The Minneapolis journal., 1905-10-09
WI CHITA'S PRE-EMINENCE
AS MAN UFAc cTURING POINT

m UlnNOI f0I OIlIlNO VIM
City Is a Natural Trading Center
FOR Vast and Rapidly Growing
section OF Country.
Special Correspondence.
WICHITA, Kan. Oct. 3.-There never
existed more opportune period for Inn
migration into the Southwest than the
present one. For the past eight years
there has been no such thing as fail
ure of crops, nor has there occurred in |
the history of, Kansas and Oklahoma q |
time when higher prices prevailed for
agricultural products than during this
same period. Two conditions are re-
sponsible for favorable crops. One Is |,
tho extension Of agricultural pursuits |
farther into the Southwest, and bringing |
the hot, barren prairies under cultlva-
%tlon, thereby checking the hot winds |
that formerly wrought such havoc in this |
state. And not only this. but the elimi-
nation Of these hot winds. has been fol-
lowed by a greater and more uniform |
rainfall in southern Kansas, and it is be- |
| l1eved all over Kansas and Oklahoma.
! Was Considered u Desert.
The other condition is the experience
| gained by the farmer as to the nature of
his crops and their proper rotation. At
one time, and not SO very long ago, 1t
! was believed that corn could not be made
| TO produce west of the east third Of the
state. Now our best corn territory lies
in central Kansas and Oklahoma.
| The wheat belt of Kansas, that now
| contributes annually no less than &c, ,000,-
600 bushels to the food product of the
world, was considered few years ago
as desert, and lies directly west of the
corn belt. -. 5..,-s.|,sy J if, ~
i The climatic changes that have so
|qu1etly taken place by reason of the ex-
tension OF agriculture above referred to
! have added to Western lands value not
dreamed of generation ago. Enterpris-
| Ing farmers and business men In the
Central states are discovering - the
changes already wrought, and are dill
gently seeking locations for. themselves
and their families in this comparatively
new and rapidly developing land of the
u West :. -. NJ.
With these developments must come
or, more properly speaking, nust follow
the manufacturer, who wilLBrovide that
which is not directly produced from the
soil. Already within a radius of 100
miles of Wichita there is maintained
population of 10000 people. This num-
Der Is being increased at rapid rate,
and every county In this productive and
populous district is reached directly by
rail from this city, making it one of the
most fortunately situated trading and
1.
! splendid location is what has pushed it
: so far ahead Of all surrounding towns in
TINS respect, and there can be no ques-
tlon about it's holding this supremacy in
trade. Besides these favorable condt-
! tlons, that OF fuel for steam purposes
lies so near to our doors that the rate of
freight for transportation is but 81 per
: ton-little more than is paid by the most
= favored manufacturing centers of the
entral states.
A Paradise for Manufacturers,
With all of these conditions Turing the
manufacturer into veritable paradise,
why should he hesitate?
Why not produce the article as near
the consumer as conditions will permit,
and save the expense of long and costly
; | rail hauls?
AS is we'll known, the farmer must
come first, subdue the soil and climate,
and make demand for manufactured
goods; but when this demand is created
IN any given locality the manufacturer
; must follow, since the former has neither
the inclination to leave his farm and en-
I gage IN something he knows nothing
about nor to put his surplus money TO
sueh use, though he may possess it in
abundance. The present stage of devel-
\ to demonstrate its possibilities -
AT Its present stage not more than one
fourth of the country's resources are de-
Veloped. The alfalfa plant, which has
recently proven Indigenous to- our soil
Is rapidly becoming one of the surest
and most profitable plants, yielding four
ana five crops each year, and fattenlng
+. as hogs. 1t has been stated by one OF
our largest and most successful farmers
S that alfalfa, II properly. handled, will
"a | yield in hog feed annually $3.50 worth o1
ork per acre. b: .'' F.
y Value Of Alfalfa Crop.
The hay is Of such value that sheer
S and cattle are shipped from Texas, New
It Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, Utah, an6
. even Old Mexico to fatten for the mar,
y kets on the alfalfa crop Of this region
II Notwithstanding the fact that a recen
r census gives the territory lying adjacent
d to Wichita near 100000 of native cattls
:. and 100000 of hogs, which are also feed
y ng on these crops. -
e The concern, therefore, with enter
$, prise and foresight enough to take advan
- tage Of present conditions and locate
factories in the midst of this growinl
community is laying foundation for =:
ld1 most successful career. -" -. - -
- Wichita, being its center and natura
- distributing point, should manufacture
~ a much greater portion Of what is con
s. sumed than it now does, and those con
~ temp1ating location in new and favor
10 able fields should not overlook this fact
20 Her $4,000 population will always insur
"a an abundance of labor; her cheap stean
ir fuel will provide power at living rates
IN her raw materials, in addition thereto
ed provides all that is essential to sue
~ cessful manufacturing center. Furthe
r. and more detailed information can be Sc
is cured by writing to H. l.. Resing, tn
ir secretary Of the Commercial club, Wich
es tta, Kan. -.