Wichita eagle., 1888-05-08
SOUTHERN KANSAS AS IT Is.
WICHITA, Kan, May z, 1888.


WICHITA, Kan, May z, 1888.
To III Editor of the Eagle
had occasion TO visit Harper county a
few days ago, going via the Missouri Pa
cific to Anthony, and from there by pri-
vate conveyance seventeen miles to At
tica. [ must say that never saw
more promising outlook for fine crop
than is now offered through that section.
The people have been blessed by copious
rains, and the universal opinion among
the farmers is that the ground never was
in better condition for work than now.
In Anthony | found trade very good,
showing marked improvement IN vol
ume of business, and collections being
much more satisfactory than at any time
during the past twelve months. From
there TO Attica, which, by-the-way. Is as
fine farming country as 1t has ever
been my privliegeto TO pass through, the
acreage in growing crops Is much larger
than it has ever been before. Wheat and
oats are doing splendidly, the recent
cool rains having almost annIhilated the
chinch bugs. which for time threatened
to play sad havoc with the wheat. Stock
of all kinds has stood the winter well,
and have now an abundance of fine pas
ture and are in excellent condition.
Passing on to Attica, which is a thirty
ing little city of about 800 inhabitants,
situated at the junction of the main line
and Medicine Lodge branches Of the
Southern Kansas railroad, | must say
that saw nothing to warrant the
statement which have heard on several
thot s.thn HaaI -
on the other hand, found more life
and solid business there than in any
town of its size which it has been my
privilege to visit, either in Kansas or any
other state. The town seemed to be full
of wagons and not few of them
had brought corn, oats, fat hogs and
other products to market.
| had the pleasure of meeting person
ally few merchants of the place, first
of whom was P F. Miller, who carries a
nice line of dry goods and gents furnish
ing goods. Mr.. Miller's cash sales the
day was there was $40. A. T. Bragg,
family grocer, took in $50 cash the same
day. Cook & Voorhees,, who have the
finest stock of hardware in the county,
sold $l07 worth for cash that day
and as much more on credit
to responsible parties. This firm
is comfortably quartered in a fine two
story brick building ninety feet deep
with handsome pressed brick and plate
glass front.
Next come Denton Bros, who carry a
good stock of dry goods, gents furnish
ing goods. boots and shoes who sold the
same day something over 800 worth
for cash. This firm is very solid finan-
cially and in addition to their mercantile
business do an extensive loan business,
and now have over $40, 900 of their own
funds loaned out in the county con-
tiguous to their town. | did not have
an opportunity to consult personally n.
R. Quit H. H. Berry, Alex Plumley,
Squires & Son, |. R. Mansfield, Holmes
& Co. and others, all of whom we were
told We're enjoying good trade.
Attica is situated in the heart
of as fine an agricultural coun-
try as there is in southern Kan
sas with as good school and
school building as there is in the county,
a county high school having also been
located there by vote Of the people at
recent election.
A stock company has already been
formed with $4,000 cash capital, now
subscribed and fully paid for the purpose
of establishing first class creamery,
which will be in operation before August
/. The farmers in that vicinity are
nearly all taking stock in this enterprise,
Mr.. c. S. Jobes having herd of 80 head
of imported Holstein cows, valued at
Sc, 900 the product of which will be de-
voted it.
hi Ia hnr ySfrv I1rrtI n
there. the fact is easily accounted for.
A number of outside parties who when
buildings were scarce erected lot of
sheds and worthless structures at cost
of from S75 to $500 each and rented
them for $50 per month long enough to
pay for the cost of construction half a
dozen times, now find it impossible to
rent them at any price, first, because
the merchants either erected their own
buildings or occupied better ones as they
were built by others; and second, be-
cause the first named class of buildings
are absolutely worthless and uninhabita-
bic. There are, however, three blocks of
handsome brick and stone business
houses there, and more of the same kind
could be easily rented at good prices.
The Attica state bank is a handsome
brick structure, with tile floor, Andrews
furniture, and will compare favorably
with any bank building in the state. The
citizens there, without exception re-
cognize Wichita as the metropolis of the
state, and with two daily passenger
trains to and from this city (which they
soon expect to have), and with railroad
to the county seat, which they should
have land if Anthony don't look sharp
they will have), they will be happy.
NO,irg trIIly q T