Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1906-05-03
Baxter Springs, kansas-and
the Mining Camp.


half from the Indian Territory, and
six miles from Missouri. Tie ground
upon which the city Is located Is
high and rolling, Spring river skirt
ing the city on the east and Spring
branch running through the city.
The city has excellent drainage and
this, with its pure water, makes II
Il very healthy place to live.
The first settlement was made In
this vicinity by A. Baxter In 1858.
Mr. liaxter's claim adioined the
townsite on the northeast. Hitler
to the land belonged to the govern
ment, and was known as the govern
ment strip. In 1850 two gentlemen
named Davis and Armstrong each
took claims. Davis locating his on
the west side of Mr.. Bakers, and
Armstrong bounded liaxter's on
the south. The claim shanties OF
these three men were tie only build
ings to be seen in the vicinity where
the city Is now located Tie re-
strictions upon the Texas cattle drive
caused them to be halted near this
place. which was the main cause for
starting q town.
In 1866 Captain Mann and j. j.
Barnes laid out town site ana
named ii Baxter Springs, In honor OF
the first settler, and also for the
spings which are found here, and
which are known to possess medical
properties Of great value. The site
was mostly upon the Davis claim
and a part Of the Armstrong claim,
both of which came into the possess
ion of Mann and Barnes. Several
additions were added to the town,
and at the present time 1t covers
more than a section. The first
house built on the townsite was o
log shanty belonging to Armstrong
and Davis. This, however, was
built before the townsite was laid
out. The first building put up az
ter the TOWNSHIP was laid out was
built by Ben Gump. Others rapid
" followed, and the town grew fast.
In 1872 the town had population
of about 5000 people. 1t was a
rough place. too. The driving OF
Texas cattle through the Indian
Territory caused the influx Of lot
of tough characters from all over the
country, and it was not an unusual
thing for man to be found dead in
town in the morning. Saloons were
plentiful, gambling houses just as
thick, and suspicious characters
were in evidence OH all sides. A
vigilance committee was organized,
and this served in measure TO
check lawlessness. The people Of
Baxter Springs thought they were
going to have second New YORK,
and so great was their confidence
that bonds were voted for everything
imaginable. In 1869 the people vo-
ted $50. 900 in bonds to the Missouri
River, Fort Scott and Gulf Railroad
Company for q road to be built from
Fort Scott to that town. The inter-
est was never paid on the bonds,
however, and only few years ago
the bonds were compromised for SO,
600. Twenty-Five thousand dollars
were voted for public school build
ing and so, 200 for court house and
Jail; 81 900 more were voted for street
improvement. The town got into
debt very deep, and when the cattle
drive drifted westward the people
were In q bad condition so far as
their municipality was concerned.
Then, as If to further kill of the
town, lead was discovered at Galena
in 1877. There was q big rush to
that place, and buildings were torn
down and moved to the big strike.
The buildings were most all frame
structures, and were easily moved.
Later on a fire cleaned up the bal
ance Of the frame business houses.
Then the people got together and de-
cided to straighten things out. New
buildings were put up, OF brick,
and the town was given a cleaning
up. The country adjacent to the
city is as good as can be found any
where, and the people of the place
decided they could have right good
little agricultural place If nothing
else. The town is so we'll located
it was bound. to recover, and 1t did.
Mining was claiming the atten-
ton of most everybody in this sec.
ton, and it was decided to do some
prospecting in Baxter Springs. A
few prospect holes were put down,
but nothing resulted except to show
that the town was in the mineral
belt. From that time on until
about three years ago little work In
the mining line was done.
Later on, however, mineral was
was found south Of town, In the In
dian Territory, and the town took