The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-03-05

trebled. By October the Magic City had
reached its most astounding stage of de
velopment. At that time two theaters
were in full blast, one of which (iurphy's 81
cost 10000.
TRADE BOOMING.
In the town were a dozen hotels, among
them the Chase House, the St. Cloud, the
Danforth, the St. Nicholas and the Morey,
some of which had been built at q cost Of
$4,000 each. A Roman Catholic and a
Methodist church were completed. and .
Presbyterian church, built just for fun, Z"
was under way Two railroads were fin
ished and Others were being surveyed.
The postof1ice handled more mail mat
ter than any other in the state of Pennsyl-
vania except those at Philadelphia and
Pittsburg. Residences, barrooms, dance
houses, brokers' offices, banks, drug stores,
law Offices and other buildings covered
what few months previous had been titled
fields. Battling old Dick Longwell (since
then Of the Oil City Derrick) burst into
town one dag ready to start daily news
paper, but he couldn't get building for
love nor money. Longwell. however, was
a newspaper man.
I'm issue the first number Of the Pit
more OdllJ ISCOEu, ue TcdEeut btAOTt udF
light tomorrow, if we have to work in a
balloon"
And he did, out his compositors stood
knee deep in mud while working at their
cases.
At this time. October, 1866, Pithole was
seat of trade employing millions of dol
lars in money, city with the third largest
postofice in the state; city with wate:
works, efficient fire and police departments,
magnificent hotels and theaters, teeming
with busy, industrious. e-terprising gen
eral population, and with artisans, mer-
chants, spectators, agents and profess
sional men; a city with railroads, express
and telegraph offices, and the ordinary &C
cessories to populous municipalities
A COMPARISON OF PRICES.
A party OF Philadelphia capitalists found
an old farmer named Copeland, who
owned 800 acres of land three-fourths Of a
mile south of Pithole They offered him
500 600 for the property, but he refused it,
saying he wouldn't hev no home ef tn
old house wuZ sold"
Another man. living two miles north Of
the city, was offered $3.50, 900 for his farm
of 260 acres, but he swore that II would
not be sold for less than s. O00,0CO. Both
of these farms were tested, and not enough
oil was found to pay for pumping the
wells
When the correspondent came 10 Pit
hole short time since he had TO let down
bars of a fence to get in. Not a soul lives
there A farmer in the valley four years
ago purchased the entire city, buildings
and all, for 1900 which was paid 10 the
Of taxes. Your correspondent
drove to the renowned postoffice. Two
calves thrust their heads through az
empty window frame and Razed at him. |
Three or four sheep scam pered out Of what |
was once the 10000 Danforth House. |
Graded embellishments Of the railroads re- /
main, but the rails aud ties ara gone.
A poplar tree twenty feet high il grow |
ing in the cellar o. the National hotel. on /
First street. The Metropolitan theater - /
gone. Grass. stones and underbrush cover I
the site Of MurphYB theater The Morey |
hotel, the Patterson. the St. Cloud. the St /
Nicholas and the Hubbs House have van |
shed. The sites Of Delmonico's cafe and /
1f the Johnson House can be located only
By half filled cellars. overgrown with weeds 4
aud brsmbies
SEINE or DSsoLATIOS.
DR. Christip's residence. on First street,
aid the banking house II Pratber & Wads-
worth. on Ho'mden street. remain in a fair
state Of preservation Our correspondent
climbed through the broken glass door %
/ large drug store On First street and
brought away from the shelves several
ancy phiais az souvenirs IN Main street.
where millions q dollars once daily
hanged hands, arc stacked c0rnsta!k-
rhe avenues srstwhiie lined with r.
fences are titled fields.
Today PIthole IS q scene of desoiation
Upon the kjil overlooking the ruin stane
he Presbyterian church rs bell sti
iangs, It's pews remain. aad on the palp
iesk rests the clergyman Bible Ore 20
he builders Of this ediGce Tas = Scotch
nan. who aunassed great wealth. and .eti
'ithoie in its glory - 20 ~ his boxes
Icross the water A few yesr- since Es
lied, lsay ing a large sum - tie churT5 !
way Cgt there n peIlasY lyan-t B2t the |
ociesy had long before dzshan3sd. and the
money could uot b. disposed as d4rectet
Tire decline q the Mage City cono-
nenceyf within a rear q it. wonderful
ise- Oh gave o1t la SD. ard a terTsbis
Ire Exepa tie to7sa- Al 10 oldt.zaerg
1ored away. All No az bit a sogre.
sess quietly Sep aus1ag tie briars ard
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