Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-05-22
THE COLLEGE ENTERPRISE.

We have never been informed a. TO the
guarantees Upon the part Of the conference
OF the Methodist Episcopal church. of south
west Kansas, touching the founding ofa
college, further than that such an institu-
ton had been decided upon, and would be
located this spring, by commission chosen
for that purpnse. OF course, wherever To-
Gated, il will be to the interest Of the church
to sustain and foster the institution, and as it
is well understood that the energies OF the
ministry will be devoted to its upbuilding,
and that, therefore, rs 1t must add impor-
lance and contribute to the prosperity OF the
town or city, which shall secure it, the COM
mission ask or name an amount which VIII
be expected as bonus or starter. Inc
members of this commission were IN our
city yesterday, but the day was 80 unfavor-
able that the probability is they were un-
able to look around very much. But there
are two sides to this question. While such
nm institution would prove very desirable to
to the citizens of Wichita, and while they
stand ready to do all in their power, in the
way of an offering in securing that which
would add so much to the disturbances and
attractiveness of their city as place for
homes, vet Wichita on the other hand
presents many inducements for the future
success of the institution which no other
city OF to wn within the bounds Of the con-
ference can offer and to which we hope the
committee will give due weight. Wichita is
at least the commercial and financial, if not
the political, center of this portion Of the
state, being, by all odds, the most populous
and wealthy city of any within the limits Of
the conference and, therefore, Il very much
less effort would be necessary to sustain
leading educational institution at Wichita
than at any of the other towns seeking the
prize As the institution is rot for a day or
for year, this factor in the estimate Is OF
more importance than any mere money
bonus. A gift is soon exhausted and is
therefore comparatively worthless when
weighed against regular support and
definite income The old axiom that ITO do
business one must locate where business
is done" is just as true with reference to
schools or newspapers or churches as with
groceries or dry goods. If New York
firm with capital of one hundred
thousand dollars had determined to
open up jobbing trade some-
where in Southwest Kansas they
would not hesitate long as to what town IN
southern Kansas they should choose SO as to
reach the largest possible number of people
and the most trade. No bonus of ten OF
twenty thousand dollars would indemnify
such firm in locating al any other point than
at Wichita The difference in one or two
years of trade at center would more thar
balance any bonus which comparatively
unimportant place could afford to offer, aDd
this is saying nothing against any other
point or location. An academy, or select
or private school can flourish where 1
university or college could not live. Th'
Presbytery of Kansas, for instance, for thu
sum of $4,000 located their state school al
Emporia, under the shadow of a half dozer
institutions, state and UNCONVENTIONAL. Tha
church would have had greater, more sol
id and successful Institution, and its locator,
would haze shown more wisdom
if they had located it at WITCH
tia in the absence of any gift. Her
is the center of great unoccupied field
but because of the bonus they chose fielt
already more than occupied. So with thu
Methodist college. If located at Wichita j
will succeed without particular effort, but
located elsewhere its founders will live Il
see at Wichita in all probability an institu
ton of learning that will overshadow any
other school within the radius of this city
influence.
While, SO far as we know, our citizen
very much desire the new college and Will
we believe they stand ready to meet an.
reasonable demand, yet, as we said in tn
outstart, there are two sides, and the cold
logical, business side, which we have given
should not be lost sight of by the honorabl
gentlemen whose sole desire in the premise
is to do the very best for the future of wha
is expected to be a great and fourishing in
sttution of learning.
Last evening after the above had been pu
in type, number of Wichita's representa-
tive men met the locating committee at tn
parlors of the Occidental where after the Sc
lection of Col lines as chairman and j. 0
Davidson as secretary, several short, pleas
ant but earnest little talks were made II
which other advantages than those enumer
ated above. were submitted to the considera
ton of the committee, who gave the strict
est att ention TO all statistical and other fact
bearing upon the proposition and in the ut
most good humor accepted the promiscuou
suggestions thrown out by the crowd a
random, being evidently, bent upon tn
determination that no real point should es
cape their attention, and only anxious tina
the best interests of the body which the
represent should be fully conserved.