Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1886-12-25
AMERICAN ENTERPRISE.

AMERICAN ENTERPRISE.
From the London. England. Christian Common
| wealth
In my last gave few notes from To
pekea on the prohibition law and its work
ing in that city.
The day after we arrived in this wonder
full new Boom" in the great west-the
city of Misunderstanding the railway sta
ton we at once got into grove of trees,
with wide streets cut through, and tramcar
| lines all along the road The streets were
| blocked up with building materials for
houses, shops, warehouses, hotels, etc.
| Looking before you it seemed like forest
of trees, but as you go along men are busy
all along in every direction building.
In 1888 tie census gave Wichita a pop
ulation of S,OO5;
in 1884. a population of $4,000
in 1885, q" 1903
in 1896, " $1,000
There was invested in building improve
ments the first half of the present year,
81 $50 900, this amount being expended in
the erection and improvements of 146 resi-
dences and SO business blocks; one hotel,
which is nearly finished, will cost about
100000
This brings me again to the temperance
question Not one of these hotels can sell
Intoxicating drinks Think of this, Not
in bit of corner, but the whole state is
under the prohibition law. and the state of
Kansas is larger than England. Ireland and
Scotland put together. And if these goa
head people can do witoout drink. why
should not boasting religious old England
do without it? My heart aches when l
think of our own home being the most
drunken nation under Heaven!
Trade may well be bad in England when
so much money is spent in drink l can
not account for the trade being SO good in
this part of the country. except on the
ground that the people do not spend their
money in drink, and SO have SO much more
to spend in other things that increase the
trade
There are the elements of good strong
Church of the Disciples in this city. They
have lively Sunday school, and the min
listers wife has class of young men,
about twenty five in number. They have
"a first class superintendent, but he is with
out hands; nevertheless he is said to be the
best penman in the city.
Nine of the church members have been
formed into board, and have been incor-
porated. They have charter to build
Garfield university. They have bought 40
acres of land and the owner of the next
lot to induce them to build on the site gave
them ten acres besides paying one-third OF
the cost of the 140 acres, and the cost of
grading and making the streets 40 that the
whole is laid out for building plats. The
university is to cost not less than 800, 900.
'Foruteen acres are reserved for the univer-
sity.
They also reserve 10 acres of woodland
for picnics. 1t is close to the centre Of the
city, and when finished, the streets being
100 #. wide, will make a beautiful driving
avenue The 10 acres of woodland are
mortgaged for sum, the amount OF the
whole cost Of the land. and are said to be
worth about 500, 900 more than the money
advanced, so that they have the whole of
the remaining land for sale.
They have sold already One-tenth Of the
whole of the land they have to sell for over
$25, 900. They began to put the founda-
lion in this spring and they have got up to
the first floor. The stone work and con-
crete are most massive; if anything to
complain Of they are too massive There
are about 800 single blocks, 25 feet by 100
feet deep to I've sold, and if sold at the
same rate will realize about 5000, 900.
That would leave considerable balance
for an endowment fund
DR.. Mcbride began to preach last Sun
day morning with a moderate congregation.
In the evening the house Was crowded.
We proposed leaving in the morning. bat
the pastor of the church. Rev. W. b. Hen
dryX, who came from Mentor. and was for
maliy General Gartield's pastor. would not
hear of us going away, but he and the
officer of the church begged for us Ia stay
a week at least, so we consented. and it was
given out that the doctor would hold Il
week of special services And | am glad
to say that the interest increased at each
service. and last night there were two bap-
tiSlns and Il number of inquirers. We have
been pressed to remain another week, and
have consented to do So
The church property is in a good situa-
ton. but the acoustics very bad, and there
are no vestries or Sunday school room,
though they say they have 400 members.
The place would not seat so many without
crowong The pastors time is taken up
looking after the Garfield university build
ing and selling corner lots" The pastor
is n man of business ami his hands arc full
He got an assistant few weeks ago. and
they have built mission church about a
mile distant and they are talking of build
ing two more in other parts of the city.
So they will have four churches
in the city, besides the university.
Outsiders will SAY that this is real Yam
kee, hut | tell you it is just the thing To do
in this wonderful city. Christians with
their families are pouring into the city at
an astonishing rate. and there ought To he
places to receive them. The Church Of
Christ is the first SO far as having gained
the best position with the University
grounds. The all-imporrant question now
Is getting suitable preachers. godly men.
hating covetouSneSs, filed with the love of
God and animated with the spirit IF Christ
Your truly,
T. CooP.
Wichita. Kan. Nov ! Sc