WICHITA. The county-seat of Sedgwiek County, Nan., 228 miles southwest of Kansas City, on the Arkansas River, and on the Atchi son, Topeka and Santa Fe, the .Nlissouri Pacific, the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific, the Saint Louis and San Francisco, the Wichita and West ern, the Wichita and Colorado, and other rail roads (Map: Kansas, E 4). It is well laid out and has attractive residences, imposing business blocks, and fine public buildings. The city is the seat of Fairmount College (Congregational), opened. in 1892; Albertus Magnus University (Roman Catholic), opened in 1900; the Friends' University; Kansas College of Osteopathy: Lewis Academy; and All Hallows Academy. The Public Library has 7000 volumes. Other prominent in stitutions include the Martha Washington Home, Orphans' Home, Children's Home, and the Wichita and Saint Francis hospitals. The United States Government building, county court-house, city hall, high school building, and the Scottish Rite Masonic Cathedral are noteworthy. River
side Park, the most prominent of the public parks, contains 146 acres. Wichita is favored with excellent transportation facilities, and has considerable commercial and industrial impor tance. The region is very fertile, and is known for its large farming, dairying, and stock-raising interests. There are extensive packing estab lishments and stock yards, flouring mills, foun dries and machine shops, stove works, grain ele vators, implement manufactories, car shops, etc. A large wholesale and jobbing trade is carried en here. Under the charter of 1886, the govern ment is vested in a mayor, chosen and a unicameral council. The majority of the subordinate officials are appointed by the mayor, subject to the confirmation of the council. The board of education, however, is elected by popu lar vote. Wichita was settled in 1870, and was incorporated the following year. Population, in 1890. 23,853; in 1900, 24,671.