Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-09-26
THE CITY.

Yesterday one of our reporters took it into
his head to take ram5le around the out
skirts of the city and see what was going on.
He crossed the Santa Fe track and strolled
over onto Mosely and Ida avenues and down
along that.part of the city to the Junction of
the Wichita & Western with the Caldwell
branch. He found that there had been thir-
teen new buildings Of all kinds and skies,
mostly dwelling houses, built in that part of
the city during the present year. A glance
away out towards the country bordering on
the city revealed new roofs in every direc-
ton. Down near the junction the reporter
saw great clouds of black smoke ascending
and went over to learn what it was. 1t was
large brick yard employing from twenty
five to thirty men. Away down to the south
east of this was another brick yard of equal
magnitude. They were both running in full
blast. Several new houses were visible in
that direction. He met Mr.. J. w. Bear,
county surveyor, who informed him that he
and his assistant are kept continually on the
Jump laying foundations for new build
ings and new additions TO the city.
The reporter next crossed over the Santa
Fe and strolled through that part of the city
living south of the Wichita & Western and
found TINT twenty-three new buildings had
been erected there this year. Mr.. j. T..
Bethel has built fine two story frame resi-
dence on South Topeka avenue south of the
Wichita & Western. II is n neat and COM
modious house and is not vet finished. On
the next lot south on the corner of Topeka
svenue and Philadelphia street, Mr.. q. Gehr-
ing has another fine frame two story house
nearly finished. Mr.. Britain is building fine
house in the same neighborhood. South
Lawrence avenue is built up on either side
with neat dwellings for half q mile south Of
the railroad. Twenty-three new buildings
in all were seen in that part ofthe city, some
finished and others in process of construe-
ton. Returning up Lawrence avenue he
saw two elegant frame houses that Mr.. H.
H. Peckham had erected nearly opposite the
First ward school house. One of them is
finished and occupied. 1t is beautifully
painted and presents very attractive ap-
pearance. The plasterers are at work on the
other. Arriving at the corner of Lawrence
avenue and English street, he saw a fine
large two story brick house had just been
built and the plasterers were at work on it.
This house, which will be one Of the best in
the city, he learned belonged to Mr.. J. B.
Carey. In the afternoon he started in east
of the Santa Fe again, this time to go north.
In that part of town, from Douglas avenue
up the Union depot, seventeen new buildings
were counted. The reporter now began to
melt under the blazing sun and took the
street car down town.
From what the reporter saw in that ram
BILE, he feels safe in saying that fully 500
new buildings have already been built in
the city, outside the business portion, during
the present year, that with the large num-
Der of brick business blocks in process Of
erection on Douglas avenue and Main street,
the new Methodist church and the new
Catholic church, the present has been
year OF unprecedented activity in building.
Several of our business men are becoming
alarmed st our marvellous growth, and ct
the vast number of people that arrive
in the city every day, with
q view to go into business.
They say a collapse is inevitable If this
boom continues. That although we are sit
uAted in the heart Of one Of the most fertile
agricultural districts in the world, and that
our city is an important railroadeentre, the
agricultural and railroad interests will be in
adequate to sustain q city of this size, espe-
cially in ease of partial failure Of crops.
Notwithstanding this gloomy apprehension.
and this wonderful growth, there is scarcely
an empty house in the city, every new store
room is rented long before it is ready for oe-
cupaney, and vet, an interview with several
business men yesterday elected very favora-
BILE replies, as to the healthy condition Of bust
ness Everyone said that he could not COM
plain, and no falling of in trade was visible,
the fact that owing to the
low price, the farmers are holding their
grain. Notwithstanding all this the fact still
remains that If our city continues 10 grow as
she is doing, it will be necessary for our peo-
pie 10 bestir Themselves in the matter of Sc
curing more varied interests.
There is as good opening here for canning
packing houses, taneries, machine
shops and more extensive Touring mills, as
in any city in the United States. The raw
material 10 here in abundance, and we have
ample facilities for getting the articles to
good home markets in territory of which
We are the natural commercial centre.