The McArthur enquirer. (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1873-1884, 1873-06-11

ern Missouri, may be Of inter-
est to our readers, submit the
following brief history. Ed. WT.
Many years ago, Gov. William
Gilpen made the remark that
Kansas City was located within
a few miles Of the Geographical
center of Uncle Sans domin-
ions, and would one day be-
come the great emporium be-
tween the Atlantic and Pacific
seaDoards. Here would the
commercial waves Of two great
oceans meet and mingle, and
flood with business prosperity
the young metropolis Of the
Missouri Valley. The Cover
nor was correct in his geogra-
ply, and remarkably sagacious
in his prediction.
Kansas City is situated on
the southern bank of the Mis-
souri, river, just below the
mouth of Kansas, and a sight
that is high, irregular and pic
turesque. 1t is the second
town in the State, and for rap
idity of growth, and the solid
character of its improvements
is without parallel in the
history of cities. In 1898 the
place was partially laid out,
but nothing was done save the
erection of a few cabins. Eight
years after, the town was re-
surveyed, and the commence
ment of this ''Western Wonder"
dates from that time. The
sale of the first lots we're made
in April, 1S46, and in 1S4S
the place had a population of
seven hundred souls. In 1851
the first newspaper was started,
called the Kansas Ledger;
which after running a little
over year, was moved to Inde-
pendence. 1t was succeeded
by the Enterprise, and in 1866
his paper fell into the hands
Of Col. R. T. Van Horn, the
present editor of the Journal
Of Commerce, who soon made
Kansas City we'll known name
abroad. hr
In 1856 the town began to
grow in grace and stature, and
made rapid advancement until
the spring of 1861. AT the
commencement of the war the
place had a population of seven
thousand, and a business that
many an older city might envy.
/
but civil troubles came, and
the mailed hand of the soldier
fell with crushing weight upon
the fair proportions Of Kansas
City. For nearly four years
the avenues of trade we're block
ed up, and business became a
thing of the past. AT the close
of the war the town had only a
population Of four thousand.
but with peace came'prosperity,
and the wheels of progress
were again set in motion.
Improvements commenced and
were steadily pushed forward,
ole patrons returned, and new
capital and labor sought en-
ployment. In 1866 the popu-
lation was 10000, and the en-
tire business for that year
amounted to $37,606,S27.
There were 768 buildings erect
ed, at a cost Of oyer$2,000,000.
To Kansas City belongs the
honor of building the pioneer
bridge across the Missouri river.
1t was completed in June, 1869,
and its opening on the 3rd Of
July was witnessed by upwards
of fifty thousand spectators.
This great triumph Of engineer
ing skill cost nearly a million
Of dollars, and was two years
and a half in Building. 1t has
seven piers, and is 1877 feet
in length. Although intended
principally for a railroad bridge,
it is laid with a good floor Of
Nicholson pavement, and used
for general highway travel.
In the past seven years there
has been no "let up" in the
commercial prosperity Of Kan
sas City. She has more than
! trebled her population in that
time while her splendid busi-
ness houses, her mary railways,
her sleepless enterprise and in-
creasing wealth challenge the
| otlout.n,, ockoth ~ a. En - o,.<l