The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-02-10
BOARD DE TRADE.
Very Interesting Address Made by Presice Mt
Chas. r. Potts.


enthusiastic in pushing the future WORK
of the Board forward rs rapidly as posi-
BILE and in a manner which Will REBOUND
to the credit Of the greatest city IN ran
sas. President Chas. Z. Potts made an eX-
cellent address before the Board which IS
as follows:
Gentlemen Of the directory OF the Board
of Trade of Wichita: The commercial
history of this country has been marked
by epochs of about SIX or seven years Oh
business depression, commonly called nara
times, which has been invariably followed
by an equal period of prosperous or hush
times, that we have now entered upon the
latter period there Is, think: no
one here present who will call 1t IN ques-
ton, the iunumerable signs OF the tunes
are so plain that he who runs may read.
The best evidence as proof of this asser-
ton, among other things, is our splendid
grain crops, so far, scarcely half marketed,
for which there is both
good domestic and foreign demand
which has turned the balance of trade IN
our favor, thus rendering the money
market unusually easy, and with all the
other evidendes of an improved business
outlook, the year has certainly opened
cheerfully and everyone is disposed to
look upon the bright side of things gener-
ally. Locally we are pleased to note the
increased number of jobbiDg houses and
agricultural implement establishments
which have been added since the opening
Of the new year to our already respectable
number OF such concerns. together with
the filling up of stores, warehouses, othces
and residences by those proposing TO De-
come identified with the steadily lncreaS-
ing prosperity of our city. The extension
of the Rock Island railroad through to the
Gulf, work on which is now progressing
h. IF EhpVannp
and Arrapahoe country comprising several
million acres of desirable land, are
also ACCOMPLISHED facts since the
beginning of the year. The long delayed
settlement of the Cherokee strip, with its
eight million acres of splendid land, APP
pears to be on the verge Of being brought
about without waiting on the slow move
ments of congress, as from the last adj
vices the settlers to the number OF %, 600
are already occupying the country, and
seem willing to take their chances OF get
| ting titles from Uncle Sam AT later period.
| With this country filled with 100000 bona
! fida settlers, our trade with the towns
which will necessarily spring up along the
! lines of the three railroads traverslng the
strip, will naturally be large and we
should be in readiness to meet the de
mands that will be sure TO be made upon
US
The rapid advancement made during the
past year by our jobbing interests Is GER
| tainly gratifying TO those who have an
abiding faith in the continued prosperity
| of our city but we remain sadly deficient
! in some branches which tend to retard
! the progress of those already established.
| | would call the attention of our commit
| tee on iobbing houses to the Importance OF
| taking active steps looking towards secur-
| ing a large wholesale hardware house at as
early day as possible, also wholesale hat
and cap and stationery and paper houses.
| While the distribution of merchandise Is
| one OF the most important and profitable
| industries which go to make up the sue
cess Of large cities, in my opinion, more
| profitable aud more permanent pursuits
| will ALWAYS be found in manufacturing.
| The smaller manufacturing industries
should be encouraged, and lot overlooked
hereafter in our efforts 10 secure larger
| establishments Such raw materials as
are plentiful and can be produced more
| cheaply here than in any other section OF
| the country should be converted into
manufactured products aud exported.
Corn for instance, which IS now beng
converted into food products by our pack
| ing houses should also be manufactured
! into sta rch, glucose and alcohol Tor export
! and use in the sciences and the arts. III we
! coulu induce the eastern capitalists to lu-
vest in our much needed manufacturing
| industries instead of seeking loans on
! realty it would rebound to the best inter
ests of the city and more eftectually ad-
vance realty values, One of the more I'M
| portant duties of the committee on rail
| roads is | think, to render what aid Is
possible to push forward the completing
! of the branch of the Wichita q Western
| through from Mullinville to Dodge City
| during the present year, which Will give
| US a more direct route to the Pacific coast
and at the same time give us better ship
ping facilities IN that part of the state.
| There must be a continuation of the
| fight for equitable freight rates, and an
entire abolition of the unjust discrimina-
! ton which has prevailed In the past, and
! i urge upon every business concern In the
city to take an interest in this important
| work and aid the committee on tranSpor-
tation and freight rates 10y liberal dona-
! tons to push these matters to successful
| issue. / would suggest the formation of q
| protective tariff association. would
recommend that the committee on leglsia-
ton and Judiciary forward memorial ia
| congress urging the passage OF the we'll
known TORY bankrupt bill for the
economical and speedy settlement OF the
affairs of insolvent debtors. Another sug-
gestion would be an effort to induce the
next legislature to enact law to convert
Paramount college into a military acad
envy.
The committee on grain inspection can
on application 10 the secretary OF the
board obtain copies of the state laws gov
erning grain inspection. and l would sug
geSt tnat they take action at once so that
"Kansas Grade Wichita Inspection" shall
not be reduced by inspection IN other
states this lowering :the value of the com
modify.
The construction and putting into oper
alton the large storage elevators is worR
the committee on elevators will, / trust
exert themselves TO the utmost to accom-
plish before another magnificent crop Is
ready to be taken care OF.
The recently created committee
on fire insurance will, | think
be able 10 find work which in time viii nc
doubt be effective il convincing the arbl
ter of rates that Wichita with her sub
slantialiy constructed factories, packing
houses and business blocks Is paying toe
high Il rate considering the few fire losse:
we have had during the last two years
| and especially with the few empty store
rooms and the metropolitan character oil
our fire department, with its record iol
! promptneSs in reaching the scene Of a tire
tthereoy preventing 1t from getting muct
Roadway.
Il would recommend that special com
mittee he appointed to push forward The
work this county has undertaken IN rals
ing its quota OF funds for the board o
managers OF the Kansas Exhibit, World :
Column ian Exposition The time vii
soon have expired IN which this work car
be done.
Our elegant new city building now rap
. idly nearing completion would IN ml
opinion be an appropriate and permanent
home for this board. | would suggeS
prior TO the expiration OF the lease on thi'
hall that special committee be instructed
70 examine the rooms offered as and re
port on the sdyisibilliy OF making {