Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1886-03-14
THE RAMBLER's RACKET.

md myself included. have been practic-
up on weather now for some time and now
hat have got ii just right I guess will
nave it patented. I observe that fine weather |
brings people out on the street, no matter |
weather they want anything or not. The
.ity was alive with people yesterday and
he railing about the Citizens bank pre-
rented q regular summer aspect The ladies
we're out in full force, as is usual on sunny
days. like to SEQ the ladies out for they
add lustre to the scene on the streets. l am
\ great admirer of women, though was
seldom married. have been quite 8 stu
dent of the female get-up. Woman, to all
outward appearances, is gentler than spring
lambs, but if you observe her when she mas
any point to make, you will find she gener-
ally gets there with both feet.
A gentleman remarked to me at
the Santa Fe depot yesterday morning
that it was q shame the way the Santa re
company is using this city with regard to
depots. Nearly all the passengers 20 to the
Douglas avenue depot, and men, women and
children. are there all huddled up in little,
dirty room, which is often filed with smoke
of pipe and cigar. The Santa Fe ought to
be ashamed of itself.
was talking with man from Missouri
who said: "You have wonderfully enter
prising town here, ard don't see what has
made it outstrip all the other cities in the
state IN the race Of prosperity. 1t seems to
me that there are other towns more favor
ably situated than this, with respect to natu-
raj recources, and all that" ut is our en-
people who did it" said l. at is
the people who can make or mar town,
though location has good deal to do with
it. There are grea. opportunities in state
like Kansas. The horizsn is full Of oppor-
tunities for men of pluck and ambition to
build up and acquire wealth" That's
so," said the Missourian. There's Sedalia
in our state for instance, see how it has
grown. want to give you sketch of the
history Of that city. The Missouri Pacific
road made that place. When that road was
projected, there was not house where Sc
dalia stands. Georgetown. about one and a
half miles north was the county seat Of Pet
tbs county. There was not much enterprise
in Missouri then. The railroad people came
along and q meeting was called in the court
house to consider the proposition of donst-
ing depot grounds, etc, at the county seat.
The people of that section had never seen
railroad and didn't know what 20 do about
it. The representatives of the road made
speeches, and so did General George Smith,
who owned tract Of land where Sedslia
now stands. An old Missourian rose up in
the meeting and said to Gen. Smith: "Gen.
we don't know anything about a railroad,
and can't tell whether it will help us
or not, but we've all been up to
the Missouri river and seen the
boats, and we know that is good
thing, so if you will promise to get us a
river we will all go in for it." The result
of the meeting was unfavorable to the road.
and so General Smith. who had enterprise,
offered the company the necessary grounds
on his place and the depot was located there
and the road gave Georgetown the go-by.
Now the grass grows in the middle of the
streets in Georgetown and there is not even
postoffce there, while Sedalis is the coun-
ty seat and contains about 10000 people.
The railroad people named the town after
General Smiths daughter, whose name is
Sedalia. That is what becomes of the
places where there is no enterprise"
Yes, that is the way it goes. Why do
commerce and immigration turn their backs
on cid Missouri and seek our southern Kan
sas, Is it because we are blessed with
a bluer sky or more genial Gun,
Not at all, but while Missouri
lived upon corn bread and neglected
to advertise. Kansas, with no history dating
behind the war, whooped her up, and the
same is true of Wichita with respect TO
other and older towns in the state that We
are running away from. Our people
whooped her up with an exceeding great
whoop. They encouraged railroads, built
houses, laid out new additions. shed lots of
printers ink, and tore around generally.
What has been the result? Here we are to-
day, the best known and most prosperous
city in the whole west. The admired of al!
admirers and the beacon that attracts men
of get-up-and-git all over the country. Yes,
my beloved readers. that's the sort Of town
this is, and like to lift up my voice in her
praise. The secret of our success is the en-
terprise of our people. Our men have stuck
to business and our girls didn't run away
with their coachmen. l long to gather the
loose fragments of our greatness and fire
them in one great broadside at the world.
l heard Just little bit of election news
yesterday to the effect that the voters of the
Fourth ward intend to ask Charley Biting
to represent them in the council. Mr.. Bit
ting would make first-rate councilman.
A man who, think, is knight of Labor
told me that was mistaken in saying that
Mr.. Stryker is leader of the Knights of
Labor in this city. He says Mr.. Stryker
has been suspended from that position.
1 hear good deal about wholesale houses
of various kinds contemplating coming here,
among others Mr.. Hoffmaster, of Rock
Island, Ill.
l took ride around the north part of
town with gentleman yesterday, and in
that ride saw many places where ground
had been broken for new buildings.
As was coming down Douglas avenue
l saw a great crowd in front of Niederlan-
der's office and on investigation discovered
they were examining an ingenious sort o:
harness that consisted of merely of the col
lars, names and couple of little straps with
& log chain stretched along the pole of the
wagon for tugs. II is called Sherwood's
novelty steel harness made in Syracuse, n.
Y. AID is said to be the best ever made for
blowing. Kelly. Alexander and RAIN are
agents for this novel horse riggin.
I dropped into b.ttings' store and was
surprised to see W. .. Hilbish climbing up
q small fight of stairs TO Fl; q vest on man.
This man was seven feet in his socks and
weighed only l40 pounds. always felt q
great pride in my height myself but don't
now.
ECHOES FROM DIXIE.