The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-02-10
ANOTHER IMPORTANT MATTER.

Because of a general lethargy and Of dis
couragement arising from depressed con-
ditions and close times, very important
enterprise seems liable to be overlooked
and permitted to go by default by the tax
payers and property holders Of Wichita.
The fact that times are unusually dis
couraging it becomes all the more import
ant that every available opportunity be
made the most of, to the end that fav-
orable change in the situation may be
forced at the earliest day possible. The
enterprise we speak Of not only interests
property holders, but every man Who de-
sires TO see more work, better wages and
liyelier times
Some months ago the Board of Trade
took up the matter of another direct rail
way connection with the west end Of the In
dian Territory which is soon to be opened
The committee appointed to look the field
over took out charter for a
railroad from Wichita to Ell Paso,
Texas by the way of Harper
and Runnymede, the headquarters Of
which road, together with the terminal
shops, etc, TO be located at Wichita The
idea was to secure the construction OF the
road on the old plan, leaving it eventually
10 be operated by some one of the trunk
line companies But by happy chance
OF fortune-so many Of which have fell 10
Wichita in the past-some English and
Irish capitalists heard Of the proposed road
through some American friends. On
looking the matter mp they were impressed
with the idea of building the road for
cash, that is, without bonding It, and then
operating it as an independent line on
cash basis. In the meantime the depres-
sion spoken Of fell upon the country, es-
peclally upon the west, so that the aid pro-
posed seemed unlikely Of naturalization
However they still said that tie principal
towns more directly interested would do
something or half as much as had been the
rule they would 20 ahead and build the
road. Two Of the towns have responded
in the affirmative, and Wichita is 10 say
yes or no on the 10Th of this month. Of
course if Wichita should say no that
would end tend one of the biggest and
most important interests ever offered her
for mere bagatele, when the advantages
TO be Immediately and directly reaped,
are taken into the account.
For the shops and general Offices and
terminals alone to say nothing Of the rail
road. Wichita could afford to give double
what she is asked. Besides it will give
this county thirty miles more of road to
assess and tax, or at present rates of rail
road taxation would return in taxes more
than the interest and principle of the aid
asked from Wichita over and over again.
II Wichita ever becomes a great city she {
must, in addition to the trade reached by /
her in South Kansas, have access to every /
part of the new territory on our south, and /
better access than that of any other point. /
This FL Paso line, whether it ever reaches /
FL Paso or not, will be of vast Importance /
to us in the territory trade, especially oper- /
ated, rs it will be, as an independent road. /
The shops and depot, even the ground .
which they must occupy, will call for a |
greater outlay, dozen times over, than |.
the amount asked for And what Wichita
wants is more property-more taX-paying
representations more Of it, so that the
taxes may be lowered, and very much
lowered. We want more work, more bus
mess. The way to get these things is to
90 for them when they can be got cheaply.
While, in the construction, and in the OPP
Grafton of this new Independent
railway and its shops, Wichita
would be directly and immediately
benefited, as would all classes Of work
men and mechanics It's existence would
no less benefit the property holder and in
crease the trade of the business man.
Everybody sees that and understands it,
but there is but half dozen days left. as
we understand it, in which to register, and
unless our business men attend to this
matter at once some unlocked for preju-
dice or short-sighted action might defeat
he bonds, which would be a great misfor-
tune if it did not prove very disastrous.
The property holder is too liable to say,
oh, the men who don't pay any taxes
md who want to get a chance to work at
good wages, viii 90 in sufficient numbers
o the polls to carry such a proposition"
In ordinary times that might be
rue, but now the demagogue is abroad
n the land, who, because Of the
lard times. gets many greedy
listeners and blind followers, and this road
md all its adjuncts are too important to
Wichita just now TO be permitted to fail
And it won't fail if those who have the
most at stake. and who appreciate what it
would do for Wichita just al this time, do
heir duty by registering and voting
The securing of this enterprise will not /
,nly open cut things in a good and lively
hape here the coming spring and sum
ner, but il Immediately interests and
IDENTIFIES a number OF big English capital
SIS with Wichita. In short, there Is only ,
ne side to the proposition, but its
mighty big side.
GnSpEr TENDER NSCr, MEETING