Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-04-10
WESTERN DEVELOPMENT.
What q 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 a Decade.

Correspondence Elmira ~. " Advertiser.
WICHITA, Kan, March 2S.-From
Springfield, Mo-, TO this point The edi-
dences of prosperity are innumerable.
and fine villages, beautiful farms, i'm
proved implements, people in tasty
vehicles drawn by well-bred horses,
better school buildings and churches
are convincing proofs of the enlight-
eminent that rcigns over the section
trayersed. Ii is not a paradise, but
evidently southwestern Missouri pos
sesses some very attractive features,
and eastern Kansas is well known for
its enterprise and prosperity. but for a
genuine surprise commend us to this
town, or city, rather, for it is under
city charter and has a population of
1900 or more. Ii is located in the
famed valley OF the Arkansas at
the junction Of The Little and Big
rivers, and il the center of one oi the
finest bod' of fertile lands IN The
state. Vine we arrived at Augusta
on the Wal, It river. we supposed we
were on fan liar ground. but nothing
looked natu n. for so much os ihr pr;l-
irie has been broken aud fenced nee
our last visi and the hamlet of II doz
en- years az, is now a fine village with
finc homes dotting the prairie all
around, ma ing quite different pie
ture with tae groves aud orchards
from the one rpressed npen 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 CON
plete transformation as they
nave From Augusta To Wichita 4
stretch oc gently undulatory fertile
lands, originally prairie, and so late as
1870, unbroken and unsettled. To-day
lis face is varied by natural-lookins.
though cultivated, groves of timber,
neatly trimmed hedges, marking the
boundaries of farms and snbdividing
them into fields, elegant homes. sur
rounded by orchards, barns, etc, with
now aud then few evergreen trees
10 ornament some tasty farmers yards
and dwelling places. Plenty of stock,
with large cribs of corn, explain the
way in which these luXuriou, sur
roundings are sustained Thinking
TO early locate some places that used
10 be very familiar ten or twelve years
ago in the vicinity of this place we
stepped out upon the platform. What
was our surprise as we failed to iden-
iify single one, so great has been the
changes, and in few moments the
gsn at tuf1 ngt
where the finest hacks and
street cars waited 10 convey passen-
gers up town, for we were long dis
lance from the heart of the city The
brakeman had called out Wichita, and
il 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 fluid old
friends, and soon met some, who,
though grown richer in purse, have
not lost the generous, friendly man
ners of old. Thinking TO find soeie-
EAGLE, paper established here in
~, and, though warmly welcomed,
did not feel exactly at home
among all the improved machinery
known TO first class publishers
of daily and weekly newspapers
An evening daily is also supported be-
sides its weekly and two other weekly
papers, and yet il is only fifteen years
since this county was settled and We
then hauled lumber one hundred miles |
TO build us house. no railroad being |
nearer than that. Three lines OF road |
are built into the place, aud some are
their lines west aud south |
west from this point TO places now |
rapidly settling up, far out on the bor-
ders of civilization. 1t is history re- |
peating itself as it has done Tor TIE
the past century. The surprise was
the greater. for having read the EAGLE !
since its frs appearance, we supposed |
we were quiz well informed regard |
ing this sect IN; yet so live a newspaper |
as it, had not aroused our conception !
suffi GENTLY % embrace all the fine |
houses and KENT of the city. Where |
buffalo waliC VS. only indented the plain |
fifteen years ago are now farms with |
tasty dwelliu q. orchards and imI$o, C.
ments equal 10 those of the best farms /
III tHt tsbtIiuur NdbtN, anu "a n siitp- 4
ping and wholesale point. this is rap
idly taking the lead in the state. Up
wards of $500 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
mcnt is as much surprise as the ma
,erial development. The weather is
fine and the grass in the yards and up
on the lawns is already assuming its
spring shade. Farmers have been at
work ploughing all the month, and
is progressing. In my nextl
will give information regarding prices
Of lands, disadvantages, aud such
other items as may seem to Inc of in
tcrest, Meantime | shall enjoy, as |
have to-day. sitting in the open air
the necessity of an oyercoat
Or extra wraps. and rejoice in the
Damy air of SprinZ. w. A. p.