Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1889-08-17
CORRESPONDENCE.
IN THE WEST.

NANSAS llGN, MO, July -, lNND.
To the MINING JOURNAL.
An uncvcntfu run of nearly foul
days from Fort Benton brought us to
this city.
Two years ago Kansas City was in
the hcyday of one Of the most phrnom-
cnal "boOms" that ever blessed or
cursed amy locality. Street extensions.
cable lines and magnificent cdihccS
stretched to the utmost tension all the
resources o. engineering and archi
toctural skill. The result is seen in II
city which surpasses all others of its
magnitude in the beauty of its thor
oughfarcS and facilities of rapid
transit.
Within the time named. however.
the acme WAS reached, and the ''boom. -
movement which, like religion.
never rctrogradcs, is, to say the least,
at Il standstil. Prices of real estate
and rates Of rent remain as the top
most swell left them, but there are
comparatively fewer purchasers and
tenants.
If we might be allowed to say it
tn" curse of Kansas City is ''landlorl-
ISM 1t is bad as ill-fated ireland,
save that the owners are resident. not
alien. Dwellings and stores are rent
ed at sums that seem fabulous, and a
great part of each months work or
business is done for somebody else
than tine fellow whose nose wears away
the grindStonc. Between his evil and
its parallclism of fancy prices for real
estate the influx of population has Wis
IDLY diminished.
In time these drawbacks to the city's
future will give way 10 the pressure
which is even now forcing the truth
home to the most obduratc Of spec
ulativc interests. The cost of real cs-
tate and the rentals must 90 down be
fore more people can come in. All
the glory of the city aS "A railway cen
trc all the prestige it has won rs Il
beef and pork markct-all its facilities
of whatever sort for whatever purpose
will rrtard its expansion until the dis
tended notions of its capitalists are
forced down to proportions correspond
inc with the average financial ability
Of the workin%man to live and lay by
something for the inevitable rainy
day.
Visits to Chelsea park, in Kansas
and Troost park, in Missouri, both
within easy reach, are worth making
by any visitor to the city. Both are
new, and in many respects unfinished,
but are already pleasant resorts for
the thousands Of men, women and
children who tire of the city's hum
and heat.
For some weeks there has been cX-
hibitcd at the Exposition grounds Il
representation of "The Last Days of
Pompcii," strikingly impressive and
realistic performance. We saw it ON
"Masonic" night-an occasion which
would naturally evoke the most bril-
liant effects. 1t was evident, howevcr,
that the figures presented We're not
made by Masonic hands, nor dictated
h> Masonic ideals. But old NcSuvius
groaned, thundered and burned in
awful style, and under the overflow of
fire the city collapsed. All this went
on for quite awhile; still there was
nothing startling to remind one of
BuIwer'S vivid description. But when
the lake took tirc-whcn flames and
Jets Of sparks shot from the water here
and there, and ''nigger-chaScls" mul-
llpIltu on us SURFACE ulllIl IL seemed
the lake was literally burned up
then the novclist'S most powerful
imaginative scene was fully recalled.
Six thousand people left the stand de
lighted with the spectacle.
The day after reaching here the
JOURNAL visited Joe II. Hitchins, at
RiYrrvicw, Kansas, Il few miles north
west of the city. This gentleman is
the eldest son of our lcadin" towns
man, Owen i.itchna, and it will he
gratifying to all his friends to know
that hc is doing we'll. Hcand Nicholas
Boyns, formerly Of Frostburg, are
partners in stone quarrying and gen
cral merchandise. The latter is, of
course, participating mcritoriously III
the good fortune Of the firm. In due
time Mrs. Hitchins appeared and call.
/ 81 all 20 diaprr- collation. prepared
/ with .rent skill and served with every
mark Of genuine hospitality. Mrs. II
| is surrounded by good neighhors and
! expresses herself as pleasantly sit
uatcd. Robert Matheney, jr., of Lon
aconing, brother of Mrs. H., was a
guest of the family while We were
! there,