Wichita eagle., 1886-08-19
pITTSBUTG, CRAWFORD CO., KANS,
The Eldorado Of Southeastern Kansas.
To the Editor OF the Eagle.
''Gaily bedight a gallant knight
In sunshine and in shadow,
Had journeyed along singing a song,

foregoing is selection, lived in the presen
time, and become scqusinted with the cit,
ofwhich 1 write he mig ht surely have fount
: more satisfactory ending to his beautiful
l verses.
Your correspondent, as it fortunately
proved, was destined to wait over few hour
in this attractive and growing city, and tn.
attractions proved SO great, that the hours
were gladly increased into days, to enable
ne to write up city that was heretofore
Comparatively unknown to me, and, but fol
accident, might have remained so "ad infin.
itum." Hurrying though 1 was to Other
fields, could not resist tarrying here, as, sf:
ter soiourning in numerous other places o.
this place proved on oasis in the desert, and
} ''sure enough" Eldorado.
1t is situated on prominent elevation in a
rolling prairie, IS fine a location as could
have been made, ard can readily be seen fol
miles from any direction. It is right in the
heart OF the best coal mining district in Kan
sas, being underlaid throughout with four
foot vein Of choice coal, and has direct con-
nection with four prominent through lines of
Railway. 1t is also in very fertile farming
district, and, considering the fact that it is
scarcely six years old, and contains upwards
of 1000 inhabitants, it can't but be admitted
that it is indeed youthful wonder.
That so little, comparatively, is known of
this City away from home, is altogether ow-
ing to the fact that from its incipiency it has
been one of constant and healthy growth, its
progress being so successful that it needed
no clarion notes to keek it moving, its nat
ural advantages insuring it always good
healthy and prolific existence. The true
modesty and simplicity of its business men,
who, without exception, have been success
full, is wonderful; they universally carry the
conviction that newspaper wind is unneces-
sary to their welfare, yet notwithstanding
this condition of affairs, and also the fact
that have been very Hospitality treated by
them, I must beg indulgence at their ands,
and briefly write them up. as believe that
the world is entitled to know them and their
wonderful city, even if they think, as well
they have right to, that as far rs the success
Of their City is concerned, it is supsrfiuous.
Iscarcely know where to begin, as attract
ions meet me on all sides, yet, as must cur
tail my account somewhat for want Of time,
will touch in detail on the leading features
only. leaving it to the common sense of my
readers to naturally infer that where such
great attractions, etc.. are it naturally follows
that the scale gradually reduces to the pea
nut stand, and we'll filled up between.
The railroad advantages here are surely
great, having, ss..before stated, direct connec-
tions with four leading lines of railway, viz,
The St.Louis & San Francisco, the A. T. S.
F., the Mo. Pacific and the X G. FITS s. Gulf.
The first was here at the beginning of the
growth of the City. The Gulf reached it
two years later, and the A. T.&S.F and Mo.
Pacific have reached it during the present
year, and notwithstanding the hard times
elsewhere. and SO general throughout the
country, these two last-named roads have
given 1t such push, that there can possibly
be no early future halt its growth. Two
other proposed roads have lately been sur
veyed to this place; tho Kansas Northern &
Dakota, and thu Fort Scott &,Southern, and
the indications are pointing strongly to the
competition of one, or both, OF them during
the coming year. so much tor its Railroad
advantages, which, it must be admitted are
second to very few places in the State.
The local indus tries are numerous and
vast. First in order is the Kansas & Texas
Coal Co., who recently succeeded the Rogers
Coal Co., Of which D. Ramsey is superinten-
dent, and Ed. Vail. agent, owning 1000 acres
of choice coal lands in and adjacent to the
city. They now operate seven shafts, several
large drifts, and innumerable strip banks,
giving employment to 1000 men in thor
busy season, and never less than five hundred
at any season of the year. Their advertised
capacity is $50 cars lump, and fifty cars nut
and slack coal daily, and l am eredibly in
formed by It's employees tina: the only thing
that stands in the way of its increasing its
lump coal capacity. is the difficulty it exper-
fences in obtaining sufficient quantity OF cars
with which to do so. In order to enable the
reader to firm q fair idea Of the numper OF
cars needed FOR the aforesaid 200 cars daily
capacity, make the following safe spproxi-
nation, to wit; 200 cars a. mines peins
loaded, 200 cars OF consignees unloading, and
400 in transit, either way, making a total
daily requirement of 500 cars to keep this
enormous business IN operation. |
In addition TO its coal interests, This Com
pany use the surface of their coal lands for !
agricultural and stock purposes, thus obtain |
ing two-fold benefits from them. In the |
heart of the City they have one of the fine est !
and best appointed business buildings have
ye: seen in the State, it being 50xl20 feet, /
three stories and basement, and finished /
throughout with hard wood. The base
men:, frs: story, and one-halt OF the second /
story being utilized by this Company in the
General Merchandise business. the balance
of the second story is devoted 30 business /
Office. and on the third door, the whole OF
which is devoted to Secret Society business,
we find the most complete Lodge-room snd
sdjuncts, inst it has never been our 10, 20 I
view within the borders of the 'Jsy hawk
state. in fact, very few large cities excel it,
and the Masonic and X P. orders ;ha. occupy
it may well be proud, IS they are, os their