Wichita eagle., 1886-11-04
HOW TO Run A TOWN.

HOW TO Run A TOWN.
In successful town building utility OF
action. harmony in effort, concord in coun-
Gil are required as much as stupendous
effort, sleepless energy and peerless en-
deavor But something else also is neccs-
sary. There must be directing mind
and watchful vigilance on the part of some
one or q very few individuals. Thirty
wears experience and observation on the
borders Of civilization, and even longer
time, counting from Il brief period when
Michigan was still territory. convince me
that failures in success of town building
result mainly from two causes.
First-Want of controlling mind and
energy in few individuals, more fire.
quently in the lack of single competent,
broad gagged and broad Drained leader
who can impress his vigor and enthusiasm
upon all forces and energies and unite and
control them for the upbuilding Of the
town.
Second-Lack of harmony and unity in
carrying out the plans and purposes of COM
petent leadership. Petty jealousies. blear-
eyed envy, small ambition, failure to
strengthen and maintain competent leader
ship have done more to kill good towns
and blast and blight brightest hopes and
prospects than all other agencies and in
tluences combined Wise counsels and
harmonious action would undoubtedly
have made Leavenworth the biggest town
west of st. Louis. Her fate should be a
lesson TO all increscent cities and ambitious
towns AtchiSon, but few miles distant
with no local demand for a town of any
considerable importance. having the good
sense to stand by her representative men
when in positions of power or having as
sured prospects of success. whether it be
Pomeroy or ingalls,, Click or Horton, sue
ceedcd. with the fates all against her,
in getting the main line of the
Atchison, Topeka X Santa Fe road
in Kansas. the Central Branch road and
other enterprises of incalculabie value tC
the place In the early days Lawrence
stood by her Lanes and Robinsons and
Lane gave her the Union Pacific; Robinson
secured for her the State university. 50
long as she was undivided in council anC
measurably free from petty jealousy anC
mean and malicious envy she was the con
trolling factor in the politics and policies OF
the state Then came 4 departure. Toe
many small great men arose who knew
neither Lane nor Robinson and the inSpira
tions and purposes that controlled in Tho
brave days of old Haskell got nationa
reputation. in which his city and his stat,
shared rs we'll as himself, but in his las
political race he had TO fight for recogni
ton. for justice, rather, in his OWN party
ranks and in his own town, and after b.
had given TO Lawrence the government In
dian school. and when its location was sc
cured by him. conditional upon certain 10
cal and financial aid, and Judge Tbatche
! stepped in and saved the institution To III.
town. the walls Of the first building has
I not been commenced till he was bc,iaubet
and beSlimed by political malice in con
test in which he was not a party i'll interest
/ That great empire >pringiug up in south
western Kansas has learned some pTactica
( lessons in town building from the success
Is and failures of older towns in the eastern
portions Of the state When graph.
and truthful history of the state is wriites
and 4 model in effort, in purpose. in coUn
sci, in united action in towg building
selected, one name will appear upon tn
A. FURNISHED horizon of the southwest, eclipS
ing in It's brilliancy Of coloring ana If
/ glamour of glory and gold all others con
/ spicuous and luminous
TIE MAGIC CITY or WICHITA.
Wichita has exceeded ali other cities il
Kansas or the west. Kansas City alone cx
! cepted, and. indeed far surprising that i'm
perial mistress of the new west, in the frs
fifteen yeers of its existence in grow;l