Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1886-04-30
WICHITA KANSAS.
A Live, Progressive City Described
by r. T. Bean.

WIcHIcA, Kan, April 16, 1861
came here on the 18th, and have been
busy with the real estate men every
day and have taken in this marvellous
city pretty thoroughly. For a place
of 10000 Inhabitants it certainly COW
ers more ground than any other place
ON the face of the globe. Additions
have been added upon all sides until
some very fine farming lands are vast
ed in being cut up into unocupied
lots. never saw finer farming lands
and Wichita owes her existence i'll a
great measure to the wonderful beau
ty of the surrounding country and its
great fertility. The land Office for
this part of the state was located here
and every one had to come to enter
farm. and coming, saw and renamed.
Lands that today are worth fifty dol
| lars per acre, were entered at 81 % per
acre five wears ago, and the deeds are
being made in the office here by Uncle
Sans agents. We who remained at
home in ease and indifference now envy
those who had the nerve and daring
to penetrate this western wild. con-
quering the Indian and enduring the
hardships and sufferings that pioneers
only know and endure. My admira-
ton for the frontierman is simply I'M
bounded. He deserves all the ease
and comforts he now enjoys. His life
was not only a sad one but was full of
dangers, struggles and privations that
can never be appreciated by the rising
generation. There are scores of them
here and every fine, large dwelling
house is pointed out as owned by one
of the old settlers. Yesterday | saw
the log cabin in which one of them
lived. 1t is now dilapidated and falling
to pieces, but Its owner has nearly 16O
acres of land that he is now selling at
So, 800 per acre. What change fifteen
years has wrought, and the next fif-
teen will see wonders in this place
that will be marvel indeed. Yester-
day lot i00x140 feet was sold for
$4,000. Two years ago the Episcopal
church bought this lot for 81 200; to-
day a lot of tue same size sold for
$4,000. Seven years ago the present
owner paid $500 for it. Both of these
lots are one square from Dougla, ave-
nue., which is the main business street.
Two years ago s. w. Crutcher, a
minister of the Christian church in
Kentucky, paid $4,000 for three lots
and sold them Monday for ST., OOO, and
at once reinvested the money. Real
estate sales this week will amount to
about $500, 600.
These items will give your readers
an idea of the estimation in which
Wichita property is held. With five
distinct railroads here now, and three
more on the way, tits no wonder this
is called the real distributing point of
Kansas Kansas City is the only point
these people recognize as their rival.
and the three roads will be direct from
Chicago, Fort Worth and Fort Smith.
When these roads are here the great
ness of the town has no limit. Kan
sas City viii have to look to other
territory rather than this state for her
| trade.
OF the city have said but little
YOU must be here to appreciate the
mercantile strides. Manufacturers are
coming here, and the people not only
receive them with gladness but fur
nish substantial aid and encourage
ment. This is a seeming unreasonable
statement about 4 western town, but
| learn il from those who are in
authority to know. 81 must mention
that on my way gu, / called to see
| Tom Calk. son of |. +. Calk, who is in
the drug business at Independence and
doing well. lIe is one of the BOYS who
went west to grow up with the country
a. the country grew up SO did Tom.
His father is justly proud of him and
well he may be- Mr. Frank Bradshaw,
formerly of Bath county, has been in
This country for twelve wears. He
now lives Oh land worth 500 per acre.
| There are a number of kcntuckians
here and they harmonic to periec-
ton. Speaker Carlisle has two sons
eng .gcd i'll the practice of law here,
They are well pleased with the place
aud Ike all Others are picking up
bargains in real estate when offered
Il. T. Bean in Mt. Sterling (ky.) Demo
| Graf