The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-06-05
CONTRACT is SIGNED
Mo. Pac. Depot May be Com
pIeted by Street Fair.
GEN. MANAGER HARDING
Visits Wichita and Finds a
Prosperous City,

The contract which was recently let for
the erection OF the new Missouri Pacific
depot has been signed up and Contrac-
tor Waller OF jefferson City, No, is ex-
pected here today to begin on the exca-
walton
Russell Harding, general manager of the
Missouri Pacific system, arrived In the
city Sunday afternoon from st. Louis to
advise with Superintendent Webb and
other local officers regarding some
changes to be made in the yards and
other necessary improvements and alter
ations made necessary by deciding upon
the building of the new depot. The new
general manager is a practical railroad
man and he spent considerable time look
ing over the yards and the new depot
site
Several Improvements will be made IN
the yards in the way of adding new
switches and tracks which will enable
the company TO handle the freight
quicker and 10 better advantage
When the new depot is completed the
Oi1 AIdIIle CuCluIS WHICH STANDS on
Second street will be torn down and a
track laid through the site. The freight
house will remain but an addition will
be put up opposite on the east, which
will afford more room. II is also pro
posed to remove Superintendent Webb s
Office and the dispatcher's office from
Twelfth street to the yards near the
freight department building and a new
building is contemplated for this i'm
provement Other repairs for the better
ment Of the service and the road will
be made If found advisable and neces-
sary
General Manager Harding said Contrac-
tor Waller was to be here yesterday.
According to the specifications the pas
senger depot is to be completed and
ready for occupancy by November 1 and
work will commence as soon as the con-
tractor arrives
It is understood that Mr.. Waller has
most of the material in readiness and
the work will be pushed as rapidly as
possible in the hopes to have it finished
by the time the street fair commences.
Asked as to whether the contractor
would import his workmen or employ
Wichita labor, Mr.. Harding said that it
was his intention to employ only local
men if he was successful In getting
enough OF them to finish the building
within the limited tirse.
What about the rumor that the dis
patCher's> Office will be removed from
Conway Springs to this city," the gem
eral manager was asked by a reporter
for the Eagle
THAT is a premature matter" replied
Mr.. Harding, ''and is mostly switch
shanty' talk"
The vice president is on his way to
Pueblo and is accompanied by his esti-
mable wife. They left last evening over
the Geneseo branch and Will return over
the main line.
Excepting a few hours in March Mr.
Harding had not visited Wichita for five
years and Sunday afternoon he was driv-
en- over the city TO witness the many inn
proyements that were in evidence in the
Kansas metropolis. The general manager
was more than surprised1he was amazed
at the rapid growth Of the town-and he
so expressed himself. Being an old
Wichita resident he has always had a
warm SPOT in his heart for the town and
still manifests the same interest. To a
reporter for the Eagle he said: Eyes.
Wichita is enjoying a rapid growth.
There doesn't seem to be a disgruntled
citizen in the town. The air of prosper
ity has reached Wichita with as much
grace as 7 have ever known it to strike
a community I am well pleased with
the outlook