The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-01-27
ALL BOOMS ACT so
WICHITA MAN SAYS THE DEPRES-
SION Is AN OLD STORY.

In the Case of Wichita the Falling OF in
Prices Has Not Been SO Great as it Has
Been In Other Cities That Have Pre-
viously Passed Through a Period Of
Speculation and Infiation-Examples in
Chicago, Indianapolis, Denver and Other
Wichita VIII Win.
81 have studied booms for a long
time" said prominent real estate
man yesterday, land / want TO say
that land-vaiues in Wichita have not
suffered a greater per cent in loss than
other cities have, after passing through
boom. 1 have watched Chicago, In
dianapolis, Denver, Kansas City, Salt
Lake, Les Angeles and other boom
cities and believe I know something
about the whims Of that queer element
Of industry called a boom"
There are men in every community
who stand in the way of progress SIM
ply because they are unable to look be-
yond the dininutive circle which pre-
scribes their mental vision. On the
bare assumption that certain things
ought to be done to secure certain re-
suits, they croak and complain at the
trend Of things, never once recognizing
the fact that the growth OF cities is
determined by forces greater than any
mans opinion. The evil predictions
of such men, having no bearing upon
the facts. would be harmless enough
opinion, but it is their talk that does
harm. People of other localities, and
thosewith adverse interests, are ever
ready to accept evil predictions as a
statement of facts, and right here is
where Wichita has suffered not q lit
tie. IF the few croakerS in our midst
could look beyond the narrow sphere
of their own ideas they might easily
discern that other cities have passed
through just such experience as we
have had since 81, and that western
towns, almost without exception, are
in a similar condition today.
AFTER THE FIRST BOOM.
Following the great tidal wave
of speculation in 1873 there came re-
lapse and a collapse which reduced the
great cities, east and west, to a con-
dition even worse than we have ever
seen in Wichita. The decline in values
in Cleveland, Toledo, Indianapolis, De-
troit, Kansas City, Denver and Chi
cago was as marked, and, in some
cases, greater than we have had here.
Lots which had sold in Toledo and In
dianapolis for 81 900 each went begging
for buyers at 800. Streets We're plat
ted in the suburbs OF Chicago, miles
upon miles of which were turned out
for pasture and farming. The wood
paving blocks were utilized for fuel,
and the costly sewers served as excel
lent under drainage for cabbages and
cUcumbers. For fifteen years succeed
ing the failure of Jay Cook & Co. 1t
was literally impossible. to find a bid
der at any price for this class of prop
erty. But was this the end Of Chicago?
ThiTty-ninth street was then the SOUTH
ern limit Of the city, and those familiar
with the situation will remember it as
being further from settlement than
One Hundredth street is now. The
invincible forces which were to build
Chicago were at work even during
these years OF Stagnation, and every
visitor to the worlds fair can attest
that her growth since that time has
been a veritable Transformation. 1t is
sufficient to say that the great western
wonder has grown in wealth and num-
bers as if she had never known the
effects of adverse fortune. Other cities
have done the same thing with vary
ing degrees of success, but all have
grown to proportions far beyond the
limits of the former boom" period. So
it viii be with Wichita, Denver, Salt
Lake and other western cities now
more or less dormant.
HARD WORK DOES IT.
"The same resources exist today that
contributed to our prosperity in other
years Our dealers and business men
inl
stemmed the currents and overcome
difficulties which were new and ex-
pensiVe, but they are all the better
equipped for the responsibilities of the
hour. In the light of experience here
and encouraged by the history Of
other cities, every resident of Wichita
should reconsecrate his effort toward
the old time purpose of building up
great commercial center.
There are uncounted millions in our
rich. virgin soil. There is room for
the greatest diversity of crops by rea-
son OF the variety of crops grown.
There is health and bodily vigor in the
pure air and genial sunshine of the
vast area tributary to this city. We
occupy the natural center, and have
the shipping facilities for supplying
the greatest updeveloped territory on
the continent. Our jobberS and
wholesale dealers recognize these facts
by the investment of their means, and
devoting their energies toward the up
building of a permanent business in
that line There is every reason to
look hopefully for an old fashioned
crop next year. At any rate there is
nothing gained by forebodinss and
crying down values. The best citizen
Of Wichita is he who maintains her
standing as a commercial Center-a
City of Destiny. The best citizen Of
any community is he who stands in
the breach and battles all opposing
forces in the interest of his family and
his hear hStaner