Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1891-11-06
Letter From Kansas City.
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI,

tropolis, l will now endeavor to give you
some idea, In few facts and figuI es, so as TO
show the increasing development OF our city
during the past two years. The growth and
prosperity Of Kansas City for Is years past
may be said to be truly marvellous. She has
grown right on, as / will endeavor to prove
by the following statement OF facts CLEANED
from official sources. 1t has not only kept
pace with the tributary territory. but has
actually led the entire West in the march of
substantial progress.
In stopping to analyze the different factors
going TO make up her commercial greatness,
her people have been fully advised OF the
enormous territory OF which her trade pre-
dominates. Yet, the fact remains that this
city draws her farm products and live stock
from range equal in extent to about 80 per
cent of the whole area of the United States.
To handle the immense traffic brought from
tn e virgin soil and thrown into her gates for
trade she has over 1900 miles of standard
gua2e railways or over 80 per cent Of the en-
tire mileage Of the country. This is state
ment of the resources from which the city
draws, as the point at which the quickest and
best market Is obtainable for the men who
produce the articles OF commerce enumer-
ated. The bank clearngs OF this city during
the past two years have been far above the
average, which can generally be taken as the
safest evidence of her progress. and the con-
diton OF her banks will form the best basis OF
her present condition. For the fiscal year OF
1890 and 1891, Notwithstanding the fact that
during all of the time there was great and
apparently increasing depression all over the
country, affecting almost every branch of
trade, the clearings OF the banks here posted
up Si62, 577 $50, an increase in the time fixed
for the comparison OF over 10 per cent. The
condition of the banks for the past year, in
view OF the TACT that real estate has depreci-
ated somewhat in value, has been quite sat-
isfactory.
In speaking of the livestock business, will
state that no city in the country can show
the increase in the two items OF live stock
handled and live stock killed and packed, as
can this city. The packing-house industry
ranks second only to Chicago in the volume
OF business done, and is now making rapid
strides in the direction Of first place. This
city possesses the greatest cattle country in
the world To draw FROM and with prices IA
vorabe She certainly ranks next TO Chica-
go as the strongest competitor in the amount
OF livestock trade and consumption.
Another very important item of resource is
the grain movement. This has possibly been
shown more clearly than any other branch
OF trade. The short crops OF the past two
or three years have, OF course, had their eff
feet in some way. Yet. in spite OF AL this,
the grain that passed through the market for
the past fiscal year footed up spleudid total
OF 80, 900 900 bushels With the enormous crops
now being gathered in Missouri, Kansas and
other tributary States and the recent spen-
did movement Of grain, this total will be
nearly, If not quite, doubled by the coming OF
next July.
The population OF Kansas City has been Of
a steady growth the past years. In the mat
ter OF the increase Of population, taxable
wealth, tax rate and municipal Indebtedness,
this city stands without rival in the coun-
try. The growth of postofllce business here
mas been on an equal with the growth OF the
city in other respects and has been re-
ally remark able for an inland city. There
are constantly being made improvements OF
the latest designs by the Postoifice Depart
ment for the thorough transmission OF ali
postoffice business l will give you an esti-
mate OF how business in this line has In
creased. Take the records OF the past hiteen
years as a convincing proof Of the great
strides made by the city in that line. The en-
tire receipts of the office for the year of 1879
were s39, 76S.OS for the year ending June 30th
last, were $3.50, i20.l7. All this goes TO show
how this department has grown during the
time indicated.
r. fI,ra hie nit
stands second in the country, with grand
mileage OF I4l.33 A number OF these lines
are in Kansas City, Kansas, but most ofthem
are in Kansas City, Missouri, proper. These
various lines are distributed as follows ::
Miles OF double-track cable roads In this city,
esq; in Kansas City, Kansas, 1, making to-
tai of AZ miles. Motor mileage in this city,
%; In Kansas City, Kansas, ID; total 30.
There are also in addition to these q number
of horse-car lines, having something like II
miles to their credit. VIII Civ you an esti-
mate of the mum Der of people carried by these
various lines during the fiscal year just ended
There were 39,I95,52O passengers carried,
which spe AXIS well for the street-car traffic.
Will now refer to an important industry,
namely, wholesale business. This should be
sought. We, living in the great southwes-
tern portion OF the country, should strive TO
furnish this immense territory OF Missouri,
Kansas, Arkansas and Texas with supplies
OF all kinds, and the time is coming when we
will. During the past summer there has
been slight depression in both wholesale
and retail trade but business is now Begin
ming to loom up considerably. and every
thing now indicates RAPID march of pros
perity and progress. What is mostly needed
here are large manufacturing plants. Kan
sas City to-day offers many advantages as q
manufacturing centre. Such large establish
ments would always give steady employ
ment to the laboring classes, and would do
much towards elevating city from strong
financial standpoint, and which would aid
and foster In many other ways to the adj
vancement OF our city.
The large output OF agricultural machines,
farming implements OF all kinds, turned out
in this city Is another great factor which
speaks well for the agricultural classes OF
Missouri and Kansas.
This city always has had the advantage of
a great and unlimited territory surrounding
1t, rich in agricultural pursuits, which goes
TO show that she is destined 10 be, at some
near future day. the grand gateway of COM
merce and trade to the tire southwest.
The weather here for October has been very
severe. On Tuesday last We experienced n
touch ofreal winter weather. IL showing very
fast for several hours during the day, the
flakes being very large. Something rather
remarkable 10 See snow so early In the sea-
son, but such was the case. The week end
ing Sunday. the 18th, closed one Of the grand
est seasons of festivities in the history OF this
city. The great Interstate Fair, composed
of the States of Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska
and Iowa, opened up in full blast on the
morning of the 3rd with the usual large
crowds of people who come here annually TO
witness this fine exhibition. The weather
was cool and clear. The various exhibits
were of the finest order, the live stock de-
partments being very complete and full Of
spirit and everybody happy. One OF the mu-
steal attractions at the exhibition was the APP