Wichita eagle., 1888-01-29
DODGE CITY, KANSAS.
The Lively Cattle Town Of Few Years
Ago, Now Booming, Thriving
Metropolis.
Special Correspondence Of the Eagle.

county. is situated north of the center OF
the county aud on the north bank of the
Arkansas river. A free bridge spans the
river here and on the south bank i
springing up an important and substan
tial part of the city.
In the early days point for barterine
IN buffalo bones and hides, it soon be
came one of the most important point;
in the shipping of cattle in the world, il
being the trading center for the vas'
country south and west. to and beyond
the state borders-the objective point fol
| the great herds from the Indian Terri
| tory and Texas. Millions of dol
lars worth of cattle were
yearly handled through the stock yards
here, and IN business enterprise and
wealth Dodge City was considered the
| greatest of western frontier towns.
Organized in 1872, with a sparce poptl-
lation, its growth has been steady and
| permanent. 1t can boast of no .'mush-
rooom growth, but one warranted by
its resources. by the development of the
country around and the favorable pros
poets of the future. There is no business
overdone. and consequently no fear OF
disastrous business reaction.
Dodge City is no longer cattle town
exclusively: a rich agricultural district
surrounds 1t and the husbandman is de-
voting his skill and attention to the
cultivation of that country, in conse-
quence of which the home produce and
consumption stimulate an already active
market. 1t has been truly said that the
merchants of Dodge City carry heavier
stocks of goods than any point west of
Kansas City. This is not surprising
when we consider the great country
south and west supplied from this mar
ket. Such trade can but bring wealth
and prosperity to any city.
The intellectual and moral progress
has been rapid. the fourth large school
house having been just completed at a
cost Of $4,000. The number of
pupils in the city are $40. We
boast of four as live news
papers as are found in the state, all of
which have large circulation and keep
pace with the spirit. thought and pro-
gress of the age. Five churches: the
Methodist, Presbyterian, Baptist, Catho-
lie and Union church administer to the
spiritual want of the people. They have
large memberships and an estimated val
uation of church property of $500
Manufacturing interests are receiving
special attention. Already there are a
planning mill, -four mill. candy. tobacco
and soda factories in the city. We look
with pride upon the many beautiful
dwelling houses scattered throughout
the city. The First National Bank build
ing. credit to any city; the
costly court house and jail.
the Oriel block costing $50. 900: the opera
house built at a cost of S15, 200; the new
city hall costing 100000: the Presby-
terrain college now under construction at
a cost of $4,000: the Palace block $780,
600; the elegant Langton hardware COM
pany's building just completed. and
many other noble structures throughout
the city, show the hand of an enterpris-
ing people; it needs no comment.
You ask, what is the outlook? With
the large number of buildings now in
process of erection, two large banks.
the finest electric light plant in the state;
a splendid system of water works in full
operation; a telephone company organ
lied; street car company chartered
and agreeing to build and
maintain six d miles of railway
the present year, plans for the board of
trade building completed: also a hall for
the Y. NJ. G.. A.. it is safe to presume
that the present year will be one of IN
precedented activity it Dodge City. Now
that it has become a city of the second
class, a system of sewerage has been
completed, and during the past year the
enormous sum of $4,000 has been ex-
pended in grading the beautiful avenues,
making the finest avenues in the state.
The A.. 7. q S. F. railroad and c., X.
& n Rock IslandD railroad have each
made this point the terminus of divi-
sion, thus giving the city the advantages
of round houses and repair shops,
which, with the extensive Improvements
proposed by each road during
the coming season. in connection with
other roads building this way in order to
tap an extensive business. will make
Dodge City the railroad center of the
southwest.
Such are some of the public improve
ments now contemplated for Dodge City,
and with such enterprise and public
spirit, no wonder the city offers better
and more lucrative inducements to all
classes of laborers than any other city
along the Arkansas valley. W. 5. Z.
The last quarterly report. just pub
lished, of Major Sims, secretary of the
state board of agriculture, shows the
crop products and their value for the
year 1887. He prefaces the report with
the following remark: ''The drought
for the year Just closed has been general
and severe throughout the great corn
states, and as will appear
from the appended tables, the most I'M
favorable known to Kansas since 1874.
The product of our principal cereals,
though small as compared with former
years, will, it is believed, when properly
distributed, about meet the requirements
of our people.
The total number of acres of winter
wheat sown in the state was l ,29s .6i9
bushels: the number harvested was ..'s.-
1879. the value of which was $3.50, 562.15.
The value of the spring wheat grown was
$4O6, 9s6 IS.
Cowley county leads on corn. having
produced 3, SIS $50 bushels: next comes
Butler county with SSH $50 bushels. then
Brown county. with 2.601 ,l25 bushels,
and then Sedgwick with 2,4U, 900 bush
els. The total product of the state IS
Is. 191, asa bushels, the total value of
which Is S26. $50, 422. 30
Rocks county leads on rye, having pro-
duced -. 40 bushels.
That was a sort of left-handed COM