Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-12-30
A WICHITA NEWSPAPER.
From the Inland Printer.
yVIcrIyT. Kan Too Y 1895

From the Inland Printer.
WICHITA, Kan, Dec. 7, 1888.
To THE EDITOR:-After twenty-five
hours ride from Denver over the Mis-
souri, Pacific railway, your correspond.
ent arrived in what should be known as
the wonder of the West" the city of
Wichita, Kansas, which, for the benefit
of those of your readers who may not be
familiar with the lay of the land On this
side of the river, will state is situated in
the south central portion of Kansas, 14O
miles from Missouri, 80 miles from In
dian Territory, and distant $50 miles
from Denver.
The city was organized in 1870; in 1882
had 5,779 inhabitants, and now claims
10000. The ''boonl," one Of the charac-
teristics which go to make or kill every
western town or city, has been. but not
to kill, for Wichita today has more man
ufacturing establishments, packing
houses, stock yards. and finer four, five
and six storied buildings, better business
firms, and greater riches than any 40, ZOO
city in the world.
In advancing with such rapid strides
in building and mercantile matters, the
enterprising printer has kept pace with
the procession, and the city has now in
operation fifteen printing, publishing and
lithographing institutions, with an ag-
gregate capital of S121, 900, turning out
for the year ending June /, 1887, bust
ness amounting to $t55, 900, employing
one hundred and ten people, and paying
10 ta
handsome figures of 500, 200. The paper
of $59,S7 employed nine people, and
paid $1,000 in salaries.
The oldest and largest printing estab-
hshments in the city is the EAGLE Print
ing house, owned by the Murdoch broth
ers, NJ. NJ. and r. p.
The Wichita EAGLE (Republican) was
established in 1872, and is the leading
daily of Kansas. The job business, in
connection with the paper. has grown to
mammoth proportions, and now the
business fills the entire space of their
own three-story and basement building,
located on East Douglas avenue, the
finest street in the city. The basement
is used for stock storage purposes. while
the first floor is used for business Office
and press room, in which fine Scott
web-perfecting press, two Cranston and
one Cottren cylinder, and four platen
presses, run by day with powerful gas
engine, and by night with steam power.
The press room is in charge OF Sanford
Treat and Alf. Goodin.
The second floor, which Is well lighted,
is occupied by the job composing room
and very complete bindery. The job
department is IN charge OF an
old shopmate of Mr.. II. o.
Shepard, Mr. w. 0. Sternberg.
The bindery is well taken care of under
the supervision of Mr.. o. w. Smith, an
old Chicago boy, who has from twelve TO
twenty people In his department.
The third floor is used for composing
room, stereotyping, reporters quarters
and sanctum of the managing editor, Mr.
N. NJ Murdoch, who can claim the most
elegant quarters of any editor af Amer
lea. not excepting G. w. Childs, every
article in the room being the gift Of the
citizens of Wichita. The composing
room is under charge of Mr.. JEFF D. Hall
The managing editor controls every de-
partment Of the paper. having no city,
state, or any other kind OF editor. Mr.
Elmer Ingalls, does the telegraph, while
Captain j. H. Shields il chief reporter.
The EAGLE employs from seveuty-fve to
one hundred people, and has large
trade throughout the entire west Daily,
Is seven columns, eight pages, with
twelve and sixteen page Sunday issues,
EAxs German.