Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-07-11

ing a great measure OF success IN their en-
beavers. as il does not take much talk to
| convince the average country shipper that
he can obtain in the long rUn better values
Tor grain which undersOes an approved
method OF inspection than for that which
does not.
As an Implement Center.
Kansas City sells more agricultural i'm
plements than any other city in the world.
IL seems to have made no difference with
meicbants in this line, whether times were
stringent or easy. the trade has gone right
2lcng increasing each year since 1892. The
l2tter year sales reached the highest point.
the implements sold aggregating a value OF
about 81. G0.G CO. The year following sales
fell OF in the neign5OrhoOi Of S5.ODQo0 but
the reaction has been sure. sales during
the year under review amounting TO the
Mormon sum Of HL500.0oo. The impIe-
ment houses employ in the neighborhCOd
Of LOO men. and when II Is
that none Of the above have 10 do any
HSEufacturing. one will the more readily
comprehend the enOrmity Of this branch
Of Kansas City's industry.
In looking over the mortuary statistics OF
different cities Of the United States none
have been found with such a low death
rate as is here reported The last official
statement gives 2555 births to 1,1.2 deaths.
showing a natural increase TO the citys
population Of 54. There have been no
plaques, scourges or long runs of con-
tagiCus diseases to cause uneasiness here
during the year. while the number OF
fever. pneumonia and the like has been
very small.
The total enrolment Of pupils in the pub
lie schools during the year has been 2.SS7,
and il takes 465 teachers to attend TO this
multitude The value Of school property
is in the neighborhood OF N.S00.e0. Fifty
two new rooms have been added 10 the
school system of the city. and fOrty-seven
teachers were added to the .pedagogic
never more SATISFACTORY than at present
The manual training high school is now
IN course of construction on Fifteenth
street, and will be one OF the most COM
plete in the land.
There are over $50 church buildings to
cater to the religious impulses of Kansas
societies which as yet have no church Of
worship. -Four new ediices have been add
ed to the churches OF the city within the
year and in the near future a church or
ganization will build an edifce TO cost in
the neighborhood of Slo.0O in a central
There has not been any great increase in
the manufacturing interests OF Kansas
City, yet there has been a slight Increase.
ard there are many inquiries as TO the
availability of Kansas City as a manu-
featuring center. The disnlay Of home in
dustries, in charge of the Commercial Club.
of this city. which was held during he
first two weeks of June. has given the man
must in the end be of incalculable benefit
to the city. Within two weeks over 10000
visitors entered the building in which the
display was made. and the Initiative has
been taken for the erection of an immense
auditorium. capable Of seating from l0.oy0
TO l5.0U people. where the home industry
display will In future be annually held IL
is the general consensus of opinion that
this viii do more toward making Kansas
City one of the leading manufacturing CEN
tiers OF the land than any other one feature
yet inaugurated.
Public improvements.
over a million and a half dollars have
been put into buildings during the past 80
days. This is a good showing, when 1t is
EOted that the latter part of 1886 was what
is considered an OF year. the bubbling OF
new wOrkhouse, which has been a crying
need for years here, is under way, and 1t
Is to be of proportions to meet all demands
upon il for many years to come.
T~wenty-three miles OF pavement have
been laid, fourteen of which were asphalt
and contracts are now out which will add
twelve more miles of substantial asphalt
pavement to the city. Cedar block all over
at an immense expense. are being suppiant-
ed entirely by asphalt. the latter being
found the cheapest and best pavement in
the long run. The cost Of the latter has
been reduced about 10 cents as compared
to previous years. and there is a good pros
pect for a still further reduction. and just
in proportion as this comes to pass will the
demand for this foundation to our streets
increase The total cost Of paving with
brick. asphalt and macadam the past year
has been in the neighbOrhood OF Slj0,000.
There have been 44.5S7 feet of curbing laid
at an average cost of 80 cents per foot.
about four miles of hexagon sidewalks. two
and one-half miles of stone. four Of brick
ard about the same OF plank walks during
the year. There have been over $780, 600 ex-
pended in the construction Of sewers. which
goes to prove that the average citizen holds
health of paramount interest.
There are in the city and suburbs close on
to $50 miles of street railways, all. with
one exception. of the latest and most ap-
nave been laid. one from the Wyandotte
street depot to Rosedale, and the other
south on Prospect avenue TO the city lin
its. The managers Of the railway systems
here are having the rails OF all the sys-
tens welded by a new process, finding this
to be for the greater accommodation of the
public. besides making a decided difference
in the wear and tear Of running the lines.
With the exception Of the Brooklyn avenue
cable line. passengers are now. by a liberal
system of transfers. enabled TO go to any
portion Of the city and suburbs on payment
There is no railroad center in the country
that surpasses Kansas City. In the neigh
borhood Of 4eO trains arrive and depart
daily on the tw~enty-six lines centering here
having a mileage of between $500 and 3d.
600 miles. The merchandise is distributed
by "A liberal system Of switches. the mile
BILE of yarding 1856 freight cars. Among
the new and most important railroad en-
Kansas City. Pittsburg 4 Gulf. which has
already been completed to Port Arthur.
to Omaha, making one of the
most direct lines running through Central
United States TO the Gulf. II is promised
that this system viii r~evOluuonize the
methods of transporting the products OF
the immense tributary territory TO Eastern
and foreign points.
Park system.
As to parks and boulevards. the city mas
acquired large tracts Of land IN different
Of the city. all Of which are con-
nected by an ideal system OF boulevards
in the most thorough manner.
To pay for the land condemned the city
now has on hand S13.345. This amount. OF
does not include all that will be
necessary TO pay for lands condemned. but
II is the policy of the park board to go
slow and only hold enough money subject
to its call as IL may need in the near fut-
ure. Before long Kansas City will add to
Its territory the land now included within
the boundary of Westport. and. knowing
this to be an assured fact. the system OF
bOulevards and parks include that section
as though already a part Of Kansas City,
although nothing has been done to date
further than the drawing of plans and
the same subject to the system
being constructed here.
The city Is well protected by an efficient
system Of police. During the year they
have made in the neighborhood of 1000 ar
rests, many Of them calling for the very
highest class Of detective ability. There Is
40 question but that this efficiency has had
he effect of keeping away many of the
iisorderly. law-breaking element. This sys-
Is admirably conducted by a chief four
'aptains. ten detectives, three lieutenauts.
line sergeants. eight turkeys. one humane
,mCer, one matrOn. two drivers, two host
ers and ly patrOlmen. II costs close onto
$4,000 per annum to run this effective
orCe.
According TO the latest available statis-
les there were 6S fire alarms turned in
or the year. The losses were 900 676. and
insurance on above $5.541. 1913. The above
tatemen has been compared with that OF
.ther cities and 1t proves that the Kansas