Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1886-06-22
WIcHIrAI

TUESDAY MORNING. JUNE ~.
WICHITAI
Our Visit to Wichita-Whas We Saw
What We Heard-What We
Think About 1t.
Cincinnati Comnercial-Gazette.
sThere is q tide in the affairs of men
which, taken at the food, leads on to for
tune"
Kansas is q wonderful state-its
growth, development, resources. pro-
ducts and aspirations are all marvel
ous-sll these we know; and that
prodigies Of cities should spring into
existence almost like bowers in. the
tales of fairyland, we were in a meas
ure prepared TO believe.
Kanopolis appeared in the financial
horizon announced by its speculative
astrologers as a star of the first mag
nitude, destined TO become the capital
of the Grasshoppcr State, aud even
tually the capital Of the nation. But
before we could express our admira-
ton the meteor burst, and we were
disconsolate.
For some time pas. tidings have
reached us. from the southwest of an
other city whose future would chal-
leEgc the admiration of the western
country and reveal great wealth 10
its citizens.
WICHITA! WICHITA!
Was the talismanic word to insure all
on earth that one could hope for or
aspire to. Wichitai Wichita. was the
scream of its EAGLE, with piniOns of
faith, beak of strength and ta!Ons of
pluck. Wichita! Wichita! seemed to
be the echoing chorus of oil who spoke
of il, and TO those who in wonder
ment looked for the denouemcnt of ali
this excitement, the scintellations of
its Beacon were but startling pictures
of Wichita! Wichita!
We had visited this city of Wichita
about two and half years ago and
had to stretch our confidence to ac-
cord it ten thousand population. and
now it was claimed to have over
twenty -one thousand. The year pre-
vious to our visit the exports were
valued at 81 soc, 900, and the past
year they were quoted at over $780,
OOO-a commercial business for the
year preceding our visit of SIC, 900. 900
against upwards of $25, O00, 600 in 1885;
and we heard that the permanent inn
provemcnts for the past year were of
striking architecture and most SUBJ
stantial material, their cost running
into the millions.
Yet, Wichita! Wichita!-was the
musical greeting to our doubts.
We know that Duluth had out
lived the oratorical assault of Proctor
Knott! that Paeedena had survived
the eulogies of the Pa Of Peck's Bad
Boy; that the wonderland" Of the
north had not been extinguished by
its volumes of praise; aud yet were
solicitous whether this Wichita! was
one ofthose ethereal creations of intel
lectual frost-work, more intangible
than the rose-tinted cloud of q sum-
mcr sunset; one of those airy cxhalta-
tons of the spectators BRAIN, when
we heard that its surrounding coun-
try was being subdivIded into town
lots aud selling 1T wondrOus figures,
for there -'are ever fitting forms OF
towns and cities along the lines OF
railroad. Turing the unwary settler as
the mirage of the desert lures the fam
ishing Traveller on and ever on until it
fades away in The darkcning horizon,
or whether" this Wichita! and its ex-
tending suburb. .'is Il real, bona fisir,
substantial city. all siaked of. with
the lots marked with their owners
names like tina; proud commercial
metropolis" Wichits! Wichita! of
which we heard.
A Young girl who has recently made
her debut in society is expected IN
many things to
INITIATE HER OLDER SISTERS
Jewels, ribbons, laces, etc. We were
therefore willing that this wonderful
Wichita. in imitation of its booming
prototypes, should be accorded street
RAILWAYS, watcr-works, fire depart
mcnt, gas-works, electric lights, tele-
phone exchange, opera houss, excellent
schools, numerous churches, board
of trade, and many other such con-
veniences appropriate TO metropolitan
airs, within the limits of our creduli-
ty; but other things were told us in
this fable of Wichita! Wichita! which
admonished us not to be too credu-
lous. We heard it whispered that
they were going to
TAP THE TRADE
of Kansas City and St.Louis,in whole
sac lines: that they already had the
Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe; st.
Louis, FIT. Scott & Wichita division of
the Missouri Pacific; st. Louis Il San
Francisco; Wichita a. SOuthwestern;
Wichita & Western, and Wichita &
Colorado railroads reaching their
doors. in this wonderful city of Wich-
ita-and were soon to have, ii. G., be-
fore January l, 1882 three others
from among the prominent railway
systems of the west, until. rs it was
told us, il should become the railroad
center of the southwest; and even
more, that they possessed remarkable
natural advantages for manufactures,
in water power, crude products, cheap
fuel, and the facilities for sustaining
artisans at minimum cost of living,
until, ut last, to crafty our curiosity,
and, if possible, sustain our doubts
upon this momentous question, we
decided to visit incognito this fsbu-
ious Wichita and become thereby
wiser, if not happier iu.the result.
WICHITA. WICHITA!
Was the magical word whispered by
all; and loud spoken as well, in which
this city, either by a species of necro-
NANCY or otherwise, should become
''the future great" southwest from
Kansas City. But while faith is good
and a community, as well rs an in |
dividual, can exhibit their faith by |
their works--it is an admitted fact |
that to build city it must have con-
troll oftributarv resources of suffi cient |
magnitude to employ and support \ |
metropolitan population; to attract
large volumes of capital. and in its
manipulation to employ and supper |
artisans and wage-workers in their |
cumulative industry.
A careful investigation of this SUBJ
ject revealed to us the fact that the |
seven banks of Wichita represented |
an aggregate paid-up capital of $780, |
600; and that these banks are support
ing n clearinghouse in which their
clearings are half mil
lion weekly. From this element we
turned our attention to the considera-
tion of the next most important factor
in the problem, viz.
MANUFACTURING.
The Arkansas river flows along the
border of this city, affordiug already |
some power. which has been ievel-
oped with success. and ID is claimed