The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-01-27
THE WICHITA EAGLE HYDRODYNA.
MICALLY CONSIDERED.
From, the Marion Times.

M1CALLY CONSIDERED.
| From the Marion Times
Because the EAGLE has not expressed
a favorable opinion of the prohibitory
| liquor law it would be unjust to assume
that it was on account of its abhorance
of water diet. Its aversion to water,
however, is real, when there is too much
| of 1T and when it is not available for the
| commercial interests of Wichita, and
the Arkansas valley. The navigability
of the Missouri river is a question that
| haunts its waking hours, and disturbs
| its somnoIent hours with fitful dreams of
| its possibility.
While we favor combining the mad
river within proper bounds and think a
few million dollars judiciousiy cxpend
ed for this purpose would be for the
general welfare and whether it could be
| made permanently navigable stream
or not Is of secondary consideration.
Inland water means of transportation
canals and rivers-serve a useful pur-
pose In limited way, but they do not
now promise q possible service that will
render them formidable competitors with
our railroads that form net work OF
the most convenient and rapid means of
transportation that has ever been de-
vised, and capable of moving safely the
vast products of the country, to the great
centers of trade, and for their general
distribution in every direction. The rail-
roads settled the question of competition
thirty years ago when they were just be-
ginning 10 build up into great systems
and construct lines along side of canals
and navigabie streams, which in a few
years destroyed the valuable of the
former and demonstrated that the latter
were not indispensable as a means of
transportation in competition with rail-
roads.
The EAGLE may rest reasonably secure
that if Kansas City succeeds in getting
few millions to improve the channel
of the Missouri river and to confine IL
within decent limits, rendering it naViga-
bic for the largest river boats, railroads
will still continue to do the great carry
ing trade of the country. If we do not
foolishly interpoSe more obstructive
legislations and wantonly courage exist
ing and unwaranted prejudices against
corporate trusts and combinations and
if we permit the natural laws that best
govern the activities and enterprise Of
the individual have free scope for their
legitimate exercise we can safely trust
the future with the solution of the trans
portation problem, in adjusting rates to
the lowest possible point. consistent
with just and proper rewards to labor
and capital.
A growing and pernicious evil of to-
day is the false education of the news
paper in contributing so largely to the
belief that we must look to legislation
no IF ol
in society, and regard the state as the
aid and help. We look to the state to
tell US what to do on the one hand and
turn to the church to know what we
must believe OF the other, and between
the two the individuality of the man is
ground to powder. just at this time
the EAGLE is jubilant in anticipation of
the way United States Attorney Ady is
going to anuihilate the Transmissouri |
freight combines as though if that ere
accomplished the railroads would not |
find other means of protection against |
the unnecessary interference of the |
state.
Wichita's jealousy of Kansas City |
arises from narrow conception of those !
factors of commerce and trade which !
tenu 10 Duliu up great centres OF ACTIVITY. |
In spite of her hills, Kansas City's loca-
ton has made her radiating point /
for railroads that traverse in |
every direction the most productive |
agricultural country in the United States |
which within radius of hundred |
miles or more is naturally tributary to |
her, and it will be no retirement to. Kan |
sas if she becomes the greatest city i'll /
the Missouri valley. but this would be no |
reason why Wichita should not also be- |
come great city-it will if the laws of
trade are not interferred with by the |
narrow conceptions OF its own citizens. !
We are heartily glad to join with Wichi- |
ia in rejoicing at her present prospects |
for immediate and for future growth and |
in the evidences that her industries are /
to be enlarged and diversified. Marion |
county is tributary to Wichita, |
but to make it more practical there must |
be one or two more railroads northward |
from Wichita. We want to see Wichita |
with 100000 of population and the
greatest trade center in the state before
the end of the century.