Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-01-02
VALLEY CITIES,

VALLEY CITIES,
To the Editor Of the Eagle:
Often have heard it said that deepest
darkness comes just before the dawn" but l
had never realized so fully the truth of the
statement as when on Monday morning
was called upon to break away from the en-
brace of Morpheus, and in the utmost
haste rush out of the house and down the
dark streets and avenues in the face of a
fierce and biting sleet in order to reach the
depot in time to take the early north-bound
train on the Santa Fe. But whoever heard
of train being on time when one has made
an extra effort to reach it, An hour later
the tender steak, fresh eggs and fragrant
coffee served up at the new Commercial
hotel in Sedgwick City made me forget my
early troubles and put me in good humor
with all the world. Breakfast finished, /
had just taken seat in the waiting-room
when the school bell reminded me of my
own experiences, and l sailed forth again
and in short time found Prof. Perry seated |
at his desk in the high school room, busily
engaged in laying out his work for the day.
In the course of brief conversation l
learned that the schools of the city, though |
somewhat crowded are doing good work
They have five teachers employed and an
enrolment of over 300. l was also in
formed that an organization had been
formed and arrangements made for securing
course of lectures in the city, the proceeds |
to be appropriated to the establishment of !
public library and reading room. As this
scheme was just in my own line of business,
l accounted myself very fortunate to be on
hand at such an opportune time.
At the bank l met an old Buckeye friend, |
}. W. Almack. We stepped across
the street to his new and elegant office |
which he is having fitted up in fine style, |
and the I'd of January will open n real estate
and brokers Office. He will, however, re-
tain his interest as vice president of the |
bank. He stepped out, and in crossing the |
street was accosted by Mr.. Geo. Kanavel, |
whom knew in my earlier years as jolly |
shoemaker at West Carlisle, Ohio. ] was
pleased to learn that he now owns fine
farm near Sedgwick and is president of the
City bank, in which he owns the controlling
interest. He has, however, quite recently
disposed of his share, conditionally, and will /
start TO California the Sd of January, where
he has been offered the presidency of new
bank with capital of S250OOo. If he
thinks the outlook favorable he will close
out his business in Sedgwiek and move to
California in the spring.
The Preston Bros. are doing an immense
business in cattle and hogs. They shipped
eight car loads on Monday. They are feed
ing 215 head of cattle on their farm, one
half mile from town. From ID. l.. Stiffee,
another Buckeye boy, who is experimenting
The feeding for the Preston Bros, learned
that there are nearly 1000 head of cattle and
hogs being fattened on the corn raised in
he vicinity Of Sedgwick; also that both in
quantity and quality the Preston Bros take
he lead.
All other business interests in and about
Sedgwiek seem to be in fcnrishing con-
lition. l saw more than dozen wagons
at the city elevators. Despite the ,
now and sleet the stores and blacksmith /
hops are having an excellent trade and I
LONG good business.
At O'Clock l boarded the north-bound
reight and an hour later arrived In Newton I
The town was full Of people, and everybody c
eemed in hurry. The postoffce was ,
,rowded. No one seemed to have any time +,
o talk, but soon found Mr.. C. s. Bowman, 7
enior member of the law firm of
Bowman q Bucher." | made known my :
business, which was soon settled, not so sat I
as l had hoped. but settled per- T
Mr. Bowman seemed to be at /.
-eisure, so we sat down: and by inquiry, .
earned the following facts concerning the j
ity and its surroundings: b
People up there don't seem to care for !, =
ard cares, at least one would think so, !
ldging from the immense amount of bust a
ess carried on. They have five banks. The c
Iavey Co., First National, Commercial, !
Newton City, and the banking firm of Chas d
!. Munger Il Co. The Arcade. ::he Howard, a
nd the National, all first-cla IS houses, are ?
ne leading hotels in the city. Bradt & I
Watson r,,n a N i,,,nansa Grain bvs;n.se t.
ry goods, Peter Luhn, Barnum d Co., d
a. Thanpauser take the lead. Gerson & 2
Tart ruin large clothing establishment \
The drug business is carried on by the C,
blowing firms: J. b. Dickey, John Reese, \
ames Hurst, Molin & Pierson, Newton =. u
rug Co, and Dymond d Arnold. They Il
ave three weekly newspapers and one dali "
:. The water supply of the city is furnish IN
l by an elevated tower ITO feet in height !. -
he churches are the Methodist Episcopal, in
Baptist, Evangelical, Lutheran, vi
eformed, Episcopal, Catholic, Colored Bap- m
st and Mennonite. The bar numbers twelve ~
embers, and the medical fraternity over te
venty. v
The large music hall, owned and controll- nc
by the Masonic fraternity enjoys liberal f.,
stronage. Bhisdsle Bros arc building o.
w opera house, which, when completed. sa
i'll have but one equal in the state. pa
Court convenes in Music hall. They have on
court house, but like Wichita. can boast W
well-kept and generally, well-filled Jail. an
! afterwards called on Prof. Atkins, super ~, n
teDdent Of the Newton schools. I found ar
m happy and hearty and enjoying week HI
rest, which, judging from bis personal Pc
pearance, he does not need, and by the IN
me criterian we conclude he appreciates TT
~ highly probably an inward conscious Sp
Sc Of my own experience had something Pc
do with forming opinions of others en- m,
ged in the came business). From Prof. tyl
sins l learned that Newton had an
rollment of 1916, of which 1000 are in
public schools. The Catholics have a
urisbing school also. The corps of tesch- 20
numbers fifteen. They have two large mi
substantial buildings of six rooms each. To-
70 rooms are rented for school purposes. WI
e time passed quickly, the lamps were 70
the sleet and snow blew fierce and strong, wa
winds whistled through the ice-laden ser
inches, but good oyster stew at the En- Del
e restaurant made me feel comfortable de'
4 the time to wait for the train seemed sur
y short The next experience which / An
'ught to note was the pandemonium of pc,
bus drivers and hotel runners into which gal
belated traveller is ushered on arriving pr
he Santa Fe depot. S.G.J. wa
of