The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-01-01
WICHITA At CHICAGO. WHAT SHALL.
WE DO?

To the Editor OF the Eagls.
have noticed with much satisfaction and
approval your comments and criticisms
upon the exhibition of the extinct fauna of
Kansas shat has been sent to Chicago to
cucumber the building that was supposed
to have been built with the peoples money
for the porpoSe of being used in way that
would best advertise the state and bsst ac-
comodate the people of Kansas. What
possbl gain or good can come to the
state by exhibiting to the world the stuff
ed hides of classes of animals that have
long since become extinct, aud, in fact,
many Of them never were natives of Kan
sas? To make the thing complete why
not send in the stuffed skin of some old
Indian, accompanied by his wigwam, bow
and arrow, stone Ratchet aud mortor for
grinding his corn2 1t would be just as
appropriate.
The buffalo has surrendered the plains
to the shOrthorn, the Holstein, the Jersey
and the other classes of fine, imported cat
tie The deer and the antelope have given
place to the equally fleet-footed, thorough
bred, and the ponderous draft horse. In
stead of the howl of the wolf and the
scream of the coyote, is heard the bleating
of the sheep aid the lowing Of the kline.
The Indian has long since surrendered the
land of his father. 70 the white man, and
instead of his wigwam scattered over the
vast praries, we find the peaceful and
happy homes of the husbandman. The
hunt aud the chase have been abandoned
for the pillow and the harvester.
Instead of the hides and the
furs drawn to the borders of civilization
through long and weary days to find a
ma s.l- Fhara 70 q ha at
centers of the world, long train loads of
golden grain and richly fattened cattle, to
feed the multitudes and return the gold
and the silver TO add to the wealth of the
farmer.
Instead of the thorn hrs come up the
fir tree, and instead of the brier has come
up the myrtle tree" 1.-The desert BIOS
SONS as the rose" The Great American
desert" has become the garden of the
world. Instead of the prairie dog towns"
there have been buided great cities, with
churches, schools, elegant homes and
costly mansions. Instead of the uncouth
ways of frontier times, there is education,
culture, refinement, art and the mysterious
work of science. Kansas has all the ele-
ments and resources that make state
great and powerful. Her development has
been the wonder of the age. 1t has been
What we wish to show to |
the world at Chicago is, not the kind OF
bears, buffalo and wolves that roamed |
over these plains centuries ago, or even a !
half century ago, but what man, intelli- |
gent, educated man has done here the past
twenty-five years, and what man may yet |
by honest toll aud well directed effort &C |
for himself and humanity. No |
soil anywhere upon the face of Gods green |
earth will 50 abundantly reward man for |
his labor, as will the soil of Kansas. |
No state offers as great /
npsSi Iiliripu m tho the and /
the ambitious AS does Kansas. We must /
show these facts to the world. We cannot |
do it by exhibiting stuffed bears and |
wolves. Your idea, NJ Editor, of making /
the Kansas building headquarters for the /
farmers of the world is good one. 1t Is a !
grand one, and the managers should COM
prehend 1t and act upon the suggestion.
Kansas is the richest agricultural state,
aud should furnish the home for the far
mer at the exposition.
But the question we had most in mind
when we started out was: "What shall
Wichita do to show what she has done in
this remarkable development OF civilza-
tiOnY What shall We DO TO show TO the
world the attractions of this city for people
seeking homes. seeking business, and seek
ing a profitable place for the Investment
Of capital. Whatever tue state may DO
will be for the whole state, aud not for
any locality. Cities and localities must
LOOK out Tor themselves ana their own III
lerests.
There win be food of travel TO the
west, and many cities have already begun
TO make arrangements for advertising !
and directing excursions to their own bOr-
iers What Will Wichita do9
Il is well known that the people Of this
2ity, for the purpose OF locating industries
here and advertising the merits OF the city,
have by private subScr,ptlO raised and
expended nearly 81 ,010, 900. While all our
people have been loyal, ana have given
Freely OF their means, yet the weight OF
.ae burden has fallen upon comparative
lew. Is Il not time that the city govern
uent should take hold of the matter and
zee that the ways and means" are pro-
Tided for properly ressntiDg our city 10
be world in 1873, II can be legally /
lone. Aud so being Is the money could
e taken from a fund that does not come
rom the pockets OF the taxpayer. the peo-
III would approve the act they derive
re benefit
The directors Of the board OF trade have
appointed a committee consisting Of q. ".
5lemeut, J.. D. Skinner and ". :. Corbe,t,
with the president of the board. are
structed 10 take thIs matter into c0usid-
ration aud present tie same TO the city /
ouBc.L
Having taken more space than IN
ended, / viii maze some suggestions later .
5 10 what should be doae.
G. W. CLENEST.