Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-07-18
DOWN IsTo THE CENTER.
Another DssaST'eeahI Talk about Sericas
Natter

Natter
a few months since the EAGLE IN speak
ing OF the completion of the Paramount
motor line, endeavored to impress the idea,
or that which is more than an idea, anu
which is an indisputable fact, mat IT was
in the interest OF the city, in its entirety,
for the present as well as for the future,
that all the street railway lines. of what
eyer character, be let into the very heart OF
the city. OF otherwise the city would soon
have no heart. Among other things we
said THAT the Paramount line should be
let down to Douglas avenue. Our sJlg-
gest.ons were net well received BY the resi-
dents OF several streets nor by the city
council. We said then, ani we want 90
emphasize the declaration now, that 1t IS
imposes ole TO reap the advantages Of city
and its life. and al the same time enjoy
the quiet OF a suburban or country home;
that unless facilities are afforded 70 the
reople OF the various additions 10 reach
the heart Of the city with certainty, ceier-
ity and cheapiy, that each addl-
ton will have its own stores, etc.
and instead of unified Gig with
all its advantages and markets. w wli
have an aggregation OF clustering villages
scattered for miles about, no good tothem-
selves or TO nobody else The fact that
our declarations were not liked then IS no
reason why, If they were correct, that
they should De repeated and urged now.
The people of every addition, the scaoi-
ars of every educational institution, the
employees OF every factory and industry
within the corporate limits of Wichita
should be afforded the facility for reach
ing at any hour within a square or
two of the government building,
and to reach such point directly
from their various homes without any
change of cars and upon the payment OF 4
single fare To this end "hoss' lines,
electric lines and motor lines should all
be taken care of and that before 1t IS too
late. for it viii be too late when ten or
fifteen little minor business centers shall
have been permanently established. II
five hundred or a thousand Operatives at
the Burton works should find iU TO their
advantage or pleasure TO spend live
evenings OF every week among
the shops and stores aud resorts
of Douglas avenue and Main street, IL
will be TO the advantage of Wichita as a
whole 10 See to it that the facilities for so
doing be permitted. And so with refer
ence TO all other additions the people OF
which, as the main center OF the city loses
its attractigeness, will be wanting their
own postoffices, own places of amusement,
etc, etc. rendering real city and real
city's. life an impossibility. For half a
century Philadelphia was but An aggrega-
ton Of scattered Villages, and until uni
fed by her later splendid street railway
system she never had any fine business
streets, the latter having been really all
rebuilt within the memory OF the present
generations.
We don't care how this transit matter
is handled so that it is done honestly and
with an eve to the best bushes interests Of
the city No street railway owner or mo-
tor line owner or electric line owner has
ever talked to us or even mentioned the
matter, so we are in the dark as to their
desires and convictions if they have any
But it seems TO us that they might figure
out some way in which they all could hand
their passengers within block or so OF
the government building, and then
urge the same upon the city council.
If these transit line owners should prove
unwilling to extend and operate their
various lines to such point or points as
might be agreed upon by the council then
grant new franchises, for it Is a matter
whose deleterious effects will be felt by
this city within five years-maybe within
year-if not taken care of. People liyin :
at Paramount, or at Burton, or at the
stock yards, or on the West Side, or on
Riverside, or in any other quarter can
not afford to ply double fares or
make changes Of ears TO reach
the business center and heart Of the city
and make like cha g = 10 ag in reach the.
homes. The undertaking becomes tire
some, at first and then too great, and with
the result already set out.
Since writing the article To which we al
lude, some changes have occurred for the
better and SON. new branches have been
granted by the council, but they have not
gone far enough in the direction of con
centration ana the avoidance of perplex-
ing changes.
What do you say?