The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1879-05-08
One Of the Pioneer Counties Of the
Stste-EarIy Times.
Fsc!s and Figures Relative Thereto
Observation-Disclosures
Products.
General lnformation-The County's
Towns and What They Arc.
The Water Power at Blue Rapids,
One Of the Chief GIories
Of the West.
The List of Manufactures There.
A Great lEdustr al Center.


one Of the first organized counties in Ii
State, and although 20 far from the Mi
souri, river, was the recipient OF consider,
Bile immigration and settlement in what a,
now known "a tine 'esrly times" from 1Sj
to 1870, the date OF the organization of Ii
county. The first settlements were mad
In the northern, or rather Northwestern
part OF the county, near where Marysvill,
the county seat, now stands, being in COZ
sequence of the great tide of travel whic
flowed westward in 1S47 and 1913 in cone.
quence OF the exodus of the exiled Latte
Day Saints or Mormons, and
THE HEGIRA TO CALIFORNIA; GOLD FIELD
in 1919. The route taken by the wander
ers crossed the Big Blue near Marysvill,
the latter being for some time the compel
ltor OF Palmetto, town now abandone
and forgotten. From the year 1854, tn
county being thrown open to settlement b
the passage of the Kansas and Nebrask
bill, there was nothing to impede immigra
ton, which came in steadily, and being O
the better class, she developed at a goo,
rate and attained a standing she has sine
maintained. Marshall had her early trou
bles, the arbiters of which were the reyol
yer and knife, other law being unknown a
that time, but they were mere local rival
ries AID the question of politics was not
factor therein. The settlement of the couu
ty was gradual, and until within a com
paratively short time past was not yer,
rapid, but during the past two wears tn
influx has been great, and immigrants ar
now pouring in upon every side and il
every way, by rail and wagon, in colonie
and by families. The population in 1866
was about $500, increasing to 1000 b,
| 1870; In 1873 the census showed nearl,
| LOCO, and last year II, go, while the es
innate for 1879 is not less than $1,000
which is none too high.
THE BOTTOM LAND
OF the county will average fully twenty ne
| cent, with no marshes, and the forest Ian,
considerably more than three per cent. (th
| figures according to the government survey
The average width of the timber belts i
from one-half to one mile, the varietiet
being walnut, cottonwood and oak. Som.
attention is being paid to the planting anc
growth OF artificial forests The county i,
very we'll watered, the surface of her terri
| tory being interpreted with numerou.
streams OF good size, the principal one beins
the Big Blue river, which flows through
the eastern part of the county, the Little
Blue coming in as tributary from tn.
west, the junction being near Blue Rapids
The other tributaries of the Big Blue are
the Black Nermillion river, a good sized
stream, which flows through the southwest.
ern part OF the county, and Walnut, Coon
Fancy, Fawn, Hop, Corndodger, Little
Timber, Dog Walk, Irish, Elm, Spring
Game Fork, Horseshoe, and other creeks
which, being distributed about equally
water the county in every part. There are
any number OF good springs, and the bes,
CT we'll water can be obtained at depth
ranging from twenty to thirty feet. Very
little attention has as yet been paid to pros.
pecting for coal, although
THERE Is No DOUBT WHATEVER
that there is plenty of it in the county, as
1t Is found in all the counties adjoining
As to building stone, an excellent quality
OF magnetism and blue limestone is found
in inexhaustible quantities all over the
county, while fire clay is abundant and
pottery clay existing in limited quantities
extensive beds of gypsum are located neal
Blue Rapids, which Is utilized By the plas-
ter mill at Blue Rapids The number of
taxable acres IL nearly equal to the acres
includsd in the county. the latter being
$40 600, and the former 525. 900 the acres
uDtar o.. I1s
RAILROAD CONNECTIONS.
The St. Joseph & Denver City railroad
enters the county little above the Center
line and takes slightly southwesterly d.
rection, and then proceeds northwesterly,
passing out the northwestern corner.
Marysviile, the county seat, il located upon
this line ard is one OF the principal stations
upon the line. The Central Branch of the
Union Pacific road enters Just below the
central line and pursues about the same d.
rectIon as the Denver route, passing out
little below the center line OF the county.
Nermillion, Frankfort, Irving. Blue
Rapids and Waterville are situated upon
this line, and are all live and flourisbing
towns. The amount Of grain and the num-
Der OF cars OF stock shipped out of the
county by both Of these lines Is wonderful. |
and as there Is not farm in the county
hat is not accessible to good market. |
Every production can be easily marketed. |
All OF the above named towns are quite |
prominent shipping points
THE BONDED INDEBTEDNESS
If the county is very small, and az there
ias been value received for every debt con-
racted, and the valuation of all property
'eing constantly upon the increase, causing
corresponding reduction in the rate OF |
axation, the burden is not heavy one to |
'ear, and, indeed. in the matter of taxation
or every purpose Marshall can compare
avorably with any county in the State.
The assessed valuation of all personal
property is something over 500 900, and
I railroad property for the year 1873.
33l S2i. The total assessed valuation of
II property il $1,000, 900, and the valna-
ion over 5000 900. The amount invested
the various m manufacturing industries OF
be county is about S5.O00,OOO, which is
irger, probably, than that of any other
ounty in the State except Leavenworth
his il surely magnificent showing, and
ne OF which any community msy be
roud.
SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES.
There are lightweight organized school
istricts in the county, all but one or two,
which are supplied with good, substan. &
al buildings, the value of which is re. (,
,rted at 100000, The school population
the county is nearly 5000, the percent I
re Of attendance being very large. The I
EDUCATIONAL interests Of the county are not 4
lowed to suffer, a most commepdable
ide being taken in the maintenance and
ogress Of these institutions Of training for d
e young. The value of the church prop u
ty in the county is about $50 600. some of e
e sacred sdi6ces being specimens of great q
ste and beauty. u
VARIOUS MENTION.
There are two cheese factories in the e
unity, according to the report of 1878, the n
mber of pounds of cheese manufactured Y
: that year being 5000 pounds, and of a
tier 2335 600 pounds.
The wool clip OF 1877 amounted to 5,O76 p
unds, no return being made for 1873. D
Horticulturally speaking the number of b
res in nurseries is about FIVE hundred. W
tn bearing trees a. follows: Apple. ..
20; pear, ,149; peach, 5000; plum, "
D; cherry, 1880. Horticulture il receiv. Ii
, considerable attention in Marshall b,
Inty, and the fruit raised Is of the finest Il
ality. O,
The total cost of all the fences of the K
lnty is $4,000. ey
is not herd law county. fir
SOME OF NARsHALL's TOWNS. X
the seat of government for OF
county, il situated north and west of vi
center Of the county, and is flourish