The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1878-12-20
ANNEXATION TO KANSAS.


4 The only obstacle to the materia
progress Of Kansas City il the State line
The Times has long recognized this fact
although 1t has not heretofore made i
the subject of serious public discussion
Now, however, that the Legislature
both OF Missouri and Kansas are abou
to assemble, We feel impelled to suggest
such concurrent legislation as shall make
Kansas City in fact, as we'll as in name
the City of Kansas. r,
1t is proposition which we are salts
fed will be hailed with universal appro
baton in Kansas as we'll as Kansas City
and one which should not encounter any
serious opposition from any portion Of
Jackson county, or indeed the State Of
Missouri. The annual revenue which
Kansas City pays to the State Treasury
according to Auditors last report, il
about SCI, 900, and the Reimbursement
by the State to Jackson county amounts
to $l5, 900 yearly, q difference of about
So, 900 in favor of the State government,
which would be the strongest argument
that could be used against the cession OF
Kansas City to the State of Kansas. As
to the territory required, let us suppose
that the line of the Big Blue be made
the new boundary, and the townships of
kaw. WestpOrt and section of Wash
ingtOn are comprised in the territory to
be taken. We have thus triangular
shaped strip of twenty miles in extreme
length by an average of two and a half
miles in width, and comprising about
sixty square miles, a territorial loss to
Missouri that would be inappreciable,
ever in Jackson county.
That the State of Kansas would wei
come the acquisition, We have the assn,
rance of leading and influential men Of
all sections. The Legislature of Kansas
could do no wiser act than to effect a
virtual purchase from the State of Mis-
souri,, by assuming to pay the existing
State revenues of Kansas City into the
treasury of Missouri for fifty years to
come, or say uarter million of dollars.
1t is not question of politics, but of
craftsmanship. The argument in favor of
annexation is incontestable. The trade
of the State Of Kansas is the life blood
of Kansas City. Cut off from US the
patronage that come from our sister State,
and our city would relapse into insignif.
icance. Indeed, the entire State of Kan
sas pays us tribute and fills our Golfers.
We see the faces of her people daily in
our streets. in our stores, in all our marts
of trade. Their names are on our ledgers.
They read our newspapers. they think
our thoughts. They are essentially a
part of the came community. for we are
practically one people. Who shall say
that we have not closer commercial ties
and stronger sympathies with the people
of Kansas than of Missouri
Kansas City, Mo-, should therefore be
not only set over into the State of Kan
sas, but Wyandotte and Kansas City.
Kansas, should be incorporated with
Kansas City under one municipal gov.
eminent. This would make community
of interest and obliterate State preju.
dices. 1t would relieve great CONNER
cial and political exisency by making it
a Kansas City actually as we'll as nomi-
nally. 1t would increase our population
tens of thousands yearly from the State
of Kansas. 1t would give the people of
that State an interest in our own munic-
ipal affairs that would develop itself in
legislation to foster and promote its COM
mercial and industrial advantages. 1t
would make Kansas City the commercial,
financial and social capital of Kansas,
holding her peoples loyalty and interest
in firm allegiance and vital relationship
to Kansas City, which would be in itself
q miniature commonwealth.
An enabling act by Congress, with con-
current acts by the Legislatures of the
States of Missouri and Kansas, would &C.
complish this purpose; and we trust the
subject will claim the first attention of
our local representatives at Jefferson
City during the coming session. We are
confident the Legislature of Kansas
would, upon invitation from Missouri.
appoint committee of conference to dis.
cuss the practicability and expediency of
the project.-Kansas City Times.