Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1869-09-30

The valuation of real estate is 81 ,41S, 132,
655. The valuation of property in New
York city has increased $73, ,704, Sly dur
ing the past year.
4 (For the HRRALD.]
Letter from Missouri.
/ KANSAS CITY, Mo-, Sept. 16.
| Editor Herald: The promise which ]
made to the readers of the HERALD some
time since, viz: that would endeavor tc
give them description, as far as waf
able, of this city, called the "Queen City
of the West" I will now endeavor to full.
fill.
/ Among the hills, at the junction Of the
Kansas and Missouri rivers, and at what
Is called the great bend of the latter river,
as it runs from the mountain to empty
into the Mississippi, nestles the enterpris-
ing and growing young City of Kansas.
city which bids fair to be the giant city
Of Northern Missouri. It is situated on
thesouthern side Of the Missouri river, in
latitude 80 deg. north and longitude 1S
deg. west, from Washington, is in Jack
son County, Mo-, and about equel dis
tance ION the Missouri river from the
northern and southern boundary of the
State. As incorporated, the city has an
area of 1850 acres, is bounded by the
Missouri river on the north and by the
boundary line between the States of Kan
sas and Missouri ON the west. It's posi-
tion, geographically, is one of the most
desirable and favorable, as regards cli-
mate, to be found in the United States,
being, as it is, almost in the centre of the
continent. If line were drawn directly
west from Eastport, Me-, to San Francis
co, it would pass through this city, while
the same meredian cuts this place and
also Galveston in Texas. 1t bisects the
two principal thoroughfares (of travel and
freight east and west, north and south,
across the continent. The Union Pacific
railroad. when completed, which will
probably be in 1870. will be the most de-
sirable route from tho Atlantic to the
Pacific. The Missouri River, Fort Scott
and Gulf Railroad is being rapidly push
ed forward, and will be finished within
the next three years, thus making the
route from the lakes to the Gulf of Mexi-
co pass through Kansas City. 1t is, now,
the terminus of seven different railroads,
viz: On the south side of the river the
Pacific railroad (of wisconsin, extends
from ST. Louis to the State line at Kansas
City; the Kansas Pacific Railway, the
late Union Pacific Division, is in opera
tion west from the same boundary four
hundred and fifty miles; the Missouri
River railroad, now run in connection
with the Missouri Pacific, continues that
line up the river to Leavcnworth. On
the opposite bank of the river the North
Missouri railroad forms second line
to st. Louis; the Missouri Valley
railroad runs north to st. Joseph;
aud tho Kansas City and Cameron Rail
road, which forms part of the Hannibal
and st. Joseph Railroad line, opens Ii
rect route to Chicago. A project is also
on foot for the building of the Memphis,
Springfield, and Kansas City Railroad, Il
distance Of three hundred and seventy five
miles. In connection with the above rail
road facilities we have the Missouri river,
upon whose waters u large and lucrative
business is carried on, both III passengers
and freight.
In the year 1909, the French, while cx-
ploring the Missouri river, landed at The
mouth Of the Kansas river, and meeting
with kind reception from the natives,
soon engaged in profitable trade at this
point, which was continued for quite IA
number of years. Trappors, before start
ing for the mounteins and plains, pur-
chased their outfits here, and on their re-
turn disposed of their furs and replenish-
ed their supplies.
Lewis and Clark, in their expedition up
the Missouri river and across to the Pa
cific, under the patronage of the govern
ment, landed at this point, and remained
two days.
General Fremont made this his final
starting point in his exploring expedition
over the mountains.
Here, also, General Ashley had his
principal base in his fur trade with the
Indians in the early part of this century.
From 1924 to 1927, Gen. Ashby shipped
over one hundred and eighty thousand
dollars worth of fur to st. Louis down the
Missouri river.
In 1926, the government established a
wagon road from the Missouri State line
to ,Santo Fee, making Independence
town situated eight miles east of this
place, and the county seat-the starting
point.
In 1854, the first stock of goods was
landed at Kansas City, destined for the
Santa Fe trade. From that time un-
til 1850, Kansas City continued to re-
ceive more and more of this trade until
she completely monopolized it. In 1919,
the first steamboat passed up the Mis-
souri, river, and landed at this place. The
boat was called the "Western Engineer"
and was commanded by Major S. H.
Long. On its return passage it also
landed here and took aboard over $4OO,-
600 worth of furs.
Kansas City takes its name from the
river bearing the same name, and means
in the Indian language smoky, and was
given to the river by the Aboriginies who
dwelt along its banks. The word is
spelled in various ways by old authors,
viz. Cansan, HANSON, Kanzas, and Kan
sas. the latter of which is now the uni
versal manner of spelling it.
The Indian tribe which occupied the
country along the Kansas river took the
same name, but were afterward nicknamed
- - r.~.,.h Ho~, hv vhich n anna the