The Weekly Nation from Wichita, Kansas • 1

pti ti -J-, CT-i 1.. 1 0 WICHITA, KANSAS, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3 1886. THE NATION. PUBLISHED EVERY FRIDAY BY TIIE Wichita Catholic Publishing Co. OFFICE IN THE EAGLE BLOCK.

V. H. GRATTAN, Editor and Manager. SUBSCRIPTION PRICE, $1.50 a year, advance, post paid; six months, 75 cents. 5 Specimen copies will be cheerfully furnished those who wish to act as our agents.

We want agents in every city and town Kansas. Remittances should be sent by postal order, express or bank draft. OCR GREAT YOUNG CITY. Wo have already shown the growth of our beautiful city the past four years, and because we publish in this number several articles from editors and correspondents of of leading eastern papers, we would let them tell the tale but from tho fact that so much has been done here since. In fact since the first of May, enough building has been done to make an ordinary western city.

Nothing would illustrate the wonderful progress of this most wonderful city but a retrospective review extending through the cowboy period, when she was a wild border town, but always remarkabte for life, bustle and business. Look farther back to the days, and these not over seventeen years ago, when Ehe was an Indian trading post, and the postoffiee was a cigar box. Then turn and behold her now, a ctv of the first class, with more fine school houses, churehcs, residences and business blocks than aDy city in the state. With its broad shaded avenues, its parks and boulevards and more fine horses and rigs, than any city west of the Missouri River her ten miles of street railways, seven lines of railroads, two steamboats, two syetems of electric lights, gass and water works her half-dozen colleges her fine opera house and and county building; her grand hotels and her numerous halls and tine public buildings her six fine banks, with a million and her many building and loan associations. Had we space for such a review itwould.be interesting, but we have not.

A word about buildings this year and then we will leave other writers not interested to tell the rest On July 3d, tho Daily Deacon published a list of 446 residences and 53 business blocks, built and improved between that date and May 1st of this year at a cost of 1,385,000. Since then a number of large and most elegant buildings of ail classes, yet erected have been begun or are under contract, so that before the close of the ear, the expenditure for buildings alone will be fully 2,500,000. TO ADVERTISERS: Owing, in a great degree, to the fact that The Nation is the official organ of the Southwestern Kansas Catholic Emigration Society, and the Catholic organ of Southern Kansas, its circulation will extend to every county in Kansas, and to almost every State in the Union, and, the rural disnncts, having a class of readers almost wholly its ownj therefore, as an advertising medium, it is unecelled the State. RATES: Local notices, single insertion, per line, io cents; three or more insertions, 5 cents. Legal notices at legal rates.

Rates for displayed advertisements will be given on application at the office. SALUTATORY. trusted to conserve the best interests of the city. He is the general agent for the purchase of railroad property and is a director in one or two railroads. He is one of the most liberal of our citizens, and can be found at all times in the front ranks when any enterprise is on foot for advancing the interests of the city J.

E. JOHNSON. Tho snbject of this sketch is comparatively a young man and has not been in the city much over a year, but owing in a great measure to his being a son-in-law to Robert Black, ond of our wealthy capitalists and property owners, he eoon loomed up as one of tho most successful real estate dealer in the city. He is active and enter-terprisieg and handles real estate in large lots, thus making a heavy record in the markt. Office in the Noble block, Douglas avenue.

PERRY CROSSEN. MajorJPerry Crossen, although not long in the business here, has made a fine record during the period he has been engaged in the business, and his reputation for honesty and integrity will stand by the best. Any business intrusted to him will not suffer ror want cf assiduous and honest attention. Office on Douglas avenue. MERCER CO.

This young real estate firm is composed of young and thoroughly energetic business men who are rapidly making their way upwards in their profession, through business vim and sterling integrity. The real estate records on their books have no time to become musty, and any business intrusted to them will be attended to with alercity, and their contracts will be honestly carried out. Office in Elliott block, Douglas avenue. MICHAEL COOK. This reliable and honest real estate dealer is located at the prosperous town of Derby, in this county, in the very heart of the Arkansas Valley, where he has a large number of farms and town property for sale at all times.

Mr. Cook is the postmaster at his town, and we have no hesitation in recommending him to our readers as an honest and trustworthy man. Address, Derby postoffiee, Kansas, W. L. MC BEE.

Mr. McBee is one of the most thoroughgoing and energetic of our real estate dealers, and has achieved a high reputation for integrity and fair dealing. He is a young man and is full of push and determination, and has been eminently successful in all his transactions. He has the confidence and esteem of the commnnity, and all his business transactions, whether on his own account or for his customers, have been eminently successful. He also represents many of the most prominent insurance companies in the country.

In real estate, he has always on his books, choice farms and city property at reasonable rates, and his business dealings are honorable and upright. He can be relied upon for correct information in all matters pertaining to bis line of busigess. Office 218 Douglas avenue. HOTCHKINS WHEELER. Thes genthemen have commodious offices on the corner of Douglas avenue and Market street, and although they have not been long in the business, they are having excellent success.

They are old citizens of Wichita and well known business men. will soon begin, and ero long Wichita peoplo can havo direct communication with Chicago, Then Kansas City and poor old St. Louis will sutler. Wichita wants to identify herself with Chicago more closely, and a trunk lino is tho only means to do it. The Wichita and Colorado is tho name of a new road upon which work has just commenced.

It will extend from this city to Denver, and it is said that Jay Gould lias more than ordinary interest in it. Tho enterprise of Wichitas citizens has started this road, and it certainly will be a grand success. The St. Louis, Ft. Scott and Wichita, the Wichita and Western, and tho St.

Louis and San Francisco all run through the county of Sedgewiek, so it will bo seen that Wichita lias splendid shipping facilities. Every foot of land in the vicinity of Douglas avenue or Main street and Market street is occupied by splendid business houses, whoso proprietors supply the public with every article used in merchantilo trade. To tho many thousand readers of the Inter Ocean in tho east, west, north and south it may seem that the above description of Wichita is exaggerated, and that the writer has drawn upon his imagination to furnish material lor this article. But such is not tlie case far irom it. We havo not described one-half of the advantages of Wichita, for the simplo reason that there are so many that it would bo well nigh impossible to do so.

Think for a moment, you gentlemen from the commercial marts of tho east, from the cotton lli 11s of the sunny south, from the pin. nes of the cold and wintry north of a beautiful city whose history is so romantic that splendid material for a novel can easily bo obtained of a city that three years hgo numbered 8,000 souls, and now counts nearly 18,000 people; ot a city that is populated with the most enterprising, energetic, wideawake men in the west; of a city whose commercial strides havo made the great Kansas City tremble of a city that possesses largo wholesale establishments which supply tho surrounding country of a city the lots of which could be bought four or five years ago for from 100 to 300 and which are now hard to buy for 5,000 a city that has huge elevators of almost boundle-- capacity, that has large roller mills, extensive lumber yards, pork-packing establishments of a city whose bu-iiiess blocks would grace fc-tute street in Chicago whose educational advantages are of tho very best, whose society is elevating and select, whose churches aro presided over by eloquent divinos, whose streets are broad and level, whoso rapid stride has excited tho wonder of tho western country, whose future i3 as bright as a gold dollar, and wh-so star is the brightest in the Kansas firnianent, and you havo Wichita. She stands out alone, asking protection or help from no one standing on her own merits, she marches on triumphantly, and nothing on earth can stop this city from being the most prosperous in the state of Kansas. To those who wish to live under the warmsunny shy.of soutn western Kansas, where the cold bla-ts of winter do not pene-trato until and then only for a short time to those who are in search of a pleasant home and a prctitable investment for their money, wo cordially commend them to Wichita, K. millions of acres of the richest agricultural and pasture lands, its excellent timber and its undeveloped coal fields a land fit for the gods, watered by the Cimarron, tho Great Arkansas, tho two Canadians, and numerous lesser streams, abounding fish, and this great country will undoubtedly bo opened for homesteads by the next Congress.

In the very centre of the country described stands the city of Wichita, but sixteen years old, with a population 21,000, and recently declared a city of tho first class by tho Governors proclamation. A city with five lines of railway in operation and bonds voted for four others extensions of the great trunk lines ten miles of street railway, continually etxending threo excellent daily newspapers and six weeklies six strong banks clearing house; board of trade; water works: gas works; two electric light companies; seven elegant school buildings, erected at a cost of fourteen churches, many of them fine structures Grand Army hall, which rivals any similar institution in the country Masonic Temple four colleges and a Catholic Sisters academy largo opora house and another one under consideration numerous fino hotels and others in process of erection; several building and loan associations, numerous beautiful parks, civic and military organizations, boating club, two small river steamboats and other things too numerous to mention. It is also tne county seat of Sedgwick county, which stands second in the State in wealth and population, although it has not been organized more than sixteen years. Recently it has been chosen tho Episcopal see of tho Catholic church for the Southwestern diocese of the State, and the Episcopal buildings will be built the coming summer. A Sisters academy is now in courso of building, which, when completed, will cost 575,000.

There are 3,000 Catholics in the county. It is proper to state here, abo, that Congress ha3 appropriated and the President has approved the appropriation of 100,000 for a government building here. Such a city, so situated, the Catholic Publishing Chmpany regarded a fitting seat for a journal such as The Nation aspires to become. It was the intention of the publishers to issue first a prospectus, showing the size and style of tho paper and defining its position, but on further consider iti it was decided, after setting out tho tkarai ter, objects and aims of tho paper, to fiI remainder of this, the fir-t number, with statistical and other information of this city, county and State, together with a few of tho many good tnings written by representatives of some of the leading new-p qn rs of tho Lnited States about Kansas and Wichita. Of such, therefore, is this first number made up.

ICA.XSAS IN TIIE LEAD. Kansas is probably the most prosperous State in the Lnion. It has sprung up in tho scale of agricultural states to a position very near the top. Tho last monthly statement of the crops by the agricultural bureau shows the weather to have been admirable. It is estimated that the wheat crop of this year will reach the immense figures of bushels in excess of last year.

Other crops also give excellent promise. St. Loais Republican. Thanks, but what State is any nearer the top? Let us take the figures of the National Bureau of Agriculture for 1883. Is it Missouri Kansas raised 11,155,000 bushels more corn than Missouri.

Is it Illinois? Kansas raised 85,607,088 more bushels of corn, 4,701,100 more bushels of wheat and 18,082,384 more bushels of oats than Illinois. Is it Iowa? Kansas raised 3,100,000 bushels more corn than Iowa. Is it Nebraska? Nebraska produced bushels of corn a big corn crop, but Kansas raised 172,800,000 bushels; in favor of Kansas. 13 it Texas? Kansas raisod 1,000,000 bushels more corn than Texas. Well pass Texas, shes not worthy comparison.

Perhaps its Minnesota? She raised bushels of corn. Kansas rnised just 157,975,100 more bushels of corn than Minnesota. Next, please stand up and take your medicine. Is it Dakota? She is not a wheat producing state, hut when the wheat dance is called she waltzes in with 10,128,100 bushels. But when Kansas rises her 26,815,100, Dakota gets tired.

And the fact is that Kansas leads the procession hand wagon and all. The total value of farm products in Kansas in 1884 is officially placed at Sedgwick Paragraph. WICHITA. A LIVE SrOT ADVATAUESUSLY SITUATED AMID THE ROLLING I'LAINS OF KANSAS, THOUGH WITH EXPERIENCES OF INDIANS, COWBOYS, AND GRASSHOPPERS, S1IE BOOMS. REVIEW OF nER INDUSTRIES, AN TIIE ENTERPRISING CITIZENS WIIO RUN THEM.

A correspondent of tho Chicago Inter-Ocean gives his paper a few pointers about IVichita. Wo reproduce only a portion of his communication lor waDt cf space: Ed. Nation. Wiciiita, Dec. 9.

To the eastern man who leaves his metropolitan homo and migrates west the whole country west of the Missouri river opens his eyes with its magnitude and richness; but there is not a state west of tho muddy Missouri that excites more wonder to him than Kansas. Only a few short years, speaking, and one remembers Kansas as a vat and rolling prairie, inhabited by the cattle of tho plains, the paint-bedaubed and war-like savages, and the gay and festivo cow-boys; hut now what a wondrous change! Large cities filled with enterprising citizens whoso industry and capital have placed Kansas in an enviable condition have been built over the Indian settlements, and beautiful cultivated farms abound where tho cowboy once reigned in all his glory. Of all the cities in the state of Kansas Wichita is certainly tiio most enterprising, and is destined to become tho largest, as it is now the bet in Kansas. Tho history ol iehita is as romantic as it is wonderful. Tho Arkansas villey of southern Kansas is located at the foot of that grand slope reaching westward to the Rocky mountains.

Down this declino lor unknown ages have gravitated tho rich alluvial deposits, which, lodging in the great valley, have formed a deep black prairie loam unequalod in native fertility anywhere upon tho globe. In the heart of this valley, on the banks of the Arkansas river, at the mouth of the littlo Arkansas, is the city of Wichita, embowered in its perfect lurest of shade trees. Uinta has had its ups and downs a ever city in Kansas hns, but is r.ow on the nigii road to wealth and fame. Grasshoppers and drouth for a time threatened to de-trov every chance Wichita trad of becoming hat she but since 1871 thr climate lias changed, and the festive hopper lias moved, while the grasses af the prain.j no long) burn, and the airid winds havo ceased. Wichita was named after a band of Indians called leh-itas, who came to tho Arkansas valley in 1861, and settled along the Little Arkansas river between tho junction and the old fairgrounds, owned tho O-uges.

A chartered fumpanj was formed 1868 at Topeka, and a survey an 1 plat of tho original town male by Mr. Finn. In UOO and 107 colera broke out among the Indians and created sad havoc among the savage, sending many of them the happy minting grounds. In those days a.u incident occurred which created much amucinenl among the people, and is related now by many ot the old settlers who have lived to see tho wonderful progress made by Wichita. It seems tnc-re was quite a character in the village by the name Undo Jack Icj ton who on startled tho people by announcing that ho would deliver a lecture entitled Theology and Theocracy.

Hand-bills wero printed at tho Vide tto office, which establishment boati of one font of wood type. The lecture was delivered in a hall lighted by six tallow candles; tho orators rostrum consi-te 1 of a dry good, and tho audience sat on boards laid across nail keg-. It is said that Mr. leytons effort would ut Bob Burdette's finest Ut irta to flight, a.J v. tie rough! enjoyed by the queer uiaiinUy that heard 11 Mrs.

W. Mathowson. who in eroci the stream and entered Wichita, was the lir-t white woman in Wichita. The first sermon that was ever preached hero was delivered by tho Rov. Mr.

Laxlny at Durfrees, and tho hymn sung on that occasion was Old John Brown. Tho best hotel at that time was kept by a Mr. Harris, but ho was afterwards killed by the government soldiers wbilo re-itting arrest for evil doings. In 1872 a bridge was built at the west end of Douglas avenue across tho Arkansas, at a cost of 27,000. In tho same year Wichita became the headquarters in Kansas of the Texas cattle business, and over 2,000,000 changed hands in tho cattlo traffic that year.

At this time Wichita was tho liveliest town in tho country. Tho streets resounded with the clang of the spurs of the Texas cowboys, and the Mexicans with their gay suits and sombreros presented a quper sight to the tenderfoot. A brass band played on the streets from morning until night to draw crowds to the gambling hells and other scenes of dissipation. The various halls presented tho wildest scenes of revelry, and tho pop of tho revolver was often heard. At this time peoplo of every class wero assembled in Wichita.

Wealthy speculators from tho east, tho savages of tho plains, tho untutored cowboys and the Texas rangers, formed a queer populate. Money flowed as freely as water, and it is related that tho receipts at tho bar of a dance house kept by Rowdy Joo averaged fabulous sums daily. Wichita as a municipality dates from the year 1870, at which time it was incorporated as a village. A. Stafford was the first president of tho villago board.

April 3, 1871, it was ratod as a third-class city. In 1808 a United Statps po6t-offico was established, mail previous to this year being disbursed from tho military postoffiee. Tbo early history of Wichita is not of much interest to tho reader, other than romantic but its progress and present status fully presented must be of value to every man east, west, north or south, who is seeking a homo. Men are hero to-day that came to Wichita a few years ago with limited capital, who are now worth their hundreds of thousands of dollars. The rich farming lands which abound in Sedgwick county furnish and surround Wichita with a financial wail which can not bo broken, and which will ever stand by tho Queen City of the Aarkansas valley.

The county ot Sedgwick has a population of 37,472 and had an assessed valuation in 1885 of 8,138,562. It has 12,707 horses and mules, 40,059 cattle, 48,310 hogs, and 22,717 sheep. It raisod in bushels of wheat, 4,928,866 bushels of corn, bushels of oats, tho aggregate value of all tho crops for tbo year being, as shown by the state agricultural report, 2,663,702. It will thus be seon that Wichita, has a brilliant and prosperous future before it, and its 18,000 inhabitants will live to see her become a city of 50,000 peoplo before many years haye rolled over tiio beautiful state of Kansas. Eastern capitalists are flocking in hare daily, seeking a profitable investment for their money, and they lia7e no trouble in finding places for it.

The wonderful progress made by Wichita in reality commenced in 1881, at which time sho boasted of only 7,000 inhabitants but in the past four years her population has almost trebled. In tho year 1883, 473 flew buildings wero erected, and in 1881 this number wa3 vastly increased, wbilo the present year has been a gala one in the history of Wichita, for it has witnessed the oroction of several elegant and substantial brick blocks, such as would grace any metropolitan city. As rogaras public buildings, Wichita can hold her head up with pride. Her school buildings are models of architecture, and their actual worth will aggregate 100,000. Beautiful and costly churches adorn tbo avenues, and be he Baptist, Presbyterian, Methodist, or any other, a man can find his own church here.

The court-houso is a splendid structure, but Wichita wants tho best, and arrangements have been about consumated to erect a new and costly one in tho near future. Its opera-house is commodious, und, as Wiciiita pooplo are born thoator-goers, it is liberally patronized. The postoffiee is well managed, and probably does more business than any other offico in tho state, and Very soon another and larger building will to erected. An elegant tliree-story brick structure ha3 just been completed by the G. A.

It. post, and is an ornament to the city. Every well regulated city hn3 a street railway, and in this, ns in all other things, Wichita is well suppliod, having a street railway track comprising a territory of seven miles the street cars aro perfect gems of neatness and comtort. The electric light has not yet shed its effulgent rays over tho city, but she is well supplied withga--. having nearly eleven miles cf gas mains.

The streets aro well lighted, and tho lated wanderer has no trouble in reaching his home. Protected in everything, Wichita is doubly so against fire, her waterworks system being of tho best, consisting of eleven miles of mains. The evil-doer has a poor show to practice his calling here, for a well trained police force, consisting of fifteen men, guards well tho peace of the city. The educational facilities of Wichita are of tho best, and the public schools, which are presided over by Superintendent Campbell, are the pride of Se Igwiea county. The average daily attendance at the schools 1,600.

The corps of teachers consists of some of the best located ladies in tho state, and tho young idea is taught well to shoot. Enlightened and scholarly ministers fill tho re-pectivo pulpits of the churches, and all draw largo audiences on the day of worship. Th9 streets of Wichita are very wide, and form some of the most pleasant avenues to drive on that one can imagine. Douglas avenue and Mam street compnse tho principal business streets, and the former is adorned by magnificent business blocks, while the latter is not far behind. For wide-awake, enterprising business men commend us to tho pooplo of Wichita, and no community was ever blessed with a better cla-s than this city i.

One and all pull together for the success and best interests of the city, and that factional fooling which often exi-t. and surely retards tho growth of many cities, is not known here and newer will be. As a rule, tne business men are cordial, generous and public spirited, and and any project for the benefit of Wichita has, and alwas will have, the support necessary to bring about a successful suit. Of cour-e one would expect that real estate men would occupy a prominent place in the business interests of so promis.ng a city as Wichita, ami indeed some of them compose the solid men of Wichita. More money has teen made in real estate re du- ring the pat threo years than in any city in tlie wo-t.

ts that sold at that time for 106, 00 and 300 now bring from 1,000 to according to location. Wiciiita i blessed with some of the best newspapers in tho stato. The Wichita Eagle, owned by tho Murdock screeches without cessation for Wichiia interests. Its editor. Marsh Murdock is a boomer, and no mistake.

Th" Beacon is a bright evening dailv, ably edited by Captain White, and ownod by Smith A White. The livening New-, another daily, a now venture, and edited by tho Me-srs Davis, has every assurance ot micces. The Arrow, owned and edited by Lon Iloding is a spicy sheet is-ued every Saturday. The New Republic is another weekly; so it will bo seen that Wichita lias three dailies and two weeklies. More strangers prospecting and traveling men in pursuit of bu-mess come to Wichiia than to any other city in tho state, and, naturally, large and commodious hotels are necessary tor their accommodation.

In this respect Wichita is happily situated, and to say that Wichita is blessed with splendid hosteleri'is would bo stating tbo exact truth. iehita has some of tho best and soundest banks to bo found in Kansas or any other state, They aro veritable bce-fcives of industry, and tho amount of business they do in one day would make a magnificent fortune for any man. Tho Citizens bank is located on tho corner of Douglas avenue and Main street, and the budding is one of tho most imposing and sub-tantial in tho city. The capital stock is 200,01 10, and tho amount of business dono is enormous. Mr.

John C. Derst is tun ca-diier. Tlie Kansas State bank is on Douglas aveuue, and its offices are commodious and pleasant. It has a raid-up capital of B. Lombard is tho president, und L.

D. Ski nm is the cashier. W. C. Woodman A Son are tho proprietors of tho beautiful and costly bank building known as Woodmans block, on Main street.

Tho interior of tho bank is handsome, and everything about it indicates tho mighty dollar. Air. Woodman, is an old resident having corns from Jacksonville, Illinois, years ago. The Kansas National bank, of which H. W.

Lewis is president, is another of tiio banking institutions of Wichita. Mr. Lewis devotes considerable time to tho bank, and it enjoys a large business. Its capital stock is 100,000. The Sedgewiek County library, which is located in Wichita, is yet in its infancy, but steps have been taken to soeure one ot the best libraries possible, and tho push and enterprise which is characteristic ot Wichita will soon bring about the result hoped for.

The Womans Christian Temperance Uuion, of which Mrs. Colonel Taylor is president has dono and is doing a great amount of good. Tho Union has rooms adjoining those of tho library, and the ladies serve lunch and hot coffee through tiio day and evening. Tho Young Mens Christiun Association is a flourishing body, und their rooms are noat and bright. The Association has done a great deal to elevate the morals of young men and load them in tlie right path.

There aro eight protestant churches of various denominations, and one Catholic church. All of them have largo congregation-, which fact speaks well for the religious sentiments of Wichita people. A lurgo number of secret societies exist here and each one of them has a largo membership. Wichita also has a military company, of which W. A.

Richey is captain. In tho mutter of railway facilities Wichita is well supplied, lut not as well as she desires to be. At present St. Louis is the friend of Wichita, and there is no trouble in getting to the City by tho big Bridge, but tho Kansns City pool is what Wichita peoplo are making a determined effort to get around. It teem3 that freight which comes from the east 1ms to come through Kansas City, and from that point tbo buyer 1ms to pay local rates to Wichita, and naturally ho wants a through rate but tho pool at Kansas City makes it impossible for him to se-curo it.

Tho Atchison, Topeka A iSunta Ee road and Wichita are not on tho best of torms, and a good sized fight is constantly going on. Tho business mon of Wichita havo a scheme, which is about consumated, which will got around tlie Kansas City pool, and make a trunk line from Chicago to Wichita. The idea is to construct a road from Wichita north, and tap tho B. A M. system, probably at Washington, Kansas.

The name of tho proposed road is tho Omaha, Abilene A Wichita. Bonds have been voted, and work To an individual or corporation contemplating a new business venture, the first question which presents itself for consideration is, will it pay For the success of a newspaper, a good field, money, brains and business ability are indispensible. The publishers of The Nation have viewed the field and are satisfied with the prospect. The second essential factor the money is on hand. Whether we possess the remaining indispensibles remains to be seen.

The manager and editor is an experienced newspaper man and is well known in this State, having occupied a position next to the chief on the editorial stall of the Wichita Daily Eagle about two years. As a Catholic journal, The Nation shall guard the intesests of the Catholics of Kansas, and on occasion, those of the whole country; hut its columns shall not he devoted exclusively to this end. On the contrary, there will seldom be more than two columns each week devoted to religious news. In a word, TnE Nation essays to be a newspaper. It will be filled with the latest local, State and general' news, stripped of all tiresome amplification and repetition.

It3 news shall he as fresh and complete, its editorial discussion as clear, concise and unequivocal and its general tone and character as pure and healthful a3 its best contemporaries, whether religious or general. In politics. The Nation will be independent. It will bo neither partisan nor neutral, but will discuss all questions of public polity, whether local. State or National, from the peoples standpoint.

It will he a paper of positive opinion, expressed without fear or favor. It aims to appreciate public rights at a just value and to assert them, not with fickleness nor fury, but with moderation and firmness. It seeks the patronage of all who love liberty and country above party. Such is our general aim. In local motters we shall ever be found advocating every legitimate Echeme calculated to build up the commercial, industrial and educational interests of Wichita and Sedgwick county.

Should any of our contemporaries originate any scheme tending in that direction, instead of opposing it because we were not the parent, we will pat him on the hack and say, go in, brother, we are with you. The Nation aspires to he a great central National newspaper. Its charter authorizes the publication of a daily or weekly, or a daily and weekly gewspaper in Wichiia, Kansas. Estimating the present, as we do, a hard year, we will step upon the journalistic stage as a weekly, seven-column folio, intending to spread out as circumstances shall warrant. In establishing The Nation at Wichita, the Catholic Publishing Company simply obeys the mandate which points unerringly to this city as the natural metropolitan centre of the great Southwest, and, mayhap, of this nation.

A distinguished American journalist wrote Kansas lies between the thirty-seventh and fortieth parallels of north latitude, the district which, the world roundj controls the destinies of the globe, and the time will come when this State will bo the powerful centre of the most powerful nation on the earth. In 1790 the centre of population in the United States was in Maryland, on the thirty-ninth parallel, and at every succeeding census it has moved westward Very nearly on that line, until now it is near St. Louis and on its way to Kansas. The thirty-ninth parallel, which has been the thread upon which, as on a necklace of the world, have been strung the jewels of wealth( culture, plenty, luxury and refinement, passes directly through the State of Kansas' through the fertile Arkansas valley. Wichita is situated in this famed valley, at the confluence of the Little and great Arkansas rivers, the last-named being not inappropriately referred to by writers, as the Nile of America.

Here, upon its verdant in a forest of shade trees, stands the proud young queen of the valley, smiling in the centre of a vast territory unsurpassed for fertility on the globe, and studded with flourishing towns and cities. To the north lie the verdant valleys of the Kansas, the Smoky Hill, the Solomon and the Republican rivers, with numerous tributary streams to tho west, southwest and northwest lie the Rocky mountains, rich in every mineral Nature has hidden beneath her mantle. There, too, are rich pastures for millions of cattle and sheep. The mountains are covered with a splendid variety of timber and coal of the finest quality abounds. Mills and factories will be built in every quarter, which will support a large population dependent upon Kansas for its food supply.

To the east lie the iruitful plains, the rich pastoral valleys and the undulating meadow lands stretching away down by those noble streams, the Walnut, the Verdigris, the La Bette and the Neosho, and away to the south, the famous undeveloped Indian Territory, with its A TRIP TO KANSAS. The following was written by request of several readers cf The Chronicle. Editor.) On the 13th inst. the writer left home for a brief visit to Southern Kansas. Leaving Indianapolis on the 14th we passed through a blinding snow Etorm making it very disagreeable traveling.

The weather continued unpleasant until we got beyond the Missouri at Kansas City next day. Leaving Kansas City via the Southern Kansas Ry, we passed through a beautiful farming country, where we saw farmers busily engaged planting corn. Tho wheat and outs are in an advanced state indicating that Kansas would again be blessed with a bountiful crop. All kinds of crops are produced in abundance. Peaches, and in fact, all kinds of fruits are a never failing crop.

Fifteen years ago Sedgwick county was a boundless prairie, the monotony only broken by an occasional dug out occupied by a pioneer settler. To-day the dug out has been replaced by splendid farm houses and all necessary buildings, and Wichita, the county seat, a beautiful city of near 20,000 population, five railroads, and doing an immense jobbing and retail trade, and is no doubt destined to be the metropolis of Kansas. Sumner county was settled about the same time as Sedgwick. Wellington, the county seat, is the best built city we ever saw in Kansas and has a population of about 6.C00 people. Has two railroads, with a prospect for two more at a very early day, and is a splendid business point.

The population of these cities and counties being made up from the most intelligent and enterprising of Indiana, Ohio and other States this side of the Missouri river, we notice a wonderful degree of intelligence, thrift and enterprise, and in these respects no cities fifty years of age in the older States can outrank them. The prominent features are fine school buildings and the entire absence of saloon signs. We would not have our readers believe that fortunes can be -had in Kansas witnont the effort. But we can say with a clear conscience that hundreds and thousands of people in the crowded States East of the Mississippi would greatly improve their condition by seeking new homes in the fertile valleys of sunny Kansas on the line of the Southern Kansas railroad, where good lands can be had for less money and more easily cultivated than in Indiana. The only thing needed to complete the resources of this wonderful country is more manufacturing enterprises, and their coming is only a question of time.

Then the farmer will get better prices for the products of farm. In conclusion we will say if you are contemplating a change of location you should by all means see Southern Kansas before locating. W. T. W.

Scottsburg, April 28, 85 REAL ESTATE AGENTS. Tne Nation will publish the names only ot reliable real estato agents. No agent whose reputation for fair dealing, is bad or even donbltu), will be endorsed by this paper.) JThc following list of business men engaged in that line, therefore, may be relied upon by intending emigrants and pur-chaseers, to furnish reliable information and to deal honorably with ail who have dealings with them. 11. o.

TOLER. This gentleman is an old citizen of Wichita, and one of the most enterprising of our business men. Mr. Toler has been one of tho most successful real estate dealers in the city, and is interested in and controls the sale of large interests, both in lands and houses. He is a very accommodating gentleman, and bis dealings are upright and honest.

Ilis office is under the county building where he will be pleased to attend to all business intrusted to his care. FRANK WILLIAMS CO. This old established, and thoroughly reliable firm, is one of the most substantial in tho city, and Frank Williams, the head of the firm, is one of the representative men of the city and a man of large means and extensive business interests, being one of the proprietors of the well known and popular Occidental Hotel, near which the firm has commodious offices. Mr. Williams is also a stockholder in the Wichita water works, and many other local enterprises, and has done a greal deal towards building up the city.

This firm will be found thoroughly reliable in all their dealings, and any information they furnish may be accepted as tho truth. WOODCOCK, DORSEY CO. This firm is composed of Gol. L. N.

Woodcock, an old citizen o2 Wichita; Hon. E. A. Dorsey, a former state senator, and also a former county clerk of Sedgwick county, and for a long time identified with the interests of our city. The third member of the firm is B.

S. Garrison, who came to Wichita a poor boy six years ago, and by his energy, pluck and business capacity, become the possessor of vast interests in houses and lands and is also heavily engaged in manufactures. As will bo seen this firm is made up of gentlemen of acknowledged standing in the community. Their office is in the Dorsey block, corner of Main and First streets. COL.

S. E. JOCELYN. Col. Jocelyn, formerly of the well known real estate and loan firm of Jocelyn A Thomas, is now established in a neat office at No.

130 Main St. where he is doing a fine business. Col. Jocolyn is one of our leading citizens, and a candid straight forward business man, who has grown with the city. His dealings have always been upright and honorable and what he says may be relied upon.

E. C. L. R. COLE.

This firm is composed of Col. E. C. Cole, formerly of Chicago, and recently a leading spirit among the valliant band which undertook to force tho famous Oklahoma country open for homes for the honest and poor toilers of the United States, and so far forced this question on the attention of the government and the country that a bill for the opening of that immense tract of rich arra-blo land, for homestead, was prepared in the last congress but was not reached before tho close of the session. There is little doubt that the bill will be passed soon after the re-assembling of Congress next winter.

The other member of tho firm is L. R. Cole, a brother of the Colonel, who came recently from Pontiac. Mich. They are heavy dealers and amongst the most successful.

N. F. NIEDEKLANDER. No man in Wichita is better nor more favorably known than N. F.

Niederlander, and none more intimately connected with the interests of the city. He has the finest and most commodious office in the state, and besides, being one of tho heaviest of our real estate dealers. He does a very extersive insurance business. His dealings have been so extensive that he has become known clear to the Atlantic coast, and many a man has become rich by placing his money for investment with Niederlander. Ho was one of tho original projectors of tho Wichita A Colorada, and the Omaha, Abaline A Wtch-ita (now the Rock Island) railroads, and is identified with every move for the agrandise-ment ot the city.

Office in the Nobis block, Douglas avenue, w. A. THOMAS. This widely known and justly popular representative of our real estate interests, late of the firm of Jocelyn A Thomas, is unsurpassed in that quality so essential to success, so well known in this country as got up and dust. Al.

Thomas is a rustler and the record of tho transfers in the register of deeds office, demonstrates the fact that he does his full share of the immense business in this line, transacted in the city, which not unfrequently runs up to per day. lie occupies a fine offico at No. 119 Douglas avenue, where he can be found constantly attending to business, r. T. HEALY'.

The gentleman whose name appears above is one of the best known and most tructed men in the city, and has worked his way irom nothing, right here in the city, unitl ho is to-day worth 160,000. No man in the real estate business has inspire! more confidence, nor have been trusted with larger sums for investment, than Mr. Healy, and none has had cause to regret the confidence reposed in his judgment and integrity. Ho is a member of the city council, and is looked upon as one amongst those most HE. DEPART ICRS.

Wichita was last spring made tho bead-quarters of the Gould System of railroads in Kansas, and all its general offices are lo-cased here. Tho Missouri Pacific has purchased six acres of land withia tho city limits for shop, round-houes, etc. Tho Wichita A Western and Kingman, Pratt A We-tern, and the Wichita A Colorado, have their general offices in this city and tho General Traveling Freight Agent of the 8t. Louis A Ban Francisco railroad has his headquarters here. In the next year this city will bo tho headquarters of five or six lines.

Last winter when Jay Gonld and son, together with a number of Missouri Pacific officials and New York capitalists, paid this city a vi-it and selected it as tho headquarters of tho Gould interest in Kansas, the Kansas City (Mo.) Tunes on receipt of a dispatch from its Wichita correspondent, utters the lollowing itcous wail J1R. GOULDS SYSTEM IN KANSAS. The Times lias the following communication from Wichita. It is from reliable source, and we commend it to tho consideration of our Kansas City readers Wiciiita, Oct. 16.

Jay Gould, Lis son George J. Gould, H. M. lloxio and J. W.

Miller, general manager of the St. Louis, Fort Scott A Wichita railway, with other officials of the Missouri Pacific, passed through this city last evening on a special train en routo for Fort Scott. Tho party bavo inspected tho entire line of tho St. Louis, Fort Scott Wichita railway from Fort Scott to Anthony, its present terminus. This line will be built as far west as Englewood, Clark county, during the next summer, and will eventually extend to Trinidad, Colorado.

Building on tho Wichita and Colorado line, a new railway from tnis city to Larned, will begin during the next Jen days. This latter line will bo another branch of the Missouri Pacific system in southern Kansas, and, with tho St. Louis, Fort Scott A Wichita railway, will form a continuous line to Denver. Indications point strong.y to Wichita becoming the headquarters of the Missouri Pacific system in Kansas. Mr.

Gould certainly showed Wichita markod attention, and after looking at his Kansas systom, which is bristling with now lines, ho went on to St. Louis and Chicago. Kansas City was left, as usual, failing to turn to its owp account any advantage that might have baen derived from Mr. Goulds western trip. Meantime little of the business in the territory covered by tho Missouri Pacific in Kansas is going around two sides of a triangle to get to Kansas City.

We are too busy buying and selling real estate among ourselves to care a fig about trade. St. Louis is towing her tow-line to our territory faster and faster all the while. A plague upon your railroad connections Devii take your exposition i Hurrah for the cable lines and tho consequent boom in real estate Down with trade Up with corner lots That is tho cry from tho lvaw to the Blue. Tbo sky-rocket will fizzle out some of these days.

There will be a convulsion, and then paralysis will lay its cold hand upon us. There will be no trade, for the railroads will center hero only nominally but with lines all around u. will shut us out without redemption. Tho real estate speculators will bo whooping it up somewhere else, but the solid men who have their money in business will have to suffer. With this fate staring us in tho face, shall wo do nothing to avert it? Wake up gentlemen Shake off this lothargy Exterminate this dry rot that is destroying us Unless thero is a revolution here our boastad destiny will bo as a tale that is told.

Kansas City Times. WICHITA HORSE MARKET. EIVALINO KANSAS CITY SOON TO BE SECOND TO ST. LOUIS. It might surprise some of our citizens to learn that Wichita has become an important horse market, and a successful rival of Kansas City, btockmmen who have for years been associated with St.Louis dealers, and who are conversant with that market, have lately come to the conclusion that Wichita is fast knocking the props out from under Kansas City in the horse trade, and that this market is drawing from Missouri and Arkansas the attention of horse and mule raisers, who of late have commenced to ship their stock direct to this stock emporium.

And while the local trade hero may be dull at times, buyers from the south and west draw heavily on the market and it is necessary to keep heavy supplies on hand, within the last few days as many as eight carloads of mules and horses have been received here, and within the year qhe increased trade has been very perceptible and caused a large number of shippers from eastern horse and mule districts to bring their stock here. A horse dealer who handles more stock than any other dealer in the city, stated to a reporter yesterday that a larger number of stock was actually sold in the city than in Kansas City, but that, of courso, more stock passed throngh that city than through this. That a very large revenue was derived from the wholesale trade in stock in this city, and that parties who ship find cheaper rates over tho Fort Scott to a better market than Kansas City can offer, besides feed and rents are cheaper, and a larger scope of country to supply is a consideration that tolls with dealers. Tho informant stated that he had sold forty car loads of mules last season, and that an increased number are being shipped in by raisers who of late have shipped less to other markets. He says stock men seem to be partial to the Fort Scott road, as it reaches a famous horse and mulo market, and its very liberal rates are an important factor in the building up of the Wichita market Eagle.

Have a Home. Friend, have a home somewhere. Buy a tract of land and own it. Buy with a full determination ot keeping it, and surround yourself with those beauties only found in a home. To be the owner of a nice little home, is one of the greatest earthly bless ngs man can enjoy.

After you have spent your life this little home, and your spirit is calle to its eternal rest, you have left the widow and little orphans a littlo place on earth called a home. Gentle reader, there is no piece like home, and you should think of this and neglect the matter no longer. Bulletin. Come Now. The Farmer has urged people to emigrate to Kansas, in by-gone years, and as inducement held out the fact that lands were very cheap; that while they aerned bread by the sweat of the brows as tillers of the soil, there was certainty of being carried forward on the road to fortune by a rise in value of their lands.

This has come true to many people, whether acting on our advice or their own good sense. Within the past two or three years neariy every dollar invested in land in this county has doubled and trebled and we thind the same opportunities remain. It will take two or three times as much to buy a quarter-section of land as it required a few years ago, but the certainty of a still further advance is just ss possible. Wichita has six manufacturing establishments that do an immense trade, not in Kansas alone, hut in the South and New Mexico, Colorado and Arizona, viz: Tho Wichita City Roller Mills; the Hydraulic Roller Mills; the Royal Spice Mills; Wichita Cracker and Confectionery Company; Mc-Comb Bros. Sadlcry and Harness Works; tho Eagle Cornico Works and the Wichita Canning factory.

Clergymen and others into whose hands tho Nation comes arc respectfully requested to pass it around..