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:
THE COMMERCE
-OF-
{
KANSAS CITY
IN 1886
WITH A
GENERAL REVIEW OF ITS BUSINESS PROGRESS.
PRICE $2.00.
KANSAS CITY, Mo.:
S. FERD. HOWE, Publisher.
-1886.
}

COPYRIGHT,
1886.
BY S. FERD. HOWE,
KANSAS CITY, MO.!
RAMSEY, MILLETT & HUDSON,
PRINTERS, ENGRAVERS, ETC.
Reclass.
2-10-30-FIR
желу
PREFACE.
In presenting this review of "The Commerce of Kansas
City in 1886" to subscribers and the public, the publisher wishes
it to be understood that it is his intention that this work should
form the basis of similar publications, the various issues of
which will be made at such intervals of time as the growth of
the commerce of the city may suggest-the principal object
being, to afford, to country merchants in particular, and to bank-
ers and capitalists in the east and in Europe, the fullest informa-
tion regarding all the most important business interests of the
city, and to present in each issue as accurate and complete a
statement of the condition, development, and prospects of each
leading line of business, as can possibly be obtained.
Statistics, compiled from the best and most reliable sources,
will form a large feature of each work; but these will be elabo-
rated and illuminated with carefully-written reviews setting
forth in concise form all the particular advantages and circum-
stances that have led up to the present stage of growth, and
which give promise of yet greater advancement.
Where institutions, corporations, firms, or individuals are
personally mentioned, it will be, as in the present volume, for
the purpose of illustrating the subject, and demonstrating the
accuracy of the statements made.
To all who are seeking specific and reliable information
177999
}
4
PREFACE.
regarding Kansas City, either with a view to investment or to
manufacturing or entering into any business relations whatever,
in connection with the city, the publisher of this work will
always be pleased to promptly furnish definite information on
receipt of an application for the same by mail.
KANSAS CITY, Mo.
S. FERD. HOWE,
Publisher.

انات
GILLIS OPERA HOUSE.


COMPLETE
INDEX TO CONTENTS
Will be found at the end of the book.

SPECIAL NOTICE.
Any one who wishes to obtain particular and defi-
nite information of a reliable character regarding the
prospects of investment, manufacturing or entering into
business in Kansas City, can secure the same by address-
ing the publisher of this work.
All persons to whom a copy of this book is forwarded,
are particularly requested to acknowledge, by mail, the
receipt of the same to the sender.
INTRODUCTORY REVIEW.
HAT has been so freely characterized, in newspaper
W
parlance, as the extraordinary and phenomenal growth
of Kansas City, is but a repetition, on an extended scale, of
events that have transpired at intervals in the development of
this entire country. To a reflective mind, reading the past by
the light of the present, it must be evident that although the
growth of this city, particularly during the past five years, has
been something astonishing in comparison with that of cities
in less favored localities, it has still been a healthy, natural, and
continuous growth, directly due to causes that are still at work
and whose influence must necessarily sustain the progress of
the city for many years to come. It is a grevious mistake,
which leaves an altogether wrong impression, to speak of the
development of this city in language that is only applicable to
speculative, mushroom towns that have their origin in the
brain of some interested land agent. Kansas City is not the
creation of any one body of men, or indeed, of any one gener-
ation of men; it is the work of the past century, and every in-
dividual that has promoted the cultivation of the land, the
development of the industries, or added in any way to the
advancement of the United States, has unconsciously, perhaps,
yet certainly, lent his aid in the creation of the next great
metropolis of the west. In other words, it is the direct and
legitimate offspring of our national growth. To what rank
among the cities of the world Kansas City is ultimately des-
tined to attain, it would at this stage be presumption even to
enquire. But that her future for the next half century is
8
COMMERCE OF KANSAS CITY.
brighter and more assured than any other city on this great
continent ever at any time enjoyed, must be apparent to all
who have given the growth of the western cities of the United
States, and the influences that have caused their growth, even
a passing consideration. The development of this country has
ever been, and must ever be, westward. It is not a great many
years since New York looked upon Cincinnati as the city of
the frontier; then followed St. Louis, and in the north-west
Chicago, who each in turn reaped the rich harvest as the nearest
and direct connection with the ever increasing productive agri-
cultural country. Yet neither of these cities at any time
enjoyed such a favorable outlook as Kansas City does to-day.
Since the time either of these assumed importance as commercial
centers, the entire country, east as well as west, has become
more thickly populated; manufactures have increased, science
has greatly facilitated the means of transportation and com-
munication, the country has grown in wealth, new machinery
has cheapened the cost of cultivating the soil, in short we have
since that time passed through the most progressive fifty years
that the world has ever known, and the great results of that
progressive time are nowhere more apparent or more strongly
felt than throughout the whole of the fertile territory in the
center of which Kansas City is situated.
That this city has passed far beyond the reach of rivalry,
and is securely in possession of the supremacy of the position,
as the most western market, is shown throughout every chapter
of this work, in which the more important of her commercial
interests are fully reviewed. There are, however, certain
features that so strongly indicate the solid and permanent
character of the growth of Kansas City, and the certainty of
its continuance, that they are worthy of more than a passing
consideration. The magnificent railroad system that centers in
Kansas City opens up for her a vast amount of distant territory,
the trade of which she can absolutely command for many years
to come; and this distant territory is at present only in its
INTRODUCTORY REVIEW.
9
infancy, both as to its productions and the quantity of goods
of all kinds that it consumes. But, to come close to home: in
the greater part of Missouri the soil is rich, the minerals rich.
and abundant, the population is increasing, probably more
rapidly than in any other State in the Union, and all the evi-
dences are present of a rapid and healthy growth in wealth and
all the elements of permanent prosperity. Statistics show that
during the past five years the wealth or valuation of property
in the State has increased from $500,000,000 to $750,000,000.
Our nearest neighbor, the State of Kansas, increased its popu-
lation 272,466 in the years from 1880 to 1885, making the total
population of the State in the latter year 1,268,562, or fifteen
persons to the square mile. In a recent number of the North
American Review there appeared an exhaustive article from the
pen of Governor John A. Martin, on "The Progress of Kansas,"
from which we quote these figures: He goes on to say—
"If the test of population is not deemed a fair one, and it
is asserted that Kansas has filled up with poor people crowded
out of the East and attracted by cheap lands, on which they
have not been able to accumulate wealth or even a competency,
the answer is the production of official figures. In round
numbers the true valuation of property in Kansas in 1860 was
$31,000,000; in 1865, $72,000,000; in 1870, $188,000,000; in
1875, $242,000,000; in 1880, $321,000,000; and in 1885, $550,-
000,000. These figures show that the State has increased in
wealth even more rapidly than it has in population.
“The value of the farm crops of Kansas for the five years
ending with 1870 was, in round numbers, $59,000,000; for the
next succeeding five years their value was $135,000,000; for the
next five years, $264,000,000; and for the five years ending
with 1885 the farm crops of Kansas aggregated in value
$503,000,000. The farmers of Kansas have produced, in twenty
years, crops the value of which aggregates the enormous sum
of $963,000,000.
"Of the 52,288,000 acres, only about 10,000,000 have ever
10
COMMERCE OF KANSAS CITY.
been under the plow. If in twenty years $963,000,000 worth
of agricultural products have been turned off, with, at most,
less than one-fifth of the State under cultivation, what may be
expected during the next twenty years, while the remaining
four-fifths are being converted into fenced fields and pastures?
In 1864 there was not a mile of railway within the borders of
the State; there are now 4,750 miles, and hundreds of miles to
be added during the present year.”
These are only two out of the eleven states and territories
for which Kansas City forms the seat of supplies and whose
products will find their best and natural market in this city.
Thus it will be evident that the future of Kansas City is
assured, and though the growth shown in business transactions
during the past five years has been startlingly great, yet it
possesses nothing of a spasmodic character, but is the natural
result of the rapid development of the rich territory by which
the city is surrounded. The knowledge that Kansas City stands
twenty-ninth in population of American cities, and tenth or
eleventh in clearings, is conclusive proof that she is doing more
business for her population than any city of equal size in the
world. Her past and present prosperity and growth are due to the
fact that her development is far behind that of the surrounding
country tributary to her. As proof that Kansas City is not a
spasmodic or imaginary boom, and is far behind the develop-
ment of the country directly surrounding her within a circle
of eighty miles, and that western cities draw their business
from the country west of them, the following interesting facts
from the census of 1880 are given:
Kansas City, population exclusive of city.
Chicago, population exclusive of city....
St. Louis, population exclusive of city
Kansas City, assessed valuation, including city.
Chicago, assessed valuation, including city
St. Louis, assessed valuation, including city.
...
731,623
.714,991
..681,866
$156,059,107
387,438,000
318,882,000
As Kansas City had 55,000 population, Chicago 503,-
300 population, and St. Louis 350,500 population, it will be
INTRODUCTORY REVIEW.
11
seen that Chicago had nine times, and St. Louis six times more
population than Kansas City, but Kansas City had more assessed
wealth, according to population, than either Chicago or St. Louis, viz:
Kansas City had per capita......
Chicago had per capita....
St. Louis had per capita.....
$28.37
7.69
9.00
and had Kansas City. the population of Chicago in 1880 her
assessed wealth would have been $1,404,531,963, instead of
Chicago's $387,438,000, and $936,354,642, instead of St. Louis'
$318,882,000.
That the natural location of Kansas City had much to do
in bringing the railways here, and that they have been the
greatest influence in bringing the city into the prominence it
has attained, no one will altogether deny; and yet it has been
the fashion among many men-some of them, men whose in-
terests are identified with Kansas City-to sneer at the sugges-
tion of "natural advantages" playing any considerable part in
shaping the destinies of a city. This is a short-sighted view of
matters. Natural advantages by themselves, will of course,
amount to very little. But there is this to be said in their favor.
Men of brains, courage, and knowledge will spend their energies
and means on just the places where the best natural advantages
exist, and so it will always happen, by a sort of natural selec-
tion, that the places offering the best conditions for commerce
and manufactures will have in turn, the best artificial advan-
tages to aid them.
Those will be wise men, and their reward will come speed-
ily, who employ their brains and capital in aiding to develop
the trade of this great city. Intelligence, energy, and such
money as providence may have supplied, can find no better
field for their exercise than in Kansas City. As population
accumulates westward of the Mississippi, the empire of com-
merce will move westward also. West of Kansas City there is
no point so fitted for the concentration of trade. Other cities
12
COMMERCE OF KANSAS CITY.
in the West may, in the course of time, grow up and flourish,
and it is to be hoped that they will, but all will finally pay
tribute to this, the destined great distributing point of the
central valley of the continent.
The official census of the city shows the population to have
been in 1870, 32,263; 1872, 40,145; 1877, 43,719; 1879, 49,749;
1880, 58,345; 1885, 105,042. At the present time (June, 1886),
the total population of Kansas City, including the suburbs and
Kansas City, Kansas, which, although across the river, for all
commercial purposes is a part of the city, is placed by the most
conservative estimate at 140,000 people.
The prosperity of Kansas City can be seen from the follow-
ing figures, which show the assessed valuation of real estate in
Kansas City from 1860 to 1885:
1860
1865
1870
1875
1880
1882
1885
$1.812,480.00
1,922,670.00
9,529,455.00
11,728,650.00
13,378,950.00
24,316,020.00
31,678,520.00
The debt of the city is exceedingly small, and even what
does exist is being rapidly paid off, as will be seen from the
following table:
1875.......
Bonded Debt.
Floating Debt.
.$132,378.50.......
10,860.00...
Total Debt.
$1,420,180.82
1,336,724.75
1,170,264.01
1,095,166.25
1,045,128.75
965,000.00
1880....
1882......
1883...
1884....
1885......
.$1,287,802.32.....
1,325,864.75.....
1,170,264.01
1,095,166.25......
1,045,128.75.
965,000.00.....
The municipal government of Kansas City has been excep-
tionally good, and will compare very favorably with that of
any city in the country. Its officers seem to be inspired with
that spirit of pride in the progress of the city that is so notice-
able among all its business men. And while the various
departments of Education, Police, Fire, and all others pertain-
INTRODUCTORY REVIEW.
13
ing to the city's government, are kept in the best possible con-
dition, yet the rate of taxation has been constantly decreasing,
as is shown in the following table :
1880.....
1881...
1882.....
MILLS.
22
1883......
20
.17/
1884...
1885....
MILLS.
16
•
15
15
The following exhibit, showing the number of building
permits issued, with the amount of each, for the past six years,
strongly indicates the substantial character of the city's growth:
NO.
741....
AMOUNT.
1880......
1881.....
1882......
1883....
1884...
1885.....
712.....
1,071......
1,172.....
·
2,121.....
•
2,914...
$1,813,841
2,133,200
2,074,109
2,583,295
3,562,788
5,758,629
The following statement shows the amount of internal
revenue paid to the Government by Kansas City for the past
six years:
On What Account.
1880.
1881.
1882.
1883.
1884.
1885.
Beer....
$16,742 00
$18,695 00
$20,200 00
$48,437 34
$63,957 32
$69,423 60
Cigars
26,530 60
32,524 85
32,830 20
46,152 25
47,110 66
46,121 42
Tobacco
5,357 32
10,573 08
6,573 04
28,750 16
46,866 14
42,654 77
Licenses..
17,789 42
20,972 58
24,798 42
69,541 55
100,012 99
100,131 22
Banks
28,712 14
34,892 72
37,244 39
50,700 36
Spirits...
7,200 00
38,632 20
490,059 00
907,698 27
812,172 10
Penalties......
716,884 80
420 00
1,250 00
640 20
3,313 67
2,487 47
Total..... $102,751 48 $157,540 43 $612,345 25 $1,151,279 93 $1,073,432 88 $978,703 18
The following statement shows the business transacted at
the Kansas City postoffice for the past five years:
14
COMMERCE OF KANSAS CITY.

Receipts, Expenditures, Eto.
1881.
1882.
1883.
1884.
1885.
Total expense of car-
rier system..
Receipts from general
business........
Total expense of the of-|
fice....
$156,624.12 $178,508.81 $197,605.13 $227,149.05 $233,862.95
24,014.73 37,785.18 33,186.17
37,304.37 36,571.20
15,660.71
No. of money orders is-
sued.....
Net profits of the of-
fice....
116,949.68
18,748.86 21,157.98
132,024.77
24,379.41 27,706.97
143,260.98
155,465.33 169,584.78
18,534
19,461
20,620
27,283
34,118
Am't received for the
same....………….
No. of money orders
paid...
Total amount of the
same..
Registered letters rec'd
for city delivery……........
Registered letters sent
from the city...
by carriers..
Total pieces delivered
Total pieces
collected
street letter boxes...
Total pieces handled by
letter carriers....
$252,960.39 $265,208.67 $272,403.54 $305,893.00 $332,134.31
59,945
70,045
94,247
118,708
144,450
$872,666.32 $956,886.78 $1,160,146.03 $1,321,431.30 $1,400,242.77
44,473
56,488
79,894
62,102
75,615
16,725
18,860
25,416
24,605
25,896
6,649,171
7,619,116
9,489,707
12,458,570
14,272,131
2,501,553 2,806,483 3,555,157 4,677,438
5,913,571
9,153,724 10,425,599 13,044,864 17,136,008 20,185,702
'The following statement shows the business transacted at
the Kansas City Custom House:
1885.
January
February
March
April .....
May
June..
July
August
MONTHLY STATEMENT.
September..
VALUES.
DUTIES.
$ 6,409 37
7,054 67
$2,513 14
2,656 93
4,629 11
2,036.10
12,871 53
7,362 43
4,796 21
2,468 34
4,597 19
2,484 78
8,084 73
3,373 30
9,381 69
3,922 75
10,503 69
October...
5,682 42
15,413 85
8,506 22
November..
December....
1,462 31
1,057 12
5,589 38
2,972 03
Total 1885.......
$ 90,793 73
$44,835 86
Total 1884.………….
101,671 40
52,053 95
Total 1883
Total 1882....
74,457 65
33,845 35
468 25
211 59
INTRODUCTORY REVIEW.
15
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​பகள்E
As a residence city, there are few in the land more desir-
able, the delightful climate rendering it unusually and uniformly
healthy. It has already more beautiful homes than any other
city of its size, and the undulating character of the ground on
which the city is built only adds to the charms and beauty of
its residence portions. Finally, the system of internal trans-
portation is unsurpassed in the country; the city being belted
with a converging network of cable and horse railway lines,
which render access to any portion both easy and expeditious.
It is scarcely necessary to extend these prefatory remarks,
since the details of the chief industries of the city will be found
in this volume in their appropriate places.


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EQUITABLEMORTGAGE CO.
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AMERICAN NATIONAL BANK.
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Commerce of Kansas City
IN 1886.
BARKING AND FINANCE.
What the life blood is to the animal system, its banking
capital is to a commercial community-if it be too scant, vital-
ity will languish; if too plethoric or irregular in its action, the
result will be congestion or erratic operations that will neces-
sarily lead to disaster; the latter result is little to be feared in
the youthful and healthy frame which needs all the life-giving
principle it can acquire to sustain and strengthen its growth.
To drop the simile, there is little danger that the banking cap-
ital of Kansas City will exceed the requirements of its business
for many years to come. As is natural in such a rapidly-
growing community, there is a strong, healthy demand for
money with which to develop and enrich the country and to
carry on the ever increasing business that concentrates here.
Kansas City is practically the clearing house for Kansas, Colo-
rado, New Mexico, and Western Missouri, and by far the larger
portion of the banks in these States and Territories keep their
balances in this city. When the act now before Congress is
18
COMMERCE OF KANSAS CITY.
passed-and it is probable that it will be by the time this vol-
ume reaches the public-Kansas City will have been made a
depository for the National Banks, and the reserve funds of
country banks kept here will be greatly augmented. The
banks here have the reputation of being eminently conserva-
tive, and as there are no speculative influences here to increase
the clearings as in other cities, these may be taken to fairly in-
dicate the substantial gain that is constantly being made in the
aggregate amount of business transacted.
The following table shows the monthly clearings of Kansas
City for the past four years:
MONTHS.
1882.
1883.
1884.
1885.
January..
$ 7,189,500 $
9,880,000 $
12,448,702 15 $
18,240,279 28
February
6,053,807
9,109,750
11,908,874 29
14,552,210 47
March....
6,000,650
10,070,200
12,300,282 48
14,162,660 91
April.....
6,409,150
9,807,150
12,895,643 55
17,176,890 56
May....
6,603,800
12,440,150
13,771,382 13
19,657,784 11
June..
7.268,550
10,472,600
13,424,042 92
20,266,433 18
July...
8,324,150
10,437,250
16,678,008 01
18,378,816 76
August........
9,171,100
11,960,150
17,524.882 55
19,219,250 25
September...
8,766,300
10,437,250
18,034,957 16
17,642,597 42
October
10,029,300
12,823,250
17,406.421 80
21,985,652 20
November... 11,026,700
12,559,800
15,350,030 25
21,677,749 03
December
11,300,500
12,718,000
17,282,231 03
20,612,309 42
Total 68,135,500 $ 131,501,000 $ 177,520,418 02 $ 223,582,933 59
That Kansas City has increased her commercial transac-
tions during periods of great stagnation, and when the business
of other cities has been at a standstill, if not positively retro-
gressing, is very clearly shown by comparing the amount of
bank clearings of the foremost cities of the country for the whole
year of 1885 with 1884. These figures speak for themselves.
The following table gives the amounts of clearings of the
leading cities of the country for 1885 and 1884, with the amonnt
of percentage of increase and decrease:
:
BANKING AND FINANCE.
19
DECREASE.
CLEARANCES OF LEADING CITIES FOR 1885 AND 1884.
CITY.
CLEARINGS, 1885. CLEARINGS, 1884.
INCREASE.
PER CENT PER CENT
OF INC. OF DEC.
New York.
Boston
$28,152,215,070 72 $ 30,985,871,170 41$.
$2,833,656,099 69
09.14
3,554,807,130 00
3,519,267,577 00
35,539,553 00
.10
Philadelphia....
Chicago.
2,427,998,657 63
2,299,555,942 57
2,514,028,803 45
86,030,145 82
03.42
· 2,259,680,391 74
39,875,550 83
01.78
St. Louis
750,768,775 00
785,202,177 00
34,433,402 00
04.38
Baltimore
589,216,424 31
631,717,134 50
42,500,710 19
06.72
San Francisco...
556,200,647 59
556,857,691 03j
687,043 44
00.00122
Cincinnati..
448,350,000 00
460,450,000 00
12,100,000 00
02.62
New Orleans.
389,563,200 00
448,568,500 00
59,005,300 00
13.15
Pittsburg.
355,819,335 00
469,724,035 00
113,904,700 00
24.23
Kansas City
$223,582,933 52$ 177,185,467 33 46,397,466 19
26.18
Louisville..
216,816,796 88
211,261,852 79
4,554,944 09
02.15
Providence...
213,881,100 00
217,448,300 00
3,567,200 00
01.63
Milwaukee
Detroit
Cleveland
188,069,542 84
178,995,637 57
9,073,905 27
05.07
141,584,789 00
133,570,835 00
8,013,954 00
05.97
101,255,831 00
106,044,770 00
4,788,939 00
04,51
Hartford
80,851,199 29
81,834,837 18
983,637 89
01.20
Indianapolis....
71,237,042 63
73,213,168 52
1,976,125 00
02.69
i
Memphis.........
65,981,986 75
60,040,360 76
5,941,625 99
09.91
20
COMMERCE OF KANSAS CITY.
The following table shows the clearings of Kansas City
each month of the present year up to date, compared with the
same month of 1885 :
January
February
March
April
May...
Total .....
MONTHS.
1886.
1885.
$ 17,902,423 26 $
18,240,279 28
17,113,546 80
14,552,210 47
20,881,563 37
14,162,960 91
25,065,088 16
17,176,890 56
25,675,866 19
19,657,784 11
$106,638,487 78 $ 83,790,125 33
This shows the very substantial increase of $22,848,362.45
in the business for the first five months of the present year over
the same period in 1885, transacted by the nine banks that
compose the clearing house. There are altogether twelve bank-
ing institutions in this city, using an aggregate of capital and
surplus amounting to $4,186,000.
In addition to these, there has been organized, during the
present month of June, 1886, the American National Bank,
with a paid up capital of $1,250,000. This will increase the
banking capital here to $5,436,000. The particulars of the
organization of this new financial institution will be found
among the reviews of the banks.
Following is given a brief historical sketch of the banks
here, at the conclusion of which are the latest published state-
ments of their condition :
THE CITIZENS NATIONAL BANK.
The Citizens National Bank was incorporated in 1882. It
has a fully paid up capital of $200,000, and a surplus of $50,-
000, which has accumulated from its earnings after a dividend.
of five per cent semi-annually had been paid to its stockhold-
Its line of individual deposits average $1,500,000, which
ers.
BANKING AND FINANCE.
21
is a clear illustration of the high esteem in which it is held,
and the confidence that is reposed in it by the merchants here.
The reports of the bank show that their deposits amounted in
December 1884, to $794,869, and in the same month of 1885
they were $1,119,673, an increase of very nearly fifty per cent
in one year; the business of the bank having fairly kept pace with
the increased commercial wealth and importance of the city.
The strong reserve of cash, sight exchange, and United States.
bonds, are also an indication of its conservative management,
and show how well this confidence has been earned. The bank is
the designated depository of the United States, and handles
the government funds that are collected or disbursed in this
city. It has correspondents in all the principal cities, which
afford unsurpassed facilities for the making of collections, in
which it does a large amount of business. It draws its own
exchange upon all the most prominent cities of Europe, and
through the American Exchange in Europe it issues letters of
credit which can be cashed in almost any part of the world.
The policy of the bank has always been of the most con-
servative character, and its attention has been directed solely
to the doing of a purely commercial banking business. It has
never lent its aid to any schemes, however flattering, but has
sought alone the best interests of the commercial community
of this city and the territory which is tributary to it. For
these reasons its success has been sustained and the satisfac-
tion of stockholders and depositors alike secured.
The officers of the bank are closely identified with the
commercial interests and prosperity of Kansas City. Mr. J. J.
Squier, the president, is a well known capitalist of this city,
where his transactions in live stock and in real estate have
been very large; he was also one of the original organizers of
this institution. Mr. Phil. E. Chappell, the vice-president, is
an Ex-State Treasurer of the State of Missouri, and has a wide
acquaintance throughout the State. Mr. R. W. Hocker is the
second vice-president. Mr. W. H. Seeger, the cashier, has been
:

|BANKGFKANSASCITY
BANK
NATIONAL BANK OF KANSAS CITY.
TARIN EU
MUN MEI MI
يدي ناس لااند اسد الدفي
نافة البلدان
BANKING AND FINANCE.
23
a resident here for twenty-seven years and has had fifteen
years banking experience in this city, which has given him an
insight into the development of its business, of the most valu-
able character; he was also one of the most active of the orig-
inal incorporators of the bank. The board of directors is
composed of gentlemen who are widely known as ranking
among the most influential capitalists and merchants of this
city, and each is at the head of the prosperous mercantile
establishment with which he is identified. The following are
the names of the directors: S. McWilliams, Phil. E. Chappell,
Jas. B. Bell, C. W. Whitehead, Thos. K. Hanna, W. H. Seeger,
Frank J. Baird, John Conover, Chas. B. Leach, R. W. Hocker,
J. J. Squier, A. A. Whipple, Geo. P. Olmstead.
NATIONAL BANK OF KANSAS CITY.
The National Bank of Kansas City, through its president,
traces its pedigree direct from the first banking house estab-
lished in Kansas City, that of Northrup & Chick, in 1857. In
1875 the Bank of Kansas City was incorporated with a capital
of $25,000, and Mr. J. S. Chick, one of its most active pro-
moters, became its president.
The career of this bank is an epitome of the growth of
Kansas City. In January, 1881, it had a capital of $200,000,
and in May, the same year, it was found necessary to increase
this to $300,000, and again in December, still the same year,
active employment was found for double that amount, and the
capital was accordingly increased to $600,000. In the early
part of the present year, 1886, the increased aggregate amount
of business transacted in this city had assumed such propor-
tions that it was deemed expedient to still further increase the
capital of this old-time institution to $1,000,000, and on the
23d of March the stockholders voted in favor of entering the
national system. The bank was accordingly reorganized
received its authorization from the Banking Department at
Washington, and became "The National Bank of Kansas City."
24
COMMERCE OF KANSAS CITY.
Mr. J. S. Chick, the president, is probably one of the best
known and most highly esteemed bankers of the West. His
record in New York, where he was at one time engaged in
business, and in the West, where he has spent the best years
of his life, is one of indefatigable energy and sterling commer-
cial integrity. The policy of the bank, under his guidance,
has been directed solely to the transaction of a legitimate bank-
ing business. The faithful maintenance of this policy resulted
most happily for this bank when the dark storm of the finan-
cial panic broke upon the country in 1873. Its strength was
then most severely tested, and that it passed through success-
fully is the greatest tribute to its prudent and conservative
management.
The repeated increase in its capital fairly indicates the
progressive and enterprising character of the management. It
has at all times kept pace with the ever increasing demands of
what is probably the most thriving and rapidly growing city
in the country, and this institution has ever been an active
factor in promoting the development of the city itself, and its
most prominent business interests.
a.
The operations of the bank to-day are conducted on
thoroughly metropolitan scale, its transactions amounting to
one and a half millions of dollars per day. It has more than
three hundred correspondents among the country banks and
bankers of the West and South-west, and enjoys special facili-
ties for making collections in Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska
Texas, Colorado, and New Mexico. Fully realizing the neces-
sities of a growing community, the bank extends to its cus-
tomers the most liberal accommodations that is consistent with
sound judgment and safe banking principles. Its facilities for
transactions which entail foreign or eastern exchange are of the
most perfect description, as it draws its own exchange direct on
London and all the more important continental cities and
financial centers of Europe. Its New York correspondents are
the First National Bank of New York and the National Bank
BANKING AND FINANCE.
25
..
of Commerce.
The officers of the bank are: J. S. Chick,
president; W. H. Chick, vice-president; W. J. Anderson,
cashier; F. N. Chick, assistant cashier. The board of directors,
which consists of some of the most prominent capitalists of this
city, is as follows: J. W. L. Slavens, W. J. Anderson, W. S.
Gregory, W. H. Chick, T. F. Willis, L. R. Moore, J. C. James,
W. B. Grimes, H. C. Harper, J. W. Byers, W. M. Ryley, B.
Donnelly, Adam Long, J. S. Chick, and R. H. Keith.
BANK OF COMMERCE.
The Bank of Commerce was formerly known as the Kan-
sas City Savings Association.
In 1865 the Kansas City Savings Association was organ-
ized under a special charter of the legislature of that year, and
commenced business under the active management of its
cashier, Mr. C. J. White, who was the principal promoter of its
organization, and who still retains the same important office in
the Bank of Commerce. The history of this Bank has been a
proud and eventful one. It has been one of the chief bulwarks
of the financial credit of this community during periods of the
greatest alarm and depression. In the panic of 1873, when so
many of the largest banking institutions of the country suc-
cumbed to the stringency and fluctuations of the money
market, this institution paid every check on presentation.
With the greatly increasing business of Kansas City, and
- its consequent closer and more intimate relations with eastern
financial institutions, it was found that the name of Savings
Association was rather tended to mislead than to clearly desig-
nate the commercial character of the business transacted by this
bank; and further, the old charter of 1865 limited its capital
to $100,000. For these reasons it was determined by the man-
agement to change the name of the institution to that of the
Bank of Commerce, as more appropriate to the extensive
nature of the commercial business which it had always done,

#1186
BARK COMMERCE
BANK OF COMMERCE.
BANKING AND FINANCE.
27
and to procure a new charter which would admit of an in-
creased capital. This was accomplished in 1883, the capital
was accordingly increased to $200,000, and the success which
has attended its reorganization is strongly indicated by its
present surplus of $150,000, and the fact that in addition to
earning this surplus, it has paid its stock-holders an annual
dividend of twelve per cent. Its facilities for collections and
exchange are of the most perfect nature, and in every way
commensurate with its large commercial transactions. The
business of the bank is conducted on sound financial and com-
mercial principles, its officers have never speculated in any
instance, either with the funds of the bank or of its depositors,
and although it is the oldest bank in the city, it has experi-
enced no change in the administration of its affairs. Its solid
character and successful career is due very largely to Mr. C. J.
White, who was the leading spirit in its early organization and
who throughout has been its cashier and active business man-
ager. He is universally recognized as one of the most prudent
financiers of this city, public spirited and energetic, he is
thoroughly devoted to the interests of Kansas City, and a care-
ful guardian of the important trust confided to him in this
institution.
Two years after its reorganization the great influx of
business demanded increased facilities and accommodations for
its transaction, and the bank had specially built for its own
occupation and into which it moved in April, 1885, a structure
which is probably the most perfectly unique in design, decora-
tion, and suitableness for banking purposes that is to be found
in the country. Indeed, before commencing on the plans, the
officers of the bank, accompanied by their architect, visited
every city of importance in the country and minutely inspected
the various bank buildings with a view to attaining the most
perfect design of a banking establishment. The officers of the
bank are: W. S. Wood, president; L. F. Wilson, vice-president,
and C. J. White, cashier.

FIRST NATL BANK
FIRST NATIONAL BANK.
1

BANKING AND FINANCE.
29
FIRST NATIONAL BANK.
The First National Bank was incorporated and opened for
business on March 1, 1886. It has an authorized capital of
$1,000,000, and its paid up capital is $250,000. This bank
succeeded to the business of the well established banking firm
of Lombard Brothers, those gentlemen taking an active inter-
est in its organization, Mr. James L. Lombard becoming its
president. The extended monetary operations of the Messrs.
Lombard through the many banks in the States of Missouri,
Illinois, Kansas, and Nebraska, in which they are large stock-
holders, and the Lombard Investment Company, of which a
full account is given in the chapter devoted to "Loans and
Investments," combined with the financial solidity and strong
local characteristics of the directory of the First National Bank
have conduced to place this institution among the very foremost
banking establishments west of the Mississippi River. These
same causes, and particularly the high commercial standing of
the directory, have also inspired a deep feeling of local pride
and confidence in the entire manufacturing and mercantile
community here in connection with this bank, which has
tended greatly to strengthen the hands of its officers, to enlarge
its sphere of usefulness, and to greatly increase its aggregate
of deposits. The policy of the management of the bank is
guided by sound, conservative, useful banking experience,
and its business is that of regular commercial banking, receiv-
ing the accounts of banks, bankers, corporations, mercantile
firms and individuals, and they possess every possible facility
for the care of such, while they are conservatively liberal in their
terms. They sell bills of exchange on the principal European
cities, and foreign exchange is dealt in at the market rates.
They handle approved commercial paper, and give special
attention to collections throughout the United States and
Canada.
Through their close European connections they are enabled
30
COMMERCE OF KANSAS CITY.
to furnish banks and bankers with blanks by which they can
draw their own drafts on forty of the principal cities in Eng-
land, Scotland, Ireland, and the continent. This bank has
recently been designated by the government as a depository for
the funds of the United States. Their eastern and foreign
correspondents are: National Bank of America, Chicago;
National Bank of the Republic, New York; First National
Bank, Boston, Mass; Mechanics Bank, St. Louis, Mo.; Martin
& Co., London, England; British Linen Co. Bank, Edinburgh,
Scotland; The National Bank (Limited), Dublin, Ireland.
The directors and officers are: James L. Lombard, presi-
dent; Witten McDonald, vice-president; Chas. H. V. Lewis,
cashier. James L. Abernathy, Abernathy Furniture Company;
Geo. R. Barse, Geo. R. Barse & Co., live stock commission
merchants; Benj. Lombard, Jr., president Lombard Investment
Company, Boston, Mass.; Joseph S. Loose, president Corle
Cracker & Confectionery Company; Geo. W. M'Crary, general
counsel A., T. & S. F. R. R.; Geo. H. Nettleton, general manager
K. C., Ft. S. & G. R. R.; Jno. F. Richards, president Richards
& Conover Hardware Company; Wm. E. Thorne, artists' mate-
rials; Robt. L. Yeager, Peak & Yeager, attorneys.
AMERICAN NATIONAL BANK.
The American National Bank of Kansas City, with a fully
paid up capital of $1,250,000, is the most recent acquisition to
the financial institutions of this city, and though the latest to
enter the field it will undoubtedly occupy a foremost place
among the monetary institutions of the West.
The active organizers of the bank were Messrs. W. B.
Grimes, H. P. Churchill, and H. P. Stimson, of this city, W.
P. Rice, of Clyde, Kansas, and E. E. Parker, of Cawker City,
Kansas. These gentlemen, though originally from the East,
have been for some years most intimately identified with the
financial affairs of the West. Indeed, they have founded and
built up several of the most flourishing banks in the State of
BANKING AND FINANCE.
31
•
".
:
Kansas, and are closely associated with a large number of banks
and other financial institutions in the territory tributary to this
city. This extensive Western connection will unquestionably
prove an important factor in placing the new bank in a posi-
tion to at once take hold of a vast amount of Western business.
It will greatly increase its line of deposits from country banks,
and will powerfully aid it by affording unsurpassed facilities
for making collections throughout the entire West. Through
its promoters this bank will, indeed, possess every possible ad-
vantage of an intimate knowledge of, and personal acquaint-
ance with, the individuals, firms, and corporations that are
most actively engaged in the diversified interests that are to-
day employed in developing the entire territory tributary to
Kansas City. Nor is this all. These same gentlemen have
equally strong connections in the monetary circles of the East,
as was clearly shown by the fact, that, in response to their no-
tification of the opening of the books for subscription to the
capital stock of the bank, so eagerly was the stock sought after
that they received application for allotment of shares amount-
ing to three times the sum required for the entire capital of the
bank.
The large amount of its subscribed capital stock, viz., $1,-
250,000, has enabled the organizers of the institution to place
quite a considerable portion among the capitalists of this city,
and though a large amount is held here, still the greater portion
is divided among representatives of influential banking and
financial institutions in New England and New York, particu-
larly New England, who command unlimited capital. It will
thus be apparent that the American National Bank of Kansas
City commences its career with the brightest possible anticipa-
tions, and with every facility for transacting a vast amount of
business throughout the West, and with such solid and extended
Eastern backing that at once places it before the commercial
community as the strongest monetary institution west of the
Mississippi River.
32
COMMERCE OF KANSAS CITY.
With regard to the selections that were made in the allot-
ment of stock among the numerous applicants, it is proper to
state that the promoters and organizers of this institution were
largely influenced by their wish to secure the co-operation of
Eastern financiers who not only controlled large amounts
of capital, but who had already identified themselves with the
development of the West, and who were also looking to Kansas
City and its surrounding territory as a remunerative field for
investment. Their desire was to interest these Eastern capital-
ists in this city, and in fact through them, to educate the lead-
ers of the monetary circles there in the knowledge of the many
advantages offered by Kansas City for investment in property,
manufacturing, and commercial interests generally. The en-
tire policy adopted by these gentlemen has been of the most
comprehensive and public-spirited character, they have given
the city a strong banking institution with a capital larger than
has at any time been employed here by any financial concern;
they have opened up an undoubtedly profitable and judicious
field of investment to their Eastern friends, and they have
directed the earnest attention of an unlimited amount of capi-
tal to the revenue that can be derived from its investment in
assisting in the development of this, the richest portion of the
earth, and the most rapidly-growing city in America.
ARMOUR BROS. BANKING COMPANY.
Armour Bros. Banking Company was organized and opened
for business in September, 1878. The policy of the bank has
always been of the most conservative character, and it has
devoted its attention to the doing of a purely commercial
banking business. As a banking system of a community may
be said to resemble a nation-the happiest when it has the least
history-so this institution may be congratulated on a career of
uninterrupted prosperity. The. officers of the bank are: A.
W. Armour, president; S. B. Armour, vice-president; W. H,
Winants, cashier; and L. E. Prindle, assistant cashier.
:
:
BANKING AND FINANCE.
33
KANSAS CITY SAFE DEPOSIT AND SAVINGS BANK.
The Kansas City Safe Deposit and Savings Bank was
organized in 1883 with a fully paid-up capital of $50,000,
which has since been increased to $100,000. The bank has a
line of deposits aggregating $500,000. In the brief period since
its organization it has opened some six thousand accounts, and
its depositors are to be found in every class of life. It has
grown steadily in public confidence and popularity, and its
conservative management has given it a strong hold upon the
classes who look upon a bank as a place for the safe keeping of
money. It is the custodian of the savings of thousands of
laboring people, whose interests it has always carefully guarded.
The bank confines its operations strictly to that of a regular
savings bank business, issuing pass books for every individual
account, and allowing interest on all deposits from one dollar
upwards. In seeking investment for its funds the utmost
caution and care is displayed. No commercial paper is bought,
no matter how good the names it may bear, unless its payment
is absolutely secured by real estate, or some equally good col-
lateral security. No speculative element whatever is allowed
to enter into any feature of the business, even in the smallest
degree, but, in all cases where money is paid out, the security
must be of an actual and indisputable nature. Where such
security is offered, the management is at all times ready and
prompt to make the needed loans, and that at a legitimate and
equitable rate of interest.
Another and somewhat important feature of the business
transacted by this institution is the investment of trust funds,
and the acting of trustee for estates and individuals, and per-
forming all such acts as devolve upon that position. They
also transact a large amount of business in investing money in
real estate, either by purchase or in first mortgages on improved
property, for non-residents. Many capitalists in other states
preferring to make such investments through an established
banking institution of high reputation and known responsi-
-3-

34
COMMERCE OF KANSAS CITY.
bility, in preference to the more ordinary channels in which
real estate business is conducted.
The officers of the company are: H. P. Churchill, presi-
dent; W. P. Moores, vice-president; and H. P. Stimson, cashier.
The board of directors is composed of some of the most prom-
inent business men of Kansas City, whose personal integrity
and undoubted commercial standing afford to the depositors of
this institution the best possible security.
Of the safety deposit department of this company a full
description is given under that classification in this work.
MERCHANTS NATIONAL BANK.
The Merchants National Bank of Kansas City was organ-
ized on November 11, 1879, and commenced business December
8th of the same year. It numbers some two hundred names
among its stockholders, including prominent Kansas City men,
and some whose names are very familiar in financial circles as
representing the great moneyed interests of New York and
New England. The bank commenced with a capital of $250,000,
which in July, 1881, was doubled, and its present paid-in cash
capital is $500,000, and in addition to this it has earned a
surplus of $60,000. Its New York correspondents are: John
Paton & Co.; Chicago, National Bank of Illinois; and St. Louis,
Fourth National Bank. The directors are: Geo. F. Putnam,
John Long, W. A. M. Vaughan, Chas. S. Wheeler, John C.
Mr.
Gage, F. L. Underwood, J. M. Coburn, O. P. Dickinson.
John C. Gage is president and Mr. O. P. Dickinson cashier.
H. S. MILLS & SON.
H. S. Mills & Son are engaged in a general banking busi-
ness under the laws of Missouri governing banks and bankers.
Mr. H. S. Mills, senior member of this firm, was cashier of the
branch bank of the State of Missouri up to the year 1865, and
one of its directors from its establishment in 1858, at Arrow

BANKING AND FINANCE.
35
Rock, Mo. In 1865 this bank was merged into the mother
bank at St. Louis, Mo., and the Bank of Missouri established at
Arrow Rock, Mo., of which he was cashier from its establish-
ment until the same was wound up in 1882. On January 1st,
1883, he again opened business as H. S. Mills & Son, bankers,
in Kansas City. The junior partner, Mr. E. Scott Mills, who
had a life-long training in mercantile and banking pursuits,
died April 6, 1886, at the age of 25 years; ample testimony
of his worth is acknowledged by the bankers of this city. The
bank will still remain as H. S. Mills & Son, 603 Delaware
Street.
THE KANSAS CITY SAVINGS BANK.
The Kansas City Savings Bank was incorporated in 1883,
for the purpose of doing a general banking and savings bank
business. Its capital is $50,000, all of which is fully paid up.
In its commercial or general banking department the bank
handles collections for eastern correspondents, and has an ex-
tensive business in eastern and foreign exchange. In its sav-
ings department it pays interest on money that is deposited
for a stated time and issues interest bearing certificates for the
same, by this means affording the industrial classes an oppor-
tunity for the safe keeping of their savings, while the amount
is being constantly increased by the accruing interest. Dr. J.
Feld, the president and most active promoter of the organiza-
tion of the bank, has been a resident of and has practiced his
profession in Kansas City for the past twenty years. He is a
large owner of real estate in this city, and of some of the nota-
ble business structures. The officers of the bank are: J. Feld,
president; J. N. Allen, vice-president; Abram Mann, cashier,
and Robert W. Eoff, assistant cashier.
TRADERS BANK.
This institution was incorporated in 1883, and has a
capital of $600,000. Its operations are confined to the transact-
:
36
COMMERCE OF KANSAS CITY.
ing of a strictly commercial banking business, and it stands
high in the favor of men who are conducting the most promi
nent commercial enterprises in this city. The officers of the
bank are: J. T. Thornton, president; Seth Mabry, vice-
president; M. W. St. Clair, cashier, and W. R. Thornton,
assistant cashier. The board of directors consists of the follow-
ing well-known business men: Jas. T. Thornton, Geo. Sheidley,
Seth Mabry, C. C. Quinlan, Nathan J. Hall, W. R. Thornton,
W. H. Lucas, A. J. Snider, Wm. J. Smith, and M. W. St. Clair.
STOCK YARDS BANK.
This institution has a capital of $200,000 and a surplus of
$8,000. The following banks are stockholders in, and virtually
proprietors of the Kansas City Stock Yards Bank: the National
Bank of Kansas City, Armour Bros. Banking Co., the Bank of
Commerce, the Citizens National Bank, and the Traders Bank.
BANK OF GRAND AVENUE.
This bank has a capital of $50,000 and a surplus of $11,421.
It does a general banking business. The officers of the bank
L. A. Lambert, president; Henry Stubenrauch, vice-
president, and Henry C. Lambert, cashier.
are:
HOME SAVINGS BANK.
The Home Savings Bank has a paid-up capital of $50,000.
It does a general banking business and makes loans on real
estate. The officers of the bank are: John Reid, president,
and T. F. Emerson, cashier.

BANKING AND FINANCE.
37
THE CITIZENS NATIONAL BANK.
JUNE 3, 1886.
RESOURCES.
Loans and discounts...
Overdrafts
U. S. bonds to secure circulation.
U. S. bonds to secure deposits....
U. S. bonds on hand......
Due from approved reserve agents..
Due from other national banks..
Due from state banks and bankers..
Real estate, furniture and fixtures.
Current expenses and taxes paid…………….
Premiums paid......
Checks and other cash items.
Exchanges for clearing house.
Bills of other banks.....
$ 896,850 40
23,567 74
50,000 00
100,000 00
2,800 00
337,963 85
33,482 53
68,455 72
6,613 25
15,404 27
29,256 18
19,188 25
81,009 19
40,500 00
Fractional paper currency, nickels and cents.
132 31
Trade dollars...
275 00
Specie
176,205 65
Legal tender notes..
Redemption fund with U. S. treasurer (5 per cent of circu-
31,404 00
lation)...
2,950 00
Total .....
$1,916,148 34
LIABILITIES.
Capital stock paid in………..
200,000 00
Surplus fund..
Undivided profits...
50,000 00
37,568 17
National bank notes outstanding....
45,000 00
Individual deposits subject to check
809,678 58
Demand certificates of deposit....
92,524 53
Certified checks………...
Cashier's checks outstanding.
United States deposits.....
Deposits of U. S. disbursing officers
Due to other national banks..
Due to state banks and bankers....
Total ......
J. J, SQUIER, President.
19,325 35
275 00
84,400 64
448 31
176,484 01
400,443 75
.$1,916,148 34
W. H. SEEGER, Cashier.


38
COMMERCE OF KANSAS CITY.
NATIONAL BANK OF KANSAS CITY.
JUNE 3, 1886.
RESOURCES.
Loans and discounts………....
U. S. bonds to secure circulation.
U. S. bonds to secure deposits..
U. S. bonds on hands...…………….
Other stocks, bonds, and mortgages....
Due from approved reserve agents...
Due from other national banks...
$2,566,600 22
50,000 00
50,000 00
1,150 00
118,020 49
558,807 36
30,886 78
Due from State banks and bankers.....
120,282 13
Real estate, furniture, and fixtures..
Current expenses and taxes paid.....
Premiums paid.......
13,500 00
7,159 70
--
12,279 75
Checks and other cash items..
Bills of other banks........
Exchanges for clearing house..
8,791 67
216,560 04
111,500 00
Fractional paper currency, nickels, and cents..
765 06
Specie...
493,650 00
Legal tender notes.....
124,200 00
Redemption fund with U. S. Treasurer (five per cent of
circulation)…………..
2,250 00
Total.....
$4,480,403 20
LIABILITIES.
Capital stock paid in…………..
Undivided profits.
National bank notes outstanding.
-45,000 00
Individual deposits subject to check.
1,786,582 93
$1,000,000 00
57,875 50
Demand certificates of deposit…………..
Certified checks......
Due to other national banks.....
Due to State banks and bankers...
Total
J. S. CHICK, President.
196,290 12
12,904 43
403,197 84
978,552 38
$4,480,403 20
W. J. ANDERSON, Cashier.

BANKING AND FINANCE.
39
..
&
BANK OF COMMERCE.
MAY 1, 1886.
curity..
RESOURCES.
Loans, undoubtedly good on personal or collateral security,$1,543,287 15
Loans and discounts, undoubtedly good on real estate se-
Overdrafts by solvent customers.
24,750 00
3,844 62
Other bonds and stock at their present cash market price...
54,678 86
Due from other banks, good on sight draft....
784,158 26
Real estate at present cash market value...
91,590 52
Furniture and fixtures..
Checks and other cash items.....
16,909 20
77,040 24
Bills of National Banks and legal tender United States
notes......
210,541 00
Gold coin..………….
125,340 00
Silver coin..
Total....
6,558 19
.$2,938,698 04
LIABILITIES.
Capital stock paid in…....
Surplus funds on hand.....
Deposits subject to draft at sight.
Bills payable........
Due other banks and bankers………….
Total.......
W. S, Woon, President,
A
$ 200 000 00
168,196 55
1,739,647 22
000 00
830,854 27
..$2,938,698 04
C. J. WHITE, Cashier,


40
COMMERCE OF KANSAS CITY.
A
THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK
JUNE 3, 1886.
Loans and discounts..
Overdrafts......
RESOURCES.
...
United States bonds to secure circulation.
United States bonds to secure deposits…......
Other stocks, bonds and mortgages..
Due from approved reserve agents…………..
Due from other National banks...
Due from State banks and bankers.
Furniture and fixtures.......
Current expenses and taxes paid.
Premiums paid.........
Checks and other cash items..
Bills of other banks....
Exchanges for clearing house
Fractional paper currency, nickels and cents
Specie.........
Legal tender notes..
Redemption fund with United States treasurer (5 per cent
of circulation).........
Total .....
LIABILITIES.
Capital stock paid in.......
Undivided profits.......
National bank notes outstanding...
Individual deposits subject to check....
Demand certificates of deposit....
Certified checks......
Cashier's checks outstanding.
United States deposits......
Deposits of United States disbursing officers...
Due to other National banks.....
Due to State banks and bankers.....
Total
JAS L. LOMBARD, President.
$ 641,689 13
2,754 95
50,000 00
50,000 00
500 00
185,252 14
61,880 29
59,240 46
2,500 00
7,696 79
14,812 50
2,496 69
44,415 60
49,695 00
250 27
64,212 50
45,000 00
2,250 00
$1,284,646 32
$ 250,000 00
14,151 83
45,000 00
397,665 26
19,966 70
4,994 00
2,500 00
35,000 00
10 50
237,262 77
278,095 26
.$1,284,646 32
CHAS, H. V. LEWIS, Cashier.

BANKING AND FINANCE.
41
ARMOUR BROS. BANKING CO.
MAY 1, 1886.
RESOURCES.
Loans, undoubtedly good on personal or
collateral security....
$1,385,358 48
Loans and discounts, undoubtedly good on
real estate security......
15,000 00
Overdrafts by solvent customers..
United States bonds on hand...
5,892 04
1,100 00
Other bonds and stock at their present
cash market price....
2,527 50
Due from other banks, good on sight draft...$760,659 31
Checks and other cash items......
65,888 74
Bills of national banks and legal tender
notes...
535,592 00
Gold coin......
25,000 00
Silver coin.....
17,819 02
Exchange maturing and matured.........
$1,404,959 07
Total.......
Capital stock paid in…………..
Surplus funds on hand.....
LIABILITIES.
Undivided declared dividends..
Deposits subject to draft at sight...
Due other banks and bankers..
Total........
A. W. ARMOUR, President.
·
$2,814,837 09
$ 250,000 00
406,866 65
50,000 00
$1,672,782 64
435,187 80
$2,107,970 44
$2,814,837 09
W. H. WINANTS, Cashier.

42
COMMERCE OF KANSAS CITY.
KANSAS CITY SAFE DEPOSIT AND SAVINGS BANK.
MAY 1, 1886.
RESOURCES.
Loans, undoubtedly good on personal or collateral security..$226,001 44
Loans and discounts, undoubtedly good on real estate secur-
ity.........
88,454 52
Other bonds and stock at their present cash market price..... 114,092 75
Due from other banks, good on sight draft....
Furniture and fixtures.....
Checks and other cash items...
54,489 85
1,348 07
13,758 34
Bills of National Banks and legal tender United States notes 12,707 00
Gold coin......
Silver coin....
Total.........
LIABILITIES.
Capital stock paid in.....
Surplus funds on hand.
Deposits subject to draft at sight…………....
Deposits subject to draft at given dates....
Total........
H. P. CHURCHILL, President.
15,194 60
837 73
$526,884 30
$ 50,000 00
30,685 38
339,744 17
106,454 75
$526,884 30-
H. P. STIMSON, Cashier,

BANKING AND FINANCE.
43
TRADERS BANK.
MAY 1, 1886.
RESOURCES.
Loans, undoubtedly good on personal or collateral security.$ 938,780 85
Loans and discounts, undoubtedly good on real estate se-
curity
12,536 88
Overdrafts by solvent customers.
812 62
Other bonds and stock at their present cash market price...
33,300 00
Due from other banks, good on sight draft....
239,652 67
Furniture and fixtures....
4,580 28
Checks and other cash items......
28,613 69
Bills of National banks and legal tender United States
notes.....
235,800 00
Gold coin...
260,000 00
Silver coin.……….
23,320 74
Total .....
$1,777,397 73
LIABILITIES.
Capital stock paid in....
Surplus funds on hand....
Deposits subject to draft at sight.........
Due other banks and bankers.....
Total ......
J. T. THORNTON, President,
600,000 00
70,859 98
793,048 84
313,488 91
$1,777,397 73
M. W, ST, CLAIR, Cashier,

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KANSAS CITY, MI
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VAULTS OF THE KANSAS CITY SAFE DEPOSIT AND SAVINGS BANK.

SAFETY DEPOSIT COMPANIES
IN
N the highly complicated business methods of the age, the
ownership of money is often evidenced by titles, bonds,
or slips of paper, which may be carried in the pocket, the loss
or destruction of which would be sometimes irremediable. In
days when wealth lay almost exclusively in realty, the chief
concern of the great proprietor was to protect his property from
an adversary by means of a moated castle and a legion of
mailed retainers; his only apprehension was from the aggres-
sion of superior numbers.
To-day, however, all this is changed, and wealth is threat-
ened from so many channels that it is scarcely less difficult to
preserve than to acquire. Of these, the most dreaded and in-
sidious are fire and burglary; and to combat them successfully
has heretofore required the most watchful and unremitting vig-
ilance. A common office safe in a building of ordinary con-
struction is now recognized as no serious obstacle to the ingenuity
of crime, or the insatiable violence of fire; and the daring of the
one or the havoc of the other, too frequently, in a single night,
renders of no avail the labor of a life, and transforms affluence
into penury.
Nor is this the only danger which attends the possession of
wealth, for over the heads of the fortunate is ever impending
the fear of midnight raids or violence and death, the burden of
unremitting responsibility, and the haunting remembrance
that the custody of valuables is a perpetual menace to the lives
of loved ones. "Give me neither poverty nor riches" came
more sincerely from the hearts of men in days when to be poor
45

46
COMMERCE OF KANSAS CITY.
was to be the foot-ball of fortune, and to be rich was to be
dogged through life by greed and crime.
But now in Kansas City, and other centers of civilized life,
wealth may purchase absolute protection and an entire freedom
from responsibility, and this is unquestionably the greatest
advance in this direction achieved during the present century.
This is accomplished through the various safe deposit compa-
nies, chartered corporations with capital sufficient to guarantee
the depositor against all loss, and who in the construction of
their vaults have spared no expense, and called into requisition
the best scientific and mechanical skill in the world.
The Kansas City Safe Deposit Company, which is con-
ducted under the same management as the Kansas City Safe
Deposit and Savings Bank, with its fire and burglar proof
vaults, possesses all the necessary appurtenances for the prompt,
convenient, and safe transaction of this business-a structure.
in character and completeness equal to every possible require-
ment, rents safes in its vaults with combination locks, or locks
that can be opened only with the keys held by the renters
receives for safe-keeping, under guarantee, valuables of all
descriptions, such as coupons, registered and other bonds, cer-
tificates of stock, deeds, mortgages, wills, coin, plate, jewelry;
also clothing and other personal effects-assuming the fullest
liability imposed by law.
Safes of all desirable sizes, built inside of the absolutely
fire and burglar proof vaults of this company, are rented at from
$10 upwards per annum. The locks to these safes are all dif-
ferent and are changed with every change of renter. Each safe
has within it one or more tin boxes, or cases, in which to place
the valuables deposited, under lock and key, held by the renter.
These boxes or cases are not to be opened within the vault, but
must be removed to an adjoining room, fitted up with desks,
screens, etc., where the owner, in perfect seclusion and privacy,
can examine his securities, cut off coupons, etc.
Strangers visiting the city and having in their possession
Õ ཐཱ

SAFETY DEPOSIT COMPANIES.
47
money or valuables are thus afforded the means of depositing
the same for safe keeping with a responsible company. Resi-
dents in the country or surrounding cities, having no safe
deposit facilities, wishing to deposit bonds or valuables with
this company, may send them through any reliable express
company, who will be responsible for their safe delivery, and
obtain a certificate of deposit for the same as may be directed.
It would be impossible for the most inventive genius to
devise more effectual means for guarding securities and valu-
ables from fire and thieves than are furnished in the building,
vaults, and police regulations of this company. The unparal-
leled increase of burglary and theft, and the skill, ingenuity,
and success with which they are now pursued, render the abso-
lute security provided by this company a prime necessity of
modern times. The officers of the company are: H. P.
Churchill, president; W. P. Moores, vice-president, and E. C.
Sattley, safe deposit manager.
i

GELD
HALL
[RE.SAYINGS BANK)
BANK
KANSAS CITY SAVINGS BANK.
-

M
LOAN AND INVESTMENT
COMPANIES.
ONEY, to carry on the vast farming operations incident
to the enormous production of the West, must be, and
has always been necessary; and money judiciously invested in
this direction has always heretofore, and must always in the
future, have the most solid security, and be the most certain of
steady productiveness of interest. The value of farm mort-
gages does not depend upon the skillful manipulation of specu-
lators, as is too often the case with stocks and bonds. The
farmer holds a widely different position from the mere trafficker
in the speculative proclivities of mankind. And he can not, if
he would, play false to his creditors. He must pay or cease
to exist.
There are many reasons why Eastern investors should
prefer Western loans: They pay, on an average at least two per
cent more interest per annum than Eastern loans, thus giving
an investor fully 33 per cent increased income. They are based
on low and steadily increasing values, while in the East values
are high, and either stationary or decreasing. In the East
loans are usually made to pay off personal liabilities, or to
engage in outside business, while in the West they are almost
invariably made for the purpose of stocking or improving with
buildings and fencing the very farms upon which they are
secured, thereby increasing the security by the full amount of
the loan.
49
-4

50
COMMERCE OF KANSAS CITY.
The demand for these securities has, from small beginnings,
steadily grown in volume and importance, until it has reached
such proportions that many of the strongest financial institu-
tions in both the East and West, composed of men of the
highest character and finest business qualifications, are now
exclusively engaged in supplying it. Such is the favor with
which these mortgages are now regarded that the most conserv-
ative managers of insurance and trust companies, savings
banks, institutions for loaning, trustees, and private investors
alike recognize them as occupying a prominent position among
the soundest and most reliable securities.
As the nature of these securities has become more widely
known, and their value more generally appreciated, there has
arisen a demand for greater facilities for bringing the accumu-
lated capital of the East and the natural requirements of the
great West into closer relations; this has been supplied by the
crganization and establishment in Kansas City, as the city of
all others, the closest to the great producing States of Missouri,
Kansas, Iowa, and Nebraska, of a number of corporations.
formed for the special purpose of investing capital in farm-
mortgages and western land securities. These afford the oppor-
tunity for securing, in these rich and rapidly growing States,
the best possible investments, with a rate of interest as high ast
is consistent with undoubted security. But, to be assured that
the agency through which they come is capable and trust-
worthy, is a proper and reasonable requirement on the part of
the investor. Such investments should be made through a
responsible company, permanently organized, and under com-
petent and experienced management.
It was about 1880, that the demand commenced to be felt
for a more direct financial connection between the great grain
producing and cattle grazing States surrounding Kansas City
and the financial centers of the East, and it was in this year
that the firm of
..

LOAN AND INVESTMENT COMPANIES.
51
-
JARVIS, CONKLIN & Co.
was established here, consequently this is the oldest institu-
tion in the city now dealing in this class of investments. The
rich field developed by them, and the increasing necessity for
money consequent upon the opening up of new farms and the
rapid growth of population, combined with the fact that the
operations of this firm had demonstrated the unexceptional
character of Western farm mortgage loans as securities and the
high rate of interest they produced, opened the eyes of many
Eastern financiers to a fruitful field of investment which up to
that time had received but little attention.
From the commencement the firm in question have con-
ducted their business on the straightest principles, as all must
do who seek success in dealing with money.
No mere per-
sonal or political feeling sways them in their transactions.
Each parcel of ground is personally examined by one of them
or by their salaried inspector, who has no glittering commis-
sions to dazzle his eyes or warp his judgement; they lend
money only on improved and thoroughly productive property;
the titles are examined with a scrutiny as rigid as though they
were themselves about to become the absolute purchasers, and
the loan is granted or withheld accordingly as sound business
discretion may dictate. It is thus that the confidence of in-
vestors has been acquired, and it is only through the employ-
ment of similar agencies that the accumulated capital of the
country can find its ultimate greatest profit and best security.
In order to give this close attention to every detail pertaining
to each loan, they have confined this department of their exten-
sive transactions to the States of Missouri and Kansas, which
are unquestionably, at the present time, the most rapidly
improving states in the Union. Beyond this, they make loans
on improved city property, and having strong Eastern and
foreign connections, their transactions have assumed propor-
tions of great magnitude. They are also the financial agents
if
52
COMMERCE OF KANSAS CITY.
or some of the strongest Eastern insurance companies for whom
they have made large investments.
As an instance of the beneficial influence of their transac-
tions on Kansas City itself, it may be noted that until they
commenced to handle municipal bonds, and similar securities,
even the bonds of this city had to seek a market in Chicago,
New York, or Philadelphia, whereas to-day the bonds of Mis-
souri, Kansas, Texas, and Iowa are handled more largely here
than in any other market. Their intimate relations with the
banking institutions of the West are best shown in the state-
ment that they are the sole owners of the Bank of Columbus
at Columbus, Kansas, and large stockholders in the Farmers &
Drovers Bank of Kingman, Kansas, of which Mr. Jarvis is
president, and in the Scott County Bank of Scott City, Kansas,
of which Mr. R. R. Conklin is the president. The firm have
offices at Kansas City and at Winfield, Kansas, and Jarvis,
Conklin & Morgan at Kingman, Kansas. Their Eastern offices
are 27 Custom House street, Providence, R. I., and 411 Walnut
street, Philadelphia.
THE KANSAS CITY INVESTMENT COMPANY.
This company was incorporated in 1882, for the purpose of
making and dealing in loans on real estate and handling real
estate and cattle, which latter comprises the purchase of cattle
ranches and running them. The company have, however,
confined their business up to this time, and it is their purpose
to so continue it, to the transactions in real estate. They have
a fully-paid-up cash capital of $50,000, and as their great facil-
ities and direct methods of business enable them to realize
immediately on their securities, they are always in a position
to respond promptly to all demands for loans that are made
upon them. Their system, like all great undertakings, is of the
simplest kind: they loan their own money on farms, city and
suburban real estate, or furnish the means for building and sell
the mortgage bonds or securities representing such loans in the
LOAN AND INVESTMENT COMPANIES.
53
Eastern and foreign markets. Their superior facilities for the
conduct of such transactions consist, in the first place, in the
fact that their head offices are located in this city and are under
the management of Mr. E. E. Holmes, the president of the
company, who was for many years a resident, and an operator
in real estate and farm loans on an extensive scale, in Emporia,
Kansas, and thus acquired that intimate knowledge of values
of Western lands which may fairly be considered as essential
to the successful transaction of a business of this character.
In the second place, their Eastern and foreign connections
are of the most direct nature. They have an established office
in Portsmouth, N. H., under the care of Mr. Willis G. Myers,
the vice-president of the company, from which the securities
representing the loans made by the Kansas City office are dis-
posed of, and where a perfect system is adopted of placing all
securities in the hands of investors in the most convenient and
acceptable form; by this means the person seeking investment
can select a mortgage bond representing real estate in the West,
or a debenture bond of the company itself that is secured by
real estate loan deeds. The extensive nature of the business
thus transacted is best shown by the statement that the com-
pany have loaned over $4,000,000 since their organization, and
this sum does not include large amounts loaned and invested
by them as agents for others, and in this branch they do quite
an extensive business.
In developing Kansas City, the company had the contract
for platting what is known as the Dundee addition, and which
has become one of the most valuable sub-divisions of this city.
They built some of the finest business structures on Delaware
street, and have handled large amounts of money for Scotch
capitalists. It is almost needless to add that transactions of
such magnitude have tended greatly to the general progress and
welfare of the city. The officers of the company are: E. E.
Holmes, president; Willis G. Myers, vice-president, and A. C.
Buckner, secretary.


54
COMMERCE OF KANSAS CITY.
LOMBARD INVESTMENT COMPANY.
The Lombard Investment Company is incorporated under
the State laws of Massachusetts and also of Kansas, having its
head Western offices at Kansas City. Previous to May, 1885,
the Western head-quarters of the company were at Creston,
Iowa, and at that time were moved to this city. The business
of the company is the loaning of money on first mortgage, on
improved farming and city property in the States of Missouri,
Kansas, and Nebraska. It has a cash capital and surplus of
$850,000. The operations of the company are conducted in the
most methodical and systematic manner possible. In making
each loan, every detail of the transaction is minutely examined
with the same close investigation that would be adopted if the
purchase of the property were contemplated, and if on this
rigid scrutiny the title is found to be unimpeachable, and the
property to be improving and desirable, the loan is made with-
out hesitation or delay, for this company passes on all applica-
tions for loans in Kansas City, and consequently does not have
to wait for any sanction or approval from the East. Their
greatest care is as to the absolute soundness of the security, and
when this is placed beyond question the deeds are at once.
drawn, clearly stating, in the most definite and concise form,
the details of the transaction, and the money is advanced.
This freedom from all unnecessary circumlocution is highly
appreciated by the borrowers in the West, while the vigilance
and caution that is exercised in every instance makes the secu-
rities of this company to be eagerly sought after in the East and
in Europe.
That this city is deriving a great benefit from the estab-
lishment here of the Lombard Investment Company and the
other interests with which the Messrs. Lombard are identified,
notably the First National Bank (of which an account is given
in the chapter on Banking), must be very evident to the most
superficial observer. In the first place, they have, through

LOAN AND INVESTMENT COMPANIES.
55
their extensive and intimate acquaintance and associations
with the moneyed interests of the East, influenced an enor-
mous amount of capital in this direction for investment. They
have also, through the same means, secured the complete recog-
nition of the soundness of this class of security, and particularly
with regard to mortgages on Missouri property, their efforts
have contributed largely to dispel the unfair and mistaken
notions that had so long hung like a cloud over the fair name
of the state. They have brought under the direct notice of
Eastern financiers the fact that Missouri is probably to-day the
most rapidly improving state in the Union, that her laws of
foreclosure are highly favorable to the lenders, and that the
permanent character of the improvements render real estate in
Missouri a most desirable permanent or long-time investment.
Beyond this, they have, through their extensive advertising
throughout the East, directed a large number of the better class
of emigrants from other countries, and many enterprising
Eastern men of means to the advantages offered in this city
and in this section of country, and by this means have induced
many to inquire into the facts, and ultimately to settle here.
The large amount of capital that the company have directly
loaned on Kansas City property is shown in the county records,
which reveal the fact that they have recorded more mortgages
on city property during the past year than any other corpora-
tion or firm.
The Lombard Investment Company have the strongest
financial connections throughout the West, and are large stock-
holders in the following banks, which act as their special agents
in the various localities named: The National Bank of Amer-
ica, Chicago; Capitol National of Lincoln, Nebraska; First
National Bank, Galesburg, Illinois; Bank of Creston, Creston,
Iowa; First National Bank of Humboldt, Nebraska; First
National Bank of Auburn, Nebraska; First National Bank of
York, Nebraska; First National Bank, Larned, Kansas; First
National Bank, Lincoln, Kansas; First National Bank, Garden
56
COMMERCE OF KANSAS CITY.
City, Kansas; Kansas State Bank of Wichita, Kansas, and the
First National Bank of Kansas City, Missouri.
The company have also the most direct financial relations
with the moneyed centers of Europe, having their own offices
at 58 Lombard street, London, England. Their Eastern offices
are 12 and 13 Sears Building, Boston, Mass. The officers of
the company are: Benjamin Lombard, Jr., president; James
L. Lombard, vice-president and manager; J. W. Gish, super-
intendent farm department; G. W. Mathews, superintendent
city department; H. W. L. Russell, cashier.
EQUITABLE MORTGAGE COMPANY.
The Equitable Mortgage Company was incorporated for the
purposes of making and dealing in loans secured by mortgages
on improved farms in the States of Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, and
Nebraska, and for the negotiating of loans on improved city
real estate. Of this latter branch of its business it will be suf
ficient to say that the company possesses, through its perfect
organization and large connections and resources, the utmost
facilities for supplying investors with securities based on first
mortgages of real estate in this city that ranks among the best
developed property and that most rapidly increasing in value.
Of its business of dealing in Western farm mortgages, it will be
necessary to a clear understanding of the nature of its transac-
tions to enter somewhat more into details.
The gentlemen who founded this organization, and who
are now its active officers, had for many years been identified
with some of the most prominent banking and financial insti-
tutions of the West, and in the conducting of their daily
business were lead by the necessities of the situation to appre-
ciate the importance and desirability of perfecting a system that
would enable Eastern investors to avail themselves of the
opportunity of placing money as an investment in mortgages
on Western farms, and consequently enjoy the advanced rate
of interest that these securities paid, without the danger, delay,
LOAN AND INVESTMENT COMPANIES.
57
and expense that so frequently attended any efforts in this
direction; and further, to secure for the honest and intelligent
farmer the means to improve and develop his property by
promptly advancing him money on the best security that can
to-day be found on the face of the earth, for it is the earth
itself, or, at least, a rich and goodly portion of it.
The first step was the incorporation of the Equitable
Mortgage Company, with a paid-up capital of $100,000, which
on May 20th of the present year was increased to $600,000, of
which one half has been paid in, and the remainder is to be
called for as the requirements of business demand. The organ-
ization of an efficient staff of officials who possessed a local
knowledge of values throughout the states in which the com-
pany does business, derived from an extended experience, and
who were governed by that cautious conservatism in action
that can alone achieve success in financial operations, was the
next step taken by the managers of this corporation. They
then adopted a perfect method for the consideration of applica-
tions for loans and for the transaction of the company's affairs
on an entirely secure basis throughout all its departments.
Their principal business is done in the States of Missouri,
Kansas, Iowa, and Nebraska, which all lie within what is known.
as the "Corn Belt," and constitute what is confessedly the
richest agricultural area of like extent in the United States.
The location of the Western office at Kansas City, in the
center of their field of operations, and from which every part
of it is easily accessible, gives them unsurpassed facilities for
examining the lands upon which they loan, and, carefully inves-
tigating each individual transaction. If upon the closest scru-
tiny and most minute investigation the application for a loan
proves acceptable, the applicant is required to execute a bond
with interest coupons attached, and a mortgage securing the
These papers having been duly executed, the mortgage
is then placed on record and the abstract of title continued to
date, showing the mortgage held by the company to be the first
same.

נט
:
RAILROAD BRIDGE ACROSS THE MISSOURI RIVER.
LOAN AND INVESTMENT COMPANIES.
59
.:
and only lien upon the land, after which the applicant receives
his money and the loan is completed and ready for sale. The
vigilance and care of the company is not, however, relaxed
with the filing of the mortgage; they keep a complete record
of every loan, attend to the collection of the interest and prin-
cipal, and constantly look after everything which could affect
the interest of their investors; when an insurance policy is
about to expire they see that it is properly renewed; when
taxes become due they require their prompt payment, and the
perfection of their system enables them at all times to keep
thoroughly acquainted with the circumstances of each borrower
and the condition of his security until the loan is finally paid.
The company guarantee the prompt payment of interest upon
all their loans, and collect the same and remit it to the investor
without charge. They also guarantee the payment of the prin-
cipal within two years from the maturity of the loan. In the
rare event of a default this limitation of two years gives them
sufficient time, under almost any circumstances, to collect the
loan, while ordinarily a much shorter time would be required,
and works no inconvenience to the investor, as they guarantee
the regular semi-annual, payment of interest while collection is
being made. The care that is exercised in making loans is
exemplified in the statement of the managers that in the past
eight years they have negotiated loans to the amount of
$4,000,000, and in no single instance have their customers
failed to receive their principal and interest promptly when
due. The company invest their own capital in these loans,
and, as a consequence, they always hold an assortment varying
in amount from $200 to $10,000 each, from which they can
make selections to suit purchasers.
The several members of the company, though formerly
from the east, have resided in the west for many years, and
are thoroughly familiar with the character and value of lands
and securities in the States in which they operate. Messrs.
Stimson, Parker, and Churchill, jointly established, and are
60
COMMERCE OF KANSAS CITY.
now actively managing the following banks: First National
Bank of Clyde, Kansas; the Bank of Downs, Downs, Kansas;
First National Bank of Cawker City, Kansas, and the Safe Deposit
and Savings Bank, Kansas City, Mo. These banks now have
an aggregate capital and surplus of $300,000, and total depoists
of nearly $1,000,000. They are also largely interested in the
American National Bank of Kansas City, established in 1886
with a paid up capital of $1,250,000.00. In the building up
and management of these institutions they acquired an experi-
ence in western securities and business methods, and a knowl-
edge of people, lands, and titles throughout the west, which are
of the first importance in making safe and desirable invest-
ments. Mr. Avery, who devotes his entire attention to the
management of the business of the company, has been exclu-
sively engaged in making and negotiating farm mortgages in
the west since 1877. His established reputation as a careful
and reliable investor, his long experience in this especial line
of business and consequent intimate knowledge of all its details,
and his well known conservatism and absolute integrity, pre-
eminently fit him for the responsible duties of his position,
and furnish to the customers of the company the strongest pos-
sible guarantee that their funds will be safely and satis-
factorily invested. Mr. Charles N. Fowler, who has charge of
the New York office, and is intrusted with the management of
the eastern business, combines with a large and favorable ac-
quaintance in the east an accurate and extensive knowl-
edge of the west. He is widely known as an able and
successful lawyer, and possesses an especial familiarity
with the laws of the western States relating to land titles and
mortgage securities. The officers of the company are: H. P.
Stimson, president; Charles N. Fowler, vice-president; H. P.
Churchill, treasurer; John C. Avery, secretary; and E. E.
Parker, auditor.
Its offices are:
Kansas City, John C. Avery, general man-
ager; Broadway and Fulton streets, New York, Charles N.
2
Es

LOAN AND INVESTMENT COMPANIES.
61
Fowler, manager eastern department; 23 Court street, Boston,
H. H. Fitch, manager; 112 South Fourth street, Philadelphia,
C. B. Wilkinson, manager. It is worthy of notice that the
eastern officers are not agents, but the direct officers of the
company, and each of them is thoroughly identified with the
company's interests, all of them being stockholders in the
institution.
WESTERN MORTGAGE AND INVESTMENT COMPANY.
The Western Mortgage and Investment Company (Limited)
is an English corporation having its chief office at 15 Cockspur
street, London. It has an authorized capital of £500,000 or
$2,500,000, while its subscribed capital is £250,000 or $1,250,000.
The company was formed for the purpose of investing money
in loans on Western farm mortgages and on ranches combining
both cattle and land. Since it entered upon its work in 1883
it has placed about $1,500,000 in these securities. The opera-
tions of the company are somewhat different from the home
institutions of a similar character, inasmuch as it loans its own
money and holds all of its own mortgages.. In fact, it is a cor-
poration having a large amount of capital at its disposal, for
which it is seeking in the prosperous Western States good im-
proved farms on which to make investments on long-time first
mortgages.
A great advantage to the borrowers, that is at once appar-
ent in the management, is the fact that by holding the secur-
ities itself the company is at all times able, and is equally
disposed, to release a mortgage for the convenience of the bor-
rower in the case of his wishing to dispose of the whole or any
part of the property on which their mortgage is held, or in any
similar emergency that may at any time arise. Where the
securities are disposed of to other parties, as is usually the
custom with investment companies, any such concession or
accommodation as this, would of course, be rendered impos-
62
COMMERCE OF KANSAS CITY.
sible, and the transactions of this company have been greatly
facilitated wherever this matter is properly understood and
appreciated. The resident general manager of the company is
James A. Forbes, Esq., who has his office in Kansas City.
WHIPPLE INVESTMENT COMPANY.
The Whipple Investment Company was organized in 1885
with a cash capital of $50,000, for the purpose of dealing in
western securities and real estate mortgage loans. Since its
incorporation the company has maintained an active, steady,
and progressive business. The conservative policy pursued by
its officers is best demonstrated by the fact that during its
operations the entire loans effected by them have proved safe,
satisfactory, and remunerative. It has been their rule to seek
only such loans as are made at a low rate of interest and which
are, as a matter of course, correspondingly secure and conse-
quently the soundest business investments. No exceptionally
large profit in prospective would afford to them the slightest
inducement to diverge from this course; in point of fact, the
delusive appearance of an unusually high return would, to
them, be synonymous with a doubtful security. To this stead-
fast adherence to a conservative management may be attributed
the high esteem in which their mortgage loan deeds are held
and the ever ready sale that they meet with among capitalists
and investors. It would be difficult to over estimate the influ-
ence that has been exercised by the officers of this company in
the startling and rapid progress made by Kansas City, they
having been closely identified with the monetary and real
estate circles here for many years, and ever active in every
movement for the city's advancement.
Mr. A. A. Whipple, the president, after many years of
experience in banking, entered into the real estate business in
1879, under the style of Whipple Bros., which he continued
until 1881, when he organized the banking firm of Whipple,
*

LOAN AND INVESTMENT COMPANIES.
63
"
Cowherd & Co.; shortly after which he, in conjunction with
his father and brother, bought out the interest of his partners,
and with others incorporated the Citizens National Bank, of
which he was the cashier, while his brother, Mr. B. T. Whipple,
the secretary and treasurer of the Whipple Investment Com-
pany became the assistant cashier. In 1883 Mr. B. T. Whipple
resigned this position and went into the real estate business;
in 1885 Mr. A. A. Whipple also resigned the office of cashier of
the Citizens National Bank, of which, however, he is still a
director, and joined his brother in the real estate business
and organized the Whipple Investment Company. Mr. A. J.
Whipple, the vice-president, takes entire charge of the eastern
business at the office of the company, No. 17 Milk Street,
Boston.
It will thus be apparent that the company is in the closest
communication with their eastern connections, and that it is
in full possession of such knowledge of western land values
and securities that can only be obtained by long residence and
an active business experience, which knowledge is of incalcu-
lable value in financial transactions of the nature in which
this company is engaged. It is sufficient to add that its hon-
orable record and the sterling integrity and sagacity of its
officers is vouched for by such institutions as the Merchants
National Bank of Boston, the Fourth National Bank of New
York, and the Citizens National Bank of Kansas City.
NEW ENGLAND LOAN AND TRUST COMPANY.
The New England Loan and Trust Company is a corpora-
tion which began its existence at Des Moines, Iowa, ten years
ago, as a co-partnership. It was subsequently incorporated,
with a paid-up capital of $50,000, which has recently been
increased to $150,000. Its surplus is $30,000. About five
years ago this company established a branch office in Kansas
City, and another at Sioux Falls, Dakota.
During the years of its existence, this company has invested
64
COMMERCE OF KANSAS CITY.
#
about $7,000,000 in first mortgage securities, all of which large
business has been done without the loss of a single dollar to
any of its investors, or to the company itself. The Kansas
City office operates in Western Missouri, and Eastern and Cen-
tral Kansas, and confines its business to farm loans and choice
city property.
The present officers of the company at Des Moines, Iowa,
are: John Wyman, president; W. W. Witmer, vice-president;
D. O. Eshbaugh, treasurer, and W. F. Bartlett, secretary. The
Kansas City department has been under the management of
H. B. Leavens, a gentleman who has a thorough knowledge of
the business and is well informed in regard to the Missouri and
Kansas territory in which the company operates. The com-
pany has an office at 160 Broadway, New York, through which.
its Eastern business is transacted, and of which Mr. H. C.
Copeland, formerly cashier of Sprague National Bank, Brooklyn,
New York, is the manager.
The development of the business in Missouri and Kansas
pointed out the need of more capital for that department, and
the result has been, a new corporation, in which the original
corporation and its stockholders are largely represented, has
been organized in Kansas City, under the laws of the State of
Missouri, with a capital stock of $150,000. This new company
is the "New England Trust Company," and all its arrange-
ments have been completed and offices secured on the corner
of Sixth and Wyandotte streets. The most prominent feature
of their business is, as heretofore, the making of long-time first.
mortgage loans upon farm and city property in the States of
Missouri and Kansas, which mortgages are disposed of to the
customers of the company in the East, who are composed of
leading savings banks and trust companies in New England,
New York, and Pennsylvania, and of prominent insurance
companies and capitalists in the East. The Eastern business
of the new corporation is operated through the same channel
as heretofore, and by this arrangement the new company enjoys
LOAN AND INVESTMENT COMPANIES.
65
:
:
#
all the benefits of the facilities derived from the valuable con-
nections of the Des Moines Company. The combination thus
formed, with the ample capital afforded them through the new
organization and the closer identification of the institution and
its officers with the locality in which it does business, enabling
them, as it does, to transact all affairs in the most direct and
expeditious manner, and with the addition of the eminent
gentlemen to their directory, indicates a line of safeguards
that will maintain the high reputation they have already
established.
The officers of the company are: Ex-Governor Thomas T.
Crittenden, president; Judge James H. Austin, vice-president;
H. B. Leavens, treasurer; and Watt Webb, Secretary. The
company is also empowered by its articles of incorporation to
perform all business usually conducted by "Trust Companies,"
and as its organizers and officers are gentlemen of well known.
local standing and influence, its business of this character will
undoubtedly assume proportions something equivalent in
extent to its loaning and investment transactions.
MISSOURI UNION TRUST COMPANY.
The Missouri Union Trust Company was incorporated in
1885, and is the first organization of a trust company made under
the laws of this State. The substantial character of these institu-
tions and their great usefulness have long been recognized in
all the older States, and it is a most creditable and certain
indication of the solid growth of this city, and the high com-
mercial and financial rank it has attained, that it should have
so promptly appreciated the necessity of such an institution.
The authorized capital of the company is $400,000, which
will be called in as required. The present paid up capital
is $100,000. The corporation is authorized to act as
trustee, executor, administrator, and receiver, and to invest
moneys in agreed upon securities, and generally to perform
such acts and exercise such powers as are usually performed
$
-5
66
COMMERCE OF KANSAS CITY.
and exercised by trust companies. A specialty is made
of carefully selected mortgages on improved Kansas City
real estate for eastern investors, the president, Mr. C. W.
Whitehead, having had a long and successful experience in
the real estate business of Kansas City and being perfectly
familiar with all its details. The company is in a position to
negotiate for eastern investors, in addition to bonds on water-
works and similar enterprises, city, town, and county bonds.
That the field of the company's operations is an exceedingly
promising one is evidenced by the high esteem in which mort-
gages founded on improved real estate in Kansas City are held,
and by the universally prosperous condition and the require-
ments of the thriving States of Missouri, Kansas, and Texas
by which it is surrounded and which naturally look to this
city to furnish them the financial assistance that their great
industries of farming and grazing demand. The officers of the
company are: C. W. Whitehead, president, Kansas City, Mo.;
Edwin F. Waters, vice-president, Boston, Mass.; Erskine
Clement, treasurer, Kansas City, Mo.; Dobson & Douglass,
attorneys, Kansas City Mo. The directors are: Charles W.
Whitehead, Edwin F. Waters, Charles L. Dobson, William H.
Winants, Attis A. Whipple, Hazen Clement, Erskine Clement;
and its bankers are: Armour Brothers Banking Co., Kansas.
City Citizens National Bank, Kansas City, and the National
Bank of the Commonwealth, Boston, Mass.
REAL ESTATE.
"What a beneficent provision of Providence," said a gen-
tleman celebrated, among other things, for getting the cart be-
fore the horse, "that noble rivers should always flow through
the greatest cities." That this, however, is all but universally
the case, will readily be seen by a glance at the map. Never-
theless, the instances are few indeed in which the site of a
city has been deliberately chosen with forethought of its needs
and confidence in its ultimate destiny.
Night falls upon a pioneer, and he pitches his tent by the
edge of a crystal brook; winter overtakes him, and he builds
the first rude cabin on the banks of an impassable river; a
block house rises where the mouth of a stream offers harbor
for tiny crafts, and how little the settler dreams that he has
laid the corner-stone of a mighty city. Yet railroads
meet and cross upon the boundless prairies, the breast of the
broad river bears the produce of empires to the markets of the
world, and the village landing-place becomes the center of com-
mercial activity, the nucleus of an unforeseen metropolis, the
goal of a thousand channels of traffic, the great throbbing
heart of a continent.
Thus it has ever been. Men call it chance, this chain of
cause and effect which plants a village in one place rather than
another; yet with a clearer appreciation of the laws which con-
trol its growth, they ascribe to rightful causes the development
of the city from the town. 'But why," say others, "did so
few foresee the future greatness of Kansas City?" The answer
to this is that such foresight could only have been based on a
67

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REAL ESTATE.
69
more exact geographical knowledge of the country than was
generally possessed; the fertility of the soil, the vastness of its
productive area, the courses of rivers, and the trend of mountain
barriers, with their influence on future railway lines. It would
have involved a knowledge of the phenomenal development
of our country, which has amazed the most sanguine, and
added a new chapter to the possibility of national growth; it
would have involved an appreciation of the causes which have
conspired to pour the millions of Europe upon our shores.
But further retrospection would be idle; the mission of
Kansas City is no longer problematical, it has become a matter
of history; the question for our consideration now is not the
origin or cause of her progress in the past, but the ultimate
limits of her future growth. The rise in the value of real
estate has hitherto been unparalleled. Is there reason to an-
ticipate a continued advance? Are colossal fortunes still
awaiting the shrewd investor in city and suburban lands?
In the first place every chapter in this work demonstrates
the substantial growth and increase of business; then, next,
Kansas City is adding to her population at the most remark-
able rate, perhaps, ever made by any city. New industries are
constantly springing up, or are attracted hither from the less
progressive cities, while every year extends the area of country
from which the city draws support, and adds new channels of
communication to her vast confluence of railway lines.
Then, again, the city is only just beginning to grow. It
has not yet caught up with the extended area of cultivation
and the increase of population in the territory by which it is
surrounded. Rapid and vast as its improvements and addi-
tions have been made, they still do not afford anything at all
equivalent to the requirements of this rich surrounding terri-
tory. An examination of the map will show Kansas City to
be about the geographical center of the United States-as she
is the center of its richest agricultural region. The line of
industrial and popular growth approaches this point with
each year's progress, and it is not difficult to understand
70
COMMERCE OF KANSAS CITY.
A
why Kansas City extends its trade limits with such remarkable
rapidity.
It has been well said that "the variety of natural resources,
including exhaustless iron and coal fields and forests of virgin
timber, in Arkansas and Missouri, for manufacturing purposes,
are almost unlimited in extent, with unequaled climatic ad-
vantages and boundless wealth; the failure of one single crop
can not retard the onward, ceaseless progress of Kansas City,
as the temporary loss will be recompensed by additional wealth
from other sources and sections newly developed. Kansas City
has territory tributary to her, the richest, grandest, most varied.
in quality and productiveness of any country of equal area in
the world. Superior coal fields exist in the southern part of
this State, ninety miles from Kansas City, being desirable for
gas, steam and domestic use, and delivered at wholesale from
10 to 13 cents per bushel; ore and limestone are likewise
abundant to make iron and steel.
"While in Southern Missouri and Arkansas are found
virgin forests of over forty varieties of timber, all kinds of iron
goods, woodwork, bentwork, leather and manufactured articles of
every description imaginable except the production of pig iron,
could be produced at Kansas City cheaper than any place in
the United States, while hemlock and all kinds of oak leather
can be made here cheaper than at Boston, New York, Buffalo
or Rochester, and as for agricultural implements it is a miracle
that they are not made here instead of in the East. Kansas
City's proof of her agricultural domain is the fact that she dis-
tributes more agricultural implements than any other city on
the earth, and if all possible influences are exerted by her en-
ergetic business men to build up a great manufacturing indus-
try, her growth, wealth, and increase in population in the
future will be beyond compare.
"Minneapolis claims rivalship to Kansas City, so does St.
Paul, Omaha, Denver, Leavenworth, and other cities of less
pretentious aspirations; but in business, Kansas City waves
them aside and stands alone."
REAL ESTATE.
71
Minneapolis has in her city limits
St. Paul has in her city limits....
Kansas City has in her city limits..
Cincinnati has in her city limits.....
New York has in her city limits...
Indianapolis has in her city limits..
Columbus, O., has in her city limits
Sq. miles.
63
45
11.69
24
20
15
..10.59
Number of buildings erected per square mile, and cost per
square mile:
Kansas City.....
New York ....
St. Paul....
Indianapolis
Columbus, O.
Minneapolis....
Cincinnati......
•
Minneapolis claims......
St. Paul claims.....
Kansas City....
Sq. mile.
Cost.
322
$ 611,773
225
2,250,000
76
93,892
62
61,674
60
91,785
56
151,502
28
128,000
Population.
125,000
•
110,000
...
.105,000
Nearly equal as regards population, but as regards business
Kansas City does three times as much as Minneapolis, and a
lot within one mile of Minneapolis' corporation would cost
from five to ten times as much as Kansas City at the same dis-
tance out, showing that property in Minneapolis is on the high
notch while Kansas City's real estate, as compared with every
other city's, considering the present and future prospects, is the
cheapest in America.
The number of large undertakings that are now in prog-
ress here would seem to indicate very plainly that the best in-
formed persons are alive to the necessity of making immense
permanent provision for the accommodation of the future
growth of the city. The National Water-works Co. are, at an
enormous outlay, making the improvements which are noted
in another chapter of this work. Several additional lines of
cable cars will shortly be in operation; a new Court House,
costing $1,000,000; one hotel, costing $700,000, is in course of
construction; the Coates House is being doubled in size and
entirely remodeled at a cost of from $300,000 to $400,000; a
new board of trade building is being built that will cost about
72
COMMERCE OF KANSAS CITY.
:.
$500,000; the New England Mutual Life Insurance Co. is
erecting a magnificent office building at an expense of about
$350,000. Besides these there are a great number of other large
buildings and business projects, street railways and cable lines,
that are commencing, and many that are well advanced, that
will entail the expenditure of very large sums of money, and
the most casual observer can not fail to notice the favorable
effect these enterprises have upon the general business of the
city.
In real estate the record of the past year has been unprec-
edented in the history of cities. Suburbs have been pushed
out in every direction; the open country has been sprinkled
with beautiful residences, and traversed by belt and railway
lines, and so great an impetus has been given to building that
it is only the possibility of indefinite expansion, and the
thousands of acres of circumjacent lands equally good, and
save for the increased distance from the business center, equally
desirable, which has kept the price of unimproved realty down
to its present reasonable and relatively low figure.
The substantial character of the increase of values and the
rapidity with which such advances occur, have been already
alluded to and will be made more clearly apparent by a careful
perusal of the individual transactions of the most prominent
real estate firms here, which will be found at the latter part of
this chapter. The magnificent showing made by the monthly
transactions of real estate, as filed at the Recorder's office,
afford authentic and indisputable evidence of the activity in
real estate circles, and in this connection it should be re-
membered that such a thing as a depreciation in value has
been unknown here for the past five years, or in other words
the property is always transferred or resold at a higher figure
than that at which it was purchased.
The aggregate of deeds recorded during the past six months
is $27,041,867, whereas the total for the corresponding period.
last year, up to that time the biggest ever known, was

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REAL ESTATE.
73
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but $6,462,161. Since February the weekly aggregate, except
in four cases has not fallen below a million dollars, while one
week it reached $2,576,446 another $2,707,504. As an indica-
tion of what the market is doing now, the transfers for the four
weeks of June amounted to $5,636,365, as against $1,595,402
for the corresponding period of last year. The official record
of deeds recorded for the six months of the two years is as
follows:
=
-
WEEK ENDING 1885.
WEEK ENDING 1886.
January 10...……….
$169,911 January 9..
$ 561,699
January 17.
152,489 January 16....
152,489
January 24,..
103,877 January 23
485,919
January 31..
February 7.....
February 14...
February 21.
February 28.
March 7....
March 14....
115,751 January 30
344,230
228,536 February 6.
405,647
136,156 February 13
703,739
140,905 February 20
680,964
...
...
339,140 February 27
470,089
257,632 March 6......
750,623
168,611 March 13…………..
1,301,251
March 21.
248,057 March 20....
1,160,068
March 28.…………..
117,702 March 27...
853,217
April 4....
265,125 April 3...
1,106,192
April 11
310,807 April 10....
842,873
April 18
344,791 April 17
1,280,326
April 25....
231,986 April 24.....
1,568,386
May 2....
302,979 May 1
1,656,963
May 9.......
381,191 May 8
2,576,446
May 16.....
292,124 May 15......
896,489
May 23.....
292,287 May 22…....
2,707,504
May 30......
265,702 May 29.....
1,053,459
June 6.....
396,217 June 5......
1,228,730
June 13.
434,793 June 12.
1,362,910
June 20....
334,946 June 19....
1,607,223
4.
June 27......
429,446 June 26....
1,437,502
Total......
$6,462,161
Total......
$27,041,867
74
COMMERCE OF KANSAS CITY.
1
The following comparative table shows the total number
of monthly transfers with cost during 1883, 1884 and 1885:
Total Considerations.
Months.
1883.
1884.
1885.
1883. 1884. 1885.
No. of
No. Instr'nts Filed.
Plats.
1884.
1885.
January $575,312 $1,157,891 $ 523,976
683 940
859 4
February.
March
.....
710,727
415,351 801,304 837,487
930,698
552
71
8,821 4
5
April....... 493,274
984,862
919,678
1,320,598 745
794
1,001
1,129 | 1
3
1,239
1,495 5 10
May....
955,948
1,406,698
1,341,321 923 1,149
1,588 2 14
June.
881,595
2,000,373
1,682,059 849
1,063
1,698 7 11
July.........
1,152,286
1,416,299
1,528,199 855 1,091
1,617 1 13
August.....
513,665
595,286
1,209,758 751
852
1,388 1
Septemb'r
624,588
651,308
1,557,730 702
883 1,546 2
6
October.... 650,834 1,000,982
November 810,860
December 773,760
578,839
685,986
1,942,353
2,447,403 899
2,435,138 908
777
1,007 | 1,962 | 4
856 1,894 3 9
879 2,068 4 6
Total.... $8,558,200 $12,210,526 $17,745,700' 9,438 11,825 18,065 38 92
The building permits that were issued during 1885, num-
bered 2,598. Since the 1st of January, 1886 up to the present
time in June, there have been 1,835 issued, making an increase
of very nearly one hundred per cent over and above the num-
ber issued last year during the same period. Of those already
issued this year, $1,865,975 were for brick buildings, $999,750
for frame structures, and $244,158 for miscellaneous buildings.
The record of building permits for the last three years is
as follows:
1883......
1884.
1885......
Total permits.
1,275.
•
.1,824.
.2,914.
Cost.
$2,023,018.
3,562,988.
5,758,629.
The buildings in the territory now embraced in the new
limits are not found in the official record, but an accurate record
of the buildings in the new territory show 841 buildings
erected in 1885, at a cost of $1,393,000, making a total for the
city of $7,151,629,
REAL ESTATE.
75
It is entirely proper to add to this total the buildings
erected in Wyandotte, Kansas City, Kas., etc., for a grand total,
which aggregates 4,397 buildings, costing $8,001,379.
ACRE AND SUBURBAN PROPERTY.
With the rapid growth of the city, its greatly increased
population, and the constantly added transportation facilities
that are afforded by the cable, street-car, and railroad lines, it
was naturally to be expected that out-lying property would be
largely called upon to furnish desirable and convenient homes.
The extent to which the expectations of even the most san-
guine have been exceeded by the demand thus created, and in
the increased value of suburban property, will be more easily
understood from a brief description of the surrounding country
and a few instances of the increased values.
It must be borne in mind that the city is bounded on the
north by the Missouri River and on the west by the Kansas
River, consequently what may be properly described as availa-
ble acre or suburban property, is confined to the south and
east. This commences at the old city limits-that is, at Twenty-
third street on the south, and Woodland Avenue on the east,
and extends thence to the south and east. Going south from
Twenty-third street the country rises to a rich and wonderfully
prolific prairie extending for about three miles to Brush Creek.
On the west end of this prairie is the quaint old town of West-
port, than which there are few more beautiful town sites, its
situation being a high and commanding one and the surround-
ing country being beautified with orchards, vineyards, and
blue grass pastures. The country on the east side is more roll-
ing and furnishes building territory for five miles to where
crosses the Big Blue River. The natural boundary of this city
when it contains 600,000 to 800,000 inhabitants will therefore
be the Big Blue on the east and Brush Creek on the south.
is the history of this territory for the last few years that furn-
ishes the romance of real estate transactions. Of the thousands
made and the fortunes missed, volumes could be written, but
It
76
COMMERCE OF KANSAS CITY.
a fact gleaned here and there will convey a fair idea of what
values were and what they are, and after all they are only in
sympathy with the continued growth of Kansas City:
What is now known as the Porter & Hall estate, on the
south side of the city, comprised four hundred acres. Two
hundred acres of this tract was entered by Mr. Porter fifty years
ago at $1.25 per acre, and the other two hundred acres was
purchased from time to time at from $5 to $10 per acre. This
property is bounded on the north by Twenty-third street, on
the west by Holmes street, on the south by Thirtieth street,
and on the east by Lydia Avenue. On Holmes street the
ground is worth to-day $30 per foot, or $7,200 per acre. On
Troost Avenue, which runs through the middle of the tract, it
is worth $80 per foot, or $17,000 per acre, and on Vine street it
is worth $4,000 to $6,000 per acre.
On January 25, 1881, J. J. Squier purchased one hundred
acres on Troost Avenue, two miles from Twenty-third street
(old city limits), for $100 per acre, and he has recently sold
twenty acres of the tract at $2,000 per acre and another twenty
acres of the same tract—which he had formerly sold—has
been sold by the purchaser for $3,000 per acre.
In 1865, Chris. Frank purchased an acre, one mile south of
the old limits, for $65.00, and sold it in 1885 for $1,200.
On the east side, R. T. Holmes purchased his tract about
1843 for from $9 to $12 per acre. The 31 acre tract which he
still owns on 9th street adjoining Woodland, is worth about
$10,000 per acre.
Of the old settlers who still own their property, Richard
Hardesty acquired 90 acres in 1863 at $37.00 per acre, and sold
40 acres in 1885 for $50,000; he still owns 50 acres worth
$100,000; and Jesse Thomas who entered some of his land at
$1.25 an acre, owns still some 360 acres worth about $300 per
acre, none of which cost him over $5 per acre.
Beal Green, got some of his land in 1837, and still owns
about 60 acres within one-fourth of a mile of the new 'limits,
REAL ESTATE.
77
worth $75,000. It is a strange coincidence that the only people
who "wont sell," but in fact are still acquiring land, are old
ladies. Ann Parish, the happy owner of some 90 acres in the
south-east quarter, has nothing for sale. Widow Johnson who
possesses some 150 acres of the very choicest territory in the
south-east, surveys the approaching city with positive alarm,
but refuses to price any portion of it. Margaret Davis, though
three miles from the city limits, has yet such unbounded faith
in the growth of the town that she does not hope to sell any
thing till she can go in a cable car to get the notary. A sketch
of the suburbs of Kansas City would be incomplete without a
passing notice of good uncle Rufus Montgall; he has done
more toward improving the country, straightening out defects,
opening up roads, and explaining incomplete titles, than any
score of men. He sold his land at a fair price, he enjoys the
income therefrom, and he rejoices when he sees the 18th street
lots selling at $40.00 and $50.00 per foot, though he only got
$1,000 or $1,500 per acre for the land.
LAW & MACKENZIE.
The principal movement in the sale and purchase of acre
tracts for subdivision has taken place during the past four
years, and it was in 1882 that Mr. George Law, the senior partner
of this firm, commenced his systematic operations in the sale
of suburban acre property to syndicates of capitalists and to
real estate men, he acting as broker for the owners, and the
purchasers acquiring the property with a view to its subdivis-
ion and immediate sale in city lots. With a quick perception
of the availability and advantages afforded by special locations,
aided by a particularly sound judgment of present and pros-
pective values, he has so successfully conducted these large
transactions that in every instance both the buyer and the
seller have realized large profits. The original owners of the
property would of course get a greatly enhanced price from the
fact that the land was to form an addition to the city, instead
of lying idle or being used for purposes of grazing or cultiva-
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REAL ESTATE.
79
tion, while the profits accruing to the purchasers who subdi-
vided, if they could only be accurately obtained, would almost
surpass belief.
The sales by this firm amounted last year (1885) to some-
thing exceeding $437,000, and comprised among many others
the following well-known properties:
The Richard Hardesty tract, consisting of 40 acres, which
was sold for $50,000 to, and is still held by, a Chicago syndi-
cate, and is not yet subdivided.
The Cole tract, on Troost Avenue, 17 acres, was sold to a
local syndicate for $50,000. It is not yet subdivided, but is
now estimated as being worth fully $100,000.
The Corder tract, of 17 acres, was sold to a local syndicate
for $35,000 and is not yet subdivided.
The Hudgens tract, of 13 acres, on Prospect Avenue, was
sold to T. J. Green & Co., and is now known as Prospect View
Addition. The Barber tract of 12 acres was also sold to T. J.
Green & Co. and is already platted and entirely sold.
During the year 1885 there were some 92 additions platted,
subdivided, and added to the city, and as the increase of the
population during the same time amounted to fully 15,000, it
will be seen that what has been erroneously looked upon as an
extravagant development was in reality somewhat below the
normal growth of the city's requirements. Nor is this a com-
plete statement of the facts, for the growth in population dur-
ing the latter part of 1885, and the early months of 1886, has
been greater than at any other period, and points plainly to the
necessity of still further additions for the accommodation of
greatly increased permanent residents. In dealing in this class
of property many people of intelligence and calculation have
failed to forsee the drift of popular fancy and high prices, while
others, with little thought and less knowledge, have made con-
siderable fortunes by happy investments in acre property. It
is yet uncertain where the upper ten of Kansas City will locate,
and when an expression of opinion upon this subject was asked
of Mr. Law, he said he could only reply as the game-keeper did

80
COMMERCE OF KANSAS CITY.
-
((
to the young nobleman when he asked where the best game
was: Them places that are less likely are often more liklier
than them that look the most likliest."
The purchase of these acre lots and their subdivision into
city or town lots has been the next important feature of real
estate transactions here for the last few years. The leading
spirit in this line is
W. E. WINNER,
though he has had many able and active followers. Some of
these investments have shown wonderful results both as to the
profitable nature of the transactions and the short time that
was occupied in platting and selling them. For instance, Pen-
dleton Heights was purchased on June 30, 1883, for $80,000,
only $10,000 of which was paid in cash. It was divided into
400 lots, and sold for about $233,800. After deducting all ex-
penses, it paid about $110,000, or a net profit in three years of
1100 per cent on the cash actually invested. Floral Place was
sold out in lots in less than six months and paid 128 per cent
on the cost invested. As early as 1880, Mr. Winner, in con-
junction with W. A. Bunker and T. J. Green, commenced to.
handle additions by forming syndicates to purchase the acre
tracts and to subdivide and sell them in city lots. Their
transactions soon began to assume such proportions that ne-
cessitated additional facilities, and in 1883 these gentlemen
associated with themselves D. P. Hunter and J. W. Perkins,
and incorporated
THE WINNER INVESTMENT COMPANY,
of which Mr. W. E. Winner is president, Mr. W. A. Bunker,
vice-president, and the board of directors is as follows: W. E.
Winner, W. A. Bunker, A. M. Winner, A. C. Brundage, and
D. P. Hunter.
The modus operandi by which the business of the corpora-
tion is transacted, and the system that enables it to afford such
perfect freedom from contingent liabilities to its investors, will
probably be most clearly shown by illustration. Take for in-

REAL ESTATE.
81
stance the very profitable investment made in the Pendleton
Heights estate and which has already been referred to. Mr.
Winner individually purchases this property for $80,000, only
$10,000 of which is paid in cash. For the remainder he gives
notes secured on the property itself. He then vests the title in
the Winner Investment Company in trust for the investors,
who in its turn invites a syndicate of say ten gentlemen to put
in $1,000 each, and for each $1,000 so invested conveys by bond.
a one-tenth of the interest in the property itself, which the
company undertake to sell and to protect the interests of the
syndicate. The party so investing assumes no liability what-
ever beyond the $1,000 cash, which is secured on that identical
tract or acre lot. In no supposable case can there be any fur-
ther liability or risk. The company then plats and sells the
sub-division in town lots, and after paying the expenses so
incurred, divides, pro rata, the surplus among the investors,
which, in this instance, amounted to, in three years, the hand-
some sum of $11,000 for each original $1,000.
Since its incorporation the company has handled over two
thousand acres of subdivisions, and confines its operations
strictly to these transactions. The capital stock of the com-
pany was originally $10,000, which was increased to $30,000,
and which has been again increased to $60,000. Besides this it
has an accumulation of undivided profits amounting to $183,-
445.55; these figures being taken from its financial statement of
January 1, 1886, since which time the last item has been con-
siderably increased. Since the first of January the company
has paid $100,000 in dividends to its stockholders and invest-
ors. Its invariable rule is to pay a 5-per-cent dividend each
quarter and to leave the remainder of its earnings in the sur-
plus fund. In its department for lending money for building
purposes the company during the past four years has made
over 400 loans, secured on the ground and new buildings. These
loans are made with its own funds and the bonds and secur-
ities so acquired are negotiated in Eastern financial centers.
-6
82
COMMERCE OF KANSAS CITY.
An idea of the vast extent of its transactions and their
profitable character may be gained from the fact that the com-
pany has due to it collections varying in amounts from $10,-
000 to $12,000 each month, secured on real estate notes, which
do not individually average more than $40 each. Among the
many additions it has developed are, Pendleton Heights, Camp-
bell's Addition, Mount Auburn, Fairfield Place, Olive Place,
Fairview Place, East Side Place, Floral Place, Linwood Terrace,
Merines' Addition, Granman Place, Evanston Park, Edgefield
and Graystone Heights. From Fairview Avenue to the town of
Independence the company own-excluding one 25-acre tract,
which they will ultimately obtain-an unbroken strip of terri
tory comprising some 2,000 acres, through which the Kansas
City, Independence & Park Railroad is being constructed, and
along this entire line a handsome boulevard will be made.
Four hundred acres of this tract is to be held for public use as
a park for ten years, and the city, county, or State will have the
option of purchasing it at a stipulated price during that period.
Reference has already been made to the impetus that has
been given to all commercial projects and particularly to per-
manent improvements in the building and development of the
city itself by the liberal aid of Eastern capital here, and in this
connection the firm of
F. J. BAIRD & CO.,
which is composed of F. J. Baird and Hal C. Brent, has taken
so prominent and active an interest that has secured them the
good-will and esteem of all who have the interests of Kansas
City at heart, and at the same time has firmly established their
reputation for sound judgment and high commercial integrity
among the capitalists of the East. Among the many large in-
vestments in real estate comprised in their operations are the
platting and selling of Marion Place, South Side Place, the Ad-
ams 40-acre tract, which extended from Main street, Grand
Avenue and Walnut street, and from Twentieth to Twenty-
REAL ESTATE.
83
third streets, forming one of the largest and most valuable
additions that have been made to the city.
This firm has also entire charge of the real estate interests
of the Kansas City Stock Yards Company, the Armourdale
Town Company, and are the agents for an extent of property
both in area and value that places them among the largest
handlers of real estate in this city. Both Mr. Baird and Mr.
Brent are indefatigable in their efforts to secure the best inter-
ests of their clients and their extensive transactions have
afforded them a knowledge and insight into all movements in
real estate that effect values-these advantages, combined with
their large acquaintance and high personal standing, enable
them to conduct transactions of the greatest magnitude with
the certainty of a successful issue. That they have done much
for the welfare of Kansas City and are still working assiduously
in the same direction is recognized here on all sides.
T. J. GREEN & CO.
are real estate agents, having established their business in 1881,
since which time they have ranked among the most prominent
and reliable firms connected with this important interest in
Kansas City. The development of any city that grows from
50,000 to 150,000 in population as rapidly as this city is grow-
ing is most noticeable in its increased area. While improved
streets, large buildings and a more pretentious style of architect-
ure attract attention to the changes in the central or business
portion, it is in the outlying or suburban property that the
material development takes place. This is notably the case
with Kansas City. What was open farming land quite recently
is to-day beautiful and thickly populated suburbs. It is to this
branch of the real estate business that T. J. Green & Co. have
devoted their attention. Their system is to purchase acre
tracts that are in good locations and as near as possible to the
city itself, then to subdivide them into town lots and so dis-
pose of them in the open market. This is really developing
the city, or, in other words, it is constantly creating new addi-
1
84
COMMERCE OF KANSAS CITY.
tions and suburbs. That these transactions have proved most
profitable under the experienced management of this firm is
shown in the daily increasing value of this class of property,
and in the fact that not a single client who has acted on their
advice has failed to make a very handsome return on his in-
vestment.
Some idea of the extent of their operations may be gained
from the following list of names of subdivisions and additions
which have been exclusively owned, platted and sold by them.
Prospect Heights, Alexander Place No. 2, Alexander Park,
Myrtle Park, Mount Prospect, Troost Avenue Park, Hamp-
stead Heath, Greenview, Belmont Heights, Prospect View,
and Hazelcroft. Besides these, they have been interested as
part owners and active workers in the platting and sale of the
following additions: Laveta Place, Blue Avenue Park, White-
head Place, Ashcroft, East Side Place, Floral Place, Olive Place,
Fairfield Place, J. C. Merine's Subdivision, Forest Home,
Pendleton Heights, Westport Heights, and Westport View.
This comprises some of the most beautiful suburbs of this
beautiful city, and with them the name of this firm will be
inseparably connected.
Another feature of their business was the introduction in
this city of the installment plan, by which a man can purchase
a home and pay for it in monthly payments of not more than
would be required ordinarily by owners for rent of similar
premises. This plan has proved a decided success and a great
assistance and benefit to all who are provident and industrious,
enabling them to own homes which might otherwise be for
them unattainable.
E. H. PHELPS & CO.
The record of this reliable real estate firm can be best
traced by a brief reference to the career of its founder, the
present senior partner of the concern. Mr. E. H. Phelps had,
previous to 1881, for many years been an active worker in the
educational institutions of Illinois. He at one time filled the
REAL ESTATE.
85
responsible position of superintendent and ex-officio principal
in the city schools of Canton, Illinois, besides other important
offices connected with the educational features of the state. It
is probable that his enthusiasm as a public instructor found
the schools too narrow for his advanced thought and energetic
mind, and as a consequence he sought a wider field through
the press. He founded the weekly and semi-weekly Post, of
Wyoming, Illinois, and in 1881 the business of his paper
brought him to Kansas City. While here his keen foresight
and astute perceptive faculties led him to realize to some extent
the bright promise that this city held out as a field for invest-
ment in its real estate. So strongly was he impressed with the
idea, that he at once closed out his many interests in Illinois
and took up his permanent residence here.
For the purpose of acquiring the most exact and intimate
knowledge of locations, values, methods of doing business and
practical experience of detail, he connected himself at once
with an old and prominent real estate firm in which the late
Rev. L. Bartlett was a partner. After a time Mr. Bartlett re-
tired from that firm and he and Mr. Phelps in 1882 started the
real estate house of Bartlett & Phelps. The success they met
with was astonishing even to themselves. Mr. Bartlett's high
reputation combined with the rare business talent of Mr.
Phelps, secured for the new firm a very large amount of the
local business which at that time was commencing to assume´
some of the proportions that it has since attained. Capitalists
both at home and in the east were then beginning to realize
the favorable field that Kansas City offered for the investment
of money. And the eastern connections of Mr. Phelps, for his
high standing in educational circles was as well known and
recognized in New England as it was in Illinois, brought them
large sums seeking such investments. Mr. Bartlett, who was
always in delicate health, only lived some six months to enjoy
this prosperity, and on his death the firm was changed to its
present style of E. H. Phelps & Co., and Mr. Phelps associated
with himself Mr. F. H. Whitaker, the great increase in the
→
86
COMMERCE OF KANSAS CITY.
business rendering essential some assistance in the exacting
labor of its management.
In the matter of receiving money to loan on real estate, or
for permanent investment, it is no unusual thing for this
firm to have sums placed with them by non-residents who are
entire strangers to them, and this is in a great measure attribu-
table to the fact that they never advise a client to make a pur-
chase, or to enter into any transaction whatever, that they
would not be perfectly willing to undertake on their own behalf,
and the result is that no client has ever lost a dollar in any
transaction made by them or through their advice. They have
handled some very large business in central city property, both
in buying and selling, and beyond this they loaned over half a
million of dollars last year on this class of security. In sub-
urban property their operations have been still more extensive.
They were largely interested in Brigham's first, second, and
third additions, and handled the whole of Wilson's second ad-
dition. They made up and represent the syndicate who pur-
chased Troost Highlands, an 80-acre tract, which they have
subdivided and sold with a result that has proved most satis-
factory to all parties concerned. At this time of writing (May,
1886), Mr. Phelps is one of a syndicate of ten gentlemen who
have recently purchased a most beautifully-located and desir-
able tract of 80 acres, which they hope to sell to the city for
the purposes of a public park, the management of the business
being placed in the hands of this firm. Mr. Phelps is himself
a large owner of real estate, and in every syndicate he forms, or
in any addition that he handles or subdivides, he invariably
holds a large financial interest. In addition to these active
projects the firm gives special attention to the collection of
rents, payment of taxes, repairing of property, and all the other
details that are incident to the management and care of estates
for non-residents.
CASE & BALIS.
This firm is composed of Oliver Case and John R. Balis,
both of whom have been industrious and earnest workers in
REAL ESTATE.
87
building up the property interests of this city. The firm dates
its origin back to 1866; and even previous to that early day,
from 1862 to 1865, Mr. Balis, who had resided here from 1858,
was making investments in Kansas City real estate for himself
and his friend, Colonel Theo. S. Case, who was at that time
time Quarter-master General of the State of Missouri. In 1866,
however, the prospects were so good that he commenced to sub-
divide some of his own property, and Colonel Theo. S. Case
retired from his military position in the state, and the two
founded the original real estate firm of Case & Balis.
Some of the first properties subdivided by them now form
the very heart of the present city and rank among its most
valuable real estate. Among these early subdivisions made
by them are: McGee Place, Balis Place, Case & Balis Sub-
division, Balis Addition, Broadway Addition, T. S. Case Sub-
division, and Cottage Place. They also owned property where
the old state line depot stood and sold it for railroad purposes,
which with the adjoining property, consisting of 40 acres, is
known as Pacific Place. It originally cost, in 1861, the mag-
nificent sum of $950; to-day it is occupied by the railroads and
valuable wholesale business structures and is worth at a mod-
erate estimate $2,000,000. When Colonel Case received his
appointment as postmaster of this city in 1873, he of course
severed his connection with the old firm, and Mr. Balis carried
on the business alone until March of 1885, when he was joined
by his present partner, Oliver Case, who is also an experienced
real estate man and a brother of Colonel Case.
The operations of the firm during the latter règime have
been in every way progressive and up with the times. One
transaction will serve to illustrate their direct and expeditious
method of transacting business, and at the same time will indi-
cate the rapidity with which real estate in this city increases
in value. In July, 1885, they telegraphed to a client in Ire-
land, who owned 80 acres of land here, an offer of $25,000 for
the property; he accepted and before the papers could be com-
pletely closed up it was sold again for $32,000, and again for

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REAL ESTATE.
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$44,000, and again for $50,000, the last purchaser selling it once
more for $100,000, and even at the close of these transactions
it had not been subdivided. Old associations, long experi
ence, the daily negotiation and sale of large properties, all con-
duce to place this firm among the most prominent, as well as
among the oldest real estate concerns of Kansas City.
THEO. S. CASE.
As far back as 1862, Colonel Case commenced making in-
vestments in Kansas City real estate, and after the close of the
war in 1866, when he was Quartermaster General of the State
of Missouri, he resigned that important position to go into the
real estate business here with John R. Balis, under the firm
style of Case & Balis. A somewhat extended description of
their operations in landed property has already been given
under that firm name, though Colonel Case retired from the
concern in 1873, when he was appointed postmaster. From
this time until 1885, a period of twelve years, Colonel Case per-
formed the onerous duties devolving upon the postmastership
with a zeal and fidelity that was recognized and appreciated by
the entire business community here, irrespective of political
parties. That at the expiration of his term of office he should
return to the real estate business was the natural result of his
own preferences, formed, no doubt, from his long practical
experience in connection with that interest. Having through-
out his entire career been a large owner of real estate here, he
has watched with closest care every change of values effected
either by the shifting of business or residence centers, the open-
ing of new lines of transportation, or the development of new
additions. He has given his powerful aid to every movement
that in any way tended to promote the best interests of this
city, and in returning to the field of his former labors he does
so with an added experience and ripened judgment that can
exert only the most beneficial influence for the interests of his
clients.
The estimation in which he is held by his fellow citizens
90
COMMERCE OF KANSAS CITY.
*
is shown by the strong letter of endorsement of his character
and abilities that was recently signed by all the prominent
banks of this city. His business comprises the buying and
selling of real estate, the placing of loans, and every detail that
properly belongs to an established and responsible real estate
agency. His years of active duty in the military and civil
departments of the Government enable him to add to this, the
collection of pensions and bounties, the furnishing or taking of
claims for Quartermaster's stores, and the settling of officers'
accounts, including those of outgoing postmasters.
B. T. WHIPPLE & CO.
This firm comprises the firm of B. T. Whipple & Co.-which
is composed of B. T. Whipple and A. A. Whipple-and Whip-
ple, Courtney & Co., which consists of the former partners and
of C. C. Courtney.
In this work we have already, in the chapter devoted to
investment companies, spoken of the long period during which
the members of this house have been identified with the real
estate interests of Kansas City and of the extensive character
of their transactions. There are, however, some features per-
taining to the real estate business that properly find their place
here.
The commencement of the operations of the Messrs.
Whipple in dealing in real estate places them among the ear-
liest to appreciate the grand future that was held in store for
Kansas City. In 1879 they were large owners of real estate,
and in that year commenced to convert their acre lots into city
lots, since which time they have developed and platted some
twenty additions, five or six of them bearing their own name
and consisting of their own property. Beyond this, they have
an extensive list of both city and suburban property held by
Eastern capitalists, the handling and control of which rests
entirely with them. The judgment of the firm in the purchase
and management of real estate has been alike fortunate both
for their clients and themselves; and their absolute knowledge
REAL ESTATE.
91
•
of values, acquired from daily business transactions extending
over so long a period, enable them to act and advise with re-
markable precision in the interests of their clients. The rental
and insurance departments, the latter of which is represented
by a first-class list of reliable companies-which will be found
in the chapter on Insurance-is under the personal supervision
of Mr. Courtney, and forms that portion of the general busi-
ness which is transacted by the firm of Whipple, Courtney
& Co.
LEANDER J. TALBOTT.
The earliest regular real estate agency conducted in Kan-
sas City, of which there is any record, was that of Major
Vaughan, and in 1865, Mr. Talbott became associated with
Major Vaughan in this line. In 1871, he entered into the bus-
iness on his own account. His transactions comprise the buy-
ing and selling of real estate, effecting loans, and conducting a
general bond brokerage business. Mr. Talbott filled the respon-
sible office of City Auditor for three years, and was elected and
served as Mayor of the city during 1884. Throughout the
whole of this time he has been prominently associated with
the active and progressive element here, and the part he has
taken in promoting the best interests of the city has secured
for him the confidence of a wide circle of friends and clients.
He has invested large sums in city real estate for both residents
and non-residents, and although he makes no great effort to
secure Eastern money for investment, yet his prominence in
the most influential local circles leads naturally to a large
amount of this business being placed in his hands. His long
experience in real estate affairs has gained for him an intimate
acquaintance with all the causes that have in any way affected
values, or that are likely to affect them in the future, and as
his conclusions are always governed by a cautious and con-
servative view of the general circumstances and surroundings,
they carry with them the weight of an experienced and well-
founded judgment.
92
COMMERCE OF KANSAS CITY.
REED AND COATES,
This is a firm that peculiarily represents the enterprising
method and push that are adopted in dealing in real estate in
Kansas City. The partners of the firm are both young men who
have been most intimately connected with the great progress of
the city. Mr. Homer Reed has been in business here for
thirteen years, ten of which he has devoted to the real estate
interest. He is the son-in-law, and his partner, Mr. J. L.
Coates, the son of Col. Kersey Coates, who is one of the oldest
and most extensive owners of real estate in Kansas City. Col.
Coates, during all the years of stagnation and depression in
business here, never for one moment lost faith in the ultimate
destiny of this city as the great metropolis of commerce for the
south-west. He held on to his property during the dullest of
times, and always gave his aid to every prominent enterprise
that promised to build up the city of his adoption. His son,
Mr. J. L. Coates, has inherited a great deal of his father's strong
will, and indomitable perseverence. In their real estate bus-
iness the firm has done some good work in developing the su-
burban property, among others having platted and subdivided
Magazine Place, Fairmount Park, Reed's Subdivision, North
Side Place, Grand Avenue Highland, Dickinson Place, and
Bunker & Bowes Subdivision. They are also heavy handlers
of inside property that has already been subdivided. Besides
buying and selling extensively in real estate on their own ac-
count, they transact an extensive general commission business.
One of the most important features of their operations is the
making of large loans on central improved city property, and
in this department their intimate relations with financial
circles in Philadelphia and Boston combined with their prac-
tical knowledge of values, and long experience and residence
here give them the utmost facilities for placing such loans in
the most satisfactory manner possible.
S. F. SCOTT & CO.
This prominent real estate firm is composed of S. F. Scott
REAL ESTATE.
93
and Frank K. Moody. Mr. Scott commenced business in
1873, and his long and important connection with the real
estate interests here, the remarkable enterprise, boldness and
sagacity that has characterized his operations, the vast business
he has built up and the general high standing he has attained
have placed his firm among the foremost leaders in real estate
transactions of this city.
This firm has been directly identified with some of the
largest transactions that have taken place in central business
property here, and have themselves platted nearly twenty sub-
divisions to the city; among these are the additions of Hyde &
Foster, Crouse & Wittich, Hyns & Scott, Hammond, Conover &
Foster, Highland Park, Garfield Park, Howard & Scott, Ham-
lin, Richmond Place, Bullene, Moores & Emery, Rosenthal, Park
Ridge, Bernard Place, Sidney Place, and Brighton Park; to
these may be added the laying out of which is the present town
of Argentine, a flourishing suburb of Kansas City.
In the responsible business of negotiating loans on real
estate they have the advantage of long experience, a thorough
knowledge of values and a wide circle of acquaintances. They
have a large business in rentals and most desirable property in
the various additions is placed in their hands, of which they
keep a complete set of plans for the accommodation of all seek-
ing information. The operations of the house have been of
incalculable benefit to Kansas City; they have attracted the
attention of capitalists in all parts of the country, and have
induced large investments to be made here.
R. H. CANNON & CO.
Are real estate and loan brokers. Mr. Cannon, the head of
the house, commenced operations in real estate in 1869, at a
time when most property owners in Kansas City had little
trouble in taking care of their estates without assistance. His
business career in this city, therefore, covers the entire period
during which those great improvements have been made
which have transformed Kansas City from a struggling river
94
COMMERCE OF KANSAS CITY.
な
​."
town to its present position as the metropolis of the great
southwest. He has taken part in many of the enterprising
movements by which the property in the most central part of
the city has been developed, and has been an active member of
the fraternity of real estate operators who have aided in the
growth of this great city. He has loaned and invested here
large sums of money for one of the strongest eastern corpora-
tions and foreign capitalists, his intimate relations with these
large monetary institutions have made him exceedingly con-
servative in his views and actions. He is, however, with all
others who are well acquainted with the commercial move:
ments here, a firm believer in the great future in store for
Kansas City, and as an indication of the soundness of his
judgment in business affairs and the accuracy of the knowledge
on which it is based, it is sufficient to say, that in all his trans-
actions here he has never yet had occasion to make a foreclos-
ure, and has never in a single instance advised a client to make
an investment that has not proved profitable. He is at this
time one of the most earnest workers in securing the erection
of the grand new hotel on the site that has been selected, and
in promoting the interests of the surrounding property owners
to their fullest extent.
C. W. WHITEHEAD
has been intimately associated with the real estate interests of
Kansas City from its early days, and during that time has
effected some of the largest sales and most notable transfers of
property that have taken place here. The changes of values,
the shifting of business and residence centers, the variations of
prospects and all the features in real estate movements here
are as familiar to him as the ordinary routine of daily life.
Notably among the additions of the city that owe their de-.
velopment to his care, and which were placed on the market
by him, are Whitehead Place, Grand View Addition, Lawton
Place, and many others. His intimate knowledge of the value
of property in this city is backed by a wide acquaintance in
REAL ESTATE.
95
Eastern financial circles, and he has influenced the investment
of large amounts of Eastern and foreign capital here, large
amounts of property so held being intrusted to his manage-
ment. Mr. Whitehead was one of the most active principals
in the organization of the Missouri Union Trust Company, and
on its incorporation was chosen as president of that institution.
He is also a director of the Citizens' National Bank.
I L
MARTY, ARNOLD & CO.
are the successors of Albert Marty & Bro., which firm was
established in 1874. In August, 1885, Mr. Albert Marty re-
tired from business, and his brother, Mr. G. P. Marty, the
senior partner of the present firm, associated with himself Mr.
W. W. Arnold, a gentleman who had been actively engaged in
the real estate business here for five years prior to that time.
Consequently it will be seen that this is one of the old time
firms who have never lost faith in the value of Kansas City
real estate. During the years of stagnation that followed the
panic of 1872-3, when nearly all holders were anxious to
realize on their property, and the few who held on were in
most instances compelled to do so for want of buyers, the
operations of this house displayed a fore-sight founded on sound
judgement and an unshaken confidence in the future great-
ness of Kansas City that has brought at this day a golden
harvest, both for their clients and themselves. The city itself
has also been benefitted to an incalculable degree by their
operations. Confidence was inspired in others, Eastern money
was invested here in large amounts on their advice and assur-
ance of safety, and with the turn of the tide they at once pro-
ceeded to plat and subdivide new additions and suberbs.
Coleman Place, Oaklands, Philips subdivision, Marty's Wood-
land addition, Winfield Place, and Clouser & Cole's addition
were all comprised in property owned by this firm and which
they subdivided from acre lots to city lots, and which are now
among the most popular resident sections of the city. There
are many other additions and suberbs in which they were in-
96
COMMERCE OF KANSAS CITY.
+
terested financially and to the development of which they lent
their active assistance. Very important sections of the more
central city property has also been handled by them. At the
present time they hold valuable property on Fifth, Sixth and
Twelfth streets and Independence avenue, South Main and
Grand avenue and between Eighth and Twelfth streets and
Grand avenue. The fact that the firm have confined them-
selves strictly to Kansas City real estate in buying, selling or
loaning money has enabled them to acquire the very closest
insight into all movements of real estate here and at the same
time to give that attention to every detail that can alone com-
mand success. The high standing of the firm, and the impor-
tance of their operations are but indicated by the amount of
business they transacted during the past month of April, 1886,
which summed up something in excess of $750,000.
WHITESIDE & JARVIS.
This firm was established in 1878, and has taken a very
active part in the development of this city by platting and
selling in town lots a large number of additions. Prominent
among these may be mentioned Lotts' Addition, Winter's
Addition, Garfield Park, Highland Park, Hyde & Foster's
Addition, Crouse & Wittich's Addition, Hamlin's Addition,
Howard & Scott's Addition and Richmond Addition.
These properties have many of them been handled for
individual clients, while in other cases the firm have
formed syndicates for the purchase of acre lots and have
then platted them and sold them in city lots for building
purposes. As the operations of this firm have been conducted
during the past eight years, which comprises the period that has
been most active in real estate transactions, and that has seen
the real growth and development of the city, they have neces-
sarily acquired an exceedingly close insight into both present
and prospective values. This knowledge has enabled them to
avoid any shoals and quicksands of speculation and to base
their transactions on the substantial foundation of assured
values.
REAL ESTATE.
97
They also transact a large business in the investment and
loaning of money on real estate for non-residents, and in these
cases the firm takes entire charge of the property, collecting
rents, paying taxes, attending to insurance and all the details
that properly pertain to a legitimate and responsible real
estate agency. They have quite an extensive list of clients
among non-resident capitalists, which the universal success
that has attended their operations is constantly increasing.
In this connection it is only just to state that this success is
the natural and inevitable result of the sound and conserva-
tive judgment with which all their operations are conducted.
EDWARD M. WRIGHT.
For seventeen years Mr. Wright has been a resident of
Kansas City, arriving here from his native Eastern State in
1869. His connection with the real estate transactions of this
city extends throughout that entire period, though it was only
in 1882 that he devoted his time and energies exclusively to
that interest. Previous to this date he had practiced law in
the civil courts here, but even during this time his attention
was principally given to real-estate law. The examination of
titles and the legal questions arising from real estate business
formed the larger portion of his practice and received from him
the greatest consideration. The attention he has devoted to
the subject, his large experience, and the knowledge he has ac-
quired of local questions of titles and values, have caused his
services to be greatly sought after in important cases where
large sums of money are involved or invested in real estate and
when the certainty of a flawless title is absolutely essential.
Mr. Wright was always an investor of his own funds in
Kansas City real estate, and when, in 1882, the close insight,
gained by him in his legal practice, of the brilliant prospects
afforded here induced him to retire from the general practice of
law, he determined to confine himself to dealing in inside city
property-and especially business property-buying and sell-
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REAL ESTATE.
99
•
ing for himself and his clients and continuing the business of
examination of titles. He has always felt that the central
property adjacent to the main business portion of the city
must inevitably experience a really substantial and permanent
increase in value, and would be far less liable to suffer depre-
ciation from any causes whatever than would suburban lots,
and it would likewise be free from the danger of fictitious
valuation arising from temporary enthusiasm.
That Mr. Wright has displayed sound judgment in his
purchases may be seen in his operations-notably in the in-
stance of property on East Eighteenth street, which he bought
in 1884 for $17.50 per foot, and for which he has been repeat-
edly offered $85 per foot. And again, in 1883, he bought some
five acres about one mile inside the present city limits for $500
per acre, for which he has refused $3,000 per acre, and which,
if subdivided, to-day would easily realize over $6,000 per acre.
C. H. PENNOCK & CO.
Is a firm doing an extensive business in real estate, loans
and rentals. It is composed of C. H. Pennock and T. H. Mann,
and was established in 1876 by J. W. Pennock. This latter
gentleman had been a resident of Kansas City for some years
previous to 1876, and had acquired considerable property, con-
sisting chiefly of inside real estate. It was the possession of
this that induced him to enter into the real estate business, his
chief purpose at that time being the development and improve-
ment of property that he owned himself. While so occupied
he gained a clearer and fuller insight into the prospective value
of real estate in this city, and was led to the conclusion that no
fairer or more promising field could be found. As a conse-
quence of this conclusion he extended his field of operations,
bought more real estate and gave his attention exclusively to
this interest. In 1882 his brother, C. H. Pennock, came on
from Chicago, where he had been engaged in commercial pur-
suits, and the two at that date comprised the firm of J. W.
Pennock & Co. In the same year they purchased the site of
100
COMMERCE OF KANSAS CITY.
Three
the Christian Church, which was one of the oldest churches in
the city, at the corner of Main and Twelfth streets. Here they .
erected the Pennock building, which was then and is still one
of the handsomest buildings in the city. They purchased this
property for $350 per foot only four years ago, and have recently
refused $2,000 per foot for it without the building.
years ago they bought a corner lot on Main and Eighteenth
streets, for $5,500, and have refused $30,000 for it. Two years
ago they bought another corner on Sixteenth and Main streets
for $4,500, for which they have also declined to accept $30,000.
These instances point out distinctly the really firm character of
the increase in value of inside city property and are equally
strong in showing the discriminating judgment displayed in
making selections for purchasers. In 1885 J. W. Pennock
retired from the firm and indeed from active business. The
transactions of the house at this time were too large and too
varied to be properly cared for by one individual, and C. H.
Pennock associated with himself T. H. Mann, an active and
energetic business man of Boston, Mass., who came here in
1882, and made his first investments that have constantly
gained in value, and changed the name of the firm to its pres-
ent style of C. H. Pennock & Co. With an abiding faith in
the future greatness of Kansas City they buy real estate to hold
for big profits and the soundness of their judgment is demon-
strated by the past record of their transactions. They have.
also a large list of property placed in their charge by residents
and non-residents. They make loans for themselves and their
clients on good improved inside property, and they carefully
avoid purely speculative transactions, looking rather to the
solid and substantial growth of the city proper and the certain
increase of central property.
E. L. BROWNE & CO.
The firm of E. L. Browne & Co., is among the older houses
in the real estate business in Kansas City, having been estab-
lished in the year 1878. They have been one of the most push-
:
REAL ESTATE.
101
ing and enterprising firms in the city, always working for the
best interests of the city and for the establishment of any and
all institutions within her limits that would add to her great-
ness and prosperity, and have never been backward in devoting
their time to matters of this kind, even to the detriment of
their private business.
"
It was this firm who filed for record the first plat of a sub-
division, after the dull period following the unsettling events
of 1873, and they quickly followed up the filing of this first
plat with some half dozen others, nearly all of which were
located upon the east side, and to this firm is largely due the
rapid development of the east side of the city, as it was their
efforts that first directed the attention of the public, thus ·
giving it the first impetus, and it was their untiring zeal that
kept the peculiar advantages of this beautiful part of the city
before the public until they, the public, began to fully realize
what there was in store for those who would first buy on this
side of the city, and the demand thus created and begun in
earnest, has never once flagged, but kept on increasing year by
year, until to-day the east side is by far the most popular part
of the city, as is evidenced by the transfers filed in the Record-
er's office from day to day.
Probably there is no firm that more thoroughly appreciates
the necessities of Kansas City, or that devotes more time and
money to calling the attention of non-resident capitalists to
the opportunities for profitable investments here, not only in
real estate and real estate securities, but in manufacturing and
other business enterprises as well, knowing full well that every
dollar invested in any legitimate business enterprise in Kansas
City will not only return the party so investing, large profits,
but will also swell the volume of business being done here,
give employment to more people, and add, in proportion to
the amount of capital invested, to the general prosperity of the
city at large.
While fully appreciating the future in store for Kansas
City, the firm of E. L. Browne & Co, are conservative in their
102
COMMERCE OF KANSAS CITY.
views, and in making investments for themselves and their
patrons, display such good judgment as to insure large and cer-
tain profits on all purchases made by them, and the very best
security for all money loaned on real estate security.
Lots sold by the firm of E. L. Browne & Co. in 1880 for
$1,100, have sold during the present year for $13,750, and this
is only one of many instances. Other lots sold by this firm in
1879 at $5 per front foot, have sold during the spring of 1886
for $35 and $40 per front foot. We could fill several pages with
facts of this kind, but lack of space prevents.
BRUTUS CROOKE.
For fully twelve years Mr. Crooke has been intimately as-
sociated with real estate transactions in Kansas City. He has
not confined his operations to any one particular class of prop-
erty, but has covered the entire field. Many of the most im-
portant additions that have been made to the city during the
past few years were handled by him as acre tracts, and his
transactions include much of this suburban property as well
as business and residence property inside the city. He has in-
vested large amounts of money for local capitalists, and has
entire charge and control of extensive property for non-resi-
dents. In fact his business comprises everything that usually
pertains to real estate transactions, of which the negotiating of
loans forms an important feature, and in all these operations
Mr. Crooke has proved a thoroughly experienced and success-
ful broker.
R. H. HUNT & CO.
The senior member of this firm, Col. R. H. Hunt, is one
of the pioneers of Kansas City, having made his residence here
immediately on the close of the war in 1865. A considerable
portion of the land close to the business center bears his name,
part of which is known as Hunt's Addition and another part
as Hunt's Subdivision. A more recently developed property,
consisting of somewhat over four acres, is also known as Hunt's
Place. But it is not in real estate alone that Col. Hunt's name
REAL ESTATE.
103
will be found closely identified with Kansas City; his active
life has made him a prominent figure in every movement that
has been inaugurated to develop the city and promote its inter-
ests. He has also taken an energetic part in the government
of the city, and was chosen as mayor, was elected and filled that
office during 1872 and 1873. At this time the city depart-
ments were comparatively in their infancy, and it devolved
upon Col. Hunt to lay the solid superstructure in the various
departments that has enabled the municipal government of
this city to keep pace with its marvelous growth and increase
of population. It was his talent of organization that placed
the police force of the city on its first really efficient footing,
being changed from a volunteer to a paid department; the same
was the case with the fire department, which, indeed, may
justly count its origin, as a properly organized and paid insti-
tution, to his zeal. He inaugurated the water works and ad-
vised the city to build them; was instrumental in bringing
the A. T. R. R. into this city; was a member of the school
board, and was active in building up the Board of Trade. He
recently organized the Missouri State Militia, of which he is
now Colonel commanding.
In his commercial transactions the interests of the home
of his choice have always been foremost in his consideration,
and much of the eastern capital that ventured here in past.
years was influenced by his judgment. In the building of
railroads, erection of grain elevators, and similar important
works that have so greatly conduced to the growth of Kansas
City, he not only took an active interest but devoted himself
and his means to the successful completion of every such un-
dertaking.
THOMAS A. SCOTT & CO.
The consolidation of Wyandotte, Kansas City, Kansas,
Riverview, Armstrong and Armourdale, which now compose
the new city of Kansas City, Kansas, with a population of 20,-
104
COMMERCE OF KANSAS CITY.
2
000 people, has directed attention to real estate across the state
line.
The firm of T. A. Scott & Co., whose principal office is at
Wyandotte with a branch office in the Times building in this city,
is in excellent position to meet the wants of real estate purchas-
ers. Although the sales of this firm reached the enormous sum
of $1,200,000 the past year, they will make a large increase for
1886.
They control sufficient capital to carry out the largest en-
terprises, and within the last eighteen months they have se-
cured large tracts of acre property in Armourdale and the ad-
ditions thereto of Pacific Place and Kaw View, the grounds se-
cured being valuable switch property and choice residence
sites, the new stock yards being located upon these purchases.
Among their other enterprises is Allcutt's addition to Wyan-
dotte, which is meeting with great success in the sale of lots;
and also Orchard addition, near the line of the new cable rail-
way.
The more recent purchases of the firm are the three hun-
dred acre tract known as Bonner Springs for $300,000, and
the Fowler property of thirty-two acres adjoining Wyandotte
for $100,000.
The immense sale of lots last November at Bonner
Springs was a most marvelous enterprise considering the season
of the year in which it was accomplished, and the sales there
during the passed month of June have been so great as to ren-
der the success of the springs a certainty.
The Fowler purchase will be subdivided into lots and be
made an addition to the new consolidation, notwithstand-
ing it is said $10,000 advance has been offered for the property.
The new addition will be reached by the cable line and lots
will sell rapidly.
The foregoing but briefly outlines a few of the enter-
prises of this great real estate firm, which places in their hands
enormous interests and most desirable property.
REAL ESTATE.
105
}
G. W. TOULMIN.
Mr. Toulmin is a prominent broker, dealing largely in real
estate, loans, and securities. His operations have not only
been on an extensive scale, but they have also been eminently
successful. He does a large amount of business for non-resi-
dents, and gives to this department the most careful and spec-
ial attention. His offices are at No. 11, West Ninth Street.
H. L. JOHNSON,
Real Estate Agency, S. W. corner Seventh and Delaware streets,
office on the main floors, one block from the Ninth Street
Cable line. Mr. H. L. Johnson was formerly of Buffalo, N.
Y., and son of Dr. E. Johnson, first Mayor of Buffalo. He re-
moved to Kansas City, in 1879. Believing in the inevitable
growth of the city, he endeavored to induce his New York
friends to invest in land at Ninth and Baltimore Avenue at
$50 per foot, now worth $1,000 per foot; in land on Wyandotte.
street at $83 per foot, on which the new $500,000 Board of
Trade Building is now located, and now worth $1,500 per foot.
Mr. Johnson handles property only on commission. Corre-
spondents will be promptly answered with maps and all partic-
ulars of the investments he has to offer. He also places loans
at 7, 8, and 9 per cent on improved city property.
E. J. RICKERT & CO.,
located at 824 Delaware street, opposite the Junction, do a
general real estate and loan business, and make a specialty of
the subdivision of acre property. They also give special atten-
tion to the investment of capital, and invite correspondence
from non-residents. They have recently platted several acre
tracts, and placed them on the market under the name of
Rickert's Additions, and have met with great success in all
their investments.
JONES & OLDS,
Real Estate and Loan Brokers, 824 Delaware street, at the
Junction. Buy and sell improved and unimproved Kansas
06
COMMERCE OF KANSAS CITY.
City real estate, and negotiate conservative first mortgage loans
on improved property. Make a specialty of handling gilt-edge
inside business property that pays a good rental. Do a general
agency business. Pennsylvania, Minnesota, and Kansas City
references. Correspondence solicited.
BROWN, SCHOONMAKER & CO.,
Real Estate and Insurance, rooms 10 and 11 Underwriters' Ex-
change.
The members of this firm are both well-known business
men. They do a general real estate and insurance business,
and are also investors for Eastern capitalists. Mr. Brown has
been engaged in the fire insurance business in this city for ten
years; Mr. Schoonmaker has been in the real estate business
for five years, and has had just that kind of experience which
is always of value to those making investments. He has an
extensive acquaintance with the owners of many desirable
tracts available for subdivision, which have been placed upon
the books of the firm.
G. J. CLARK & CO.,
Real Estate, Rental, and Loan Agents, room 3, Sheidley build-
ing, south-east corner of Main and Ninth streets.
Mr. G. J. Clark is the manager of this business, and is a
man of excellent judgment in real estate values, as is shown in
the rapid advance of the property the firm has handled.
O. H. QUEAL & CO.
This firm is composed of O. H. Queal and A. D. Queal.
They are real estate and loan brokers, with a special depart-
ment devoted to insurance. Their offices are at 808 Delaware
street.
HARRISON & PLATT.
This firm is composed of J. S. Harrison,notary public, and
C. B. Platt, attorney-at-law. They are real estate brokers, pay
taxes, collect rents, examine titles, and do a general convey-
ancing business, besides handling large amounts of money
REAL ESTATE.
107
which they have for loan on real estate.
609 Delaware street.
ISAAC A. WRIGHT,
Their offices are at
No. 905 Baltimore Avenue. Real estate agent. Buys and sells
for residents and those at a distance. Has been fifteen years a
resident here, and gives references to the leading banks.
JACKSON, HIBBETS & CO.,
No. 9 West Ninth street, are real estate and loan brokers.
JAMES HEWSON & CO.,
room No. 8, Bunker building, 100 West Ninth street, are real
estate, loan, and rental agents.
RICHARD H. MELTON,
No. 6 East Eighth street. Dealer in Kansas City real estate.
Large bodies of timber and grazing lands, farms and mineral
lands and mining properties.
MILLER & TILESTON.
Hugh Miller and H. M. Tileston. Real estate and loans.
See also insurance. Make a specialty of loaning money on
first-class security, these securities being in demand by eastern
capitalists.
F. H. BENSON.
Established 1869. Real estate agent, office northeast cor-
ner Eighth and Walnut streets. Invites parties wanting to
buy sell or trade houses, lots, farms or merchandise to call on
him.
ROBERT D. MILLER.
Room 17, southwest corner Ninth and Main streets. Real
estate and rental agent.
C. E. SCHOELLKOPF,
No. 808 Delaware street. Real estate. Kensington Addi-
tion, Arlington Addition.
BOUTON & GRASTY,
No. 113 West Sixth street. E. H. Bouton and C. H.
Grasty. Real estate and loans.
108
COMMERCE OF KANSAS CITY.
ROYER & HARWOOD.
Room 8, Sheidley Building, Ninth and Main streets. Real
estate loan and rental agents. References: bankers, business
men and capitalists of Kansas City.
McEwen Brothers.
Real estate and loans, room 65, Sheid-
ley Building. Telephone 1136.
W. T. Felton. Real estate and investments, rooms 17 and
18 Times Building.
Eveland & McClintock. L. B. Eveland and John McClin-
tock. Real estate, loans and rental agents, rooms 44 and 46,
Times Building. Telephone 1295.
Milton F. Simmons. Real estate and loans, 119 West
Sixth street.
Henry B. Pain. Kansas City investments in real estate
and loans. Has had seven years experience in Kansas City
real estate. Invites correspondence from investors and capi-
talists. Office 721 Delaware street, Kansas City, Mo.
J. T. Elliott & Co., real estate, loan and rental agents.
Stock ranches, farms and city property for sale or exchange.
Merchandise bought,sold and exchanged. Office 605 Delaware
street, Kansas City, Mo.
D. Ellison & Son, real estate agents, 601 Delaware street.
D. B. Dyer, real estate, room 3, new Times Building.
Howald & Oliver. F. B. Howald and S. F. Oliver. Real
estate and rentals, room 29, Times Building.
B. M. Brake & Co., real estate and loan brokers; notary
public. Kansas City real estate, Kansas and Missouri farms
and unimproved lands a specialty; also stock ranches. Nego-
tiate exchanges in Kansas City property, lands and stocks of
merchandise. Telephone 1561. Office 721 Delaware street.
H. C. Lloyd & Co. Members of Real Estate Exchange.
Proprietors of the most picturesque suburban addition to Kan-
sas City; also general real estate and loan business. Room 53,
Sheidley Building.
Levingston & Davidson. A. Levingston and J. Davidson,
Real estate and loans, 911 Main street.
REAL ESTATE.
109
Wilson, McLean & Co., real estate and investors of capital,
24 West Missouri Avenue.
T. H. Kennedy, real estate and loans. Rents and collec-
tion of rents a specialty. Rooms 5 and 6, 119 West Sixth
street.
Hoffman & Fussell. Geo. Hoffman and Evan A. Fussell,
notaries public, real estate, loan and rental agents, 13 West
Sixth street.
Ed. E. McMechan & Co. real estate and loan agents. In-
vestments and loans a specialty. Particular attention paid to
interests of non-residents. Telephone 1346. Office, room 1, No.
552 Main street.
Cowherd Brothers. Walker Cowherd and Fletcher Cow-
herd, real estate and loan brokers. Representing Cowherd &
Denny's Addition, Cowherd's Brooklyn Hill Addition, Brooklyn
Heights, Whipple's Second Addition, Troost Avenue Invest-
ment Co., Falls Land and Cattle Co. Money to loan on real
estate in any amount. Building loans a specialty. Office, 111
West Seventh street.
Waller & Maloney. M. S. Waller and T. J. Maloney, real
estate, 103 West Eighth street.
Geo. B. Wightman, real estate, loan and rental agent.
Telephone 844. Wales Building, 112 West Sixth street
S, M. Hitt & Co. S. Milton Hitt and P. J. Tapp, real estate
and loans, south-west corner Ninth and Main streets.
Crittenden Bros. & Phister. Thomas T. Crittenden, Jr.,
Henry Huston Crittenden and Walter B. Phister, investors of
capital, real estate and loans. Telephone 1523, office, 800
Delaware street, Kansas City, Mo.
J. Q. A. King, real estate, loans and investments. Tele-
phone 169, office, room 5 Underwriters' Exchange.
J. E. Higdon, real estate. Office, room 5, Times Building.
Residence 1017 East Ninth street.
W. P. Twyman, real estate broker, No. 7 East Eighth
street, Kansas City, Mo.
Cook, Dimmitt & Co. H. N. Cook and Edward L. Dimmitt,
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REAL ESTATE.
111
formerly cashier Farmers Bank, Ashland Mo., real estate and
financial brokers, fire insurance and notarial work solicited.
References, J. S. Chick, president National Bank of Kansas
City; W. S. Woods, president and Church White, cashier,
Bank of Commerce; F. L. La Force & Co.; Dobson & Douglass;
Lathrop & Smith, attorneys at law; R. T. Gentry and H. S.
Mills & Son. Office, 804 Main street.
The enormous increase in the real estate business of Kan-
sas City has induced a number of the most prominent dealers
and agents to form a
REAL ESTATE EXCHANGE.
V
This has now been accomplished and will undoubtedly
prove a great advantage to both the public and the dealers in
facilitating the transaction of business and affording protection
to both buyers and dealers. The following firms became mem-
bers at the time the exchange was organized:
BALES & TRIBBLE,
BANKHART & HENDERSON,
BLIVEN, D. D.
BORDEN, H. F.
BOUTON & GRASTY,
BROWNE, E. L. & CO.
CASE, THEO. S.
CASE & BALIS,
JOHNSON, M. E.
KEARNEY & MADDEN,
KENNEDY, T. H.
LAW & MCKENZIE,
LEE, GEO. W.
LIPPINCOTT, W. V., JR.
BROWN, SCHOONMAKER & CO. LLOYD, H. C. & CO.
CANNON, R. H. & CO.
CHADWICK & WOODWORTH,
CRAIG, W. H. & CO.
CRITTENDEN BROS. & PHIS-
TER,
CROOKE, BRUTS,
DENNY & SON
DONNELLY & FITZPATRICK,
FELTON, W, F.
FILLMORE, CHAS. & CO.
LOCKRIDGE & MARINER,
MARTY, ARNOLD & CO.
MCEWEN BROS.
McLEVY & CHAMBERLAIN,
MELLIER, W. G.
MUSSON, H. W.
PAIN, H. B.
PHELPS, E. H. & CO.
QUEAL, O. H. & CO.
REED & COATES,
ROYER & HARWOOD,
SCOTT, S. F. & CO.
SIMMONS, MILTON F.
SIMPSON & GROVES,
SMITH, H. N., JR.
HARWOOD, WALTER, & STEV- SULLIVAN, M. L.
FORD, S. M.
GREEN, T. J. & CO.
HARRISON & PLATT,
ENS,
HAYES, F. M. & BROS.
HOFFMANN & FUSSELL,
TALBOTT, L. J.
TAYLOR, A. A.
TRAIN & STEWART,
112
COMMERCE OF KANSAS CITY.
TOULMIN, G. W.
TOWT, J. H. & CO.
WEBSTER, ED. H.
WILSON, MCLANE & CO.
WIMBUSH & POWELL,
WINTER, G. F. & CO.
WINN, G. H.
WELSH, M. & F.
WHIPPLE, B. T. & CO.
WHITEHEAD, C. W.
WINNER, W. E. & CO.
WRIGHT, E. M.
KENSINGTON.
This addition is located on Fifteenth street, or what is gen-
erally known as Blue avenue, three blocks east of the city limits,
lies high and undulating, commanding a fine view of the city.
Lots are subdvivided into 48 ft. fronts, so as to give ample room
for building. Cable cars will run within three blocks of this ad-
dition by November of this year, the road being in course of
construction. Prices are low and terms made to suit any pur-
chaser desiring to improve.
First-class residences are now being erected by the owner
for parties who may desire to buy without the delay of build-
ing.
Blue avenue is 100 feet wide and the finest boulevard run-
ning through Kansas City. The owner, Mr. C. E. Schoellkopf,
office 808 Delaware street intends making this property the
finest residence property lying in or about the suburbs.

I
ABSTRACTS OF TITLE.
N all dealings in real estate the first and most important con-
sideration is to obtain a perfectly clear and unimpeachable
title, and in this respect investors in Kansas City property are
peculiarly favored. In the very earliest days of the city itself
the records were fortunately kept by able hands, and as a conse
quence the only trouble that has at any time arisen or that can
arise in the future with regard to the title of property here is
from some carelessness or inaccuracy in the execution of some
of the earlier transfers, or in conveyancing. Errors arising
from either of these sources are certain to be detected upon the
proper and careful investigation which all titles should be sub-
mitted to. That this investigation of titles can best be accom-
plished by the abstract men who have in their possession the
exact history and direct chain of title of each lot will at once
be apparent. Indeed it has been demonstrated by experience
in Chicago that they alone are capable of examining titles
with the accuracy and expedition that is necessary, and so far
as the chain of title rests they are the only reliable authorities.
Of course if any weak place or flaw exists in any title it be-
comes necessary to consult an attorney versed in such trans-
actions as to what effect such flaw may have on the title, but
it is only when legal questions arise that the opinion of coun-
sel is really essential.
In cases where the saving of time is desirable in obtaining
an exact knowledge of the title to any tract of land or lot, as
in the every day transactions of the loaning of money on real
estate mortgages, all that is necessary is to secure the certificate
of the title from a responsible abstract firm, which affords all
-8
113

114
COMMERCE OF KANSAS CITY.
the information of the abstract itself without its details, and
the entire accuracy of which is guaranteed by the firm issuing
it. This system not only facilitates the early consumation
of the transaction, but it saves the expense, that a copy of the
complete abstract of the title would of necessity entail, without
in any way lessening the security afforded. It will be seen
that the abstract firm must, for its own security, make the most
minute inspection before it can with safety issue such certifi-
cate and guarantee the correctness of the record to which it
attests.
SCHUELER & CO.
In 1879 Mr. Schueler established this firm in Kansas City.
Previous to this time he had spent eight years in the abstract
office of Sterling & Webster, of St. Louis; he was consequently
well versed in the fundamental principles and practical details
of recording and investigating titles. His first movement
here was the personal compilation from the county records of
a complete set of index books, tracing the direct chain of title
from the United States government of every lot, parcel and
tract of land in Kansas City and Jackson County, Missouri,
and Wyandotte County, Kansas, which is the only complete
chain of title comprising the property in the two counties, in
existence to-day. These index books are kept posted up to
date and contain the entire history of every plat of land in
these two counties with complete copies of each abstract and
certificate, and every detail in connection with the ownership
and encumbrance of the property.
In one set of books they keep a complete and accurate
synopsis of every deed that is filed in the Recorder's office or
in the courts of the two counties, in any way relating to real
estate. This affords immediate information of all transfers,
mortgages, deeds of trust, and the consideration, of every trans-
action that is made or has been made at any time.
They keep a special property index of every plat or lot by
number, by which can at once be traced the entire history of

ABSTRACTS OF TITLE.
115
each individual lot, the various hands it has passed through,
the encumbrance it has borne, and every transaction of which
it has formed a part.
Another special alphabetical index of owners contains the
names of every person who has ever owned property in these
counties, and through which can be obtained a perfectly com-
plete and accurate account of every transaction that has been
made. It will be seen that these two distinct indexes cover
the same property and transactions, and each one is a corrobo-
ration of the other, which insures in all cases the most absolute
accuracy that can be obtained.
From this complete data they furnish abstracts of title to
any lot or tract of land in the city and counties named, of
which they have numerous copies on hand ready for immedi-
ate reference, or to supply the place of lost abstracts at a mo-
ment's notice. It will be seen from this statement that an
examination of titles by them is most thorough, and the facts
at their command are such as to render the greatest certainty
and accuracy in all transactions. Beyond this, as effecting a
great saving of time and expense, they issue their own certifi-
cates of title, which are in reality a synopsis of the abstract
and a guarantee of its correctness. As this firm is of high
financial standing and thoroughly responsible, their certificates
may be implicitly relied upon for absolute accuracy of detail.
The firm have offices in Kansas City, Missouri, Kansas City,
Kansas (formerly Wyandotte), and at Independence, Missouri.
NORMAN & ROBERTSON
own the oldest abstract books in Jackson county. The firm is
composed of Mr. Joseph L. Norman, who is an attorney ex-
perienced and deeply versed in the practical and legal methods
and proceedure of real estate transactions, and of Mr. Richard
Robertson, who has had sixteen years of actual experience in
the abstract business. As early as 1865, Mr. Norman was lead
to appreciate the necessity and to forsee the value, at no very
116
COMMERCE OF KANSAS CITY.
distant day, of a correct and properly indexed copy of the en-
tire records of the county pertaining to real estate. The thor-
ough knowledge of every detail of such transactions that he
had acquired eminently fitted him for the task of compiling
such record and index, and that his work was thoroughly and
accurately done is evidenced by the books themselves. Com-
mencing from this solid foundation in 1865, these index books
have been verified and expanded until in the present year
(1886) they contain the direct chain of title from the United
States government to the present holders of every lot, acre, or
tract of land in Jackson county. Further than this, the firm
have gone to great expense in having written up from these
original records three distinct and seperate indexes. The first
is a tract index of lots, which gives specifications of every lot,
through whose hands it has passed, at what dates it has changed
ownership, for what consideration, and in fact every detail in
any way connected with it. The second is an index of buyers
and the third an index of sellers—each of these indexes cov-
ering, from a different point of view, all the operations per-
taining to the same property, and thus affording three distinct
checks on the record of each individual transaction. This sys-
tem not only insures the absolute correctness of every abstract
of title taken from these books, but it greatly facilitates the
work entailed and enables the firm to give reliable information
regarding any piece of ground in the county almost at a mo-
ment's notice, and to furnish a complete abstract without any
more delay than in the time necessarily consumed by a clerk
in copying it.
When one realizes the amount of systematically arranged
information at their disposal it does not sound like an idle
boast to hear real estate men in Kansas City say that their office
contains more direct and clearer records of titles than is pos-
sessed by any other abstract office in any other city in the
country.
With regard to the examination of titles to which they
pay special attention, it will be sufficient to repeat that Mr.
ABSTRACTS OF TITLE.
117
Norman is a real estate attorney and has been engaged in furn-
ishing abstracts ever since 1865, when he compiled these books,
and that Mr. Robertson has been identified with him in the
abstract business for sixteen years. With this experience and
ability and with copies of records regarding land transfers in
their own hands, it would be impossible to find a higher or
sounder authority on this question.
DEAN S. KELLEY & CO.
This firm is composed of Dean S. Kelley and J. Carver
Jones, who own a complete abstract of all real estate in Jack-
son County, Missouri, with alphabetical indexes (both grantor
and grantee). The books of this firm are the oldest in the
county. They passed through several hands until 1876, when
they were purchased by Mr. Kelley, who has conducted them
since that date. Mr. Kelley and his partner are both steno-
graphers, and eleven of the fifteen engaged in the business of
the firm are practical stenographers, all the work of the firm
being taken from the records in short-hand, and all abstracts
printed on the No. 2 Remington Type-writer, seven machines
being kept in constant use.
The firm commenced the use of stenography in their bus-
iness several years ago. The common idea that short-hand is
not sufficiently reliable for a business requiring so much pre-
cision had for some time a very damaging effect upon the bus-
iness of the house, but the fact that the firm now employ as
many men as any other in the city, (which considering the
advantages of short-hand and the type-writer is estimated to be
equivalent to fifty per cent more), is very strong evidence that
the business community of Kansas City is satisfied that the
hieroglyphics of the stenographer may be safely employed in
the abstract business, a business of which it may be safely said
there is none among all the industries in which the civilized
world is engaged whose value depends so exclusively upon its
reputation for accuracy.
Mr. Kelley was engaged in the practice of law for several

118
COMMERCE OF KANSAS CITY.
years before entering upon the abstract business. Mr. Jones is
a young man who made his first venture in business a little
over three years ago, as an employee of his present partner, and
in that short time has demonstrated his capacity to fill with
the greatest possible credit a position involving an amount of
labor and care that would be simply appalling to most men of
his age. It will thus be seen from the character and personal of
this firm that it possesses all the elements necessary to the fur-
nishing of correct abstracts with the greatest possible facility,
and also unusual advantages, in the examination of titles and
all other important features of the abstract business.
KANSAS CITY ABSTRACT CO.
>
The Kansas City Abstract Company is the outgrowth of
the firm of Garnett Brothers, and was incorporated to afford
greater facilities for the transaction of the business. The books
owned by this Company, which contain complete abstracts of
all real estate in Jackson County, including Kansas City, were
completed in 1868, upon the regular improved Durfey system,
by W. E. Dunscomb, at that time Clerk of the Supreme Court
at Jefferson City; Judge Hough, Supreme Judge of the State,
also being interested in their compilation. In 1870, they were
purchased, with the right to operate the system, by Col. E. M.
McGee and C. D. Lucas, the present Recorder of Deeds in Kan-
sas City, who in turn sold them with all privileges to Garnett
Brothers, in 1879, and they so became the property of the
Kansas City Abstract Company.
The books comprise a tract index which gives the chain of
title of every lot in this city or county, and have on each page
a plat or map of each section, divided into lots, and showing
an individual number for each lot, with all the changes that
have taken place in its ownership, and every deed or transac-
tion of which it has formed a part. The journal giving correct
copies of all deeds as filed is posted into the tract index, afford-
ing a complete record of every change that has taken place in
the title of any single lot or tract of land. There are also spec-
NA
ABSTRACTS OF TITLE.
119
ial books for irregular tracts that are or have been involved in
transactions in which power of attorney has been given, and
which form a ready reference and an accurate record of such
transaction. Another book is a certified copy of the original
surveys made by the Government, and is certified by the cus-
todian of the original plats in St. Louis. This survey gives the
quality of the land, how watered, its timber growth, capacity
for cultivation, and every detail pertaining to it. The records
of this office thus form the means of obtaining an abstract of
title to any lot in the city or county of a perfectly accurate
character and with the greatest possible expedition. Beyond
this, through its attorney, Mr. E. P. Garnett, the Company
undertakes the examination of titles, for which it will be seen
The officers of the
they have the greatest possible facilities.
Company are: C. L. Dobson, president; C. W. Whitehead,
vice-president; R. B. Garnett, business manager; V. L. Gar-
nett, secretary; and E. P. Garnett, attorney.
J. H. BURTON,
Abstracts of Title, Conveyancer and Notary Public. Thirty
years experience. Telephone No. 1513. Office 117 West
Eighth street.


AN
THE WATER-WORKS.
N abundance of pure water is a desideratum that can
scarcely be over-estimated in a large and rapidly increas-
ing community, and in this respect Kansas City ranks among
the most favored cities of the United States in having an inex-
haustible supply furnished by the National Water-works Com-
pany, which is the most extensive system of water-works
under private management in the country.
The works were commenced in 1873, and began operations
in 1875, with twelve miles of main pipe and a pumping capac-
ity of 5,000,000 gallons per day. The source of supply is the
Kansas River, which, although considered a small stream here,
drains about ten times as much country as the Thames, which
supplies London.
All river water in this section is muddy and requires to be
settled before it is fit for use. This makes it necessary to pump
all the water twice over, and the works were designed for this
duty. They are situated near the bluff, about one and a half
miles south of the Union Depot. Under the building is a deep.
well, the bottom of which is about seven feet below low water
in the river. From this well a 24-inch syphon extends to the
river, a distance of 1,350 feet. This is believed to be the largest
syphon in the world. The well supplied by this syphon, in its
turn, supplies the deep well pumps, which raises the water to
the settling basins south of the pumping station. The capacity
of these basins allows the water about five days for subsidence
before reaching the outlet where it is taken for use by the high
pressure machinery. The water used in lower town is pumped
to the reservoir on the hill, situated between Twentieth and

120

THE WATER-WORKS.
121
1
Twenty-first streets and between Holly and Jarboe streets.
The elevation of the surface of the water in this reservoir is 232
feet above low water mark.
The city is very irregular in its topography. On the west
the bottom lands of the Kansas are nearly level; this low
ground extends by a narrow bench along the Missouri River,
widening to another large area in the north-east quarter of the
city. On the south, the valley of O. K. Creek makes another
large depression; between this and the Missouri is irregular
high land, the variations in level being over two hundred feet,
with the different summits so near alike as to give no good site
for a reservoir which could supply the whole town by gravity.
The contract of the Company with the city required the
works to be built on the Holly, or direct supply system; it
was made without the assistance of any competent hydraulic
engineer by either party, and contains clauses which gave rise
to some bickering in the early part of the work.
The growth of the city, taxing the resources of the com-
pany to the utmost to keep pace with it, and their constant
endeavor to meet the peculiar and difficult requirements of
their work, have resulted in a better state of feeling, and the
change in source of supply, now in progress, will remove the
last cause of dissatisfaction.
MACHINERY.
The original plant consisted of a Holly quadruplex pump-
ing engine, compound condensing, capacity about four millions
of gallons per day, with additional pumps attached for low
service, and a single engine driving an auxiliary quadruplex
pump. It was designed by B. Holly, superintendent of the
Holly Manufacturing Company, and G. W. Pearsons, chief
engineer of the Water-works Company. Its requirements were
to raise the water from the river to the settling basins, and
from thence distribute it to the city for domestic supply and
fire protection, the topography of the city making this a very
difficult problem. There has been since added a large quad-
122
COMMERCE OF KANSAS CITY.
ruplex condensing engine, an additional low service pump,
and a Gaskill compound condensing engine. To give detailed
description of the machinery and its action would make this
article entirely too long.
WATER SUPPLY.
It only remains to speak of the source of the water supply,
a very general impression prevailing that a better would be the
Missouri. Analysis of the waters of both rivers shows that
they are much more alike than is generally supposed. In the
spring and at times of heavy storms both rivers carry discolor-
ing matter that will not settle, and has to be endured till that
material has passed down the river. The water-works of St.
Louis show the same characteristics. This discoloration does
not effect the Missouri as long as it does the Kansas, and for
domestic supply it is probable that the Missouri would be pref-
erable; for manufacturing purposes, however, the Kansas is
the better, as its action upon steam boilers is less injurious
than that of the Missouri. Besides this, the supply could not
have been taken from the Missouri without going above the
mouth of the Kansas River and Jersey Creek in Wyandotte, and
the danger of loss of supply by the failure of mains passing over
or under the Kansas River, together with the greatly increased
cost of supply from that source made the early use of it imprac-
ticable. The extraordinary growth of the city, however, makes
it necessary to look for a different supply, and in this connec-
tion it becomes practicable to look to the Missouri, and this work
is now in progress. The cost of this work will be about three-
quarters of a million dollars, and the problem is a very diffi-
cult one, going to prove that for the beginning the source of
supply was correctly chosen.
The water in the upper town is supplied directly by the
pumps, which for this purpose require a capacity much greater.
than the amount pumped in twenty-four hours would indicate.
While the supply of the whole city requires from four and a
half to six millions of gallons a day, there are hours when the

THE WATER-WORKS.
123
rate reaches eight millions on the hill alone. Accordingly, the
pumping machinery has been increased from time to time, till
it now has a capacity of fourteen millions of gallons per day,
and the pipe system has grown from the first plant of twelve
miles to over sixty miles, with more than six hundred fire
hydrants, each capable of throwing two streams of water, and
representing a steam fire engine, always ready for duty, at
almost every street corner in the city.
To throw fire streams on high ground requires far more
power than is in use for ordinary supply. It is plain that
steam boilers can not keep this immense force bottled up ready
for use and if recourse was had to such power, delays would
necessarily ensue. But the reservoir on the hill, by the simple
changing of a valve, comes into the suction pipes of the pumps
and gives this added power long before the firemen can reach
the scene of their work. How simple and effective this is, is
shown by a quotation from the report of the Chief of the Fire
Department to the City Comptroller, April 21, 1884, to-wit:
"If there are, any better works, any better system of
works, any works giving better satisfaction to the Fire Depart-
ment, any works kept in better order, or that are better managed,
in any part of the country, I would travel a thousand miles to
see what they have got and how they do it."
"The pressure, both in upper and lower town, has been
increased promptly at every alarm, and we have not had occa-
sion to make a single complaint during the whole year. The
Fire Department respond to an alarm with as much confidence
in having adequate pressure in each of the 454 hydrants as does
a locomotive engineer in his ability to move an ordinary train
of cars with steam in his engine."
THE NEW WORK
is for the supply of all the cities at the mouth of the Kansas
River with the Missouri River water. The first link in the

124
COMMERCE OF KANSAS CITY.
chain is a new iron bridge at the mouth of the Kansas River;
this will carry the mains and conduits connecting the cities.
The new basins, having a capacity of about fifty millions of
gallons, with a pumping capacity of about twenty millions
of gallons per day, will be placed on the banks of the Missouri,
three miles above Wyandotte.
The water, made fit for use in these basins, will flow
through a thirty-six-inch conduit to the new bridge, where a
part of it will be used by new pumps placed at the east end of
the bridge, the rest flowing, on to the present water-works,
where it will be used by the present pumps. The new system
provides for any enlargement required by the growth of the
cities without further changes than the making of required ad-
ditions to the pipe system as their growth requires. The plans
have been made by G. W. Pearsons, chief engineer of the com-
pany, submitted to Colonel Henry Flad, of St. Louis, president
of the Board of Public Works of St. Louis, and of the American
Society of Civil Engineers, approved by him and adopted by
the company.
The work is begun, and will be finished to completion in
the shortest time practicable, giving the new metropolis of the
West a water supply second to none in the country.
In connection with an interest of such prominence and
importance to the entire community, a brief sketch of the in-
dividuals at the head of the undertaking can not fail to interest
all who are concerned in the cities welfare.
GILES E. TAINTOR,
the president of the National Water-works Co., of New York,
is a member of the well known family of Taintors which has
for many years been identified with the commercial and finan-
cial history of the City and State of New York. They came
from Wales in the year 1630, and settled in Colchester, Conn.,
just ten years after the landing of the Pilgrims. With Cam-
drian energy and endurance, they bore their part in subduing
the new world to the influnce of civilization, and were distin-

THE WATER-WORKS.
125
guished participants in the trials, struggles and triumph of the
War of Independence. Several branches of the family settled
at an early period in the State of New York, and at Buffalo, in
that State, the subject of this sketch was born, where his youth
and early manhood were passed. In 1858 he went to the city
of New York, and entered upon the business career which has
been so steadily successful. In these twenty-five years of
eventful financial history Mr. Taintor has been an active and
prominent figure in Wall street, and has had much to do with
the organization, construction and extension of the great rail-
way lines of the Mississippi Valley. For the past nine years
he has been president of the National Water-works Co., of
New York, and to his admirable foresight, and prudence and
sound judgment is largely due the high character of the se-
curities of this company and its excellent reputation. Mr.
Taintor is the senior member of the eminent banking house of
Messrs. Taintor & Holt, whose office is at No. 11 Wall street.
BENJAMIN F. JONES.
The superintendent of the National Water-works Company
was born in the State of Georgia, his ancestors on his father's
side coming originally from Scotland. His mother was a de-
scendant of an old Dutch family, and Scottish sagacity and
thrift, together with Dutch tenacity, thoroughness and equable
disposition combined, are leading characteristics of this gentle-
man. His first business experience was gained at his birth-
place, among his friends and neighbors; but, finding this field
too small for his ambitious efforts, he sought and found a
wider one in New York, where he remained until the com-
mencement of the "late unpleasantness," when he enlisted as a
private in the Cherokee Artillery, at Rome, Ga. He remained
in the army during the continuance of the strife, and at the
close of the war, by the sheer force of inherent merit, he had
risen from the ranks to the important post of Inspector General
of the War Department, at Richmond, Va. His early business.
126
COMMERCE OF KANSAS CITY.
experience, together with his experience acquired during the
Civil War, has since been of inestimable value to him. At the
cessation of hostilities Mr. Jones engaged in mercantile pur-
suits at his old home, where he became conspicuously prom-
inent as a business man of rare attainments, and was at one
time extensively engaged in the manufacture of iron in the
South.
At the earnest solicitation of the Water-works Company,
he gave up his successful business, to take entire charge of the
Kansas City Water-works. He has been its able and efficient
superintendent since its inception, in 1874, up to the present
time; and much of the company's success is due to his un-
equaled abilities as its executive head, combined with his rare
dealing with and understanding of human nature. He poss-
esses in a marked degree, the finest tact, coupled with a keen
insight into men and motives, and at the same time has the
happy faculty of accomplishng an enormous amount of work
with the least apparent effort. His business talents, which are
of a high order, have been broadened and widened by his
studious habits, it being a cardinal maxim with the gentleman
to thoroughly master not only the fundamental rules and
scientific principles of his own immediate affairs, but also to
become entirely conversant with every subject of general in-
terest, and this, together with his sound judgment, causes his
opinions to be continually and eagerly sought after. He stands
preeminently at the head of his profession, and is the repre-
sentative of the most extensive system of water-works under
private management in the Union. He has watched the
growth of the company's business from modest beginnings to
its present enormous proportions, and has the proud satisfac-
tion of knowing that he has been a considerable factor in its.
development. Mr. Jones has been vice-president of the
American Water-works Association for many years; and at the
recent meeting of the association in Denver he was elected its
president. The methods and system devised and originated
by himself are so complete and comprehensive, yet so emi-

THE WATER-WORKS.
127
nently concise and simple, that they are adopted by nearly
every new company, and are fast coming into universal use.
No person can come in contact with this gentleman without
being strongly impressed with his sterling honesty, his un-
wavering fidelity and his perfect capacity to easily grasp and
instantly decide every question as it presents itself, and these
characteristics are so marked that they inspire one with perfect
and entire confidence in him. This is notably true of his re-
lations with his company, the directors depending largely up-
on his advice and suggestions; and it is to be doubted if any
man has the confidence of his business associates to a greater
degree than does Benjamin F. Jones.
G. W. PEARSONS.
The subject of this sketch is descended from English
and Scotch ancestry. His grandparents were originally from
New Hampshire and Massachusetts, his parents from Ver-
mont, and Mr. Pearsons' birth-place was Jefferson county, in
the State of New York, where he first saw the light in October,
1833. The Barretts, the maternal branch of his family, were
also of Scotch and English origin and both families furnished
brave and gallant officers in the War of the Revolution. The
Pearsons family have always been particularly prominent and
skillful in the mechanical arts and in engineering, and the
subject of this article showed particular aptitude in this line at
a very early age. He commenced by standing on a bench to
learn the correct measurement of angles by means of his
father's compass, and actually assisted in "carrying chains "
before he was a dozen years of age. He was extremely pre-
cocious, and at the age of fourteen was frequently consulted
regarding mechanical devices, two of which, the "drive well"
and the "belt conveyor," he constructed and put into practi-
cal operation, both of which have since become of very consid-
erable importance. At the age of eighteen he was universally
recognized as an experienced and scientific master mechanic,
and was put in charge of a number of men employed in his
128
COMMERCE OF KANSAS CITY.
brother's ship yard. Upon attaining his majority we find him
in charge of the largest force of mill-wrights in Chicago, then
a city of some seventy thousand inhabitants. In 1859 he ac-
cepted a position on his brother's Marine Railway at Ogdens-
burg, New York, where he remained for some years as super-
intendent after it was purchased by the Northern Transporta-
tion Company. During this time, being a member of the City
Council, he had charge of the bridge constructions and the
building of the city water-works, and since that time he has
been most extensively engaged in water-works construction.
Mr. Pearsons' mechanical skill, joined to a long and varied ex-
perience, has given him practical knowledge of a greater range
of work than most engineers. He left school when seventeen
years of age, but did not discard his books, and is a hard stu-
dent to this day. He was admitted to the American Society
of Civil Engineers in 1875, with a magnificent record, which
would have readily gained him admittance many years earlier.
Mr. Pearsons' talents have been recognized and appreciated by
the best and most learned engineers in the Union. His eminent
success in the building of the water-works here, and in their
maintenance, is a sufficient guarantee that in the still more
important work projected, no failure will occur through any
fault of his.
ROBERT H. WEEMS
was born in Baltimore. His family name is an old one, and
its prominence in Maryland's history, dates back to the period
when the vigorous, manly and liberty-loving people under
Lord Baltimore made the first settlement on the shores of the
Chesapeake. The subject of this sketch received his education
at Loyola College, in the Monumental City, where he attained
great excellence as a classical and mathematical scholar. Upon
the completion of his collegiate term, he began the study of
law, and the assiduity, zeal and proficiency that marked his
course, gave promise of wide usefulness and eminence at the
bar; but suddenly his tastes appeared to incline his attention
to business pursuits, and with that interpid energy which
THE WATER-WORKS.
129
marked his student life, he entered at once upon the work.
He sought a metropolitan field for his youthful labors, and
went to New York in 1866, a time of peculiar financial interest.
The Gold Exchange Bank had just been organized and estab-
lished, with the main object of effecting clearances of the vast
business which daily filled the halls of the Gold Exchange with
an excited and feverish multitude of brokers. In this insti-
tution Mr. Weems obtained employment, soon reaching a prom-
inent position and contributing greatly by careful and effective
labor to its successful management. His business skill and
energy were particularly remarkable during the great excite-
ment and distress of the panic of 1869, when he aided largely
in relieving the bank of the great and unusual burden of ex-
changes which the enormous transactions of the Gold Board
imposed upon it. In 1871 he accepted a position of importance
in the banking house of Northrup & Chick, of New York, and
remained with them as a most trusted adviser and manager
until their final retirement from business in that city. Mr.
Weems then received a prominent appointment in the bank-
ing house of Donnell, Lawson & Simpson, and when this house
became the fiscal agents of the State of Kansas, he took charge
of the management of that.department of their business, and
by his zeal, tact and skill contributed in a great degree to pop-
ularize the State, County and municipal bonds of Kansas, thus
aiding greatly in advancing the prosperity of that young and
rising commonwealth. In the year 1884 he was appointed to
the management of a large estate, the business of which was
complicated and varied, having relations with almost every
State in the Union and many countries in Europe and else-
where, and including transactions in which millions of money
were involved. When he closed the business and relinquished
his trust, the Judge of the of the Supreme Court complimented
him in the highest terms upon the ability and fidelity with
which he had discharged his delicate and laborious duties.
Business interests having required official changes in the Nat-
ional Water-works Company he took an active part in the new
9-
130
COMMERCE OF KANSAS CITY.
:
arrangements of the corporation of which he had already been
for sometime the secretary, and in 1885 he was elected to dis-
charge the duties of treasurer as well. The high character of
all the securities of this company, its important duties at Kan-
sas City, and the vast improvements that it has projected here,
will afford him a broad arena for the exercise of his rare quali-
fications and eminent usefulness.

N
AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS.
N the business of agricultural implements, there is to-day
IN
more capital invested, more men employed and more of the
goods sold in Kansas City than in any other city in the world,
for America leads the world in this business. Nor is the reason
for this far to seek. Lying in the center of the most product-
ive agricultural region of the United States, with a continu-
ously increasing growth in the handling of cereals and all
kinds of farm produce, it is natural that the return supplies of
farm machinery should grow in a corresponding degree.
Moreover, the constant annual extension of the railroads
through new states and territories in the south-west and west,
and the rapidity with which the land is being settled up, by
agriculturists, keeps up a steady growing demand for this class
of merchandise, and one that gives unmistakable promise of
further and still greater growth for many years to come.
The principal territory over which Kansas City distributes
agricultural implements lies in Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas,
Indian Territory, Colorado, Texas, Nebraska, Iowa, Dakota,
Montana and New Mexico, though many shipments go still
further afield. The actual extent of the jobbing interest here,
it is somewhat difficult to state in precise figures, though
from an aggregation of such figures as various houses have
courteously given, with an estimate of others from the best
obtainable sources, it is within the mark to place the total of
the trade at $12,000,000 annually. It is still more difficult to
obtain anything like a correct estimate of the amount of capi-
tal employed in the business here; this will be appreciated
131

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KANSAS CITY TIMES BUILDING.
AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS.
133
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when it is understood that Kansas City has become so noted in
this line of business during the last ten years, that all eastern
manufacturers who expect to share any of the immense agri-
cultural implement business of the great west, feel the absolute
necessity of having a representative and a branch ware-house
here with adequate shipping facilities.
Here, therefore, can be found the representatives of all the
plow, cultivator, seeder, harrow, corn planter, reaper, mower,
thresher, farm steam engine, corn sheller, hay rake, and wagon
manufacturers of the country at large, for this business of man-
ufacturing has long since ceased to be an exclusively eastern
industry, and has gradually been moving westward, and
accommodating itself to the enlarged requirements of the coun-
try. The great tide of emigration that has been pressing west-
ward for the past quarter of a century, has very naturally
carried with it many of the enterprising manufacturers of
farm implements, who have located at eligible points through-
out the West, such as Moline, Pekin, Rock Island, Racine,
Sterling, Sandwich, Canton, Dixon, Rockford, Batavia, Mil-
waukee, Minneapolis, Freeport, Peoria, Decatur, and Daven-
port.
In like manner these Western manufacturers are com-
pelled in the nature of things to seek representation in this
great city of clearance and exchange. As a consequence, nearly
all have established branches here, and as all of them confine
their manufacturing to some particular line of specialties, they
have found it to their interest to combine, with the handling
of their own goods here, those of other manufacturers to enable
them to carry in this market a complete stock of every kind of
farm machinery. There are, however, some notable houses.
here that are not directly representative of any particular man-
ufactory, but, as all farm machinery is protected by patents on
its improvements or name, the various houses have each their
own special implements, the handling of which is exclusively
confined to them over a designated territory.
In order to do justice to a branch of business which stands
134
COMMERCE OF KANSAS CITY.
at the head of the commercial interests of Kansas City, it has
been deemed advisable to give some account of the special im-
plements handled by the more important concerns here in this
line.
MOLINE PLOW COMPANY.
In 1870 this well known company established a large
jobbing house in Kansas City, which to-day occupies a struct-
ure consisting of five stories and basement, covering an area of
120x72 feet, and having its own railroad switch in direct con-
nection with every line of road that enters the city. The
great popularity of the Moline Plow and the high reputation it
has gained throughout the entire country is an assurance of
the highest possible nature that all other machinery handled
by the company which manufactures it would be of an equally
high character. It it well understood that it has always been
the purpose and custom of this company to handle only im-
plements of the very highest class, and while they have always
determined to carry in stock a full line of all kinds of farming
machinery, the first consideration in all cases is the standard
quality of the goods. The extensive business conducted from
here, which includes western Missouri, Kansas, Colorado and
New Mexico, is the strongest possible evidence of the high
class of the goods handled as also of the sagacious and enter-
prising management under which its affairs are conducted.
Mr. C. A. Baker, who for several years was connected with the
home affairs of the company and who is a thoroughly practical
and experienced implement man, has charge of the company's
interests in this city.
Their special line of goods including those of their own
manufacture, and others which they handle exclusively in
their territory is as follows: Tucker & Carter's binder twine,
Upton Combination threshers, traction and plain engines, Ad-
am's Marseilles power shellers, Avery spiral knife stalk cutters,
Odell check rowers, Barlow rotary check rowers and Barlow
planters, Barbour one-horse corn drill, Havana and Clipper
press drills, Triumph hoe drill, Star one-horse wheat drill,
AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS.
135
Strowbridge and Champion broadcast seed sowers, Knowlton
mowers, Moline, Crown and Hay King sulky rakes, Tiffin
revolving rakes, Acme ricker and rakes, Moline farm and spring
wagons, Flint farm wagons, buggies and carriages, Coldwater
and Moline road carts, Diamond hand corn shellers, Adam's
feed grinders, Field's Favorite mill and power combined, Big
Giant corn and cob mills, Racine fanning mills, Eagle feed
cutters, Buckeye cider mills, Continental and Hudson lawn
mowers, Turner binder covers and Turner four-wheel binder
trucks, Haslup all-steel scrapers, Wilcox iron smoothing
harrow, Flying Dutchman sulky plow, Moline plow, cultiva-
tors, harrows and stalk cutters.
SMITH & KEATING IMPLEMENT CO.
For the last twenty years this concern has been in the
front rank of the jobbing business in agricultural implements.
It was established in 1866, and has a capital of $600,000. Since
that time it has been engaged in supplying the farmers of the
great west with the various kinds of machinery most suitable
for the different purposes of the progressive agriculturist. The
fact that the company are direct buyers of all the goods they
handle, and from their long experience have gained such an
exact knowledge of the requirements of each section, has ena-
abled them to control an enormous business, and as a conse-
quence the manufacturers of the finest machinery obtainable
are always glad to get them to handle their goods. They are,
therefore, able to absolutely control the sale in a large territory
for many agricultural implements that have gained the highest
reputation. Besides their stock of all classes and kinds of farm
machinery they furnish the bulk of the railroad supplies, such
as scrapers, plows, and similar implements of the western con-
tractors. They are also considered head-quarters for "binder
twine," of which they carry only the highest quality. The
celebrated "Bain" wagon is another of their specialties, and of
these they sell over 5,000 each year. Carriages and buggies
also form an important feature in their stock; indeed, in both

136
COMMERCE OF KANSAS CITY.
character and number of vehicles there are few if any carriage
repositories in the country that can compare with them. The
territory covered by their trade comprises Missouri, Kansas,
Colorado, Texas, New Mexico, Nebraska, and Iowa.
The extensive premises occupied entirely by their stock
consists of an enormous building 80x220 feet, with six floors
covering this whole space. Their facilities for receiving, hand-
ling, and shipping goods are also of the highest and most con-
venient order imaginable. Prominent among the agricultural
implements of which they control the sale in this territory are
the following: Pekin plows, Pioneer sod plows, sulky plows,
Lappen combined riding and walking cultivator, Pekin walk-
ing cultivator, Pekin patent harrow, Pekin oscillating harrow,
Kalamazoo spring-tooth cultivator, vibrating harrow, Pekin
lister and drill, Favorite and Hocking Valley hand corn-
sheller, Victor feed mill and horse-power, Young American
corn and cob mill, Union stalk cutter, Union corn planter,
Buckeye cider and wine mills and presses, Empire mower,
Empire harvester, binder twine, McLean road scrapers, O. K.
sulky hay rake, - Chieftain lock lever sulky rake, Nesmith
grain register, Massillion traction engine, the new Massillion
thresher, the Smith and Bain wagons, Standard drills, car-
riages, buggies, and spring wagons.
TRUMBULL, REYNOLDS & ALLEN.
Trumbull, Reynolds & Allen were established here in
1871, their operations being for some time confined to the
general dealing in seeds and agricultural implements. They
have always been prominently in the lead in all advances that
have been made in the business here. They were the first to
introduce manufactures here in this line. They were the
first to introduce the handling of buggies in connection with
their line of business, and the innovation proved so successful
in its results that it was very generally adopted by the trade
throughout the entire country. They were likewise the first
to introduce the rotary drop corn planter, an implement which

AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS.
137
was readily appreciated and rapidly superseded all others.
They were the means of establishing and bringing into popu-
larity the vibrating principle in threshing machines, of which
no other can now be sold. About four years ago, the business
having then reached something in excess of a million and a
half dollars per annum, they determined to reduce the extent
of their implement jobbing trade and devote their attention
directly to the enormous seed trade that they had built up,
and to manufacture themselves a special class of machinery and
implements more suitable than any then produced for the gath-
ering and harvesting of hay. In so doing they have more
closely identified themselves with the hay traffic than any
other concern in the United States, and have, indeed, revolu
tionized the manner of handling and putting up hay.
Their improved machinery for this purpose has been the
direct means of saving to the farmers many hundreds of thou-
sands of dollars, and has added an entirely new and distinct
feature to a line of manufacture in which this country had
already surpassed the whole world. They have not only by
their close observation and inventive genius produced a new
article of commerce, in their special machinery for handling
hay, but their efforts have been so admirably directed and the
results obtained of such perfect character that the production
of the machinery created its own demand, and where only a
few years ago the farmer in progressive America had been con-
tent to go on gathering his hay after the primitive fashion of
his forefathers for untold generations, he now considers the hay
stacker and gatherer as necessary as any implement that has
been provided for agricultural purposes.
With a view to facilitate the manufacture and to meet the
yearly increasing demand for these machines, the firm about
two years ago, incorporated the "T., R. & A. Manufacturing
Co." to take special charge of this feature of their business.
The factory where this now famous machinery, including
the "Dain Automatic Hay Stacker and Gatherers," and all
machinery that is necessary in sowing, cutting, and gathering
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TRUMBULL,REYNOLDS & ALLEN.
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AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS.
139
hay, is made, is located in Armourdale, and covers an area of
no less than four acres. It will thus be seen that the enlight-
ened enterprise of this firm has given to Kansas City one of
her most successful manufacturing interests and one that bears
every promise of increasing importance.
With regard to their seed business, their aim is to furnish
the great Missouri Valley and the south-west with every descrip-
tion of grass, field, tree, and garden seeds, of the purest, fresh-
est and best quality, and at as favorable prices as can be ob-
tained for seed of the same quality in any market in the
country. They carry the largest and finest stock of seeds in
this country. Thus they furnish the seed to raise the grass to
make the hay, and the improved machinery to harvest the
product. All business connected with the seed trade is trans-
acted by Trumbull, Reynolds & Allen, and that pertaining to
the hay machinery by the T., R. & A. Manufacturing Co.
PARLIN & ORENDORFF CO.
Parlin & Orendorff Company, of Canton, Ill.: until 1884
this extensive manufactory handled its trade throughout the
territory that is tributary to Kansas City, through the jobbing
houses here. The business had, however, at that time assumed
such proportions, that the company determined on establish-
ing a branch house in Kansas City. The present commodious
quarters, comprising a five story and basement building, were
secured. It covers an area of 60x130 feet, and has ample plat-
forms, railroad tracks, elevators and all other conveniences for
the transaction of its business, besides which it is located in
the very center of the various freight depots of the city.
The products of the company's factory, which was estab-
lished in 1842, are all handled here in large numbers, as well
as a variety of implements of others makers, forming a com-
plete stock of all kinds and classes of agricultural machinery;
they include the Canton Clipper plows, Clipper tricycle sulky
plow; listers and cultivators, Canton stalk cutters, Rose
Rotary Disk, Canton Vibrating, Scotch, Clipper, Diamond,
է
140
COMMERCE OF KANSAS CITY.
Steel-tooth, and Evans Tripple harrows; Evans planter and
check-rower; Canton wire check-rower, Daisy, Albion,
Standard and Canton hay rakes, New Clipper, or Triumph
mower, Triumph reaper and self-binder, Challenge corn
sheller, and Racine fanning mills.
In addition to these they carry a complete line of bug-
gies, carriages, phaetons, top and open surreys, sporting wag-
ons, buck boards, spring wagons and other classes of vehicles
including the Cooper wagon. The territory covered from the
Kansas City branch includes the states of Missouri, Kansas
and Colorado.
The house here is under the management of Mr. F. L.
Kaufman, who before entering upon the duties and responsi-
bilities of his present position had been for ten years ideniified
with one of the oldest and most prominent agricultural imple-
ment concerns in this city. The universally high esteem in
which the products of the company are held, combined with
his experienced management of its affairs have placed the
house here among the largest dealers in this market. In direct.
connection with their immense factory, the company have the
following branches and distributing houses: Parlin & Oren-
dorff Co. Kansas City, Minneapolis, Decatur, Ills., Omaha
W. T. & E. A. Rogers, Quincy, Ills.; Bauer, Walter & Co. St.
Louis; Mitchell & Lewis Co., Portland, Oregon; Burton, Her-
rick & White, Ogden, Utah; H. Vogt, Bremen, Germany; J.
Mohr, Bell & Co., Buenos Ayres, South America; Wexel &
Degrers, City of Mexico.
STANDARD IMPLEMENT COMPANY.
This concern was incorporated in 1882 by the Grand
Detour Plow Co, of Dixon, Ills., Emerson, Talcott & Co.
Rockford, Ills., Newton Wagon Co. Batavia, and A. G. Bod-
well, of Kansas City. The object of the company was to fur-
nish direct from this market, the particular products of the
different manufactories already mentioned, combined with
such other agricultural implements, spring wagons, buggies,
}

AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS.
141
!
etc., as satisfied their experienced judgment of their excel-
lence of quality and suitableness for the territory in which
they were to be used. The company is thus a wholesale dealer
in standard farm machinery of the highest class, conducted by
men experienced in the business and who possess the closest
knowledge of the requirements of this market.
The following special articles are among the important.
implements carried in stock and dealt in by the company:
Grand Detour plows, combined listers, cultivators, sulky
plows, harrows, and rakes, Standard planters, check rowers,
cultivators, and rakes, Standard and Smith Big 7 mowers,
Newton farm and spring wagons, buggies, and carriages, Plano
binders, and mowers, Weyrich stalk cutters, Standard and
Defiance corn shellers, Empire disc harrows, Monitor and
Richmond grain drills, fanning mills, Osage feed mills, J. I.
Case threshers and saw mills, Reeves straw stackers, stock
cutters, and cultivators, cane mills and evaporators, C. &
G. Cooper & Co. traction engines, threshers, and saw mills.
The officers of the company are: O. B. Dodge, president;
A. G. Bodwell, vice-president, treasurer, and general manager;
and H. K. Wolcott, secretary.
Farmers and dealers would do well to correspond with the
Standard Implement Co., and examine its stock before making
purchases. Their warehouse and office is situated at Nos. 1312,
1314, 1316, and 1318 West Eleventh street, Kansas City, Mo.
BUFORD & GEORGE IMPLEMENT COMPANY.
This company is closely allied to and intimately associated
with the Rock Island Plow Company of Rock Island,
Illinois, and the Farmers Friend Manufacturing Co. of Day-
ton, Ohio. In point of fact the company here was formed and
incorporated for the special purpose of conducting a wholesale
business in agricultural implements, and the stock it carries
includes all and every kind of farming implement, wagons,
carriages and buggies. An important feature of its business is
comprised in the exclusive handling through this and tribu-
*

142
COMMERCE OF KANSAS CITY.
tary territory of the celebrated products of the two corpo-
rations mentioned.
The operations of the company have been in every way
successful, and the large business and extensive field covered
by it places it among the most important of the large concerns
engaged in this line of business here. The specialties of which
they control the sale throughout this section are the Rock
Island plows, cultivators, listers and harrows, Olds' farm wag-
ons, Climax spring wagons, Red, White and Blue mowers,
Farmers' Friend, Dayton and Bonanza corn planters, Farmers'
Friend, Joliet, Champion and Haworth check rowers, Farmers'
Friend corn drill, Little Duke stalk cutter, Standard, Star and
Tiffin hay rakes, Improved Pearl and Royal corn shellers,
Monarch and New Monarch drills, I. X. L. cider mills, Star,
Forest King and Prairie Queen cane mills, Stubbs & Scaultin's
evaporators, Big Giant feed mills, Gem Rotary and Slide Drop
hand corn planters, Racine fanning mills, Strowbridge broad-
cast sowers.
SANDWICH MANUFACTURING CO.
The factory of this company is at Sandwich, Illinois,
where it was established in 1856. In 1878 the company
opened their house in Kansas City, where they have conducted
a very extensive and successful business. They confine their
transactions to the exclusive handling of their own goods,
which are in great demand throughout the entire south-west.
The following agricultural machines and implements,
which are made in every variety of size, power and style, are
the products of this factory: Reliance Self-Binding harvester,
Reliance mowers, Reliance binder trucks, Sandwich Adams
corn shellers, Sandwich Adams horse powers, and Sandwich
feed grinders.
The establishment at Kansas City is under the manage-
ment of M. H. Losee, who is indefatigable in pushing the
business of the company throughout this section.

AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS.
143
FLINT & WALLING MANUFACTURING CO.
The factory of this company was established in 1864, at
Kendallville, Indiana; and the branch house in Kansas City
commenced operations on January 1, 1885, and that at Fort
Worth, Texas, on January 1, 1886. The company are manu-
facturers and jobbers of all kinds of water-work goods, making
specialties of wind-mills, pumps, tanks, tubular well tools and
supplies, etc. As their factory was established twenty-one.
years ago, and their goods have been in universal use during
the whole of that time, they have secured a national reputation.
The officers of the company are: David C. Walling, presi-
dent; Rufus G. Marcy, vice-president; Simeon Flint, superin-
tendent; Henry I. Peck, secretary and treasurer. The western
branches are under the management of Mr. Rufus G. Marcy
the vice-president of the company.


AA AA APAR
KANSAS CITY STOCK YARDS EXCHANGE.

:
T
LIVE STOCK.
HE one industry of all others that has most materially
conduced to the phenomenal progress that has been made
in developing the commercial interests of Kansas City is, on all
hands admitted to have been, the dealing in live stock. Not
alone has this influence been directly felt by the vast amount
of money involved in the handling of 500,000 head of cattle
and nearly 2,500,000 hogs, and 200,000 sheep, which were
received at the yards during last year, but the very fact of such
enormous receipts of the product of the country, naturally im-
plies an equally large demand for general commercial supplies
as return shipments. It is thus that the live stock interest
may be justly accorded the first place among the powerful fac-
tors that have made this city to-day the principal distributing
center for the West and South-west. To account for the con-
tinuous and astonishing development of the live stock inter-
ests of this city, and its present enormous magnitude as the
second largest cattle market in the world, we have only to con-
sider a few of the many causes that have combined to bring
about this result. In the first place, all of the important rail-
ways of the West lead to Kansas City in a net-work of converg-
ing lines. Second is, the proximity of the city to the vast
cattle ranges of the West, and its location in the center of the
greatest corn and stock producing States in the Union. Third,
and an influence not to be underestimated, is the capacity of
its yards and the facilities for the economic handling of stock,
feeding, loading, and reshipping, which are unsurpassed any-
where in the world.
The great staples of commerce only move in channels
where they can flow smoothly, expeditiously, and economically.
10-
145

146
COMMERCE OF KANSAS CITY.
In the advantage of geographical position Kansas City is un-
rivalled, but mere geographical position is only one element in
the creation of a great market. Beyond this, there are others
equally important; there must be transportation facilities of
the best; then the capacity to send supplies in return for the
staples at advantageous rates and in unlimited quantities; and
behind all these must be men of sagacity, capital, and energy
to adapt to the purposes of the business all the latest appli-
ances and accommodations, so that the utmost economy and
expedition shall be at the service of shipper, broker, and buyer.
That all the essential requirements have been fulfilled in the
case of the live stock trade in Kansas City is evidenced by the
remarkable development of that interest, for without such ful-
fillment the trade would not have come here, but have sought
other and more advantageous outlets to the place of final con-
sumption.
In 1868 and earlier, grazing cattle from the great ranges
of Texas, Indian Territory, Kansas, Colorado, and New Mex-
ico, began to find their way eastward and northward in consid-
erable hordes, and the annual drive soon became one of the
most important features of the cattle trade.
For years, however, Kansas City was merely a reshipping
and feeding point and the only accommodations afforded here
were the primitive sheds and miry yards of the railroad com-
panies, and the trade continued to pass, as it were, right by
the doors of Kansas City, and the bulk of the rapidly increas-
ing droves from the plains were ultimately headed to Chicago,
which in spite of the most strenuous efforts of St. Louis to se-
cure the trade, claimed exclusive position as the clearing
house of the continent for live stock. This was the condition
of affairs in 1871, when a joint stock company was formed in
this city, and yards constructed in time to receive the ship.
ments of that year. It soon became evident that with these
facilities and conveniences men were going into the live stock
commission business here, and a suitable building was erected
in connection with the yards to furnish offices for them. This
"

LIVE STOCK.
147
was the beginning of the live stock market in Kansas City.
Packers finding they could supply themselves here ceased to
go to the prairies for their stock, and feeders and other pur-
chasers from the north-western states were attracted at once to
the new market. The demand for hogs created by the packing
interest inspired the commission men into earnest efforts to se-
cure that class of stock, and they soon held control of the crop
of Kansas and western Missouri. All the receipts of cattle at
this time were Texas cattle, and probably about one-third of
them were sold here, the remaining two-thirds going forward
in first hands. In less than two years, however, the entire
receipts were sold here, and from that time the Kansas City
market has controlled the Texas cattle and has been steadily
better than any other market, as is shown in the fact that no
individual or firm escaped loss who attempted the business of
buying here for sale in other markets.
From this time the history of the Kansas City live stock
market has been one of continued progress and increased re-
ceipts. The whole of the states and territories to the south,
west and northwest have been made tributary to, this city and
have found this market the most advantageous to which to
consign their stock. Buyers for foreign markets and the export
trade generally have found it necessary and to their interest to
be represented here, while the enormous increase of supplies
has induced the largest packing concerns in the country to
erect immense packing houses here, and the building up of
this live stock market has indeed made Kansas City the sec-
ond largest packing city in the country.
The most powerful factor in the accomplishment of these
great results has been the well directed enterprise and uniformly
excellent management of the Kansas City stock yards, where
this gigantic business is carried on. The yards cover some 150
acres of ground, a great portion of which is divided up into
covered sheds, pens and yards all of them planked, which.
afford daily accommodation for 15,000 cattle, 30,000 hogs, 3,500
sheep and 1,000 horses and mules. The whole is well paved

148
COMMERCE OF KANSAS CITY.
and drained and each yard is amply provided with sheds,
troughs for feeding and a tank for watering the stock. They
are in fact completely and perfectly equipped with every
accommodation that can possibly be required for the proper
care and perfect health and comfort of the animals. The rail-
road tracks make a transit round the entire city and run
through the different parts of the yards, connecting with every
road centering here. The switch tracks are laid with steel
rails, and the convergence of all the Western roads at this
point render it the most accessible in the country for a great
live stock market. Although when these yards were built and
equipped it was supposed that the facilities they supplied to
transact and expedite business would be ample for many years,
it was not long before additions were found to be necessary.
From time to time these have been made, with such addi-
tions and improvements as the enormous and steady increase
of business required. It has come to be well understood that
whenever additional facilities are found to be needed to expe-
dite the traffic at these yards, the management at once set about
supplying them. By the acquisition of new land the company
have recently made arrangements for adding to the yards suf-
ficient ground to give yardage for 6,000 additional cattle.
Every portion of the yards when remodeled will be within
easy reach of the Exchange building, a desideratum which
only those engaged in the live stock business can best appre-
ciate. The plans at present are far reaching and will necessi-
tate the outlay of an immense amount of capital. From a
business included in 6,623 cars of live stock received in 1871,
the first year of the opening of the present yards, the business.
has grown until at present, (as was the case during 1885,) there
are 63,213 cars of animals received annually, representing
506,627 head of cattle, 2,358,718 head of hogs, 221,801, head
of sheep, and 63,213 head of horses. The number of animals
actually received and shipped at these yards for the last fifteen
years are shown in the following statements:
LIVE STOCK.
149
:
TOTAL YEARLY RECEIPTS.
Horses &
Year.
Cattle.
Hogs. Sheep.
Cars.
Mules.
1871....
120827
41036
5427
809
6623
1872...
236802
104639
6071
2648
13110
1873.....
227689
221815
5975
4202
14603
1874.....
207080
212532
8855
3679
13370
1875....
174754
63350
25327
2646
9093
1876....
183378
153777
55045
5339
11692
1877
215768
192645
42190
4279
13958
1878..
175344
427777
36700
10796
16583
1879....
211415
588908
61684
15829
20702
1880....
244709
676477
50611
14086
22704
1881
285863
1014304
79924
12592
29089
1882....
439671
963036
80724
11716
34668
1883....
460780 1379401
119665
19860
45470
1884......
533526
1723586
237964
27163
55227
1885......
506627 2358718
221801
24506
63213
Total.......
4224233 10122001
137063
160150
370105
TOTAL YEARLY SHIPMENTS.
Horses &
Year.
Cattle.
Hogs.
Sheep.
Cars.
Mules.
1871......
120794
40102
4527
809
5125

1872.....
236799
104399
6071
2648
10683
1873....
227666
220574
5951
4202
10044
1874
207069
212714
8877
3685
10879
1875....
174211
63096
25310
2635
7036
1876...
183256
153180
54829
5321
7131
1877
215771
193204
42333
4296
7366
1878......
175549
426355
37012
10794
9483
1879...
211361
589794
61157
15826
12741
1880...
244281
676858
51004
14090
12874
1881...
286134
1015447
79848
12604
14382
1882
439521
961906
80708
11607
19698
1883.....
460598 1379005
119180
19869
24662
1884.....
533992 1724287
237214
27092
32056
1885.......
506577 2359027
223088
24656
33452
Total.......
4223579 10119938 1037109
160134
217612
The officers of the company are: C. F. Morse, general
manager; E. E. Richardson, treasurer and secretary; and H,
P. Child, superintendent.

150
COMMERCE OF KANSAS CITY.
HORSES AND MULES.
Kansas City has earned the reputation of being the lead-
ing horse and mule market of the country. Kansas has become
a producer of very fine stock in this line, and, for that matter,
Missouri has also. Missouri has acquired a great reputation
for raising very fine mules, and for the class of work they are
fitted for, they command top prices all over the entire country.
The market has become thoroughly cosmopolitan. From New
York to California this market distributes its supplies, while
from the South comes a very large demand, mostly for mules.
Since the completion of the Memphis road the mule trade with
the South has assumed very large proportions. Northern
points are also supplied from here. The East generally takes
fine drivers and riders; the South mostly mules for cotton
work, although some very fine horses are also taken; for the
West and North-west mostly heavy draft animals.
A very
large demand is also experienced for good stallions and jacks
for breeding purposes.
HORSE AND MULE MARKET.
The company has established in connection with the stock
yards an extensive horse and mule market, known as the
Kansas City Stock Yards Company Horse and Mule Market.
Every accommodation that experience and prudent care could
suggest has been provided for the comfort and accomodation of
the animals.
There are always on hand a large stock of all grades of
horses and mules, which are bought and sold on commission
by the head or in car-load lots.
In connection with the sales market, are large feed stables
and pens, where all stock receive the best of care; and special
attention is given to receiving and forwarding. The facilities
for handling this kind of stock are unsurpassed at any stable
in the country, and consignors have the assurance of this
responsible company of the prompt settlement of all sales of
stock that are sent here,

LIVE STOCK.
151
The yards are under the management of F. E. Short &
Co. composed of Frank E. Short and Captain W. S. Tough,
who are each of them thoroughly experienced in dealing with
this class of stock.
The following are prominent live stock commission firms
doing business at the Kansas City stock yards :
The Fish & Keck Co. (incorporated) live stock commission
merchants; office at the Stock Yards Exchange.
J. S. McFarland & Co. (J. S. McFarland, Chicago and J. B-
McFarland, Kansas City,) live stock commission merchants;
salesmen, J. B. McFarland, Geo. H. Camp; R. S. Posten,
cashier; office at the Stock Yards Exchange, Kansas City and
at Union Stock Yards, Chicago.
Geo. R. Barse & Co. room 27 Stock Yards Exchange.
White & Holmes, (R. C. White and Geo. Holmes,) Stock
Yards Exchange.
Rogers & Rogers, Stock Yards Exchange.
Metcalfe, Moore & Co. Stock Yards Exchange.
Jas. H. Payne & Co. Stock Yards Exchange.
Hunter, Evans & Co. Stock Yards Exchange.
Irwin, Allen & Co. Stock Yards Exchange.
James Campbell & Co. Stock Yards Exchange.
J. R. Stoller & Co. Stock Yards Exchange.
J. P. Emmert & Co. room 20, Exchange Building.
Larmon & Co. Stock Yards Exchange.
A. J. Gillespie & Co. room 15, Exchange Building.
C. M. Keys & Co. room 31, Stock Yards Exchange and
National Stock Yards, St. Louis.
Schwartz, Bolen & Co. Exchange Building.
McCoy & Underwood, room 32, Exchange Building
די


1
DEDED
DEDED)
ភាព
MOLINE PLOW Co.
MOLINE PLOW COMPANY,
Sunnu
MOLINE PLOW COMPANY
M HR Git

CATTLE COMPANIES.
In many respects the cattle growing industry is threatened
with similar obstructions to those which have barred the free
progress of railway development. Ignorance and passion
have been used as instruments whereby to bring about a state
of popular feeling such as, if successful, can not fail of produc-
ing public disaster of the greatest magnitude. The cry has
gone forth that the great ranchmen of the west and south-
west are trespassers on public land; robbers and despoilers of
the poor and industrious settler, and generally a set of monop-
olists, whose only aim is to ruin the country that they may
grow rich themselves. The cry has been seized upon and
stimulated by designing politicians, hardly less ignorant than
those who raise it, with the purpose of achieving for themselves
some cheaply earned, and as fleeting as cheap, political noto-
riety. Thus under the guise of patriotism-that last argument of
the political rogue-they would wreck an enormous and grow-
ing business, prevent the bringing to the country the vast
sums that are annually earned, and would relegate the great
plains that now swarm with herds to the desert condition in
which they were before the cattle growers took them in hand.
In spite of the rapid growth of settlements in the west
and south-west, there are great tracts of land-hundreds of
millions of acres-which must, in the nature of things, remain
for many years to come, but parts of the great and unculti-
vated wilderness of America. Unless for the energy and en-
terprise of the cattle kings, as they are sometimes sarcastically
called, these friendly domains would have remained idle. Not
a dollar would they have produced, and not a particle would
153

154
COMMERCE OF KANSAS CITY.
they have aided in supplying cheap food for the toiling mil-
lions of this country and of Europe. They were the home of
the wild, unsubjugated Indian; barriers to the westward march
of material development, and a refuge where murder and rapine
found their safest and most secure home. What are they
to-day? Every man in the country feels their influence-un-
consciously it may be-in the cheapness and improved quality
of the meat he consumes and on which he feeds his children.
Can it be said that the operations of the men who have made.
them fruitful of wealth have been hostile to the general inter-
ests of the country? Suppose the wilderness had been left a
wilderness, would the country at large have been as rich?
Would the necessaries of life have been as cheap?
The ques-
tion answers itself.
"But," say they who are now clamoring at the doors of
Congress for legislation that they pretend to hope will destroy
the business, "these men are trespassers. They come among us
and swallow up the wealth of the poor man. They obstruct
settlement with their terrible wire fences. They are preparing
the way to carve out for themselves vast possessions of which
they may ultimately claim the fee simple, and without paying
for the privilege."
Here are the arguments, if they can fairly be called such,
that are so freely used by the hostiles; it will be well to see
how much weight there is in them. As a matter of fact, the
ranchmen have gone upon lands which were not in use, and
much of which can never come into use while there are fertile
lands, fitted for crop raising, open to settlement. It is a mis-
take to view these lands as if they were wide stretches of
fertile territory, covered with rich natural grasses and well
watered all over, capable of feeding stock in the same ratio
as to acreage as the Kentucky blue-grass region. The facts are
all different. All the vast territory treated of contains every
variety of land-and the sterile and utterly worthless country
predominates. Here and there are spots of fair fertility, but,
as a rule, these spots are widely separated and intermingled
CATTLE INTERESTS.
155
with great expanses of rocky and sterile soil which will support
no living thing as large as a sheep. Many other districts are
so thickly covered with herbage that it takes fifty acres to sup-
port a steer, and the only fact that makes them available at all
for their present purposes is that the herds have free space to
roam over and to pick up a living in the course of their wan-
derings. The valleys that are fairly well watered, afford
excellent grazing ground, but where there is a valley of the
kind, of a thousand acres in extent, it is surrounded by ten or
twenty times as much land which is utterly worthless for
grazing or any other farm purpose.
With regard to the charge that farmers are prevented, by
the occupation of the land by herdsmen, from preempting land
for settlement, that is simply untrue. It would be absurd to con-
sider the matter at all, in view of the controlling power of the
United States' law, were it not that so much of an outcry has
been made on this very subject. As a matter of fact, there
have been some very few settlers come into the very choicest
of these lands; some of them took up the land for the express
purpose of selling out their patents to the stock companies as
soon as they should have completed the statutory requirements
and obtained the patents. Others, who have acted in good
faith, have found their best, and, indeed, only market in sup-
plying grain and other farm produce to the ranchmen and
herders. These latter never made any complaint; they know
that their best and only security from Indians is in the pres-
ence of the stockman, and that without the market for their
produce that the latter afford, they might as well be settled in
the midst of a desert.
That some kind of legislation, that would not be utterly
destructive, would be acceptable to the stock growers, there is
no doubt. Something in the way of providing a means of
leasing the lands for a term of years, subject to all rights of
settlement, but which should not impose too serious a burden
on the industry, would certainly be satisfactory. It would
quiet all the present clamor, and prevent the possibility of

156
COMMERCE OF KANSAS CITY.
unsettling a business in which many millions of dollars are
invested. And, to this end, the stockmen themselves have
asked the government to appoint a commission to look into.
the matter and to afford them some reasonable protection at a
fair cost to them. A scale of leasing fees, such as those provided
for by the Texas lexislature for lands within the limits of that
state, would not be acceptable. It would simply close out the
business on account of the impossibility of paying as much.
But some reasonable figures, such as would not destroy all
prospect of profit, would be beneficial all around.
This is about how the controversy stands at present. The
problem of how to use to the profit of the country at large, as
well as to the more immediately concerned, lands that have
been waste for myriads of ages, has been solved by the energy
and business capacity of the stock growers; it remains now to
place that use on a permanent basis and to render it unassail-
able by every fidgety political charlatan that may choose to
consider it to his interest to raise a row. When this is done,
the cattle trade of the West will grow into proportions yet un-
thought of, and the whole country will be benefitted.
THE WESTERN LAND AND CATTLE COMPANY (LIMITED.)
This is an English corporation, having its head offices in
London, and a capital of £300,000, or $1,500,000. The managing
director of the company's interests in America is James A.
Forbes, Esq., who has offices in Kansas City. The company
own extensive cattle ranches in New Mexico, and similar
property in Texas, Kansas and Missouri. The ranch in New
Mexico is stocked with some 35,000 head of cattle and from the
natural increase of this herd, large numbers are each year
selected for sale, and are usually consigned to the Kansas City
market. The last annual report of the company shows that in
1885, nearly six thousand head of cattle were so disposed of,
the bulk of this number being composed of three year old
steers.
From the time of its incorporation in 1882, the operation
&

CATTLE INTERESTS.
157
•
of the company have been most successfully managed, and the
same source of information already referred to shows that the
dividend paid to the stock-holders of the company last year,
viz ten per cent on the investment, was the smallest return
that has yet been made. This, however, was occasioned prin-
cipally by the low price that ruled for cattle for nearly the
entire year, and which was caused by circumstances that there
is every reason to believe were only of a temporary character.
Indeed, already these causes have been to a great extent re-
moved, while the increasing prosperity of the country in all
departments of commercial life strongly indicate both an in-
creasing demand and better prices.
All who have the prosperity of Kansas City at heart will
easily understand the profound interest that is taken here in
the success of enterprises of this nature. By such success was
laid one of the most sure foundations of the city's future great-
ness, the live stock or stock yards interests having already
proved such an important factor in the commercial develop-
ment of the city, and of course the principal element in the
success of the yards has been the large consignments made by
this and similar organizations. When careful consideration is
given to the magnitude of the operations, the vast area of ter-
ritory that must be watched and protected, and the enormous
amount of labor entailed in conducting a business of such
stupendous proportions as that of cattle growing, it will be
seen that it is an industry that merits every encouragement,
and that the promoters and managers of such enterprises should
receive the cordial and hearty support of every one who
desires the best interests of this country. Particularly is this
the case with Kansas City, for while the great cattle trade of
the west brings to this country the vast sums that are annually
earned, and nearly every dollar of which goes to the develop-
ment of old industries and the establishment of new; Kansas
City with its unequaled transportation facilities, and its un-
rivaled stock yards, will necessarily become the center of the
business for the supply of the world.

158
COMMERCE OF KANSAS CITY.
THE TEXAS LAND & CATTLE CO. (LIMITED.)
This company has a paid up capital of $2,500,000 and owns
125,000 head of cattle and horses, which are located on its
ranges in Texas and the Indian Territory.
The company owns 750,000 acres of land in fee simple and
has 550,000 acres under lease. It has been in operation since
1880, and has paid an average annual dividend of 11 per cent.
The company is under the management of Edwin E.
Wilson, Esq. who has an office at No. 20 West Missouri Avenue,
in this city.


PACKING INTERESTS.
TH
HE growth of every branch of commercial interest in
Kansas City is, in one sense, phenomenal, but in no one
industry has she made more rapid strides than in that to
which a brief consideration is given in this chapter.
Though it is, comparatively speaking, only a few years
since pork packing was commenced at this point, such has
been the success of the industry, and so vigorously has the
market been pushed that Kansas City has passed every city in
the country, but one, in the number of hogs packed and to-day
ranks as the second largest pork-packing center in the world.
As this city is situated in the center of the greatest corn
raising section in the country, and as the supply of market-
able hogs is regulated almost entirely by the supply of corn,
there is every reason to anticipate an even greater growth than
has already been achieved by this industry here. Indeed, it
is very generally prognosticated in the best posted circles that
Kansas City will eventually, and that at no distant period,
lead in this interest. It is a fact that Chicago has, in all prob-
ability, attained its highest point as a pork packing market,
and while coming seasons will show a diminution in the num-
ber of hogs killed, Kansas City will, on the contrary, show a
constantly increasing business in this line for many years to
come. The reasons for this are not far to seek, the supply of
hogs for the Chicago market is received from a somewhat lim-
ited territory through the north-west, where the production of
hogs is considerably decreasing, owing in a great degree to the
fact that as the farmers get better off they neglect the hog
and turn their attention to finer stock; and the greatest hog
159
160
COMMERCE OF KANSAS CITY.
producing state in this territory, that of Iowa, which formerly
sent its entire product to Chicago, is now sending considerable
numbers here and with the completion of the railroad system
now building, connecting this city with the north-west, the
great bulk of the hog product of this prolific state will likely
find its best market here. Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri, and
Iowa, whence Kansas City draws her supply of hogs, form,
with Illinois, the great corn belt of the country. The increase
in the amount of corn raised in the most recently developed
states, particularly Kansas and Nebraska, during the past few
years, has been something almost incredible, and fairly prom-
ises that these two states will soon raise fully one-fourth of all
the corn raised in the United States. The farmers of the west
have demonstrated to their entire satisfaction that the best
manner to market their corn is to feed it liberally to stock, and
hence, with the increase in the amount of corn raised, comes
a corresponding increase in the amount of live stock that finds
a market in Kansas City. There are so many large packing
houses here now operating through the entire year, that there
exists at all times a demand sufficient to take care of all the hogs
that come to this market. In fact the competition for supplies
is generally so brisk that shippers are never forced to part with
their stock at anything below current market prices, and very
often obtain relatively higher prices than are paid at Chicago
or other eastern markets. The packers here can afford to pay
better prices than can more eastern points, for the reason that
the latter have to pay freight on the live hog, and freight back
on the manufactured product in order to get into the territory
where Kansas City packers ship most of their goods. The
south and south-west are very large consumers of this product,
hence Kansas City's advantages as a packing point become.
readily apparent when her admirable railroad facilities for
reaching these sections are taken into consideration. Practically
the packers here place their products all through the south,
including seaboard points, at the expense of Chicago, Cincin-
nati, St. Louis, and Louisville. Throughout the west and

PACKING INTERESTS.
161
south-west, into the mountains, and even to the Pacific coast,
the products of Kansas City packers finds an ever increasing
market. The same is the case in the north-west; Minnesota,
Oregon, and California are seeking their supplies in this line
from Kansas City.
It will thus be seen that the bulk of the product manu-
factured here goes for domestic consumption, the exports, how-
ever, sum up no inconsiderable amount, a portion of the meat
is, indeed, cut up especially for the English market, where it
finds a ready sale and is in great demand.
The fresh beef trade which has recently assumed such re-
markable proportions has been handled by the packers here
with the greatest success. Their facilities for killing at a
minimum of cost, ability to utilize all the offal, and means
for transportation by refrigerator cars are such as to give them
a decided advantage over the ordinary slaughterer. The
quality of the beef killed here is excellent; no market in the
country furnishes a more superior quality, and that this fact
is appreciated by the consumers is abundantly shown by the
increased demand, the volume of this business during 1885,
having increased fully twenty-five per cent over that of 1884.
This dressed beef is shipped to Minnesota, Colorado and south-
eastern States, and other points.
The following statement shows the number of hogs packed
in Kansas City each year since the commencement of the busi-
ness here:
Year.
1868-69.....
1869-70..
...
1870-71....
1871-72......
1872-73.......
1873-74....
1874-75...
1875-76...
1876-77......
11
No. packed. Year.
13,000
1877.....
23,000 1878..
No. packed.
180,357
349,097
36,000
1879.
366,830
83,000
1880.....
539,797
180,000
1881………....
850,823
175,000 1882.
749,083
70,300
1883.....
1,056,116
74,474
1884....
1,137,667
..114,869
1885......
1,554,105
161
162
COMMERCE OF KANSAS CITY.
Statement of packing in detail for 1884 and 1885.
1885
1884
January and February.
297,248
168,380
March 1 to November 1......
.819,975
638,750
November and December....
436,882
307,321
Total......
.1,554,105
1,114,451
Average weight of hogs killed during the year.
246.62
Average weight of hogs killed during 1884..
.254.25
Table showing average weight of hogs killed by months:
Months.
January
February
March....
April…………..
May
June..
Av. weight.
Months.
256.06
July
251.05
August....
256.10
September.
251.26 October.....
241.28 November.
243.13 December.
Av. weight.
232.30
229.01
.240.68
.249.90
251.80
256.21
There were about 125,000 head of cattle killed for the fresh
beef business during the season of 1885, and about 80,000 head
of sheep were also slaughtered. From March 1, 1885, to
June 30, 1886, the packers here have killed 454,335 hogs.
The following table which shows the number of hogs
packed from March 1, 1886, to June 2, 1886, at the most prom-
inent packing points in the country will indicate the high
position that Kansas City has attained as a pork packing
center:
March 1 to June 2-
Chicago....
Kansas City
Milwaukee..
Indianapolis.
St. Louis....
Cincinnati..
Cedar Rapids..
Cleveland......
1886
1885
890,000
960,000
306,970
265,653
80,000
84,000
110,000
44,000
117,000
92,000
55,000
44,000
62,120
66,249
67,600
44,563
In face of the facts there is no room left for doubting the
high rank this city holds as a live stock market and packing
center. And more than that, each year sees these interests de-
veloping, keeping pace with all demands, and extending their
PACKING INTERESTS.
163
beneficial influence to almost every quarter of the civilized
globe. It is no idle boast, either, that nowhere can be found
men of more genuine push and enterprise than that class
known as Kansas City packers. The wonderful development
of the business under their management is so potent, that no
further argument is needed to warrant the assertion. No pains
nor money have been spared to complete and perfect the details
to cover economy, cleanliness and dispatch in the methods of
converting the live hog into pork and its various products; and
the improvements made in this direction are truly astonishing.
One writer facetiously puts it, "that pork packers have reached
that point in the handling of the hog, that about the only
thing not utilized in some way is the squeal."
The hair, blood, offal, entrails, heart and other organs are
all used and made to bring in money, and by improved meth-
ods and appliances, these portions formerly wasted are now
turned to profit and account. For this reason, says an eminent
authority, "the packer of to-day can make money when a dec-
ade ago he would have lost." Science is constantly develop-
ing improved methods and labor saving machinery, and even
now, everything is done with precision and on a systematic
basis, leaving no room for loss, except where needless folly or
wasteful management prevails. As is usual with large con-
cerns in this interest, the capacity of the Kansas City packing
houses is beyond the actual daily requirements.
As the sup-
ply of hogs on the market is a matter that can not be con-
trolled, and some days will show only a small and altogether
insufficient run, and on others there will be a great rush, it is
consequently necessary that the facilities of the packing house"
should be equal to the greatest number that may be probably
obtainable on the largest day.
Of the packers of Kansas City, it may truly be said that
the goods packed by them are known throughout the entire
world, and acknowledged to be of a superior quality, and dis-
tinguished by individual brands and trade marks; whereas the
bulk of the goods put up by concerns in other cities, are not

164
COMMERCE OF KANSAS CITY.
distinguished by any particular marks other than those of the
inspectors of pork for the Board of Trade of the various cities
in which the goods are produced. In other words the prod-
ucts of Kansas City packers are made for consumption and
not simply for sale.
THE ARMOUR PACKING CO.
At the head of the great packing industry of Kansas City,
and the pioneer establishment of this interest here, is the
Armour Packing Co. The packing houses-immense five and
six story structures-slaughter houses, pens, etc., cover an area
of upwards of six acres, and, to keep up with the increasing
demand for the company's productions, they are continually
making additions. From one thousand to fifteen hundred
hands find constant employment, the capacity of this institu-
tion being five hundred cattle and seven thousand hogs per
diem. The buildings throughout are fitted up with the latest
and most improved machinery and appliances known to
modern science. Arctic refrigerator engines are to be found
here, so that packing is carried on all the year round, and the
system that prevails throughout the entire establishment is
perfection itself. The company have a similar institution in
Chicago, and large warehouses in New York, to facilitate their
immense European trade. The company is composed of
Messrs. S. B., A. W., P. D., H. O., K. B., and C. W. Armour.
JACOB DOLD & SON.
This house was founded in Buffalo, N. Y., where it still
does a flourishing business. In 1880, the many advantages
afforded by Kansas City induced the firm to establish an exten-
sive branch packing house in this city. The new venture was
a success from the commencement, and it was not long before
the branch here outstripped the parent establishment in the
quantity of its productions and the importance and volume of
its transactions. Mr. J. C. Dold is the leading spirit of the con-
cern here, he is an active pushing man in the prime of life,


PACKING INTERESTS.
165
and it is under his energetic and efficient management that
the immense business has been built up. Besides the estab-
lishment at Kansas City and at Buffalo, the firm have a large
distributing house at Harrisburg, Pa. All their operations are
on a vast scale, indeed, the house ranks as the sixth largest
pork packing establishment in America, and the large trans-
actions conducted by them have done much to place Kansas
City in the very front rank as a packing center.
This establishment has a capacity of 5,000 hogs, 1,250
cattle and 1,000 sheep per day. From March 1st to November
1, 1885, they packed 125,049 hogs, from November 1, 1885,
to March 1, 1886, 112,866 hogs, and 9,000 head of cattle,
making a grand total for the year ending March 1, 1886, of
237,915.
The trade of the house extends nearly all over the world,
and it is only a short time since, that a correspondent writing
to one of the papers in this city, from Yokohama, Japan, spoke
of seeing American hams there of the Jacob Dold & Son's brand.
The company do an immense business in beef shipped in car
loads and by express, packed in boxes of from 100 to 500 pounds
in weight, including ice; the boxes are returned to be repacked
and forwarded again. The reputation they have secured for
all their productions has made them eagerly sought after both
at home and abroad, and Kansas City has good reason to take
pride in an institution that has done so much to elevate this
city, its products and business methods, in the estimation of
the leading merchants of this and other countries.
GEORGE FOWLER,
Beef and pork packer and lard refiner. The packing house
of this extensive establishment covers an area of fifteen acres,
the capacity of the works being 6,000 hogs and 500 cattle each
day, and affording employment to 800 hands. An important
feature of the business is the special cutting and preparation of
the meats for the European, and particularly the English mar-
ket, to which very extensive consignments are made. The
166
COMMERCE OF KANSAS CITY.
products of this house have, by careful attention, been made to
overcome every prejudice, and have attained the highest pop-
ularity, both at home and abroad.
MORRISON PACKING Co.
This is a branch of the well known Cincinnati packing
house of Jas. Morrison & Co., which was established in 1845.
For more than forty years this concern has ranked as one of
the foremost pork packing establishments in America, and its
products, which are largely consumed both at home and abroad,
have gained a reputation of the very highest character. In
1884, the branch concern, incorporated as the Morrison Pack-
ing Company, commenced operations in this city. They oc-
cupy very extensive premises which are fitted up with every
convenience and appliance for packing and handling enormous
quantities of meat. During the winter season they kill from
one thousand to fifteen hundred hogs per day, and about half
that number during the summer months. Their attention is
given exclusively to hog products, and the result of their
operations in this city has proved most satisfactory. The busi-
ness of the company extends through all the Southern States
and also comprises many of the Eastern States where their pro-
duct is in great demand. The officers of the company are,
Thomas Morrison, president; James K. Morrison, secretary;
W. P. Morrison, treasurer, and F. M. Schirmer, general
manager.
KANSAS CITY PACKING CO.
This institution is conducted by A. J. Morris and S. W.
Butt, who also have an extensive establishment in St. Louis
under the firm name of Morris, Butt & Co.
The concern here packs both pork and beef, and gives con-
stant employment to 150 hands. It has a very extensive trade
throughout the entire section of country that is reached from
Kansas City, and as the business of the company is pushed
with vigor and enterprise its trade is rapidly and constantly
extending. The great growth of the business is also attribut
able to the high character of the various products.
i
CRACKERS AND CONFECTIONERY.
IT
T is an accepted fact that the manufacturing interests of any
city conduce in the greatest degree to its material and
permanent welfare, and Kansas City is no exception to this
rule. The establishment, and the successfully building up of
each individual manufactory, confers benefits and exercises in-
fluences on commerce generally that is not by any means lim-
ited within the scope of its own trade. It opens up new terri-
tory to this market, it brings new buyers here who would not
otherwise have come, and whose purchases extend into all the
ramifications of business. It means the employment and the
payment of steady wages to skilled labor, and thus whilst it
benefits every other line of business it directly increases the
best element, viz: the thrifty, productive population of the
city. This has been particularly the case in the manufacturing
here of crackers and candy. Industries that brought directly
to Kansas City a large trade that formerly looked altogether to
other markets for its supplies. There are two extensive estab-
lishments here in which both crackers and candies are made,
and three which produce confectionery alone. The business
handled here in this line somewhat exceeds two million dollars
per annum, and that large return is increasing each year. It
affords employment for an invested capital amounting to fully
two million dollars, and distributes annually $100,000 in wages
among the numerous employees.
CORLE CRACKER & CONFECTIONERY CO.
The Corle Cracker & Confectionery Company manufacture
both crackers and candies, and it is the largest concern in
the world that produces both of these edibles. While there
may be larger cracker factories and larger candy factories in
other cities, there is no other factory which produces both in so
167

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CRACKERS AND CONFECTIONERY.
169
large an amount as this Kansas City establishment. The busi-
ness was founded in 1870, by Mr. J. F. Corle, and in 1883 its
trade had attained very considerable dimensions. On the first
of January in this year, Messrs. J. S. and J. L. Loose assumed
the entire control and management of the concern, and it is
from that time that it really dates its record of prominence and
prosperity. With a determination to keep fully up with the
.times, they have brought into their service every improvement
and new invention that would in any way enhance the qual-
ity of the products or facilitate their manufacture. The result
is the most perfectly equipped factory of its kind in the coun-
try, and an appreciation of its products by the trade of the
south-west and west that has enabled them to get far ahead of
all competition, and gives their "Peacock" brand of crackers a
wide and enduring fame.
Their building which is substantially built of brick and is
five stories in height, is on the corner of Main and Second
streets, has a frontage of one hundred feet, and in depth it em-
braces the entire block. Every department is most system-
atically arranged, and 300 skilled and experienced hands are
employed in the various departments and processes of manu-
facture. The sales of the company now exceed one million
dollars annually, and as they are constantly reaching out for
new territory to conquer, and employ constantly from sixteen
to twenty energetic traveling men strenuosly working in this
direction, it is impossible, and would be unwise to estimate
what their trade will amount to five years from now. The of-
ficers of the company are: J. S. Loose president, who is one of
the directors of the First National Bank, and identified with
other prominent interests here, and J. L. Loose, secretary and
treasurer, who is also a practical and progressive business
man.
HUGGINS CRACKER & CANDY CO.
This manufacturing concern was established in August,
1883, and from the commencement the management have
made the most strenuous and successful efforts to extend the
170
COMMERCE OF KANSAS CITY.
✓
trade of Kansas City. Against strong competition they have
shown the buyers of Nebraska, Colorado, New Mexico, old
Mexico, Kansas and our own state, that their supplies in this
line of goods can be obtained at a greater advantage from this
city than from any other point. The management of the
company have not been content with vigorously push-
ing their trade into distant fields, but they have
spared neither pains or expense to make their products
of the very highest order. Fine cakes and candies, with
their famous "Cupid" brand of crackers, have given
their establishment a wide spread fame for the excellence
and purity of all their products. The building occupied by
the company covers an area of 72x100 feet, four stories and
basement high, and is located in the wholesale business section.
of the city and connected with all the railway lines that enter
here, which affords the utmost possible facilities for shipping
in every direction in the most expeditious manner. The com-
pany employ 125 hands and consume not less than 150 barrels
of flour each day. Their factory is equipped with all the
latest and most improved machinery and their annual sales
amount to from $350,000 to $400,000. Their efforts
have met with well deserved success and there are few
enterprises in the West that control a more extensive business
or hold their trade on a more secure basis than this company.
The ten traveling salesmen, employed by the house, are almost
constantly on the road looking after the firm's business in their
separate territory. Mr. Louis Huggins, the president of the
company and the founder of the business has been closely asso-
ciated with this important manufacturing interest for the past
ten years and is one of the best posted and most experienced
men in this line in the country. The vice president, Mr. W.
G. Fairleigh, and the secretary and treasurer, Mr. H, F. Vories,
are also active business men,

TERRA COTTA LUMBER.
T
ERRA COTTA lumber is an invention which bids fair
to become of the largest degree of utility for building pur-
poses, particularly where fire proof qualities are a desideratum.
It is manufactured in the first instance of a mixture of pre-
pared clay, saw dust and straw, thoroughly kneaded together
into a compound wherein the different parts are entirely
distributed throughout the mass. The compound is then sub-
mitted to enormous pressure through a die, and cut into solid
masses of any desired size (generally in the shape of a plank
twelve inches wide, by various thicknesses and lengths), all
air bubbles and superfluous moisture being driven out; then,
after a certain period of heat in a steam drying machine,
during which it is nearly dried through, the slabs are put into
the furnaces and burned until every particle of the saw dust
and vegetable matter contained in them is consumed and the
clay is left, a highly porous terra cotta slab, which can be cut
with knife or saw, which will take and bite both nails and
screws, and which, in short, is as tractable to the hand as a
like quantity of ordinary pine lumber, but which is also abso-
lutely fire-proof. This, in brief, is terra cotta lumber, and as
the cost is very little in comparison with other material, its
method of manufacture simplicity itself, weight about one-
third that of ordinary brick, as it is a non-conductor of heat
(one of the best known) and of sound, and as it solves the
problem of fire-proofing that has been puzzling the brains of
architects for ages, it is certain to become the favorite building
material of the world.
This is the process of the manufacture of terra cotta lum-
ber, and it is no exaggeration to say that, coming as it does at
ره
171

172
COMMERCE OF KANSAS CITY.
this particular nick of time, when most needed, terra cotta
lumber is one of the greatest discoveries of the age. The
Scientific American denominates it as such, and many scientific
and practical men unqualifiedly endorse that opinion. The
fact that a composition, as thoroughly proof against fire as
asbestos, as workable with edged tools as wood, and as cheap
of manufacture as brick, can be made of materials hitherto
considered worthless, and existing in immense quantities
within and near the city boundaries of Kansas City, whose
manufacturing industries undertake the utilization of every
conceivable product, is so remarkable as to be almost bewil-
dering.
Canada, England, and the Continent have been quick to
recognize the novelty and value of the discovery, and have
afforded the same protection to the inventor vouchsafed by the
United States.
In the erection of fire-proof buildings, terra cotta lumber
not only takes the place of brick in partition walls and floor
arches, because of its light weight and cheapness, but it also.
takes the place of lumber in partitions, framing, roofing, etc.,
because of its easy adaptability to form by edged tools; and
the planks, timber, and tile or other shapes, in which it makes
its appearance, in consequence of its high qualities as a non-
conductor of heat, protect the iron which in columns and
beams serves to support the structure; and it is asserted by
those whose opinion is worthy of credence, that a rough build-
ing, such as a safety warehouse, could be constructed of terra
cotta lumber, iron and glass, without the use of a piece of
wood as large as one's hand.
Not alone iron, but even wooden beams and supports may
be so encased in terra cotta lumber as to be practically fire-
proof, and it is maintained by some architects that wooden
beams thus protected are even more reliable than iron in the
heat of a great fire.
The combination of useful and novel properties character-
izing terra cotta lumber will give it an almost unlimited range

TERRA COTTA LUMBER.
173
It is inde-
Its porosity
It does not
of employment in science, art and mechanics.
structible by fire, water, frost, gases, acids or age.
gives it large molecular and capillary attraction.
conduct heat, dampness, sound or electricity. It neither ex-
pands nor shrinks under extraordinary and sudden changes of
temperature. It will resist the hottest flame for any given
length of time. Its weight is one-third that of brick, two-fifths
that of marble or granite, and one-seventh that of iron. These
unusual advantages, supplemented by its extreme cheapness,
and its susceptibility to mechanical workmanship, are qualifi-
cations possessed by no other known material, and bespeak for
it a field of usefulness measured in extent only by the capacity
of production. Indeed, the field for the profitable employ-
ment of terra cotta lumber is almost unlimited, and the prac-
tical value of the invention is almost beyond computation.
To the capitalist, the average citizen, or the poor man, the bene-
fits accruing from using terra cotta lumber are equally appar-
ent: the former's elegant business blocks by being rendered fire
resisting will be constantly occupied, his investment made safe,
and the net returns secured, (facts fully substantiated by build-
ings where it has been used for years). The latter have safe
homes for their families, proof against fire, warm in winter
and cool in summer, all getting the minimum rate of insur-
ance.
Its many uses requires it to be made in many shapes and
forms. For most partition walls it is made in hollow blocks.
four inches thick, six inches wide and twelve inches long.
For furring it is made in slabs twelve inches wide and twelve
to twenty-four inches long, and from one to two inches thick.
For floors, roofs and other purposes it is made in different di-
mensions according to requirements.
"Incombustible architecture" is one of the chief economic
problems of the day, and for such construction, this material has
been thoroughly demonstrated to be superior to all others in
the market. To this fact the most prominent architects in
the country testify. A slab of it of no more than one and one-

174
COMMERCE OF KANSAS CITY.
*
half inches thick may be heated to a full red heat on one side
without scorching pine or burning paper touching the other
side. Plastering adheres to it firmly, becomes a part of the
material, and can not be easily taken off. Two coats of plaster-
ing only are required, and the average thickness of both is one-
fourth only of three coats worked on lath.
No tooling beyond that done by the mason in setting par-
tition blocks (for he fits joints with a saw instead of breaking
with his trowel), is required, unless it be in very choice work
where it is desired to apply only a hard finish coat, in which
case the blocks should be passed through a planer before erec-
tion. It is not only a fire-proofing for costly structures, but a
cheap material for poor men's houses, competing in cost with.
wood or brick. By its use houses are rendered warm in winter
and cool in summer, so that its non-conducting properties af-
ford comfort as well as protection from fire.
In taking the lead in the manufacture, in the far west, of an
article of such pronounced utility, the Kansas City Terra Cotta
Lumber Company have displayed great enterprise and judg-
ment. The extensive works of the company have a capacity
of 30 tons per day, now, and this will be increased to 150 tons
per day as soon as buildings can be erected; the power and
machinery for this enormous production being already in use.
The directors and officers of the company are: George D. Ford,
president; Edmund D. Bigelow, vice-president; Jno. C. Gage,
Thomas A. Lee, secretary and treasurer; Wm. A. Towers,
auditor. Mr. Thomas A. Lee is also the general manager of
the company.
.

The
BRICK MAKING.
HE enormous amount of building that has constantly
been going on in Kansas City during the past few years, has
very naturally led to the establishment here of some very exten-
sive concerns in this line. At the time of writing, June, 1886,
it is estimated that there is an aggregate capital of $850,000
employed in nineteen brick yards, and such rapid progress has
been made in all the details of the work that, whereas only
one or two years ago this city had to look to Chicago and St.
Louis for a portion of its requirements in this line, it now not
only supplies all of its own wants, but has entered energetically
into the field for the trade of other western cities, and is
already meeting with quite a heavy demand from this direc-
tion. Of course these shipments to other cities consist of the
highest class of hydraulic pressed brick, and the building up
of this trade is due to the experienced efforts of the manage-
ment of the
CALORIFIC BRICK COMPANY.
Three years ago this company secured the necessary site
for its manufactory and at once proceeded to equip the works
with all the latest and most improved machinery, kilns and
other facilities, that an experienced and scientific knowledge of
the requirements of the business could suggest, and less than
a year ago secured control of the Hydraulic Press Brick
Machine, with the right to use the same in Kansas City and a
large territory surrounding. Little need be said of the process
of making brick by the Hydraulic Press, the reputation made
by the company using this press in St. Louis is world-wide, and
175

176
COMMERCE OF KANSAS CITY.
with superior clay, found in unlimited quantities in Kansas City,
it is but a question of time when the works of this point will
reach out and fill the orders of all the territory reached by our
western roads. As a result of the enterprising commencement
it may be asserted without any fear of contradiction, that there
is nowhere in the country a more perfectly equipped establish-
ment of this character. Indeed, it is now universally con-
ceded that the products of this company are fully equal in
every respect to those of the very foremost establishments of
Chicago or St. Louis, and as the specialty of this company is
the production of the finest class of pressed front brick, it
will be evident that they have exercised the greatest care and
sound experienced judgment in order to have attained so
high a standard of excellence in so brief a period. Their
facilities are of the highest order and of such an extensive
character that the company can turn out twenty-five million
of brick every year. With a concern of this magnitude, work-
ing under the most favorable conditions, both of production.
and of transportation, it is easy to see that the entire demand
for their goods throughout Western Missouri, Kansas and other
tributary territory will ultimately be supplied from Kansas
City, and thus a new manufacturing industry is added to the
commercial interests of the city, and an entirely new trade
with a new demand is brought here by the enterprising men
who have organized and established this concern. The officers
of the company are: D. W. Campbell, president, treasurer,
and general manager; Thos. Eadie, secretary; J. H. Thalman,
superintendent.

MANTELŞ, GRATES, AND TILES.
'HE great demand for artistic mantels, grates, tiles and
similar goods that has been created by the extensive
building of elegant modern residences and business structures
in this city, has given quite an impetus to this line of business.
The trade is transacted by five houses, who employ a capital
of $250,000, and whose aggregate sales exceed $500,000 per
annum.
KANSAS CITY MANTEL AND BUILDERS' SUPPLY CO.
Make a specialty of hard wood mantels of the latest and
most elegant styles from Eastern and European designs. The
woods used are thoroughly seasoned, and are kept in a temper-
ature of 85 degrees during the entire period of carving, and
until the work is completed. These are sometimes finished in
the natural color of the wood, without the use of any varnish
or paint, and others are stained to imitate the more expensive
woods. They also handle the best designs in slate mantels
that are produced by the leading manufacturers in the country.
In grates they carry a complete assortment of club house
grates in all styles of finishing, brass frames, iron backs for
open fire places, brass and oreide fenders. They are also the
sole agents in this market for the celebrated "Harker & Wel-
come "
grates, from which the best results can be obtained for
heating purposes. In tiles they find a great demand for a very
choice selection, including high art majolica tiles for mantel
facing, hearths, wainscoting and interior decorations. Besides
these various lines of goods, they make the finest bank, store,
and office fixtures, and all hard wood interior decorations.
12-
177

178
COMMERCE OF KANSAS CITY.
Under the able management of Mr. W. H. Wakefield, who is
thoroughly conversant with all the details of the trade, this
concern has built up a business which is constantly increasing,
and which at the present time amounts to fully $10,000 per
month. The office of the company is in the Mason Block.

WW.MORGAN & CO
ONE PRICE CLOTHER
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W.W.MORGAN & COMPANY.
THE MASON BLOCK.
WEST

COOL.
i
TH
HE manufacturers of a city depend largely for their suc-
cess upon a cheap supply of coal. Without coal their
factories could not run and the price of this indispensable fuel
is a great factor in building up a city's prosperity. Kansas
City enjoys unusual facilities for obtaining coal. Mines, more
than sufficient to furnish all that is needed and to ship to other
points, lie within a few miles radius of the city. Several lines
of railroad penetrate the coal regions, thus making its trans-
portation easy and rapid and lessening the cost of the produc-
tion of the commodity.
In so far as the growth of our factories and development.
of our manufacturing industries are dependent upon accessi-
bility to the coal fields, Kansas City has nothing to fear. And
as coal is the one necessary staple which is in universal de-
mand, dwelling houses, offices and factories especially, all re-
quiring it, the fact that Kansas City has coal fields abundant
in her vicinity for all possible demand upon them assures to
this city a most important factor in its development as a man-
ufacturing center.
THE KEITH & PERRY COAL CO.
Are miners and shippers of Fort Scott, Cherokee, Weir
City, Deep Water, and Rich Hill coal. Seventeen years ago
this concern commenced operations in Kansas City, under the
firm name of Keith & Henry, and with such intelligent enter-
prise were the affairs of that firm conducted that it soon built
up a business which aggregated $75,000 per annum. On this
179

180
COMMERCE OF KANSAS CITY.
commencement the Keith & Perry Coal Company was founded
and by a strict adherence to straight business principles, pro-
gressive and liberal management, this comparatively small
beginning has been developed into a business that exceeds
$1,000,000 per year and is annually increasing. The company
own mines at Rich Hill and Deep Water, Missouri; Cherokee,
Weir City, and Mulberry Grove, Kansas. They also run four
general stores for the convenience of their miners who number
in all about 1,500 men. Multiplying 1,500 by 5, the accepted
figure where male adults are employed, we have the number of
7,500 men, women, and children who are directly afforded sus-
tenance by this gigantic concern. The company also own and
control 3,500 acres of coal lands, all of which is being worked
and developed as the trade demands. In all their extensive
operations the gentlemen who control this organization have
been noted for the liberality of their dealings and zeal in en-
couraging the manufacturing industries of Kansas City. They
have always shown that the vast interests entrusted to their
charge were best served by a careful consideration for the men
in their employment, and a straight forward liberal minded
policy in dealing with their customers. The company is com-
posed of R. H. Keith, president; Jno. Perry, vice-president and
general manager; and W. S. Wood, secretary and treasurer.
The offices of the company are at 532 Delaware street.
J. Q. A. KING
Is an extensive dealer in coal and coke in this market. He
has a branch office and yard on the Belt Line Railway, between
Oak and McGee streets and his main office is in the Underwrit-
ers Exchange at the corner of Sixth and Wyandotte streets.
i

MANUFACTURING.
T
HE conditions for manufacturing in Kansas City are of
the most favorable character and afford a field for enter-
prise that is seldom to be met with. The rapid development
of the country by which the city is surrounded, the yearly in-
crease in population and the never ending requirements of new
communities that are constantly springing up create an in-
creasing demand for commodities that could be manufactured
in Kansas City to the greatest advantage. That each year is
adding to the various lines of manufacture is evident, but there
is undoubtedly an opening for many other lines that could be
most advantageously carried on here.
Cheap fuel is to be had in abundance. A great variety of
raw material is found in the contiguous territory and this city
possesses the railroad facilities for gathering it and for distrib-
ution, such as are not possessed by any other city in the union.
Great coal fields lie at our doors; both hard and soft coal are in
close proximity; Kansas and the south-west can furnish almost
unlimited quantities of wool, while our air line railroad con-
nections with Memphis places the cotton crop of the south
within easy reach of this city. Abundance of lead, zinc and
iron are to be found near by, while the prominence of the live
stock trade suggests manufactures dependent upon such sup-
plies, and, beyond all this is an unlimited market for the prod-
ucts when manufactured. All the manufacturers at present
here are in a most flourishing condition and the outlook for the
future is promising.
181

182
COMMERCE OF KANSAS CITY.
FOUNDRIES, MACHINE SHOPS, ETC.
Ten large foundries and machine shops, besides a number
of smaller ones, are employing fully 650 men. They have
an invested capital of $575,000 with which they transact an
annual business exceeding $1,350,000. And this is exclusive
of the large railroad shops. Various foundries and shops are
devoting themselves to special lines of work. There are three
brass foundries all doing an extensive business. Two firms
who manufacture steam engines, a number devoting themselves
to ornamental iron work, another to bridge iron, while still
others are turning out nothing but building fronts, manufac-
turing rollers and other mill machinery.
KEYSTONE IRON WORKS COMPANY.
This extensive manufacturing concern was established
some fifteen years ago, and was incorporated as a stock com-
pany in the year 1882. It is to-day one of the best equipped
iron making companies in the west, the buildings occupied cov.-
ering an area of 70x300 feet, with switches connecting the yards
and shops with all the railroad lines entering here, thus afford-
ing the greatest facilities possible for the expeditious and eco-
nomical handling of the heavy goods made by the company.
In this great establishment (an illustration of which is given
on another page) are constantly employed 125 skilled mechan-
ics, under the personal supervision of Mr. James Smith, who is
a thoroughly practical business man and iron works manager,
he having gained his experience in this line in the bustling
city of Rochester, N. Y. This company manufacture engines,
boilers, ornamental iron work, brass goods, steam pumps, side-
walk lights and general machinery, all of which are recognized
n the market as equal to those of any works in the country.
The officers of the company are James Smith, president and
general manager; L. B. Bullene, secretary and treasurer.
FLOURING MILLS.
There are three flouring mills here, which have a com-

MANUFACTURING.
183
!
bined capacity of 1,200 barrels per day. These mills have an
excellent equipment and have adopted the best roller process,
by which a finer flour is manufactured, and more flour is made
from the same amount of wheat.
THE SMELTING WORKS.
Great additions and improvements have recently been
made to these works, which now turn out 15,000 ounces of
silver daily, or about 100,000 ounces per week. The shipments
are made principally to New York and Philadelphia, which
average about two cars per month, of sixteen tons each. The
institution now employs some 350 men.
LINSEED OIL.
There is an extensive linseed oil mill in Kansas City.
It has an invested capital of $150,000, and the business of the
past year amounted to something over $400,000. It crushed
over 300,000 bushels of flaxseed, and has produced oil at the
rate of 2,500 gallons per day. It has furnished steady employ-
ment to over thirty men, at wages ranging from $1.75 to $2.25
per day.
SOAP.
There are four factories engaged in the manufacture of
soap, which it is estimated turn out from seven to eight mill-
ion pounds of soap annually.
PEET BROS. & CO.
Are one of the oldest and largest manufacturers here, the
yearly product of their factory being from three to four mil-
lions of pounds, and their leading brands "Ruby" and
"Saxon" having a large sale throughout the states of Missouri,
Kansas, Texas, Iowa, Nebraska, Arizona, New Mexico and
Indian Territory, through which states the firm keep resident
agents and traveling men. Their factory is fully equipped
with the most approved machinery, and the Messrs. Peet Bros.
and Mr. J. W. White, who compose the firm, deserve the suc-
cess they have met with here.

184
COMMERCE OF KANSAS CITY.
NOVELTY RUBBER STAMP WORKS.
These works are owned by Farrington & Liepsner, the firm
consists of E. J. Farrington and H. C. Liepsner. They make
all kinds of rubber stamps, stencils, seals, hotel checks, badges
and goods of this class of every design and variety. Their
offices are at No. 532 Delaware street.
Besides the numerous and extensive manufacturing in-
terests that have been already referred to in seperate chapters
of this work, there are chemical works, vinegar manufactories,
concerns who supply mouldings and picture frames, bags and
bagging, sewer pipe and artificial stone, overalls, duck and
jeans clothing, trunks, type foundries, saw mills, brick, furni-
ture and a variety of other interests.


THE BOARD OF GRADE.
?
T
HE Board of Trade of Kansas City was organized as a vol-
untary association of merchants, about the beginning of
the year 1869, with Thomas K. Hanna as president and W. M.
Kean as secretary. The idea of maintaining an exchange,
such as has since become one of the leading features of the
Board, did not enter into the calculations of these early found-
ers of the institution. Prior to this time the commerce of Kan-
sas City had been mostly conducted by steamboat, and the
transportation business had been concentrated on the river
front between Wyandotte street and Grand Avenue. But dur-
ing the two or three years just preceding 1869 several railroads.
had been built to Kansas City from the east, and several from
the city toward the west and south, and had made their prin-
cipal freight depots in the bottoms west of the city. The rail-
roads had not then discovered pools, nor even the merits of an
agreement concerning rates, hence the competition of the lines
at Kansas City made the greatest confusion in the transporta-
tion business. It was to remedy this difficulty, and also to
procure the provision of some better street connection between
the business center of the city and the depots in the west bot-
toms, that the Board of Trade was organized. It was not long
in securing the desired results; so that after the election of 1870
it became a rather quiet body. At the annual elections in 1870
and 1871 Mr. Hanna was again chosen president. Mr. Kean
served as secretary through 1870, but was succeeded by Mr. E.
L. Martin in 1871.
In 1870 a produce exchange was organized for the purpose
185

186
COMMERCE OF KANSAS CITY.
of establishing and maintaining a daily exchange for the sale
of such articles as butter, eggs, poultry, potatoes, etc., which
were then beginning to be sent to Kansas City, from Kansas,
for sale. Kansas was not at that time producing a surplus of
grain, and such provisions as were manufactured in Kansas
City were jobbed by the packers themselves. Of this organiza-
tion little now is known, as its records have not been preserved
and were not known to exist in 1872, when the body having
lost its animation and become a quiet affair, like the Board of
Trade, the two were joined together in one organization. Of
this new organization, resurrected from the two, Gen. W. H.
Powell was elected president and A. S. Haines, a produce mer-
chant, secretary. After a few weeks Mr. Haines resigned as
secretary, and D. R. Drake, at that time commercial editor of
the Journal, was chosen in his stead, and served until the close
of the year. This board, like its predecessor, was a voluntary
organization, being sustained by fees of about $10 each paid by
such persons as would voluntarily associate themselves with it;
and as such it continued until 1876, when it took a more per-
manent form. Its chief object was to further the commercial
development of Kansas City, and during the years from 1872
to 1876 it set in agitation the improvement of the Missouri
River, and inaugurated measures which secured the Atchison,
Topeka & Santa Fé railroad to Kansas City, and the establish-
ment of railway connections which opened to Kansas City the
trade of the State of Texas. It tried for the first time, except
as to the Produce Exchange, which it partly succeeded, to
maintain a daily meeting, with daily market quotations. Its
quotations, however, were very meager, consisting of less than
a hundred words daily. At the annual election in January,
1873, H. J. Latshaw was chosen president and A. D. Simons.
secretary. Mr. Simons was at that time commercial editor of
the Times, but closed his connection with that paper in June to
accept an engagement in St. Louis, which caused him to resign
the secretaryship of the Board also. On the first of June,
accordingly, his successor was chosen, the choice falling upon
+

THE BOARD OF TRADE.
187
1
W. H. Miller, commercial editor of the Journal, who has con-
tinued to fill the office ever since. It was during the year 1871
that the first grain from Kansas was received here for market,
and the movement and the market having grown sufficiently
by 1873 to demand an inspector of grain, George W. McLean
was appointed to the position of grain inspector at the begin-
ning of 1873, a position which he held, with the exception of
the year 1881, until the present year when the office was abol-
ished and a board of inspectors created in its stead. At the
instance of the packers a provision inspector was also appointed
in 1873, Mr. James McCullough being chosen for the place.
He was successively appointed annually until 1884, when he
resigned, and Messrs. Goulard, Rouse and Gano succeeded him.
At the time of the annual election in 1876 the city had at-
tained an importance, and the grain movement from Kansas
had become such as to warrant the belief that the Board could
best subserve the purposes of its organization in future by being
given a more definite and permnanent form. The events of
1874 and 1875 had led to the construction of three elevators,
and a fourth was in course of erection, and the grain move-
ment had become so large that a better organization of the
market had become necessary. Accordingly a committee was
appointed to consider and report the change that should take
place to secure the ends sought. In pursuance of the action of
the committee, followed by that of the Board of directors, the
Board was reorganized and incorporated on the 9th of May,
1876, as a membership company, with a permanent member-
ship of about ninety, each one of whom had paid one hun-
dred dollars for his membership. The object sought at
the time was to raise sufficient money to erect an exchange
building, and, from the investigations of the committee having
the subject in charge, it had been estimated that the reorgan-
nized association could raise ten thousand dollars from mem-
berships, borrow ten thousand from our citizens on a second
mortgage on the property secured, and twenty thousand dollars
from some foreign capitalist or association on a first mortgage.

WOODWAR FAXON & CA
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FANCY GOODS & DRUGGISTS SUNDRIES
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THE BOARD OF TRADE.
189
At the time of the reorganization, on the 9th of May, nine
thousand dollars had been secured on memberships, and the
ten thousand on second mortgage had been pledged. Accord-
ingly soon afterwards the lot on the corner of Fifth and Dela-
ware streets was purchased at a cost of fiften thousand dollars,
and in August the construction of the present building began.
In June the grain call was established, a room in the western
part of the city being rented for the purpose. At this time.
the inspection books were placed in the hands of the Secretary,
who during the years 1876 and 1877, up to the time of the
completion of the exchange building, had increased the mem-
bership subscription to two hundred and eleven, realizing there-
from the sum of $21,000. He had thus raised eleven thousand
dollars more than was expected from that source, but the build-
ing so greatly exceeded the estimates that the proposed $20,-
000.00 loan was increased to twenty-five thousand dollars, and
the Board was in debt about ten thousand dollars, which was
unprovided for when it occupied the building in October, 1877.
At that time its total indebtedness, bonded and floating,
amounted to about $46,500, and it owned the present Board of
Trade building, which, together with the ground had cost
about $65,000. As soon in 1877 (about October 1st) as the
building could be occupied, the Board was moved into it, and
has since occupied it. The first two years an assessment of ten
dollars each was made upon the members on account of the
floating indebtedness of the Board; but since that time no
assessment has been made, the revenues from rent and from
inspecting and weighing grain have been found sufficient to
defray all expenses and meet the maturing liabilities. During
1884 and 1885 seven thousand dollars of the ten thousand dol-
lars second mortgage was bought in and canceled, and pay-
ments have been made upon the first mortgage until it is re-
duced to $9,000, making the total debt of the Board at the
present time $12,000. Meantime its property has advanced
until it is worth fully $100,000.
At the annual election in January, 1885, Hon. Edward H.

190
COMMERCE OF KANSAS CITY.
Allen was chosen president, and continues to fill that position.
At the time of the election the members were expressing the
desire for a larger building and better offices than those
afforded by the present building, erected in 1876 and 1877, and
steps were at once taken looking to the enlargement of the
building. The difficulties found in the way of such an
enlargement and improvement of the old building as would
adapt it to the enlarged state of the market led to the appoint-
ment of a committee to investigate the question of a new
location and a new building. In June this committee
obtained from enterprising citizens an offer to donate to the
Board lots at the corner of Eighth and Wyandotte running.
through to Central street, making a tract 120x173 feet, pro-
vided the Board would erect thereon an Exchange Building to
cost not less than $300,000. The offer was accepted. But it
was soon found that the Board, as a membership organization,
was not entitled, under existing laws, to make the transaction,
hence it was decided to change its form to that of a stock com-
pany. Accordingly the members were induced to accept stock
in the new organization, which is called the Exchange Build-
ing Association, in lieu of their membership in the Board of
Trade, the Exchange Building Association stipulating that it
would maintain a Commercial Exchange to which the stock-
holders should be admitted without further charge. The new
association was incorporated November 16, 1885, with a capital
stock of $208,000, which on the 13th of March, 1886, was raised
to $250,000, half paid up. The old Board of Trade proper was
then transferred to the new association, and title to the
donated property taken, and the new Exchange Building is
now in course of erection.
In its reorganization the Board decided to adopt the policy
of dividing its Commercial Exchange into departments, each
devoted to its own special end. Accordingly it has created
two such departments, one of which is the Board of Trade or
trading body, and the other the Board of Transportation,
which has charge of all matters relating to transportion. Both

THE BOARD OF TRADE.
191
of these Boards are subject to the control of the Directors of
the Exchange Building Association, but each in its own sphere
enjoys complete autonomy. The Board has always been a
vigorous and progressive body, always alive and on the alert
for Kansas City's welfare and the promotion of all enterprises
calculated to further her commercial interests.
GRAIN.
The year 1885 did not witness the same amount of activity
in the grain business as did the previous year. It was owing
entirely to the large falling off in the wheat crop of the coun-
try. The entire yield did not much exceed 350,000,000 bushels,
against fully 510,000,000 bushels for 1884, and 425,000,000 for
1883. Thus the crop of 1885 fell short about 160,000,000 from
that of the preceding year. Kansas, which furnishes much the
greater portion of the business of the grain men of Kansas
City, was particularly unfortunate, the crop for the year not
exceeding 12,000,000 bushels, and that, too, of exceedingly poor
quality.
The following table shows the total grain receipts at Kan-
sas City for a series of years:
DATE.
WHEAT.
CORN.
OATS.
RYE.
BARLEY.
1871.....
687,000
350,000
1872....
289,726
601,864
93,635
12,921
3,087
1873.
750,400
836,300
105,200
10,500
12,380
1874.
371,273
711,367
210,475
3,400
37,450
1875.
1,256,337
1,258,700
382,850
40,000
15,100
1876.
1,820,297
5,769,395 117,241
396,612
109,045
1877....
2,259,572
5,881,703 180,657
329,887 203,341
1878.....
9,014,291
4,911,529 155,089
352,262 163,257
1879. ...
6,417,952
4,121,904 276,775 184,046
92,591
1880.
4,093,528
4,421,760 366,486
65,267
82,894
1881.
4,102,649
3,282,851 533,410
79,267
200,875
1882.
9,279,067
5,161,318
754,530
115,339
40,163
1883.
9,023,472
12,036,493
658,779
292,884 36,318
1884.
10,069,231
13,191,775
838,949 275,363 57,219
1885....
4,763,844
7,894,584
831,867
831,867 278,677
68,487

192
COMMERCE OF KANSAS CITY.
The following is a statement of the storage and transfer
capacity of regular elevators at Kansas City:
STORAGE.
DAILY
TRANSFER
CAPACITY.
NAME.
Bushels.
Bushels.
Union......
400,000
100,000
Arkansas Valley
425,000
125,000
....
"A".
175,000
30,000
Advance..
120,000
30,000
Alton.....
175,000
250,000
Kansas
100,000
30,000
Novelty....
Inter-Ocean
Armourdale…………..
225,000
40,000
150,000
40,000
120,000
30,000
Total.....
1,890,000
675,000
The following are prominent grain commission firms doing
business in this market:
French Brothers Commission Co.; established 1876.
Grain and provisions bought, sold and carried on margins for
future delivery in any market in the United State. Office,
Merchants Exchange.
Moore & Talpey, receivers and shippers of fine milling
wheat, corn, oats, mill feed, etc. References; National Bank of
Kansas City, Bank of Commerce, Citizens National Bank and
Merchants National Bank. Office, Merchants Exchange.
Henry J. Latshaw & Co.
mission.
Established 1871.
!
Grain com-
J. P. Campbell & Co. proprietors Armourdale Elevator.
Quotations subject to market changes.
Vaughan Commission Co. Established 1866. Grain com-
mission merchants. Proprietors Elevator "A."
Hubbard, Kinney & Co. grain commission merchants.
Office, Merchants Exchange.
f

THE BOARD OF TRADE,
193
Pierce-Farmer Commission Co. Grain dealers and com-
mission merchants. Office, Merchants Exchange.
W. W. Cowen, grain commission. Office room 10, Board
of Trade Building.
D. C. Imboden & Co., grain commission; milling wheat a
specialty.
Kirkpatrick & Christopher Commission Company. Room
20, Merchants Exchange.
C. S. Lee, grain and provisions.
change building.
Rooms 12 and 13 Ex-
Thos. A. Wright, grain commission. 501 Delaware street.

13-

A
DRY GOODS....Wholesale.
MONG the many wholesale or jobbing interests that have
centered in Kansas City during the past few years, that of
dry goods ranks probably second in the aggregate amount of
sales that are annually made, and occupies about the same
position in regard to the amount of money disbursed in sala-
ries and expenses in the transaction of the business. There
can scarcely be any more definite indication of the substantial
character of the growth of a city than its attainment of the
position of an extensive distributing point of dry goods, and
that Kansas City is now looked to for the supply of these goods
for the vast territories of the south-west and west is shown in
the volume of the business done, which in 1885 is estimated to
have amounted to fully $6,000,000, and the rate at which it is
increasing. On this latter point it is generally conceded that
the business here since 1880, has, even during the dullest years,
and when goods were sold at unusually low prices, increased
twenty-five per cent in volume each year. With the present
impetus that has been given to the business by the general
revival of trade throughout the country, and the constant
opening up of new territory as tributary to this market, which
is naturally incident to the increased stocks carried here, it is
only reasonable to look for even a still greater ratio of increase
in the future.
A
The rapid rate at which all the country west of Kansas
City is getting settled up is another cause of the remarkable
progress that is being made. Every new emigrant train means
a new demand for all classes of domestic goods, and as this
city stands in the nearest relation, of any of considerable size, to
194

DRY GOODS.-WHOLESALE.
195
!
the newly inhabited territory, it becomes the natural and
almost inevitable market wherein to purchase all supplies in
bulk, as well as the point towards which a vast majority of the
produce of the new country must be shipped for sale or
exchange. A notable feature in this connection and one that
has only been observable to any large extent, during this and
the past season is, that many of the larger country dealers in
the south-west, west and north-west who used to buy almost
exclusively in eastern markets now come to Kansas City. The
reason for this is two-fold:
First, they can obtain here as large
and complete an assortment to choose from as they can in the
more eastern cities; and second, they find they can make
their purchases here with as great, and frequently at greater,
advantage as to cost than elsewhere. The cause of this latter
state of affairs is found in the fact that many of the most
desirable brands and styles of brown and colored cotton goods
and jeans are now manufactured in the south and south-west,
and these manufacturers consign their goods for sale here with
all freight charges paid.
Thus, the buyer who used to have to pay freight charges
all the way from New York, can buy them almost at their
doors free of charges, and this appears such a marked advant-
age that it pays them better to buy here under the new condi-
tions. Moreover, the action of the southern manufacturers has
compelled the eastern mills and manufacturers' agents to send
their goods to Kansas City, freight paid, and thus two causes
have combined to make this the cheapest market in the coun-
try for cotton goods, a circumstance which the country buyers
have not been slow to discover.
But, besides all this, the fact that the transportation charges
form so large a percentage of the cost of heavy goods, while it
is so small as compared with lighter and more expensive fab-
rics, has stimulated the demand here for the latter class in an
extraordinary degree; for, with quite as large and varied stocks
to choose from, it is manifestly more to the advantage of the
dealer to buy all classes of goods in one place, than to buy a

196
COMMERCE OF KANSAS CITY.
portion here and the remainder elsewhere. Again, a consider-
ation which no buyer can afford to underestimate, is that the
merchant who in earlier years purchased his supplies by one,
or at most two trips to more distant markets, had invariably
left on his hands a stock of goods more or less depreciated in
value, when any causes, failure of crops, or a period of financial
depression, resulted in a bad business year. This indeed has
been one of the most influential among the reasons inducing
him to replenish his stock quarterly or even monthly in Kan-
sas City, to which he can make frequent visits; or a merchant
living within a radius of 250 miles of this city can mail his
order in the morning of to-day and receive his goods by the
first train of to-morrow, a saving of from three to six days'
time and heavy freights over more distant markets.
In the States and territories reached by Kansas City
houses, the demand for cheap and substantial goods is exceed-
ingly large, and that for the higher and more ornamental
grades is yearly increasing with the growth of wealth and re-
finement.
WM. B. GRIMES DRY GOODS COMPANY,
Was incorporated on January 1, 1883, with a fully paid up capi-
tal of $300,000. The company occupy a large five story
building which is owned by Mr. Grimes, and was specially
built by him for the purpose of the company. It is located at
Nos. 512 to 516 Delaware street, the most prominent business
thoroughfare in the city, on which it has a frontage of seventy-
five feet and extends back 135 feet. The entire building is
occupied by the various departments of the dry goods busi-
ness, which include, general and staple dry goods, notions,
hosiery and furnishing goods, the stock of each individual de-
partment being kept thoroughly assorted and complete in every
detail.
The company have also an extensive factory, affording
constant employment to one hundred hands, for the manu-
facture of mens duck, denim and cottonade clothing, shirts
and underwear, a class of goods for which this market furnishes
7
*
..

DRY GOODS.-WHOLESALE.
197
a heavy demand. The company has its resident buyer in the
east and purchases all domestic fabrics from the manufacturers.
It handles extensively goods of foreign manufacture and
makes importations direct, these being received in bond in
Kansas City. The organization of the affairs of the company
are most complete, and through all its branches and depart-
ments it is conducted in the most systematic manner by thor-
oughly competent and experienced men. It has a large busi-
ness in western Missouri and Kansas, and its travelers cover
Nebraska, New Mexico, a portion of Texas, Colorado and Ari-
zona; this vast territory is constantly being increased, and
each year new men in its employ are extending the trade of
Kansas City and making new territory tributary to this thriv-
ing metropolis. It is a thoroughly progressive organization,
conducted on sound business principals, and though the field
of its operations is being constantly increased no effort is left
unemployed to retain as well as to gain its trade. Its success
in this direction is shown in the fact that it has never lost a
customer, and has increased its business fully fifty per cent
since 1883.
The original incorporators of the company were Mr. Wm.
B. Grimes, Mr. Potts and Mr. Gwinn. Mr. Grimes is the
president of the corporation and owns a large proportion of its
stock. He is a native of Hartford, Conn., but has spent many
years in the west where he has attained such an insight into
the methods of business and the prospects afforded that can
only be gained by long residence and active experience. For
thirty years he was engaged in cattle grazing in Texas, and
still retains large cattle interests on the frontier. He came to
Kansas City in 1877, and invested extensively in real estate,
which investments, being directed with a keen foresight of
future development and a sound judgment of locations, proved
most successful in their results. In 1882, his attention was
particularly directed to the opportunities afforded of making
this city the distributing center for dry goods for the great
west and south-west, and it was the conclusion he then arrived
!

..
BLOCK
GRIMES
1880
WHOLESALE.
DRY GOODS & NOTIONS
MAREI ULTEUIL RUNT
WM.B GRIMES DRY GOODS CO
A A NATUR
MITH
TEW K...
ات القمر التقى السيد الاسي الثنائي الأنين
THE GRIMES BLOCK.

DRY GOODS.-WHOLESALE.
199
at that led to the establishment of the present business of
which he is the head. In the many movements that have
taken place here for promoting the commercial interests of the
city, and in its charitable enterprises, he has always taken an
active and energetic part. He was for some years a director in
the Bank of Kansas City, and is now president of the Ameri-
can National Bank, which was recently incorporated and of
which a full account is given in the chapter devoted to bank
ing.
Mr. Potts is the vice-president and general manager of the
company. He also is a native of the east, coming here from
St. Johnsburg, Vermont, where for twenty years he filled an
important and responsible position in the Fairbanks Scale Co.
He possesses a clear executive capacity and is indefatigable in
pushing the business, extending the trade and carefully guard-
ing the interests of both the company and its customers.
Mr. Gwinn is the resident buyer in New York, a position
for which his great experience in the dry goods trade renders.
his services of the utmost value to the company.
TOOTLE, HANNA & CO.
This was the pioneer house in the wholesale dry goods
business of Kansas City, having been established in 1866, and
from that time it has kept up with the progressive march of
the city. It has powerfully aided in bringing new territory to
this market, and as the western country has been developed
and settled, and opened up by railroad communication, it has
always been foremost in securing the business. As a conse-
quence of this energetic policy its trade to-day extends through
Missouri, Kansas, Indian Territory, Arkansas, Texas, Colorado,
Nebraska, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, Wyoming and Idaho.
The house keeps an office and resident agent in Utah, and
a resident buyer in New York. At its headquarters in this
city it carries a stock estimated at $500,000, which comprises
everything usually carried by a first-class wholesale dry goods
house, including notions and furnishing goods. Their long

200
COMMERCE OF KANSAS CITY.
acquaintance with the western trade has afforded them the
most intimate knowledge of the class of goods desired, and
they can probably show at all seasons a more complete and
thoroughly assorted stock of goods acceptable to and desirable
for their market than are carried in any of the more eastern
cities. They also manufacture jeans pants and overalls on a
very extensive scale and have a factory for this purpose,
equipped with all suitable and necessary machinery and appli-
ances.
The business of the house has grown so largely that their
present large structure does not afford accommodations for its
transaction, and they are having erected for their special occu-
pation, one of the most extensive, as well as handsomest, build-
ings in the city, of which a view is given on another page.
The members of this progressive firm, are Milton Tootle,
Thomas K. Hanna, Oscar L. Woodgate and Frank T. Rhoades.


IT
GROCERIES.
F the class of goods which passes through the hands of
wholesale grocers was conveyed to the consumers over
the waterways of the country, the prospects of Kansas City
becoming the greatest distributing point in the United States for
these goods would not be so bright as they are to-day. This,
however, is not the case; the broad-breasted Mississippi floats
not one-tenth the traffic which crosses it on a single spanning
bridge; nor do all the rivers in the land bear to and from the
sea as much of the table luxuries of modern civilization, as are
carried yearly to Kansas City on her railroads. These incom-
parable railway facilities have already made this city a very
prominent point for the distribution of groceries, and have
enabled our merchants to compete successfully with the Chi-
cago and St. Louis markets for the trade of the West.
The magnitude of the wholesale grocery business at this
point is, probably, little known even to our own citizens. The
houses here, as a rule, do a larger business than is the case in
Chicago or St. Louis, and the former place has but one house
which shows a larger annual volume of business than does the
largest house here. The financial strength of the houses here.
is equal to that of the concerns in either of the cities mentioned,
and this city has assumed such proportions as a grocery market
that very few travelers representing Chicago or St. Louis
houses even attempt to sell in the territory conceded as
belonging here.
There are eight houses doing an exclusive jobbing trade
201

302
COMMERCE OF KANSAS CITY.
here in groceries, representing an invested capital of $2,500,000,
and transacting an amount of business that will aggregate
$20,000,000 per annum.
If there is one branch more than another which shows the
energy of Kansas City merchants, it is the wholesale grocery
trade. In the past five years the trade has more than doubled,
and the business of the jobbing firms in this line now extends
over more territory than any other branch of trade. The com-
mercial travelers of the grocery houses are the pioneers of
Kansas City trade, and are always reaching out for more terri-
tory to conquer. The area covered by this business embraces
the entire territory within three hundred miles of the Pacific
coast. The bulk of the consignments from this point goes to
Kansas and Missouri, although the trade extends north into
southern Iowa, and south-east into Arkansas; while southern
Nebraska and western Missouri are extensive buyers. In fact,
Kansas City is recognized as the great grocery market of the
west and south-west.
There are a number of points along the Missouri river
from which a good many groceries are sold, but the stocks
carried of course can not begin to compete with Kansas City
either in quantity or completeness. Indeed, the only competi-
tion that Kansas City merchants meet with in this line is from
Chicago and St. Louis, and they are constantly encroaching
upon the territory that only a short time since was considered
as belonging exclusively to one or the other of these cities.
RIDENOUR, BAKER & CO.
This is the leading wholesale grocery house of Kansas
City, and one of the largest concerns in this line of business
in the country.
In 1878 they built their present warehouse, and the firm,
which was formed out of four houses formerly doing business
in four separate cities in Kansas, was consolidated in Kansas
City.
Their premises form one of the most notable and conveni-

GROCERIES.
203
ent business buildings in the city, having an immense capacity,
and from their location being directly accessible to every line of
railroad that enters the city-in fact, they have several
switches running directly into their buildings. The import-
ance and economy of these facilities for handling heavy
grocery goods will be appreciated by every one at all conversant
with the trade, particularly when it is remembered what an
important consideration, freight and hauling charges, form in
the cost of handling these goods.
This firm deals in all cases direct with producers, handling
all goods at first hands and at lowest cost. Their connection
with eastern and foreign markets are of the very best, and
their large and intimate acquaintance with the requirements of
the western trade enables them to carry such goods as are suit-
able to this market, and to buy with the soundest judgment.
Every member of the house is intimately acquainted with
this trade, and the two senior partners have been identified
with the wholesale grocery trade of Kansas for the past thirty
years. It is this ripe experience, backed by ample capital, that
has enabled them to push their business into territory that
formerly was conceded as belonging to Chicago or St. Louis and
thus to extend the operations of the business of this city gen-
erally and open up new fields for other interests.
I

DRUGS.---Wholesale.
T
HE accessibility of Kansas City from all directions makes
it one of the best depots in the country for drugs, chemi-
cals and medicinal goods. The drug men fully appreciate
these natural advantages and have utilized every opportunity
offered them. In the face of the strongest competition from
other cities, they have entered with spirit into the task of se-
curing to this city the trade of the entire south-west and west.
As a result of their efforts, Kansas, Missouri, Colorado, Nebras-
ka, New Mexico and Arizona are now in a great measure con-
trolled by the jobbing houses in this market, and with each
returning season this territory is materially enlarged.
The geographical position of this city enables dealers and
consumers throughout this whole section of country to order
goods from Kansas City and receive them with the loss of the
least time. Since goods in this line are rarely bulky, and hun-
dreds of dollars may often be invested in a few pounds weight
"freight discrimination," which sometimes tends to shut job-
bers in other lines out of certain fields, do not operate to the
disadvantage of the wholesale dealers in drugs and chemicals,
and being thus placed upon an even footing with her western
rivals Kansas City enterprise has won the day.
There is no doubt that the wholesale houses here will
compare favorably with any in the country, not only as to the
volume of trade, but in the magnitude of the structures, the
extent of their stocks, and the system and completeness with
which their business is conducted. Though the youngest city
in the country to enter into the field, the business annually
304

DRUGS.-WHOLESALE.
205
transacted here in this line will amount to at least $2,000,000,
and the capital invested is fully $600,000.
Taking into consideration the amount of capital which is
required to conduct the business, and the required training,
which is only obtained from long practical knowledge, the
returns are comparatively small. The expense of conducting
this line of trade is said to amount to fully nine per cent on
the gross sales, while many articles are sold with scarcely any
profit, and many more at only a small advance on the cost
price.
With regard to druggists sundries, comprising toilet requi-
sites and fine articles for both use and ornament, the wholesale
firms here carry enormous stocks of the very finest of these
goods, and there can be no stronger evidence of the rapid
growth of both wealth and refinement in the Western states
than is indicated by the great quantity and high class of these
goods that are shipped from Kansas City.
MEYER BROS. DRUG CO.
Is the leading jobbing house in this line of business, and a
history of this concern would comprise a history of the entire
wholesale drug trade here. In 1868 General W. H. Morgan
and Lester & McGowan represented this interest in Kansas
City. This house afterward became R. E. Wilson & Co. and it
in turn was absorbed by J. W. Wood & Co., the company in
this latter firm being F. W. Schulte, the present vice-president
of the Meyer Bros. Drug Co., at this time G. T. Lynn, now the
secretary of this company, was representing Meyer Bros. & Co.
of St. Louis. With a sagacious appreciation of the prospective
greatness of Kansas City, and a practical knowledge of the
trade it had received and was destined to command, he
induced Meyer Bros. & Co. to purchase the interest of J. W.
Wood, and this was accomplished with F. W. Schulte remain-
ing in the concern. In 1880 this business was incorporated
under the present title of Meyer Bros. Drug Co., its stock-
holders being the present officers of the company and John F.

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DRUGS.-WHOLESALE.
207
W. Meyer. These officers are C. F. G. Meyer, president; F.
W. Schulte, vice-president; G. T. Lynn, secretary, and W. H.
Graham, treasurer; with F. W. Schulte and G. T. Lynn as the
managing directors.
Thus it may be seen that from a comparatively small trade,
commenced with a capital of $50,000, and yearly sales of $400,-
000, the present magnificent business employing a capital of
$300,000 and whose annual sales amount to $1,200,000 has
been built up in so short a space of time by the energy and
ability of the management: which has at the same time
established the reputation of the concern for carrying only the
purest of goods and transacting all its affairs according to the
highest commercial principles.
The company last year completed and occupied one of the
finest and most costly business buildings in the city, a view of
which is given on another page, it occupies a space of 60x200
feet and is five stories in height. Every floor of this magnif-
icent structure is stocked with all the varieties of goods that
pertain to this business and which are valued at from $250,-
000 to $300,000. With jobbing houses of this class, to extend
its tributary territory and to hold its trade, there can be no
visible limit to the wholesale business of Kansas City.
WOODWARD, FAXON & CO.
Were established here in 1878, and have exercised a power-
ful influence in directing the attention of the entire surround-
ing territory to the advantages offered by Kansas City as a
drug market. The trade of the house extends through west-
ern Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Ne-
braska and Iowa, and some half dozen traveling salesman are
constantly on the road pushing the business of the firm and at
the same time advancing the trade and interests of Kansas
City.
The firm occupy a structure, of which an illustration is
given on another page, consisting of five floors, each 66x116,
having their own railway switch which connects the premises
UorM

208
COMMERCE OF KANSAS CITY.
with every railroad entering here and affording the greatest
possible facilities for loading and shipping goods.
Their stock comprises everything that is usually carried
by a first-class wholesale drug house, including drugs, druggists
sundries, pharmaceutical preparations, proprietary and patent
medicines, foreign and American chemicals, paints, oils, dye-
stuffs, varnishes etc. The members of the firm are B. W.
Woodward, F. A. Faxon and J. C. Horton, all of whom were
originally from Lawrence, Kansas, and are consequently well
versed in the requirements and business methods of the west.

Mnou
WHO WILLS WINS


PAPER TRADE.
↓
T
HERE are three firms in Kansas City devoted exclusively
to the paper trade, which employ, in the aggregate, a cap-
ital of $400,000. In the last five years the trade here has more
than doubled, and the sales last year, 1885, footed up fully
$1,500,000. The great increase in business has been occasioned
by the larger demand for paper of all kinds arising from the
rapid growth of population and development of the adjacent
country tributary to the trade of this city. As the western
districts are settled and developed there is a corresponding in-
crease in the demands on this market, which explains the
steady improvement in the paper industry here. And this
improvement is of a kind and character which is most valued,
as it is permanent, while the indications are that the growth of
the trade is still further assured.
This point is recognized as a leading jobbing market in
this line of goods, and during the past year a large section of
territory has looked here for supplies, embracing all of the south
and west, and including western Missouri, all of Kansas,
southern Nebraska, New Mexico, Colorado, and southern
Montana and Texas.
The stock of paper carried by the jobbing houses here, is
very large, much heavier and more varied in assortment than
is usually found in Western cities. Paper is a staple product,
and the business is conducted on such small magins that it
offers no inducements for speculative ventures. The trade is,
consequently, to a great extent confined to experienced paper
men who have been brought up to the business. The Kansas
14
209

210
COMMERCE OF KANSAS CITY.
City jobbing houses hold a high rank in the market, and they
are conducted and managed by shrewd, active, energetic men
who are indefatigable in pushing for trade in every direction.
WITTICH & PENFIELD.
This is the oldest wholesale paper house in Kansas City.
It was established in 1877, and consequently has taken an
active part in building up the trade of this city. The opera-
tions of the house are conducted on a very extensive scale, the
firm controlling the entire product of several large mills, in
supplying their trade. They carry a most complete stock of
everything pertaining to the business, and employ a number
of traveling men who are constantly on the road. In extend-
ing the jobbing trade of Kansas City, the efforts of this firm
have been of the first and highest importance, and much of
the credit for the great increase in the wholesale paper business
here is due to the zeal with which they have promoted the in-
terests of the trade and city.

י

HARDWARE...-Wholesale,
THE
HE wholesale hardware business of Kansas City is both
prosperous and progressive. There are jobbing houses
engaged in this line, and the amount of business annually
transacted amounts to fully $3,500,000.
One of the most gratifying features of the hardware trade
is its continuous growth. The rapid settlement of the West,
the constant acquisition of new territory to this market and
the steady building demands of Kansas City all tend to in.
crease trade in this line and to extend the operations of the
houses engaged in this business. The market here is being ex-
tensively recognized as a buying point, and shipments are
made to Kansas, Missouri, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona,
Nebraska and Texas.
The energetic operations of Kansas City merchants have
revolutionized the entire system of this business. They have.
scattered their illustrated catalogues broadcast throughout the
country and thus at the same time they were advertising them-
selves they were also making this city known as a trade center.
Not a town or mining villiage in the west was omitted; all were
supplied with these illustrated catalogues, and they have carried
this feature to such an extent that these catalogues, as published
to-day, are thorough encyclopedias of all that is useful or neces-
sary in the prosecution of the mechanical and domestic arts.
A tolerably sharp man can acquire an education by studying
them. They contain more information of a useful character
than most of the technical books that are rated at high prices,
211

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HARDWARE.
213
•
and they are better illustrated and better printed than any of
them.
The Kansas City firms have brought about the enormous
increase in this trade by the consistent following up of two
lines of policy. In the first place, they deal in nothing but
what is of the very best quality in its special grade. Unlike
the eastern houses, who seem to consider that anything is good-
enough for the west, and who got into the habit of sending low
grade goods under high sounding names to this market, the
Kansas city firms sold nothing but the best, and nothing under
false or deceptive names. In consequence they have not only
gained complete control of the entire trade of the territory
westward that is naturally tributary to this city, but they are
constantly extending the area of the trade both in the north
and south.
The Kansas City hardware trade has been built upon solid
foundations. It has been fostered and developed by legitimate
means and methods, until its formerly narrow limits have been
extended to its present vast proportions, while the goods from
this market are famed for their excellence and high standard
of material and workmanship.
HALL & WILLIS HARDWARE CO.
Both in point of age, volume of business and extent of
stock carried this institution is the representative house in
this line of business in this market. It was founded some
thirty years ago by J. L. Kelley, and afterwards became Kelley,
Willis & Co., and still later was incorporated as the Hall &
Willis Hardware Co. Previous to the incorporation Mr. T. F.
Willis and Mr. Selby Jones had, for many years, been inter-
ested in the firm of Kelley, Willis & Co., and at the time of
the organization of the company, Mr. W. H. Hall became asso-
ciated with them. The officers of the company are T. F.
Willis, president; W. H. Hall, vice-president, and Selby
Jones, secretary and treasurer.
The company are jobbers and importers of hardware and

214
COMMERCE OF KANSAS CITY.
cutlery and carry an enormous stock, comprising everything
in these lines, and including all articles classified as shelf-
hardware and tinners' stock. They employ a capital of
$600,000 and transact a business aggregating $1,175,000 each
year. Their trade extends throughout the entire territory that
is reached by any jobbing interest in Kansas City, and the
extent to which the hardware business has grown in this mar-
ket, and the vast territory that has been educated to look to
this city for its supplies is in no small degree due to the ener-
getic policy with which the affairs of this company have been
conducted.
RICHARDS & CONOVER HARDWARE CO.
The firm of J. F. Richards & Co., from which this company
derives its origin, was established in Leavenworth, Kansas, in
1857, and the business in this city was commenced in 1875.
They import tin plate and metals direct by way of New Orleans,
thus obtaining a great advantage over intermediate points
between this city and seaboard. The company carry an
enormous stock, comprising tinners' stock, cutlery, iron, steel,
and nails. They also deal in Fairbanks' scales, Laflin & Rand
powder, McNeal & Urban safes, circular saws, barbed and
plain fence wire, tin and stamped ware, springs and axles and
wagon wood-work. The business of the company is of great
magnitude and covers a vast extent of territory.
The officers of the company are J. F. Richards, president;
John Conover, treasurer, and W. B. Richards, secretary.
BUILDERS' HARDWARE.
The enormous amount of building that is constantly
going on in Kansas City and in the surrounding country has
created a very heavy demand in this city for everything in
the way of builders' hardware. There being every prospect
that these causes will continue and, indeed will increase for
many years to come, the merchants handling these goods have
been induced to carry increased stocks and make all other
!!

HARDWARE.
215
progressive movements that the
demand.
business would seem to
KNIGHT & MINK.
This firm is composed of Frank H. Knight and John E.
Mink, who have been residents of this city for the past eight-
een years. They are dealers in hardware, cutlery and tools,
carrying a very complete and well assorted stock of these goods,
and indeed of everything connected with builders' hardware.
The best obtained figures show that the sales of builders'
hardware in Kansas amounts to about $500,000, and a large
.proportion of this vast business is transacted by this house.


W
JEWELRY.
ITH the unprecedently rapid increase of our popula-
tion, the development of the industries of the city, and
the growth of its wealth, there has naturally arisen a great
demand for all articles of elegance and ornamentation, whilst
the general prosperity and progressive character of the territory
that naturally looks here for supplies has also contributed
largely in the same direction.
This demand has been cultivated and fostered by the
merchants in this line, and they have displayed a wonderful
amount of energy in extending the ramifications of the trade,
as well as by carrying in stock a class of articles that would.
suit the trade for novelty, solidity and costliness which pre-
dominates in the West. The capital invested in this business
by the wholesale dealers will aggregate fully $300,000, and the
annual of sales will more than double that amount.
H. OPPENHEIMER & CO.
Are wholesale dealers in watches, diamonds, jewelry, etc., of
every description. The firm was established in 1880 by Her-
man Oppenheimer, and was the first house to venture success-
fully into the exclusive wholesale jewelry business in this
city. So deeply had the idea taken root that the territory
tributary to Kansas City would not support an exclusive
wholesale house in this line here that Mr. Oppenheimer found
many prejudices to overcome. He had, however, an extended
experience in the trade, acquired by traveling for eastern
houses, and was possessed of that spirit of steady determina.
tion which looks upon difficulties only as so many obstacles to
·
216

JEWELRY.
217
be overcome. Another strong point was his peculiar ability in
opening the eyes of western buyers to the fact that his interests
and theirs were identical, and that by availing themselves of
his knowledge, experience and business connections they could
find in Kansas City a greater variety of goods suitable to their
trade than in that of more eastern concerns, and at prices at
which they could save money.
It took time to make these western buyers understand that
a stock, selected in large quantities, of goods specially adapted
to the demands of a certain section could be placed at their
command by a house devoting itself to this particular trade,
at more favorable terms than eastern houses, with their indis-
criminate stocks, could afford to furnish such goods. The fact
is now, however, pretty well established, and it is chiefly
through his exertions that few western buyers fail to find all
their requirements filled in this city. His perseverance met
with the reward that all well considered and well conducted
enterprises are sure to meet with, prejudices were overcome and
success followed. The returns of this house last year showed
sales amounting to $75,000 and this record will be exceeded by
1886, as the business is now on a most solid foundation and is
rapidly increasing, while the stock carried is most complete in
its variety, and comprises everything pertaining to this line.
of business.
22

TH
HATS AND CAPS.
HE wholesale hat and cap trade of Kansas City is in the
hands of jobbing houses and they have built up an exten-
sive and important trade. The capital invested in this line of
business by the number of firms mentioned is $200,000 and the
amount of sales will exceed $400,000 per annum. This trade
is in a very satisfactory condition. Its business has increased
from year to year and bears within itself every assurance that
it will keep pace with the growth of the city. Each year the
amount of sales show a marked advance upon the preceding
one, and the outlook for the future is exceedingly prosperous.
The factories of this trade are mainly located in eastern
cities, and this, at a superficial glance, has been thought to
militate against this city as a hat and cap market. The truth,
however, is exactly the reverse of this as a few facts will easily
verify. For instance, it is certainly an advantage for a jobbing
house to carry a varied and large assortment of goods; the buy-
ers are more likely to be attracted and satisfied when the selec-
tion is almost unlimited. The Kansas City houses are noted
for the extent and variety of their stocks—indeed, in this re-
spect our dealers are far ahead of those of eastern cities and
carry larger stocks. This is explained and accounted for by the
fact that Kansas City has to draw all her supplies from the east
direct, and the market supply being so distantly located it neces-
sitates her having an ample and varied assortment of goods on
hand to suit the tastes of all customers, as the distance from the
seat of supplies precludes the possibility of ordering from sam-
ple from the factory as the goods are required, a system that is
adopted in more eastern cities.
}
218

T
LIQUORS.---Wholesale
HE wholesale liquor business of Kansas City has grown
so enormously during the past five years that it now
takes a commanding position before the whole country. One
o the greatest influences in bringing about this result has been
the energy used in sending Kansas City drummers to every
part of the country that could in any way be expected to do
business here.
There is probably more effort made and larger expense
incurred by the wholesale liquor men of Kansas City in this
way than by any other line of business. These emissaries have
made the reputation of this market and the high class of goods
handled here have sustained it. This reputation for high
grade goods that has been established has been invaluable
in extending this business, and it has been fairly earned
by the stocks carried. It is generally conceded that in
the whisky line better stocks are carried in this mar-
ket than either in Chicago or St. Louis. In the East
almost anything that is called whisky, without refer-
ence to quality, finds a ready sale, but here the demand is
almost entirely confined to that which will pass muster with
the best judges.
There are twenty houses engaged in the business in this
city, who with the distillery interest employ a capital that
aggregates fully two million dollars and whose combined sales
last year are estimated to have exceeded $6,000,000. The ter-
ritory covered by the sales includes Missouri, Kansas, Texas,
Arkansas, Nebraska, Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Montana,
Nevada, New Mexico, Arizona and Dakota.
:
219

..
BRO
HUA E.L.MARTIN & CO.
WHOLESALE LIQUORS.
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PROPRIETORS OF
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E. L. MARTIN & CO,
1111

LIQUORS.
221
E. L. MARTIN & CO.
Is the oldest and most prominent wholesale liquor house in
Kansas City. The firm is composed of Mr. E. L. Martin and
Mr. C. G. Perrin and was established by Mr. Martin in 1868;
in 1874 Mr. Perrin, who had for two years previously been
identified with its interests becoming a partner in the house.
The history of the concern would be an epitome of the
growth of Kansas City as a distributing center, and would cer-
tainly comprise all that has been done here to build up the
trade of this particular interest. In 1877 the firm purchased
the Crystal Spring Distillery, which has attained an extended
fame for its fine sour-mash, bourbon and rye whiskies, the en-
tire product being handled by them.
The firm also own and control the brands of the Willow
Run Distillery, Covington, Ky., and the Breckenridge Distil-
ery, Anderson County, Ky., and handle the whole product of
these distilleries. Beyond this they handle enormous quanti-
ties of the famous W. H. McBrayer whisky, of which they are
the largest distributors, to the trade direct, in the United States.
They are direct importers of foreign wines and spirits, and are
agents for all the leading brands of champagne, besides which
they carry a full stock of ales, porter and mineral waters. The
high class and character of their goods is indicated in the fact
that they carry no whisky in their immense warehouse stock
that is not over three years of age. Of course goods that have
not obtained this age are often required, but they are taken
straight out of bond and are not carried in stock.
This house has been one of the foremost and most ener-
getic concerns in pushing Kansas City trade into new sections
and territories, and the success it has met with is shown in the
fact that it now permanently keeps a large corps of travelers
covering the entire territory and makes consignments to Mis-
souri, Kansas, Nebraska, northern Arkansas, Texas, Colorado,
New Mexico, Arizona, Wyoming, Montana and Dakota.

222
COMMERCE OF KANSAS CITY.
KANSAS CITY DISTILLING CO.
In 1880 the Kansas City Distilling Company was incorpor-
ated and commenced business. The facilities afforded by this
city as a grain market, combined with the growing require-
ments of this section of country, suggested that such an under-
taking would prove a valuable addition to the productive in-
dustries of the city. Mr. E. L. Martin, who has been so long
identified with this interest here, was the leading spirit in the
movement, and under his guidance the building and construc-
tion of the distillery soon became an accomplished fact. It has
a capacity of 3,000 bushels per day, and affords constant em-
ployment to from 100 to 150 hands.
The products of the distillery are fine whiskies, spirits and
alcohol-as with all distilleries-the desideratum to be obtained
was the production of a clear, pure, odorless and tasteless spirit,
and to accomplish this requires the greatest possible care and
perfect freedom from any extraneous matter. The Company
have been fortunate in obtaining a product that ranks so high
that the demand for it extends from the Pacific to the Atlantic.
Indeed, it may be truly asserted that no higher grade of spirits
is produced in the country than that of the Kansas City Dis-
tilling Company.
The officers of the Company are E. L. Martin, president;
Wm. J. Smith, vice-President; J. K. Davidson, secretary, and
Web Withers, treasurer.
M. HOFMANN.
M. Hofmann founded his business in the Missouri Valley
in 1857, consequently he may fairly claim to possess a knowl-
edge of the requirements of the trade of the great south-west
and west that has been acquired by actual experience. His
efforts in pushing the trade of this city into new territories has
done much to gain for Kansas City the supremacy it now holds
as a market for the best whisky that is made in the country.
The goods handled by him have long been most favorably
*

LIQUORS.
223
known to the trade, and have given his house itself a reputa-
tion corresponding to the excellence and popularity of the
goods. The stock carried by him comprises all domestic and
foreign wines and liquors; he is a large importer; and his trade
extends throughout the entire territory that is in any way
tributary to this city.

SOUR MASH
الله
KENTUCKY WHISKIES

CROCKERY AND GLASSWARE.
K
ANSAS CITY has no manufactories in this line; trade
being confined to jobbers, who import in immense quan-
tities while looking to the East for domestic goods.
In the absence of manufacturers, however, Kansas City is
but on a par with the other leading cities of the country, and com-
petes successfully in every market of the West. It is scarcely
necessary to state that as this business deals in part with the
luxuries of life, it is most sensitive to failure of crops or eras
of financial stringency, inducing an attempt on the part of the
people to economize and cut down expenses. As a conse-
quence, when last year the general business of the country suffer-
ed a serious decline, the sales of Kansas City did not fully come.
up to expectations, though they showed a very considerable
increase over those of 1884, showing transactions aggregating
$800,000, against $650,000 of the year before. The capital
invested in this line is estimated at $275,000.
Although the houses engaged in this branch of the whole-
sale business in this city are not numerous, still the stocks
carried by them rival any in Chicago or St. Louis, and the
various lines manufactured are just as fully represented as in
any market in the country.
This line of trade, as in fact all others in Kansas City, is
steadily attracting more attention from country buyers. The
bulk of the shipments is made to Kansas and different sec-
tions of Missouri, while Texas, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona
and Nebraska are also liberal buyers in this market.
When we consider that this class of goods must be ship-
ped in packages of such great bulk and weight as to render the
224

CROCKERY AND GLASSWARE.
225
charges of transportation a most important item, the advan-
tages accruing to the dealers of Kansas City, from this extreme
western location can scarcely fail to be appreciated. This
alone, on through freights, would allow them a small margin
of profit on prices which dealers in competing cities could not
afford.
In addition, and particularly worthy of mention, is the
wonderful improvement to the glassware of American manu-
facture, as also in Majolica and other wares, which in design
and finish have been pronounced superior to the standard
foreign products. Recognizing this, dealers unhesitatingly
demanded from foreign manufactures such a reduction
in prices that they can now offer the retail trade imported
articles as cheaply as home-made wares of equal intrinsic
value, save, perhaps, a trifling advance to cover the cost of
further transportation.
T. M. JAMES & SONS,
558 and 560 Main street, and 549 and 551 Delaware street, are
the leading importers and dealers in queensware, china and
glass in this city. Their stock comprises everything usually
included in this line of business, and their facilities for
meeting the requirements of the trade are unexceptional in
every respect.
15 -
AA
NORTH
ORAISON &
COMPANY
N
1835
NORTH, ORRISON & CO.
i


T
FURNITURE.
HE bulk of the business here in furniture is transacted by
numerous houses who do not by any means confine their
operations simply to dealing in furniture. On the contrary
they undertake the furnishing of houses complete from top to
bottom. A large amount of trade is done from here through-
out the surrounding states, and particularly in Kansas, in this
line.
It is estimated by the best authorities that business
amounting to over $1,500,000 is transacted annually in this
trade. The stocks carried and the catalogues of prices issued
by houses here will compare favorably with those of more
eastern cities, and the result is that this market is yearly
favored more extensively by country buyers and is gradually
assuming a greater prominence as a point of distribution for
these goods. Kansas and Colorado look principally to this
market for their supplies in this line, and large consignments
are also made to Texas, Nebraska, and Missouri.
There can be no doubt that this interest has an unusually
brilliant outlook. The territory tributary to this city has been.
taught to recognize the numerous advantages that this market.
affords and as a consequence each year sees the trade increas-
ing in volume while the territory over which that trade
operates is extending in a corresponding degree. As worthy of
particular notice among the firms doing business here in this
line stands the house of
NORTH, ORRISON & CO.
Occupying a magnificent six-story building of bright red
pressed brick, and of most ornate appearance, with its elegant
plate glass windows, the house of North, Orrison & Co. at all
227

228
COMMERCE OF KANSAS CITY.
:
times commands the attention of the stranger in Kansas City.
The handsome exterior of their business premises by no means
gives an idea of the beauty of the interior arrangement of the
house or the stock carried. The six floors, each 56x156 feet in
size, are used to display a stock of furniture, carpets and cur-
tain goods, which has no superior in this section or elsewhere.
The first floor is devoted to the display of fancy furniture and
unique articles of home adornment. The second to parlor
goods, the third to carpets, fourth to chamber suits, fifth to
desk and office furniture generally, and sixth to dining room
furniture. On each of these floors the visitor will find dis-
played a stock that alone would do credit to many rival houses.
Two elevators, one for passengers and the other for freight,
furnish quick and safe communication with the different de-
partments. The general and private offices of the firm are
located on the first floor, and are elegantly finished in long
leaf yellow pine that glistens with pure white varnish. It
would be an endless task to attempt to enumerate the various
articles carried in stock by this firm, as it is at all times com-
plete in all the lines above named. The firm issue a hand-
some illustrated catalogue which they will mail to any address,
and feel themselves at all times able to fill any order, no matter
how large, that may be sent them. In addition to this large
space the firm utilize another building in the rear of their
main store for the storage of extra stock and for "setting up"
and upholstering, which is four stories high and 48x120 feet in
size. A simple sum in addition will show that this firm
makes use of a floor space equal in size to a building of 528
x1416 feet. The firm give employment to seventy-three per-
sons, and while their trade is retail, it extends into Kansas,
Missouri, Iowa, Colorado, Nebraska, Texas and New Nexico.
The individual members of the firm are J. H. North, D. S.
Orrison and J. L. Abernathy.

BOOTS AND SHOES.
}
T
HERE are six houses engaged in the wholesale boot and
shoe trade in Kansas City, representing an invested capi-
tal of $900,000, and whose aggregate sales amount to $3,500,-
000. The stocks carried by these different houses will compare
favorably with those of any other jobbing center, they are not
only extensive in volume, but they comprise a variety and
assortment that is fully commensurate with the requirements
of the different sections that are supplied from this market.
During the past few years merchants from states and ter-
ritories distant from this city have been induced by the many
advantages offered here to seek this market for the first time,
and in such instances they are invariably astonished at the
completeness of the stocks carried, the lowness of prices
and the magnitude of the business transacted. Although, as
is the case with the majority of the wholesale dealers in all
lines, the larger portion of the shipments are to Kansas, still,
there are eleven states and territories who patronize this mar-
ket for boots and shoes. These include Kansas, Missouri, Ar-
kansas, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Nebraska, Iowa
and Wyoming.
The houses in this line of trade in this city are rated as
financially strong and the business is conducted in a spirit of
enterprising competition that makes this a most favorable mar-
ket for purchasers. The firms have been unusually energetic
in pushing their trade, and employ a large number of traveling
salesmen who cover the entire territory that obtains boots and
shoes from this market.
229

INSURANCE
!
M
UCH curious, as well as valuable, information would
doubtless repay any well directed effort to trace the his-
tory of insurance from the time when men first, in any sys-
tematic way, attempted to secure themselves from pecuniary
loss in any of their various investments and ventures. Civili-
zation had probably quite far advanced, and commerce had
probably assumed great importance, involving large values and
the hazard of change of locations, transportation from one place
to another, before any well developed ideas had taken shape for
protection against pecuniary loss by any system of insurance,
such as we understand the term to-day.
It is certain that its earliest known application was against
the perils of navigation, which involved the greatest dangers,
they being both varied and less subject to control. But the
principle once established of protection against loss by re-im-
bursement therefor, in payments distributed in small amounts
over a long time, or among a large number of participants,
either or both combined, could not fail very soon to be much
more generally applied than could originally have been con-
ceived.
A principle once established becomes immortal, and is
subject to infinite modifications and methods of application.
We accordingly find the principle of insurance subsequently
applied to every kind of accident against which indemnity
could be derived, fire, flood, tornado, frost, lightning, decay, dis-
ease, income, title, the issue of marriage, by which title could
be affected or diverted; even conscription for military service.
It has become so thoroughly in-wrought into the economy of
230
INSURANCE.
231
;
our trade that it now underlies our whole system of commer-
cial credit, which in turn underlies our whole system of trade
and commerce. The insurance interests involved if not con-
trolled to-day by it have induced the largest states of this coun-
try to interpose their authority for control. The fullest devel-
opment of all institutions relating to wealth, property, com-
merce or trade are to be found, of course, in the wealthiest and
most populous sections. Many of our merchants can remem-
ber when the whole insurance of the West was done in New
York, Hartford and Philadelphia.
D. S. HARRIMAN & CO.
For more than ten years Mr. Harriman has been promi-
nently identified with the insurance business of Kansas City,
and during that time has built up one of the strongest as well
as most extensive agencies in the city. The firm confine their
business to insurance against damage or loss by fire or wind
storms, and insurance on rentals and plate glass. They repre-
sent only first-class companies, among which are the German
Fire Insurance Company, of Pittsburg; State Insurance Co., of
Des Moines, Iowa; Hibernia, of New Orleans and the Metro-
politan Plate Glass Insurance Co., of New York. There can
scarcely be a stronger indication of the high esteem in which
their agency is held than the fact that the large amount of bus-
iness transacted by the firm, as shown by the net premium re-
turns, is nearly three times as great in 1885 as it was in 1883.
Of course the aggregate volume of insurance has considerably
increased in the whole city during the same period, but the
fact remains that the insurance effected through this agency
has proved so satisfactory in its results that its increase of bus-
iness has grown far beyond the general increase of transactions.
They also do an extensive brokerage business, having ac-
quired an intimate knowledge of an acquaintance with the
leading Insurance Companies, and place all insurance in-
trusted to their care in solid, reliable companies. They can.
do this as they possess every facility afforded by a long exper-

...

RC
CLA
SS WAF
WARE
1549 T.I AMES & SONS 561
UT
T. M. JAMES & SONS,
RETAILDER
CROCKER
INSURANCE.
233
ience in the business and intimate relations with the most
prominent Insurance Companies combined with the rare fac-
ulty of grasping every detail of the most intricate arrange-
ment. Their extensive business is due entirely to the well-
earned confidence they have inspired and the general satis-
faction given by all their transactions, and the thorough
knowledge of the business they have displayed.
F. J. & W. G. BAIRD.
F. J. & W. G. Baird's Insurance agency represents some
of the most important fire insurance companies in the world.
This is one the oldest insurance agencies in Kansas City having
been established in 1865, and Mr. W. G. Baird, who devotes
his attention entirely to the affairs of the business is widely
known throughout the west as a capable and experienced
insurance expert. The following are the old and reliable com-
panies represented in this agency; North America, Philadel-
phia; Franklin, Philadelphia; Pennsylvania Fire, Philadel
phia; Norwich Union, England; National, Hartford; Rhode
Island Insurance Association; Western Assurance, Toronto;
Conneticut, Hartford. The amount of business transacted by
this agency is best shown in the fact that their net premiums
amount to $50,000, per year. These figures indicate the pros-
perous condition of the agency, as well as the prudent and
sagacious management that has attended its operations.
H. C. KUMPF & SON.
Kumpf's Fire Insurance Agency, has, during the fifteen
years of its existence, earned an enviable reputation as repre-
senting a line of companies that are noted for the prompt ad-
justment of losses. In other words, it deals only in insurance
that insures, and this broad assertion is easily verified by a
glance at the names of the solid corporations for whom it
issues policies. The Scottish Union and National of Edin-
burgh; Orient of Hartford, Conn.; Home Ins. Co. of New York;
Firemans Fund of San Francisco; Amazon of Cincinnati;

234
COMMERCE OF KANSAS CITY.
Rochester German of Rochester N. Y.; Buffalo German of Buf-
falo, N. Y.; Fire Insurance Association of London, England.
In addition to these, tornado policies are also issued at this
agency. Mr. H. C. Kumpf, the senior partner of the firm has
been very prominently identified with the progress of Kansas
City for many years and is the present Mayor of the City.
His son Mr. Geo. Kumpf, has long beeen associated with him
in business, and his wide experience and intimate acquaint-
ance with insurance affairs enables him to conduct the busi-
ness of the agency in the most efficient manner.
WHIPPLE, COURTNEY & Co.
This firm represents a line of insurance companies of rec-
ognized strength, solidity and high standing. Among them are
the Home Insurance Company of New York; Standard Insur-
ance Company of New York; Howard Insurance Company of
New York; Trans-Atlantic of Hamburg and Northern Assur-
ance of London, England. Besides these this agency transacts
an extensive business in issuing cyclone and tornado policies.
The business of the agency is under the personal care and man-
agement of Mr. Courtney.
BROWN, SCHOONMAKER & CO.
This responsible firm have their office in the Underwriters
Exchange, at the south-west corner of Sixth and Wyandotte
streets. They do an extensive business in fire and tornado
insurance, and represent the following companies: Etna of
Hartford, Connecticut; Hartford of Hartford, Connecticut;
New York Underwriters Agency; City of London, England,
and Germania of New York.
MILLER & TILESTON.
This firm is composed of Hugh Miller and H. M. Tileston.
They are fire, cyclone and tornado insurance agents, represent-
ing substantial companies and doing an extensive business.
This firm also does a real estate and loan business and are
especially mentioned in the chapter devoted to that interest.
:
L
INSURANCE.
235
THE PROVIDENT LIFE.
The Provident Savings Life Assurance Society of New York,
has a capital of $100,000 invested in United States 4 per cent
bonds, in trust for policy holders and deposited with the insur-
ance department of the State of New York for their security.
The branch of the company in Kansas City is under the man-
agement of Mr. B. V. Hubbard, whose offices are at 102 West
Fifth street.
This company has taken a high rank as an economical
insurance company. It not only shows by its annual state-
ments that the greatest economy is exercised in the manage-
ment of the affairs of the company, but, by its plan of insur-
ance it effects an economy of cost in carrying a policy that
amounts to something like 60 per cent saving on what the
same amount would cost in one of the old line companies.
Indeed, in speaking of the "renewable term plan " adopted by
this company, an eminent insurance authority says: "This
plan, while retaining all the security, safe-guards and definite-
ness of contract of the best old-fashioned companies, reduces
the cost of insurance to about a quarter or a third of the level
premium rates."
The society has more than $200 of assets to each $100 of
liabilities. It is a regularly incorporated life insurance com-
pany, and is admitted to transact business by every insurance
department in every State in the country. It has received the
hearty commendation and unqualified endorsement of insur-
ance commissioners, actuaries, and hundreds of the sharpest
financiers and leading thinkers of the day. The general public
gave this tangible evidence of approval: Insurance written:
1883
1884.
1885..
$ 5,626,100
8,806,400
13,833,000

A.
NEW ENGLAND MUTUAL LIFE IN.
T
SURANCE CO.
HE New England Mutual Life Insurance Company, of
Boston, Mass., is one of the monetary institutions of the
East that has made judicious investments in Kansas City. At
the present time (June 1886) this Company is about to erect,
on a recently purchased corner lot in the heart of the city,
what will be, when completed, one of the handsomest and
most solid office buildings that can be found in any of our
Western cities. This close identification of interest of such a
sterling and conservative corporation as that of the New Eng-
land Mutual Life Insurance Company with the most promis-
ing commercial center of the far West, will, it is earnestly
believed, prove mutually advantageous. The many advan-
tages derived by the city will be at once apparent and appre-
ciated, and the company can hardly fail to be a gainer from
the steady and healthy increase of value in its property and
the necessary additions to its business resulting from the high
appreciation in which it is held by the prominent business
men of Kansas City, whose tact and business ability make
them ever ready to recognize the sterling merit and intrinsic
worth of such a corporation.
The subject of life insurance in its legitimate character,
must of necessity be an interesting one to an intelligent com-
munity. For the past fifty years it has commanded a full
share of public attention, for the reason that the benefits to be
derived therefrom have been fully recognized by the thought-
ful, who by judicious investment in a policy, relieve their
236
İNSURANCE.
237
minds of any uneasiness as to the future of their loved ones.
The desirability of life insurance is rarely questioned in these
days, and attention is more directly given to the security
afforded by the individual companies and the advantages
offered by the various forms of policies that are issued. In
this connection, and in view of the intimate relations already
alluded to, that exist between the New England Mutual Life
Insurance Company and the people of this City, a concise
history of that organization and its methods of business can
not fail to prove of the deepest interest.
This company, the oldest in the United States, was incor-
It has no
porated in 1835 and commenced business in 1843.
stockholders or other privileged members of any description,
and is a purely mutual company. The progress of its business
has been marked by a natural and steady growth and its direc-
tors have striven to make it a favorite company with the public
by making it a model institution of its kind. It is incor-
porated under and subject to the laws of Massachusetts, which
are justly admired all over the country and which are syn-
onymous with equity and absolute fairness to the insured. In
addition to strong financial security the State obliges all the
home companies to give to their members the advantages of
the present non-forfeiture law which is acknowledgedly the
greatest step that has ever been taken towards affording perfect
insurance at the lowest cost. Its effect is that no policy shall
be void or valueless for non-payment of any premium after the
second, but that for every subsequent year there shall be a pro-
gressively increasing cash-surrender or paid-up insurance value.
The latter is immediately binding upon the company, without
any action upon the part of the insured, and to obtain the
former it is only necessary that there shall be a surrender of
insurable interest. The incalculable advantages of this law are
manifest, but among others may be mentioned first, that a fail-
ure to pay the premium will not render the policy worthless,
nor does it place one upon the charity of the company to pay

238
COMMERCE OF KANSAS CITY.
what-if any thing-they see fit; and, second, that it renders
the policy a ready medium for use as collateral security to the
extent of the values which are endorsed upon every policy over
the signature of the president or secretary.
In 1883 the company inaugurated a new and valuable de-
parture in life insurance, which most effectively nullified that
heretofore commonly-quoted maxim, "One must die to win."
In the place of the old life policy, which was paid only at
death, the company substituted the "Life Rate Endowment
Policy." This form demands only the same payment of pre-
mium as was formerly charged upon whole life policies, and
is payable not only at death, but to the insured himself, if
he survives between the ages of 75 and 81, according to the age
of issue. It is the cheapest and most popular form of policy
issued, and, under the provisions of the Massachusetts law, is
an endowment payable at any age for the law values. While
this class of policies is the one which the company unqual-
ifiedly recommends, it also issues the ordinary form of endow-
ment in common with other companies. Another prominent
point to which attention should be directed in considering the
question of insurance in connection with this company, is the
simplicity of its policy and application, and the fact that every
policy, whether paid up or otherwise, participates in the yearly
distribution of surplus.
To sum up, the peculiar liberality of its plans and mode-
rate rates, prompt settlement of losses, non-forfeitable and un-
restricted character of its policies, the care and economy with
which its affairs are conducted, and the positive security guar-
anteed thereby have had the effect of placing the New England
Mutual in the front rank of life insurance.
The officers of the company are: President, Benjamin F.
Stevens; secretary, Joseph M. Gibbens; assistant secretary, S.
Franksford Trull; actuary, Walter C. Wright; medical ex-
aminer, John Homans, M. D.; superintendent of agencies,
George W. Thompson; counsel, William C. Endicott, Alfred
i

INSURANCE.
239
i
D. Foster; directors for 1886, Marshall P. Wilder, Joseph M.
Gibbens, George H. Folger, Warren Sawyer, Nathaniel J.
Bradlee, William T. Hart, Percival L. Everett, William C.
Endicott, Charles U. Cotting, and Benjamin F. Stevens.


EDUCATIONAL.
T
HE war, which leveled so many time honored institutions
with the dust, did not spare the school system of Missouri.
In point of fact, she was in 1865, virtually without any educa-
tional organization whatever. In the struggle which during
four years raged with a fury unprecedented in the annals of
modern warfare, the attention of the people was directed from
the pursuit of culture and improvement. Party rancor and
political hatred severed the bonds of paternal love which had
hitherto linked the hearts and aims of the nation. Educa-
tion was practically abandoned, and schools and colleges ex-
isted only in name. But when peace was restored, the wounds
of faction began to heal, the bitter partisan spirit in a large
measure died away and people began to make preparations for
repairing the ravages wrought by their own hands. Laws
were enacted for the organization of schools, specifying the mo-
dus operadi of levying and collecting taxes for the necessary
buildings. The Kansas City school district was organized un-
der an act entitled: "An act authorizing any city, town or
village to organize for school purposes, with special privileges,'
approved March 19, 1866.
By virtue of this act the board of education of Kansas
City was organized August 1, 1867, and comprised the follow-
ing members: W. E. Sheffield, president; H. C. Kumpf, sec-
retary; A. Bachman, treasurer; Ed. H. Allen and E. H.
Spaulding; J. B. Bradley, superintendent and teacher in
Central School. Immediate action was taken and strenous
efforts were put forth to reduce chaos to order. At this
time there were residing within the city limits 2,150 chil-
240
EDUCATIONAL.
241
dren of school age for whom no accommodations whatever
existed, the city being utterly destitute of school buildings
and not possessing a single dollar toward defraying school ex-
penses. In the fall of 1867, schools were formally opened in
rented rooms which had been hastily and inadequately fur-
nished. A superintendent and a staff of sixteen teachers
were employed during the year, the board in the meantime,
proceeding with praiseworthy energy to purchase sites and
erect the much desiderated buildings.
The succeeding year (1868) witnessed a remarkable in-
erease in the enumeration of school children, the number
quoted in the report being 3,287, an increase of fifty-three per
cent over the estimate of the preceding year. The number of
children in attendance has steadily increased year by year,
and new buildings fitted with steam-heating apparatus and
other modern improvements have been erected whenever ne-
cessitated by such increase.
✩
The present officers of the board of education are: R. L.
Yeager, president; Henry C. Kumpf, secretary; E. L. Martin,
treasurer. The superintendent of schools is Professor J. M.
Greenwood; this responsible position he has filled since July,
1874. The board is composed of the following members: R.
L. Yeager, Frank Askew, J. C. James, Gardiner Lathrop,
Henry C. Kumpf, E. L. Martin.
There are now thirteen Primary Schools in the city, besides
a High School. At this latter, pupils may acquire a thorough
knowledge of classics and mathematics, in addition to a perfect
introduction to commercial business. Some of the best and
most useful teachers in the service of the city were educated
here.
Kansas City now possesses fifteen school houses (one of
which is rented), containing one hundred and thirty-three
school-rooms. One hundred and thirty-seven teachers are em-
ployed, of whom eighteen are males and one hundred and
nineteen females. There are 22,500 persons between the ages
16-
242
COMMERCE OF KANSAS CITY.
of five years and twenty years in the city, 9,723 of whom
attend the schools, an increase of 876 pupils since the issue of
last year's report. The total amount expended in 1884 for
school purposes-bonds, interest, buildings, etc.—was $255,-
121.72.
At the present time we understand that the school build-
ings, numerous and commodious as they are, fall short of the
demand, and are totally inadequate to the needs of the grow-
ing giant city. The president, R. L. Yeager, in his last com-
prehensive report, says: "Since the last report twenty-four
additional rooms have been provided, viz.: six rooms to the
Chace, four to the Woodland, four to the Switzer, five to the
Sumner, three to the Martin and two to the Morse, and yet the
pressure for more school accommodations continues, and the
question 'What shall we do?' must be answered every recur-
ring school year."
The erection of a new Central School stands as a landmark
in the broad expanse of Kansas City's school history. The
old building had become too small. Being firmly convinced
that the people of the district are ever in sympathy with all
efforts at progress, the board decided so erect a new building.
For that purpose additional ground was purchased just south
of the present location (Locust and Eleventh), the old Central
building being designed, in the future, for a primary school.
From the day that the public school system was established
in this city, no step has been taken backwards, but every year
witnesses an improvement on that preceeding it. Unity of
feeling, singleness of aim and purpose, has pervaded every de-
partment; the board, the superintendent and teachers having
worked unceasingly to bring the schools to the highest degree
of perfection. To quote the felicitous words of the superin-
tendent's report for 1883: "Harmonious action characterized
the work in all the schools, and the only spirit of rivalry was
a laudable one-to make each school the best."
.

EDUCATIONAL.
243
t
THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS CITY.
The successful founding of this institution is the result of
the earnest and united efforts of many of the most prominent
members of the medical profession resident here, and as a
result of their indefatigable energy the medical department of
the University of Kansas City, possesses a college building
that is not alone an exceedingly handsome structure, but hav-
ing been specially designed as a medical college, it is unusually
complete in all its appointments, and beyond question the
most commodious and convenient structure occupied for a
similar purpose in the West. Its amphitheatre affords seating
capacity for a large number of students, and its lecture halls,
operating room and patient's waiting rooms are all conven-
iently arranged and of ample capacity. The museum is spa-
cious and contains quite an extensive collection of curious and
instructive specimens, to which additions are constantly being
made. The dissecting room is fitted up with all modern im-
provements and appurtenances, and the laboratory contains
the chemicals and apparatus necessary for practical teaching.
These advantages hardly require comment to enable the intel-
ligent student to comprehend them at once. But when it is
added that professors of the highest learning and practical
skill are always in attendance, the advantages will be still
more apparent. In addition to this the medical and surgical
services of the Kansas City general hospital are rendered in
great part by the faculty of this college, its corps of clinical
lecturers being in attendence twice each week, and its students
having free access to all the valuable experience to be gained
in that institution. Beyond this, the medical staff of All
Saints' Hospital is represented by members of the faculty of
this college, and every facility is given them to utilize the mate-
rial present for the benefit of the students. The Sisters' hos-
pital is also largely supplied with its medical attendance by
this college, and likewise affords an ample field for the indus-
try of the students. There is also a free dispensary connected

.
:
UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS CITY.
MEDICAL DEPARTMENT.
EDUCATIONAL.
245
with the college, at which all deserving indigent persons may
obtain assistance.
The course of instruction in this institution covers two
collegiate years, which must be studiously employed to secure
its diploma, and by taking advantage of a third session the
graduate who passes the necessary winter terms will become
unquestionably a more accomplished physician than he who
is simply satisfied to get his degree in the ordinary way.
So many distinguished names are identified with this in-
stitution that it has been considered advisable to publish here a
complete list of the faculty of the medical department.
Henry F. Hereford, M. D., professor of obstetrics and diseases
of women, 9th and Main; J. M. Allen, M. D., Liberty, Mo.;
John R. Snell, M. D., dean, 6 East 8th street, professors of the
principles and practice of medicine and clinical medicine;
John W. Jackson, M. D., president, professor of the principles
and practice of surgery, Kansas City, Mo.; John W. Elston,
M. D., professor of materia medica, pharmacy and therapeu-
tics, 9th and Main streets; Eugene R. Lewis, A. M., M. D.,
professor of general, descriptive and surgical anatomy, 6
East 7th street; John H. Duncan, A. B., M. D., professor of
dermatology and physiology, 1042 Main street; R. R. Hunter,
M. D., lecturer on chemistry, 916 Main street; Hon. Henry
P. White, professor of medical jurisprudence; John L. Teed,
M. D., professor of nervous and mental diseases, 9th and Main
streets; W. L. Schenck, A. B., M. D., professor of general
pathology, Osage City, Kansas; James P. Jackson, M. D.,
professor of clinical and operative surgery, N. W. cor. 5th and
Main streets; Willis P. King, M. D., professor of gynecology,
Sedalia, Mo. Flavel B. Tiffany, M. D., professor of diseases of
the eye and ear, and histology, 1044 Main street; Joshua
Miller, M. D., professor of orthopedic surgery, 11th and Main
streets; Charles W. Adams, A. M., M. D., treasurer, profes-
sor of diseases of children, and adjunct to obstetrics, 1037
Main street; Albert P. Campbell, A. M., M. D., professor of
diseases of the chest and throat, 1044 Main street; George
246
COMMERCE OF KANSAS CITY.
W. Davis, M. D., curator, professor of genito-urinary diseases,
1100 Main street; John T. Eggers, M. D., adjunct professor
of anatomy and demonstrator, 1042 Main street; J. E. Logan,
M. D., secretary, lecturer adjunct to Chair of physiology,
N. W cor. 12th and Main streets; Hal Foster, M. D., lecturer
adjunct to chair of materia medica, Summit and 14th streets.
COMMERCIAL EDUCATION.
-
Kansas City being a commercial city, it follows, as a
matter of course, that special attention has been directed to
the education of youth in matters directly connected with
commercial, manufacturing, banking and general business ac-
counts. The effort in this direction commenced many years
ago, when the city had hardly grown out of its infancy. It
was in the year 1865 that
J. F. SPALDING, A. M.
had the foresight to see that Kansas City was destined to grow
into one of the great business centers of the country, and the
wisdom to comprehend that wherever the greatest banks,
manufactories and commercial establishments should exist,
would be the best locality for the foundation of a col-
lege devoted exclusively to the education of youths in the
methods of trade and business pursuits. Accordingly, the in-
stitution known as Spalding's Commercial College was estab-
lished and was regularly incorporated July 11, 1867, and for
nearly a quarter of a century it has been performing its func-
tions as a business educator. Many of the most successful
merchants and business men of Kansas City, and of Missouri,
Kansas, and the adjacent states and territories gladly give thanks
to this their Alma Mater for the advantages they derived while
attending this institution.
Spalding's College is devoted entirely to instruction in the
fundamental principles of business, from correct arithmetical
exposition to the logical deductions of a thoroughly expert
book-keeper's balance sheet. In addition to the full collegiate

EDUCATIONAL.
247
and commercial course, the students at their option, can study
the various branches of knowledge belonging to an ordinary
school education, besides which as a further specialty, short-
hand writing, type-writing, and the practice and principles
of telegraphy are thoroughly and comprehensively taught.
As a means of active educational advancement in these spe-
cial lines of commercial education, it has had hardly an equal
in America, and certainly has had no superior.
Professor J. F. Spalding, A. M., the founder and principal
of the instution, has, throughout, been the leading spirit of the
college, and the principles of his system have been closely
pursued with the best possible results. In reviewing the work
accomplished, it is highly gratifying to be able to state, as an
evidence of the widespread and enviable reputation which this
large and popular institution enjoys, on account of its thorough
and practical teaching, that students were enrolled during the
years of 1884 and 1885 from fifteen different states, three territo-
ries and two provinces, viz.: Missouri, Kansas, Illinois, Iowa,
Nebraska, Ohio, Michigan, Massachusetts, Virginia, Kentucky,
Tennessee, Arkansas, Texas, Colorado, California, New Mexico,
Montana, Utah, and the Provinces of Ontario and Quebec.
NATIONAL BUSINESS COLLEGE.
The National Business College of Kansas City, as its name
implies, is an institution founded for the purpose of affording a
practical commercial education, embracing all branches that
are necessary, and that are of daily utility in business life.
Among these are penmanship, book-keeping, arithmetic, busi-
ness practice, correspondence and commercial law; in addition
the acquirement of short-hand, type-writing, and the study of
practical German, are branches that have received special at-
tention as the developments of business affairs have made them
In all of them the course
more necessary now than heretofore.
of study in this institution is thoroughly complete, and the
favorable results attained have been so great, and are so gener-
ally recognized, that graduates from this institution not only
248
COMMERCE OF KANSAS CITY.
•
find no difficulty in securing employment, but are preferred
for the more important positions of trust where accuracy and
complete knowledge of detail is indispensable.
The moral tone of the College is of the highest order, and
the utmost pains are taken by the president and the various
professors to secure and maintain the moral, physical and in-
tellectual advancement of the pupils under their care. Profes-
sor Coon, the president of the College, is indefatigable in his
efforts for the welfare and progress of all the students, and as he is
a gentleman of advanced and progressive educationel views, it
is only just to attribute to his zeal the prominence which this
institution has attained, not only in Kansas City but through-
out the entire Western States.
SCHOOL OF SHORT-HAND.
Professor Powell's School of Short-hand is one of the nota-
ble and progressive educational institutions of the city. Its
purpose is to impart such knowledge and training to the rising
generation that will enable each student to fill any important
position, as correspondent, secretary or amanuensis. The sys-
tem adopted was founded by D. P. Lindsley, and is of a simi-
lar character to that employed in Kimball's Amanuensis School
of Chicago. It includes short-hand writing, long-hand writing,
type-writing and all other matter necessary to the conduct and
care of business correspondence. The great success of the insti-
tution is attributable in an eminent degree to the personal efforts
and superior qualifications of Prof. Powell, who is a thoroughly
practical teacher, possessing the tact of imparting his knowedge
to his students in a pleasant, affable and interesting manner,
that not only secures from them the utmost attention, but
creates in their minds something of the love of knowledge by
which he is himself animated. There are few educators in the
country who possess this talent in so great a degree as Profes-
sor Powell, and this combined with his eleven years of experi-
ence and the great facilities for practice and study with which
he has surrounded himself, has won the highest regard and in-
A
EDUCATIONAL.
249
terest of his pupils, who find their path in the acquirement of
knowledge smoothed and made easy by the evident pleasure
it affords him to assist them. Young people are always ready
to recognize and appreciate this untiring readiness to help
them, and are quick to peceive when labor spent in their
behalf is ungrudingly given; it is this sentiment so strongly
entertained by his pupils, and which has been engendered by
his own course of action, that enables Professor Powell to justly
claim that the pupils of his institution complete their course
fully qualified to undertake the most arduous and important
duties with which their studies are connected.
The practical part of the system is exemplified in the fact
that by special arrangement with the seventy-five business
offices in the building, daily access is afforded his pupils for the
purpose of taking down in short-hand, from dictation, the re-
plies to the various business letters received, and furnishing
the same to the offices copied out by type-writer, thus afford-
ing daily practical working in actual business transactions.
The institution is open for both ladies and gentlemen, and it
also furnishes expert reporters for cases where depositions have
to be taken.


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ARCHITECTURE.
UNT
NTIL 1883, the architecture of Kansas City did not dif-
fer materially or essentially from that of many other
American cities of recent origin and rapid growth. Up to that
time it exhibited buildings of the village and the city period-
a one story frame house without foundation by the side of cut
stone fronts of recent date and of considerable pretentions.
These disfigurements are, however, rapidly disappearing,
and the great number of large and substantial business struct-
ures that are constantly being erected on nearly all of the bus-
iness thoroughfares are a fair illustration of the metropolitan
character of the city.
The extensive use of fine pressed brick work in many of
the most important buildings is one of the most recent inno-
vations. The new office buildings are all complete in their
appointments, and elegant and substantial in their finish, and
are in every respect equal to anything in the country.
In dwellings a similar spirit is shown. There has been a
very marked improvement both in the city and suburban resi-
dences. They exhibit a great variety of styles, or at least
many varieties, showing in nearly every building a desire for
novelty, grace and elegance, usually introduced with good
taste.
It is idle to attempt to predict anything of the future of
the city's architecture, except that it is exceedingly promising.
The architects, as a body, are becoming better educated, the
younger men are largely from the technical schools, and are
all showing a strong desire to do their very best. The city is
growing with great rapidity, wealth is accumulating, and there
251
252
COMMERCE OF KANSAS CITY.
is a willingness to expend all the money required to produce
buildings as elegant as the architect can design, so long as
they are well adapted to the advanced requirements of the day.
A matter for general congratulation is the fact that along
with the enormous capital that Kansas City has attracted from
the East, many of the noted architects of the country have also
become assured of the permanent character of the city's growth,
and realizing the demand for artistic homes, business houses,
and attractive public buildings, they have joined the popular
current, and located or opened offices in Kansas City.
TINSLEY, RAMSDEN & GOOCH.
This firm, which is composed of T. R. Tinsley, A. H.
Ramsden and T. E. Gooch, is one that should, and no doubt
will, attract general attention, by reason of the wide reputation
of each, and their high standing in the profession, uniting, as
they do, their various talents, their efforts promise rich results.
Mr. Tinsley was formerly superintendent of buildings in this
city, and for years he had charge of the State of Ohio's public
buildings. Mr. A. H. Ramsden is a graduate of the Boston
Technological institute, and the products of his skill are seen in
many handsome edifices in the East and also in the West. He
designed the handsomest office building ever erected in Kansas
City, a building costing upward of $200,000. Mr. T. E. Gooch
is from New York City, and a graduate of Rensselaer Poly-
technic Institute. While in New York he was connected with
Fuller, Wheeler & Prescott, the authors and publishers of
"Artistic Homes," the widest known book on architectural
science and practical information.
One of the most exacting requirements of an architect's
ability is that pertaining to sanitary knowledge and sanitary
engineering, and those deficient in this respect are nothing less
than builders of death traps. This feature in architecture is a
special and thoroughly accomplished study of this firm and it
enters into all their work, whether it be an humble cottage,
elegant residence or grand public building.
!
ARCHITECTURE.
253
..
VAN BRUNT & HOWE.
Henry Van Brunt and Frank M. Howe, Brisbane build-
ing, Seventh and Delaware streets, Kansas City, Mo., and 60
Devonshire street, Boston, Mass. Among the prominent works
here of this notable firm are the new building for the Kansas
City Journal, Tenth and Walnut streets; two-hundred-foot
business and office building for Messrs. Brooks, Adams and N.
Thayer, Boston, and J. F. Baird and M. Welsh, Kansas City,
on Main street; fifty-foot business building, Main street, Mrs.
H. Quincy, Boston; Coates House additions; Unitarian
Church, Tenth street; office building in Massachusetts brown-
stone, on Main street, for N. Thayer, Boston; union railroad
stations for Union Pacific railroad at Ogden, Utah, and Chey-
enne, Wyoming.
ADRIANCE VAN BRUNT.
Twenty-five years practice. Among his prominent works
here are the Lobenstine building, corner Sixth and Main;
Benjamin McLean building, Seventh and Wyandotte; Lath-
rop & Smith building, Sixth and Wyandotte, and the First
Congregational Church.
C. F. KIRBY,
Architect and Superintendent. Office, Mason building, No.
1011 Main street.
H. B. PRUdden,
Architect, rooms 34 and 35 Delaware Block, Seventh street,
south-west corner Delaware. Mr. Prudden has been in Kansas
City a year and a half, and of his residence work we mention
Chas. F. Emery's, Tenth and Olive; D. T. Parker's, Garfield
Avenue, and Dr. G. L. Henderson's, Seventeenth and Jeffer-
son. Among his work in outside towns are the First National
Bank building, of Atchison, Kansas; the Byram Hotel, of the
same place, and also the fine residence of Hon. B. P. Wag-
gener, in Atchison.
I. D. TOWLE,
Architect, room 7, No. 16 East Sixth street.
T
ATTORNEYS.
HE great increase in commercial transactions and trans-
fers of real estate in this city, combined with its brilliant
prospects of future greatness, have attracted the attention and
led to the settlement here of members of the legal fraternity
of the highest standing and attainments. As a consequence
the bar of Kansas City out-ranks that of any other city of its
size in the country. And while the conditions alluded to
have perhaps induced a greater number of young lawyers to
try their fortunes in this city than may seem altogether desir-
able, yet these same conditions have brought here many men
of eminence and recognized ability.
The enormous investments of Eastern capital, the estab-
lishment of branches of large corporations, the organization of
new institutions and the close relations that have been estab-
lished between this city and the financial centers of the East
have created interests of such vast importance that their care
and guidance could only be safely trusted to the advice of ex-
perienced judgment and ripened ability.
The lawyers here have been active in all movements for
developing the progress of Kansas City, and have ever been
conspicuous in protecting the interests of the community and
promoting its welfare.
The following rank among the more prominent legal firms
of this city:
Crittenden, McDougal & Stiles.
Thos. T. Crittenden, H.
C. McDougal and Edward H. Stiles, Seventh and Delaware
streets.
Dobson & Douglass. Charles L. Dobson and Shannon C.
Douglass, 700 Delaware street.
254
ATTORNEYS.
255
Gage, Ladd & Small. John C. Gage, Sanford B. Ladd and
Charles E. Small, 542 Delaware street.
William L. Griggs, 71 Sheidley building.
Arthur M. Allen, Humboldt building, corner Sixth and
Main streets.
Karnes & Krauthoff.
J. V. C. Karnes, L. C. Krauthoff
and H. M. Stonestreet, Wales building.
C. W. Freeman, 119 West Sixth street.
Scarritt & Scarritt. Ed L. Scarritt and Wm. C. Scarritt,
Humboldt building, corner Sixth and Main streets.
Lathrop & Smith, 117 West Sixth street.
Pratt, Brumback & Ferry, Ninth and Broadway streets.
Warner & Dean, room 8, Law building.
PATENT SOLICITOR AND EXPERT.
J. C. Higdon, solicitor of patents and mechanical expert.
Opinions and testimony as to infringements, validity of pat-
ents, etc. Assistance to attorneys in general practice, a spe-
cialty. Correspondence invited. Associate at Washington.
Room 5, Times building. Send for instructions and references.

}
*
:
T
LUMBER.
HE heavy cost of handling lumber at this point, combin-
ed with the disadvantages arising from existing freight
rates, serve to prevent the carrying of heavy wholesale stocks.
here.
Manufacturers, also, for these reasons, find it to their ad-
vantage to ship direct from the mills, and that they can make
better prices to their customers by so doing. The time con-
sumed by the transaction being very little in excess of ship-
ping from this market, on account of the deficiency of proper
facilities here for making quick shipments.
In the face of these difficulties, which time will speedily
remove, the yards created at first to supply a constantly in-
creasing local demand have rapidly been enlarged, and the trade
has been extended until Kansas City has become the great
lumber center from which building material is obtained to
meet the requirements of the rapidly growing west.
A very conservative estimate places the capital invested
in this interest at $250,000, and the gross amount of sales of
the wholesale bussiness and the local yards will amount to
fully $6,000,000 per annum.
The city obtains its lumber as far north as St. Paul and
as far south as Georgia. Chicago has been the great buying
place for Kansas City dealers, but Chicago can not meet the
demands of this market any longer. Then, too, the "river
grades" are considered by many dealer to be superior to the
Chicago lumber and are rapidly taking
place.
Kansas City sells lumber in Nexico, Texas, Kansas,
Colorado and Nebraska. A large amount is taken by the rail-
256
LUMBER.
257
roads that are being constructed in the West. They take their
lumber from Kansas City in preference to Chicago or St. Louis,
for they can buy it just as cheap here and it is nearer to the
location where it is to be used.
The following are represensative lumber dealers doing an
extensive business in this market:
The North & Ewart Lumber Co. S. L. North, Leaven-
worth, Kansas, and W. I. Ewart, Kansas City. They are
manufacturers and exclusively wholesale dealers in yellow
pine lumber, cypress shingles and posts. Main office 119 West
Eighth street, Kansas City; and branch office at Sargent, Mo.
W. C. Jones & Co., dealers in lumber, laths and shingles.
Estimates promptly furnished. Office 610 Delaware street.
A. Bushnell, wholesale dealer in white oak piling, railroad
and farm oak posts, cypress poles and piling. South-east cor-
ner Ninth street and Broadway. References: First National
Bank, Bloomington, Ills. ; Armour Packing Company, Kansas
City.
F. M. Deardorff. Lumber, laths, shingles, sash, doors,
blinds, etc. Yard south-east corner 18th and Holmes streets.

17-
• MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.
HIS line of business is well represented in this city, there
even
being seven large and almost exclusive jobbing houses
here and if the agencies were added this number would be
materially increased. The total sales of the seven large job-
bing houses will approximate $800,000 on an invested capital
of about $375,000. It is a singular fact that goods are sold
cheaper in this market than in New York and this in the face
of the heavy freights on goods of this class. Quite a number
of eastern houses have established branches here finding it im-
possible to compete with the trade in any other way.
CONOVER BROS.
This firm may be taken as the fairly representative house
in this line of trade, having been established for over sixteen
years. They handle all classes and kinds of musical instru-
ments and have their own piano factory in New York. Their
business in this city amounts to fully $150,000 per annum, and
their trade extends to Kansas, Colorado, Missouri, Nebraska,
Iowa, New Mexico, Arizona and southern California. They
and
make a specialty of the Conover and Steinway pianos,
these instruments are rapidly superseding the organs which
have so long been popular in the West. The business in this
city is under the charge of G. H. Conover, and that of the New
York institution is managed by J. F. Conover.
258

:.
FOR
BREWING.
OR several years past it has been a matter of dispute
between Milwaukee, Chicago, New York, Philadelphia.
and Cincinnati, as to which of them has the largest brewery
In order to set the matter at rest, we present the official figures
from the records of the United States treasury department,
giving the sales of the largest breweries, from May 1, 1885, to
May 1, 1886, proving conclusively that the Anheuser-Busch
Brewing Association sold 13,358 barrels of lager beer
more than their strongest competitor, and furthermore, that
they had on hand May 1, 1886, 18,034 barrels more than any
other brewery, thus making the total output of that company
31,892 barrels more than their closest rival.
Sold from
May 1, '85, On Hand,
to May 1, '86.
May 1, '86.
1. Anheuser-Busch Brewing Association, St. Louis.
2. Joseph Schlitz Brewing Company, Milwaukee...
3. George Ehret, New York..
331,609
317,751
125,290
107,256
306,630
86,035
4. Empire Brewing Company, Phil Best, Propr.,
Milwaukee....
304,953
104,367
83,522
•
5. Bergner & Engel Brewing Comp'y, Philadelphia, 231,794
And what is still more to the purpose, not only has Mr.
Adolphus Busch, the veteran president of the company, raised
it to the rank of "banner brewery" of the United States in
point of volume of output, but their beer also holds the highest
rank for quality. Indeed this fact explains their immense
sales, which extend literally all over the country. Their great
259

260
COMMERCE OF KANSAS CITY.
success is due to the fact that they make a pure beer, from the
best selected grain and hops to be found in the markets of
the world.
To be sure, their machinery and appliances are of the
most perfect description, and their processes are the best
known to modern science.
The result is an article that is literally everywhere popu-
lar, and a favorite alike with all.
Their branch establishment in Kansas City is at the
corner of 20th and Walnut streets, under the able management
of Mr. Henry P. Metz. This gentleman has conducted the
business here with signal ability and marked success.

MOULDINGS, PICTURE FRAMES, ETC.
TH
HE goods that are usually classified under this heading
are of a varied and extensive character. The most prom-
inent house here in this line, is that of
WILLIAM VOLKER & CO.
The firm is composed of Mr. William Volker and Mr. Al-
bert H. Soukup. Both these gentlemen are well and favorably
known to the western trade by their long connection with Chi-
cago firms.
In the early part of 1882 they became convinced
that Kansas City was destined to become the trade center of
the great South-west, and formed a partnership, opening for
business at the above address. These gentlemen are justly re-
garded as among our foremost merchants. They occupy three
floors 40x110 feet, the two upper floors as a factory and the lower
for office and salesroom. A large force of skilled workmen are
employed and it is a generally conceded fact that the goods
turned out by this enterprising house are not only above the
average, but reach the perfect and artistic in design and exe-
cution. Besides manufacturing mouldings, picture frames,
window cornices, etc., the house handles extensively French,
German and American mirror plates, arch top, pier and man-
tel mirrors, picture glass, oil paintings, chromos, engravings,
lithographs, cabinet hardware and furniture supplies. Their
trade last year exceeded $80,000, and extends over Texas, New
Mexico, Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado and Iowa. They publish
a very handsome illustrated catalogue, which will be mailed to
the trade on application.
261
2
N
RAILROAD TRANSPORTATION.
EVER before in the history of the South-west, of which
Kansas City is the metropolis, has there been such a
demand for the building of railroads. Every trunk line of the
west, that has not already secured connection with this city,
is seeking an entrance to it; and in Kansas where there is
already a good railroad system, charters have been obtained for
building railroads, which, when constructed, will cover every
section of the country. Many of them will lead directly to
Kansas City and others will connect with Kansas City roads.
The trunk roads already centered here are all extending their
lines to reach desirable territory. The cause of this great de-
mand for railroads throughout this section of country, can only
be its great prosperity and the favorable outlook for its future.
During the last few years the increase of railroad facilities
in Kansas City has been most remarkable, and it would
doubtless have been much larger by this time, had it not been
for a check that has been imposed on all such enterprises
throughout the country by mistaken efforts of, doubtless, well-
meaning men, who have sought and are yet seeking to impose
legislative restraints on the natural and wholesome growth
which such enterprises are bound to maintain, if left to them.
selves and the trained judgment of their managers. The latter
ought to be credited with sufficient sense to understand their
own interests, even if they be suspected of an unpatriotic de-
sire to waste their own and their constituents' property in the
attempt to oppress and wrong their best customers, and the
worst feature of the whole mater is that almost every year seems
to bring about some new and equally unreasonable hostility.
262
RAILROAD TRANSPORTATION.
263
One ostensible object of this class of legislation was to compel
the railroads to adopt a uniform system of maximum passen-
ger and freight fares; but it is very doubtful whether there are
a dozen railroad companies now in the country that do not con-
stantly, and in obedience to the immutable, but unwritten,
laws of trade, ship both freight and passengers at lower than
the rates demanded bystate legislation, and which will not con-
tinue, as their economical conditions improve and their busi-
ness increases, to make still further reductions. It is their
interest to do this: for in doing it they increase their resources
and the interest-paying potency of their capital stocks.
The value of the railroad system of this country, to the
states west of the Mississippi River, and the extraordinary im-
petus given by it to their settlement and development, whereby
hundreds of thousands of people who would to-day be strug-
gling with poverty, but who, by reason of cheap transpor-
tation, are now in the enjoyment of peace, plenty, and com-
fortable homes, will be readily understood when it is known;
and the truth of this statement cannot be refuted; that for many
years past the enormous tonnage of grain, and the products
of grain, produced in many of the states west of the Mississippi
River, which have been carried by the lines east to tide-water,
have been carried at a cost to the producer and consumer, very
much less than the rates which have always been paid the
local carrier on the product of the territory through which
these lines run. The annual reports of most of the eastern
lines show that the cost of operating their freight traffic, has
been largely in excess of the rates obtained in this trans-Mis-
sissippi traffic, and yet, notwithstanding this, it is unfortun-
ately true, that the railroads of the western states have been for
many years the peculiar objects of harrassment by unfriendly
legislation, and an amount of ungenerous, not to say hostile,
feeling has been rife that seems most ungrateful. Indeed, it
would seem that, unlike the "Star of Empire," which is sup-
posed to be making rapid strides westward, that degree of in-
telligence and fair dealing which characterizes the people and
264
COMMERCE OF KANSAS CITY.
law-makers of the older eastern states in dealing with the com-
plex problem of transportation, is making exceedingly slow
progress in the west.
No country in the world to-day, is so fortunate as America in
respect to cheap railroad transportation. Yet, the amount of ig-
norance, prejudice and the unreasoning outcry against railroads,
their managers and owners, continues. The people and their
representatives, many of whom seem to be actuated by mer-
cenary or other selfish motives, are urged by thoughtless
clamor, to take up and settle, in a brief session, matters of
vast importance, both to their constituents who use and those
who own railroads, questions that have sorely puzzled those
who devote, and have devoted, their lives to the study of the
problem of successful railroad management.
This feature of the question of the railroads and the peo-
ple is in striking contrast to the wisdom displayed by the law
makers of Great Britain, who, more than forty years ago, after
a very thorough and careful investigation of the matter, came
to the conclusion that the same commercial principles which
governed other business enterprises, were equally applicable to
matters of railroad transportation; and they decided in effect,
that if a carrier who charged ten shillings per ton for carrying
one hundred miles, could make a profit in carrying the same
weight one hundred and fifty miles, for which, by reason of
competition, he could not get quite as much as ten shillings,
he had a perfect right to do so. Thus the principles governing
supply and demand was considered as inexorable in this as in
all other commercial transactions.
But the legislators of this country, utterly ignoring all
trade principles, seem to be seeking to fix unreasonable limits
on the whole business, and to compel the railroad companies
to make rates over non-productive territory, as low as they can
barely afford to make them when the amount of traffic is
large in proportion to the cost of the aggregate of transporta-
tion. They forget, or ignore the fact that the cost of running
a train is a fixed quantity, whether the train be loaded with
RAILROAD TRANSPORTATION.
265
profit-paying merchandise, or whether it be comparatively
empty. And they forget, too, that one of the principal ele-
ments of cost in moving freights is in the handling at the
point of reception and point of discharge, these being, also,
fixed quantities that bear no relation to the length or short-
ness of the haul.
Another great point which the legislation spoken of, was
said to have been intending to bring about, was the improve-
ment of the road beds; increased safety in the building of cul-
verts and bridges; the use of better and stauncher rails,
timbers and trusses, and all sorts of material improvements of
the kind. It does not seem to have occurred to the people and
legislators of the period that all these matters bore the most.
intimate relation to financial capacity, and that no amount of
legislation could compel a railroad company to reconstruct its
road if it had not the cash at command to do it with; nor that
any company that had the cash and failed to use it in putting
its property into the best possible condition, would exhibit that
species of lunacy which is charged against the miser whose
horse died while he was engaged in the vain effort to accom-
plish the task of making it live without food.
As an example of what was actually done, the promoters
of this class of legislation sometimes point with pride to the
Missouri Pacific Railway, which, twelve or fourteen years ago,
was run down to a stage which very nearly justified the taunt
that its rails were but a couple of streaks of rust.
caused by the loss of credit resulting from the war.
This was
And it is true that this same road is to-day one of the
best ironed, best bridged and best equipped in the country;
but it is not true that this was brought about by antagonistic
and threatening legislation. On the contrary, this very antag-
onism worked great and long injury to the credit of the road,
rendered the task of improvement all the more difficult, and
delayed the repair of the ravages caused by the war and by
the subsequent unsettled condition of affairs generally.
But when times improved, and the line fell into hands com-
266
COMMERCE OF KANSAS CITY.
petent to take advantage of increasing financial facilities, no
effort was spared towards improving it, and no mistaken par-
simony limited the extent of such improvement to the mere
legislative requirements. The law did not command that
steel rails should be substituted for iron, for instance. Yet
steel rails, although vastly more expensive, have been substi-
tuted. Why? One would have supposed, judging by the
arguments of public speakers and public writers, that it was
the determined purpose of the owners and officers of this road
to run everything to ruin, in order that they might gratify a
malevolent design on the lives and limbs and commercial
well-being and physical comfort of the traveling and trading
public. But the managers, singularly enough, seem to have
been actuated by no such idea. Absurd as it may seem, they
appear to have been actuated by an ordinary business prin-
ciple and desire to make their property profitable; and, as this
could only be done by giving the best possible accommoda-
tions, the securest road bed, rails and bridges, and running
their trains with a view to speed and safety, this is what they
did. All this, too, has been done, and done without reference
to compulsory statutes, and in a much greater degree than the
most blatant advocates for hostile legislation dreamed of, or
could, with their limited knowledge, have comprehended. It
is, unfortunately, true that at the time immediately antecedent
to, and during which the agitation existed, the Missouri Pacific
was afflicted with a vast number of accidents. These were
brought about, however, quite as much by the treachery of
subordinates, who found encouragement in the popular agita-
tion, as by the acknowledged poor condition of the roads and
rolling stock. But every one of these accidents was plainly an
injury to the owners of the railroad property, and could not,
surely, have been brought about at their instigation or by the
free will or connivance of their principal servants and mana-
gers.
It is singular, also to observe how ready the public at
times has shown itself to aid and encourage insubordination
RAILROAD TRANSPORTATION.
267
among the operating class of railroad employees. Thus, the
famous railroad riots in 1877, and still more recent strikes,
would never have assumed their disastrous proportions had
it not been for the demagogic shoutings of a certain portion of
the public press, who, in a mistaken notion that they were
supporting the popular side of a controversy, concerning whose
conditions they were profoundly ignorant, gave such encour-
agement to the criminal and lawless classes as led to evils of
the most far-reaching and ruinous character. It is true that,
when the evil had displayed itself in all its hideous strength,
and suffering and wrong-doing had become national in extent
-reaching every individual in the country-the press unani-
mously wheeled round for the defense of right and the restor-
ation of order. But the mischief had been done, and it had
to be borne by both railroad companies and the people, for
whose service the former alone exists.
The latest manifestation of this feeling of hostility is
shown in the attempt to engage the power of congress in a
system of legislation that shall cripple, if not entirely destroy,
the freedom and enterprise of the great railway systems. The
idea is the same which underlay all the State legislation above
referred to, viz.: the substitution for the unwritten law of
supply and demand, a cast-iron set of regulations within which
all the promptings toward extension of accommodation and
the reasonable reduction of tariffs, which would naturally flow
from the self-interest of railroad property owners and the
spirit of competition, shall be bound. "But," says the advo-
cates of this class of legislation, "the laws of supply and
demand do not affect the business of the railroads, which are
practical monopolies; nor can competition control them."
Let us see how this is. In a certain limited sense, the rail-
roads may be conceded to be not legal, but practical, monopo-
lies, but they can only remain so while they have no com-
petitors. And how can they maintain themselves without
competition for their privileges? Only by serving the public
at such low rates of compensation, and so completely, as to
268
COMMERCE OF KANSAS CITY.
make it, at the best, a very risky business for competing com-
panies to invade their territory. This is a free country, and full of
capital always eagerly on the lookout for profitable investment.
Suppose, for argument's sake, that any large western
system with its enormous and far-reaching branches through
the great States of the West and Southwest, were to raise its
freight and passenger tariffs to an oppressive height, and main-
tain them with a view to squeezing a usurious profit from
its customers-how long would it be before Eastern or English
capitalists would stretch their hands forth for the golden
opportunity and bring about disastrous results for the
unwise corporation? This is where the law of supply and
demand, and the force of competition as controlling powers,
come in as to railroads. Were they so disposed, they dare
not systematically oppress; on the contrary, it is plainly to
their interest, by wisely liberal dealing, to make friends
wherever they go and to encourage the prosperity of the
people from whom they derive their revenues. A farmer
on the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe, the Missouri Pacific,
or the Fort Scott & Gulf, who is prosperous and grow-
ing rich, is a source of revenue, constantly increasing in pro-
portion to his prosperity. One who, from any adventitious
cause, or from his own inherent incapacity, is kept constantly
poor is no more use to the road and its owners than a dead log
rotting in a swamp. Nay more, such a one is much worse;
for such make the class who are liable, on slight and imagin-
ary provocation, to become active adversaries, train wreckers
and virulent provokers of enmity in the section cursed with
their presence.
If these matters were more fully understood
and more candidly considered, and if amateur political econo-
mists would learn to have faith in the immutable principles
which govern all civilized commerce, we would hear much less
of legislative interference in the details of railroad management,
and freedom of contract would remain the sole governing force
in the business of supplying freight accommodation, as it is in
supplying dry goods, groceries and boots and shoes.
יי
RAILROAD TRANSPORTATION.
269
So, too, with the latest developement of railroad mange-
ment-consolidation of management and its accompanying
economies when this policy made itself manifest in evident
strength and extent, an outcry was raised that the monopo-
lists were grasping at the liberties of the people and seeking to
oppress and ruin them in order to increase their riches. And
this outcry is still kept up in some quarters, in spite of the
evident facts that the oppression and ruin of a people is the
surest way to the destruction of the sources of revenue, and that
to-day concentration of management has enabled the railroads
to reduce freights, to open up new and vast fields for settlement,
to create states and push forward the material prosperity of
countries that but a few years ago were practically inaccessable
to commerce.
A RAILROAD CENTER.
The most important factor in building up a city is the
system of railroads which bring into and carry out the prod-
ucts of tributary sections. These arteries of commerce are
what have built up Kansas City. Year after year they have
been stretching out bringing the riches of new lands to our
doors. By them the fruits of the Pacific coast are thrown into
the lap of trade. By them the products of the distant South
are brought to our doors. By them the precious and baser
metals of the West and South-west are hurled upon us. By
them the live stock of the West amounting in all to thirty-five
per cent of all raised in the United States are unloaded
in our midst. The boundless tracks of lumber in the South
and North seek here an outlet by their faithful ally and friend,
the railroad. It is no wonder that these lines have chosen
this point as a center of operations. Recognizing that this is
the center of the promised land of the future, these railroads
have united in the attempt to build it up.
Last year the total mileage of the railroads reaching here.
was a little more than 25,700 miles. At present it is over
36,000—a length sufficient to pass one and a half times around
the globe.

270
COMMERCE OF KANSAS CITY.
ATCHISON, TOPEKA & SANTA FE. R. R.
The greatest feeder to Kansas City, and the most powerful
individual influence that has been exercised in the develop-
ment and progress of the state of Kansas, has unquestionably
been the system of railroads controlled and operated by the
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Company.
This system is composed of the Atchison, Topeka & San-
ta Fe; Kansas City, Topeka & Western; Kansas City, Empo-
ria & Southern; Florence, Eldorado & Walnut Valley; Mari-
on & McPherson; Wichita & South-western; Pueblo & Ar-
kansas Valley; New Mexico & Southern Pacific; New Mexi
can; Rio Grande, Mexico & Pacific; Rio Grande & El Paso;
New Mexico & Arizona; Manhattan, Alma & Burlingame;
Leavenworth, Topeka & South-western; Wichita & Western;
Sonora and the Southern Kansas railroads.
In addition: The Chicago, Kansas & Western; Emporia
& Eldorado Short Line; Colony, Neosho Falls & Western; Le-
roy & Western; Walnut Valley & Colorado; Pawnee Valley &
Denver; Independence & South-western; Arkansas River &
Western; Kansas, Oklahoma & Texas, and Ottawa, Osage City
& Council Grove railroad companies were on May 31, 1886,
consolidated under the title of the Chicago, Kansas & Western
Railroad Company, and are now in course of construction.
At the close of 1885, the following was the mileage of this
great system:
Atchison System.....
Southern Kansas System.
Sonora System…..
Owned Jointly (one-half mileage)
1,868.14
528.80
2,396.94
.350.19
73.92
2,821.05.
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272
COMMERCE OF KANSAS CITY.
In Missouri...
In Kansas.
In Colorado..
In New Mexico.
In Texas....
In Arizona.
•
LOCATION OF COMBINED MILEAGE.
1.49
.1.494.48
L
282.10
672.64
20.15
87.78
262.41
In Sonora, Mexico..
Total....
.2,821.05 miles.
There are now 450 miles of new line in different sections,
for which arrangements have been made for building and most.
of which will be completed during the present year these will
form many connections and links in the present system; they
will shorten distances and form direct connections that will
greatly facilitate the movement of freight and add to the con-
veniences and advantages of trade through the vast territory
covered.
The company are also now preparing to build a road to con-
nect the A. T. system, through the Indian Territory with the
Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fe, in Northern Texas, which will form
a direct through line to Galveston.
This company has already been alluded to as the great
feeding system of Kansas City, and that this is an eminently
correct appellation is shown in the fact that it exceeds all other
lines in the quantity and number of live stock, grain, agricult-
ural products and minerals for the smelting works that it brings to
this city, while in returning it carries the supplies of this market
through all the most prosperous and flourishing towns and
cities of Kansas and the great South-west. It has a greater mile-
age in Kansas than all the other roads combined, and has
proved a most powerful factor in promoting the best interests
of that state. The land controlled by the company in Kansas
has been entirely disposed of with a rapidity that reflects the
RAILROAD TRANSPORTATION.
273
greatest credit on the enterprising and energetic character of
the management, and serves at the same time to indicate the
extraordinary progress and development of the state.
Running through a very fertile region, inhabited by an
energetic and intelligent people, it has, thanks to a progressive
management, been prosperous from its very inception; and by a
line of policy closely followed, which has for one of its best feat-
ures fair rates for passengers and freight, it has earned, and main-
tained, the friendly sympathy of the people who are its patrons.
Of the various causes that have tended to the advancement
of the commercial interests of Kansas City, and to the develop-
ment of the great South-west, probably none figures more
prominently than the railroad in question.
The entire track and equipment of the road is first-class
in every respect; its roadbed, culverts and bridges are all
constructed on the soundest engineering principles, and
its equipment is composed of the very best day cars that are
made, Pullman palace sleeping cars, reclining chair cars, and
a line of the finest dining cars that are to be found on any rail-
way in the world. The management is ever ready to meet the
requirements of its patrons, and is always prompt to adopt the
- latest modern improvements tending to safety, speed, and com-
fort.
The financial affairs of the company are in a most satis-
factory condition; the large immigration into the State of Kan-
sas during the spring of 1885 tended to lessen the unfavorable
results of the general business depression which were at length
beginning to be felt in that state; and had it not been for the
failure of the winter wheat crop, from the transportation of
which the company usually derived a large revenue, the earn-
ings for 1885 would have equaled, if not exceeded, those for
the preceding year, and this, notwithstanding the reduction in
the average rates obtained. The passenger travel was, during
last year, especially satisfactory, and the constant filling up of
Kansas with new settlers augurs well for the future prosperity
of the state and for the business of the company. The large
18-
274
COMMERCE OF KANSAS CITY.
corn crop of 1885 affected the earnings only indirectly, as the
greatly increased use of corn in Kansas for feeding purposes
tends to diminish the transportation of that article. On the
other hand, the shipment of live stock considerably increased;
and the better profit thereby obtained by the farmers tends to
increase the general prosperity of the state and to that extent
favorably affects the business of the road.
With regard to operating expenses, large outlays were made
during the same period for the permanent improvement of the
property. The track was improved by additional stone ballast
and rip-rap, and steel rails were substituted for iron over a
considerable length of the line.
The following were the earnings and expenses of the
Atchison and Southern Kansas systems for 1885:
The gross earnings were:
From freight.......
$10,873,621.24
From passengers.
From mail and express...
From miscellaneous sources.
Total.........
Operating expenses..
Taxes...
3,889,411.37
672,567.75
135,795.03
..$15,571,395.39
.$7,855,773.63
459,194.45
8,314,968.08
$7,256,427.31
Leaving net earnings for the year.
The general officers of the road are:
Wm. B. Strong, president......
C. W. Smith, first vice-president...
A. A. Robinson, second vice-president….....
Geo. W. McCrary, general counsel..
E. Wilder, secretary and treasurer.......
Geo. L. Goodwin, ass't secretary and ass't treasurer.........
Jno. P. Whitehead, comptroller and general auditor..
Boston, Mass
Topeka, Kan
Topeka, Kan
Kansas City, Mo
Topeka, Kan
Boston, Mass
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MAP OF THE KANSAS CITY, FT, SCOTT & GULF RAILROAD.
Senatobia
діно
CHES.
Covington
BrownsV,
RASH,
MEMPHIS
276
COMMERCE OF KANSAS CITY.
KANSAS CITY, FT. SCOTT & GULF R. R.
The Kansas City, Ft. Scott & Gulf Railroad comprises in
its system 825 miles of road, of which 388 miles form the K.
C., F. S. & Gulf, 285 belong to the Kansas City, Springfield &
Memphis Railway and 154 miles to the Kansas City, Clinton
& Springfield Railway. The business of the entire system is
transacted under one management. The combined roads
traverse the entire country from Kansas City to Cherryvale,
Kansas; Webb City, Missouri, and through Springfield, Mis-
souri, direct to Memphis, Tennessee; and in addition the
Kansas City, Clinton & Springfield line forms a separate con-
nection between Olathe, Kansas, and Ash Grove, Missouri,
through the rich coal fields of Henry county.
The importance of this railway system to Kansas City is
indicated by the following statistics which show the amount of
freight, in pounds, actually handled at this point, with a com-
parative statement of the two past years. These figures do
not include through business, but only that on which dues
have actually been collected:
RAILWAYS.
1884.
1885.
K. C., F. S. & G......
1,495,270,000
1,679,192,000
Union Pacific.
1,331,464,462
1,396,966,828
A., T. & S. F….....
823,952,405
661,027,220
Southern Kansas.
Hannibal......
382,154,475
384,822,430
930,462,161
925,500,000
Rock Island....
651,892,656
675,789,000
Chicago & Alton
•
1,579,981,592
1,386,688,500
Wabash
1,097,748,991
1,009,084,000
Missouri Pacific.
1,247,036,014
1,519,523,000
Council Bluffs..
674,906,194
652,430,000
The opening of the Kansas City, Clinton and Springfield
road only took place in November, 1885, and as the region
through which the line passes is rich in coal, timber and farm
products, the addition of its business to that already transacted,
-

RAILROAD TRANSPORTATION.
277
as shown above, will necessarily give this system a still greater
pre-eminence in future statistics.
The following is a comparative statement of the business
of the Ft. Scott & Gulf and the Kansas City, Springfield &
Memphis for the years 1884 and 1885.
KANSAS CITY, FORT SCOTT & GULF R. R. CO.
1885.
1884
Increase or
Decrease.
Miles operated.......
388.86
388.86
Tons of freight hauled,
1,493,822
1,165,591
Inc.
328,231
Passengers carried...
604,608
609,217
Dec.
4,609
Tons of freight to K. C.......
597,191
553,032 Inc.
44,519
Tons of freight from K. C...
242,405
194,602
47,803
Passengers carried to K. C..
121,837
105,840
15,997
Passengers carried f'm K. C.
126,091
113,839
12,252
KANSAS CITY, SPRINGFIELD & MEMPHIS R. R. CO.
Miles operated..
Tons of freight hauled...
Passengers carried..
...
1885.
1884.
Increase.
281.94
281.94
618,087
448,313
169,774
147,853
123,146
24,707
The Kansas City, Fort Scott and Gulf has from its infancy
been an unusually popular road; each succeeding year it has
largely increased its tonnage as to freight carried, while its pas-
senger traffic has grown with the increased volume of business
and population throughout the territory through which it
operates. The management of this road have allowed their
names to be used to countenance some very important railroad
schemes in south-eastern and southern Kansas, which are
likely to add much to its power and give Kansas City an even
greater territory than has hitherto been tributary to her busi-
ness men. In many respects this road has been a great bene-
factor to Kansas City. Having a large amount of track and
vacant grounds in the city, the management held out liberal
inducements to parties to build warehouses and other enter-
278
COMMERCE OF KANSAS CITY.
inducements to parties to build warehouses and other enter-
prises. They were also the original promoters of the city Belt
Line, of which they built the first portion. This Belt Line
forms the means by which the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul
enters the city; it also forms a connection between the Mis-
suri Pacific and Chicago & Alton and all of the western and
southern lines.
The building of the belt line, by this company, to and
beyond Grand avenue opened up to the southern portion
of the city all the advantages of railroad facilities, which
at once led to the building of mills and elevators, and other com-
mercial projects being established in that locality. The man-
agement of the K. C., F. S. & G. railroad is one of the most
successful and energetic in the country. Its policy has al-
ways been one of consistent effort to afford the public, both
passengers and shippers, the utmost convenience and dispatch
that science is capable of producing. Thus, the company is
rapidly placing steel rails of sixty pounds weight to the yard,
in place of rails of lighter weight, on all its main lines, and
using these latter for sidings and other less important purposes.
The roadbed, track, bridges and entire equipment of the line.
are perfect in every respect, and thus it comes about that the
K. C., F. S. & G. is one of the most popular and best patron-
ized roads in the west. Its managers fully understand the
plain principle so frequently overlooked by other roads, that
the public is the great paymaster, and that when the public is
satisfied, profits are certain to ensue. The following is a summary
of the earnings and expenses, including taxes, of the road for 1885:
Earnings from all sources.
Operating expenses....
Net earnings.....
$2,546,525.90
1,558,306.57
$ 988,219.33
Operating expenses per cent of gross earnings, 61.19.
The officers of the system are:
G. H. Nettleton, general manager; L. W. Towne, super-
intendent; M. L. Sargent, general freight agent; J. G. Lock-
wood, general passenger agent.
RAILROAD TRANSPORTATION.
279
:
..
THE MISSOURI PACIFIC.
In the entire length and breadth of the land there is not
an iron highway that has done more for the material advance-
ment of the United States than the road whose name appears
at the head of this article. It has been for years ever stretch-
ing out its arms, developing new countries and making the
desert to blossom as the rose. The mileage under its manage-
ment is the greatest of any road that reaches here. It brings
to our doors the product of the south and west and the wares
of the north and east. It pours annually into the lap of
industry the live stock of the western plains, the minerals
from its mines, the manufactures from the mills of the east,
the coal which is found in every section of the land.
Its resources are as boundless as the ocean; it stretches
forth its arteries of steel with irresistible energy and vigor,
causing new cities to spring up in a day and bringing under
cultivation millions of acres of land almost within a night.
There is no boundary to the possibilities and no limit to the
capital willing and anxious to aid it in extending its field of
usefulness. The many fingers of the line touch at the following
places: Kansas City and St. Louis, in Missouri; Omaha, in
Nebraska; Cairo, in Illinois; Memphis, in Tennessee; New
Orleans, in Louisiana, and Galveston, in Texas. Thus it will
be seen that the facilities of the line for carrying the products
to and from every section of the west are second to none.
The immigrant coming from a foreign shore can find
a pleasant home along the line. If he desires a northern loca-
tion, Nebraska offers him rich returns in the shape of bountiful
crops of wheat and corn, cattle and swine. If it be to his
taste to seek a home in the south, Texas invites him to her
fertile plains, where cattle and cotton will bring to him sub-
stantial evidences of nature's kindness.
Kansas lures him with her temperate climate, neither
extreme of heat and cold being known; her productive soil,
280
COMMERCE OF KANSAS CITY.
where all that nature in her most lavish bounty can bestow is
grown, from the smallest fruits and grains to the largest cattle
and horses. The history of the building up of the west would
not be complete without the history of this road. It was in
fact the fore-runner of civilization in the greater portion of the
south-west. In all the country through which this net-work
runs the climate is of the most attractive kind. The excessive
rigors of winter are not known, and the heat of summer is
tempered by the ever blowing winds of the boundless prairies.
In order to even further increase the facilities for handling
the products of Kansas in this market, the system is now
building a branch from Paola to this point, which, it is
thought, will increase the business done here fully fifteen per
cent.
The rolling stock of this line is of the very best pattern
which science and mechanical skill can give. It is a rule
which has been vigorously carried out that nothing but the
best shall be used. In the appointments of the passenger
trains the comfort and pleasure of customers is the first con-
sideration. The idea is to deliver the traveler at his destina-
tion in an expeditious and comfortable manner so that when
inclined to travel again it shall be with a feeling of satisfaction
and not of apprehension of privations and delays.
No road brings a greater amount of merchandise into
Kansas City than this line, and it is certain that there is not
a line which has done and is doing more towards giving the
city its prestige among the commercial marts of the world.
THE UNION PACIFIC.
The eastern branch of this line has its terminus at this
point. The Kansas Pacific is one of the most important por-
tions of the Union Pacific system. It was chartered under
the laws of the territory of Kansas as the Leavenworth,
Pawnee & Western railroad company. In 1863 the name
was changed to the eastern division of the Union Pacific and

RAILROAD TRANSPORTATION,
281
in 1868 to the Kansas Pacific. It was completed to Denver
on September 1, 1870. This line gives Kansas City one of the
great trans-continental routes to the Pacific coast. It is one
of the great feeders for this city, passing as it does all through
the most fertile and productive portions of Kansas. It has
branch roads to all desirable points in the States and territories.
it traverses and is a potent factor in the development of the
West in general and Kansas City in particular.
66
CHICAGO, BURLINGTON & QUINCY.
This railroad, forming as it does, a part of the extensive
Burlington Route" system, is an important factor in the
commercial prosperity of Kansas City, as well as in the natu-
ral development of the various States traversed by its lines.
The C., B. & Q. R. R. was formed by consolidating in 1856
the Chicago & Aurora and the Central Military Tract
railroads, which extended from Turner Junction to Galesburg,
and comprised a total of 150 miles. From that small begin-
ning it has developed into the magnificent railroad system
that it is to-day; having near 5,000 miles of steel track, and
main line and branches reaching all the important cities and
towns in the six great States of Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Kan-
sas, Nebraska and Colorado. From east to west it not only
extends for 1,000 miles in an unbroken line between Chicago
and Denver, but has two main lines to the latter point from
Chicago, one via Kansas City, the other via Pacific Junction.
It has as well numerous through lines running in a northern
and southern direction from both its eastern and western ter-
minals. Through trains elegantly equipped with Pullman
sleeping cars, reclining chair cars, dining cars and luxurious
passenger coaches are run over its entire system. Owing to
its geographical position, passing as it does for so great a dis-
tance directly through the "heart of the Continent," the
Burlington route is the principal line between the East and
San Francisco, Portland and the City of Mexico.
It has,
282
COMMERCE OF KANSAS CITY.
therefore, always carried the majority of the business between
the East and the West, even receiving the endorsement of the
United States government by being selected to carry the "fast
mail” west of Chicago.
In the matter of facilities for all kinds of traffic, mileage,
superior equipment, excellent road beds, smooth track, me-
chanical devices for comfort and safety, and sound financial
management, the Burlington route may be taken as one of
the best illustrations of the vast and elaborate scale on which
successful railroad enterprises are conducted in this country.
Within its system are included the following lines: The
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy; the Burlington & Missouri
River railroad in Nebraska; the Hannibal & St. Joseph; the
Kansas City, St. Joseph & Council Bluffs; the St. Louis,
Keokuk & North-western; the Chicago, Burlington & Kansas
City; the Chicago & Iowa; the Burlington & Western; and the
Burlington & North-western. The lines of this immense sys-
tem bring to and carry from the centers of trade, the produc-
tions of every clime and the people of every nation on the face
of the globe. There is no section of the world where the in-
fluence of this railroad is not felt. It is peculiarly a Kansas
City road, and it has done as much for the merchants at this
point as any other one line which enters it, and as its resources
are increased so does it augment the riches and power of this
western city.
KANSAS CITY, ST. JOSEPH & COUNCIL BLUFFS.
This road opens up Nebraska and Iowa to this city. It is
the beginning of a great north-western route to this point.
Including the main line and the branches, the company oper-
ates 310 miles of road. At present it is leased to the Chicago,
Burlington & Quincy railroad,
RAILROAD TRANSPORTATION.
283
CHICAGO & ALTON.
on
Ever since this road entered the city in 1870
May 11, its policy towards the merchants has been of the most
liberal. It is one of the most important main eastern connec-
tions of Kansas City. For eight years previous to this time.
the Chicago & Alton ran into the city over the leased line
of the old Northern Pacific or Wabash system. In 1877 the
Kansas City, St. Louis & Chicago railroad company began the
construction of a line, which now constitutes, with the Louis-
iana & Missouri road, the Chicago & Alton's Missouri lines.
At present there are operated 270 miles in Missouri, the whole
The line passes
system having a length of 849,78 miles.
100
through the garden districts of the State and to it is due the
credit of bringing to the city one of the most liberal railroad
policies ever enjoyed at this point.
The Chicago & Alton railroad extends from Chicago to
St. Louis in nearly a direct line about 282 miles in length,
with a branch running from Bloomington, about mid-way
between the two great cities, in a south-westerly direction, to
Roodhouse, and thence due west in a straight line across the
Louisiana bridge of the Mississippi, to Kansas City, distant
from Chicago about 526 miles, carrying the traffic between
Kansas City, central and northern Missouri and Chicago.
Besides these there are various minor branches; one connect-
ing Roodhouse with Alton; one running from Mexico, Mis-
souri, to Cedar City, on the north bank of the Missouri river,
opposite Jefferson City, the State Capital; one from Joliet,
Illinois, to Coal City, and one from Dwight, Illinois, to Lacon
and Washington, at which latter place it makes close connec-
tion with lines running to Peoria, Pekin, Rock Island and the
whole North.
The management of the Chicago & Alton railroad is one
of the most successful and energetic in the country. Its policy
has always been one of consistent effort to afford the public,
both passengers and shippers, the utmost convenience and dis-
patch that science is capable of producing. For instance, it
284
COMMERCE OF KANSAS CITY.
was among the first, if not the first, road in the country, to
supply reclining chairs, luxurious parlor coaches, dining cars,
and the like, and it led the way in substituting steel rails for
iron, which are now only retained on side tracks and the un-
improved branch. Thus, of the total 1088.83 miles of track,
over 934 miles are steel rails of sixty and seventy pounds to
the yard.
WABASH, ST. LOUIS & PACIFIC.
The "Wabash," as it, generally speaking, is termed, is one of
the most extensive railway systems on the continent, embrac-
ing upwards of 3,500 miles in its three main divisions-the
Eastern, Western and the Chicago and Iowa division.
As indicated by the name, the road gives direct communi-
cation with the lovely and fertile valleys of the great Wabash,
and the Mississippi and the far away Pacific slope. Its division
lines are operated in the states of Missouri, Indiana, Ohio, Ill-
inois and Iowa, forming a junction at Council Bluffs with the
Union Pacific, which wends its way across the Rocky Moun-
tains to the Golden Gate city. The road makes tributary to
Kansas City an immense scope of country, and provides our
commerce with a vast system of transportation, the importance
of which can not be overestimated. The road is thoroughly
equipped with every appliance of improved mode of securing
speed and safety on railways, and through its able manage-
ment and courteous treatment of patrons has become justly
popular with the public. In Missouri the line comprises the
old North Missouri which had its origin as follows: The North
Missouri company was chartered on March 1, 1851, and the
work of construction began in May, 1854, the road being
opened to St. Charles, August 2, 1855; to Warrenton, August,
1857; to Mexico in May, 1858; to Moberly in November, 1858,
and the northern boundary of the state at Coatsville in 1868.
The road was extended from this junction to Kansas City, and
from Patensburg to Council Bluffs, with a branch to Clarinda,
in 1879. The total length of the Wabash system in Missouri
is 599 miles, and the system operates a total of 3,518 miles.


.
INDEX.
Abstracts of Title.
113
......
Cattle Companies..
153
Acre and Suburban Property..
Agricultural Implements.... 131
Allen, Arthur M…......
75
Cattle Growing.
153
Cattle Packing....
159
255
Cattle Trade...
145
American National Bank......
30
Chemicals..
204
Anheuser-Busch Brewing As-
sociation ...
259
Chicago & Alton Railroad...... 283
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy
Architects....
252
Railroad......
281
Architecture..
251
City Debt......
12
Armour Bros. Banking Co......
32
Citizen's National Bank...
20
Armour Packing Co..
164
Clark, G. J. & Co...
106
Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe
Coal.....
179
Railroad....
270
Cook, Dimmitt & Co.....
109
Attorneys...
254
Commercial Education....
246
Conover Bros....
258
Bank of Commerce...
24
Copyright
2
Bank of Grand Avenue
36
Corle Cracker and Confection-
Bank Statements.....
37
ery Co........
167
Banking and Finance...
17
Cowherd Bros....
109
Baird, F. J. & Co.....
Baird, F. J. & W. G.
233
Benson, F. H…....
Board of Trade..
107
82 Crackers and Confectionery... 167
Crittenden Bros. & Phister..... 109
Crittenden, McDougal & Stiles 254
185 Crockery and Glassware........ 224
229 Crooke, Brutus....
107 Custom House Returns....
Boots and Shoes....
Bouton & Grasty.
102
14
Brake, B, M..
Brewing.
Brick Making.
108
259
Deardorf, F. M...
257
175
Debt of City
12
Browne, E. L. & Co.....
Brown, Schoonmaker & Co..... 106
Brown, Schoonmaker & Co..... 234
Buford & George Implement
100
Dobson & Douglass..
254
Dold, Jacob & Šon...
164
Drugs
204
Dry Goods.
194
Co
....
Building Permits....
Builders' Hardware.
Burton, J. H......
141
Dyer, D. B….....
108
13
Educational.
240
214 Elliott, J. T. & Co.....
108
119 Ellison, D. & Son....
108
Bushnell A………..
257
Equitable Mortgage Co.
56
Cannon, R. H. & Co............
Eveland & McClintock.....
108
93
Case & Balis....
86 Felton, W. T.............
108
Case, Theo. S....
Calorific Brick Co....
89 Finance, Banking and….....
175 Fire Insurance
17
231
285
286
<
COMMERCE OF KANSAS CITY.
First National Bank..
29
Flint & Walling M'f'g Co..... 143
Flouring Mills..
182
Fort Scott & Gulf Route
276
Foundries...
182
Fowler, Geo.....
165
Freeman, C. W
255
Furniture
227
Kansas City Abstract Co........ 118
Kansas City Clinton & Spring-
field Railroad....
276
Kansas City Distilling Co...... 222
Kansas City Fort Scott & Gulf
route..
276
Kansas City Investment Co... 52
Kansas City Mantel & Build-
ers Supply Co.........
177
Gage, Ladd & Small.
255
Kansas City Packing Co......
166
Grain
191
Grain Commission.
192
Kansas City Safe Deposit and
Savings Bank.....
33
Grain Elevators...
192
Green, T. J. & Co...
83
Kansas City, Springfield &
Memphis Railroad..
276
Griggs, William L....
255
Karnes & Krauthoff....
255
Grimes, W. B. Dry
Goods
Keith & Perry Coal Co…......
179
Co......
196
Kelley, Dean S. & Co...
117
Groceries...
201
Kennedy, T. H…………..
108
Kensington....
112
Keystone Iron Works.
182
Hall & Willis Hardware Co.... 213
King, J Q. A
109
Hardware
211
King, J. Q A.
180
Hardware, Builders'.
...
214
Kirby, C. F....
253
Harriman, D. S. & Co.....
231
Knight & Mink.
215
Harrison & Platt..
106
Kumpf, H. C. & Son...
233
Hats and Caps....
218
Higdon, J. C....
255
Lathrop & Smith..
255
Howald & Oliver.
Higdon, J. E….
Hitt, S. M. & Co.....
Hoffman & Fussell..
Hofmann, M…………..
Home Savings Bank...
Horses and Mules.
Huggins Cracker & Candy Co. 169
Hunt, R. H. & Co.....
Implements, Agricultural....... 131
Insurance
109
Law & Mackenzie.....
77
...
109
Levingston & Davidson.
108
109
Life Insurance.
236
222
Linseed Oil....
183
36
Liquors.....
219
150
Live Stock....
145
108
Live Stock Commission.
151
Lloyd, H. C. & Co.......
108
102
•
Loan and Investment Cos...... 49
Lombard Investment Co........
54
Lumber..
256
230
McEwen Bros....
108
Internal Revenue..
13
Introductory Review
McMichan, Ed E. & Co.......
109
7
Investment Companies…………..
Machine Shops……………..
182
49
Machinery, Agricultural...
131
Management of Railroads....... 262
Jackson, Hibbets & Co.......
107
Mantels, Grates and Tiles...... 177
James, T. M. & Sons....
225
Manufacturing.....
181
Jarvis, Conklin & Co......
51
Martin, E. L. & Co......
221
Jewelry
216
Marty, Arnold & Co.......
95
Johnson, H. L.
105
Medical College.......
243
Jones, Benjamin F
125 Melton Richard H......
107
Jones & Olds....
105
Members Real Estate
Ex-
Jones, W. C. & Co......
257
change.....
111

INDEX.
287
Merchants Exchange..
Merchants National Bank…......
185
Raiload Management.
262
34
Railroad Transportation...
262
Meyer Bros. Drug Co.......
205
Real Estate...
67
Miller & Tileston.
234
Real Estate Exchange
111
....
Miller, Robt. D......
107 Real Estate Transfers....
73
Miller & Tileston.
107
Reed & Coates.....
92
Mills, H. S. & Son..
34
Review, Introductory.
7
....
Missouri Pacific Railroad....... 279
Missouri Union Trust Co........
Moline Plow Co.........
Richards & Conover Hardware
65
Co
214
134
Rickert E. J. & Co.......
105
Morrison Packing Co......... 166
Moulding, Picture Frames,
Ridenour, Baker & Co.........
202
Royer & Harwood......
108
etc
261
Mules....
150
Safety Deposit Co.........
45
Music Trade...
258
Sandwich Manufacturing Co.... 142
Scarritt & Scarritt......
255
National Bank of Kansas
City......
National Business College...... 247
National Water-Works Co...... 120
New England Loan & Trust
Co.....
New England Mutual Life
Insurance Co.........
Schueler & Co........
Scott, Thos. A. & Co.....
Scott, S. F. & Co.....
Schoellkopf, C. E.....
107
23
School of Short-Hand.
248
114
103
92
236
63 Short-Hand School.
Simmons, Milton F....
Smelting Works......
248
108
183
New England Trust Co.
63
Smith & Keating Implement
North & Ewart Lumber Co.....
257
Co.....
135
North, Orrison & Co......
227
Soap
183
Notice of Index.....
5
Solicitor of Patents...
255
Norman & Robertson.
115
Southern Kansas Railroad...... 270
Novelty Rubber Stamp Works
184
Spalding_College...
246
Special Notice.....
6
Oppenheimer, H. & Co...
216
Standard Implement Co
140
.....
Stock Yards.....
145
Packing Interests...
159 Stock Yards Bank.....
36
Pain, Henry B...
108
Paper Trade......
209
Talbott, Leander J...
91
Parlin & Orendorff Co...
139
Taintor, Giles E....
124
Pearsons, G. M......
Peet Bros. & Co........
127
183
Patent Solicitor & Expert...... 255
Pennock, C. H. & Co........
Texas Land & Cattle Co......... 158
The Kansas City Savings
Bank
99
84 The New England Mutual
35
159
Life Insurance Co........... 236
13 The Water-Works......
Terra Cotta Lumber...
171
Phelps, E. H. & Co...
Pork Packing...
Post Office Returns...
120
Pratt, Brumbach & Ferry
255
Preface....
3
Provident Savings Life Insur-
The Winner Investment Co... 80
Tinsley, Ramsden & Gooch.... 252
Title Page..
1.
ance...
235
Tootle, Hanna & Co..
199
Prudden, H. B...
Queal, O. H. & Co............
253
Towle, I. D......
253
Toulmin, G. W.
105
106 Traders Bank..
35
288
COMMERCE OF KANSAS CITY.
༣
Transportation Railroad... 262
Trumbull, Reynolds & Allen.. 136
Twyman, W. Þ
109
Union Pacific Railroad.......... 280
University of Kansas City..... 243
VanBrunt, Adriance...
Van Brunt & Howe.
Volker, William & Co...…………….
Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific
Railroad........
Walker & Maloney.
•
Warren & Dean.
253
253
Western Mortgage & Invest-
ment Co.......
Whiskey
61
219
94
96
Whitehead, C. W.....
Whiteside, Jarvis....
Whipple, Courtney & Co....... 234
Whipple, B. T. & Co......
Whipple Investment Co........ 62
Wightman, George B........
Winner Investment Co........
90
109
261
Wm. B. Grimes Dry Goods Co. 196
Wilson, McLean & Co.........
109
80
109
Winner, W. E.........
80
255
Wittich & Penfield.
210
120
Woodward, Faxon & Co........ 207
128
Wright, Edward M.....
97
107
Water-Works.....
Weems, Robert H..
Western Land & Cattle Co..... 156 Wright, Isaac A...
INDEX OF ILLUSTRATIONS,
271
26
Corle Cracker Co. Building...
68
28
4
Grimes Block….....
198
Hall & Willis Building.
212
James, T. M. & Sons.
232
Journal Building..
88
American National Bank....... 16
Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe
Railroad.....
...
Bank of Commerce.
First National Bank..
Gillis Opera House.
206
Meyer Bros. Drug Co......
Moline Plow Co. Building...... 152
National Bank of Kansas City 22
New England Mutual Life In-
surance Co.....
North, Orrison & Co...
Railroad Bridge..
1
226
67
58
Richards & Conover Building 250
Smith, G. Y. & Co. Building... 98
Stock Yards Exchange
Plat of Kansas City
114
...
Kansas City.
67
Times Building..
132
Kansas City, Fort Scott &
Gulf Railroad..
275
Kansas City Savings Bank.....
48
Tootle, Hanna & Co. Building 110
Trumbull, Reynolds & Allen.. 138
Union Depot......
68
Keystone Iron Works......
78
Martin, E. L. & Co. Building. 220
University of Kansas City..... 244
Vaults of Kansas City Safe
Mason Block.....
178
Deposit Co......
44
Medical College.
244

ན་

UNIV. OF MICH.
3 9015 06448 0257
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
APR 29 1908
JA