Wichita eagle., 1888-03-08
WICHITA AS IT is.
A TRUE PEN PICTURE OF THE
PEERLESS PRINCESS.
What She Boasts Today and Feels
Proud of.
From the Covfngton. KY, Commonwealth.

WICHITA, Kan, Feb. II.
One of your correspondents asked
some time since what had become of me-.
In reply, will say that 1 am still in the
city of Wichita, 1.-The winning wonder
of the west" 1.-The peerless princess of
the plains In looking back over the
past year, over what / accomplished
here, so far as making fortune, or even
looking into the bright future" can
not say l, individually, have been greatly
benefited by coming here; neither am l
so badly stuck on this city that can say,
like hundreds of others here are saying,
that this is but heaven on earth, that
no other place is worth anything but
Wichita. Yet, l can say some things
which Wichita can boast of. or, rather,
may feel proud of. She has some of the
most ''go-ahead' business men that can
be found in the world. She has men
that would do everything in the world
to build up this city, and its future is as
bright today as at any time in its exist
ence.
Perhaps there are some that will be
ready to say different, but to man that
can look at anything in the right light
will undoubtedly have to admit that
while property was changing hands and
doubling in value i1f day, that there
was danger-and no little danger, too
that everything would come right down
and thousands would be ruined in day.
But the present bright hopes of Wichita
are, as it We're, founded on a rock, and
with an unprecedented mind can say that
during the past six months Wichita has
passed through the dullest period she
ever will again. Could any one expect
otherwise? Scarcity Of crops, together
with the effects of depression in business,
it is but wonder that it is not worse
than it is.
AS the weather begins to give evidence
of the approaching spring, and the warm
rays of sunshine warm up the ground
it warns also the feelings of people of
the city, and now the noise of the ham,
mer and saw can be heard on every side.
In passing around the city l was sur
prised to see the number of new build
ings started within the past few days.
The foundation for the great Dold pack
ing house is being rapidly put in. Pass
ing there the other day there were TWEEN
ty odd teams and fifty or sixty men en-
ployed.
The fair grounds which are to be
completed in short time, if according
to contract have about the same num-
Der employed. There are number of
other large enterprises going on here, "a
number of which have written of be-
fore and will not call over again. The
many frinds of the Stewart Brothers,
in Covington, their native home, will
be glad to hear of their success here.
They are live business men-just the
kind Wichita needs. They have been
doing business on South Fourth avenue,
and the demand for their magnificent
iron fence has SO increased their trade
that they have been compelled to seek
other quarters, and are having very
large two story brick erected, to be used
for their foundry, and will manufacture
all sorts of iron fence, CRATES, mantles,
! jail materials and the like. When COM
pleted, which will be in a short time,
their iron works will be the largest in
the state of Kansas. They have taken
in a partner-Mr. Coney-and will be
known by the name Of Stewart Bros.
Coney & Co. Such men as these we
need.
Now, the reason that the accounts
given by the different parties so contra
dict each other is because one will write
nothing but the advantages and the
other only the disadvantages of this
country and city, and, while thus con-
tradicting each other, both may write
the truth. As there are so many differ
ent unions here it seems that they gov
ern all sorts of labor, and if a person
does not belong to some union he has
very little chance of getting work when
work is scarce: in summer season there
is work for one and all. This is certainly
a great place for capitalists, and all sorts
OF business men seem to be very success
full.
Now, for some people who want to
come here and expect to work: when
they get here the chances are in their
favor. but there are too many come here
expecting to get rich without work. If
ever | leave Wichita it will not be be-
cause l can't make living here, but
because l can do just as well in Ken
lucky, and enjoy myself better with
loved ones left here. P. d. FOSTER.