Wichita eagle., 1889-09-19
TEXAS AND KANSAS AND THEIR
BIG TOWNS

The following copious extracts are
| taken from letter written from Fort
Worth. September 10, by C. E. Godfrey.
| formerly OF this city, to D. II. Bald
ridge, of the firm OF Baldridge, Hub.
bard & Co., to make good a promise.
| Godfrey, who is Democrat, opens the
letter by congratulating himself upon the
fact that he is IN Democratic state.
living under Democratic rule and a
Democratic flag, and then proceeds with
| his observations as follows:
But | think | can hear Hubbard say.
with al thy faults we love thee still >
| On leaving Wichita we came down
through the Indian territory by day
light, consequently had a good oppor-
| tunity to see the capabilities of that
country, and | must say that l was more
than pleased with the appearance of it.
There can be no doubt that in no very
distant day you will see Furnishing
state just south of you full OF business,
vast in productive ability, and occupied
by an energetic and intelligent people,
and Wichita only needs grasp the oppor-
tunity offered her to be amply rewarded
for all the energy she has expended in
bringing about its settlement. Ny opin-
ion is that the territory is fine in every
respect that goes to make a successful
country and will very rapidly assume a
position Of importance among the west
ern states. q sincerely trust she will
vote Democratic and that the shadow of
Grandpa's Hat may never overcast her
sky. | only remained in Guthrie one
day.
Time is healing balm, and when ap-
piled to Guthrie in sufficient quantities
viii work the necessary cure. | said
goodbye to Guthrie, thinking that |
could view her trials and vicissitudes
from distance more advantageously to
myself than to directly share in the
promises of wealth that it would take a
considerable age to supply, but | might
as well remark here that [ am in Texas,
the great Lone Star state; on Democratic
soil. A beautiful country, rapidly de-
veloping and producing vast amounts Of
wealth. Fort Worth, where | am and
have been most Of the time since [ came
down, is a thriving city of about $4,000
people, good business town. containing
a good class of people who are conf
growth. and expect to be the city of the
state. But yoa would, if you were here,
recognize that it lacked the modern ap-
pearance of cities that have sprung up
in some Of the states north Of her. But
going to grow and be a good city. | Wis
tied Dallas twice, and if you think prop
erty is high in Wichita you ought to
Tal =,
mistake. It's larger than Fort Worth
and | should judge about the size of
Wichita, although no where near so
so handsomely built. The principal res
idence avenue is only thirty feet wide,
about the size of the alleys in Wichita.
All the streets are the same way. Bust
ness lots are only 100 feet deep with no
alleys; streets narrow and sidewalks
crowded to the smallest possible space;
water not fit to drink: the stickiest mud
you ever saw and property on the prin-
cipal business streets held at 81 900 per
foot. They are building very rapidly
there now, but thunder will be to pay in
the near future. No Dallas for me; am
going to San Antonio III a few days.
From what | have seen of Texas | should
say that she is a great state, but when
compared with Kansas she can not in
any respect equal her. l think more of
Kansas the longer | am away. The
grand old state. The swell Of her
prairies are unequaled the produc-
tiyeness of her soil unexcelled; the
balmy breezes that always blow contain
more good health and her people are the
chosen people of the God-I love the old
state. No promises, no matter how Law
ish on her part, but has been fulfilled
beyond the pledge, and he who turns
away from that field Of promise ought,
like Lots wife, to be turned to a pillar
o. salt, and Wichita the child of such a
state, although the dark clouds may
lower for while in her horizon, the
bright day of prosperity will return, and
blessed be the faithful. Wichita is the
diamond on old Kansas bosom, and the
tongue of calumny, vituperative SANDER
and vlllitication can not and will not de-
tract from its lustre. Let come what
may, let the worst storms OF adversely
blow, and when when the shines again
Wichita will still be ahead, the ever ire
pressible
Some NAV be stranded on the rocks.
but from OCT the wrecks will be built
more grandiy than before, that great fu-
ture city of the west