Wichita eagle., 1889-08-24
CITIZENS MEETING.
The Garfield Crowded With Some OF Wichita 4
Best Business Men-Good Speeches on
Questions Relating to Wichita

| The committee having the citizens meet
| ing in charge were yesterday quite busy
getting every thing ready and adjusted for
the occasion. The committee consisted Of
W. d. Mccormick, A. A. Hyde, Geo. p.
Glaze, j. d. Hutchings, L. E. Hubbard, r.
NJ. Piatt. 1t was not hard to suspect that
large crowd would be present as there
seemed to be considerable interest in the
affair. Shortly before o'clock the Board
of Trade band appeared on East Douglas
avenue and marched to the Garfield hall.
The crowd, or at least large crowd, was
in waitin z and the baud seemed to have
the effect of bringing more. Standing room
in few minutes was scarce and people
filled the doorway back into the
hall craning their necks to look in the hall
and see what was going to happen. twas
lively crowd; an enthusiastic crowd even
in the absence of politics. No one seemed
inclined to talk over questions OF state or
national Importance. 1t was something
else. No one seemed to look distrustful or
in an argumantative way toward his neigh
Dor, but it was smile for all and enjoyed
by all.
After a selection by the band Mr.. Glaze
nominated Mayor George w. Clement for
chairman and put the motion, which pre-
vailed with cheers. The chairman reach
ing the stage said he desired to return
| thanks for the honor. He was surprised at
finding so large an audience, as he had
just arrived this morning and was
therefore not aware of the situation.
| Wichita, so far as he knew
had never failed in a public meeting and
as an explanation of the meeting he said
one object was to renew confidence and
strengthen faith in future prospects. As
far as he was concerned the meeting was
not necessary to give him confidence. The
city never in all its history had as good
prospects as today. One of the first ques-
tons asked east is Have you gotten over
that boom out there yet" They under
stand a calm after a storm and they are
answered "yes' for two or three ways
Have recovered from whatever disastrous
effects may have resulted and business
men have more confidence in Wichita
today than ever before. He had talked to
a Cincinnati man who had visited the city
on the quiet, who said there is no question
but that Wichita will be great question
and closed by saying II shall be out there
in few weeks to invest some money"
The speaker said it restored confidence
for the outside world to know that all bad
effects of boom have passed. In his opinion
the city is on better footing than ever be-
fore.
If this city would in the next ninty days
issue one million dollars in bonds and eX
pend it rightly, within five years would
reap grand result. Within the next six
months a half million bonds should be
issued and expended in improvements.
There should be pub.}c paths and no in
vestment could be made better than 100000
in parks. Two to t. roo hundred thousand
should be expended N paving central
part of the city. This statement was re-
ceived with cheers. While east after at
tending to some private BUSINESS he made
a specially of the paving question. He
had paid his own expenses, and made his
investigation without any paving corpora
ton influence In Columbus, Ohio. much
paving being done using brick and
asphaltum and both giving good satisfac-
ton. In making public Improvements
should keep as much money at home as
possible. In the matter of paving he did
not want TO be understood that he was IA
voring any kind of material for paving as
that matter could be discussed some other
time.
Calling for nominations for secretary
r. NJ. Piett nominated Robert X. Wood,
of the peel investment company, with W.
D. Mccormick second. Mr.. Woods was
elected and extended his thanks for the
honor conferred.
The chair observed that Wichita has
some big guns" with ammunition always
and never fail to bring down the game.
He called on Col H. w. Lewis. which was
received with cheers but the colonel did not
seem to be present.
CHEERFUL TAXATION.
Mr. c. Z. Coffin was called and was soon
on the stage and presented as representing
a kind of bar he practiced. Mr.. Coffin
said he was present with only small
amount of ammunition. He should be con-
| tented with small game. The committee
! had told him that the meeting WAS TO be q
cheerful one aud at the same
tine told him TO be prepared
to talk on taXation-not SO cheerful.
/ Cheerfullness depended on party concern
/ ed and in Wichita courage is being dis
played thst makes great cities. One day q
/ city could not be built except on the bank
! of a great river This, however was not on
question of taxation. Taxation was a
necessity, one which some might want to
| get rid of but could not do it; it had come
| TO stay, He should not enter into method
or theory as it might not be in the line of
! "cheerfulness" One thing to remember
! that taxes IN Wichita are almost nothing
! as COMPARED with other cities. The crown
| ing glory OF the past low taxes should
/ be maximum improvements for minimum
/ taxes. This would be noticed by foreign
| capital which seeks place offering less re-
/ sistance. The people should see TO it that
/ not one dollar is spent wrong. All he de-
sired to say was that taxes about one half
many outside might expect.
! He had been requested to speak also on
public improvements. He did not care to
speak of any particular line Of improve
/ ments. He asked if anything is being
| done in line of public improvements. a
court house the finest in the state,
school buildings, sewer system.
commencing to sgitate parks, al
ready declared two best streets
/ shall be paved with the best material.
whatever il is just now. in the begin
ming period, and aim TO keep taxation
minimum and finish the work He sd-
vised to work unitediy for the city and
good results would necessarily follow.
The speaker was heartily cheered during
! his speech and given a choir band at the
! close. He was followed by selection
| from the band which continued the pro-
/ ~ ha linz Z fri