Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-03-27
A Hoos1ER ON WICHITA.
His Impressions Of the Coming Great
Trade Center Of the Southwest.

Trade Center of the Southwest.
Mr.. W. H. Beard, of Knightstown,
Ind, was in Wichita for few days a
short time ago and on the eve OF his de-
parture wrote a letter to his home paper,
the Banner. from which we make the
following extracts:
In writing of this place it shall be my
purpose to deal with facts only. own
no real estate here and it matters little
to me which of the two rivals, Kansas
City or Wichita, becomes the great cen
trail trading point for the southwest.
There is prevailing opinion IN the east
that the boom which struck Wichita less
than two years ago was the result Of ex-
tensive advertising and the cunning
trickery of interested capitalists; that
her glory has now departed, and that she
is mourning over her fallen fortune.
This is certainly great mistake. and
one needs only to be fanlii-
lar with her early history and
note her steady AID rapid growth down
to the present time, to be convinced of
this fact. Less than quarter of CEN
fury ago the site ON which the city is
located, was the native home of the saw
age, and the grazing home of the buffalo:
and in the shadows of the beautiful trees
that wave over the waters of the Arkan-
sas, the wild animals of the plains came
for quiet repose 1t seems that nature
has formed this point and endowed it
with all the necessary charms ana ac-
quirements for a great city. In 1869
William MathewSon built the first cabin.
This was the beginning of what he con-
ceived to be wonderful city, and subse-
ouent events has proven the correctness of
his Judgment. Now the shady groves
that fringe the Arkansas are converted
into beautiful parks, and fine bridges
span the waters on whose surface the
merry pleasure-seeker glides his tiny
boat. In all directions one sees great
wreaths of smoke ascending from the
numerous factories, and tall domes and
spires glisten in the sunlight. More than
six thousand homes, most OF them being
of the most beautiful architectural de-
sign, border the broad well-shaded
streets, and along the principal business
thoroughfares tower in majestic grand
eur, massive buildings that would do
credit to any city in the world.
The free school system and the advan-
tages for college education here are all
that one could desire. There are several
fine colleges now going up, and
among the number we might men
ton the John Bright University,
which will be a magnificent build
ing when completed. 1t is located some
four miles out from the city on slight
elevation that commands a fine view of
the surrounding country. This institu
ton will be under the supervision of the
society of Friends, and should receive
their hearty support in every locality in
the civilized land. The numerous rail-
roads centering here and the great facto-
ries and packing houses now in process
of building are destined to add great
wealth and prosperity to Wichita, and
it is only matter of time when she can
truly be designated the Peerless City"
of the sunny plains. Through the kind
ness of Henry Schweiter and other
friends l received an invitation to the
dedication and banquet given by the
board of trade in their beautiful building,
the Sedgwick block, on Wednesday
evening. the 18th inst. Their motto was
Unity, Harmony, Strength, Success"
The entertainment consisted of speeches
and toasts and the wants of the inner
man were well supplied. The supper
given was truly splendid, and nearly two
hundred invited guests had the pleasure
of enjoying it to their hearts content.
The speeches were highly eulogistic of
Wichita and given in a spirit that M
spired confidence in its future progress
and prosperity.
One of the honored and distinguished
characters of the city is known under
the cognomen of Buffalo Bill" We
enjoyed near an hours interview
with him, and are prepared TO
give few interesting facts associ-
ated with his adventurous career. He
is rather prepossessing for one of his
years, 210 pounds, is pehaps slightly
under six feet in height, light complexion,
gray hair and chin whiskers. His face
is one that indicates great firmness of
character. He was born in New York
years ago, and crossed the
river for the first time i'll 1S49.
He soon entered into the service of the
Northwestern Fur company and re-
manned in their employ for two and a
half years. His experince with the
savage tribes of the plains embraced a
period of twentyfOur years. He was
a personal friend and companion of Kit
Carson, the famous scout, and like him
bears the marks and scars of numerous
Indian battles. He was at one time pro-
prietor of a trading post at Great Bend,
and enjoyed the confidence of the tribes
with whom he dealt. When the great
drought of 1860 struck Kansas he drove
his cattle four miles to water, and it was
Turing this period that he won the origi-
nal title of Buffalo Bill 1t came about
in this way: The people in the parched
districts learned of his fame as buffalo
killer, and they also learned of his great
iberality to the needy, and the result was
hat teams and wagons were sent from
,he surrounding country, and they al
WAYS returned loaded with buffalo meat,
and bv these means many families were
Kept alive until something better could
De procured. For all this he would never
receive penny, but he certainly won the
asting gratitude of many sympa-
hetic hearts. He believes only in the /
'eligion of humanity, and is noted here /
or his true benevolence and kindness of |
leart. He owns large landed estates as |
we'll as valuable city property, and is also 4
Engaged in banking He married late in 4
lfe, and is the doting father OF girl of /
even and a boy of five years. His old .
.abin. the first house erected here, still /
tands as a famous landmark of early /
laws. Wichita has no more worth citi- /
ZEN. no more truer manlier man than
William Mathewson, the original ''Buf-
aIo Bill"
For the great kindness. and numerous
received during my stay in
Wichita / am largely debted TO Milton /
Taylor and V. r. Stanley, formerly citi-
ems of Spiceland.
KANSAS NOTES.