The Wichita daily eagle., 1894-02-04
STAND BY WICHITA.

STAND BY WICHITA.
The location of cities and trade centers
! are determined by natures law. Agri-
! culture thrives where the soil is richest;
manufactures spring up where the raw
material is most abundant, while rail
roabs are forced to seek the shortest
route between the supply points. Com
merce drifts to the places designated by
natural selection as most convenient for
the collection and distribution of all
supplies. These are the great cities,
built from necessity and supported by
the industry, the brain and the capital
of the coantry. They are simply the
survival of the fittest, and their destinies
are no more Influenced by individual or
corporate opposition than is the
growth of the sturdy oak by tho bending
reed which springs up at its root.
Certain intervening space must lie
between them. Certain industries
and different natural product, exercise
correlative influences in maintaing the
the trade best suited to each point. 1t is
error to assume that artificial carrying
facilities can influence the location and
growth of these points. 1t is the natural
advantages of location with reference to
surroundings, to the waterways, the
lake, gulf and seaports which determine
that, and railways are forced to bridge
the marshes and climb the mountains to
secure their traffic. This law of selec-
ton obtains as certainly. before cities are
built as when marked by glittering
domes and busy thoroughfares. Through
the varied stages of the frontier town,
the prosperous village and the great city,
the mark of destiny is upon them.
1t is Just such selection and such necessi.
ties for trade center which we claim for
Wichita. Her location in the midst of
the finest agricultural region on the con-
tinent, at the junction of the great
natural highways of trade from
east TO west, and north to
south, with the certainty of as fine a
harbor at Galveston as our coast line
affords to receive our exports and sup
ply our imports, will just as certainly
make her a commercial center as that
continent streams find the lowest basin.
This is but a repetition of what we held
as an absolute verify when Wichita was
forging ahead, even beyond legitimate
growth. If it was true then it is true
now. The fact that the city outgcew
the country and its requirements. in
volving the loss of fortunes to individ-
uals, only shows the natural adjustment
of means to ends, and it is ours to profit
by the dearly bought experience. With
the same faith in her resources and the
old-time confidence in her destiny. we
come to the rescue now, all the better
equipped by being little weather beaten
and battle-scarred.
And right here the EAGLE NAV be
allowed a word of counsel: Let
us eliminate the word ''boom,"
with all the word implies,
from our vocabulary. 1t is a hybrid-a
stray, at best, expressive of nothing
which pertains to legitimate growth.
Let no false premises be assumed, no
hot-house plants be imported or propa-
gated. Let the Industries suited to the
time and place receive our corporation
and support, always allowing that the
place to shoot ducks is in the duck
country, and the point for saw-mili is
not i'll the open prairie. Let us figure
that no enterprise can be fioated success
fully on wind. IL requires money to
transact business: without it let the
drayman drive his dray, the farmer
guide his plow, and the ambitious lawyer
stick to his briefs. Fortunes built upon
mortgages are as sure to toppie as that
payday comes round. Let every man
pursue his legitimate calling in legiti-
mate way. Let us have no cliques nor
clans with antagonistic designs or desires.
Let US have no big Is or little you's.
but let every lover of Wichita feel that
he can cooperate with every other man
TO forward her interests. Let Us be
truthful, candid and just with all who
seek to enlist their fortunes with Us. and
let no stranger depart from our gates
with low estimate of our hospitality.
Let the croaker cease his mouthings and
let the weakling, the chariaian and th (.
demagogue depart for pastures green.
The time is suspicious for earnest.
honest work. Inquiries are coming