USA > Kansas > Wyandotte County > Kansas City > Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas. Historical and biographical. Comprising a condensed history of the state, a careful history of Wyandotte County, and a comprehensive history of the growth of the cities, towns and villages > Part 38
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" The people of Wyandotte County contend that the mass of trade carried on by these roads will follow the valley of the Kansas River
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to its junction with the Missouri. They contend, other things being equal, that the companies owning these roads can afford to deliver freights cheaper at the mouth of the Kansas River than at any other point on the Missouri, because the grades of the roads are uniform and descending after they touch the valley of that river, while to carry their freight to the original terminus requires them to pass over elevated tracts of country with heavy gradients. But things are not equal. Any great city in the Missouri Valley will be tributary either to the greater cities of St. Louis or Chicago. The State of Kansas is by nature tributary to St. Louis. To redistribute passengers and freight bound to St. Louis from the principal portion of Kansas northward of this point, is to take them out of a direct line for redistribution. But the mass of the producers of Kansas will not engage in the business of redistribution. They will dispose of their products where they can find the buyers and seldom go farther from home in quest of them than to the Missouri Valley. The people of this county contend that they will go there where the greatest competition may be had, and that to-day no man can question that the grain elevators, the packing-houses and the stock-yards at this point all demonstrate that the buyers of the staple products-of grain and cattle are far more numerous than anywhere else on the Missouri River. They contend that the mouth of the Kansas River is the natural site for the metropolis of the Missouri Valley, and that all efforts to build it elsewhere will be futile. They believe that the failure of other places to become the metropolis is owing to no mistake on the part of the citizens of those places, but they simply lacked the thousand and one natural advan- tages that this spot so happily possesses. It is said ' facts are born, not made.' So of those great marts that spring up in the march of civili- zation across the continent. The people of Kansas would gladly have made their metropolis elsewhere, but this spot was born to be it, and they must accept the fact.
"In all I have said I have not spoken of the eastern connections of railroads with this point. To name them is sufficient. The Missouri Pacific and St. Louis, Kansas City & Northern furnish rival lines and some competition to St. Louis. The Hannibal & St. Joseph, and the Kansas City & Northern to Moberly, and then the Missouri, Kan- sas & Texas supply like facilities to Chicago. Keeping in view these competitive lines alone, no other place in the valley of the Mis- souri approaches these advantages."
Fifteen years have passed away since this meeting was held and
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the predictions of Col. Cobb and others were made regarding the future developments of the State of Kansas and of its metropolis, Kansas City. A glance at the map of this great State will show that the Kansas Pacific (now the Union Pacific), as it follows up the valley of the Kansas River and crosses the State to the westward, is fed with other railroads and branch lines, especially on the north side, as the river is fed by its tributary streams, and thus it reaches all the northern part of the State, except a few counties in the northeast corner thereof, and Kansas City has direct communication with all of these counties by way of the Kansas City, Wyandotte & Northwestern and the Missouri Pacific lines. The Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe, as it passes up the Kansas River on the south side, aud swings south- westerly across to the Arkansas Valley, with its many branches and connections, gives Kansas City direct communication with nearly all of the southern part of the State.
In short, all parts of the State not directly reached from Kansas City by the two great trunk line railways above named and their branches and connections are reached by way of the Missouri Pacific system, the Kansas City, Fort Scott & Gulf. and other railways. In the last fifteen years the eastern half of the State has become a network of railroads, as predicted by Mr. Cobb in his address, and since proven by the developments: "The mouth of the Kansas River is the natural site for the metropolis of the Missouri Valley." And most assuredly Kansas City, Kas., has become, beyond dispute, the me- tropolis of the State. However, some things are lacking in this modern city, the acquisition or building of which will greatly advance its business and growth. One of these is the providing of more and better hotel facilities, and the establishing of wholesale commercial houses able to compete with those on the Missouri side of the State line.
In 1886 the cities of Wyandotte, the former city of Kansas City, Kas., and Armourdale, together with many additions and other territory, were consolidated into one city under one government, according to the governor's proclamation, of which the following is a true copy :
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GOVERNOR'S PROCLAMATION.
DECLARING KANSAS CITY, ARMOURDALE AND WYANDOTTE A CITY OF THE FIRST CLASS, UNDER THE NAME OF KANSAS CITY.
STATE OF KANSAS, EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
TOPEKA, March 6th, 1886.
" Whereas, It appears by certificate of the County Clerk of Wyan- dotte county, Kansas, bearing date of February 16, 1886, and filed in this Department on the 19th day of February, 1886, that the following cities, to wit: Armourdale, Kansas City and Wyandotte, neither of which is a city of the first class, lying adjacent to each other, and not more than three-fourths of one mile apart, have attained, and that the aggregate population of said adjacent cities, as shown by the last cen- sus, taken under the laws of this State, now is fifteen thousand and upwards: and
" Whereas, It further appears by said certificate of the County Clerk of Wyandotte county, Kansas. that the boundaries of said city of Ar- mourdale are as follows: 'Commencing at the center of section twen- ty-two (22), township eleven (11) south, range twenty-five east; thence west twenty-six hundred and forty (2640) feet; thence north twenty-six hundred and forty(2640)feet; thence east thirteen hundred and twenty (1320) feet; thence north eight hundred and fifty-four (854) feet; thence east three hundred and thirty (330) feet; thence south six hun- dred and sixty-one (661) feet; thence east to the quarter section line running north and south through the center of section fifteen (15) in said township and range; thence north eight hundred and forty (840) feet; thence east one hundred and seventy-five (175) feet; thence north four hundred and fifty-five (455) feet; thence east three hundred and five (305) feet; thence north one hundred and sixty (160) feet; thence east five hundred and eighty (580) feet; thence south ten hundred and thirty-one (1031) feet; thence south twenty-two degrees (22) and fifty minutes (50) east, three hundred and twenty-five (325) feet; thence south eight hundred and ninety (890) feet; thence south thirty-two degrees (32) west, twenty-two hundred and twenty-one feet to the place of be- ginning,' having a population of fifteen hundred and eighty-two (1582), as shown by the last census taken under the laws of this State; that the boundaries of said city of Kansas City are as follows: 'Commencing in the middle of the Kansas River, at a point where the same is inter- sected by the dividing line between sections fourteen (14) and twenty- three (23), in township eleven (11) south, range twenty-five (25) east;
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thence east to the line dividing the states of Kansas and Missouri; thence north along said State line to the middle of the Missouri River; thence up said Missouri River northwesterly to a point where the middle of the Kansas River intersects the same; thence up the middle of the Kansas River to the place of beginning,' and that said city has a population of thirty eight hundred and two (3802), as shown by the last census, taken under the laws of this State; that the bounda- ries of said city of Wyandotte are as follows: 'Commencing on the eastern boundary of the State of Kansas where the same is intersected by the Second Standard Parallel; thence west along said Standard Par- allel to the northwest corner of section four (4), in township eleven (11) south, and range twenty-five (25) east; thence south to the southwest corner of section nine (9), in said township and range; thence east to the southeast corner of said section nine (9); thence south to the north line of the Right of Way of the Union Pacific Railway Company (Kan- sas Division); thence easterly along the north line of said Right of Way fourteen hundred and fifty (1450) feet; thence north thirty de- grees (30°) east, nine hundred and forty five (945) feet; thence south eighty-one degrees (81°) and forty-five minutes (45') west, one hun- dred and fifty (150) feet; thence north fifteen hundred (1500) feet; thence east to the east line of the Right of Way of the Union Pacific Company (Kansas Division); thence south along the east line of the said Right of Way to the quarter section line running east and west through the center of said section fifteen (15), township eleven (11), range twenty-five (25) east; thence east to the center of the Kansas River; thence to the middle of the Kansas and Missouri Rivers to the point of beginning,' and that said city has a population of twelve thousand and eighty six (12,086), as shown by the last census, taken under the laws of this State.
"Now, Therefore, I, John A. Martin, Governor of the State of Kan- sas, do hereby declare and proclaim, under and by virtue of the author- ity vested in me by an act of the Legislature of the State of Kansas, entitled 'An act to provide for the consolidation of cities,' approved February 11, 1886, and an act supplemental and amendatory thereof, approved February 18, 1886, the said citizens of Armourdale, Kansas City and Wyandotte, to be consolidated, and to be one city, and a city of the first class, under the name of Kansas City, subject to the pro- visions of an act entitled ‘ An act to incorporate and regulate cities of the first class, and to repeal all prior acts relating thereto,' approved March 4, 1881, and amendments thereto, and that the boundaries of
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the said consolidated city are and shall be the boundary line around the outside of the said several cities so consolidated, as follows: ' Commencing on the eastern boundary of the State of Kansas where the same is intersected by the Second Standard Parallel; thence west along the said Standard Parallel to the northwest corner of Section four (4), in township eleven (11) south, of range twenty-five (25) east; thence south to the southeast corner of section nine (9) in said township and range; thence east to the southeast corner of said sec- tion nine (9); thence south to the southwest corner of the northwest quarter of section twenty two (22), said township and range; thence east to the center of said section twenty-two (22); thence north thirty- two degrees (32°) and thirty-six minutes (36') east, twenty-two hun- dred and twenty-one (2221) feet; thence north eight hundred and ninety (890) feet; thence north twenty-two degrees (22º) and forty- five minutes (45') west, three hundred and twenty-five (325) feet; thence north to the quarter section line running east and west through the center of section fifteen (15), township eleven (11) south, range twenty-five (25) east; thence east to the center of the Kansas River; thence up along the center of said river to the section line between sections fourteen (14) and twenty-three (23), in said township and range; thence east to the State line between the States of Kansas and Missouri; thence north along said State line to the center of the Missouri River; thence up said Missouri River to the place of begin- ning.'
"And I further declare and proclaim that the first election of officers of said consolidated city shall be held on Tuesday, the 6th day of April, A. D. 1886, in the manner provided by the acts authorizing such consolidation.
"In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name and caused to be affixed the Great Seal of the State. Done at the city of Topeka on the day and year first above written.
By the Governor: JNO. A. MARTIN."
E. B. ALLEN, Secretary of State.
By W. T. CAVANAUGH, Assistant Secretary of State." The original proclamation, as executed by the governor and duly certified by the Secretary of State on March 6, 1886, is on file in the office of the clerk of Wyandotte County.
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CHAPTER XX.
THE CONSOLIDATED CITIES-REVIEW OF THE HISTORY OF CONSOLIDATION -FIRST AND SUBSEQUENT OFFICIALS SINCE THE CONSOLIDATION- PRESENT CITY OFFICERS-WARDS AND PRECINCTS -- THE CITY'S GREAT REAL ESTATE INTERESTS-A CITY OF HOMES -- THE CITY'S FINANCES -WONDERFUL PROGRESS OF STREET IMPROVEMENT-BANKS-INCOR- PORATED COMPANIES-EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS AND STATISTICS-TIIE YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION-REASONS FOR THE CITY'S GROWTHI - KANSAS CITY'S MANUFACTURING STATUS- ITS GREAT GRAIN MARKET AND GIGANTIC ELEVATORS-FACTS AND FIGURES FROM RELIABLE SOURCES OF THE CITY'S REMARKABLE PROGRESS AND GREAT INTERESTS-THE CENSUS-A SUGGESTION OF THE FUTURE-ARMOUR- DALE'S PROGRESS-THE MAYOR'S ANNUAL MESSAGE, 1890.
Extremes of fortune are true wisdom's test, And he's of men most wise who bears them best .- Cumberland.
OTICEABLE as an incident in the "meeting of extremes " is the fact that the smallest county in the State of Kansas, Wyandotte, contains the most populous city in the State, Kansas City. Out of the more than 100 counties, not only is Wyandotte the smallest in extent, but she has less than one-half the area of the next largest county, Doniphan. When the geogra- pher, by public command, cut up Kansas into so many 4. EN bot rigid squares or counties, he was no doubt puzzled what to do with that little tongue of land jutting out into the expanse of water formed by the junction of the Kan- sas and Missouri Rivers; so, to simplify matters, he made a separate county of it. Thus was formed little Wyandotte, the smallest, most populous and wealthiest county in the State. New York County stands to New York State in the same position, and Kansas City stands in the same relation to the State of Kansas as the city of New York, stands to her State-its commercial capital.
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Kansas City was formed in 1886 by a consolidation of five municipali- ties-Wyandotte, Armourdale, Armstrong, Riverview and Old Kansas City. This latter town was formed by the overflow of Kansas City in Missouri across the State line, and really forms a connecting link be- tween what is known in modern parlance as the two Kansas Cities- Kansas City, Kas., and Kansas City, Mo .- really one city, divided only by a State line. We say really one city because they are joined together, not alone in interest, but actually so, many buildings on the State line standing really in two States.
First, let us go back to history, for Kansas City has a romantic history, dating its origin to these aborigines of the soil, the red Indians. That observant writer, Max O'Rell, said, in his travels in our country, he had met many people with American traits, but had not yet seen a typical American. Some writer has recently said the typical American, if he ever comes, will closely resemble the Indian who grew up, una- dulterated by outside influence, through centuries on our soil. Kansas City, Kas., then has strong claim to be called typically American. for she has her origin from the Indian's settlement, and many of her oldest inhabitants have Indian blood.
Of the five towns out of which Kansas City, Kas., has been erected, Wyandotte was the oldest and principal one. The facts which go to make up its early history form the singular spectacle of a nation of Indians, brought to a high state of intelligence through the faithful labors of missionaries, joined to their own innate brightness of percep- tion, leading the van of civilization in a community, and first giving to the whites, who succeeded them, the blessings of religious instruc- tion and the privileges of a free education. Descendants of the great Iroquois family, the Wyandottes were driven from their old home in the war with the Six Nations, more than two centuries ago. After suffering various migrations, we find them, having remained faithful to the United States, after the War of 1812, placed on a reservation in Ohio. Then began the labors of the Methodist missionaries among them, one of whom reduced the language of the Wyandottes to writ- ing. The nation obtained to a high degree of education and refine- ment, and many intermarriages took place with the white people. They were moved to Kansas in 1843, numbering at that time 700 per- sons, and settled on the present site of Kansas City, calling their vil- lage by their name. They intermingled and intermarried with the whites, became active traders, and grew quite wealthy. In 1857 a party of four gentlemen from the East formed, with three of the In-
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dians, a town company, and proceeded to lay off streets, avenues and lots. A rush of people to the new town, not only from this country, but from Europe, at once took place, and while buildings were being put up as rapidly as carpenters could be procured, the people lived in tents. Before the close of the year, Wyandotte was a town of some 1,400 population. In January, 1859, the town was erected into a city.
The early history of old Kansas City is obscure and unimportant. In fact, the site of the first houses erected here, about 1857-58, is now covered by the Missouri River. The town, which was settled by little better than squatters, was some time known as the Armstrong Float; they gained their livelihood mostly by fishing. The Kansas City Town Company was formed in 1868; the streets were named after the orig- inal proprietors of the town. In 1871 the Armour Packing House was removed from Kansas City, Mo., to its present site, and this was the begining of the enormous amount of business now carried on here. The town was incorporated in 1872, and for a long time looked to Kansas City, Mo., for fire protection. This portion of the city con- tains the two largest interests in Kansas City- the stock yards and Armour's Packing House -- and other great enterprises.
That part of the city formerly known as Armourdale, named for the Armours, the packers, was platted in 1880, and incorporated as a town in 1882, and came into the consolidation in 1886, as already stated. It is the site of large manufacturing interests, presenting peculiar advantages to the manufacturer. Here are located Kingan & Co., the largest exporters of hog-stuffs in the United States; also the largest dressed beef establishment, three other beef and pork packers, glue works, two fertilizer factories, two foundries, an agricultural imple- ment factory, the headquarters of two large oil companies, refining works and numerous smaller concerns.
Armstrong and Riverview are located about the center of the city, and still retain their names distinctive of the locality. These several formerly separate towns are rapidły being consolidated into one city, a city of over 50,000 inhabitants. The new streets being graded, in- stead of running east and west, pointing to Missouri, run north and south, thus connecting all sections. The great thoroughfare in a short time will be Seventh Street, running from the extreme end of the city on the Missouri, on the north, to the Kansas, or Kaw, on the sonth. It crosses the railroads, which formerly divided Armourdale from the northern part of town, by an all-steel bridge, 1,600 feet long, twenty eight feet above the tracks, with a twenty-foot wagon way, a
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foot path, and twelve feet allowance for the electric motor car. The bridge was built of the most expensive material, the best engineers being engaged. It was paid for, one-third by the city, one-third by the Rock Island Railroad Company and one-third by the Union Pa- cific Railroad Company.
Such is the story of Kansas City's beginning, growth, consolida- tion and subsequent wonderful development, told briefly and quickly- the merest sketch of former chapters, yet sufficiently full to serve as the introduction to the history of the Kansas City of to-day, the me- tropolis of Kansas, characterized by everything that appeals to the admiration of enterprising Americans.
The first officers of the consolidated cities, to serve until April, 1887, were: Mayor, T. F. Hannan; city clerk, J. J. Moffitt; city treasurer, F. S. Merstetter; city attorney, W. S. Carroll; city engineer, J. H. Lasley; street commissioner, John Wren; fire marshal, J. K. Paul; city marshal, John Sheehan; police judge, M. J. Manning.
The city officials from April, 1887, to April, 1889, were: Mayor, T. F. Hannan; city clerk, J. J. Moffitt; city treasurer, F. S. Mer- stetter; city attorney, W. S. Carroll; city engineer, A. W. Boeke; street commissioner, M. J. Manning; fire marshal, J. K. Paul; chief of police, O. K. Serviss; police judge, P. K. Leland; police commis- sioners, W. A. Simpson, George W. Bishop, R. W. Hilliker.
The city officials at the present time are as follows. They were chosen to serve from April, 1889, to April, 1891: Mayor, W. A. Coy; city clerk, Benjamin Schnierle; assistant city clerk, B. L. Short; city counselor, L. W. Keplinger; city attorney, A. H. Cobb; city treas- urer, Charles P. Denison; city engineer, A. W. Boeke; street com- missioner, C. Patterson; fire marshal, W. J. Hill; license inspector. James Ferguson; stock inspector, L. F. Martin; commissoner of elec- tions, W. B. Taylor; city assessor, Frank Mapes; chief of police, S. S. Peterson; police judge, P. K. Leland; police commissioners, W. A. Simpson, president; J. W. Longfellow, secretary; George W. Bishop.
The councilmen of the city of Kansas City, Kas., for 1886-87, were: C. Bohls, W. T. Brown, William Clow, E. Daniels, T. Flem ing, Charles Hains, S. McConnell, James Phillips, Con. Butler and J. C. Martin.
The councilmen for 1887-88 were: Charles Bohls, T. D. Kelley, George McLean, L. F. Martin, William Miller, James Phillips, Charles Scheller, James Sullivan, James Varner, J. C. Martin, Joseph Peavey and J. C. Welsh.
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The councilmen for 1888-89 were: Charles Bohls, H. C. Darby, Winfield Freeman, R. W. Hilliker, George McLean, L. F. Martin, Joseph Peavey, James Phillips, J. I. Packard, Charles Scheller, James Sullivan and J. C. Welsh.
The councilmen for 1889-90 were: H. C. Darby, M. J. Faherty, R. W. Hilliker, Walter Norton, Joseph Peavey, J. I. Packard, W. A. Pyle, Charles Scheller, James Sullivan, D. W. Troup, S. S. Peterson (succeeded by P. B. Hopkins), and Winfield Freeman (succeeded by James A. Young).
The councilmen for 1890-91 are: James Sullivan, M. J. Faherty, Charles Scheller, George C. Eaton, D. W. Troup, James A. Young, Frank M. Tracy, J. L. Jones, R. W. Hilliker, Walter Norton, W. A. Pyle, Harvey Allen.
The wards and precincts of the city are thus officially designated and described:
The First Ward comprises all that portion of the city of Kansas City, Kas., lying east of the Kansas River. First Precinct-All that portion of the First Ward lying south of the center line of the extension of Kansas Avenue east of the Kansas River, including the localities known as Toad-a-Loup and Greystone Heights. Second Precinct- All that portion of the First Ward lying between the center of Lyon Avenue (formerly Fifth Street), on the north and the extension of Kansas Avenue on the south. Third Precinct-All that portion of the First Ward lying north of the center of Lyon Avenue, extended from the Kansas River to the Missonri River.
The Second Ward comprises all that portion of the city lying north of the center of old Ohio Avenue extended, and east of the center line of Fifth Street prolonged to the city limits on the north. Fourth Precinct-All that portion of the Second Ward lying south of the cen- ter line of Minnesota Avenue and east of the center line on Fifth Street. Fifth Precinct-All that portion of the Second Ward lying south of the center of Virginia Avenue, east of the center line of Fifth Street, and north of the center line of Minnesota Avenue. Sixth Precinct- All that portion of the Second Ward lying north of the center of Vir- ginia Avenue, and east of the center line of Fifth Street, prolonged to the northern city limits.
The Third Ward comprises all that portion of the city lying west of the center line of Fifth Street, prolonged to the northern city lim- its, and north to the center line of State Avenue. Seventh Precinct- All that portion of the Third Ward north of the tracks of the Chelsea
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Park branch of the elevated railway. Eighth Precinct-All that por- tion of the Third Ward lying south of the tracks of the Chelsea Park branch of the elevated railway, and east to the center line of Ninth Street. Ninth Precinct-All that portion of the Third Ward lying south of the tracks of the Chelsea Park branch of the elevated rail- way, and west of the center line of Ninth Street.
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