Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1899-10-27
KANSAS CITY.
MID-coNTINENT METROPOLIS.
It's Early History Another City of Phe-
nomenal Growth.

nomenal Growth.
Special Correspondence to the Evening Capital
Leaving Denver. night and day 5
ride over the popular Rock Island route,
brings one to the metropolis Of the mid
continent. Kansas City. city whose
growth is almost as astonishing as that of
the Queen City of the Plains. While
the growth OF Kansas City has also been
phenomenal" yet IL has been healthy.
natural and is now a continuous growth.
Kansas City has magnificent railroad
system. Twenty-Five lines enter this
great mart and transportation centre, and
more are seeking entrance. Some cities
have been built by reason OF their natural
advantages, and some cities by reason Of
their energy. but Kansas City owes her
advancement to both. Geographical
position and transportation facilities have
all to do with the growth OF city, and
Kansas City was no exception. Here
was the great bend of the mighty Mis-
souri, river and the mouth of the Kaw.
The river turned North and the over
land route turned West at this point. II
was the meeting and parting place. The
steamboats, and the prairie schooners
came together and separated here. All
about for hundreds of miles in every di-
rection was country marvelously pro-
life in every natural resource, and soil
rich in every element necessary to the
production of everything grown in a
warm and temperate climate. Here was
an immense alluvial valley 700 to 300
feet above the sea. 500 miles from the
Great Lakes. 1000 miles from the Gulf,
I 500 miles from the Atlantic and 7,soo
miles from the Pacific ocean.
Here was the converging point, the
conditions existed: Kansas City was
evolved. The early history of Kansas
City is full Of interest. The city is said
to have been founded in 1921, when the
American Fur Company established a
supply depot here. This was done on
account of the city's location at the juno
ton OF the two rivers. In these early
days, as now navigable rivers were the
highways OF commerce. 1t is said the
time is not far distant when the Kansas.
Missouri. Mississippi and Ohio rivers will
be the great highways of travel. the like
of which has not been seen in the world S
history, and Kansas City will take her
place as one Of the worlds capitals.
Some one has prophesied that with the
opening of the canal. joining the Gull of
Mexico to the Pacific Ocean. a clear
navigation at all seasons OF the year,
barring ice. from Omaha to St. Louis,
from St. Paul to New Orleans, from
Pittsburg to Cairo. Kansas City can make
herself the worlds granery. Wheat,
corn, pork and beef are what the world
imam and his domestic family lives on.
and Kansas City will some day be the
worlds greatest market for these staples.
Kansas City gets its name from the Kan
sas river, which flows into the Missouri
at this point, and the Kansas river gets
its name from the tribe of Indians OF that
name who lived in this section. The In
dian pronunciation of the name was Kan
Eau, from which the abbreviation "Kaw"
comes. The French explorers wrote the
word Kansas.
In 1876 the Indians surrendered their
title to the land on which Kansas City
stands. The following year Jackson
county was formed with Independence as
the county seat. The many Indian tribes
that were sent by the government to the
territory west Of Missouri made Kansas
City their trading point. This was .
great support to the town for many years.
In 1891 the Mormons made settlements
at independence and Westpors Landing
(as Kansas City was then known. but .
year later the citizens drove them out
and they continued their march West.
ward. In 1874. when trade was estab-
lished overland with Mexico. Kansas City
became headquarters for fitting out the
wagons. Freight was carried up the
Missouri and unloaded here. The fine
pasture around was also an attraction u
the ireighters TO feed the horses and the