Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-07-08


ness of knowing that we budded it,
trimmed it and gave it to our children in
a vigorous condition, that they might
eat of its fruit, sit under its shade, and
be moved to bud others from 1t that their
descendants might in the enjoyment OF
the blessings to flow from it preserve its
history and recall the pioneers of south
western Kansas. and when our history
shall live but in legend, and be preserved
only in song, our name may adorn tales
of olden times, as children learn of the
deeds of days Of other years, and listen
to the story of the city built on
''Prairies, level, brown and bare,
Which reached from sky to sky"
The fame Of our unity like mirage
goeth before the traveller. whitherso-
ever he wanders-and the shadow of this
fame should grow as We age.
One year ago we had neither the Bur-
ton Car Works or the Dold packing
house, and other smaller yet not less use
full industries. Take them away, what
are we? Duplicate the labor and liberal
ity of the year from July 1887 to 1888,
and what may we not be!
These are stepping stones to the door
of commercial edifice, which as we
may, or may not enter, as we elect.
This election on our part Is not 10 be
long delayed. With cities as with men,
irresolution is ruin.
We of Wichita must ever remember
the bitter experience OF those other
cities who trusted to local waalth, loca-
ton, political influence and corporate
munificence to work out the problem of
city greatness. Every citizen in Wich-
ita knows that In every instance where
we relied on anything save the patriot
ism: industry and liberality OF our peo-
pie to bring results we were disappointed,
and in every instance where we appealed
to this same people success crowned our
efforts.
We have no before Is enterprises
which demand liberality and united
labor. Let us be true to Wichita. and
give that we may be rich by it.
By the securement of these varied in
dustries we snail establish supply
point for the southwest and our tribu-
tary towns and cities, such as ElDoradO,
Winfield, Anthony, Medicine Lodge,
Pratt, kingman, Hutchinson, Newton
and the cities farther away on the lines
of our railway systems viii eventually
d4lN OCSOilc Jul stS
we were all once consumers for the trade
OF Chicago, st. Louis and other points
east. And in additi n TO this we shall
utilize at home all the products of our
soil, except the corn shipped TO Mis-
souri, to be made into whisky,
and our commerce diffusing itself
the southwest brings pros
perity to us all, drawing wealth as a
powerful magnet attracts iron filings,
adding power, which followed by other
manufacturing and industrial enter
prises will gather strength as years go
by, temper the nlisfortunes of short
crops. furnish employment, invigorate
business, avert financial distress, save Us
from individual insolvency and mercan-
tile bankruptcy, and avoid that depres-
sion in values that follows ''shorl crops"
as carrion birds follow carcasses.
Could we but establish that class of
industries whose product is used all over
our prairies we could stand short
crop and not be filled with dread and
alarm as we now are.
Each year we wonder if we have
gained much in population. If we see
to it this question will be chestnut"
Population follows industries, and if we
go ahead in locating them the popula-
ton will come. Without more industries
we are big enough. We don't need pop
ulatiOn but we do need a dozen
INDUSTRIES.
If we are .Wichitans" before ''corn cut
ting we will have them.
When our city has arrived at that pc
rod In its commerce that we have be-
come sellers, shippers and manufactar-
ers, then and then only are we a city;
hen and then only can we feel that our
future is assured.
So long as the element OF "crors" in
,rade is the anchor on which nope hangs
We are brought to realize that we are
not city in the comprehensive term we
city to mean, but we are yet
. town.
To become city we must possess such
state of independence that short crops
ire misfortunes, not bankruptcy.
This question is one of our own solu-
ion, depending entirely on our own
people. We can SO establish ourselves
hat we can have unbounded prosperity
n good crop seasons, and be in fair
financial condition in bad crop years
The eastern merchant.and manufacturer
oOks on short crop as an effect that
means extension of credit and ensuing
light trade. We today see in good crop
N alienation of financial distress all
'ver the state, and we realize III a bad
rop decentralization of trade, ruined
radeSmen, extensions OF credit, losses, /
depression of values and indi- |
-idual insolvency and thousands
# laborers out Of work, |
ut of money and out of heart, desper- |
tie in an earnest desire to sustain |
amily.
To sustain ourselves, hold our people !
nd keep ourselves and measurably with |
tand the blow of short crops, employ !
ur laboring classes and keep commerce /
moving. and be a city in fact as well as 1
q name. We must gather ourselves to- |
ether as one household, one family, a |
and of united brothers. and if possible |
o beyond last years labor in the estab-
shment of these industries, whose pro- |
ucts are used by kansans year by year, |
nd replaced ana recruited as each year
oes by.
The question is not how much we are |
living Somebody as a gift, but what will
e the beneficiary result of adding other
Industries to the city: What losses shall 4
re avoid by the donation: What will /
e the effect on present values if we sue
eed: What has the future in store if |
re fail?
We are today crop dependent city,
ut we can be a city independent of all /
rdinary short crops, and hold our peo-
le This year must not end without a
that we can employ thous-
nd more laborers next year--if it so
nds next year will cash us more money,