The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1883-03-29

Wocottao toteeee0 Ue0ano immediate
Aetiea.
II Is within the reccoliection OF the edi.
tor, when the pork-packing Interests OF the
whole country conferred NJ Cincinnati.
Here, in the great corn belt OF the Ohio and
its tributaries, hogs were fattened almost
exclusively for the market, and for many
years the Queen City stood without rival
in this important branch Of the Nations
industry.
As the corn belt, like that OF wheat, shift
ed farther west with the advancing tide OF
immigration, and the prairie lands were
found 10 be as well adapted 10 the eultiva.
ton Of corn as the rich bottom lands Of
the Ohio valleys, swine raising became IN
important adjunct TO all farm operations
New railroads were In course OF time pro.
jected; new markets were opened up, and
gradually cities like Chicago, indianapolis
and st. Louis began tn put on airs, and en-
ter the lists against Cincinnati, for legiti-
mate proportion OF the swine traffic. The
Unsuitable demand for pork to supply the
army gave a great impetus to the packing
business, and Chicago, with characteristic
energy and foresight, saw that there was
"millions I'm IT," To see was to act. Under
the stimulatiens Of high prices every west
ern farmer, great or small, wss putting 10
his best ticks raising hogs and corn. Chi.
cago grasping the situation with an eye 10
controlling the business, commenced the
erection Of such mammoth packing estab.
lishments a. the world had never seen from
its creation. The inventive geniu. Of the
country was taxed to the utmost to devise
machinery that would reduce the cost OF
handling 10 minimum, and any one enter
ing these huge establishments to-day, can
see how well they have succeeded The
impetus given to the business In war time,
was not suffered to lag when peace was es-
tablished; but new markets for the stun
was opened up In Europe, South America
and the West Indies, and the south, once
more getting down to business, consumed
days. Later on, Kansas and Nebraska en-.
tered the arena as corn and swine produc-
ing States, as Iowa and Missouri had done
decade or two previous. Shrewd bust
ness men like the Armours and Fowlers
recognized the Inevitable fact, that as the
corn and swine belt extended further and
further toward the west, new markets con.
tiguous to the place of production would
spring mp, aud where these occurred was
the proper place for the erection of more
packing houses. Years ago Kansas City
was selected BY the Armours, and from a
comparatively small beginning, they have
an establishment to-day that gives steady
employment to thousand men. and stands
| as the third largest house Of the kind in
the world. No factor has aided 80 largely
in building up Kansas City and giving it
the prominence it has to-day, than its pack
ing houses. The same may be said of nu.
merous other towns In Iowa. Nebraska
and Missouri, and this brings Us to the
practical question We started out TO aivo-
cate, namely: the proper recognition Of
this important industry by the business
men OF Wichita. and the farmers of Sedg-
wick county and contiguous territory.
We have here unquestionably. the greatest
primary corn and hog market south or
Iowa and west Of the Mississippi. We
have territory lying all around lis for one
hundred miles, as well adapted to the rails
ing OF corn and hogs rs any area Of like
acreage on top of the earth. OF late years
farmers are letting wheat more and more
severely alone, aud raising more corn and
hogs. show us a farmer who has stuck re-
ligiously to the business Of the latter for
five successive years, and We will show you
men who have feathered their nest and pay
their bills with a check. Having primary
market already established, we want a
market created here that will induce ship
pers In Western Kansas to consign their
hogs to this market by the car load in pref.
ercnce TO shipping them to Kansas City.
In order to DO this we must have packing
facilities that will work up the hogs sum-
mer and winter. such an establishment
would be one of no mean pretentions. 1t
would give steady employment to five hun
dred men, and would add five thousand to
our population within year. Business
men Of Wichita can you afford to ignore
this question any longer? While the boom
is on 10 the time to strike. Let men take
hold OF this matter who don't recognize
such word as failure. An enterprise OF
this kind, if secured, will be worth more
to us and the farmers Of Sedgwick county,
than multitude Of divices considered rs
practicable I'm the past. II our points are
not well taken, we should like to hear from
some of the knowing ones.
In advocating this measure we mean no
discourtesy towards Stewart 4 Co., who
are now prosecuting the business Of pork
packing in q small way. Col. Stewart has
been identified with 1t for nine successive
years In Wichita, and being one Of our
most enterprising citizens, we have no
doubt would hail with delight the advent
of an establishment commensurate with
the demands the situation affords. In the
We extend 10 Messrs Steward 4
McMillen our best wishes for their success,
and II these efforts to arouse the business
men of the community to the importance
of taking timely action In this matter proves
turtle, We urge them to redouble their ef.
forts to increase their business, and by and
by they may attain to that position, which
we wish they or others occupied In wichi-
tn to-day.