Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1886-05-06

wealth distributor did not retard our
growth. Such excellence as the
natural advantages Of Pratt possessed
could not be hidden from the practical
eye Of the Kansas Spectator. Our
growth has been steady and remark
able. The statistics prove Pratt to be
one of the most foremost counties
in the state in the growing of corn
wheat, oats, etc. The sod houses of
early settlement days has been sue
ceeded by neat and substantial resi-
dences. Those who come here poor
seven and eight years ago when the
country was the home of the antelope
and buffalo are now either in good
comfortable circumstance or moder-
ately rich.
The county boasts also of the larg-
est and wealthiest town in the state
situated as it is, 80 far from railroad
advantages. Pratt Center, the metrop-
oils of the county, is a veritable prod
ICY. Its growth has been unprece-
dented. But two years old it has a
population of over 1900, and possesses
more wealth than most towns quad
ripple her size. 1t is now enjoying
an immense boom consequent upon
the building of the railroad. For the
last week real estate transfers of the
city property have averaged over
$4,000 per day, The town lot boom at
present is regular Wichitaite enthus-
iasm. The buyers are principally men
Of capital. Last week the Chicago
Lumber company purchased a fifty
foot lot on Minnesota street and have
established branch yard. They con-
tract to place sc, 900 of lumber there
in the next thirty days. There are
two other large yards in the city,
bnt they cant supply the de-
moved first enough to suit our build
ing boom. About forty residences
are going up at present besides q
number of business houses.
A stock company was organized
last week TO put up $15 900 hotel.
The hotel will be built on South Main
street. There are four hotels in town
at present but they are inadequate to
the demand.
To give the reader an idea of the
business transacted in our fourishing
little city will just enumerate the
principal business houses and there is
not business man in town who does
not make money:
Lightbody Dry Goods Company
wholesale and retail dry goods and
notions; A. Briggs Il Sons, dry goods
clothing. boots and shoes, and grocer
les; Stephen & Stewart, general mer-
chandise; j. ID. Hawkins & Co, dry
goods and notions; Wilson IL Holm,
clothing; George F. Berry & Co.,
general merchandise; ID. l.. Carlisle,
dry goods; Davidson & DeLong, dry
goods and notions; Geo. ii. Saunders,
groceries; c. S. Calhoun & Co., hard
ware; Cooke Il Mcconnell, hardware;
ii. CLOWN, hardware and agricultural
implements; Blaine Bros, agricultural
implements; W. ii. Hopper Hardware
Co., agricultural implements; Mrs.
Foss, millinery; Geo. Il. Smith. furni-
ture; Ref Bros, furniture; T. w.
Roe, jewelcr; +. Harlenski, con-
fectionery; II. Pope, bakery and
confectionery; II. S. Gunter, confec-
tionery; II. Gilbert, bakery and res
taurant; Peak & Brewster, drugs and
books DIR. Carter, drugs; Thomas
McIlwain, drugs; J. II. Westerineres,
drugs; Williams, COttinghsm & Car
lander, bank of Pratt; Hutchinson
Bros, bankers; Cook, Wilcox & Co,
Farmers and Mechanics bank; G. w.
Diller, boots and shoes; W. II. Rum.
harness and saddlery.
Besides the above business houses,
there are five large livery stables, two
lourishing newspapers, about dozen
lawyers, and two dozen real estate
agents, number of farm loan offices,
a corn and feed warehouse, several
blacksmith shops, two wagon shops.
three lumber yards, namely, Kimball
Lumber company, st. John & Marsh
Lumber company. and the Chicago
Lumber company, four hotels and
various other enterprises too numer-
GUS too mention.
inst now the city is discussing a
proposition, recently submitted by the
city council, to vote bonds for the
construction of water works. The
election comes off in few days. The
strong probabilities are that the bonds
will carry, IS at present there is no
Indebtedness on the city.
Pratt Center is certainly marvel
Gus child of Kansas enterprise. While
her growth has been rapid, it has not
been of the mushroom variety.
Her citizens are enterprising and
progressive. Improvement is the
watchword of the hour. Thrift and
prosperity is discernable on every
countenance. Her citizens arc united
and the city knows but one politics,
i. e. the city of Pratt.
Both Pratt City and Pratt county
are in their infancy, and what Wichita
and Sedgwick county are TODAY, Pratt
county aud her metropolis, Pratt
Center will be in few short years.
This sounds extravagant, but there
are lots of people that believe it.
OCCASIONAL.