Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-07-04
MANUFACTURES.
Some Of the Lines and Inducements OF
fered by the City Of wichita.

TO the Editor Of The Eagle:
was glad to see your able article on on
manufacturing interests, supplemented b.
another from the pen of leading citizen
1t is by agitation, and::a steady, persistent ef
fort, that we may expect to bring our facil
tiles to public notice, and we hope to Sc,
others accepting the courtesy of your col.
umns liz the interest OF manufacture
in Wichita. The prime necessity fol
developing this interest is in the fact thai
our own and adjoining states furnish thC
best market in the country for the raw ma
terai, which we produce in such great
abundance. In the item of heavy straw
board for building purposes, there is nc
market in the which they command so high
price as here. A large percentage OF the
canned goods packed so extensively in
ready sale here at a high figure
and our crop OF live hogs art
daily being shipped TO Kansas City and
Chicago, to be returned to us in fancy
brands of cured meats at decidedly fancy
prices. The packer looks to our western
markets for the best prices, and pockets
the profits which clearly belong to us.
This policy is suicidal aud violation OF tina
economic principle which saves the indi-
vidual from bankruptcy, though it applies
as well to our city.
The problem works about thus: We
produce the raw material in great abun-
dance; it is sold on our streets to the bro
/ l..r -la a. a., 81
profit, which we will call No. 1 it is car
ried to the mill, perhaps to the seaboafd,
and converted into the article in daily use,
yielding TO the manufacturer profit No. >;
it is sold at wholesale rates to the jobber,
who, in turn, and at great expense, sends
his agents TO our dealers for their orders,
making profit No. .; here we find it
shining, new, convenient and
sayory ready for use yielding
to our merchants profit No. 4. then taking
into account the cost of long transportation
to and from the mills, equal, perhaps, to prof
its No. and @, tits no matter of surprise
that pork is SO much higher than hog, or
that the cost of the garment is so out OF pro-
portion to-that of the fleece.
Had We the organized capital and the
machinery TO accomplish these things, might
We not save, at least, large per cent. Of
this outlay. 1t would reverse the order by
not only saving these profits, but by the in-
yestment and accumulation of large adj
ditional capital, by the employment Of hun
dreds of skilled mechanics, adding largely
to oar population and to the business of
our merchants and tradesmen, and bringing
10 Wichita the proceeds of 4 business con
Quoted by Others at her expense.
But who is to suggest the method, and how
is it to be accomplished. Here is the point
to be guarded. Clearly we can
do but little in the way of building up
these establishments without the aid of
practical men-those who may put \ hand
to the forge and regulate the steam. We
have no place for adventures or those in
search OF subsidies, but those willing to
unite their skill, talent and means with our
gifts and natural advantages, should
have every reasonable encourage
ment to come and occupy the
field. The first duty is to adopt every
means Of advertising our facilities from the
writing OF personal letters. to proper and
leberal use Of printers ink; deal in facts
and noting more, and extend to all visitors
in this interest a cordial welcome. May
suggest that every business man in Wich-
tia write a letter TO some enc with view Of
encouraging manufactures in the future
great city OF this valley. ii.