Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1883-12-13
BOOMING WIcHTTA---ITs INSTITUTIONS
RAILROADS, PARK, ETC.
MIcnrTA. DECEMBER 5. Is.

WICHITA, December 5, 1883.
To tie Editor Of the Commonwealth.
You go over Kansas in all its parts, this
glorious year Of 1888, and each locality you
visit seems to be exceptionally prosperous;
each town with boom OF its ewn. Yet
there are few, IL any places in Kansas,
which exhibit 80 largely this feature as
does Wichita. Its streets are crowded
with loaded wagons, and wheat and corn
overcrowd the capacity Of its many eIeva-
tors. The bridge over the Arkansas river
is crossed by thousand teams day one
day lately count was made, aud the num-
Der reached thirteen hundred. Its hun
dred restaurants show from the streets Ia
bles filed with eating farmers. Its old
time frame rows Of one-story buildings are
everywhere broken in upon by new brick
blocks, of two and three stories. Its hotels
are crowded full. Its sidewalks on Doug
las avenue and Main street are thronged.
Its street railway, two miles long and more,
seems to have a profitable patronage. by
the way, Mr.. Hartzell tells me that an ex-
tension of little more than another mile
will be made in the spring. This will take
the track to his park, which is a truly beau
tifui spot. II lies, almost surrounded by
water, at the junction Of the Little River
with the Arkansas. Along one side OF the
park, the first-named forms q sheet of wa
ter not equaled in the State. A mile stretch,
straight. deep and wide; such another
place for boating is not to be found in the
West. The park has fine track for speed
ing. Mr.. Hartzell showed me in qualities
behind his black pacing stallion, Sam Haz-
ard, record, 2:ls.
The amount of freight received over the
three railroads coming into Wichita from
the east is away beyond the capacity of
tender foot TO realize-even to believe.
Forty to fifty carloads of merchandise, coal
and lumber are received and unloaded
daily; nor do the cars return empty, for
the grain men want them ALL
The city has settled down TO a satisiac-
tory daily use OF its water works, and OF
its street railway, but has not yet become
accustomed 10 lis latest institution-theg gas
works. The gas has now been in use but
few days, and the gasftters and plumbers
are raising Ned everywhere putting it into
buildings.
Prosperity, push, boom on all hands no
small part Of it due to the work going on
in extending railroads beyond. The At.
;. +. extension has track laid fourteen
miles west. with prospect of regular trains
10 kingman by February. The Fort Scott
a. Wichita has bridge material on the bank
of the Arkansas, and about ten days hence
will be pushing it, line towards Anthony.
All this is one side of the picture. New
Corners will see the other side as well, but
it is SO familiar to periodical visitors like
me as to fall out of mind. Wichita has no
natural beauty. IL lies spread out on fiat
sand, skirted on the river side with some
natural growth timber. Industry and taste
have added shade trees, fruit trees, shrub
berry, very fine residences, etc, still the
foundation Away, will be Hat sand. Its
churches are many, some of them very
fine the same j. true Of lis saloons.