Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1885-06-18
STATE REFORMATORY.
Locating Commission to Visit
Wichita To-Day or Tomorrow.


visited several institutions of like character
in other states Tor the purpose of more fully
acQuanting themselves with the local needs
and with the general plans and designs of
such institutions, returned to the state some
three weeks ago, since which time they have
been visiting the various points that had in
tirnated desire to be honored with the
prize. Ali the points west of the Sixth
principal meridian in Northern and Cen
trail Kansas have been visited and carefully
looked over, and but two candidates remain
TO be scrutinized, Wellington and Wichita.
The commissioners spent day before yester-
day in our sister city of Newton, which
they must have found live county seat,
very pleasantly situated, as were no doubt
all the Others visited, as they will also find
the bright city of Wellington. They pass
ed down the road yesterday morning, and
will probably reach Wichita this evening.
In this contest we take it our city will
have no brief to present, no particular fig
ures or statistics to exhibit as it is well I'M
derstOod that the gentlemen composing the
commission are experienced men of bust
ness in both public and private affairs, who
know and understand the environments
which should influence them and control
their judgment and decision more thorough
ly than any man or set Of men who have not
had the opportunities TO study and compre-
bend the matter in all its lengths and
breadths as they surely have. When they
shall have looked the localities all over and
thoroughly considered all their respective
advantages, taking them in connection with
the interests of the state at large, and of
southern Kansas in particular. which ia yet
without u state institution, they, no
doubt. will make a wise decision. Wichita
and her surroundings viii speak for them
selves. and statistics and briefs can make
no palmer the facts Of her excellence, her
accessibility, and her pre-eminence as CEN
ter for all this portion of the state, CONNER
cially financially and politically. These
truths stand out very boldly even TO the
average traveller, and cannot fail Of attract
ing and impressing men who have had so
much to do with private and public bust
ness affairs as the honorable board Of whom
we speak.
The conformation of the country, which
seems to undrrlic and shape what we term
the law of trade, unerringly fixes all trade
center-, be they local or of wider extent.
The., are the factors which have decreed
that Wichita shall be such center. This
law cares nothing for mountains or swamps
as "A location and her decree is unalterable
and all things, even great opposition lines
Of traffic are swerved and bent and finally
forced to contribute Happily Wichita AS
neither precipitous hills or swamps to con-
tend with but is delightfully."- and healtfully
located and will be one of the great cities
of Kansas, if not of the west, as inevitably
as the flow of the two rivers which conjoin
here or a that tine Indians themselves made
this point or central gathering place long
before the white man succeeded to the pro-
prietorship of lis broad and rich domain.
Here, in spite of rivalries and in face Of OPP
posing railway interests stands city
of more than fifteen thousand peopl,
with seventeen exclusive wholesale or job
bling houses and many infant or small man
u.acturing interests already upon their feet
a city growing at an almost unprecedented
stride. located in county whose produc-
tions in the aggregate were greater than any
other county in the state for the past two
years, and surrounded by Cowlcy, Sumner
and Butler. three other leading counties III
the state. the four counties together last veal
returning upwards of twenty-four million
bushels of corn. six million bushels of wheat
and three million bushels of oats, with {
taxable valuation Of thirty million dollars
In addition, Harper, kingman, Pratt, Bar
Der. and several other counties in the west
promise soon TO become as great. Her near
est competitor, rs a iobbing point, is Kansas
Cit.. two hundred and twenty-seven mile
distant.
As 10 the influence as a center we neeC
mention hut the simple fact that her morn
ing paper, the DAILY EAGLE, goes into the
hands of the business and professional mel
of ffty-scyen towns in southern Kansas
neither of the towns on the main line of tn
Santa Fe being counted. What is true o
the EAGLE Is true of all the whOlesaiins
houses.
The gentlemen composing the committee
Messrs. Severance, Boncbrake and Smith
vii! be welcomed TO our city, with the same
spirit that Wichita ever welcomes representa-
tive men, and while AS We said n
briefs would be issued setting forth III
many advantages which are apparent 81
every hand. vet in behalf Of our people an'
her leading spirits who have contributed s.
much in making this the brightest ans
busiest city IN all Kansas, we, in all con
tdcnce. say to the members Of the commits
sion tina, they will please make themselve
at home 50 lor As they shall find If neccs
sary-or advisable 10 tarry within our Dor
drrs.
Mr.. \. c. Walden left last evening for ;;
Joe, No.
Mort Mckim left for Mead county ia:
evening.
Chas. Smyth and wife lett for Kansas Git