The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1878-09-14
Westward Ho !

KANSAS CITY, Mo-, Aug. o.. 1873.
| reached here ten days ago, since which time
the weather has been too hot 10 stir or get about
except at great Inconvenience and discomfort, the
thermometer ranging from 9G 10 1903 in the shade.
To-day / registered ll3 at Eve O'Clock in the even
ing in the sun, though a strong wind was blowing
at the time. Some claim that 1t has been as high
as 800 and 1913 in places. Sunstrokes are Of daily
occurrence, and among the victims whose cases
proved fatal was Mr.. Gilday, a resident Of this
place for nearly thirty years, and formerly one Of
the city fathers. Strong men in the prime Of life
are smitten down and carried TO their homes or
the hospital, to look no more upon these earthly
scenes. The nights have been but little cooler
than the days, but clear and beautiful, and we hear
OF citizens all over the city preferring to sleep out
on the ground rather than stay in the houses. The
weather always being a familiar theme upon which
to open up conversation, you see ! have taken adj
vantage of that fact for this letter. But as there
is no power on earth to change the weather, / pro-
pose to let " Old Sol " travel on bis course and
hope for cooler times.
Kansas city is situated in Jackson county, on
the western border of the State, and just south of
the Missouri river, at a point where the Kaw or
Kansas river empties into the Missouri, where the
latter takes a turn from its s~outherly course and
flows westerly through the centre Of the State.
Here the bluffs along the river are very prominent,
and the city perched upon these bluffs is rapidly
stretching out its streets among the hills in the
background, aud with marvellous rapidity is be-
coming densely settled. Twelve years ago il num-
bered but 5000 inhabitants, but now its popula-
ton exceeds 40, 900, having more than doubled
with each four years. There is little doubt but
Kansas city must play an important part in the
commercial interests Of this western country. Its
business men already realize this fact, and are full
of enterprise. Messrs. Fairbanks q Co., scale
manufacturers, see this, and are locating a repair
shop here. Kansas city now packs more beef
annually than any other city in the Union. having
last year Outstripped both st. Louis and Chicago.
and her large stock yards make her pTe-eminently
the stock depot Of the West. Hard times " DO
no! seem to have affected her as many other cities.
Cady IL Olmsiead, jewellers Doggett a. Smith,
extensive dry goods merchants, and Alternately,
North s. OrrisOn, furniture dealers, all speak Of
the business they are doing in a very encouraging
manner. One may get an idea Of the progress and
growth OF the city from the fact that scarcely "A
house that is tenantable at all can be rented. and
no sooner is one vacated than twenty applicants
are ready 10 secure il. A friend told me the other
day that a %neighbOr was making repairs on bis
house, and SO frequent were the applications for
rent that be was compelled to put the sign, " This
house is not for rent, to save further annoyance.
There is not a street, and hardly a block, but what
Z buAN4uEo aAC HDAnk up AAu improvements
going on. On one street no less than 10 houses
are now being erected. The streets are vet in a
primitive condition IN many places, and OF course
do not compare with our Eastern cities. The road
beds are made Of the limestone which is abundant
in the bills, but Of a very inferior quality. The
sidewalks are planked, and would be tOlerably
passable but for the host Of hogs which roam at
large all over the city and keep the walks in a
most filthy condition. The city authorities have
finally taken tue matter in hand, much 10 the dis.
gust Of the Irish population, and after the 9Th
inst. the liberties Of pOrkdom are to be restricted
10 their own private pens. The City Council is in
a severe state Of uprOar and excitement over the
proposed route Of the Chicago and Alton Railroad
in Its city approach, aud there - little hope OF
abatement. Some are anxious that the railroad
company should come down handsomely and pay
for all privileges and every inch Of ground; on the
other hand, the railroad has its friends, aud they
are pulling every wire that can be handled. Three
different routes have been proposed and neither
can obtain a majority to support il, and 30 the bat
tie wages. The city has a debt now aggregating
81, 600 900, being $40 per capita for every man,
woman and child in the city.
The soil here is well adapted to the cultivation
OF the peach. nectarlne, pear, and grape, and these
will eventually be extensively grown here. as
they find a ready market. Peaches are now rap
idly coming in aud there is a good supply. There
il a scarcity Of apples in this section, and they are
bringing a good price. Potatoes are pleutilul and
very cheap, good early Rose bringing but twenty
five cents per bushel. and twenty cents in larger
lots, in the surrounding country. Living is cheap.
and there is room and plenty for all who will
migrate this way. There is a large negro pOpula-
ton here. and their hnts and novels are on every
hillside and in every hollow. One place. "Hell's