Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-11-18
WHY WICHITA.
THE FORCES AND ELEMENTS
WHICH BUILD GREAT COMMERCIAL
CENTERS HERS WITHOUT
DISPUTE.

each city, respectively, but their unity
in whatever degree, constitutes the great
factor which makes city. The III
stances in which villages ever become
cities are very rare on the American
continent. All cities, even in their In
ciplence, were centers of more than
mere local territories even with the lay
ing out of the first streets. These forces
referred to embrace natural, or original,
as well as the acquired elements OF a
city, but without the former the latter
would prove of little avail.
OF the many natural and acquired ad.
vantages of Wichita over those of any
other city, or professed city, in
the state of Kansas. or. more
generally and truly speaking, in
that vast territory which lies between
the great elbow of the Missouri river and
it's valley on the east, and the foottpf the
Rocky range on the west, which includes
not only Kansas, but the greater portion
of the Indian territory and the Public
Land Strip and the Pan Handle Of Texas,
this paper has often demonstrated and so
clearly that even the claims have gone
undisputed. Wichita, not only as to a
frontier center, and not only as to dis
lance from any other city, not only as to
the magnitude of the territory surround
ing her. and the products thereof, and as
to all other natural prerequisites, which
will not now be alluded to, not only
stands acknowledged and without a
rival ia the territory named, but as to
acquired means, powers and elements
her lead and prominence are no less
marked and undisputed.
But there is one element
which has for some time being felt, and
which the EAGLE has only alluded to in
a casual way yet which is soon to prove
mighty impulse for wealth and devel-
opment for Wichita and which can not
be possibly reached, controlled or felt by
any other city in the state of Kansas or
within the bounds of the greater terri
territory named, and that is the capital
and the business invariably forced by
old established centers though enterprise
and competition, upon every new center
which attains strength enough to care of
itself.
We caunot better, probably illustrate
the potency of this force than by citing
an example, and Kansas City being the
nearest and newest example will be the
most readily understood by the average
reader. Kansas City, a natural center,
though for the territory which she dom
mates possessing not so many marked
and vast natural improvements as Wich-
ia, only reached full realization
of her natural advantages and Of her
forces when she had gained
point in her development where she was
able to take care of herself. That mo-
ment her destiny was not only fixed but
the fate of every possible rival was
sealed. That moment the two powerful
old cities and centers of trade, st. Louis
and Chicago, concentrated their capital
and enterprise to get their share of the
new distributing points patronage and
business. Every one of their new rail-
roads must connect with Kansas City,
every freight rate must be made with
reference to getting their goods to Kan
sas City, and where competition failed
from either cause branch houses would
be established at Kansas City. This
rivalry and concentration embraced
every class of merchandise, every COM
modify and industry pertaining to the
commercial life of the territory reached
by Kansas City. Thus all the powers,
capital and influence of these two great
cities were concentrated to the upbulld-
ing of the acknowledged new center on
the Missouri river, and to the discom-
future of all that new center's possible
rivals.
Now Wichita has practically reached
the point of self sustentation as a dis
tributing point and as jobbing and
center, with this conced-
ed advantage over that enjoyed by Kan
sas City and Omaha in their develop
ment, viz: Wichita will have three es-
tablished centers at her back concentrate
ing their competition and efforts to her
upbuilding, instead of two. Not only
will the manufacturers, jobbers, ETC., of
ST. Louis and Chicago be seeking for a
footing in Wichita's distributing trade,
but Kansas City herself will force the
fight into three-fold one in her own
behalf. Wichita, with her two indie
pendent, direct through railway
lines 10 St. Louis, with two d.
rect, independent railway lines to
Chicago and three to Kansas City,
will not be compelled TO look after her
own freight rates. These will be taken
care of by the older and stronger cities
named. who will in their own interests
look after these as after many other
matters which, as competitors for bust
ness at this Jew center, they will be
directly and vitality interested, just IA