Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-03-29
OKLAHOMA AND WICHITA.

"A o1HSiC SiriiSO al VIC map, WHICH we
present this morning, and which is alb
solutely correct, is all that is necessary
to convince the most casual observer of
the superiority of the position held by
Wichita as the wholesale and supply
point for not only the Oklahoma district
but for the entire territory as contem-
plated by the Springer bill which will
within another year all be opened to
settlement ON like conditions with the
lands included in President Harrison's
proclamation of yesterday. Wichita, as
will be slen, covers or touches the
northern line Of the territory at nine
points by railways Her position and
advantages are absolute and unequalled.
The constructionyof entirely new systems
Of railways in the in the interest Of any
other point or points would in no wise
disturb Wichita's prestage unless the
roads already in operation were torn up
or annihiiated. Kansas City, before she
could reach the dignity Of a jobbing
metropolis was compelled to await the
construction Of railway lines out into and
over Kansas. But simultaneously with
the opening of the territory Wichita
finds her roads traversing the domain to
which she largely looks for future pre-
eminence. The roads that run from
her to the border will at the earliest day
permissible under the laws and treaties
push on down in as many different direc-
tons, tapping as many new sources OF
trade. Just look at the map. At the
points at Liberal, at Englewood, at Kio-
wa, at Caldwell, at Hunnewell and at
Coffeyville railway lines, and all reach
ing Wichita direct, are waiting only the
word Of permission to go forward. The
Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific which
runs direct from Wichita to Caldwell
and extended last summer down into the
territory to Pond Creek, is surveyed and
engineers are now cross sectioning it
on to Kingfsher, the new land
Office point made by the
presidents proclamation of yesterday,
and from thence to the Cheyenne and
Arrapahoe agency and Fort Reno. We
predict that the said road will reach
Kingfisher almost as soon as the settlers
are ready to make filings on their lands.
Of course people desiring to reach any
portion of the territory, or either of the
new land offices will see that Wichita is
common point for both. In fact the
route by way of Caldwell Is the best one,
the next best by way Of Hunnewell,
both of which points the old cattle and
Indian trails reach.
Wichita is ready to move forward
again in way she never equalled IN the
past. Every interest of her commercial
life, every line OF her manufacturers
will have the scope of their present field
doubled Immediately, quadrupled In the
near future. They have no rivals, nor
need fear any, so long as they diligently
cultivate their immediate advantages.
With big crops this year, with her live
stock market strengthened by her in
creased packing interests, with her grow
ing grain market, ali sS;.ihen in connec-
ton with the opening Of this new great
field of trade, and in five years hmm
dred thousand people will be added to
her population and millions upon mil
lions of dollars to her taxable wealth and
real properties.
The battle has been fought and the
spoils of victory are ours.