Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1885-05-20
THE COLLEGE ENTERPRISE

We have never been informed as TO the
guarantees upon the part of the conference
oil the Methodist Episcopal church, of south
west Kansas, touching the founding of a
; college, further than that such an institu-
ton had been decided upon, and would be
located this spring, by commission chosen
for that purpn-e. Of course, wherever To-
Gated, it will b. 10 the interest of the church
to sustain and foster the institution, ard as it
is well underst ID that the energies of the
ministry will lie devoted to its upbuilding,
and that, Therefore, as il must add impor-
lance and contribute 10 the prosperity of the
town or city, which shall secure il, the COM
mission ask Or name an amount which Will
be expected as bonus or starter. The
members of this commission were in our
city yesterday, but the day was so unfavor-
able that the probability is they were I'M
able to look around very much. But there
are two sides to this question. While such
an 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 desirableness and
attractiveness of their city as place for
| homes, yet Wichita on the other hand
presents many inducements for the future
success of the Institution which no other
city or town 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, a very much
less effort would be necessary to sustain a
leading educational institution at Wichita
than at any of the other towns seeking the
prize. As the Institution is not for a day or
for a 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 ''to 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 a 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 or
twenty thousand dollars would indemnify
such firm in locating at any other point than
al Wichita. The difference in one or two
years of trade al a center would more than
balance any bonus which comparatively
unimportant place could afford to offer, and
this is saying nothing against any other
point or location. An academy, or a select,
or a private school can flourish where a
university or college could not live The
Presbyter, of Kansas, for instance, for the
sum of $4,000 located their state school at |
Emporia, under the shadow of half dozen
institutions, ST te and denominational. That
church would ave had greater, more sol
id and success Il institution, and its locators
would have shown more wisdom, I
f they hal located it at Wich- {
ia in the absence of any gift. Here
5 the center Of great unoccupied field,
,ut because Of the bonus they chose field i
already more than occupied. So with the u
college. If located at Wichita it {,
will succeed without particular effort, but if :
ocated elsewhere its founders will live TO
ee at Wichita in all probability an institu-
ion of learning that will overshadow any
,ther school within the radius of this city's
influence
While, so far as we know, our citizens
cry much desire the new college and while !!
We believe they stand ready to meet any c
easonsble demand, yet, as We said in the
there are two sides, and the cold,
ogical, business side, which we have given, Il
hould not be lost sight of by the honorable
Gentlemen whose sole desire in the premises \
; to do the very best for the future of what u
) expected to be great and aourishing in s
titution Of learning. Il
Last evening after the above had been put IL
4 type, number of Wichita's representa- II
i've men met the locating committee at the u
arlors of the Occidental where after the Sc 81
.ction of Col. lines as chairman and J. O. II
davidson as secretary, several short, pleas II
Mt but earnest little talks were made in "
Thich other advantages than those cnumer- Tt
ted above, We're submitted to the considcra- 81
on Of the committee, sho gave the strict
4 att ention 10 all statistical and other facts
caring upon the proposition and in the ut 4,
lost good humor accepted the promiscuous of
thrown out by the crowd at II
,ndom, being evidently, bent upon the re
termination that no real point should cs- tn
ape their attention, and only anxious that :,
he best interests of the body which they Al
present should be fully conserved. yv