Wichita daily eagle., 1886-07-15
WONDERFUL WICHITA,
What it is and What 1t Will be.

From Mt. Sterling, KY, Democrat.
WICHITA, Kas. July l, 1SS6.-In
spite of all my old fogy Kentucky
ways in defiance of my fears, trials
and tribulations, Wichita still booms,
and don't yOa forget it. The hand of
fateis holding her up before the world
and all creation in general, and Kan
sas people in particular are doing all
that can be done TO make her the
great commercial city of Kansas.
And the foundation is laid, the plans
are al perfected, and the rushing
crowds that daily land here give q
sure and safe sign that the boasts of
our people are not liz vain.
Wichita is TO he the point from
which all the country, west and south,
aud a considerable portion east and
north, are TO draw all of the supplies
Greatand populous commercial ceniers
build up. prosper and outstrip older
aud larger cities, and yet IT'S often
diff cult to explain or account for their
wonderful growth and prosperity.
There seems to be no reason foT their
strides, yet in spite of croakors, III de-
fiancc OF the many difficulties that
always harass and hinder, their pro-
gresS never ceases and soon the oldest
inhabitant looks up daZZicd and be-
wildercd, but still thinks this rushing
of business, this eternal, constant, hum
of the west is bound to come to a
standstill a few days since saw a
lot 25X140 feet, that was offered for
$500 year..ago. "a buyer come with
70 l.pt ,atttI II u
few months the price was advanced
TO 800. The first wouid-be-buyer
then offered $3.50; that was refused.
Six hundred was soon asked, and $500
offered. and il continued that way tor
more than a year. The price was
steadily advanced until it reached
$3.50. and the man who made the
first offer bought il. 1t is now worth
$4,000.
In many places properly has
doubled IN value since | came here,
aud yet there il 40 better place fns an
investment than Wichita. Real estate
is comparatively cheap. and | do not
think one is taking any risk whatever
in putting his money down here. ]
do not think there can be as big per
cent. realized rs has been during the
past two or three years. and it takes
more money now with which TO oprl-
rate with much success, but that there
are handsome profits yet To be real
lied do not doubt.
The reasons are stronger today for
believing Wichita will be Il city Of
100000 than they have ever been. In
less than two years we viii have nine
railroads. and we will get as good
freight rates as Kansas City. When
this is accomplished our city will be
second to none as distributing point
for all the various kinds of wares that
this vast west now demands. One
wholesale grocery here now sells more
than twice as many goods as all the
grocers combined in Mt. Sterling; and
yet Wichita is only sixteen years old,
and has only % 900 people.
a few days ago took a drive into
the country to see how it looked. In
going out | passed several of the
finest market gardens | have ever
seen. The growth of vegetables is
rapid and wonderful. | have never
seen better or larger. Small fruits
grow to perfection, and the profits
realized are only small on compari-
son with some real estate deals. The
acreage of wheat sown was not large,
and the winter got away with nearly
half of that. but the grain is very fine,
indeed. with weightier yield per
bushel than ever before. The oats
suffered with early dry weather, and
is short but well headed. But the
corn crop is just simply i'm
mense. Some think there will not be
space to stack in the fields when cut:
but I don't believe this. Our five
railroads may not be able to haul it TO
market. but we will have four more
pretty soon. and their combined ef-
forts will no doubt remove ii in time
for planting the next crop. This is a
corn country. and you can go Your
bottom dollar on that.
am glad to see the Democratic ma
jority so largely increased in my old
county. John ID. White will never
have the hardihood TO tackle his old
district again-Montgomery will man.
ufacture for the occasion-if she can
get all other returns in first. Res pec,-
fully. r. L. BEAN