La Junta tribune., 1899-09-09
BUILT A GREAT CITY.

=
MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION WORKING
FOR THE COMMON GOOD.
what Was Accomplished In Kansas
City I. Possible Eisewhere-Only by
Combined Effort Can sacce.s he se-
cured.
Reference has frequently been made
to the growth Of Kansas City and to the
comparison which might be made be-
tween that city and other ,municipai-
ties. When we see fhe magnificent
packing houses. the growing tobacco
factories and the other enlarging inter
ests of Kansas City. we are forced to
ask why 1t is that, situated less favora-
bly, than other places, with ecanter op-
portunities. her business people should
have forged ahead TO the success which
they have reachedf a
The fact that the country tributary
TO Kansas City has been engaged in
varied agriculture is Of course. in evil
dence. But at the same time there hnd
to be an educating influence which
moved the people by the offer Of mar
kets and Of remuneration to engage in
the varied occupations which have
brought to them 30 much success. Thus
we read that in 1869 the merchants and
business men OF Kansas City came to-
gether. not for mere banqueting. but
for that kind Of self help and interhelp
which has since made Of the city what
1t ia. Without the influence and the
power of this merchants association
the advantages Of that point would
never have been 30 successfully brought
to the attention of capitalists, who
were thus induced to locate their inter
ests there. nor would the farmers for
hundreds Of miles around have been
able to have worked as intelligently.
because. like a city set upon hill.
Kansas City held before them the con-
tinual offer Of . ready market and good
prices.
The Commercial clyb came to the as
sistance Of the board Of trade. and then
the other mercantile organizations all
helped to keep alive the spirit of the bust
ness community. The first elevator.
built in 1871. handling but small out
put Of grain. has now given way to 30,
with q capacity Of 1895, 900 bushels
daily. The combined grinding capacity
Of her Touring mills is 5000 barrels
daily. Five corn mills grind 2. 900 bar
rels daily. Built upon this grain devel
opment the hog and the steer came
along. thus opening up the meat pack
ing business, which has grown from the
handling Of 2,158, S2S animals in 1883
to 4. 1917. .S34 in 1897. The city has now
Ave great packing houses in operation,
which employ 8, 900 refrigerator cars in
carrying dressed meats to the various
markets of the country. As result Of
this united work the population OF Kan
sas City today is 189. $40. The clearings
Of all the banks are In the neighbor-
hood nl $50. 900. 900. One hundred mil
lion dollars is estimated as being the
annual business Of the wholesalers and
jobbers Of the city. The United States
census report Of 1890 shows that the
manufacturing establishments Of Kan
sas City increased from 224 in 1880 to
1,473 in 1890, the employees from 2, 548
to IA. 682 in the same period and the
value Of manufactured products from
90, 8s2, 681 to S31. .571. $50.
It is estimated today that the manu-
featuring establishments OF the city as
a whole give employment to about 49,
900 men. women and children. and an
nually pay ont In wages e11, 900. 900.
These concerns annually purchase and
work mp raw material amounting to
about $50. 900. 600. and they turn ont
over 800. 900. 600 Of the finished prod
uct. A list Of the articles covered by
manufacturers shows their variety, as,
for instance, the packing industry.
smelling. sawmills, furnishing goods. 4
breweries, iron and steel, brick and
clay works, flour and meal mills, can
dies. crackers. cigars. furniture and
cabinet work. box factories. agricultural
implements, harness and collars, plan
ing mills, lime and cement. oil works,
soap. Ice. tinware and cornice works.
mattresses and lounges paints, oils and
varnishes. carriages and wagons. etc
It is no wonder in view OF the mag
nihcent developments which that city
has reached that her newspapers declare
that "nothing will stimulate the devel-
opments of its manufacturers as much
as well organized and properly gov
erned manufacturers association. On
this line Mr.. A. r. Meyer. one Of the
ex presidents Of the Kansas City Com
mercial club, well says: ''The fallacy
that the business man has time only for
his business has been by you thorough
~ exposed. You have demonstrated.
and this count the greatest achieve
ment Of this association. that in mu-
tual council and cooperation for the
common good there lies resistless power.
great advantage and noble satisfaction
That the good Of all is the only founda-
tion upon which can be built the good
and success Of the Individual; that the
injunction to love ones neighbor Is,
after all. as much good business 10 IL 10
: ,,,Oeol v,1.<.s,ovk -