The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-11-18
WICHITA THAT IS TO BE,


ney. The work of life is not only to
travel but to accomplish something as
we go. To the individual this Is the
question uppermost in his mind, and
the very essence of his plans; how he
can secure the best results in the days
allotted, and through the talents given
him. The corporate body, the city,
state or nation. are actuated and stinu-
lated by the same desires. In the build
ing up and sustaining city, state or
community there is even higher mo-
tive than the mere promptings of q sell
| fish ambition. Through community of
interests. and growing out of the uni
versal desire for the general good, there
arose a spirit of patriotism which
prompts the individual to deeds of self
sacrifice, even to the point of yielding
up treasure, personal happiness and life
| itself.
In the building up Of Wichita such
tent factor. Perhaps no city in the west
or anywhere else has ever witnessed the
| readiness to work and the almost
prohigacy of giving towards its own up
| building as has this city, Every one
resident here seven years ago will recall
that no effort was too great Or demand
for financial aid too large to even cause
the business men of Wichita to waver
or decline to meet it. Measured by the
motives which inspired the sacrifice
made it would seem that both the men
| and the motive deserved a better fate.
That these very donations and sacrifices
| contributed largely to the misfortunes
which have come npon us, must be ad-
mitted. The only solution is that it was
an error Of judgment, though born
of the best intentions. If results have
failed to pan out according to plans,
that has nothing to do with the natural
! advantages which are as potent today as
| they were then. Men and their schemes
and projects come and go, but the oper-
| alton of natural laws goes on forever.
| That there is TO be great trade center
in this valley, and that Wichita is to be
| that center has never been. and is not
now matter of doubt. Geographically
| located midway between the more arid
regions and higher attitudes on the
| west, and the less productive, malarial
| districts of down river points, and linn
| tied only by Missouri river cities on the
northeast and no boundaries to the
southwest, Wichita holds the situation
that will as certainly build and main
| tain city as that the country tributary
| is peopled, and that trade adjusts itself
! TO the most convenient market. We
have the roads and systems of roads,
| radiating to all points as spokes from a
hub, and though rates have never been
given which the location and tonnage
demands, they will come in time if we
continue in our efforts to secure them.
We have not only the nu-
cleus, but the Improvements and
advantages of a city many times her
present proportions. A thorough sys.
tenn of sewerage, a well equipped electric
line, an inexhaustible supply of pure
water, gas and electric lights, paved
streets and a growth of shade trees that
are the admiration of all visitors, the
finest public buildings in the state and a
system of public schools rot excelled
anywhere. Trade i'll all legitimate lines
is well established. The wholesale trade
of Wichita has been a success from the
start. demonstrating beyond doubt that
this is the point of natural selection as a
commercial center. Intimately and in
separately connected with the growth Of
Wichita Is the natural adaptation of the
| land surrounding her to so many profit
able uses. There is, probably, no Sec
| ton of the country which admits of a
greater variety of crops. Our best
farmers and fruit growers now say that
agriculture is yet in its infancy in Kan
sas. Every year develops some new
product which can be raised profitably,
some of which are Igrown with little
moisture save what is supplied by spring
rains. Only within few years has al.
experiment, yet the test shows that
three profitable crops can be grown in
one season, any one of which pays a
good return for labor and interest on tine
value of the land. Barley, Kaffir corn,
millet, sugar cane, castor-beans, all
garden vegetables and small fruits are
grown plentifully and proftably; APP
pies, peaches, pears and grapes are
grown in great abundance. Many
farmers will be able to defray family
expenses this year Of short crops from
the crop of apples. Live stock, poultry
and the dairy all yield profitable re-
turns. Our healthful climate is espec.
tally adapted to the breeding of horses.
Breeders claim to get better lung devel-
opment than in the lower attitudes.
They have testified to its merits by large
investments in that industry.
With these varied sources of profit it
is insane to suppose this country will re-
main but partially developed. As the
country prospers Wichita must grow.
What she now needs is some of that
pioneer pluck which backed up ouI
growth in the seventies. Close calcula'
Iion and conservative dealing, sustained
by that loyalty to home and home inter
est, without which no country can pres
per. Wichita and the great, undevelopec
southwest will come 10 the front again
and the kite flying and Spasmodic specu
lation of the past Will live in memory
only as an "'irr!descent dream.
: That the relations between Cleveland
D are somewhat strained is confirmed b,
| tba updua eff,rt IN mako the peOple be