White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1870-05-19


Mo-; Likens L Boyd. James Craig, Robert
w. Donneil. Msj J. e. Barrow, Joseph r.
Grub, Sam. Hill, and the Covans, Of st.
Joseph.
Il will be seen that almost the entire CON-
pany we're Pro-Slsvefy men, and Afterwards
Rebels or their sympathizen. Yet the town
has always been almost unanimously the other
way in politics. The old residenters always
made it speeials, to look after these matters
about election times, aud to keep on the look
out between times.
At the land sales, the Company came near
dipping up" on their claim. Mr.. Spausding
vas the oldest resident, but had claim Of lis
own outside, which he intended 70 buy in,
leaving il to some one else to bid in the town
site. But there was a rival interest. most bit
terly opposed to White Cloud, and doing their
best to kill of the project. Judge Byrd was in
collision With this crowd, and being the next
Oldest resident, had made his calculations to
put in claim for himself IS soon as Spaulding
had loosened bis hold, and to bid it in and
rquciCu tuG SOWus us " u5 oiSSS'S'Ssb eos
spsulding remained. having some one else to
bid in his outside claim. Different persons,
Who we're squatting about on fractions, and in
dim hooks, we're also employed To put in claims
and embsrrass the Company; but they we're all
finally disposed Of, aud the town site was
secured
At the session Of The Territorial Legislature
of 1868. ii. City Company vas incorporated.
Municipal Charter granted to the town. and
. ferry charter obtained. The provisions OF
the Municipal Charter were not put into ope-
ration until some years Afterwards. but steam
ferry boat was brought here in June, 1853
Immediately after the land sales, the brush
was cleared of of the toun size, the lots staked
Of. and preparations made for great lot sale,
which took place on the 4,h Of July, 1857, in
connection with grand barbecue and steam
boat excursion. An immense crowd was pres.
ent, and lots we're sold to . very heavy amount.
The excitement was up. AMI many lots sold at
prices that they have not commsndcd since.
Indeed, we think IL unfortunate that property
vas put up SO Sn At the start
At the beginning, the Company made some
valuable Improvements. They cut road
through the high bluff, afFording = good outlet
to the country west; and they built a number
Of dwelling houses. They also donated lots
and gave o:her assist ,nce to persons who wish
ed 70 establish manufactures and other desir.
able Improvements. But We think that they
missed it in some respects. For instance, they
kept Jim Foster at Washington for long
time, as an Agent, where he pretended to he
laborins to accomplish valuable things for the
town; but he spent his time gambling and
specializing for himself. at the Company's ex.
pense-and a heavy expense, too. They also
spent . coed deal of money and donated a
comfortable amount Of property to induce
Majors, Russell and WaddeIl to make this the
starting point in their overland fieighting.
They started one or two trains from here. and,
we think, damaged the town more than they
helped it. To our notion, if the Company
had. instead, given away every second or
third lot, to persons binding themselves to
erect dwellings or business hoases thereon,
the amount would have been more than made
up BY the increased value of the remaining
lots, and the town would to-day have been Eve
times a. large as il is.
In 1862, the rebellion having taken in q de-
cided majority of the stockholders, it was
found necessary to secure the enactment Of
special law by the Legislature, to enable the
Company to transact business, and keep up its
working ever since. And now, seeing no fur
Their necessity nor call for such a Company,
and their business having become some~hat
and at loose ends, they have de-
termined to close out their remaining property,
and subside among the things that were.