Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-07-25
WICHITA'S MANUFACTURERS
THEY HAVE GROWN AND MULTI
Piled DURING THE PAST
Year in a Ratio That Corresponds
With Her Increase in Popu-
latiOn. in Wealth and
in Everything
Else.

Through the kindness OK Wlchita's vigi-
liant city assessor, DIR. w. r Green, we
are permitted TO uss few footings for
1885 and make a few comparisons, with
the manufacturing foorings OF 1851, which
shows that Wichita's reputation as the al
ready great, and rapidly and steadily
growing manufacturing center of the
southwest, is not something imaginary,
but is fact OF the most tangible charae-
ter. She has not only shown remarkably
healthy and active increase in the number.
size and variety Of her manufacturing en-
uerprises. but she has shown an increase,
which has been wholly in keeping with
her increase in actual wealth and also in
population, during corresponding
period.
During the exciting days Of the great
and uneQualed boom time, people, VINO
were inclined TO sheer at Nlchita's aspira-
ton to become manufacturing center,
declared with much more venom than
Judgment, that she could never Introduce
any line Of manufacturing successfully.
have been compelled by the undenlabie
evidences Of a solid manufacturing city to
acknowledge that they were mistaken. TO
say the least.
Not only has Wichita successfully in
augurated numerous lines OF manufactur-
ing, which were loudly proclaimed to be
impracticAble, but she has also succeeded
in drawing to herself some establishments,
which flourish better in Wichita than they
could in any other section, for the very
plain reason that they are adapted partic.
uiarly to this section of the country.
Ii must be borne in mind that the fig
ures here gu oted for both years, 1887 and
1888, are the sworn statements made by
the manufacturers themselves, for the
purpose of assessment, and hence they are
in neither case at all exaggerated Indeed,
if there were any discrepancy whatever, 1t
would tend 20 lower, rather than raise the
figures furnished to such an unsought
after individual as the assessor But, by
| taking figures obtained by the same per-
son in two different years, we
are afforded the finest opportu,
nifty imaginable, for obtaining a
proper basis upon which to establish the
ratio Of gain Tor Wichita's manufacturing
enterprises
There are a number of very large estab-
lishments which are not included in the
assessors report, because they have not
yet begun to operate, and as consequence
are not taxable, but which will soon be
contributing their proper proportions to
help swell the various totals, just as II
they had been assessed this year. Among
! these are the packing house, the plow
works, the watch factory, the nail factory
and d number of other smaller concerns,
which SDrinc ND unnOticed
One other thing which must be most
prominently borne in mind is the fact that
these statistics are compiled only from
such institutions as are purely and dis
tinctly manufacturing in their character
and have no commercial or retail features
connected with them. They work up the
crude material.
The following comprehensive table
affords sufficient food for careful consid
errtion, and will impart. as thoroughly as
any argumentative article, a fair idea OF
how rapidly and how surely Wichita is
taking her position at the head of western
cities in a manufacturing point OF view.