The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1871-04-28
KANTAs LETTER.
Arcu1goN, KAN, Aptl sth, 1871.

FRIEND EAIsLEY:
The last of March We found ourselves very
pleasantly situated, in Kansas City, enjoying
the hospitalities of our former townsman, Mr..
Madison, F. st. Clair, who is now assistant
Cashier, of the First National Bank, and is
reaping the results of having come to Kansas
City just in the right time some six years ago.
What shall we say of the cityP One thing can
safely be said of it, no other on the globe is
ike it in appearance, owing to its being almost
wholly built on excavated ground in the
bluff, or on hills across its hundreds of ravines
1 noticed one place where the residents of
nice brick dwelling, in coming out of their
front door, nearly walked unto the third story
Of the building in front of them. That is,
they did it by descending fight of stairs, so
as to not go directly on the top of the building
The cuts are made into the hills, and the hills
left IS feet perpendicular, right along side of
buildings end streets. To persons not in
hurry, it looks, to say the least, dangerous.
But here, in the rip-tearing, rushing way of
doing business, all is considered safe, where
L luGLH Il NV 4A4LloulAt5 uCbLIuGllOus
'There is a tide in the affairs Of men and
cities, which If taken at its flow, leads on to
success" About five years ago the tide
flowed for this city, and it had the good for
tune TO possess few long headed energetic
men, who were willing to do something be-
sides western blowing. wish Fremont was
its equal, The folks all put their hands to the
very bottom of their pockets, and their hearts
enlarged with the earnest effort for the public
good, and when they gave advice to their
neighbors, it had the same effect that the old
darkey's did when he and Sam were trying to
start their stalled wagon, and failing several
times, for lack of Samson in the lift at the
wheels. So, old Cufee, when they were all
ready for another effort, says to Sam.
'Do you spect to go to hebenF"
ayes, does"
"Wan then, Sam, lift now"
And out came the wheel. So in the strain
of emergency, all lifted with one will, and So
cured the completion of the Missouri Pacific
R. B., the building of the railroad bridge
across the Missouri, thereby obtaining Iail-
road connections that to-day place Kansas
City in the front rank of Western cities, with
a population of forty thousand, with large
jobbing trade that reaches thousand miles to
the southwest, capital flowing in building fine
business blocks, opera houses, pork and beef
packing establishments, sc. This is doubt
less soon to be the largest meat packing city
10
in regard to securing cattle from Texas, and
the herds Of Missouri and Kansas. might
makes whole letter on this city, and then
give but faint idea Of its progress in the past
six years, which has been truly marvellous.
On the first day of April, under bright sun
and genial air, we took the cars, for Fort Scott
and Baxter Springs, the terminus of the Mis-
souri, River, on the Fort Scott and Gulf R. R.
We were soon out on the rich praries of John
son County, Kansas. The first town of i'm
portance is Olatha, about SO miles south Of
Kansas City, surrounded by fine farming
country: There we passed several rather
pretty towns, but Paola seemed to be the
most delightfully."- situated of any town on the
road as to beauty of location.
About two O'Clock P. NJ, we reached Fort
Scott, fine town of eight thousaad iuhabi-
tants, surrounded with coal lands, and the coal
of the best quality in the state. There is also
here railroad direct to st. Louis, and one to
the southwest, giving the fine growing young
city fine railroad facilities, and with the coal
right at hand, there is no reason why Fort
Scott should not become the Pittsburgh of the
West, if its citizens VIII but do their duty,
in the way of starring, and helping others to |
build up, various manufacturing interests. If
the city had ten more men, such as Geo. Craw-
ford, it soon would be the largest town in
Kansas. The landscape views we obtained
from points near town, were grand, and do |
not wonder that the army, in 1865, selected
this as place for home, away out IN the |
then Western wilds, if not wilderness. had |
the pleasure of making the acquaintance of
Col. Wilson, who came here thirty-six years
ago, connected with the army.
They have here what they call the Plaza, a |
gathering of old government store buildings, |
arranged around square of four acres, and in
military order, giving this par of the city the
appearance of an old Mexican town. The bus
mess of the town is in a Aourishing state. |
General Wilder, of the daily and weekly !
Monitor, is making his Office rooms an at
tractive institution of the town, and his is a
power that is felt in building up Southern
Kansas. The citizens Of Fort Scott are prov |
erhialIv the most social of any town I'm Kansas /
aud that is saying great deal for them, for
Kansas towns are noted for that virtue,