The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-07-16
THE FACTS AS TO KANSAS SITUA.
TON

During the late period of speculation
in Kansas real estate there was a con-
sentative class who thought values too
high and that collapse all along the
line would be the result. To what ex-
tent this has been verified every one can
form his own estimate. One thing is
certain, whatever depreciation we have
seen is owing wholly to the methods
used in booming sales and in superficial
development. Nothing can be attribut-
ed to the states resources or want of
them to justify the losses sustained by
the erstwhile Spectator and mushroom
millionaire. Kansas soil and Kansas
sunshine remain intact. She holds the
same geographical position and has the
same natural advantages she had when
every county seat was ambitious to be-
come metropolis.
1t is significant fact that Kansas and
Nebraska were first to attract attention
at the beginning of the late speculative
era. The conditions all being favorable
to investments in real estate it was
natural that the investor and the specu-
lator should select the locality which
promised the best and quickest results.
He came to Kansas for reasons oft re-
peated but sound in logic and in fact.
No higher compliment or better endorse
ment could be given to any state. The
logic is as good today as then.
1t is paradox in business experience
that men will climb over each other to
invest when values are on fictitious
basis and will hold to their cash when
property is selling at their own figures.
Experience goes for naught and COM
mon business sense is dead letter when
a man with few dollars or his millions
of surplus stands aloof and allows prop
erty to sell at mere decimal of the
amount which its income will capitalize.
yet this is the rule with a large ma iority.
After regrets serve no better purpose
than as a counter irritant. while the fact
remains that many accounted smart are
doing this very thing today.
1t cannot be denied that much of the
profits of speculation have been invest
ed in permanent improvements, thus
greatly enhancing the intrinsic value of
every acre of real estate. Wichita is q
case in point. In SO she was an over
grown village of 5000 inhabitants. with
no public improvements to speak of.
Whatever may have been the result 10
individuals she now has three times that
number. In public improvements she
points to her sewer system, her paved
streets, her electric light and car system.
her county court house, city building.
government building, opera house.
y. NJ G. A, building, fine
public school and college buildings.
manufactures, additional railroads and
lower freight and passenger rates.
These are all factors which add greatly
TO actual values in both city aud coun-
try. Once acquired they are not to be
built again, and when prosperity comes
again we start into period of growth
several years in advance of what we
would be without them.
What is needed now is confidence in
the situation. This may be greatly en-
HANGED by discarding theories and sim
ply accepting the facts of history. l: is
easy enough 10 THEORIES and predict
disaster 10 any interest at any time. but
what have been the uniform results Of
these abnormaliY low prices IN tie pasl: