The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1883-03-29
1wf WICHITA sraEET RAILWAY.

We NAV now say OF the Wichita City
Street railway, mot resemblance hut q
certainty" The chronicler Of the past
says, that near one year prior to this writ
ing J. ". Hartzell, Of the Topeka Trans
portation Company, who was instrumental
in securing the street railway In that city,
came to Wichita TO ascertain IL our boosted
aud apparent prosperity was real or fancied,
chimerical or substantial, evanescent or en-
during. and in the event ''that nothing
could come between us and the full pros
pect Of our hopes" as viewed from the
standpoint OF an impartial business OBJ
server. taking into consideration those
hazards that all financial ventures encoun-
ter, he intended 10 form corporation and
ask for franchise from our city sires con-
tingent on the early completion Of n street
railway.
As a resultant from his observations,
"every prospect pleased and only man was
VILE" The corporation was formed, J. NJ.
Steele, President; Mr.. Hartzell. vice-Pres-
ident; l.. ID. Skinner, Treasurer; Kos
Harris, Secretary, since succeeded by
Frank Hartzeil, Of Topeka. The directory
was made up by the above gentlemen and
NJ. Bloch, and negotiations were commence
ed with eastern capitalists relative to the
building Of the railway, all Of which ne
gotiatiops proved as barren rs the fix tree
(which got cussed" somewhere in the New
Testament. In the meanwhile, time in its
rapid fight, little rocking Of the calcula-
tons or disappointments Of street railway
builders, was hurrying toward eternity
carrying with it months, weeks, days and
golden hours twixt the commencement of
work on the railway and forfeiture of the
franchise, and had not the City Council
have granted an extension, 1.-THE historian
OF little men and things forgotten" in
CHANGING DER the early history Of Wichita,
would have chronicied street railway
which died "a bornin'. but the extension
was granted, and the man was found who
had faith enough in present Wichita, con-
| 6dence enough in future Wichita, to invest
hi. money In the road. not a. an expert
ment. but As a bust ness investment in the
expectancy Of speedy returns In semi-an-
nual dividends on the capital invested, and
feeling assured that each year would make
| the security better.
The sponsor OF this infant enterprise,
which We feel assured will traverse every
street in this city in the next ten years, 10
S. ". Wheclock, Of Moline, Illinois. Mr..
Wheeiock Is the President o! the Firs. Ma
tiOnal Bank, Of Moline: the President of
the Moline Plow Works. and the owner of
the large paper mills OF that city, and
should our growth justify it, the people Of
Wichita may rest assured that the means
necessary TO extend this road throughout
the city will he furnished.
The ballast for the road is now along the
line, aud but for some disappointment in
the iron mems calculation, the rails, which
are now shipped, would have been here
lat week. The Bolt and Iron Company,
of st. Louie, furnish the iron. The Arkan.
/ sas Valley Lumber Company, Of which ].
b. York and Mr.. Brokaw, Of this city, are
members, furnish the ties and other lumber
for the road. Cornell, White Il Co., street
car builders, of st. Louis, Mo ARE furnish
Ing the ears, and the ears are to be the
latest Improvement in finish. pattern and
style now in vogue in street ear circles"
The stables for the company's cars and
stock will be situated on Main street, be.
tween Third aud Central. The contract is
let to Mr. Downing, who will have them
fully completed by April 10th, next.
1t il intended to have this road first-class
in all respects, and in full operation on or
before June LIST, 1888. Mr.. Hartzell, Vice.
President aud general manager, is an ac-
tive, energetic, prompt business man, and
has the reputation Of accomplishing that
which he undertakes.
The location of the Academy at the old
north limit OF Main street, may change the
line Of the road from Central Avenue to
some Of the cross streets further north, but
this Is not definitely settled.
The Fair Associations ought TO reconcile
their differences, and get under one man.
agement. build up u fine property on the
old grounds, and induce the street railway
to run out there for general accommoda-
ton. Shuman's Park should be taken in
hand by some live man like Daisy. ard
uiouc u itspit tuc Suhucf
This thing Of public park las gone so
long that the city cannot at present give
it attention. aud hence unless private cap
ital takes a hold we can have no park OF
any kind.
A public park, well situated and made
attractive. as Shuman's Park could be,
would draw the attention Of the street rail-
way, and before long the man who can
III afford TO pay two or three dollars to air
his families on a holiday with a livery
team, could take street ear for fifty cents
round trip.
These are only suggestions for the con.
sideration Of our people. who bewail the
want Of park as regularly as the 18th OF
July comes. In the meantime our growth
IL the wonder Of people from abroad; we
are the envy OF sister towns. Water-works,
Creameries, Street Railways, Academies
and new railroads are ours, and we are, de. |
spite our eroakers, the happiest, busiest |
proudest and most independent little city |
under the wing OF the American Eagle.