The Wichita daily eagle., 1901-06-29
HE LOVES WICHITA
General Manager Russell
Harding in Town,
DENIES SOME RUM0RS
Among Them the Story Of
Fusion With Orient.

Russell Harding. general manager of
the Missouri Pacific system. is in the
city.
Dir. Harding came in yesterday in his
private car and is accompanied 8lr. H
C. Clark. general superintendent. and
Mr.. W. C. Watrows. superintendent of
transportation. The car came from Yates
Center here and the railroad chiefs are
on their way west on a general tour ot
inspection.
Mr.. Harding IN company with his
friend, George II. Dickson, Of this city.
drove over the town last evening and
the former was visibly impressed with
the signs of improvement and the gen
eral al of prosperity which Wichita pre-
sents to one with whom familiarity does
not breed indifference, If not contempt
An Eagle representative called at Mr..
Dicksons hore in North Riverside PARK
last evening aud found BIr. Harding IN
company with Mr. Joe Houston and Mr..
and Mrs. TIctson on the laWh enjoying
the cool breeze, which the suburban;5es
say is only found in right ho weather
in the vicinity of north Riverside.
The reporter was very cordially re-
ceived ard the railroad man consented
to an interview. but stated in prelimi-
nary that he had no news OF startling
import for publication. he said that IL
was his first visit to the city in three
months and that there was no siguih-
cance attached TO the visit other than
that the party were on tour OF inspec-
ton and passing through 70 the west
and had stopped over for the night.
Mr.. Harding was asked: What is there
in the rumor to the effect that the pro-
posed Orient has deal on with your
road 10 use the new Missouri Pacific de-
pot for terminal facilities ana to run out
Of the town on the Missouri Pacific
tracks TO Anthony"
Nothing, whatever" he answered.
There is positively nothing IN It and
there have been no propositions made
by the Orient people for anything Of the
kind
The rumor has had some supporters in
the city. Mr.. Harding. and It has been
said that the shops OF both roads would
be located on the west side Of the river.
Is there any possibility of Wichita get
ting the Missouri Pacific shops here?'
mo, / am afraid not" he said. ''Wich-
ita lost her golden opportunity during
the boom, when the proposition Of the
company to locate the shops here was
rendered and turned down. II that prop
osition mad been accepted, I believe that
there would have been ] 400 men working
now IN the shops in this city"
When asked about the location Of q
Harding said:
u DO not know about that and cannot
say just at present whether there is any
positive need OF a round house at the
present time and under the circumstances
With which the division is arranged. II it
is found to be imperative, there might
be such a possibility. however"
+Mr Harding, do you not think the
building of your companys fine big de-
pot where it is located was against tha
town in securing a union depot?"
yes. do. but Wichita people, If they
are familiar with the proposition do not
want a union depot a union depot is a
good thing for the railroads and for the
travelling public. but it is not so for the
town. 1t centers the passenger traffic
and where there is a union depot 70 per
cent Of the people who pass through it,
never see any other part Of the town
and that IS not what city wants Take
for instance. st. Louis. or any large city
that has a union depot, three-Quarters
Of the people who go through the union
depot at St Louis see the depot and
think they see st. Louis and the con-
dition would be the same in this city
If you had a union depot.
"The city of Wichita IS one Of the most
beautiful places IN the west and you
want the people who come through here
&c see some Of Il and If you had a union
depot IL would as I have said-be
good thing for the railroads and the trav-
elins public, but a poor thing for Wich-
ita"
The average reasoning citizen Of Wich-
ita can see the soUndness OF 8fr. Hard
ing's views in this matter. and as he IS
one Of the best posted railroad men in
the country. his Judgment in the mat
ter ought TO earn. considerable weight
Mr.. Harding IS very wen pleased with
the business done by the company fn this
territory and says that the Pacific
has no complaint 70 make The general
managers car win 60 west this morning
and they VII. return this evening