The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-12-06
WICHITA ON WICHITA.
Business Opinions OF Buslness Men Who
Assign Reasons for Their Faith.

! ing the present and future of Wichita and
her affairs generally, which the EAGLE
submits herewith. No line of questions
were propoanded, each man accosted being
| in n general way only asked what he
thought OF affairs generally, such portion
of his answer as having direct bearing
being taken down and reproduced. A
number of others who were marked for an
interview were not found or happened at
the time to be engaged. but number
sufficient were rounded up to afford a fair
representative expression, which none
will deny as lacking of either unanimity
or of most encouraging features. Either
one of half dozen worked for enterprises
would set everything to buzzing, and
while all of these are confidently expected
sooner or later, yet with what we have,
and into what we are logically growing to
be, it will be seen by our interviews, that
there is more than hopefulness, there
is satisfaction. Bankers, merchants, real
estate owners and property owners gener-
ally all testify to increasing business and
an encouraging outlook for everything
and everybody.
Mr.. George L. Rouse, president of the
Board of Trade, said:
For some time past l have made it a
point to ask everybody l met as 60 their
opinion in regard to the condition of af
airs of the city, and in every case l got
encouraging answers. My observation
and nay own affairs convince me that there
Is a decided change for the better have
never for d moment lost faith in Wichita
or Kansas, but / believe now that good
times will be here very soon. There is
one thing | am afraid the state has made
very grave mistake il, and that is in the
matter of ii display at the worlds fair. i
know that great many of the best people
now living in the state got their first good
impression of the state at the centennial at
Philadelphia. l would advocate any prac-
tical scheme looking towards raising $780,
900 for Kansas at the worlds fair. /
might add as further evidence of a more
prosperous condition of affairs that the
demand for Office room is increasing
rapidly and rents are advancing accord
ingly.
Major E. R. Powell, president of the
Fourth National bank, answered:
Wichita and the state are prospecting
and before the crop is all marketed the
whole state is likely to be in better fnan-
cial condition than ever before, and owing
TO the immense surplus which will be eX
ported these conditions will prevail in
Kansas, even though like conditions
would not hold throughout the country.
Business is good in the city, bank deposits
are increasing in spite of the fact that not
over % per cent. of the surplus of grain,
food and animals are marketed. Grain
elevators are needed, but all is now being
done to secure them that could be expect
ed and the effort must not cease until this
Is made the grain market of the great CEN
trial belt. The lack of cars is a drawback
to the volume of grain at present but even
that may be a blessing in disguise as the
producers who are compelled to hold their
grain for that reason are likely to get
better price later on"
w. j. Holbrook, of the firm of Black
welder & Holbrook, declared: Our firm
has had real estate deals on hand at all
times, but the business has been improv-
ing for the past three months. Good de-
sirable residences will rent and sell read
lily, and rents have advanced 10 per cent.
Good farms are in demand at all times and
the opinion is gaining that Kansas lands
at present prices are the best investment
that can be made. 1t is common talk that
we have little or no railroad interest in
Wichita, and it may be a matter of sur
prise to many that something like three
hundred railroad employees live in Wichita
and the number is constantly increasing"
A. w. Oliver, miller banker and lnmber
dealer, observed-I believe that the i'm
mense wheat crop raised in Kansas this
year has done more to advertise the state
than any other crop ever produced in the
state. The short crop in parts of Europe
and the large crop of the United States
has been more talked about than any
other previous crop, while business of
nearly all kinds has felt the influence of |
our good crop The movement of Kansas |
wheat has been very light, as it is esti- |
mated that only 20 per cent. OF the crop
has been marketed. l am satisfied that |
Kansas will soon experience greater pros |
perity than ever before and Wichita will |
keep up with the procession.
A. Basley, owner of improved rental
answered. have travelled |
around a great deal in the past two years
aud have yet to find a town outside of |
and St. Louis that impressed me |
80 favorably as Wichita The facts are |
here has been a dull time in real estate all |
over the country for the past three or four |
years. / believe Kansas will soon be in
prosperous condition as the evidence is
strong that she has all ready started in
hat direction. If any of our people are
they should visit other socalled
good towns and am sure they will return
we'll satisfied with Wichita
A. S Munson, dry goods, ladies furnish
ng goods, etc, stated-Our business has
been 30 per cent. better this fall than it
vas last year, and l believe the other mer-
,hauts must be doing more business than
,ver before. We get trade from many of
he surrounding towns in Southwest Kan
as and their talk and purchases indicate
hat they are prosperous. The stocks of
goods in Wichita are so complete that
here is no call for any class of trade to 90
o larger cities TO have their wants sup
llied and this fact is becoming known, and
IS result the volume of business is in
,reasing.
w. A. Thomas, real estate, etc, replied
Ny business has kept me in St. Louis most
# the time for the last three months, aud
know that there is better feeling to-
wards Kansas and Wichita. Among real
state spectators the opinion pretty gen
rally prevails that while property here
nay have been doomed up too higA. that
he reaction sent it too low. am positive
here is bright future for our city, and |
IN very much mistaken If the good times
re not much nearer than many think. l