Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1890-02-28
LETTER FROM THE WEST.
KANSAS CITY, Mo-,
February "a, 1890.

to the many readers OF your valuable
paper to know something about our
thriving city, of which have been a
resident for nearly two years past. |
In short visit to an eastern city, the |
average person will fail to see much |
more than the outer appearance, very |
often not much Of that. In few |
words, he will see u lot OF brick and |
mortar and then return to his home,
and in answer to the question, What
did YOU see in the city ?" he would
simply say, Il saw nothing more than
large houses along business streets
and great throngs Of people pressing
to and fro" Now, when a person
lands in Kansas City he has before
him something that he will not soon
forget Before you leave the cars
YOU have splendid view OF the sharp
grade called The Bluff which
marks the line between the West Bot
toms and the city proper, and the ele-
waited cable roads that make their
way over the railroads and high
above the streets to the top OF the
bluff No sooner do you reach the
top of the bluff than you have before
YOU the great West Bottoms, like a
huge panorama, with the numerous
factories and the large packing houses
of Armour & Co., Dodd Son, Swift
Il Co, Geo. Fowler Il Son. Kansas
CITY Packing Co, and others You
can spend much time In looking
through these packing houses and
YOU will see at every turn something
of great interest. In the great slaugh-
ter-houses, one is struck with amaze
ment at the wonderful rapldlty with
which the work is carried on. hogs
are killed at the rate of 10 or ~ per
minute, and they do not only XIII
them at that rate but have them
ready for market as fast as they are
killed. Cattle are handled In the
same rapid manner. AS you stahu
on the crest of the great'hill and look
to the southwest you can see the i'm
mense stock-yards occupying a large
tract of land along the Kansas river. Z
Inst bevond is the Stock Exchange,
towering above all other buildings OF
tine kind. From this place there are
thousands of cattle, sheep and hogs
driven each day to the slaughter
houses above mentioned, where they
are killed and dressed for the market,
both home and foreign. 1t requires
hnt a few moments to convert a large,
live steer into dressed beef. 1t is very
interesting to note how easily and
Systematically everything Is done, the
greater portion OF the WORK peihS eA-
ecuted by machinery.
Leaving the West Bottoms behind,
YOU soon find yourself IN the business
portion Of the city. aud as you stop
at the junction of Main and Delaware
streets. where the cable cars pass
every half minute, you Will know tnal
Kansas City is no little town. lou
are now among the large business
houses. The wholesale and retail dry
goods house of Messrs. bullene, Moore,
Emery l. Co., is the largest house OF
its kind in the west. They are now
engaged in erecting a new building
which when completed Will be the
finest as we'll as the largest house OF
it's kind. 1t fronts on three streets
and will be seven stories hlgh, with
basement and sub-basement. The
entire building will be used for the
drv goods business. Next In lnpor-
lance are the Doggett Dry Goods Co.;
q. Y. Smith 4 Co., John Taylor ana
Bernheimer Bros. The largest ONCE
buildings are the New York Life, all
eleyen-story structure OF brown stone
and brick on the outside and white
marble finish on the inside, the Nelson,
a very tall stone structure, the Beard
or Trade, Baird, Exchange, and many
other attractive buildings. The Mid
land Hotel is an elght-story structure
with all the modern improvements.
The Coats House is one of the finest
hotels in the West. With its 325 rooms
il accommodates the visitors TO the
Western Metropolis. Following it in
size are the Warden, Grand, Bruins
wick, Victoria, and Centropolls hotels.
Chicago of the West isavery appro-
pirate name for our city, and we will
show the world that we will make
Chicago on the lakes, move right
along if she wishes TO Lead in the
great procession Of progress Of which
this age is so proud TO boast. The
census of 1880 showed Kansas City a
small town of $4,000 inhabitants,
which will be so completely eclipsed
by the census of 1890 that people who
nave only read about our city, Will
wonder where this great metropolis
sprung from. The census of this year
will tell the world that Kansas City
mas population of from 200, 600 to
300. 900. Her beautiful hills, wide
streets and palatial residences on the
east-side for several miles show that
there is money here, although many
times more energy than money. She
leads the world Kansas City has a
better system of street railroads than
any city in the country. This is say
lng a great deal in favor Of our young
metropolis, nevertheless it is true.
There are nearly one hundred mil
of cable railroads in addition TO sew
eral miles of horse car roads, great
many of the cars being run by cleo
tricity, and there are at least six cleo
trio motor lines. 1t would made
person feel somewhat weary to think
of riding in the horse cars that are
used almost exclusively in the eastern
cities. You may board the electric
cars in Argentine, Kansas, and ride
to Main street, Kansas City, get
transfer for Wyandotte, Kansas,
distance of twelve or fifteen miles, all
for a nickls. Although our elevated
roads cannot compete with those OF
New York City, yet they answer our
purpose. equally as well, they run
through the western portion of the
city, near the packing houses, and
take the travel to and from those
establishments, which is enormous.
After spending a few hours on our
street cars, you will doubtless forget
the monotony of gazing at handsome
buildings and will very readily admit
that you can see more in Kansas City
in one day than you can in other
cities in week.
Yours truly,
WM. A. MORGAN, Jr.