Dodge City times., 1888-03-29
A FAIR DIVISION.
WHAT WESTERN KANSAS DESER YES
AND SHOULD HAVE WITHOUT
4 QUESTION.

which our article concerning the unfair
apportionment Of state institutions and
state officials. and prior article on
division Of the state are attracting, and
particularly glad TO see that cur prop
ositions find favor in the minds of so
many OF our contemporaries. SO far as
we have observed, the articles meet
with no adverse criticism, unless the
fact that all DO not agree with us in
maxi ne Dodge City the capital of the
ew state This point we can atforu to
waive for the present, satisfied that
when the time comes for locating the
capital of West Kansas, Dodge City
will be III a position to present claims
for this distinction which none will
deny
The more we consider the question
of division Of the state. the more ad-
visable it seems from every point of
view. There has not been any attempt
to refute the position we assumed on
the question, and we do not see how it
can be successfully assailed No argu-
N ent can be advanced by any part of
the state which would not show it for
the best interest of all portions Of the
state that division should be made
IF the west half of Kansas could be
cut off from the cast half all the booms
which Kansas has ever seen would be
as nothing compared to the wave of
prosperity which would sweep over the
new state. 1t is putting the matter in
a very mild form to say that the prog
ress Of the new state would be advanc-
ed at least ten years by such division.
The eastern part of the state has moth
ing to loose, unless they are selfish
enough to expect the western part of
the state to submit without complaint
IN the future to the same injustice
which in the past has been, and at the
present is being heaped upon US. If
the east expects to feed and grow fat
apon the increase in population and
wealth of the western counties, and
give back nothing, then the east mig ght
well object to division. But if the
east expects to deal fairly with us then
they have nothing to loose, and much
to gain by consenting to division.
The only possible opposition to such
measure could come from the middle
counties; but even they would lose
nothing by favoriDg it. 1t has been a
dream Of some of the towns in the
central portion of the state that some
day the capital would be removed, and
that they would get 1t. Such dreams
are vain. Certainly for years, and
probably for all time, the population
of the eastern half of the state will
out-number that of the western. This
alone would defeat any bill to remove
the capital. In addition to this;
Wichita, Hutchinson, Emporia, Nc
Pherson, Salina and other towns will
always oppose the removal of the cap
ital unless they can have it.
Divide the state, and the people from
Smith Center to Medicine Lodge
would be nearer the capital of the new
state than they are now to Topeka, and
their property wonld be greatly en-
hanced in value by the prosperity of
the new state.
Every representative to the legisla-
ture elected from western Kansas at
the comming election should be elected
upon the issue of demanding for the
western half of the state just recognl-
tion Of its claims. A penitentiary, an
insane asylum and two state normal
schools should be located in western
Kansas by the next legislature. Let
the members elected from the western
counties unite in making this demand; !;
laying aside the narrow selfshness
which would lead them to oppose
the location of such institutions if they
cannot secure them for their own cOun-
les, and working in harmony to promote
the welfare of western Kansas. The
prairies of the western part Of the state,
which were barren plains when the
present state institutions were located,
are now blossoming with fruitful farms,
and teeming with the hustle of thous-
ands OF cities, towns and hamlets.
The scattering population of ten years
ago had no right to expect that recog-
milton which the 100000 people who
have their all invested here, now
have the right to demand. That this
unprecedented growth in population
will continue and increase no one can
question who studies the situation.
Before the next legislature closes its