The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-01-19
STRIKES HIGH NOTES
George H. Foultz Has Strong
Faith in Wichita.
NEED BOARD OF TRADE
Gives His Views Concerning
Railway Rates.

rounds for nearly a week or perhaps
longer among many of the business men
Of the city and all pertaining to the health
full condition now existing in business and
financial circles in Wichita Other good
reasons being given by various ones whom
allude to the fact that the city has been
struck with a broadside of prosperity that
has come through the natural conseGuen-
ces of excellent local and state existen-
cies, besides that of the general prosperity
/ Of the country at large.
| Some of the bankers and leading firms
| in the wholesale and retail lines are
readily testifinC that their trade has in
creased during the past u months and
that prospects are very bright for another
year. Among the many VINO have eX-
pressed themselves as having great faith
/ in the future Of the city is George ii.
/ Foutz, who recently came to Wichita
/ from Wellington, Kas., and engaged in
business, opening offices in the Biting
block as a loan and insurance broker, said
to an Eagle reporter yesterday in an in
terview that he believed the time had ar
rived when an organized effort should be
made by the business men Of Wichita 10
/ bring about the consumation or a plan
looking toward the reviving of the old
board Of trade for the united purpose Of
/ taking up and successfully handling the
commercial interests of the city
| He said: There are many enterprises
that would be of great benefit TO this city
and naturally be of vital importance to
the business interests of Southern Kan
sas and Oklahoma, were they induced TO
come here by the united effort OF the men
that now constitutes the business back
bone of the city. For instance, this idea
prevails in my mind that should appeal
to the cons ervative thought of every mer-
chant doing business in this city. In order
to make Wichita what she is destined TO
become in time. should not lag now, Tor
the want of the business men in retaining
the established prestage that Wichita has
been so noted for in the past and TO work
with the object in view to make this city
the commercial center of the state and
also as an undisputable wholesale and
retail jobbing center. There should be
every effort made to bring in all lines Of
mandatory and merchandise that are Of
common and practical uses for the peo-
pie throughout the section Of the coun-
try that is attributable to Wichita and
surrounding country. have often
thought it and talked 1t, when reviewing
the prospective future of this city as to
whether all business men have ever fully
realized the important influence OF the
fact that Wichita today is one of the
greatest railroad centers in Kansas and
will go further and say, is destined to
remain as such, owing to the existing
circumstance that it is now an impossi-
bility to predict any good reason why it
should ever again go backward. 1 heard
it said since my coming here to live and
even during my long residence in Vel
lington. that the business men Of Wichita
claimed that the railroads were always
discriminating against this city. be
lieve this to be a somewhat ancient and
exaggerated idea for the reason that L
do not believe the railroad question fully
understood by everyone, in the fact that
railroads are often blamed for matters
that they are not wholly to blame for
For instance, the making Of rates; that
matter is arranged by the southwestern
freight association and in arranging des-
tination points, the rates are fixed from
basing point to several destination points
of nearly equal distance and If it so hap
pens that a city like Wichita should by
being located between the points designat-
ed. it cannot be called in the true mean
ing of the word, discrimination. But,
here is where the necessity arises for the
united effort OF representative firms and
business men TO organize into board Of
trade or an organization of some kind
for the exact purpose Of bringing to the
city many new business concerns and in
view Of increased tonnage brought about
by extensive mercantile and manufac-
lures additional tonnage TO what We have
at the present time must be recognized by
the railroad freight associations and will
consequently bring the desired advantage
GUS that usually follow the Importance Of
settling the question of destination or for
basing freight rates. Instead OF putting
on gloves with them, let US help our own
interests first and begin right, organize
board of trade, like other cities and bring
industries here, not on that 100000 boom
style, but in a legitimate business like
manner. with a little molasses once in a
while it does no harm. little attention
is sometimes better and when the matter
is finally arranged. then all stand shout
der 10 shoulder and give one push and
land every chance We can for Wichita.
The idea prevailing about railroads, their
early building and their getting bonds
from counies, cities and towns, induced
railway construction companies to build
many terminal facilities which Wichita
people have always looked upon as deteri-
mental to her interests, but this must
not be lost sight OF that in tine all of the
surrounding so called terminal locations
has brought about prosperous railway
towns IN close proximity 20 this city which
has always been the center from which
now there are Il different railway lines
leaving here in every direction and which
in time must be of the greatest help from
the fact that Wichita, with a large
number Of wholesale and jo5binE houses