Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1886-01-21
HAZELTON AND SOUTHWEST
KANSAS.

1
This is the question which the people
OF the towns of Southwestern Kansas
are studying. The conclusions al
which we have arrived seem TO US so
reasonable that they are worthy of the
notice Of others. Our views are such
that we have found 10 reason to be
ashamed of them, for they are sup
ported by good, substantial arguments
and not wind. Onr mind is made up
that Hazelton is to be the largest town
in Barber county, at least, and that be-
fore long, for the following reasons.
Some have convinced themselves
that we must be content with second
place, because this is not county seat
reasonable enough delu5ion when
looked at carelessly, but lame aud
week when studied.
In the first place third of the
counties iii the east half of the state
have larger and better towns than
their capitals. Then why not Barber
belong TO that noble minority? She
will, as we intend to show
We would not have it
that we would wound the
feelings of our worthy Medicine
Lodge, but we must state few plain
facts which are so visible to the naked
eye tha: nobody will attempt 10 dis
prove them.
Ride over Barber county and you
will find that line drawn northward
and .outhward and passing a mile or
two east OF TIE county scat, will divide
the level part of the county
on the cast from the gypsum
hills Oh the west. Passing eight or ten
miles cast o: HaZelton are TIE Big
ana Little Sandy creeks, separating
her from the towns of Harper county,
Then, as we are in the center of this
beautiful lay OF farms, and as agricul
tnre is what must support any ofthese
towns. Uazelton is TO be the metrop-
oils of Barber county, for this reason
alone: The finger of destiny points
al her. and she must whether she will
or not.
Medicine Lodge is twenty miles
away, Harper is twenty-sevcn miles
and Anthony twenty-five; while the
latter two towns are only eight miles
apart and in no better farming coun-
try than Hazelton. Then, she must
inevitably surpas5 either of them:
She sees her place among the towns
of Southern Kansas and will look up
TO none of these but Wichita.
Hazleton has the opportunity 10 be
second in Southern Kansas, and she
has the right class OF citizens TO take
advantage of her opportunities. Let
every enc of them be awake. The
Fort Scott road win soon be here, and
we will find ourselves transferred
almost in a day into city. There
can be no doubt based on reasonable
grounds as to the future greatness of
Hazeltou. There will be here in the
Arkansas valley, and that, too. before
many years, more people to the square
mile. and more large cities and towns
than in any other agricultural district
in the world. 1t is plain, for the
reason that there is not another dis
trict on earth with equal soil and with
all the advantages as a farming coun-
try az the southwest quarter of Kan
sas. Our opinions have been formed
after a careful study of the subject,
and we are for the building up of
Hazleton and Southwest Kansas. The
coming year will unfold much. that
has not been foretold.
Business is Frightening up in the
east, and renewed energy is being in
fused into everything. We will soon
see network of railroads extending
f,om the Arkansas river to the
Colorado line, connecting hundreds of
prospecting towns and cities. while
stretching to the right and left will
be farms and gardens, the like of
which the world has never seen.
Southwest Kansas has future before
her which is greater than she expects,
and it is nearer than she fully COM
prehends-