Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-03-20

To the Editor Of tie Eagle.
A proposition is now being submitted to
the citizens of Wichita and Sedgwick
county, which is certainly worthy the
earnest aud candid consideration of every
one interested in the moral, intellectual
and material prosperity of this community.
The proposition comes from the Presby-
terrain board Of aid for colleges and acad-
em:es. Ii is briefly this: The Presbytery
OF Emporia will establish, and cause to be
conducted, frst-class academy in this
city, provided a suitable building is erected
and furnished for that purpose. The
board OF aid, before mentioned, guarantees
the salary of the principal of the institution
and gives assurance that he shall be the
| peer of any educator in the State. The
tuition receipts would be used in the pay
ment of such additional teachers as would
be necessary 10 thoroughly equip the
school for the very best academic instrc-
ton.
Is 1t wise to avail ourselves OF this propo-
sition? Let us see il Wichita is an eligible
location for an institution of learning.
Take map Of the State of Kansas, glance
along east from Wichita until the eye rests
upon town with college, academy or
normal school. None is found until you
reach the city Of Fit. Scott, four miles from
the Missouri line. There is a flourishing
normal school--built by stock company
and conducted by private enterprise. 1t
enrolls 800 students annually from sur
rounding counties, besides 100 more who
attend from Fl Scott and the immediate
vicinity. An equally good school in wich-
ita would be preferred by students in The
counties OF Butler, Cowley, Greenwood,
distance.
Northeast it is 100 miles to Emporia,
where we find the State Normal School and
the Presbyterian College Ito which the citi-
zens Of Emporia have donated $50, COO. In
that direction we have fifty miles of terri
terry.
You may traverse the State north TO the
Nebraska line and south to the territory,
upon the meridian or Wichita, without get
ting within 100 miles of an academy, nCr.
NAL school or college, excepting only the
schools of Emporia With the completion
Of one or more of the proposed railroad
lines north, Wichita will become easily ac-
cessible to at least fifteen counties in that
direction.
South OF us is the fertile and populous
county Of Sumner. On the west, Reno.
Kingman and Harper beign rapidly devel-
oped and filled with people.
Wichita and Sedgwick county with
population OF at least q, 1000, and tina. mum
Der being daily augmented by hundreds
and hundreds Of the choicest and most in
telligent immigrants that ever peopled any
county, form the commercial and agricuI-
tural center Of this rich territory. Why
may not our city also be the educational
center OF an equally large areal doubt il
a more desirable location can he found on
this continent for an institution OF learning
than is afforded by Wichita. That there
will be a school established somewhere in
this valley, in the near future, is just as
certain as the law OF cause and effect. II
Wichita does not get it, Newton, Winfield
or Wellington will be the fortunate locality.
Is this favorable proposition? If we
secure a school at all, we must furnish the
buildings. The State institutions are al
ready located, and IL is not at all probable
that any church, corporation or individual
will ever propose TO erect buildings. equip
and conduct school in this city merely as
a matter Of benevolnnce. The very least
that a community, which is to reap the i'm
mediate benefits Of such an enterprise, can
be asked to do, is TO erect suitable build
iDgs. The struggle with every school il at
the beginning. This Presbyterian board OF
aid guarantees that the salary Of a first
class man shall be paid, and that he shall
be kept on the ground and at work until
the school becomes self-sustaining.
Again, il is a well known fact that the |
denomination contains some |
Of the most princely givers in this country |
education institutions, and none prize
schools of learning more highly. From no
will there be better prospect
or substantial aid in the way Of permanent
when appreciation of the
school has been shown by liberal patronage.
OF the direct benefits, moral, intellectual
md material attending the successful es.
sblishment Of this institution, l cannot
peak at this time. 1t is my candid judy
nept that a grave mistake will be made if
his opportunity for securing an academy
$ not improved. w. +. HARPER.