davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-01-01
Healthy Growth of Milling Industry.

Closely allied with the grain and eleva-
tor trade is the milling Industry that has
been materially enlarged here the past year
and had strong demands continually made
upon it during the year. There are five
Touring mills here. including one OF the
largest anywhere in the West tina is de-
voted exclusively to the manufacture of eN-
port flour. The other four manufacture
for home consumption and distribute the
product over the country generally, and
have numerous sales for export. The five
mills have a capacity of 400 barrels of
flour per day. or a demand for about
N.GO bushels of wheat daily The mills v
enjoyed a generous trade during the past
uct in the markets There Is a strong
probability of another big mill being put
up during the coming year. The milling
industry here is not equal in Importance
relatively TO the grain trade and eleva-
tor service, and it Is considered a certainty
that the growing demand of the trade will
be met by the erection Of more good
mills. The abundance of cheap fuel. the
ing Importance of the city as a grain and
foodStuff market all tend 10 insure a pros
porous future TO the milling industry here.
and investors of long experience and am
pie financial ability have :,ready looked
he field over and ARRANGEMENTS were
concluded but a few days since for the
erection of a 1.5O barrel mill here and also
an elevator of 2sl. 0fD bushels in connection
with it. This is believed to be the opening
of the development of the industry here.
The manufacture of cornmeal is another
INDUSTRY of Importance. The corn
meal mills already here have a grinding
increased use of cornmeal as a food prod
uct and the better method of preparing it
for have operated to make
a very much better business for the mills.
the meal produced here and the shipments
have been made with profit.
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-01-01
Plenty Of Good Elevators.

The growing Importance of the grain
trade here has been met by the continued
growth of the transportation and elevator
facilities of the city. and they are now
in a position to meet business demands
Inside the city limits are 326 miles of eleva-
tor switch tracks, while In the city proper
switches aggregating l.456 miles are in use
for the expeditions handling of the ship
ping done here.
There are q elevators of all sizes in the
city with. u storage capacity of 5000, OOo
bushels of grain aud a daily handling ca
pacity of /. $4,000 bushels. This is equal to
the full demand of the trade yet, and has
always made it possible TO handle all grain
received here with Il promptness that has
had its influence In popularizing the
grain market here.
Thu decided increase of the Importance of
Kansas City as u grain center that has
been seen the last year has heen largely
the result of the hearty cooperation of
the grain men to take advantage of the
tendency TO send grain South for export
from Gulf ports. The opening of these
ports has made Kansas City the Western
point for gathering up the grain and the
grain naturally comes here to start South
just as it has been going to Chicago for
years to start East. The East has had
to give way to the South and Chicago
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-01-01

make it very popular and apparently it
will soon drive the cable out of business.
except on the tracks that run over the
very steep hills.
There are operated on the lines in the city
over $50 cars and more than $500 people
are employed daily in operating and MAIN
tanning the systems. FOrty-five thousand
passengers are handled each year and of
that vast number fully one-third take a
transfer while travelling. The systems with
their lines reach all of the populous por-
tons of the city and are to be extended
curing the coming season TO several other
portions that are particularly promising.
The policy of the companies has been to
keep to the front in everything that helps
with the improvements planned for the
year and the extensions already decided on
TREY evidently intend to continue that
policy. 1t is certain that each of the COM
panies will spend a very large sum during
the year in rebuilding certain portions of
its lines. in extensions and new equipment
and bettermentS and in increasing their
facilities for more easily handling the in
creasing volume of business.
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-01-01
CAN HELLO" MOST Anywhere
Splendid Local Service and Ample
Long Distance Connections.

There is a wonderful increase each year
in the use CT the telephone for business
purpose and this use the past year has
been particularly apparent in the use of
the long distance wire between Kansas
City and the larger cities of the East, even
as far as Boston. Business men find it
very much cheaper to pay the tolls to the
telephone company and save time rather
than go to the East and spend two weeks
in making the trip. During the past year
Kansas City has been put in direct long
distance connection with all of the i'm
portant cities of the East as far as Port
land, Me-. and business can now b. done
over the wire at any time. The CONNER
cial value of the long distance phone is
one of the surprises of the year. Bust
ness men were quick to see the great advan-
tages it had and they We're quite as quick 20
use them. and the demand on the long dis
tance department has reached a very sur
prising point already and bids fair to
make it an important feature of the BUSH
ness here.
Kansas City and the suburban cities use
over $50 phones ali the time. and each
year sees an increase in the number. Three
exchanges are maintained in addition TO
the very large central office here. One Is
in Westport, one III the West bottoms.
and the other in Kansas City. Kas. In ad-
dition to the large number of local phones
the system is connected with more than
a hundred thriving cities of the country
adjacent. and the quick connections thus
dIoTutu are OlltFtu lDT ne uSt u l.lt JUST
ness desired. The wires are all conduits
in the business portion of the city, and the
conduit system is to be extended as rapidly
as the enlargement of the business district
makes it desirable. The Improvement of
the service by use of the conduit and the
greater freedom from Interruption because
Of storms is very apparent. More than
$4,000 was used in lettering the telephone
system of the city during the year.
A second system of standard telephones
is being perfected through the cities of
Missouri with headquarters in Kansas
City, and already has about 1,a0 miles Of
wire strung and 80 cities and villages
put in direct communication with the city.
A central Office is kept here. but no local
exchange is to be put in at the present
time. the company devoting its energies TO
the cultivation of the use of the long dis
lance phone. The business being done
shows that there is a big gain in business
in commercial lines because of the use of
the phone. Retailers in the small towns
can use it for ordering their goods and
TO get Information on matters pertaining
TO their business. Each month shows an
increased number of such calls.
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-01-01
KANSAS CITY SCHOOLS
ENROLMENT THIS YEAR LARGEST
IN THE.IR HISTORY.
They Are Fully Up With the Times
and Are Famous for the
Character of Work
Done.

The public school system of the city Is
something that has always been a source
of pride to the people here and every
assistance has been given it 20 make it
better each year. The city has provided
everything possible in buildings, fixtures
and appliances for the development Of
education and the results have fully justI-
fled all that mas been done
There are now enrolled in the schools
23,AA pupils and 4f5 teachers are required
to care for them. Last year only ID teach
ers were required as there were only H.
go pupils then enrolled. The growth in
the number of pupils has been very great
for the year and will make other enlarge
ments of the schools necessary
The opening of the Manual Training
school and the splendid support given it
testify how rapidly the demand for a
practical education is being developed and
how splendidly the Kansas City schools
meet the demand. The work of hat adj
dition to the schools Is the best and It
is producing results very gratifying to tho
board and to the public
With the present school year night
schools have been opened in various parts
of the city for the accommodation of the
poor children who cannot use the day
schools. There has been a very large mum
her of pupils enrolled and the idea bids
fair to cover a field that has heretofore
been only partly covered. The number
will be Increased to meet all demands.
In his annual report Superintendent
Greenwood tells many things of interest
TO the schools. of the g5.a4 pupils. 14.43s
were born in Missouri and ?,5s3 were born
in Kansas City Less than 600 are of for.
eign birth. There are 1l,e5l boys and E-l3
girls.
The work of the schools in all depart
ments is always toward the practical, and
the results accomplished have made the
schools famous. The work lone in the
primary grades is exceptionally practical
and laws a broad foundation for the work
through the utSher grades. The plan OF
hunting all over the country for good
teachers and then retaining them here has
resulted in building up a corps OF teachers
able to handle the. work with the best
results. Teachers are quick 10 TAX adj
vantage of this for they know a good
teacher is sure to be retained in the
here and promoted at all opportuni-
ties. The management of the schools has
been kept free from political in
huence and the board and its advisers
have planned their work with the single
aim of making the Kansas City schools
the best in the land. and they are visited
each year by hundreds of teachers who
secure new ideas of work and inspiration
for greater endeavor in their own schools
From the kindergarten rooms up to the
high school or the manual training rooms
the organization is as strong as IL can BE-
made and the work of teachers in every
grade will stand the severeSt scrutiny o.
the most competent
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-01-01
CHEAP AND GOOD GAS.
Distributed Over the City Handsome
Iy to supply Customer.

The gas supply of Kansas City is distrib-
uted over the city in one of the most per-
feet systems in the land owing TO the fact
that the present plant is made up of two
complete systems that covered the city
nicely before they were consolidated. The
consolidation gave the city a double set of
mains that perfectly distribute the gas
and will answer TO all demands for years
TO come. The company has 2is miles of
gas mains and is making extensions each
year in all parts of the city to meet all the
demands. The number of gas consumers
during the year has increased very largely
owing to the number of new residences
erected along the streets where mains are
laid. The low price of gas makes its use
for fuel. especially for cooking. very gen.
eral, and the company cultivates this fea-
lure of the business closely. 1t has been
demonstrated to he a clean. cheap and re-
liable fuel and the 1900 free gas stoves
and ranges in Use in the city show how
popular it is with the consumers. The
output of gas the past year amounted to
over thre~e-quarters of a billion feet. The
city has a close system of inspection that
compels a genuine grade of gas service to
be furnished and also collects from the
company = per cent of its gross receipts
from its patrons. This amounts TO about
$4,000 annually and will increase each year.
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-01-01
has had 10 give way TO ans City.

has had to give way TO Kansas City.
The superior quality and the generous
quantity of wheat grown tributary TO Kan
sas City the past year has been much
sought for by manufacturers of flour all
over the country. Large shipments have
been made Il Minneapolis AT a fancy fig
ure. while export demands have grown at
q pleasant rate.
The very commanding position Kansas
City occupie to-day as a grain market is
the result of her natural conditions being
used wisely and well by her grain men.
They have proven themselves the equals
of traders found anywhere, and have won
4 prominence the other grain markets did
not deem possible. With the twenty-seven
lines Of railway now reaching the fertile
the city direct lines to the seaboard and
Gulf ports. and with the invincible spirit
of the grain dealers here. the future of
the grain market at Kansas City is most
promising.
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-01-01
THE STREET RAILWAYS.
Three Systems Furnish n Service That
Covers the City Well.

The facilities for rapid transit in and
about the city are afforded by $50 miles of
street railway. cable and electric, that
cover all parts of the city and the suburban
points and with the liberal system of trans
fers afford a comfortable and expeditions
way of travelling from any point to almost
any other point in the city for one fare.
In fact a ride of over ten miles can be had
for > cents by measuring the extremes pos
sible under the t-ansfer system.
There are three systems in operation and
franchises are now asked for by two other
companies that propose to construct many
more miles and with a possible combina-
ton with the smaller companies operating
Eere make a strong rival company. Dur
ing the year the cable line from the city
market to Wyandotte has been changed to
an electric line and the old Broadway line
has been rebuilt and will later be operated
as an electric system. 1t is pretty certain
that some other lines now using cables in
the city Will drop them at an early date
as the cheapness of electrical power and
the ease with which it is operated tend to
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-01-01
TREMENDOUS GAINS MADE on OTHER
MARKETS.
WESTERN GRAIN COMES HERE.
THIS Is THE NATURAL MARKET
FOR 1T.
There Has Been a Great Growth in
h Demand for Wheat for Ex-
port and for Corn to
He Fed In the
West.

While other grain markets all over the
country have been complaining of de-
creased receipts and n lighter wheat bust
ness Kansas City has Just closed by far
the most successful and pleasant year the
wheat market has ever known. Although
the enormous yield of wheat in 1897 forced
the receipts here UP to a very nice figure,
the receipts of 1895 surpassed them near
ly 100000 bushels. The tremendous in
crease here in the face of the strong de-
crease at other points gives the Kansas
City market a standing that makes it the
one bright point in the wheat trade of
the country. The significance is the more
marked because of the fact that farmers of
the West were not burdened with pressing
obligations last year and were able to hold
their crop and wait for a better price and
a moro rctive market. This operated 10
largely curtail the amount handled by the
trade and the fact that Kansas City
handled so much of the amount sent to
market shows conclusively that wheat
growers deem it the best wheat market
in the West.
No small amount of credit is due the
grain dealers here for the enterprise and
spirit with which they have gone into
competition with the other markets. They
have followed up every opening and been
in at every piece of sharp competition and
have spared no effort to push the Kansas
City market.
During the past year a number of the
strongest firms OF exporters in 81. Louis
have opened offices here and identified
themselves with the market. This has in
creased the amount of grain handled here
for export very materially and has thus
strengthened that important feature of the
business very much.
The decrease of the markets of St. Louis
and Chicago and the corresponding growth
of the market here shows that the natural
trend of the trade of the West is toward
Kansas City. 1t is the central railroad
point of the West. is amply qualified TO
handle the business in all OF its branches
and the producers are beginning to under
stand the advantage of selling at the near
est market. and the force of this idea Is
increased because of the fact that the
nearest market to the Western wheat fields
Is the best market TO be found anywhere.
The advantage gained by the business Of
the past year makes a broad foundation
on which to build for the future and the
live grain men here will not allow that
advantage to pass unimproved, for they
intend to make Kansas City the largest
primary grain market in the United States
and they do not expect to wait many years
to see it all accomplished
The wheat receipts of 1897 amounted to
e, III $50 bushels, while for 1898 they will
lack but little of reaching full J0.O 1850.
The growth by months for the two years
is shown in the following table:
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-01-01
TRADE IN DRY GOODS.
Buyers Have Been Numerous and the
Volume of Business Large.

The dry goods trade here has been the
best in volume and the most satisfactory
in its conditions and the ease with which
it has been handled that the city has ever
seen. The increased amount of cash that
WAS in circulation among the purchasers
in the country towns has made d vast
Improvement in the conditions surround
ing the retailer and he has in turn been
forced to hunt through the markets TOT
the newest and the most complete STOCK
OF the Staiidards ana noVeltlts tnat Sou..
be found. He has bought IN larger amouht
and of better quality than for many years
and the wholesalers have been able TO Keep
the best grades of stock moving all the
time. The trade of 80 was so much better
than for the preceding years that the
wholesalers closed the year with feelings
that year has continued in strength eacn
month of the year just closed and mas
pushed the figures on the totals above any
thing yet seen here.
When the people of the West harvest
their plentiful crops il is their custom TO
at once begin their aunt for the articles
pier. That is what makes trade good
among the retailers and when a good crop
is coming on the retailer hies himself TO
the markets TO get the things he knows
will be wanted and he tries to have them
on hand at the first purchase. The coun-
try people in the territory supplied from
this market dress We'll and they want the
latest thing in that line md they come 10
Kansas City TO get their supplies. Not only
in the line of dress but in all the articles
that go 10 tit and furnish the wardrobe
of a lady is there the same demand While
Kansas City has only in the last five years
taken on her present Importance as Il dry
goods center she has in that time been able
TO meet the competition that came from all
sources and with each year add largely 10
the numbers that found this place a very
satisfactory market. There has been a
marked increase the past year in the num-
Der of purchasers seen in the market here,
they have made more liberal purchases
and have paid more cash and asked fewer
and smaller favors of the trade than any
previous year. The credit man of the firms
who a few years ago worried himself bald
over how to collect, what credit to extend
without taking any unnecessary risk, finds
life now worth living. The man who once
Paid 10 per cent of his order in cash now
takes his discount and pays it all on de-
livery or else asks but the nominal favor
the trade is anxious 10 afford. The con-
ditions for the future promise another good
year. The people are cut of debt, they
are living easy once more, they have cash
in the bank and their farms and ranches
and their homes are fitted and furnished
for their comfort and their ease and they
Will sail along with happiness in the future.
The estimated value of the wholesale dry
goods trade for 1897 was 81. .0oO. The past
year it increased that amount one-third
and the prospects are fair for an additional
increase during the year as one other large
firm will open an establishment here dur
ing the next few months.
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-01-01

operation of trains into the city. adding
an immense and valuable territory directly
to the city. Another event of vast i'm
portance to the city will be the compile
ton of the Santa Fe from Amarillo. Tex,
10 Roswell, y. NJ. forming a connection
with the Pecos system that taps a terri
tory of wonderful richness and wholly
tributary to Kansas City. 1t puts the
whole of the Pecos valley. hundreds of miles
long and fertile beyond words. on a direct
line with the best markets in the land
for its products and live stock. 1t will
add many thousands of cars of stock to
the markets here each year and will fur
nish a market for thousands of dollars
worth of the goods found here for sale.
1t is one of the greatest extensions the
Kansas City market has made for years.
The railroad lines of Kansas City now
traverse thirty states and territories ana
represent 1000 miles in their total. They
reach from the wheat fields of the North
TO the Gulf coast and as far west as the
Pacific and comprehend all of the trade
and varied products that are found west
of the Mississippi river.
The tonnage handled in and out of the
city by the roads has been very large and
has been far ahead of last year. which
was a very prosperous one. The increases
In live stock, packing house products.
grain. implement and the general whole
sale trade have all given a large additional
business to the roads.
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-01-01
PLENTY OF GOOD BREAD.
Bakeries Here Are Popular for Their
Splendid Products.

The Kansas City housewife who dislikes
to bake her bread may easily dispense
with all trouble in that line for from the
many large steam bakeries here there is
turned out morning and evening n plenti-
ful supply Of the finest bread in the land.
always up to the highest degree of ex-
cellence and certain to give perfect salts
faction. Not only is this true of the bread
supply, but it is equally true of the cakes
and all other productions that come from
these establishments. No city of equal
size has more or better bakeries han are
found in Kansas City and there is a grow
ing demand all the time for their product.
1t is used in large quantities here in the
city and ia shipped by express to hundreds
of tributary points where the people have
learned of its excellence and are satis-
fed only when they can secure 1t.
Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-01-01
SPOTLESS LINEN is WORN.
kanxa City Lnundries Turn Ont No
Other Kind,

a score OF first-class laundries operated
here in n satisfactory manner make ii pos
sible for Kansas City people to wear spot
less linen the year round. and also affords
a fine investment for many thousands of
dollars and employment for some hundreds
of people continually. While some of the
iaundries limit their operations solely to
local trade there are half a dozen that ham
die a vast amount of business that is sent
in from outside points. and in this way
greatly widen their field and increase their
business. Most of the laundrieS are i'm
mense establishments with unsurpassed IA
]Cilities for the rapid and satisfactory hand
ling of business and they work full time
every day in the week.