Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-09-19
AN IMPORTANT PROJECT.

If there is one thing that Wichita people
have wanted more than another it il col.
lege, and we have had less of il than Of any
other known institution. A movement is
now on foot, however, which is likely to
consumats these wishes. A committee from
the four Methodist conferences in this state
at recent meeting decided to establish
q central university at some suitable place,
and seminary in each conference, the
place to depend largely upon the amount of
local aid extended. If this city is prepared
to offer superior inducements the seminary
for this conference would probably be built
here.
Acting on this thought, DR.. Philips inn
proved an opportunity which it is hoped
and believed, will likely secure to this town
the school. The hill east of here is the most
eligible and beautiful spot fora seminary
and suburban residences to be found in the
entire country surrounding the city. DR..
Phillips secured forty acres of of the south
end of the old Harvey farm, now owned by
Mr.. Harvard, and together with....A. C.
Payne, who owns the forty lying Just south
pletted an addition to the city lying on
both sides of the extension of Douglas ave-
nue.. There was some difficulty experienced
in getting the property holders along that
street 70 give land for the opening of
it to the hill. but this was overcome
and it will be opened at no distant day, and
1t is only question Of time when the street
car line will be extended up the avenue to
the new college grounds. A plat of the
eighty acres has been made and the land is
now being surveyed. An EAGLE reporter
hearing of college HILL" improved his first
opportunity and went out on Tuesday and
viewed the country. The tract lies right on
the side of the hill, which has very grad
ual slope, and commands view of the val
ley for many miles along and across the
river. Fifteen acres lying right in the CEN
ter Of the addition, have been reserved for
college grounds. This land has been do
mated for that purpose and will be held by
trustees, and when conference meets next
spring the offer of this tract will be made as
q location for the seminary. 1t is worth at
present prices $4,000 and by spring, when
improved, and the lots around it are also
improved, it will undoubtedly have cash
value of 5000. Besides the land liberal
subscription for building fund will doubt
less be added. This is the foundation land
it is very substantial one) for the hope Of
getting the college. Ifthe conference does
not locate one here the land will be used al
a nucleus for some other similar institution
of learning.
The entire eighty acres, together with ar
additional twenty on Mr.. Moser's farm, ant
another twenty which Mr.. Harvard is plat
ting, has been laid out in lots of two and I
half acres each. A number of our mos
prominent business men have already Sc
lected one or more lots and nearly all o
them will begin improving at once, thi
fall. for future suburban homes. Among
those who have already bought lots are J.
Rutan, Col. Innes, Sam Winch, Rev
Swartz, Rev. DR.. Phillips, Dr.. johnson, Mrs
Whitehorn, Mr.. Sullivan, Mrs. Doney, Nor
ris Bros, 4. P. Ford s. Son, Mr.. Carson, MI
Cartwright, S. ID. Pallet, A. c. Payne
Sites Bros. and others.
There are certainly excellent prospect
for the location of college there, but wit
or without it, that hillside and the farms in
tervening will soon all be cut up into SINAI
lots and beautiful residences will take tn
place of the fields Of ripened corn whicl
now cover the hillside. The seminary, if
comes, as it probably will, will be of meal
l culable benefit to the civ