The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-02-28

| Chicago and St. Louis concentrated their
railways at Kansas City and their bust
ness men met at that point in friendly
rivalry, thus establishing the distributing
center for an undeveloped country west
and southwest.
The interest of these two cities made
Kansas City. Their support stimulated
her citizens to extend the railways into
Kansas, and the development of this coun-
| try and the prosperity of our people,
coupled with the efforts of those cities,
made Kansas City grow and become
! powerful
In 1879 the first railway was built into
Wichita, and during the eight years that
this city was practically the terminus of
the Santa Fe railway the traffic from here
to Kansas City was enormous. At that
time Kansas City held an undisputed
Jurisdiction over this state. receiving all
the tribute and distributing all it's sup
plies.
st. Louis, not content to receive their
Kansas traffic secondhand, invaded the
state with the "Frisco" railway to Wich-
tia. Then the Missouri Pacific followed
throught Fort Scott TO this point. Thus
St. Louis established the competitive point
for the concentration and distribution of
traffic in Kansas.
Her jobbers met the jobbers Of Kansas
City here in friendly rivalry for the trade
of this section. The efforts of these two
cities in this manner have developed
Wichita into a railroad, jobbing, pork
packing, commercial and manufacturing
center and which will be increased under
the same natural laws that governed the
growth of Kansas City. Kansas City and
St. Louis stand in the same relationship
to Wichita, that Chicago and st. Louis do
to Kansas City. The time is coming when
these two cities will be SO largely repre-
sented here as Chicago and ST. Louis are
now at Kansas City, and this will become
so as a matter of necessity, because Mem
phis, New Orleans, Galveston and Velasco
are invading this territory for the products
of their country.
With direct railway lines from all these
market centers to Wichita independent of
Kansas City, it makes it possible for them
to reach this territory quicker and at less
expense than through Kansas City. This
in itself will stimulate Kansas City as a
matter of business to increase her holdings
at this point Not to do so is fatal to her
growth and prosperity, if the trade of their
section is of any value to her. 1t is the
inevitable and she must meet it sooner or
later. There is no more danger of the
growth of Wichita hurting Kansas City
than the growth Of Kansas City wipng out
Chicago and St. Louis. The die is cast
and it cannot be changed Wichita is
recognized as the next important great
city west of the Missouri river by every
deep water port on the gulf and every far
sighted business man in the eastern cities,
not because our people would have it so,
but because the natural laws governing
the building of cities determine it. The
railways have determined this, not by any
wish of their own or any intention that it
should be so, but by law of growth and
development in trade and traffic which
rules above the plans of corporations
Twenty years ago Wichita was at the end
of branch of the Santa Fe railway. To-
day it is the pivotal city of the greatest
railway in the west and will be the largest
division point on that railway in Kansas;
and this will be because of our traffic.,
and because it will be economical
for the railway to so make it.
When their extension is completed
west from Mullenville to Dodge City
and the Pan Handle branch to Albu-
querque. the through train from Chicago
to the Pacific coast will pass through
Wichita on a much shorter route than the
present one.
ST. Louis will have a shorter line
through Wichita to Denver.
way from here 10 Texas and finally to the
Gulf viii place this city on another
through line between Chicago and Texas.
The building OF one branch of the Mis-
souri, Pacific into Wichita Will add another
through liue of that system to this city.
There is every reason to believe that as
the geographical location of Kansas be-
comes better understood and her relation
ship with the consuming markets Is better
known that capital will come in and in
crease the railway milsge TO better serve
our interests and the trade between this
aud other states.
The capital now flowing in for invest
ment in farm lands and the people coming
here TO permanently make this their home
because Of our climate. our soil. and to
take advantage OF the opportunities and
possibilities for making money is a fore
runner OF what we may. expect TO see in
railway buildin in the next ten years.
Referring 10 the grain interests here, he
said:
Eight counties surrounding this city.
including Sedgwick, produce more grain |
for shipment than is raised within any
other state, averaging nearly 1000, 600 !
bushels yearly. 4 large portion of this /
grain has been forced on the market with (
out being cleaned or put in proper coudi- /
tion 10 receive the best possible price. and I
this las been due largely TO the insufficient
OF our elevators.
Storage room being limited. IL has 1
been moved out Of the country directly /
from the fields rs soon as threshed. which .
in most cases has been 10 the farmers /
Why capitalists have nos |.