Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-01-20
a GOOD LITTLE JIM.
The Newspaper Of the East and the
West on Wichita.

West on Wichita.
The papers of the country from the
| Atlantic to the Pacific. since the Harper
publication are taking up Wichita
and the EAGLE in an editorial way. OF
course these papers in setting forth the
! power and value of the EAGLE are logic
ally compelled to point out the
greatness of Wichita, otherwise their IL
Illustrations would be lost. In a single
morning we received seven marked pa
pers containing editorials on Wichita
and her newspapers. We reproduce two
of these this morning, one from New
York City and the other from the city OF
San Francisco, the two extremes of the
continent. The one from New York is
the Christian Intelligencer, which pro-
ceeds to make "Good Little Jim" of
the editor Of the EAGLE, as follows:
An extraordinary example OF the power
of one man, capable and honest in pur-
pose, is found in history of Wichita,
Kansas, printed in Harper's Weekly OF
last Saturday. The settlement in 1870 had
only 20 inhabitants. a few years later it
had 5000 and a very bad reputation
Dodge City, the next station on the rail-
road, was known as 'the first station be-
yond perdition." Ten years agolMarshall
NJ. Murdoch editor of the Wichita EAGLE,
began to lead an endeavor to promote the
growth and improvement of the town. To
put himself beyond all suspicion he alb
stained from any participation in the deal
lngS in real estate. His Intelligence, in
tegllty and fearlessness won the confidence
of his fellow citizens. The city grew
rapidly. 4 boom in real estate was soon
in full career. One morning the EAGLE
surprised the town by attacking
and condemning the speculation. The
boom was killed that day, and a whole
some, sensible business in land instituted.
Whoever has witnessed the energy and
passion Of real estate speculation III
growing western city, will understand
how unique is this illustration of the pow
err welded by intelligence and integrity,
known to be proof against all corrupting
influences.
The next is from column editorial of
the San.Francisco Bulletin. The writer
says that Wichita is one of the most
prosperous of cities and that when the
boom stopped the bottom did not fall out
but continued to grow and is today the
most prosperous city in Kansas. in
which it differs from the California
towns which had boom. We have
room only for a few extracts from the
Bulletins editorial. as'follows:
The town or city which has been inflated
by boom is sure to have reaction.
After thes parOXisms of the boom there
comes the weakness and decreased vitality
from which the recovery is slow. The
steady, upward lift is far better than any
artificial excitement. The last number of
Harpers Weekly contained an interesting
account of the inception and growth of
Wichita, one of the most prosperous cities
OF Kansas. That city had its beginning in
$40, when seventy people were living
there. 1t has now about 80, 600 habitants.
Like most frontier towns it had the repu-
tion of being a hard place. The efforts to
make something out of the place began in
a systematic way in 1880. 1t began with a
newspaper man who started the Wichita
EyGLE. He refused to make any specla-
tive investments in real estate, depending
upon the growth of the town to increase
the value Of his newspaper property He
began to write up the town, and sue
ceeded in attracting to it large number
of investors. In short. he started a
boom" But this clear headed man saw
enc day that the BOOM was assuming an
unhealthy aspect. He declared that it
must come to an end. He had influence
enough TO stop the boom before a strong
reaction had set in. The town had increas-
cd 10 about ten thousand inhabitants
" hen the boom ceased the bottom did not
fall out. 1t had been arrested at Just the
right time. The town continued to grow.
and ii is today probably the most prosper
Gus city in Kansas.
Now the steady upward tendency of real
estate in town or city, and a gradual but
constant increase of population. are better
factors OF growth than any boom" There
IS not town in California today which. in
the long run, viii not prosper in a more
satisfactory way without a boom" than
with 1t. Moreover, in nearly every town
there Is an upward tendency. Real estate
Is worth more than it was two years ago
The exceptions are where blooms" were
started and the prices were carried beyond
all reason. Even in these places the re-
action has not destroyed the real basis OF
prosperity. Wherever population is drawn
to any center like Wichita by the perrna-
lnauent advantages offered, their real es-
tate will increase in value, which will
probably double in population within the
next fiye years. This augmentation of
population will nearly or quite double the
value of real estate This ratio of growth
viii be rapid enough. The town that
doubles its population in ten years, as
rule, adds about ten per cent. annually to
the value OF real estate.
The next ten years in California. ac-
cording TO the present outlook, will be
for solid growth. During
that period the present population will be
augmented by natural increase.
Capitalists are constantly seeking invest
ments where the returns viii be greater
than can can be realized il the savings
banks.
Slow and sure real estate Goes not suit
investors who want TO turn over their
money two or three times In the course Of
a year. The boom is coveted by them be-
cause il affords an opportunity to 90 in
aud TO get out again before the reaction
comes Oh. But the long sighted men never
count on these spurts. That was the re-
mark OF one OF the shrewdest buyers
of real estate IN this city the
other day. lie had studied the sit
nation. and N a short time had put about
three millions OF his capital into real *
tate IN san Francisco, and was constantly
on the lookout for other good pieces OF
property. That Is the open secret OF SIC
cess IN buying real estate. The men who
study the situation do Lot care for
''hoonls." They understand that there are
certain elements OF permanent growth. /
These are the controlling Influences. The
temporary ssgs and oepressions Of prices
do not disturb them. As sure as there is
4 steady augmentation OF population tie
upward tendency wilt prevail III the long
ran over ali CienresSis.fls