USA > Kansas > Wyandotte County > Kansas City > History of Kansas City illustrated in three decades : being a chronicle wherein is set forth the true account of the founding, rise, and present position occupied by Kansas City in municipal America > Part 8
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The factories which are located in Kansas City give em- ployment to 20,000 people, and each year products to the value of $100,000,000 are sent out into the world.
Architects and artists have pronounced the new Federal building, in design and construction, one that will rank with any of its class in the country. The west wing was recently com- pleted at a cost of $2,000,000.
Many big things Kansas City has done in its day, but the most notable thing it ever did was the building of the new Con- vention Hall. Hardly had the Democratic National Cenven- tion elected to meet in Kansas City, when the news was flashed over the country that this much-advertised building was in flames. Nothing daunted by the calamity, the city at once began the work of rebuilding, and in sixty days, by working night and day and at an enormous expenditure, a larger and
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more complete structure was erected and ready for the national delegates. This, together with the fact that it was built by the people of Kansas City and opened without debt, though it cost $225,000, constitutes its right to be recognized as the largest thing Kansas City ever achieved. For conventions, horse shows, fairs, musical festivals, pageants, balls, athletic sports, there is no other place in the country that can better -that can so well -accommodate the public.
Ten years ago Kansas City had no parks, no boulevards, no public pleasure-grounds of any sort. It was just making up its mind to have them. It had no parks at all in 1889. In 1899 it had 1,691.4 acres of parks and 11.45 miles of boulevards. There are but one or two cities in the United States-or, for that matter, in the world-that can equal this showing, regardless of population. For its size Kansas City now has the greatest park acreage in the country. It has an acre of park for every one hundred and fifteen people.
When the system is complete, the parks will nearly all be connected by the boulevards, so that they will form a continu- ous chain, as it were, very similar to the beautiful chain of pleasure-grounds about Boston. The idea has been to give each neighborhood, as far as possible, its own particular place of recreation, and at the same time means for conveniently reaching the parks of other neighborhoods as well. Already, in its incomplete state, even the least imaginative can begin to appreciate what the finished work will be.
If the people of Kansas City have reason to congratulate themselves on the growth of commerce and the advance in art which has been noted, they have equal reason to feel a sense
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THE PERGOLA.
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of pride in the manner in which protection from fire is afforded to all the buildings, from the smallest cabin to the tallest sky- scraper, which are to be found within its limits. Its fire de- partment has for years been known the country over for swift and efficient work, and put its claims to the test in 1900 by sending a crew of men and a steamer to London, where they met the representative fire-fighters of all nations of Europe, and so completely outclassed them that there was no question as regarded superiority.
The best index of the true prosperity of a city is to be found in the number and condition of its schools. A certificate from one of the ward or high schools of Kansas City is accepted without question in any primary or higher educational institution in the United States. There are thirty-nine public schools under the direction of the Board of Education.
The excellence of these schools is due not only to the fact that the city has had for years a non-partisan Board of Educa- tion, from which it has been the scrupulous endeavor of all those who had the welfare of the cause at heart to keep any suspicion of political demarcation, but also to the fact that the members of this board have been and are among the most industrious, faithful, clear-thinking, and far-seeing business and professional men of whom the city can boast.
To make Kansas City a good place to live in has been the object of its many endeavors. The city has undoubtedly been made most pleasant and convenient for all who desire to make it their home. Hills of all kinds and degrees of steepness have been leveled to make place for the palatial residence or the lowly cottage, as the case may be.
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Special residence quarters have been developed, built up, and occupied. But in all of the change there has been a marked absence of that spirit of exclusion which has character- ized the home-building of so many cities of the country.
Kansas City has some of the finest residences, both in architecture and furnishings, to be found anywhere in America.
Another noticeable feature of the city is its many elegant office buildings. When compared with any other city of its size in the country, it is unsurpassed. That this should be so is a compliment to the far-sightedness and progressiveness of the various interests which go to insure its commercial standing among the great cities of the country. The location of these buildings with reference to the other financial centers of the city is perhaps as advantageous, when the present business thoroughfares are taken into consideration, as could be wished, and about them and within their walls the business of the great Southwest is transacted.
In the stability of such buildings is perhaps best told the future greatness of Kansas City, and many proposed additions to their already commendable size and number are now being made to keep up with the tide of advancing commercial pros- perity. In connection with the other interests of the city it is well to remember the advantages which await the lawyer, doc- tor, dentist, man of business, or professional man who might wish to cast his lot with the West, and to show how thoroughly · well Kansas City can take care of any and all business enter- prises of the right kind that wish to enter her gates.
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CHAPTER XIX:
Ranks with the Best .- Kansas City is Greatest in Many Things and Great in All.
Kansas City is the greatest city in the world in a number of things, and is entitled to rank among the first and best in all.
Here are a few facts which go to establish the supremacy of the metropolis of the West. They are good things to know and good things to remember.
Kansas City is the largest agricultural implement market in the world.
Kansas City has the largest Southern lumber jobbing busi- ness of any city in the United States.
Kansas City has second place as a live-stock market.
Kansas City has the largest horse and mule sales stables in the world.
Kansas City covers twenty-five square miles of territory.
Kansas City is the second greatest railroad center in the world.
Kansas City is practically the geographical center of the United States.
Kansas City has a population of 200,000 and 60,000 more just across the State line.
Kansas City packing-houses represent an investment of $30,000,000.
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Kansas City occupies ninth place in the amount of bank clearings.
Kansas City is the second largest packing center in the world.
Kansas City is the largest city west of St. Louis and east of San Francisco.
Kansas City is the practical head of navigation on the Mis- souri River.
Kansas City has the largest coal fields within a radius of 100 miles of any city west of the Mississippi River.
Kansas City has the lowest price for manufacturers' coal of any city of over 20,000 inhabitants west of the Mississippi River.
Kansas City is nineteenth in the value of its manufactured products.
Kansas City is practically the geographical center of the United States, omitting Alaska, Hawaii, Porto Rico, and the Philippines.
Kansas City has the lowest death-rate of any city of equal population in the United States.
Kansas City has 507 teachers and 27,314 pupils in its public schools.
Kansas City has 43 school buildings, valued at $2,300,000.
Kansas City ships its packing-house products to every civ- ilized country in the world.
Kansas City has the greatest Live Stock Exchange build- ing in the world.
Kansas City has the second largest park in the United States, containing 1,300 acres.
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NINTH STREET ENTRANCE TO PASEO.
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Kansas City is the second city in the United States in re- gard to the area of its parks. The total park area is 1,600 acres.
Kansas City's public debt, exclusive of $3,100,000 water- works bonds, is $656,900. The water - works bonds are re- deemed from rentals.
Kansas City owns its own system of water-works, and the plant is rapidly paying for itself.
Kansas City has a taxable valuation of $70,000,000.
Kansas City handled $121,706,632 worth of live stock in 1899.
Kansas City received 2,027,326 cattle, including calves; 3,014,923 hogs and 950,296 sheep, a total of 5,992,545 head of live stock, in 1899.
Kansas City received in 1899, 20,341,100 bushels of wheat, 8,682,750 bushels of corn, 2,388,000 bushels of oats, 183,300 bushels of rye, and 17,600 bushels of barley.
Kansas City did a wholesale business of $225,000,000 in 1899.
During the past twelve months 618 new concerns have been started up in Kansas City.
Kansas City mills shipped 347,160 barrels of flour in 1899.
Kansas City packing-houses turned out $90,000,000 worth of products last year and slaughtered 975,334 cattle, 2,646,073 hogs, and 597,673 sheep.
Kansas City had on deposit in its banks December 2, 1899, $49,018,130.
Kansas City's stock yards extend over a quarter-section of land.
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Kansas City's packing-house plants occupy half a quarter- section of land.
Kansas City packers have a daily killing capacity of 11,700 cattle, 34,000 hogs, and 12,550 sheep.
Kansas City received 117,333 cars of live stock in 1899.
Kansas City slaughtered more cattle and hogs in 1899 than Omaha and St. Louis combined.
Kansas City has 4,800 telephones in daily use, having direct connection with 440 outside toll stations. It has four exchanges. Its long-distance service puts it in communica- tion with the principal points in thirty-two States.
Kansas City has a banking capital of $7,750,000, including trust companies.
Kansas City's real-estate transfers in 1899 amounted to nearly $25,000,000.
Kansas City handled the past year 31,667 horses and mules.
Kansas City has 170 miles of paved streets.
Kansas City has 10,31 7men employed in her packing-houses and stock yards, and 51,585 are supported by this industry alone.
Kansas City has twenty-eight grain elevators with a storage capacity of 6,484,000 bushels and an aggregate handling capac- ity of 1,468,000.
Kansas City has five mills with a capacity of 7,000 barrels of flour per day.
Kansas City's postoffice receipts in1899 were $672,360.50 and something like 175,672,000 pieces of mail matter were handled.
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THE PASEO AT TWELFTH STREET.
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Kansas City has twenty-three systems, including two belt lines, of railroad, with thirty railroads and thirty-two fast freight lines represented, being the second largest railroad center in the world.
Kansas City spent $525,971.03 the past year upon her pub- lic schools, the per capita expenditure being $23.43.
The postal business of Kansas City exceeds any city of equal importance in the United States.
Kansas City's Convention Hall has the greatest seating capacity of any building of like character in the world.
Kansas City has 160 miles of street railway.
Kansas City ships 45,000 car-loads of fresh meat and pack- ing-house products annually.
Kansas City has twenty-one grain elevators, with a storage capacity of 6,000,000 bushels, and a daily handling and dis- charging capacity of 1,500,000 bushels.
Kansas City has a retail business aggregating $80,000,000 annually.
Kansas City employs 20,000 hands in its manufacturing business.
WARWICK BOULEVARD.
LOCAL LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS TO ENTERTAINMENT FUND.
American Type Founders Co. Allen & Decker. Burd & Fletcher Printing Co. Brown, Chas. E., Printing Co. Burnap, F. P., Stat. and P't'g Co. Berkowitz Envelope Co.
Banta, Harry S.
Black, E. D.
Bankers' & Merchants' Lith. Co. Brent, W. T. & R. H.
Bramhall Printing Co. Berry Printing Co.
Benedict Paper Co. Bovard, John C. Bunker Printing Co. Burke-Nelson Engraving Co. Creed, W. H. Cline & Emrick. Carlton & Rose. Dockery Printing Co.
Electric Printing Co.
Engel, H. & Son.
Graham Paper Co. Great Western Type Foundry.
Gaugh, Geo. G. Gerard & Brown. Hudson-Kimberly Pub. Co. Hudson, M. H.
Hailman Printing Co. Horn Printing Co. Jaccard Jewelry Co. Kansas City Paper House. Kellogg, A. N., Newspaper Co. Kennedy, Press J.
Kansas City Printing Co. Kansas City Engraving Co.
Lechtman Printing Co.
La Rue-Caton Printing Co.
Loveland, E. O. & Co.
Millett, H. S., Publ. Co.
Murray, Chas. T.
Miller, W. H. Jr. Neff, J. H. & Co.
Pantagraph Printing Co.
Rigby Bindery Co.
Scotford Stamp & Stationery Co. Salmon, W. M.
Seip Printing Co. Tiernan-Havens Printing Co. Teachenor-Bartberger Eng. Co. A. E. Tonkin & Co. Tomlinson-Bryant & Douglass Printing Co.
Union Bank Note Co. Williams, T. B. Woody Printing Co.
FOREIGN LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS TO ENTERTAINM'T FUND.
Ault-Wiborg Co., Cincinnati, Ohio. Brown & Clark Paper Co., St. Louis, Mo. Chandler & Price Co., Cleveland, Ohio. Carpenter Paper Co., Omaha, Neb. Dexter Folder Co., Pearl River, N. Y.
Hellmuth, Chas., Chicago, Ill. Jaenecke Printing Ink Co., Newark, N. J. Johnson, Chas. Enue, & Co., Philadelphia, Pa. Latham Mach. Co., Chicago, 111. Oswego Mach. Works, The, Oswego, N. Y.
Queen City Printing Ink Co , Cincinnati, Ohio. Sheridan, T. W. & C. B., Chicago, Il1. Scott, Walter & Co., Plainfield, N. J. " Thalman Printing Ink Co., St. Louis, Mo Ullman, Sigmund, Co., New York, N. Y. Van Allens & Boughton, New York, N. Y. Whitlock P't'g Press Co., The, Derby, Conn. Weston, Byron Co., Dalton, Mass. Mergenthaler Linotype Co.
THE HISTORY OF THE KANSAS CITY TYPOTHETÆ.
WILLIAM J. BERKOWITZ.
Among the list of representative printers who gathered in the city of Chicago in 1887 to organize the United Typothetæ of America, we find the name of Peter H. Tiernan, of Kansas City; and following that event, on November 12, 1887, the Kansas City Typothetæ was organized with a membership of twelve, and Mr. Tiernan was elected its first President, Or- ganized with a view of developing and fostering a kindly feeling among the master printers and of improving the trade, assisting one another when called upon, it has proven to be for the ad- vancement of the printing interests in Kansas City.
All great achievements are of slow growth, and it was no exception here. The petty jealousies of contemporaries in bus- iness were manifest to a very considerable degree, and it was only by extraordinary effort that any printers could be induced to affiliate with the Typothetæ. The fear of surrendering in- dividual rights or the danger of yielding in the rivalry for bus- iness was the great barrier to affiliation.
The experience of Kansas City was doubtless the experi- ience of other cities. Printers are not given to associate with one another, and it requires unusual methods to bring them together and bridge the imaginary chasm that keeps them apart.
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From 1887 to 1893 the Typothetæ continued its perfunc- tory existence by electing its officers and selecting its delegates to attend the Annual Convention of the U. T. A., and probably calling a meeting of the Association to hear the report of these delegates; but there was no life and no fellowship, merely the desperate rivalry of cutting prices and deterioration of values in all that pertained to the noble Art Preservative.
Then came the revival of learning; at least an effort was made on the part of those members who drank from the foun- tain of the U. T. A. Convention to spread the gospel of educa- tion among their fellow-printers and bring about a better knowl- edge of the cost of production in order to bring about an adequate revenue. Committees on price for composition. presswork, binding, etc., were appointed. Meetings were held every day and a spirft of comradeship and goodfellowship among the members of the Typothetæ was manifested, and the great bridge that divided them seemed to grow weaker and weaker, acquaintanceship grew with friendship and bitter jealousy was sweetened by confidences.
At this time there developed the fact that the smaller printer would not join the Typothetæ and the reason given- because the Typothetæ was composed of only big firms and the smaller ones could not hope for recognition-argument was useless. The Typothetæ continued its membership of 15-20, and another organization, called the "Employing Printers' Asso- ciation" was organized, Mr. Geo. L. Berry, President, with a membership of 65, including all Typothetæ members; holding monthly meetings in the way of dinners, on the dollar dinner plan; at these meetings, which proved exceedingly sociable,
F. D.Crabós, First Vice President.
@sil Lechtman,President:
Officers
.A. D.Gerard, Secretary.
Franklin Hudson.
J.D.Havens.
Executive Committee
J. H.Frame.
T.a.c. C.K.k.
F. P. Burnap, Second Vice President.
Charles E. Brown, Treasurer:
B.F. Burd.
George L.Berty:
A
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practical and instructive papers were read touching on sub- jects of direct business importance, followed by interchange of opinions, all lending an influence for a better appreciation of the printing business and its place among the commercial enterprises of the city, as well as a kindlier regard among those engaged to carry it forward.
The Employing Printers' Associatoin continued to flourish for about two years, when its most active members joined the Typothetæ, and it is with pleasure we are able to announce the present membership of that local body to number 31 active and 7 associate members.
Association, is after, all the only weapon for breaking away the barriers that divide men in the same line of business. How the narrow prejudices of years grow deeper as competition grows severer and business-getting grows more difficult! It was an old fallacy that men engaged in the same kind of bus- iness as yourself were mean and contemptible, and you alone were the "gentleman" and only entitled to patronage; but when acquaintance is made, meeting one another in business gath- erings, we discover in our adversaries virtues never dreamed of and qualities of heart and mind that are the basis ot honor- able business methods; we must acknowledge our error and give to every man due credit for the things he does, for the principles he advocates, for the honorable methods he pursues, and one is grateful to find that "there are others who are just as good as we."
It was in the fall of 1896, during the time of the first great printers' strike, that the members of the Kansas City Typothetæ fully realized the advantage of association, and the
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adage that "all things happen for the best" was exemplified in more ways than one. As a result of that trouble there has been formed a brotherhood among the members of the Kansas City Typothetæ that stands for the protection of their individual and united interests, infusing the spirit of confidence and help- fulness and integrity. This is in keeping with progressive commercial methods of to-day among all classes of business men who are engaged in the earnest work of advancing their own welfare and the welfare of the community in which they live.
In the printed proceedings of the eleventh Annual Conven- tion of the U. T. A., 1897, pages 20-28, the report of the Execu- tive Committee contains in full the "War that Was," making it accessible to every employing printer. This able presentation of the whole story is the work of the committee composed of Messrs. A. S. Kimberly, B. F. Burd, and J. D. Havens. Here is set forth the "unity of action, the excellent management and the decisive results obtained by members of the Kansas City Typothetæ" during the period of the first great difference with the Typographical Union, which in the highest degree evidenced the truth of the motto, "United we stand, divided we fall." The great strike of 1899-1900 is too fresh in the minds of the printers of the United States to need any comment here. Its detailed history will, no doubt, be presented at the fourteenth Annual Convention. The steadfast friendship of the men who suffered and bore the brunt of the trouble must stand out as a living evidence of the benefit, the advantage, and the virtue of an United Typothetæ.
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1. M. BERKOWITZ.
2. N. LECHTMAN. 3. E. G. BARTBERGER.
4. ROGER CUNNINGHAM.
5. C. B. DART.
6. H. S. GAINES. 7. CHAS. VEASEY. 8. J. H. BRANDIMORE. 9. P. J. KENNEDY.
10 S. F. WOODY.
11. R. B. TEACHENOR. 12. W. M. SALMON. 13. F. H. HORN.
14. C. E. HORN. 15. FRANK BARHYDT.
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1. C. M. SELPH.
2. IRVIN T. BUNKER. 3. M. E. GERARD. 4. E. N. BROWN.
5. C. CARLTON.
6. WALTER J. ROSE. 7. EMMETT LOVELAND. 8. CHAS. MURRAY.
9. S. G. SPENCER.
10. E. C. BURNAP.
11. FRANK P. WILLIAMS.
12. H. S. BANTA. 13. GEO. GAUGH. 14. EDMUND D. BLACK. 15. CHAS. J. PRIES.
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KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.
The intense interest and the effort for self-preservation during the late printers' trouble made it imperative for mem- bers of the Typothetæ to meet every day, and the hour most advantageous for these daily gatherings proved to be the noon hour. The necessity gave thought to the need of Typothetæ rooms and the serving of noon-hour lunch. The liberality of the supply houses took form and shape in the way of liberal subscriptions to pay for furnishing for the rooms, and to Messrs. A. D. L. Hamilton, of the Graham Paper Co., and M. V. Wat- son, of the Kansas City Paper House, is due the special credit for bringing about the happy result, securing liberal contributions from many firms.
Mr. B. F. Burd and Mr. S. G. Spencer, committee on furnishing the rooms, received the thanks of the association for the superintending and selection of furnishings, and due credit of expenditure of time and money was given at a "house- warming" on the evening of May 3, 1900, when the new club- rooms were formally "opened."
It is proper that there should be recorded here the senti- ment of the Typothetæ, so beautifully expressed on that occasion by Mr. F. D. Crabbs, who said:
"Astranger among us to-night, witnessing this brilliant func- tion in this gorgeously furnished room, might well inquire, 'Do we celebrate victory or peace?' The prompt emphatic answer answer would be, 'Both; one preceding the other but a little, as the flush of dawn before the full brightness of day'; and I wish to emphasize the fact that both are ours and nobly won, victory first and peace following. In celebrating an occasion like this we should not be influenced by any feelings of antagonism, but
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rather by a sweet reasonableness toward those who went down before us in defeat. The Typothetæ, looking into its own heart, weighing its own motives, subjecting itself to a rigorous introspection, should be and is content. The task its members was forced to assume five months ago is finished, why should we not rejoice? It is human nature to find some channel through which its currents may flow. Here we bring memo- ries and hopes and are satisfied."
The master printers of Kansas City are to-day a body of business men, recognized as a potent factor in the upbuilding of Kansas City. They make a representative showing of in- vested capital in the statistics of the census of Kansas City's manufacturing interests, and employ their proportion of skilled mechanics in keeping with the population of our progressive city. By the quality and quantity of their product they give the impress of progress and the evidence of advancement, keeping in touch with every forward step in the improvement of the Art of Printing, making Kansas City "a good place for good printing."
In the membership of our commercial bodies, the members of the Kansas City Typothetæ are well represented. In the Commercial Club many important offices have been held by master printers, and in the Manufacturers' Association no other class of manufacturers are so well represented on the roster of active membership as are the printers, and some of the im- portant offices and committees include Typothetæ men.
In the order here named these gentlemen served as Presi- dents of the Kansas City Typothetæ:
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1. I. F. GUIWITS. 2. A. D. L. HAMILTON. 3. J. W. HAILMAN.
4. WM. J. BERKOWITZ.
5. M. V. WATSON. 6. E. I. SNIDER. 7. J. C. KETCHESON.
S. THEODORE BISHOP
9. W. J. MCCURRY. 10. O. E. LEARNARD. 11. C. D. TRAPHAGEN. 12. G. E. WITTICH.
13. R. R. BURBANK. 14. S. A. PIERCE. 15. A. T. CONWELL. 16 R H GREER
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Mr. Peter H. Tiernan, - -
1887-1890.
Mr. Franklin Hudson,
1890-1892.
Mr. J. D. Havens,
1892-1893.
Mr. F. D. Crabbs,
1893-1896.
Mr. W. J. Berkowitz,
1896-1897.
Mr. B. F. Burd,
1897-1898.
Mr. J. D. Frame,
1898-1899.
Mr. Cusil Lechtman,
1899-1900.
During the fourteen years of its existence three of our prominent and most active associates have died. Death loves a shining mark, and in the taking away of Peter H. Tiernan, Wm. A. Lawton, and Robert Hart, the Typothetæ suffered a keen loss and the city was deprived of three most valued citizens.
Fitting expressions of regard and remembrance have been recorded in the Annual Proceedings of the U. T. A., but the influence of their lives and the high ideals which they cherished and worked for will always prove an inspiration for good to their associates, and their memory will be an influence to strengthen and hold together the printers of Kansas City to carry forward the purposes for which the United Typothetæ has been called into being.
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