Wichita eagle., 1888-02-05
THE CITY OF WICHITA,
THE MANUFACTURING CENTER OF
S0UTHWESTERN KANSAS,
Glowing With Prosperity and Bound
to Be the Commercial Me-
tropolis of the State
OF Kansas.

pressed with the belief that the SlorleS
Of their great young city are known
through and in every portion of the
United States and that any information
conveyed by an outside source is super
huous.
The fame they suppose their city is
enjoying is the fame their city certainly
should have, for no city today America
of 10000 souls looks as bright and pros
porous as Wichita.
Five years ago Wichita was town of
5000 people, today it is a city OF 10000
and shows an evidence of growth from
the present population upward at a
ratio Of advancement fully equal to that
which the city has enjoyed in the past.
| If Ewere asked the question what
is there in Wichita to make it great. and
what reason is there to give assurance of
future advancement. | certainly cannot
show any decisive reasons for Wichita S
wonderful growth, and the growth is of
greater Importance when no reasons can
be given, but simply say to the nature of
the beast. Great growth is natural to all
the cities of Kansas. and as one of the
numerous offspring which the state of
Kansas has produced. Wichita Will
most assuredly be the giant of the fam
lily.
Communities live upon themselves just
as much as upon the resources of the soil
or the products of manufactures.
They establish in themselves a consunl-
ing power, and consumption precedes
production, necessity governing all.
The growth of Wichita is closely
Identical with the growth of Kansas City
in the past, and is advancing with as
rapid strides as ever accompanied the
rise of Kansas City to its present promi-
nent position.
The rich resources Of the glorious
country all around have made Wichita
what it is today, and to the future it
must look for the greater growth which
is to come from the institution of manu-
factories and the establishment Of job
bing houses to control the Western de
mand, which should be subject to Wich-
ita.
There is not city of the west today
shows as bright an outlook for manu-
featuring ascendency. and in three
months from the present day there will
be started into life and movement a
number of important manufactures.
which of their kind are more important
in extent and magnitude than any yet
established west of Chicago.
II is plain and evident that eastern
capitalists and manufacturers are keep
ing their eyes steadfastlv upon Wichita
and see no small future before the city.
There is not a city of 10000 to 200,-
000 inhabitants today that would not re-
joice beyond measure if they could beast
of such manufactory as the Burton
Car Works. and the very fact that the
owners have selected Wichita as the seat
Of this manufactOry is In itself proof,
if proof were necessary, of how eastern
capitalists regard the future of the great
city in southwestern Kansas.
A visit to the grounds where this im-
mense mauufactory will operate would
III itself be the most forcibIe argument
real estate agent could use to close a
sale of property within the city limits.
for no one could see the proportions of
this mighty industry now fastening to
completion without seeing in their mean
ing the future of Wichita.
A city OF buildings is being constructed
all around the works, in order to provide
1 homes for the immense number that will
be employed. which will range from 100
/ to l .0e0 men. The area of ground COW
| cred by the buildings is immense and no
/ less than seven detached buildings, some
/ Of which are 800 feet in length. are in
! course of completion, and we were in
formed that what we saw was not all:
/ that more were to be built as the extent
/ of the works will render necessary their
Il
/ great manufactory is in full blast there
will he nothing of equal Importance west
/ of Chicago, or even in Chicago, with the
! exception of the Pullman car works Of
we may consider that manufactory of
! Chicago. Looking at the name of Bur
/ ton we see an eastern manufactures who
/ in the manufacture of railroad cars has
| gained celebrity, and looking at the
| demand which is being made upon that
class of manufacturers, we find
! that it is far ahead of the sup
/ ply. The Atchison. Topeka d Santa
! fe road is today put to a great deal of IN
/ convenience for want of cars. and their
order for 200 cars is slowly and with
great difficulty being shipped. Every
railroad manufactory in the United
! States today is being worked beyond
! their capacity, all which facts give as
surance of a great commercial success
eventually Cor the Burton car works to
/ the glory and advancement of the city
of Wichita The important works which
we have mentioned is not the only eX-
/ tensive manufacturing industry which Is
about being established in Wichita. And
next in order comes the Gilbert plow
works which, like the Burton car works.
J X a iojDt stock cnn1pany of immense
/ capital The immense extent of the
! building now in course of completion for
( this company shows. as IN the case OF
/ Burton car works, the eagerness as well
I as the energy of those who are
| instituting the enterprise TO COM
! plete the works. and when it Is
! known that the state of Kansas affords
/ larger demand for agricultural imple-
ments than any other state In the lnlon.
( ii will he seen that the establishment OF
the Gilbert plow works. which is assured
( to give employment at least to 800 men.
/ will be but the forerunner OF others OF q
similar and kindred kind and make
! Wichita great manufacturing center.
/ Before l visited the city OF Wichita, 10
my several inquiries l receIved the
answer that Wichita was dead: that the
( bottom had fallen cut of 1T: that the
/ boom was broken. leaving nothing but
+ duilness and stacnation behind.
| This is the opinion that prevails out
/ side relative 10 the city. but II Is among
/ those who are thoroughly unacquainted
/ with the city. and presumptuousiy pass
! opinions upon matters OF great import
anCe that they know very ilttie about.
/ They infer that because city IKE "ieh-