The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1873-06-05
ST. JOSEPH'S DAY.
Formal Opening Of the Iron
Bridge Across the Missouri.
The Speeches, The Banquet, and
the Boys from Abroad.


Less than twenty years ago 1t was gehef-
alIv believed that the Missouri could not oe
bridsed. The ever-changing quicksands Oh
tie stream, it va. thought, would deiy the
skill and ingenuity of man. and forever give
the ferrymen employment. The solid rock
under the sand has been discovered at many
places, and now bridge spans the snre'd
stream at every prominent city on the r'ver.
The St. J,ssph WIS somewhat oe-
hind Leavenworth, Council Bluff, and Kan
sas City, in her bridge building work, but
the fact that she still leads st. Louis COM
pensa,es for multitude of delays.
Last Saturday We visited st. joseph along
with Messrs. A. NJ. Clark, Geo. X. Hinef,
J. F. Richards, NJ. E. Clark, Jas. Ac'ioni-
gle, Fred Harvey and other citizens Of Leav-
enworth, to compare the metropolis OF west
ern Missouri with the metropolis OF Kan
sas. We saw 81. Joseph in holiday attire.
She was decked out tas,efully in hags, stream
era and ribbons. Bands of music
moved along her streets, serenaded
her newspaper Offices saiuted the strangers
on the hotel balconies, and stimulated In all
the small boys Of Buchanan county an am
bition to become leading members OF brass
band. Speaking of bands, it is worth while
10 observe that the Fifth Infantry band, OF
Fort Leayenwsr,h was chartered for the day
bv the Hannibal and st. Joseph Railroad
Company, and taken 10 the city IN
special car Of the company, and
then taken around the city in four
horse wagon, likewise belonging 10 the
Railroad Company. Fred. Harvey, the
agent OF the road, KEEP. watch and ward oil
the musicians, while the immediate interests
OF Uncle Sam were guarded by Lieutenant
Lewis. u, S.A. The band was the central
figure of admiration. The st. Louis visitors
were especially delighted with the music and
charmed with the gaiiy appearing uniform
of the musicians. The press correspondents
from St. Louis abunden.ly testified their ad-
miration of the bands performance by men,
tioning it particularly in their special fis-
matches from the seat of celebration.
1t is impossible to give an accurate esti'
mate Of the number of Wis tors who thronse'i
the streets of St. Joseph on the occasion.
At least ten thousand attended, besides the
whole CITY population WIS out doors. The
procession was, in word, magnI!i-
cent. Tie GROWING triumph of II
was the representation Of the meIcan-
tile, manufacturing and labGring inter
ests Of the city. For miles and miles was,
cns followed wagons, and upon each were
men ,ersona,ing their everyday avoca,ions
Some of the wagons represented the fnrni-
ture establishments, with chairs, csrpets,
lounges, etc; others were fitted up by the
hardware frma, grocery houses, boot and
shoe sores, and upon each were the name OF
the firm and selections of goods, and coca
-ionally inappropriate motto was displayed.
The various manufacturing establishments
had representative wagons. The maehin-
lists. coopers, tanners, soap-mskerr, cigar
makers, jewellers, and in fact all the indus
tries had places in the line. The fire steam
err, gaily decked with miniature flags, and
the Hook and Ladder "ou!fits," ribboned
and plumed for the occasion, were ont.
Bouquets OF beautiful little girls in great
big wagons represen,eAe the States Of the
Union.
Some OF the notices were pointed and
worthy OF preservation. One boot and shoe
dealer had the announcement painted on his
wagon, that the business of his firm would
be good as long as babies were born without
shoes. The newsboys were 'dubbed" as the
bloated bond-holders of the St Joseph Steam
Printing Company.
We are bound to praise the sense of those
who managed the procession for having the
industrial. pursuits 80 worihily represented
in the parade. Ii did more to advertise the
city than anything,e!se. Visiting St. Joseph
az one acquainted with the city for thirteen
years. We gained many points of information
BY setting on a rock and watching the
wagons pass, and obtained better estimate
of the ciiy's wealth in manufactures than
we ever before possessed. No doubt thou
sands of visitors were wildly Impressed with
the solidi,y of the town, by the display
of home manufactured products.
We consider tina, everything about the city
was shown To the best advantage the day of
the celebration. Yet no man with the merit
of fair dealing in him can view st. Joseph
in his sober senses without pronouncing it a
built and handsomely planned
city. The streets are not wide enough, but the
business portion is compactly built, and the
are massive and commanding. One
is impressed xi,h the thought of soi;dity,
and at once the conclusion comes that the
merchants who reared the houses of trade in |
ended to stay.
S,.Joseph is one Of the pioneer cities of the |
Missouri Valley. il was centre of trade
md quite well populated before there vas
house on the site Of Leavenworth. Joseph |
Rohidoux fourishsd in that locality before
lny,hing was known of Kansas. The trader
Fho was wont TO call himself ''Oid Peter A.
,arpy, sir, more generally known as the
Id stud hGss on the sand bar, sir, who first
aised the stars and s.rires of the American
FUR Company at Bellevue, SIR was quite
amiliar With St. Joseph, and frequently
utitted bis traders from that point.
There is much Of interesting history cluster
ng about the city, which Robidoux founded
early half century ago, s;iil We are told
ha; the building OF tie iron bridge was the
reatest event of its existence. Last Sunday
&c gave our readers a description of the
ruciure, and while it is bridge well worth
ne money paid fer it, and altogether mon
ment 10 the enterprise of ST. Joseph, it is
, point of strength, beauty and durability
,ferior to the Kansa4 ard Missouri bridge
this city. /
The banque, which was given in the hall
pposite the Pacific Hotel, furnished the
rators, who we're overfowing with enthusi
IN, an opportunity to relieve themselves.
II. Kalloch made the hes; speech of the