Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-02-23
THE CITY OF WICHITA.
The Finest Exponent OF Progressive
Kansas In the State.


Topeka Capital, 2lst
Recently the editor of the Capital spent
two days in the city of Wichita. 1t had
been nearly fourteen years since we saw
Wichita, then a struggling frontier
town, where the festive cowboy was the
ruling spirit. We visited every portion
of the town and its suburbs, We saw its
new manufacturing enterprises, the nu-
merous colleges under construction, its
churches and its fine retail houses, its
banks, its wholesale houses. its railroads
and Its scores of fine residences. and
whatever might be said of the extraor-
binary growth of the city and of the great
possibilities of its future the Wichita OF
today and of 1900 has not been exagger-
ated. No candid man can make care
full survey of Wichita and of its railroad
system, note the business foresight that
secured such manufacturing institutions
as the Burton car works, the packing
house at Dold & Sons, the watch factory,
the stock yards, the Garfield university,
Judson university, Paramount college,
Crawford Grand opera house and a
dozen other fine institutions, bringing
capital and business and population to
the city, without being impressed with
the fact that intelligent, courageous and
well directed enterprise has built the
foundation of large and prosperous
city. One of the most striking evidences
of the faith citizens have in the future
of their city is the character of business
houses. Two, three four and
five story blocks that would
be creditable to the business
streets of Chicago are to be
found on half dozen streets, upon
which business is done. 1t may be said
that Wichita is the home of the hustler
and the real estate rustler, and SO it is
The citizens may have differences on re-
igion or politics, but everything stands
aside for Wichita-whatever helps the
city, whatever brings people and money
and new enterprises, the whole town
unites on. They believe in Wichita,
they talk it, they write it, they fight for
their city every hour in the day and
night. More than this, when money is
to be subscribed to secure a site for a
college, a packing house or Y.
NJ. c. A. building is wanted, the
men who are doing business, who
have made money, those who have grown
rich on the rise in value of their lands
and lots, go down in their pockets and
subscribe literally, not once only. but
whenever it is needed, and the town
grows and prospers as it ought to. That
kind of people, filled with the determin-
alton to build great city, will succeed,
and they deserve to do so. Wichita
stands today the finest exponent of pro-
gressive Kansas to be found in our state.
The Capital rejoices in her growth and
prosperity. She is a true child of the
prairies of Kansas, city and people
our state may well be proud of.
One Of the most potent influences in
keeping the name and character of
Wichita before the public, and in unit
ing factions and sustaining confidence,
has been the never tagging efforts of
the Wichita EAGLE. No man has done
so much to make Wichita the greatest
city of the southwest and the future
commercial metropolis of a large section
of territory lying east, west and south of
Wichita as Colonel Marsh NJ. Murdoch,
the irrepressible editor of the EAGLE.
Wichita is practical, demonstrated
success, and the Capital can only express
the hope that other towns all over Kan
sas will catch the same spirit, and go to
work with united people to make
prosperous community.