Wichita eagle., 1889-07-21

| iu0t ZIG OaZeLt1 man has kept up us
end OF the double-tree | have no doubt
since going to Kansas City, but that the
men VINO have squatted at Kansas City,
Kan, for the last twenty years Were
Mlssourlans in instinct have just a little
doubt. Ii Kansas City, Kan, had per-
formed It's duty, Kansas would have now
a Kansas City intact, as well as in name.
LEAyENWORTH.
Leavenworth is another instance of a
people who thought that Providence
! located cities, and drove people in like
| hogs in pen. 1t depended on suprem-
| acy of location, and lost its great
chance rather than work, as the south
west has worked for success. Leaven-
worth was blessed with some creatures
who without believing anything in the
| location idea preferred suicide to sacri-
fice," and hazarded all on the al
mighty" locator, and a belief that the
energetic, noble few would bankrupt
themselves to make the "hogS' rich.
This estimate of LeavenwOrth Is from
one Of Its own citizens and but for the
''devil' in these men, i. e.: their greed
and seltishness, Leavenworth might be
city of 100000 people, the pride of its
citizens, and the glory and admiration of
the entire state, and be today selling
millions of dollars yearly to Missouri,
instead of Kansas being tied to Missouri.
TOPEKA.
Here is an instance of a people, who
being the legitimate heir of the state and
the adopted child of the A.. T. q s. f.
r. R. Co. quietly, for years, folded its
hands and depended on legislative appro-
frIav Ichl v
to make them metropolis"
1t is also noted for some "bipeds' who
have amassed wealth by living on what
they could not sell, and putting one
nickel with another until they have
grown rich and can say as the old
deacon did of his church, that he chad
attended meetin' sixty years and never
paid out cent" Topeka was SO situated
that in early days it might, by energy
and labor, iberahty and watchfulness,
now be the city of Kansas instead of be-
ing the residence Of state officers and the
rendezvous of politicians, whose claims
to being Commercial center" sound
even in Topeka PRINT like dream rather
than an assurance. This estimate of
Topeka is from the standard point of
former resident of Topeka: If Topeka
had been an "orphan" instead of a rich
mans heir 1t would have worked and be
now city of 100, 900 people.
FORT SCOTT.
Here is an instance of town whose
natural resources" have been Its
natural Course and taken together with
some of its courses" in the shape of men,
whose selfishness has stood in the way
of Fort SCOTS advancement for years,
the noble hearted, liberal, industrious
workers of Ft. Scott many of whom |
am personally acquainted with have had
a hard row to hoe in the last ten years. |
If TT. Scott had been blessed with more |
on the part of Its wealthy cit
liens and drowned its kickerS In the |
Marmaton river, it would today have |
double its population and five times Its |
wealth. Its real prosperity came when |
the natural resource" idea went to the |
wall and its men went to work in earnest |
to build a city.
ATCHISON.
have no knowledge of this place ex
cept that it claims a life estate IN
United States senator, produced two |
governors, United States Judge and |
some minor positions.
Commercially we are unacquainted
with its trade and don't know its early
struggles, hindrances or drawbacks, but
Is 1t is in Kansas we wish it success, and
# it is well located, then we shall con-
,lude that but for its ''mean men" it
would now be city of 90 600 people.
RIVER PROBLEM.
Every little while some fellow adj
vances the original and novel idea that
10 / nd off lal riv |
md at the jucntion of rivers
This is also a ''chesnut'' idea over 81
years old and had its birth when water
navigation was an element in transpor-
alton, and when railroads were built
he competition between the boat and
abroad gave the water towns San edge"
md made them the pooling point, but in
Jew of the fact that all Kansas rivers.
" all rivers bounding Kansas, have
eased to be factors, the idea" is gone
mi none Of the purely western cities
re in anywise crippled in freight on
ccount OF the Missouri river. A Kan
an" of national reputation not long
ince said that 1.-The Missouri river as a
'asing point for freghts is no longer
but an imaginary point" In
ther words, that when the season for a
uIe ceases, the rule Is gone.
That all of these cities above named
nay continue TO grow IS my wish; that
he banker, speculator and politician
nd the Topeka lawyer told truth to the
ditor of the Gazette there is no doubt.
t is hoped however, that Kansas City,
may work up a sentiment ]
yhich will in time put the clearing .
ouse of the ''Sni Hills" on the Kansas
ide, so that a Kansas banker can sell
on Kansas City, Kansas, 3,
nd that Kansas will get credited with
hese millions that now show up for
lissouri, 1t is hoped the sentiment Will &
IKE root. that will result in forcing :
.ansas loan to come home and do busi-
ess or forfeit their charters.
SOUTHWESTERN KANZAs.
The Gazette. ten years ago, would not :
ave admitted that it was possible to
ave ten cisies aggregating 100, 900 peo- ;
lie within fifty miles of the junction of :
ne Big and Little Arkansas rivers,
uring his natural life. Any such claim c
-ould have been hooted and ridiculed
5 the idea of Wichita being great me- i
,opolis is now booted. t
Wichita can be q metropolis and it I
i'll be, and there can be one in the c
orth part of the state; one in the center 3
nd one 200 miles southwest. The
twenty mile limit" is good for ridicule, '
ut we spoke of 100 mile limit as the :,
asst, and $50 10 200 as the most. Kan =
Is City, No, got Its start and pounded s
le liver out OF the elder Kansas Cities
4 q trade Of less than one-fifth of Kan {
As, and if the Gazette will turn US over :