Wichita eagle., 1886-10-23
ALETTER FROM ST. LOUIS.

A LETTER FROM ST. LOUIS.
To the Editor Of the Eagle.
ST. LOUIS, Oct. 10, 1SS8.--It being a
rainy day in st. Louis, and as | am at a
loss to know just what to do, it occurred to
me to write few lines to the EAGLE
| am astonished as / contrast things
here now with thirty years ago. Then one
could not approach the city by the river
without being struck with the beauty Of a
double row of steam boats for long mile
or more lying along her bay. Now many
days you will not see one unless it be some
lying up for repairs or lack Of business,
and no day more than four to six. Then
the wharf was over run with newsboys;
men and women pcddling fruit, toys and
candy, and stacks upon stacks'of goods Of
export and import, with drays and wagons
pushing in every direction; while the side
walks of First and Second streets were
lined with stands ladden with fruits
and other commodities to catch the thou
sands passing by Now the levy is bare,
and where it was all work, noise and push
it is quiet, and all bears the appearance Of
"A holiday The storerooms abutting the
levy were well occupied with various
branches of trade, all having the appear
ance Of cleanness and prosperity. But now
in walking along what we consider this for
saken levy, We see dirty and even filthy
concerns-first, perhaps, a cobbler shop,
then secondhand store with few dirty
clothing but little above the grade of car
pet rags, next dirty barber shop, then a
saloon, then a card-playing hole, then
sand or places where green hides are han
died to refresh The olfactory nerve as one
passes. For Rent, For Rent, is great
business in St Louis | would not
want TO he his partner; he must be losing
money For rent For rent. | inquired
at one place where know that thirty years
ago you would have TO have paid 500, "a
brick block 2jy120) and the same was $50
or SEQ. | said to the gentleman, what is
the matter along here? Rents 50 low and
yet no occupants? '.Oh. " he says, 'trade is
all going west"
| said west, where: western part Of the
city or the western states? He said both,
but he meant, more particularly, the west
ern part Of the city said we'll what are
you going to do with this property along
the river? Don't know" and off he flew.
And am puzzled to know, too. But my
conclusion is that it will never be redeemed
until all the railroads in the United States
are blown mp. In conversation with an
old friend who has been in the commission
business ever since 1862, nc said: The
railroad had ruined the river and levy trade
forever Perhaps little did the
levy stockholders realize what
the steel bridge was going to do for them
did not realize that this monster bridge and
hole under the city would bring about.
1t is no wonder that the tradeis all work
holds the almost constant run of long and
heavily loaded trains crossing and rccross-
ING the most beautiful work Of human art
more forcfble argument could not be
presented to the mind aS to the reason why
the western states far cut OF the reach of
navigablc streams are bound to have as
large cities as there are in the world than to
contrast 81. Louis levy now and ST Louis
levy thirty years ago. brought about by
railroads alone. And the fate of Wichita
is sealed to be one of those cities. She is
50 well known and is in such a pleasant To-
cality, surrounded by such fine agricul-
tural country and has such fine reputation
abroad that for ii her die is cast
Mr. Editor do not want to he under
stood as depreca;ing ST. Louis. a city
luring this time she has far more than held
her own Imean to depreca;e only in that
inc wherein railroads have done the work
,nly perhaps for the encouragement Of
,ome who may really think there can be
lothing west Of Kansas City bat little Vii
ages. The time las been when rivers
dictated where cities should be. Bar the
inc is near when railroads will entirely
govern the matter, rivers and seas will he
auxiliary only. making some exceptions !
or manufacturing interests Of course. ST. 1
louis IS large city TO what it was thirty
'ears ago. Her business streets ara kept
lean, the policemen are noble looking I
et of men, and notwithstanding her thous- !
inds OF saloons no drunkenness is seen on I
Ter streets. She gives fine exhibitions. is 1
ind and liberal TO her visitors. snd there I
only one city would prefer to live in 4
'elieve and that is Wichita Kan.
f. ". l.