is at hand for the
prosecution of any enterprise that will
insure safe and adequate returns on the
investment. But, on the other hand,
what encouragement does the town offer
to labor, the prime factor in the achieve
ment of all substantial prosperityg
What inducement does Emporia
hold out TO the intelligent ar
artisan or to the brawny sons of toll,
whose thrift and frugality conserve the
material interests OF the community and
furnish the motive forces for its ad-
vancement? 1t is true that the build
ing boom which has prevailed in En-
poria for the past two or three years has
afforded employment to large number
of mechanics and common laborers, but
unless some interest is speedily intro
duced to stimulate u further growth in
the town, we shall soon have houses
enough and some TO spare. The people
who break up old ass0ciations in the
east 10 seek new homes in tile west are
not of that class who have retired from
active business, but belong TO the vast
army which is invading new realms OF
labor, and will enter the mos; inviting
fields
In this connection It would be unfair
to ignore our local railroad interests
. which afford support tn considerable
number OF families, and have been large
ly instrumental IN promoting the mate
rial interests OF the town. But, after all
the possibilities Of this agency as "a fac
tnr of municipal growth, are compara
lively limited, and We must look to 9th
er sources for the impetus we 40 sorel)
need. AE
{ The farmers of Lyon county have come
;. up n0bly To tho help of Emporia, anG
. the importance of the agricultural inter
5 est in this section cannot be overestimat
: ed. But the town is now fully up TO i
not in advance of the country, and emf
grafton must increase beyond the meas
ure of our most sanguine hopes befor,
/ the trade from the rural districts viii
: impart any perceplible boom TO the city
II IS very evident that the future o
/ EmpOria, as well as the perpetulty o
her present prosperity, depends upoI
the establishment of such interests 81
will tend TO foster labor, invite the in
vcstmcnt of capital, and not only fur
nish employment for our resident work
ingmen, but Invite desirable class o
emigration from other points. This cal
be accomplished by the erection o
manufactures, matter which
. has been canvassed from time TO time
but without any definite results, up Z,
this date, by a number of our local cap
4 itaiists. That there are many entel
% prises OF this kind that would prove n
. muneratIye to the management as wei
g as subserve, as nothing else can, the II
. terests OF the town, there can be q
n doubt A number of schemes have a
ready been agitated, for the prosecutio
of which the facilities are at hand, and
tie is high time that our Hrst-class watel
power and the abundant resources ofih
D. county for various industrial project
Or were being utilized.
IN II is we'll enough TO build hotels an
ne secure new and desirable railroad COZ
C. nections. These all go to make up d
IS sum of the towns prosperity, and adve
ly tise it TO the world. But the problem {
be Emporia's future will never be solve
n until she begins to give out in the wa
1n of manufactured products, somethiu
be in return for that which she absorbs u
ly der her present system of econom
- We trust our business men and tho.
he whose ample means place them in pos
st ton to give direction to the affairsof q
IN town, viii think soberly ON these thing
be and recognize the imperative demar
which is made just at this time OpC
ct their influence in the direction Of Il
ed new departure suggested in this articl
he "
re, The railroad bonds voted At Topel
10 Thursday do not seem to be in the int
So est of "Santa Fe scheme"