Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1886-02-18
The Cities OF Kansas.

The Cities Of Kansas.
BIZ COLONEL c. x. HOLIDAY
there were very many passenge 8 aboard
| tne elegant steamer, F. Y. Aubrey, ON her
trip from st. Louis to Fort Leavenvorth.
a ssss the middle of the month of October,
Among those whose acquaintance made
was an elderly gentleman by the name OF
MCDANIEL, whose home was at Weston. Mo-.
out who took lively interest in Kansas
AFFAIRS. He had already invested in the new
territory, and was contemplating making it
his future home
Upon learning that was going to Kansas,
| with view of making permanent settle.
ment, he was kind enough to give me MANY
valuable hints and suggestions. Don't
make mistake, young man." he said. don't
make a mistake" "Near the great elbow of
the Missouri there is bound to be built the
greatest city of the continent, and that city.
sir. is Kickapoo."
Leavenworth, Wyandotte and Kansas Civ
or rather Westpor, well spoken Of But he
quickly gave me to understand that, if I
would become part of, and grow up with
the great city, should lose no time in cast
ing my lot among the Kickapoos.
II, however. could not reconcile myself
to living IN large commercial emporium
that should "stick my stakes" at Douglas
or Tecumseh, both of which were bound to
be large interior cities, and one of which
would, doubtless, be the capital.
Strange as it may seem to-day, it is true
that kickapoo, situated on the Missouri
river, some six or eight miles above Leaven-
worth, did aspire to be one of the great cities
of the territory, and hoped to become the
greatest. And it is equally true that Tecumseb
had similar aspirations of becoming the
largest interior city. And not without rea-
son. For Tecumseh came within one vote
of being made the capital by the first legis-
lative assembly, and would, doubtless, have
secured the location, had not the personal
interests of a majority of the members infu-
enced them to make the location at Lecomp-
ton. The importance, however, of these
cities was fully recognized by this same leg
islative assembly, in that it established the
county seat of Leavenworth county at Kick
apoo, of Douglas county, at Douglas, and of
Shawnee county, at Tecumseh. Nor would
the friends of these respective cities, for
moment concede that Leavenworth could
ever successfully compete with kickapoo,
nor Lawrence with Douglas, nor Topeka.
not even founded at the initial period of this
history, with Tecumseh.
should not omit in this enumeration of the
earliest established cities of our territory.
still another, whose hopes, or the EOpes of its
poo, Douglas or Tecumseh. l allude, of
course. to the very first prospective capital
the city of Pawnee. This city was founded
by number of prominent and influential
gentlemen, chiefly from Pennsylvania, and
who were supposed to be near the admins
trative authority of the territory. At this
place the first Legislative assembly was con-
vened, and it was hoped that an act would
speedily be passed making Pawnee the per-
manent capital. But the political fires which
swept and devastated the territory for the
next three years had already been kindled.
The assembly, therefore, not only did not
make Pawree the capital, but refused to do
to organize, and then adjourn to the Shaw
nee mission, where the remainder of its SEES
sion was held.
Pawnee was situated upon a beautiful
plateau on the north bank of the Kansas
river, about mile eastward from Fort
Riley.
A large and substantial stone building was
erected, by private means, in which the two
houses of the assembly might hold their
sessions, and other buildings for the accom-
modation of the officers and members.
Upon Investigation. however, i. was ascer-
tanned that Pawnee was located upon the
Fort Riley military reservation. This was
construed rs an invasion of the reserved
facts being made known at Washington. the
president ordered the army to expel tho
citizens, and, if need be, to lombard and
destroy the city.
The city was ever afterwards known, until
it passed from the recollections of the PEG
pie. as "Pawnee on the Reserve"
The bombardment of "Pawnee on the Re
serve" and of Greytown,in Nicaragua, were
the two great military achievements which
gave fame and renown to the Pierce admin
istration.
l should, perhaps add, as third, the ex-
pulsion, at the point of the bayonet, and ut
the mouth of shotted cannon, of the legisla-
ture, under the Topeka constitution, at To
peka, on the 4th day of July, 1856.
In these modern days, when We wish to
express, in the superlative degree, any great
movement in trade, in manufacture, in real
estate, in the rapid growth of cities, or what
not. we call it a "boom."
The biggest boom that Kansas ever had
in the city line, or perhaps ever will have.
took place in 1851, continuing into 1858,
The causes of this movement were too nu-
merous and lengthy to be enumerated in de-
tail, within the time allotted to this address.
Principally, however, great panic was pre-
vailing in the eastern states, and the many
persons failing there, strove to place the
remnants, saved from the wrecks of their for
tunes, where they would best escape the Wig
most remunerative.
Kansas, having been extensively advertised
through our ''border ruffian troubles" and
by the Buchanan Fremont campaign of 1856.
peace being at last assured and large an6
valuable bodies of public lands being offered
for sale, the rush of people to our territory
was most extraordinary. Unlike those who
had come the three preceding years. those
who came in 1851 we're possessed OF consid-
cradle means.
The result was, that both lands aa
city lots-especially the latter, were in the
greatest demand. All sales were made foI
cash. The older and really more substan.
tial cities and towns, having been sold and
resold, and the demand being still unsup-
piled. new towns or cities-everythlng was
city then-were being daily organized, sur
veyed, plated and sold.
Lots or groups of lots were seldom sold.
The plan was almost universal. to issue Ger.
tifcates of shares in the new city, and sell
the certificates. The city would be divided
into from one hundred to. say four or tive
hundred shares.according to its size, and
the sanguine temperaInents of its founders,
and each share would represent from two TO
twenty lots. The avidity with which these
certificates of shares in the cities
were bought, was something start
ling. The standard and average price
for city shares was about 500 each. some