USA > Missouri > Grundy County > The History of Grundy County, Missouri : an encyclopedia of useful information, and a compendium of actual facts > Part 11
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1871.
1,408,760
1872
2,722,750
1873
2,755,500
1874.
2,799,000
1875
3,226,500
1876
3,388,000
1877
3,107,050
1878
4,621,725
1879
5,307,000
1880
5,772,405
ENTERPRISES OF 1878.
On the 19th of January a number of leading citizens organized a mining stock board for the purpose of locating here a market for mining stock. Col. C. E. Kearney was president, T. F. Oakes and H. M. Holden, vice- presidents, Col. Jolin C. Moore, secretary, and Mead Woodson, treasurer. It tried to arrange for the opening of the board May 10th, but did not suc- ceed, and before the close of the year passed into entire quiescence.
BLOODED-STOCK SALES.
On the 15th of May there was opened here the first great sale of blooded cattle, the stock coming mainly from the blue-grass regions of Kentucky. It was tried as a venture by parties owning the stock, and was so successful that it has been since maintained as a semi-annual sale. At this first sale two hundred animals were sold at an aggregate price of twenty-four thou- sand dollars. This and subsequent sales have brought into the country ad- jacent to Kansas City large numbers of blooded animals, the effect of which in the improvement of cattle is already perceived.
SS
IIISTORY OF KANSAS CITY.
THE COURT-HIOUSE AND POST-OFFICE.
On the Sth of March a bill authorizing the construction of a public build- ing in Kansas City, for post-office and custom-house purposes, passed Con- gress. It was introduced by Hon. B. J. Franklin, of this city, who at that time represented this district in Congress, and provided for a building to cost two hundred thousand dollars, one hundred of which were appropriated at that session. Besides the bill for the benefit of Kansas City, Mr. Frank- lin seeured the passage of a bill authorizing the holding of United States courts in this city, and introduced a bill providing for the organization of the Indian Territory and its opening to settlement, for the passage of which he made great, but, unfortunately, unsuccessful effort. In this latter he received the support of the people in unanimous resolutions adopted at public meetings and forwarded to him.
SEVEN HUNDRED AND SIX.
The building for 1878 had proved greater than was expected reaching to seven hundred and six buildings erected during the year, at a cost of $1,040,000, many of them elegant business houses and residences.
THE EVENTS OF 1879.
Early in the year 1879 a proposition was made by some of the mem- bers of the old Chamber of Commerce to revive that organization, but after several meetings and a conference with the Board of Trade the scheme was abandoned and the Committee of Commerce of the Board of Trade was appointed in its stead. This committee has never been an active one, yet several important enterprises have been inaugurated and seenred by it, among which were the smelting-works and barge line of 1880.
One of its first acts was to memorialize Congress on the improvement of the Missouri River. On the 7th of January Messrs. Camp, MeDowell and Poe, government commissioners to locate the court-house and post-office, arrived in Kansas City, and after acquainting themselves with the views of the people and examining the different sites offered, accepted the corner of Ninth and Walnut streets, January 25th, and it was purchased for $8,500 and the work of construeting the building soon afterward begun.
In May a party of United States engineers, under J. W. Nier, Esq., ar- rived in Kansas City and commeneed work on the improvement of the river a few miles north of the city, an appropriation of $30,000 for that pur- pose having been secured by Mr. Franklin. About the same time the first term of the United States District Court was begun in Kansas City, Judge Krekel presiding.
In the latter part of the month, Robert Gillham, a young engineer who had recently located in the city, proposed to improve the means of transit between the western and eastern parts of the city by building a tramway
89
HISTORY OF KANSAS CITY.
down the bluff on Ninth Street. He secured the interest of many of the best men in the city, but the project met with such unfavorable treat- ment at the hands of the city council that it is still one of Kansas City's uncompleted enterprises.
In August the first effort was made to organize a provident association in Kansas City. Mr. J. T. Howenstein was the projector of this movement and about forty prominent business men joined it; but for lack of attention it was allowed to expire.
In September much interest was taken in a proposition to convert the roads of Rosedale and Independence into boulevards, but after a number of public meetings the interest was allowed to die out; yet it will doubtless be done at some future time.
This year was one of great activity in business and individual enterprises of all kinds. Trade was rapidly extended in all directions; the population increased. Real estate became very active, and transfers increased $1,943,- 350; besides which there were thirteen additions platted and largely sold, some of which were outside the city limits. And there were about thirteen hundred new houses built, at an estimated cost of about $1,500,000.
RAILROAD CHANGES.
" Great changes have taken place during the year in the ownership of the railroads at Kansas City. Mr. Jay Gould and associates, who previously held control of the Union & Kansas Pacific and St. Joe & Denver Rail- roads west of the Missouri River and the Wabash Road east of the Missis- sippi, early in the year bought a controlling interest in the St. Louis, Kansas City & Northern and consolidated it with the Wabash under the name of Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific. This connected the roads except the Union Pacific, and to make connections with it the Pattonsburgh Branch of the St. Louis, Kansas City & Northern was extended through to Omaha. Soon afterward the same parties bought the Missouri Pacific and the Central Branch Union Pacific and have since consolidated them, making two divisions, connecting with each other at Kansas City. The same parties also bought an interest in the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad during the year, and latterly have bought the Missouri, Kansas & Texas."
In addition to the sales of roads here mentioned, the Fort Scott Company bought the Springfield & Western Missouri Road in June, and has since completed it to a connection with the main line at Fort Scott; and Mr. Gould bought the Kansas City & Eastern Narrow-gauge in November, and in December it was leased to the Missouri Pacific, which he had previously bought, and became a division of that road. Another important addition to Kansas City's railway facilities was the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific, which in December made a contract with the Hannibal & St. Joseph Rail- road for trackage rights over that road from Cameron, Missouri, and it began to run its trains to Kansas City on the first of January, 1880.
90
HISTORY OF KANSAS CITY.
The year 1879 was characterized by another great railroad war, which seemed to be the result of the completion of the Chicago & Alton Railroad to Kansas City. In view of its early completion the pool was dissolved again on the 12th of April, and a promiscuous cutting of rates opened on the 14th. The Alton, however, was not opened for business until the 18th, and did not begin running passenger trains until May 13. The war arose over the allotment of its share of business to St. Louis, and was inangu- rated by the St. Louis roads. On the 7th of June the war was extended to passenger business also, and for the remainder of the summer passenger rates between Kansas City and St. Louis, and Kansas City and Chicago were but fifty cents; and freight rates went so low that for a considerable time grain was carried from Kansas City to St. Louis for five cents, and to Chicago for seven cents per bushel, and at one time reached the almost in- credible limit of three cents to St. Louis and five to Chicago. The trouble, however, came to a close in September, and on the 12th of that month a new pool was formed which took in the Alton.
BANK CHANGES.
First National Bank failed January 29, 1877. Mastin's Bank failed August 3, 1877. Watkin's Bank was consolidated with the Bank of Kansas City December 8, 1877.
NEWSPAPERS.
DAILY JOURNAL.
The Journal was established by a stock company composed of William Gillis, W. S. Gregory, H. M. Northrup, J. S. Chick, M. J. Payne, Dr. B. Troost, E. M. McGee, Thompson McDaniels and Robert Campbell, and made its first appearance in October, 1854, under the name of The Kan- sas City Enterprise, with D. K. Abeel, Esq., as printer and business man- ager, and William A. Strong, Esq., as editor. One previous attempt had been made by a Mr. Kennedy to establish a paper called the Public Ledger but it failed, and its failure led to the organization above. On the 15th of February, 1872, the Journal Company was organized and incorporated under the State laws-Col. Robt. T. Van Horn, editor, Mr. Abeel con- tinning as business manager until August 9th, 1872, when he disposed of his stock in the company and was succeeded by Isaac P. Moore, Esq. Mr. Abeel, Chas. N. Brooks, M. H. Stevens and W. A. Bunker purchased a controlling interest in the paper and took charge of it Angust 8th, 1877, Col. Van Horn retaining his interest and continuing as editor-in-chief. On the 10th of January, 1881, Messrs. Abeel, Brooks and Bunker retired, and A. J. Blethen became business manager.
Its stock is now $40,000, and during the past year has sold at a high premium. It owns its own building, an elegant structure on the corner
91
HISTORY OF KANSAS CITY.
of Sixth and Delaware streets, worth probably $50,000. It is issued daily, tri-weekly, and weekly, and has a very large circulation.
THE KANSAS CITY TIMES.
On Tuesday morning, September 8, 1868, the first number of the Kansas City Times was issued. In starting the Times there was experienced that risk which every journalist who attempts to establish a new paper en- counters. The first paper was an eight-column folio, the size of the sheet being 262x44 inches. At its head it bore the national Democratic ticket for president and vice-president, and also for State officers. B. R. Drury & Co. were proprietors. On December 22, 1868, the paper changed hands, and a company was organized under the name of the Kansas City Times Publishing Company. Messrs. Wm. E. Dunscombe, Chas. Durfee, J. D. Williams and R. B. Drury were elected directors. Mr. Williams served as business manager, and Messrs. John C. Moore and John N. Edwards, editors.
The present company was formed in 1878 part of the old company selling their interests. The directors of the company after this were James E. Munford, Morrison Munford and Chas. E. Hasbrook; and the officers were James E. Munford, president; M. Munford, secretary and general manager; and Chas. E. Hasbrook, vice-president and business manager.
It occupies its own building on Fifth Street between Main and Delaware, where it has one of the finest counting-rooms in the city-and a thoroughly equipped outfit of machinery, presses, etc., required to publish its immense circulation. It is a newspaper establishment that any city of 100,000 in- habitants might well feel proud of.
. THE KANSAS CITY MAIL.
The Evening Mail Publishing Company was incorporated as a stock company May 4th, 1875, by a few prominent business men of Kansas City, with E. L. Martin as president and John C. Gage as treasurer, having for its object the publication of a journal opposed to the movements of the water-works clique as it then existed. Col. John C. Moore was acting ed- itor-in-chief.
The growth of the Mail has been remarkable. In the winter of 1878-9 the Mail suffered severely from the effects of fire. The present manage- ment found the material of the paper in ashes and cinders. The expense of fitting np a respectable place of business on Missouri Avenue was considera- ble, but the increase of business in the spring and summer of 1879 cleared ' the office of indebtedness and left a margin for future operations. So flatter- ing was the outlook in the beginning of the present year that a new three- revolution Hoe press was ordered and a removal to a more commodious building determined upon.
The Mail is now issued from its new office in the Mail building, 115 West Sixth Street.
92
HISTORY OF KANSAS CITY.
THE EVENING STAR.
Messrs. M. R. Nelson and S. E. Morss, formerly of Fort Wayne, Indiana, came to this city in the fall of 1880 and established The Evening Star, a low priced afternoon journal, similar in size and style to those in all the other large cities of the country. The first number of The Evening Star appeared on the 18th of September. It is still published.
OTHER PUBLICATIONS.
Price Current, Commercial Indicator, Kansas City Review of Science and Industry, Mirror of Progress, 'Mid Continent. There are, also, published two German papers, and a society paper, The Herald. There are two auxiliary publishing companies, one by the Times company, and the other by Bunker & Brother.
CHURCHES.
All the denominations are represented, and they number thirty-six churches in all. The Baptists, Presbyterians and Methodists, the latter North and South, are the largest in number. The Catholics have a fine cathedral and other edifices and are a large and influential body in the city.
There are ten Masonic lodges; eight, of Odd Fellows; five, Knights of Pythias; Grand Army of the Republic, one; two lodges of the order of Mutual Protection; The Ancient Order of David, one; The Ancient Order of Foresters, one; and Good Templars, one; The order of Chosen Friends, has three lodges, and there is the Irish Benevolent Society, and the Ancient Order of Hibernians.
The Academy of Science was organized December 2, 1875. It is repre- sented by some of the ablest minds in the city, and has resulted in much good.
At the annual meeting, May 31, 1881, the following officers were elected for the current year:
R. T. Van Horn, president; W. H. Miller, vice-president; T. J. Eaton, treasurer; Theo. S. Case, corresponding secretary; J. D. Parker, recording secretary; Harry Child, curator; Sidney Hare and Dr. R. Wood Brown, assistant-curators; Robert Gillham, librarian. Dr. T. J. Eaton, Dr. George Halley, Maj. B. L. Woodson and John D. Parker are members of the exec- utive committee.
The Academy has two functions (1) to increase a knowledge of science . by original observation and investigation, and (2) to diffuse a knowledge of science. The Academy has made some valuable collections and has a growing library. The influence of the Academy in diffusing a scientific spirit is beginning to be felt throughout the city and its immediate vicinity.
There are quite a number of miscellaneous societies. The Woman's Christian Association, which was organized in 1876, is worthy of special mention for its great charities and earnest and faithful work. The present
93
HISTORY OF KANSAS CITY.
officers of the society are: Mrs. F. M. Black, president; Mrs. J. K. Cravens and Mrs. F. J. Baird, vice-presidents; Mrs. H. M. Holden, treas- urer; Mrs. Wmn. Williamson, secretary.
The Craig Rifles were organized in the year 1877.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
The public schools of Kansas City are its glory, and there is no city in the Union of its size whose educational advantages are superior, while it is not too much to say that it has few equals. A condensed report of last year will give the reader of this book some idea of its great work.
1880-81.
The schools closed June 9, 1881, after having completed the most pros- perous year's work since their organization. For seven years the utmost harmony has prevailed in every department-the board of education, the superintendent, and teachers-all having worked unceasingly to bring the schools to the highest degree of perfection. From sixteen teachers in 1867, the corps has increased till at present it numbers one hundred and three earnest and faithful workers. Complete preparations have been made to furnish and equip sixteen additional rooms during the present summer so that they will be ready for occupancy when the schools open in September.
Under the skillful financial management of the board, all claims of what- ever character have been promptly paid on demand, and the entire busi- ness for the last six years has been conducted on a cash basis.
In 1873 the first class, consisting of four members, graduated from the Central school, and a class has graduated every year since. The total num- ber of graduates is one hundred and thirty-six, of whom forty-three are males.
Since the foundation of the library in 1876, it has continued to increase in usefulness and importance, and to attend to it properly required so much of the superintendent's time from his other duties, that the board last March employed Mrs. Carrie W. Judson as librarian and to perform such clerical duties at the office of the board of education as the superintendent might direct. The library is now kept open every day and its duties promptly attended to.
Already there are 3,000 volumes in the library, and large additions will be made during the year.
There are 16,9S1 children between six and twenty years of age in this school-district, and 8,026 enrolled in the schools.
The board remains unchanged in its organization and membership.
The public schools of this city have achieved a reputation for substantial work which places them among the foremost in the country.
94
HISTORY OF KANSAS CITY.
.
AS A MANUFACTURING CENTER.
As a manufacturing center Kansas City has unequaled advantages in her cheap and abundant coal, and in the cheapness and abundance of materials afforded by the contiguous country, a brief. summary of which will be found further on in this chapter.
POSITION AND TRADE.
True, this city does not yet supply all the merchandise, nor market all the products of the vast region tributary to her. The country and the city, commercially speaking, are but a quarter of a century old. The people com- ing in from all quarters, as emigrants always do, at first look back to the point from whence they came for supplies and for markets. It takes time to establish new associations. This city, as a depot of supply, is not over fifteen years old, and as a market only about ten, but her development in these respects is, for rapidity, without a parallel. in the history of cities. She has trade relations established throughout the domain, and now reaches a point where all competitors must give way forever. She sends merchandise to Kansas, Colorado, Nebraska, Missouri, Iowa, New Mexico and Texas, and though this trade has not been in existence to exceed ten years, she has now nearly excluded all competitors from the markets for the cattle of Texas, Colorado, Nebraska, Kansas, the Indian Territory, New Mexico, and western Missouri; the hogs of western Missouri, Kansas, south- western Iowa, southern Nebraska and Northern Texas; the sheep and wool of Kansas, Colorado and New Mexico, and the wheat of western Missouri, Kansas, and southern Nebraska, and partly of southwestern Iowa.
That she will in a few years market all the products of this vast area and supply it with all its merchandise, is certain. Her railway lines penetrate it, radiating in all directions. The railway system of this entire area centers at Kansas City, the roads that do not terminate here making their connection with those that do. The non-use of navigable waters makes the railways the sole arteries of commerce, and that they will bear the pro- ducts of the country to Kansas City, and bear the merchandise from Kansas City, is as certain as that they radiate from Kansas City to all parts of the country.
It is a remarkable fact that the markets of Kansas City came into exist- ence and grew to nearly equal importance with those of St. Louis and Chi- cago-in some respects to a controlling position-within five years, while there was little visible growth in the city and little immigration into the country. It is a remarkable fact also that during the same period, and un- der the same conditions, the mercantile business of the city was quadrupled, and has continued to grow with unprecedented rapidity since. The signifi- cance of these facts is unmistakable. It simply means the rapid, intense concentration of the trade of the country at Kansas City.
95
HISTORY OF KANSAS CITY.
As a manufacturing center Kansas City has unequalled advantages in her cheap and abundant coal, and the cheapness and vastness of her material supplies afforded by the contiguous country. She has become a vast depot of supplies for the entire western and southern domain, an area covered by no other city on the continent.
ASSESSED VALUATION.
The assessed valuation of property, real and personal, in Kansas City, shows the following rapid increase. The valuation is given by decades up to 1870, and then by years, to show the fluctuation of values and the effect of the great financial crash of 1874, which culminated in 1876, and its rapid recovery since that date.
The following is the valuation of all property for the years given.
1846
$ 500,000
1861
1,814,320
1870
9,629,455
1875.
11,728,750
1876
8,923,190
1877
9,370,287
1878
9,092,320
1879
10,706,660
1880
13,378,950
The clearing-house report from 1876 to 1880, inclusive, gives the follow- ing handsome showing:
1876
$ 62,840,608.76
1877
69,213,011 51
1878
41,000,317.56
1879
68,280,251.55
1880
101,330,000.00
THE NEW WEST AND ITS RESOURCES.
The area in which Kansas City trades may be defined as between the 17th and 29th meridian west from Washington, and the 23d and 41st parallels of latitude, embracing a greater variety of climate and mineral and soil pro- ducts than can be found in any similar area in the world. The great agri- cultural belt of the United States crosses it. It contains the greatest pasto- ral region in the world, and embraces the famous lead, zinc and coal mines of Missouri and Kansas, and the lead, coal, iron, silver and gold mines of Colorado and New Mexico. There are no adequate statistics of its popula- tion or productions. It is so new and has been settling and developing so rapidly since the general census, in 1870, that the facts of the census would grossly misrepresent its present condition, and the census of 1880 is not yet available.
The general conditions of a country have much to do in determining its
96
IHISTORY OF KANSAS CITY.
fitness for the habitation of man. These may be said to consist of climate, rain-fall and soil, and we propose to take a brief view of tliese.
CLIMATE.
As above stated, this country embraces a wide range of climate, due partly to the number of latitudes it embraces, and partly to the difference in altitude, the country rising from about seven hundred feet at the Mis- souri River, to about five thousand at the base of the mountains. However, the most desirable latitudes cross it, the country between the 38th and 42d parallels, both in this country and Europe, having been found to be the best adapted to vigorous manhood, longevity and physical and mental effort. These parallels embrace, on both hemispheres, the largest per cent of the population north of the equator, and the seat of man's highest achieve- ments.
SOIL.
The soil of Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri and Iowa are composed of what geologists call the drift, loess and alluvial deposits. The first is of compar- atively limited extent, and is mostly found combined with the loess in what is known as modified drift. In this form it is very fertile, and yields sixty bushels of corn to the acre. The second embraces all the upland soil, and the third the bottom-lands.
THE CLOSE.
Thus has been sketched Kansas City and her surroundings. No city in the Union has exceeded her wonderful growth, or developed greater com- mercial resources, and that growth and strength will continue with increas- ing years. She is the marvel of the nineteenth century, and as such every Missourian should know her and feel a pride in her extraordinary success.
HISTORY OF ST. JOSEPH.
ST. JOSEPH, MISSOURI.
EARLY SETTLEMENTS.
The First Settlement at Blackstone Hills-Robidoux-Biographical Sketch-At the Bluffs- Then at Roy's Branch and Blacksnake Hills-1834-1836-Robidoux's Home-Employes- Servant-Ferry-From 1837 to 1840-Rival Towns-Wolves.
The French element of the class of pioneers settled Canada and the north- western part of the United States, as well as the country abont the mouth of the Mississippi River. They came into the upper Mississippi and Mis- souri Valleys in 1764, under the lead of Pierre Laclede Liqueste (always called Laclede), who had a charter from the French government giving him the exclusive right to trade with the Indians in all the country as far north as St. Peter's River. Laclede brought part of his colony from France, and received large accessions to it in New Orleans, mainly of hunters and trap- pers, who had had experience with the Indians. In the year 1764 this col- ony founded the present city of St. Louis. From this point they immedi- ately began their trading and trapping incursions into the then unbroken wilderness in their front. Their method of proceeding seems to have been to penetrate into the interior and establish small local posts for trading with the Indians, whence the trappers and hunters were outfitted and sent ont into the adjacent woods.
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