Wichita eagle., 1889-08-13
WHAT IS KANSAS CITY COMING TOT
Turn Backward Turn backward .
Oh turn in thy flight.n

Oh turn in thy flight"
That Kansas City proposes to reverse
the order of modern times in transporta-
ton there seems to be no question. Kan
sas City turns her back on the railroads
of the present day and demands g return
to the good old days of water transporta-
ton. We sympathize with the people of
that growing city in their extremity. To
turn back twenty-five years and give up
the present method of rail transportation
is too horrible to think of. 1t is hardly
possible to think that the Kansas City
Times should start such a revolution.
Yet the ways and means of Kansas
City editor are peculiar.
"Where ignorance in bliss It's folly to
| be wise" Still, what an advertisement
well as the city.
| Grain delivered in cargoes at the gulf
two weeks after shipment, provided the
canal boats are not stranded on sand
| bar. Think of the miles OF mules stand
ing on the tow paths! The acres of hay
that will be required to furnish fuel to
the motive power; the immense docks,
terminal facilities and shipyards which
will be required to make this great
change.
But go on, doctor; while Kansas City
is wrestling with canal boats, mules and
mule drivers, Wichita will be enjoying
the benefits Of the modern railroads.
While Kansas City people will be COM
PEELED to sit on the deck of fiat boat
under an umbrella, Wichita people will
go south in Pullman cars.
While Kansas City is sending more
mules to pull the grain barges off the
sand bars, Wichita will be sending grain
forward in plain car load lots at the
rate Of thirty miles per hour.
While the Kansas City Times will be
Wichita EAGLE will continue to be sent
by her four trunk railway lines.
While the packing house products will
be lifted from the not hold OF fast freight
barges at New Orleans, Memphis and
other points, received from Kansas City,
the Wichita meats will be taken from
the modern refrigerator cars.
While the cattle at Kansas City will
have to be shipped east on fiat boats with
high board fence around, the cattle
from Wichita will pass them in Burton
palace stock cars.
While the Kansas City bank clearings
are decreasing to keep pace with the
improved" business of water transpor-
tation, the clearings Of the Wichita
banks will be increasing with the in
creased benefits Of modern railway I'M
provements.
While Kansas City is pounding the
railways and driving them away from
her doors, Wichita will be quietly gath
ering them in.
That Is right, doctor; after you have
pounded as much Of the life out of To-
peka, Leavenworth, Atchison and st.
Joseph as you could, now pat them on
the back as thy children and guide them
i'll the way they should go.
Congratulate Topeka on her deep
water meeting; cooperate with Atchi-
son in her freight rate convention; send
a delegation to the St. Joseph exposition,
but bear in mind that the water trans
portation racket will not be swallowed
by them. Call on them in the hour of
thy discomfort. Plead with them to
turn backward to the good old towpath
days, but don't try TO work the railroads
with any such kind of water log ideas.
They have been too long in the business
and are not SO easily scared.
Ponder well, brother, before you try to
convert the business men of Kansas City
to the idea that it is better for them to
gather on the hills .of your city and
watch the coming of the fleets of barge
lines loaded with freight than to do your
business over the railways.
1t is no go.