The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-01-08
The Chronicle and Eagle


wood Falls were the outcasts of Kansas
civilization At that time but TWO other
papers were published in Kansas south
and west OF Topeka namely. the En-
pOria News. by Jacob SJotler. and the /
Burlington Patriot, by s 5. Pronty. Tns
Chronicle, now in its 18th year. IS one
OF the oldest newspapers IN the state, as
il IS one of the brightest. Mr.. +. G. Pipp. |
its editor and proprietor, \ writer on |
economics and The tarif. of recognized
ability. a rev days since reproduced from
the old files OF the Chronicle a number Of
local and news items and editorials, IN
connection with which he writes and
publishes the following very hattering
editorial about the original founder and
editor OF the Chronicle. which our readers
will excuse Us for reproducing:
Thirty years ago, when Marsh Muir
dock was putting in his best l.cks for
Burlingame, he used 70 occasionally take
q ride over the prairie hundreds Of miles I
to the west and southwest. hunting the |
buffalo. II was during those DAYS he con- !
clUded that some day there wouic De 1
city which would be the Peerless Prin-
cess of the Plains; but he continued % cast
his lot with Burlinsame and her people /
for while
When the Santa re road was first pro- /
jected. il was intended TO build straight |
scuthwes Of here toward Emporia- BuS /
when one of the projectors got hold Of a /
good many thousand acres Of land 10 the /
south and southwest and turned the |
course in that direction. Mr.. Murdoch |
knew that new and strong rivals 10 the |
town would spring up and that in al
probability this place would eventually
lose the county seat. A little later when
he was told that The Santa Fe was 10
build branch to the main line still far
ther to the southwest. he at oncce thought
OF his chosen spot, decided 10 go there
and the life and growth of Wichita be-
came the life and hope OF Marsh Muir
dock; and Marsh Murdoch became vital
part in the anatomy of the new city; the
very heart, sending the life blood into the
arteries. giving strength and vigor 20 the
young giant. growing on the plains.
What a life of devotion this nearly
thirty years OF his has been, Loyalty
to his town has been mis- one creed ne
has instilled IL in his children. has talked
Il to his neighbors and Has published il
to the world. He has imbued every citi-
zen OF Wichita with fidelity 20 Wichita.
How he has rejoiced with every bound
forward OF the pride Of his heart, How
he has mourned with every III that has
befallen her. With what pleasure he told
of the marvellous growth of that city
which sprung up as II by magic, With
what pride he saw stately business build
ings and magnificent homes reared on
the spot where the buffalo had roamed
unmOlested! Then with what anxiety he
watched the going beyond the bounds Of
reason, the booming and With what
sadness he wrote his most famous edi-
torial. which called a halt" which
brought people 10 a realizing sense OF
the fact that they had gone stark mad
over valuesi Then. the reaction. how
it hurt, But he loved Wichita still as
none other could Valueless property,
empty homes. half finished business
blocks. rentless owners. failing friends.
and ruined hopes OF those he would have
prosper, all would tend 10 discourage the
stoutest heart, but they dismayed him
not. his faith in the future Of Wichita
was mistaken.
Then. how he looked through those
years Of quiet for signs Of a renewed pro-
gress on a hrmer foundation With what
pleasure did he see rental value come
10 houses that had been occupied, rent
free, for years. merely that they could
be insured, Then. IN % when people
began 10 buy houses on the hills in this
or that extension and brought them 90
town and put them on better and closer
locations, how 1t must have pleased himi
Bringing them in, moving them, fixing
them up. a new board here, another
there, the addition Of porch, called for
paint for the whole house. and there were
many Of them. Then. the neiFhbors
caught IL and new coats were put on
houses that mad not been moved. Marsh
Murdoch noted IL all with qualification.
i was with JOY that he saw the cleaning
OF alleys take place; and when a few new
ta
lightful 20 him; but when the remain
ing stories were put on the half-huiehed
business blocks there were no bounds 90
his ecstaCy.
During all the trying years his own
private business, his daily paper. the
Eagle. grew. But that was little c0nsO-
lation 10 him when Wichita herself was
tagging. The Territory opened up. Okla
homa became a great field for his pa
per. and the circulation OF the Eagle has
been that Of a steady gain. And 10 has
gone out doing rs good work for the
town 70 which it IS devoted. u has push
ed itself into the new territory, telling
the newcomer Of the advantages ~
Wichita, 60 has brought traders for IS
merchants. business for all.
1.-The Eagle has been Marsh Murdoch.
his personality has made o.. but into 70
Is cominE-llas cOme-the personality o.
another and not q lesser light. his son.
Victor Murdoch. "A native n Burlingsme.
is one Of the Brightest and best and hard
est working writer's IN the Wesi-or East
either Victor fits the paper every day
with an abundance OF bright paragraphs.
timely ATS and Interesting news. We
knew that printing. as we do this week.
several columns from The Chronicle ~
thirty years ago. when Mars1 Murd0ck
to thinking. and thinking they would
want 70 know what he IS doing and hoys
he is getting along. we were down 90
Wichita Friday. saw him. obs son dnI
his business.
The Eagle office is 2 large. t1-ee-st7ry
building and bis editorial room occupies
the entire front ~ tae third floor I- u.s.
one * me best furnished ''sanctnms'
west u the far Eaet. The front 8. nearly
all glass and a. the center 81 Bow ~ia-
COW. n the T9om IS a handsome rEate.
and about are pieces o. ftatusry. brfc-s-
orac fire pieces ~ leather uDhv.s teref
furniture. and On me Ralls ere tarasome
pictures all put .1 -aere bg WICHITA eG-
nrers as a tribute e. 1,s warfl 4ir
NUrdDck does NOE spend as much ~ a.s
time there - formers. f1r 20 row roe
also the best T1Jm or -ro ground for
in t1e biz government binding oTaf tarr-
m the ocHer street Re 81 s-s.t-1z ste- ~
wichita BI- coming back 20 $40 Eaa
and its 0nce. and YORK Me 1zr1oex
r-es about t1G ard ha.f eg.8ralr ~
leading editorials a da5--aa- is vssi
would make shat rurn 5r paper lE.
-fIs. hr runs PTS e1l.arial ~agr1rs "a -.tft-
more -aaa - hair wider t5sa f1ass T
remainder ard tAe greater gar ~ CSC
paper 81 loeket 60 20 hia aer VICTOR. zr1
has rom directly back - bic T-e
t1si-ess management ~ urdr5 ere sirse-
tan % nfs brother j. = M1rdoek