Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1885-04-09
WESTERN DEVELOPMENT.
What a Few Years Have Done in the
State Of Kansas.
An Advertiser Correspondent Revisits
Old Scenes-Villages Grown to
Cities and Hamlets to Towns
Changes of Decade.

Correspondence Elmira u. " Advertiser
WICHITA. Kan, March 28.-From
Springfield, No, to this point the edi-
dences of prosperity are innumerable,
and fine viii; yes, beautiful farms, i'm
proved inn cments, people in tasty
vehicles DIR; n by well-bred horses,
better scho buildings and churches
arc convinci e proofs of the enlight-
eminent tho reigns over the section
trayersed. is not a paradise, but
evidently st sihwcsiern Missouri pos
sesses some ,'ery attractive features,
and eastern Kansas is well known for
its enterpris and prosperity, but for
genuine surprise commend US 10 this
town or CITY. rather. for il is under 4
city charter and has a population of
Is. 900 or more, |, is located in the
famed valley of the Arkansas at
the junction of the Little and Big
rivers. and is the center of one of the
finest bodies of fertile lands in the
state. When we arrived at Augusta
Oh the Walnut river, we supposed we
were on familiar ground, but nothing
looked natural, for SO much of the pra-
irie has been broken and fenced since
our last visit. and the hamlet of doz-
en- wears ago is now a fine village with
fine homes dotting the prairie all
around, making quite different pic
ture with the groves and orchards
from the one Impressed upen the mem
ory. AS we had noticed all along since
entering the state, herd of fine stock
and other evidences of thrift, we were
partially prepared for the changes
which were soon 10 meet US, but 1t
does not seem possible that ten short
wears could effect such a com
plete transformation as they
have. From Augusta to Wichita i a
stretch oc gently undulatory fertile
lands. originally prairie, and so late as
1870, unbrokeu and unsettled. To-day
its face j. varied by natural-looking,
though cultivated, groves Of timber,
neatly trimmed hedges, marking the
boundaries of farms and subdividing
them into fields. elegant homes, sur
rounded bv orchards, barns, etc, with
now and then few evergreen trees
to ornament some tasty farmers yards /
and dwelling places. Plenty of stock,
with large cribs of corn, explain the
way in which these luxurious sur
roundings are sustained. Thinking
to early locate some places that used !
TO be very familiar ten or twelve years |
ago in the vicinity of this place we
stepped ont upon the platform. What !
was our surprise as we failed to iden- !
tify single one. 50 great has been the |
changes, and in few moments the |
train stopped At station
where the finest hacks and !
street ears waited to convey passen- !
gers up town, for We were long dis
lance from the heart of The city. The I
brakeman had called out Wichita, and I
it was also lettered on the station,
and we must be home again. and yet |
not single object could we fix upon |
that looked familiar. After eating |
supper we started out TO find old |
friends. and soon met some, who, 1
though grown richer in purse, have |
not lost the generous, friendly man (
ners Of old. Thinking to find some /
thing familiar, we visited the Wichita |
EAGLE. a paper established here III /
~, and, though warmly welcomed, /!
did not eel exactly at home
among all tle improved machinery /
known 10 first class publishers /
of daily N ! weekly newspapers. |
An evening tally is also supported be- /
sides lis we; ky and two other weekly 4
papers, and yet il is only fifteen years |
since this co lnty was settled and we |
then hauled lumber one hundred miles |
TO build la house. no railroad being I
nearer than nat. Three lines of road |
t,ns1. fraf fis.. r.fapn anH i ~
extending their lines west aud south |
west from this point TO places now |
rapidly setting up, far out on the bor-
dcrs Of civilization. 1t is history re-
peating Itself a il has done for the |
The past century. The surprise was |
the greater for having read the EAGLE !
since lis first appearance. we supposed |
we were quite well Informed regard
inc this section; We; so live newspaper |
rs il. had not aroused our conception 4
Suiii cienlly TO embrace all the fine |
houses and extent of the city. Where I
buffalo wallows only indentcd the PLAIN |
fifteen wears ago are now farms with |
tasty dwellings. orchards and improve |
inents equal to those of the best farms
in the Chemung valley, and As Il ship |
ltiU2 anu NiipIt.slt ioiilt, 'iiN - Tap !
idly taking the lead i'll the state. Up /
wards of 300 pupils are registered in
the public schools. and fine buildings /
are provided for them. The churches /
are well represented, and have fine
houses of worship; the moral improve |
ment j. as much surprise as the ma |
terial development The weather is
fine and the grass in the yards ANA up |
on the lawns is already assuming its |
spring shade Farmers have been at |
work ploughing all the month, and
building is progressing. In my next |
will give Information regarding prices |
of lands, disadvantages, and such /
other items as NAV seem to me of in !
Meantime shall enjoy, as |
have to-day. sitting in the open air |
without the necessity of an oyercoat |
or extra wraps, and rejoice IN the |
bamy air of Spring. W. y. l..