The Wichita daily eagle., 1894-02-16
IT is DEMANDED
SOUTH AND CENTRAL KANSAS ARE
SET IN A DESIRE
The Interests, Advantages and
Accessibility of Wichita as
Center, and the Man Who
Says "Draw On Me" for
the Big Auditorium.
TT DoRApo Kan Feb. 13. 1893.

Ell DORADO, KAN, Feb, Ii, 1898.
Marshall Murdock, Wichita. Kansas.
Inotice In the EAGLE what you say about
the state convention at Wichita and the
building of an auditorium. am for the con
vention at Wichita, and you can draw on me
for $1,000 towards the auditorium:
q. Z. AIKMAN.
The above letter, while it calls for no ex-
planstion, might be followed by columns
of comments.
Immediately subsequent to the last
state convention the EAGLE took up
the question of the advlsability and wis
dom of building an auditorium in
Wichita, citing among other things the
state conventions of the Democracy and
Populists, held here last year. The
EAGLES move was warmly enough sec
ended, so far as a general talk and interest
were concerned, but nothing definitely was
accomplished farther than discussion OF
sites and estimates OF cost. The corner
lots fronting the government building on
the southeast, a space near the Carey hotel
aud one on North Main street were most
favorably mentioned. All suggestions for
the parks and other remote sites received
DO consideration. The matter having
again Deeu DTOuSut W tuc ouhioSOb Az
should be pushed to a conclusion.
Mr.. Aikman's letter is an indication OF
the real situation. All central and south
Kansas is interested in the Wichita audi
torium proposition. Topeka is In the
very northeast eighth of the state, still In
The very Center of the old political pocket.
The conventions held there, all more or
less, are subjected to the influences and
plots of the political combines. While
Wichita is east to the center OF Kansas,
Wichita is the center of south Kan
sas, with the best railway service of any
city in the state. Every section and por-
tion of the state except the extreme north.
west is reached directly by some one of
Wichita's ten lines or connections. Wich-
ita is the most accessible center for all
that portion of Kansas lying south OF the
Kaw river and which constitutes two
thirds of the state. The twenty-four
counties constituting the southeast quar-
ter of the state can all reach Wich-
ita more directly than Topeka.
OF course that is true of the forty-three
counties of central and southwest Kansas;
yet 1t is a fact seldom thought of, if in
Iced ever comprehended, by the people Of
The counties of the old political pocket in
the northeast eighth of the state.
That an auditorium with q seating
capacity of 5000 centrally and conveniently
located with reference to the hotels and
business streets of the city would draw
many state conventions of all the political
parties and many state gathering Of vari-
GUS characters no one doubts, no more
than they doubt the benefits that
would accrue to the city. Any
and all PROPOSITIONS to locate such
building anywhere but near the very heart
of the city, accessible to all the hotels and
depots aud convenient to committee
rooms, etc, should not be given a mo-
ment's consideration. The building
should not go north of Central, west OF
Water, south of English or east of Fifth
Avenue.
In the meantime, as the discussion goes
on the business men of Wichita should
keep in mind the fact that the first man
10 say draw on me'' is an outside man
who has no interest in Wichita save that
of public spirited and loyal south
Kansas man who recognizes the demands
and advantages of Wichita's location and
situation as a center.