The Kansas herald of freedom. [volume] (Wakarusa, Kan. Territory) 1854-1860, 1858-06-19
Business Progress in Lawrence.

Business Progress in Lawrence.
There is pleasure in looking out upon
The country and observing the progress
made during the period since the settle
r,ept of this Territory, less than four years
,oo Our first visit to this city was in
November of 1854. Then few novels,
tbatched with prairie grass, three or four
miniature log cabins, and one or two nom
descripts, made of boards split from oak,
were the only indications of improve
meut visible for long distance around
the place. Our supplies were all brought
from Kansas City, which was the nearest
place of trade, and there was our post
Office address, forty-fve miles away.
Now, instead of population of a few
dozen, and that daily changing, we have
an incorporated city, with regularly
organized city government, and popu-
lation embracing near three thousand. To
this large additions are being made daily.
By the side of those rude novels, some
Of which still remain, indicating our adj
vancement, there has risen stately edifces.
fvaling the older cities in their cost and
architectural beauty. Homes of comfort
and even of opulence now mark the spot
where SO recently stood the tents of the
pioneer. From a single store where few of
the commonest necessaries of life were
sold at frightful advance on the cost,
now we observe large numbers of first
class ones, and several houses which are
doing heavy jobbing business. Instead
Of one dealer engaging in every branch of
trade at the same time, we find business
dividing up into its legitimate branches,
each limiting its trade to one department
only of commerce. The dry goods dealer
iswearied with the traffic in groceries, and
the latter with boots and shoes, and all
choose to allow those engaged in selling
hardware and cutlery to confine their bu-
aneSs to those articles usually kept by
traders of this class.
Speaking of the latter reminds US that
We have in this city, as may readily be
seen By reference to our advertising col
umns, one of the most extensive hardware
Establishments in the West. We allude
to that of ISGLE BARKER, at the lower
end of town, and on the West side of
Massachusetts, street, better known, per-
haps, as the "MAMMoTH HARDWARE
STORE" sign of the large Tea Kettle. A
walk through his rooms the other day,
surprised us in regard to the extent of
bis business, and the amount of capital
necessarily involved in it, embracing that
Of many thousands of dollars. His stove
department. alone, the last year, has been
sufficient to startle the Eastern reader who
can form no idea of the magnitude of our
Western commerce. Flows, too, ranging
through all their varieties, from the man,
moth breaking, down to the shovel plow,
are supplied in abundance. Then their
tin, copper, and sheet iron mandatory
gives employment to large number of
hands, particularly in fitting their stoves
and hollow ware for the market.
But it is not to these Mr.. BARKER lin
Its his business. His shelves are covered
With cutlery of the finest description
Mechanics tools of every variety adorn
MS establishment. Glassware and plate
glass has been added, and with these are
kept paints, oils &c.
Finding other branches Of business not
properly represented in our market, Mr..
b. mas added pine lumber. panel doors,
window sash &C., to his formerly extern
sVs stock. After passing through his
entire establishment, and examining the
thousands of new articles of curious man.
aiaeture, and all SO necessary to the wants
, Of anew country, we concluded to inquire
lie prices, and were almost startled with
the low figures employed to indicate the
worth OF his wares. We learned that the
secretOf this consisted in the fact that he
OOasht for cash, and took advantage of
Inc low freights on the river to ship his
goods forward when they could be brought
aefe at the smallest cost.
but We fear some of our readers will
'hink this article, which was designed only
:" snow the extent of the business which
growing upin Lawrence, was designed
NJ pun, so we close, with request that
,l'se In need of any thing in which Mr..
DAAAkR Is traficking viii call upon him
'upefsOn, and see for themselves that our
statement falls very short of the reality.