Wichita eagle., 1888-11-04
ANOTHER GREA'r INDUSTRY
Firmly Established and Rapidly Developi

Among the many who have located in
this city and engaged in business none
have advanced more quietly and steadily
from small beginnings to a large and pros
porous trade than the two young men who
are at the head of the concern known as
the Kansas Spring Bed Co. A reporter
visited their factory, situated on the Rock
Island railroad at the corner of Second
street and Mead avenue, and CLEANED the
following regarding the business:
On June 1st, SSI. n h. Billow and L.
G. Doup, two young men from Ohio hav-
each a practical knowledge of the business
in all its details and carrying letters of
highest commentator from bankers and
other prominent men as to social and bus
mess standing, opened place on North
Main street about l2xli feet square for
the manufacture of bed springs, the bal
ance of the building being used as feed
store They soon proved by trial the adj
yantages of this place and secured the re-
mainder of the building, a room 25x10
feet. to which they added soon after an
other GO feet in length.
February /, 1888, they moved to their
present quarters, where they have switch
facilities and about G000 feet of floor space,
the building being two stories hight.
Here they manufacture woven wire mat
tresses and cots, spring beds, mattresses,
pillows and bedding of all descriptions,
and wholesale dealers in feathers. Fine
wool and hair mattresses they have made
specialties and now control the entire
trade in this lire which formerly went to
eastern houses, particularly Chicago
1. i r
oped by correspondence, though they now
have a practice of visiting customers at
stated intervals, which requires the time
of one man.
Letters from different customers speak
in high terms OF the satisfactory quality
and condition of goods received. and as
fast as manufactured the goods are shipped
10 fill waiting orders. Among the towns
getting their supplies here many order
none from elsewhere. We noticed orders
from Emporia. Eureka, Peabody, Herring
ton. Newton Arkansas City, Winfield
Wellington. Hutchinson, Garden City,
Rchfield Liberal, Lyons, Yates Center.
Fredonia, Pratt, Mead Center, Leoti,
Great Bend, in Kansas, and Lamar, Bur
lington and West Las Animas, in Colora-
do. besides points in the Indian Territory
and Texas.
That list tells story of successful COM
potion with the large trade centers east
and especially in fine goods, as no one had
thought of competing for 1T heretofore.
The value of this business to Wichita Is
but little appreciated among our great
developments but it is an important adver
tisement for the city in thousands OF
homes where comfortable rest is obtained
upon Wichita mattresses and pillows,
besides encouraging other industries to
come and occupy the territory already
familiar with the city.
The machine for making the woven wire
goods is unique, and under the skilled
hands of the operator rapidly converts the
bale of steal wire into the intricate designs
required Raw material is obtained at
various places east, aud from eight to
fifteen persons are employed here in weav-
ing and constructing the finished product,
earning good wages, and putting that
much more money weekly into the growth
of home industries.
These young men have quietly built up
an important business and any who may
call at the factory will agree with US that
they have deserved success and obtained
il, being strictly honorable and gentle
manly in business relations and social
wIthal.