The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-08-31
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A CLEAR TRACK AND ROCK sALLAsTED.

In anording glimpse of the ways OF city
growth, Wichita, with her long lead Of increased
population over other Kansas points, gives, as a
eype. interesting material for study Within the
nast fifteen years southern and western Kansas, aud
Oklahoma have produced an element, large enough
almost for class of town-builders. The world over
towns have grown, from the natural causes OF pTOx-
unity to raw material for manufacture. from the
concentration of population in crowded districts
from harbor advantages, from the necessity OF cen
trally located distributing points, and on the IRON
tier the necessity of Quitting points. But the Kan
sas town-buder and his product the Oklahoma town
builder has been not a man to choose from likely
cities of assured growth, but prophet whose pride
was to select from the raw prairie Incompatible
site and whose LIES JOY to develop his city
Citycraft became something of science AS the
town-builder gathered group about him, as small
victories we're won and great obstacles overcome
the affection developed for the embryo metropolis
was one of the mighty things of this western country
IN western Kansas men fought for it, warred for
huddle Of implanted shacks which made up their
town, the apple of their eye. No Kansas town ever
won except through running the gauntlet of relent-
less rivalry Towns have given their half to get
their first railroad, and half of what left to
get their SECOND. The first railroad was secured
to keep rival from securing it. the second to save
the town from the monopoly of the first the third
to hold the other two level and if fourth, the
fourth, with the hope of breaking up the pooling
arrangement of the other three. There is dis
tracing history in this succession. In almost all
cases the second railroad ruined the profitable wag
on-trade and business waned. The third may have
caused an influx of population, which the towns
development did not warrant and brought on
relapse; the fourth a boom in realty values which
brought on a collapse.
But the town which never got its first railroad
died the town that never got its second stopped
in growth the town that never got its third let the
rival who secured it. outstrp it in the race
There must come a time in the life of every
growing place when values, based anticipation
will debate It is an hour Of travail and affection
The lurch to ruin is violent and maddening- But it
IS in the making of a city, and if there is no sur
render of faith if the townbuilders mount on the
ruin Of things. to reach for other advantages, re-
covery slowly comes. The upgrade is over calumny
the conservatism of fear and dead faith
But the recovery is permanent when it comes;
the formative period developed all the perils and
inflicted all the penalties Today Wichita has reach
ed the top of the long, hard grade and is on level
country Her rapidly growing population, her thick
ening industries her place first and foremost in the
southwest her undminished courage the recogni-
ton Of her Importance by the great lines of transpor
tation are evidence only of this but also promise
that the track ahead is clear and rock-ballasted.