The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1874-12-24

vi tihN urst uousc III snc rev C.ts, - HUI uc-
fnitely fixed, but it was at some time be-
tween the Goth OF June and the LIST of July,
1854, and from that time until Leavenworth
took her place as the first city in the Mis-
souri, Valley, there was no halt in her on
ward march; her growth was steady, and
rapid. Various circumstances
combined 10 stimulate the
GROWTH OF THE TOWN.
In the first place, the location selected was
one which seemed to have been naturally
designed for the site OF city. The land
was just sufficiently rolling to afford COM
plete natural system Of drainage its geo
graphical location made it the entrepot to
the State of Kansas, to which the tide of
emigration was at that time setting in, and
made it also the most desirable Quitting
point for the vast multitudes Of Pixies Peak
gold seekers, who came in two or three years
after the town was laid out, as well as the
natural headquarters for the immense plains
business carried on between the Missouri riv-
er and Colorado and Utah. There being no
railroads in this part Of the country at
that time, business with the eastern States
was transacted almost entirely by steam
boat, and as Leavenworth had
THE BEST LEvEE ON THE RIVER,
and the only levee at all times reliable
she became at once great favorite with the
boating interest, and the amount OF bust
ness which the city in those days transac-
ted by means Of the now deserted Missouri
river, would be surprising to people in this
age of railroads. The proximity of the
town to Fort Leavenworth also served to
greatly stimulate its growth; the trade OF
the large number Of soldiers usually at the
garrison, was no inconsiderable item TO a
town, and
FORT LEAvENwORTH
being the general distributing point for all
the posts on the frontier furnished profit.
able employment as freighters to hundreds
of Leavenworth men, besides making good
market for much Of the surplus products o.
the county. Then, few years later when
the war commenced, LeavenwOrth again
felt the great advantage of her neaness to
the Fort. Standing in position Of safety
and security under the guns OF Fort Lea
wentworth, the city enjoyed an immunity
from
THE RAvAGEs OF WAR
then desolating and laying waste
her rivals all around her, and the thousand
who were fleeing for safety from other AMI
less favored places, found here city o
refuge. And thus it was that during tn
continuance of the war, while neighbour,
towns were standing still or going back
ward, Leavenworth continued to make
RAPID PROGRESS;
her population daily increased, in numbers
works of public improvement were inau
gurated and carried out, money was plenty
business of every kind was good, and every
body prospered. But this growth, thougl
great and rapid, was rather Of hot-hous
character, and not natural and this pros
perity, though it made business good 70
everybody in the city, and left many OF tn
people rich, was owing largely to the mi:
fortunes of other places and had no endul
ing foundation. Consequently,
WHEN THE WAR CLOSED,
when the people no longer felt it necessar
to their security of life and property to liv
under cover OF the national guns, the caust
which had been operating so potently to CIV
, the town forced growth, were cut oft, an
: she was left to stand upon
HER OWN MERITS,
!. to depend, for her growth, upon her ow
legitimate and durable advantages, 10 con
pete with her rivals even handed, and
build her business upon business found;
TONS While the people were learning the'
things, there was period, extendin
through several years, of general businet
depression, and trade, in all branches, W;
E discouragingly dull; those who had a
qui.,J the habit, during the war, OF sittin
quietly in their shops and growing ric
upon the business that came to them III
: sought, were very 10th to accept the
NEW ORDER OF THINGS,
\ and very slow in learning the imPorta'
commercial truth, that business is to
:, had, in this age of the world, only by worl
=. ing for it. Some were forced, by necessit
to accept the situation, Others, becomir
discouraged, gave place TO new men, WI
: pushed their business into all the COUNT
which nature and our admirable railroa
y system have made tributary to the city sci
!. their runners" out to neighboring town
. and spread their business before the Poop
of the State through
THE COLUMNS OF THE NEWSPAPERS.
n Thus the relapse in the city's prosperi
y was generally overcome, and several yea
e ago the town resumed its growth upon
l healthy and durable basis.
PERMANENT AND COSTLY IMPROVEMENTS
have been made, the trade of the city h
been increased and extended, reaching OIL
into all sections of our own State and in
Missouri, Nebraska, Colorado, Texas and Ne
Mexico, manufacturing enterprises ha'
grown in extent and number, and at Il
present time the city, though sympathiziI
;, with the general depression which prevail
in business circles throughout the countr
shows unmistakable evidence of steady Al
!. permanent growth, with a regularly increa
:, ing trade established upon sure and re'i
bic business basis.
), FIRST ELECTION
e The first election in Leavenworth for eli
d officers was held on the Sd of Septembe
IS 1855. The names Of the several gentiem,
h who have since had the honor of standiI
at the head of the municipal governmer
are as follows:
1. Thos. T. Slocum, Sept, 1855, to JAM, 1856.
2 VIM. E. Murphy, JAN, 1856, to Sept, 1857.
= 3. Henry J. Adams, Sept, 1857, to Sept, 1885,
4. H B. Denman, Sept, 1858, to Sept, 1859.
& q" 1859, to "a 1860
G Jas L Mcdowell, Sept, 1860, to Sept, 1861.
It T. Warren A. Latta, Sept, 1861, to Sept, 1862.
sHR Denman, Sept, 1866, to April, 1853.