ATCHISON,
THE
Railroad Centre
OF KANSAS.
ITS A HVANTAGES FOR
COMMERCE AND MANUFACTURES.
PUBLISHED AND COMPILED BY THE BOARD OF TRADE OF
THE CITY OF ATCHISON.
A.'l'CHIS03Sr, KA.Îi'S/^S;
'kINTED .AT THE DaILV ChAMPION SteAM PRINTING EsTABEISHMEN
OFFICE OF THE
BOARD OF TRADE.
Atchison, Kansas, Deo., 1874.
The Board of Trade of the city of Atchison take pleasure in
placing before you the accompanying pamphlet, which treats in detail
of the magnificent resources of the vast territory naturally tributary
to this city, and the advantages of Atchison as a commercial and
manufacturing centre.
The facts and statistics herein embodied were obtained from
official sources, viz: from the National census of 1870, the reports
of the Department of Agriculture, the reports of the State Board of
Agriculture, commercial reports, and the official reports of the offi¬
cers of Railroads centering here.
The attention of wholesale merchants and manufacturers is es-
pecially directed to the facts embodied herein. They will, we think,
convince any intelligent judgment that this city, with its numerous
competing lines of railway, has superior advantages as a distributing
point, and is the natural commercial metropolis of a region of country
that is an empire in extent and resources.
Any further information desired, by those contemplating a
change of location, will be furnished on application to the President
of the Board of Trade.
MILHOÄDS
CENTERING
11 mim
ÂtcMsoi, T, & Santa Fe.
AtcMson & Nelirasta,
Central Brandl II, P.
Missonri Paciflc,
Enrlington & Mo. Riier.
showijsra the fositioh
CITY OF ATCHISON,
THE ÖREAT RAILROAD CENTRE OF KANSAS.
RAILROADS
CENTERING
II iTCHM
East of imi Eira!
CtiieaEOjItoclíIslaM
anil Paelflc.
EannlkljSt.Jo.&AtcL
K, C,. St. Jo, & C, B.
St, L„ K, C, & Norttt
THE CITY OF ATCHISON, KANSAS.
S
THE CITY OF ATCHISON.
The Board of Trade of the city of Atchison, with a view to call the
attention of capitalists, manufacturers, wholesale merchants and
business men, who may desire to change their location, to the many
and growing advantages offered at the " Great Railroad Centre of the
Missouri Valley," respectfully submit the following statements for consid¬
eration. No pains have been spared to secure reliable statistics, in order
to present facts in regard to the demand now made by the large and fertile
region in close and dependent connection with Atchison as a natural cen¬
tre for supply. The rapid and healthy growth of the towns and villages
for the past few years exhibits a steady increase in all branches of trade,
and affords a solid basis for trustworthy estimates in the future.
Few cities have so promising a record in the healthy growth of the
past decade, with so few artificial appliances to attract attention and stim¬
ulate trade beyond the real wants of the surrounding and tributary popu¬
lation. In Atchison the increase of population has never kept pace with
that of the immense area to which immigration has been invited with
marvellous success by the magnificent system of railroads that centre in
the city, and by which permanent demands are made for every branch of
business usually transacted in large cities. The marked success of every
department of manufacture and commerce which has characterized the
prudent and sagacious men, who have become identified with the city in
the past, may be cited as motives to induce others to come and share the
profits of business relations that have been expanded by the rapid devel¬
opment of the country to such a degree as to create the absolute necessity
for more capital and its skillful management to meet existing demands.
Thus the way is open for entering upon a successful career without the
usual delay and expense of " working up business." This is especially
the case in the wholesale trade of dry goods, groceries, boots and shoes,
clothing, hats and caps, and almost every line of trade ; with raw materials
enough ^eking a market in Atchison for large and varied manufacturing
establishments. Add to these considerations, the double freight upon the
materials taken from the immense and inexhaustable regions of the West,
to supply the manufactories of the East, and the food for sustaining the
labor employed in them, and that upon the articles brought back to the
West for consumption, and the most cogent reasons will be seen why a
change of base may be a very important question for young and enter¬
prising capitalists and business men, who must share the intense competi¬
tion and rivalry of the over-crowded cities with old and well established
6
THE CITY OF ATCHISON, KANSAS.
houses. The difficult and tedious process, the time and expense thus
required to attain permanent and lucrative position among prominent
business men there, may be easily and quickly fixed in Atchison.
The wholesale trade, through which the hundreds of cities and villages
of the interior, and the constantly receding frontier, must be supplied,
cannot fail to be remunerative at once, and soon reach an aggregate of
business equal to the mammoth establishments of the East. There is no
possible risk of an '' overdone business " for many years to come. The
area of country yet to be settled with a thrifty population is too great for
a single doubt upon this point. Those who came in poverty to occupy
homesteads, are now becoming fore-handed and in a condition for making
larger purchases of the retail dealers who seek supplies at Atchison, which
gives a large increase and solidity to the-jobbing trade each year.
It is just twenty years since the first cabin was built on the west side
of the Missouri river, at its most westerly bend, where the city of Atchison
is located. The overland trade and freighting at once centered at this
place, creating a large business and giving it importance as a commercial
centre. A special census, taken this fall under the supervision of the
Board of Trade, shows a present population, by an accurate enumeration,
of 12,146, in which the usual industrial pursuits is proportionably rep¬
resented. These facts furnish a significant basis for calculation that every
intelligent and sagacious business man can make for himself in regard to
the magnificent future of this young city. Eight railroads converging to
this point, each of which finds Atchison among the most important tribu¬
taries to their business, both passenger and freight, show that- the geo¬
graphical advantages afforded by the location are not easily overestimated.
THE RAILROADS.
The railroads are a very important feature in the growth and prosperity
of Atchison, affording facilities for speedy communication with all parts of
the United States.
The Atchison, Topeha and Santa Fe Railroad,
With its eastern terminus at Atchison, runs through the rich mineral and
great cattle regions of Southwestern Kansas, Colorado and New Mexico,
a distance of 508 miles, to Granada. It is designed to push it farther,
with the characteristic energy of its management, in order to make it the
outlet for the richest portion of the Southwest. Of the 5,422 carloads
of freight received at Atchison by this road, during the year, more than
2,000 were loaded with Texas cattle. The immense wool producing
ranches of Colorado and New Mexico are seeking the eastern markets by
this route. Buffalo hides, copper, lead, coal and grain, from the fertile
valleys of the Arkansas, are among the products sept to Atchison, thus
introducing new and inexhaustible sources of trade.
THE CITY OF ATCHISON, KANSAS.
7
The company employ fVom 85 to 100 men at this city, with a pay roll
of $7,000 to $8,000 a month, in managing the business of six trains arriving
and departing each day.
The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Road passes directly through
the Osage coal fields, crosses the Kansas Central at Grasshopper Falls,
the Kansas Pacific at Topeka, and the Missouri, Kansas and Texas at
Emporia, affording a short, direct and speedy route to Denver, the Rocky
Mountains and the Pacific coast, and to the Indian Territory, Texas, and
the Gulf ports.
The Atchison and Nebraska Railroad,
Has 147 miles of road, with extensive machine shops and general offices
in this city, disbursing about $15,000 each month. The road brings a
large and profitable trade to Atchison. During the year ending October
31, 1874, 5,251 car loads of freight were forwarded from Atchison by the
Atchison and Nebraska Road, and 5,611 car loads were received at the
Atchison depot.
The Atchison and Nebraska Road crosses the St. Joe and Denver
Road at Troy Junction, and connects, at Lincoln, its Northwestern ter¬
minus. with the Midland Pacific and Omaha and Southwestern Roads.
The Central Branch Union Pacific Railroad,
With its initial point at Atchison, and extending but 100 miles, has been
in operation several years. It passes through a rich agricultural region,
with prosperous villages on its line, that have their commercial relations
almost exclusively at this point. The number of car loads of freight
received from the west by this road, during the year, is 4,063, and 4,093
car loads were shipped westward. The aggregate of freights by rail at
Atchison in the above statement is 8,156 car loads.
The Manhattan and Northwestern Road, now nearly completed, will
extend the Central Branch in a southwestern direction through the fertile
valley of the Blue river, to a connection with the Kansas Pacific at
Manhattan.
The Atlantic and Pacific, or Missouri Pacific,
And leased lines, having their northwestern terminus in Atchison, have
785 miles in operation. The freight business of the Missouri Pacific
branch of these lines is larger at Atchison than at any other point on the
road with a single exception. From fifty to sixty men are constantly em¬
ployed around the depot, thus making a large disbursement each month for
distribution. During the year ending October, 1874, this road received
at Atchison 6,400 car loads of freight for St. Louis, and intermediate
points, and brought back 7,500 car loads of freight, making nearly 14,000
loads of Atchison freight.
The Missouri Pacific connects at Kansas City with the Missouri River,
Fort Scott and Gulf Road, leading to the great coal area of Southern
Kansas.
The Hannibal, St. Joseph and Atchison,
Own and operate 295 miles of railroad, connecting Quincy and Hannibal
with Atchison, its western terminus, where it furnishes employment to
more than 100 men. During the year ending October i, the shipment of
freight by this road was 4,690 car loads from Atchison, bringing back
4,120, making a total of 8,810.
8
THE CITY OF ATCHISON, KANSAS.
The Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific
Operates 965 miles of road, and employ over 50 men at Atchison, its west¬
ern terminus. Its management is located in Chicago, 539 miles northeast,
and notwithstanding that it has been in operation but a short time, is
doing a large and increasing business, taking, during the year, 4,859 car
loads of western products, and bringing back 3,195 to the Atchison depot
for this city's trade.
The Burlington and Missouri River
Is another line extending from Atchison to Chicago, which operates 1,012
miles of road. It is less than a year since Atchison was made its termi¬
nal point, during which time it has taken 4,100 car loads of freight, and
brought back 2,980, with a rapidly increasing business.
The Kansas City, St. Joseph and Council Bluffs,
One of the oldest roads connected with Atchison, has 265 miles in opera¬
tion, and distributes each month over $7,400 for labor and salaries at this
point. It received in Atchison 4,005 car loads of freight, and shipped
1,445 car loads eastward.
The Missouri River,
Navigable almost the entire year for large steamers to Atchison, is a very
important means of transportation, and largely augments the amount of
business done by the railroads, of which a reliable estimate can hardly be
made without a more detailed record than is now available.
THE RAILROAD BUSINESS OF ATCHISON.
Summing up the Railroad system of Atchison, we find the following
results :
Eight Railroads have their initial or terminal point at this city.
Their total length is 2,583^ miles. They run southwest, west, northwest,
north, east, southeast, northeast, and north and south. Over these eight
lines seventy-two trains arrive at and depart from Atchison daily, of which
forty-eight are passenger and twenty-four are freight trains.
The length of the Roads centering in Atchison is as follows :
Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe 508
Atchison & Nebraska 146Í
Central Branch Union Pacific 100
Missouri Pacific 334
Burlington & Missouri River 527
Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific 539
Hannibal & St. Joseph 226
Kansas City, St. Jo. & Council Bluffs 203
Total, 2,583^
The eight Railroads centering in Atchison employ 733 men in their
machine shops, and in and about their freight and passenger depots, and
pay out, for salaries and supplies in Atchison, a monthly aggregate of
$74,680. During the year ending October 31st, 1874, there were 36,238
cars loaded with freight sent out from Atchison by these lines, and 36,896
loaded freight cars were received in this city. This statement will give
some idea of the enormous Railroad business done at Atchison, and of
the importance of this city as a commercial and distributing point.
THE CITY OF ATCHISON, KANSAS.
9
The Railroad system of Atchison is the most perfect in the West. In¬
deed, few cities in the whole country have such a concentration of great
lines, radiating to every point of the compass, and traversing a country
vast in extent and unequalled in fertility. More Railroads centre in
Atchison than in any other city in the Missouri Valley. Atchison is the
terminal or initial point of more Railroads than any other city in the
State or the Missouri Valley. The Railroads radiating from Atchison
make a large scope of country naturally tributary to the city than those
stretching out from any other town west of St. Louis.
The map herewith published gives an excellent view of the position of
Atchison and her Railroad system. Our Railroads penetrate the fertile
valleys of the Nemaha on the North, of the Vermillion and Blue in the
West, and of the Kansas, Neosho and Arkansas in the Southwest. The
country they traverse is growing with wonderful rapidity. Thriving towns
are springing up like magic, farms are being improved in every direction,
and the hardy pioneers are settling the country far beyond the present
terminal points of these Railroads. The trade of this vast region, a dream
of empire, is naturally tributary to Atchison. The Railroads stretching
out from this city are the commercial arteries of the country they traverse,
and they bring to the common centre its business.
TRIBUTARY COUNTRY.
The following table shows the counties in the State of Kansas directly
accessible and tributary to the city of Atchison, together with the area,
and the population in 1870 and 1873, and the increase in three years
showing also the population of the State, and the increase in three years
os'3
O r*
A. «
c
.2«
CV-(
® b
® ?
flS ®
0; >»
S«"
Po
in
C 3
•H.S
Counties.
Area in
sq. miles.
Pop'tion
in 1870.
Pop'tion
in 1873.
Increase
in S years.
720
7339
9396
2057
9()()
602
002
720
7648
14268
6620
900
;33
2790
2757
720
2127
4090
1963
756
179
674
496
900
1576
1576
H4S
7848
12084
4236
1260
3718
3718
720
1281
7055
5774
720
5
1105
1100
617
5105
8394
3289
900
625
625
900
156
815
659
720
4246
8742
4496
1008
1095
8766
7671
558
13121
20916
7795
900
66
1855
1789
1188
22
5690
5668
900
804
3862
4908
1545
199,5
538
600
62
900
4081
8754
4673
40675
81318
152990
364399
295665
605063
142675
240664
409
900
576
1428
750
660
720
1122
407
851
379
900
720
3.080
1080
900
864
658
665
900
720
858
954
900
720
15507, 197581 •
2; 860|
6823
ai35
19751
2942;
2323
9078
9865
4110
5592
7158
1175 1U6-56
5922
6516
17118
1710
5526
3043
13969
1336
1185,
427
60-53
12526
207
516
8014
768
6901
485
The
612
8340
15888
4830
2712
12-340
4908
11900
5501
State.,
.4251'
858!
22-5-51
6830
2135 i
2650'
48-351
94811
396 i
S473
3149
374
1683
185
2287
3362
4623
2196'
43261
4140!
Nemaha
Norton
Os^e
Osborne
Ottawa
Pawnee
Phillips
Pottawatomie..
Reno
Republic
Rice
Riley
Rooks
Russell
Srline
Sedgwick
Shawnee
Smith
Sumner
Trego
Waubaunsee....
"Wallace
Washington
50161 Total..
♦ Unorganized county. No report.
lO ' THE CITY OF ATCHISON, KANSAS.
It must be remembered that the tributary country thus refered to is
wholly in Kansas. A vast region in Nebraska, Missouri and Colorado, is
as naturally and directly tributary to this city, by means of the Atchison,
Topeka and Santa Fe, the Atchison and Nebraska, the Chicago, Rock
Island and Pacific, the Hannibal, St. Joseph and Atchison, and other rail¬
roads having their terminus or initial point here, as well as by the numer¬
ous lines of road with which these connect.
Atchison is within seventy-five miles of the exact geographical centre
of the United States.
DISPOSITION OF PUBLIC LANDS.
From official statements furnished by the Land Office at Concordia,
Wichita and Salina, to the State Board of Agriculture, we learn that the
total transactions at each of those offices from January i to November i,
1874, were as follows :
Concordia 611,446 acres.
Wichita 394,891 "
Salina 899,042 "
Grand total 1,905,379 acres.
We have no statement from the Land Offices at Topeka, Independence
and Cawker City.
The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fé, Central Branch Union Pacific,
and Atchison and Nebraska Railroads all have large bodies of lands for
sale, at prices ranging from $1.50 to $5.00 per acre.
THE CITY OF ATCHISON, KANSAS.
II
CITIES AND TOWNS.
The following is a list of cities and towns directly accessible and
tributary to the City of Atchison, showing the number of business houses
in each, of the principal mercantile branches of trade :
Towns and
Cities.
«Q
O
o
o
>,
Q
1 Groceries.
S3
ÖD
S
ö
Furniture. 1
General Stores. i
Hardware.
1 Stoves, &c.
¡Boots and ShoesJ
(0
o
S
j Mills.
Towns and
Cities.
jDry Goods.
1 Groceries. !
Drugs.
[Furniture.
1 General Stores.
¡Hardware.
o
œ
0)
ê
K
[Boots and Shoes.
[Books.
CD
S
7
7
1
6
1
1
1
1
I
.8
1
2
4
3
1
2
2
1
2
1
Arkansas city
9
3
7
?
9
8
1
1
2
Ellis
1
3
I
1
1
1
1
2
3
2
I
1
2
2
7
1
1
8
1
1
I
1
]
I
?
5
S
9
8
■ 1
1
1
1
2
2
1
2
1
2
1
1
3
1
1
I
4
10
4
2
1
3
3
4
1
Ent'prise Mill
1
2
2
1
8
2
3
7
1
4
1
I
1
1
5
7
2
2
in
1
1
1
1
1
Brantford
a
5
2
7
1
1
4
2
I
1
Farmington....
1
0
9
1
1
2
1
1
2
1
1
1
7,
3
8
I
8
I
1
1
Ft. Wallace....
1
Belle Plain
Bennington...
1
1
2
2
Frankfort.
2
2
1
1
5
1
1
1
1
I
I
2
1
1
Bloomington..
Blue Rapids...
Brettsviile
2
7
?
7
8
1
1
1
2
2
1
I
1
2
1
Gras'bopperF
Grenada
5
8
3
1
1
3
1
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
3
2
2
1
Bull
1
1
1
2
Bunker Hill...
1
1
1
1
7
7
7
Hanover
2
2
1
1
8
I
Burlingame...
7
2
2
3
2
2
1
1
1
1
I
Hays City
Hiawatha
2
3
5
2
2
1
3
1
1
I
1
I
1
Carbondale, ,,
3
9
1
1
2
1
I
Highland
2
3
2
1
4
1
1
1
1
7
4
7
1
1
Holmwood
1
I
Cedar Grove...
Centralia
Chapman Cr..
Circleville
Clay Centre....
Clifton
9
2
8
1
4
1
2
1
1
1
3
2
1
3
1
2
2
1
1
Humboldt
3
3
2
1
2
1
1
1
2
1
2
I
2
4
1
2
1
3
3
2
1
2
1
1
1
Hutchinson...
lona
3
3
6
4
4
1
1
2
1
8
3
2
1
1
9
4
q
r
4
1
1
1
2
8
1
2
4
5
1
5
1
I
1
1
2
Jewell City
2
8
2
2
1
1
Cottonwd. Fis
2
2
1
4
1
1
I
1
2
Jewell Center
Junction City
3
5
1
4
1
2
5
2
1
2
2
2
7
?
7
2
1
Keunekuk
3
De Kalb
8
2
1
1
1
3
4
1
1
2
1
1
Doniphan
2
2
1
1
1
1
Darned
1
2
1
1
2
12
THE CITY OF ATCHISON, KANSAS.
Towns and
Cities.
IDry Goods. |
œ
<D
'S
0
0
0
[Drugs. 1
1 Furniture. |
¡General Stores. |
¡Hardware. j
[stoves, &c. 1
[Boots and Shoes.|
[Books. 1
Mills.
6
12
5
3
4
5
4
4
3
2
1
3
X
1
1
2
1
7
X
X
1
1
1
1
1
2
1
1
1
X
X
1
8
3
2
5
1
X
2
1
X
2
1
4
I
X
X
2
2
2
6
1
X
X
X
1
2
3
2
1
2
1
2
1
X
S
1
1
6
1
X
1
1
2
1
1
5
1
I
X
1
X
2
2
1
3
1
X
1
X
1
X
2
1
2
2
X
1
1
3
2
3
2
1
2
2
X
X
X
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
3
2
X
X
2
X
1
2
3
5
2
1
1
3
2
2
2
1
1
1
X
2
2
3
1
X
X
1
3
1
1
1
S
4
2
2
3
1
X
1
1
2
1
1
1
1
X
4
5
2
1
4
1
X
1
1
X
1
3
2
1
4
1
X
X
3
2
2
1
2
1
X
2
3
1
2
2
1
1
1
1
8
2
1
8
2
2
X
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
Towns and
Cities.
Dry Goods.
có
0)
H
<0
0
0
&
Drugs.
Furniture.
General Stores.
Hardware.
Stoves, &c.
Boots and Shoes.
Books.
Mills.
3
1
1
1
1
1
X
3
3
2
1
3
1
1
1
2
X
2
1
2
4
X
1
1
1
1
1
5
X
1
2
4
1
1
2
X
1
1
1
4
7
2
X
6
2
X
2
1
2
X
6
X
2
X
X
1
4
1
1
X
1
X
X
2
1
1
X
X
1
6
3
2
1
6
3
2
1
X
1
2
X
5
2
2
1
1
1
]
1
X
î
2
X
2
1
2
1
1
2
4
2
4
1
X
2
X
3
S
1
1
3
4
4
2
X
4
2
X
1
1
1
X3
20
9
3
2
6
2
4
3
2
2
2
2
1
3
X
1
1
I
1
X
1
X
2
X
1
X
2
3
X
1
T
X
3
2
1
S
1
X
X
3
3
2
1
4
1
1
X
4
6
2
X
5
2
I
X
X
1
2
5
8
X
3
2
X
1
1
2
1
2
X
X
2
1
1
1
2
3
X
i
X
4
1
X
X
1
2
X
1
2
3
13
3
3
2
3
3
3
2
1
1
X
3
5
8
3
2
5
3
2
1
2
2
X
1
2
X
1
X
X
190
382
X99
80
440
108
70
51
46
99
Lincoln
Lincoln Cen'r
Logan
Loe Animas...
Louisville
Lowell
Lyndon
Manhattan....
Marion Cent'r
Marysville
Mayday
McPhers'n C*r
Middletown....
Milford
Mill Creek
Minneapolis.
Morrovia
Mt. Pleasant...
Muscotali
Nancy
Netawaka
Neuchatel
New Albany..
Newburg
New Cambria
New Market...
Newton
Nortonville....
North Cedar
North Topeka
Oak Mills
Ogden
Oriole
Osage City
Osawkee
Oskaloosa
Osborne
Oxford
Padonia
Palermo
Parallel
Pardee
Pawnee City...
Peabody
Peace
Peach Creek....
Philllp.sburg...
Pittsburg
Prairie Home
Prairie Plain..
Pueblo
Randolph
Raymond
Reading
Riley Center...
Robinson
Rock Creek
Rocky Hill
Rooks Center..
Rotterdam
Rulo
Rushville
Russell
Sabetha
Salem
Salina
St. Mary's
St. Oeorge
Scandinavia...
Seapo
Sedgwick
Seneca
Severance
Silver Lake
Smith Center..
Solomon City
Solomon R'ps
Sterling
Stockton."
Strawberry
Table Rock
Tecumseh
Topeka
Troy
Truesdell
Valley Center
Verdi s..
Vermillion
Vienna
Waconda
Wallace St'n..
Wamego
Washington...
Watervlile
Wellington
Westmorel'nd
West Wichita
Wetmore
White Cloud...
White Rock...
Whiting
Wichita
Wilson St'n...
Winch ester....
Winfield
Winkle's Mill
Winthrop
Woodbine
Total..
In the above tabulated statement of the cities and villages may be seen
a fair and reliable estimate of the present trade, if stocks of goods and
enterprise unite to concentrate it at Atchison. The calculation is easily
made in regard to the dry goods sold by 19c houses upon an estimate
of the amount each must sell to be self-sustaining. Add to this the value
of dry goods sold in the 440 general stores, and the most hesitating and
cautious will find an aggregate that should satisfy the ambition of several
first class jobbing houses. A like calculation in regard to groceries will
lead to conclusions equally favorable, and verify the statements of those
now engaged in the wholesale grocery trade, that a dozen new houses
would find a profitable trade at this city.
THE CITY OF ATCHISON, KANSAS.
13
The same line of argument, based upon the wants of a given popula¬
tion, will prove that boots and shoes, clothing and hats and caps, will give
a large and lucerative business to several wholesale establishments in each
of those branches of manufacture and trade.
The lumber business has been large and active for years. Hardware
and farming implements have secured a colossal trade for those who have
been engaged in it from the first.
A vast number of hides are shipped eastward, which should be tanned
in this vicinity. This branch of industry can find no better opening any¬
where on the continent.
Starch, linseed oil, paper, pottery, rope, cotton and woolen fabrics,
carpets, etc., can be manufactured at Atchison with a good margin and in
the midst of an increasing market. It is a region of abundance, where
food is cheap and t^ie climate is unsurpassed for its salubrity and tonic
properties. The best quality of fruits and vegetables are produced.
Nature has been profuse in her gifts to Northeastern Kansas, and in a few
years a teeming population will make grateful recognition of truths pre¬
sented in these pages, and the cordial invitation given to enterprising and
worthy people to cast their lot with us in this goodly land.
WHOLESALE TRADE.
Four years ago there was not an exclusively wholesale establishment in
Atchison. There are now five wholesale grocery houses, three wholesale
hardware establishments, six wholesale liquor houses, the largest jobbing
drug house in the Missouri Valley, one jobbing house in queensware,
crockery and glassware, one wholesale book and and stationery house, two
wholesale dealers in furniture, one jobbing house in notions and white
goods, one manufacturing and wholesale clothing house, four wholesale
dealers in lumber, one wholesale leather house, one manufacturing and
jobbing confectionery, and three commission houses.
The great need of the city is more wholesale establishments. The
wholesale grocers now located here say that the trade naturally tributary
to the city is ample to sustain a dozen more houses in their line, and this
is the testimony of all other jobbing houses now located here. There is
a legitimate demand for more jobbing establishments, and such houses, if
located here, could at once secure a large, prosperous and constantly
expanding trade. This is especially true of the lines of dry goods, boots
and shoes, hats and caps, clothing and fancy goods and notions.
We invite business men seeking a location to visit Atchison and see
for themselves. The truth of the statements we make concerning the
legitimate demand for wholesale establishments at this city will be conclu¬
sively demonstrated by such evidence as will convince the judgment of any
intelligent business man. Atchison is the natural gate-way of the West,
and as a distributing point has advantages superior to those of any other
city in the Missouri Valley.
14
THE CITY OF ATCHISON, KANSAS.
MANUFACTORIES,
Kansas ought to be one of the greatest manufacturing States in the
Union. No other State has such valuable and permanent water powers.
Its soil is of unsurpassed fertility. Its coal beds, its salt springs and salt
marshes, its fine limestone, its gypsum beds, are inexhaustible. It can
supply an abundance of iron ore, potter's clay, and other valuable materi¬
als. Its climate is salubrious. It has over two thousand miles of railway
within its borders, stretching out to all points of the compass, and con¬
necting with the railway system of the entire continent. We can take the
cars at Atchison, and in two hundred miles reach one of the finest cotton
regions of the globe. We are too far from the seaboard for our farmers
to compete successfully with those of the States east of the Mississippi in
the markets of the eastern cities. Our advantages are great and numer¬
ous, and the forces at hand need only to be utilized. There is no other
State where a manufacturing population can live so cheaply, and no other
State can furnish the raw materials for manufacturing those articles most
in demand and use by our people, in greater abundance.
Atchison possesses great advantages as a manufacturing centre. Our
superior railroad connections afford unequalled facilities for supplying the
vast country tributary to this city with the products required by the peo¬
ple for their use. Woolen, carpet and starch manufactories; more extensive
establishments for supplying the people of Kansas with wagons, carriages,
sash and doors, etc.; oil mills for converting the great quantities of flax
seed now produced in this region into oil ; and especially factories for the
manufacture of agricultural implements, are imperatively demanded to
supply the wants of the country, and would do an immense and remuner¬
ative business. In fact, no city west of St. Louis affords such inducements
for the investment of capital in these branches of business, nor can any
other place in the West afford such advantages as a manufacturing and
distributing point as can Atchison.
We have now in Atchison a large iron and brass foundry, employing
a heavy force of workmen, and doing a prosperous and constantly in¬
creasing business ; one large furniture manufactory ; three of the finest
flouring mills in the West; four machine shops ; two extensive saw mills ;
one cracker manufactory ; one manufacturing confectionery ; two brewer¬
ies; two mill furnishing establishments; and about twenty other manu¬
facturing establishments in different branches, but on a smaller scale.
There is in Atchison an unequalled opportunity for the profitable invest¬
ment of capital in almost all branches of mechanical industry, and we
invite manufacturers to visit our city and judge for themselves concerning
the statements we make.
Native Lunaber.—One of the railroads terminating in Atchison,
passes through one of the best lumber regions in the West, with an inex¬
haustible supply of oak, ash, hickory and black walnut, and within a few
THE CITY OF ATCHISON, KANSAS.
15
miles of the city. It can be utilized with less expense for transportation
than^is paid by most of the large manufactories of the country, is of
excellent quality, and suitable for wagons, buggies, agricultural imple¬
ments, furniture and chairs, for which the demand is rapidly increasing
every year. The great valley between the Platte and Missouri Mountain
range on the south is adapted to culture by implemental labor, and will
therefore be the central market for the manufactories in this line, thus
bringing the material and the demand for its manufactured productions
in close proximity.
The black walnut is regarded as unsurpassed on the Continent, and is
shipped to San Francisco and the Pacific cities in large quantities. It is
sold at from $25 to $40 per thousand, and thus affords a good margin for
dealers, but would be far more profitable if worked up in furniture for
Eastern markets.* It has been too generally assumed that timber could
not be found in this region in quantity and quality to justify large manu¬
facturing enterprises, but a careful examination and comparison with other
sections of the country has been made, resulting in the facts above stated,
and urged upon the attention of manufacturers.
Fruits.—The prolific yield of peaches with almost invariable cer¬
tainty suggests that fruit canning establishments could be made remunera¬
tive and permanent. Often a surfeited market at 20 cents a bushel leaves
thousands of wagon loads of excellent peaches to be wasted in the
orchards. Every variety of fruit suited to this latitude, with the single
exception of quinces, is a sure and adundant crop. The quality of
Kansas fruit has been in comparison with that from all parts of the United
States, and taken the first premiums at fairs and expositions in nearly all
the Central and Eastern cities. Its reputation is fixed beyond contro¬
versy.
EDUCATIONAL PROVISIONS.
The provisions of education are liberally and wisely made. There are
twenty-two'public schools in the city under the management of a Board
of Education, and so graded as to meet all the requirements from the
Primary^to¡the High School, in which pupils are fitted for the collegiate
courses, professional studies or business pursuits. The system includes
all that is usually found in Eastern cities, and is efficiently and success¬
fully administered. The Central School building cost over $40,000, one
of the ward school houses about $15,000, and four others $2,500 each,
making an aggregate of $80,000.
One college, with buildings, grounds and usual appliances of such
institutions, at a cost of about $150,000. It is well equipped with a full
Faculty and modern facilities for thorough collegiate education.
There are two female schools, each having a measure of success that
is an appropriate public testimonial of their usefulness and the satisfaction
given in their management.
Kansas has made, in her Common School system and her State Insti¬
tutions, ample provision for the education of children and youth. This is
supplemented by academies and colleges under the control of the different
denominations, to such a degree as secure advantages equal to those found
in other and older portions of the country.
l6 the city of atchison, kansas.
RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS.
There are fourteen religious organizations in the city, which inculde
the usual denominations sustained in other cities of like population, with
ten ministers exlusively employed in pastoral labors. The congregations
are large, with an aggregate of church property valued at about $200,000.
OTHER INSTITUTIONS.
Hotsls.—There are fifteen Hotels in Atchison, of which three are
ranked as first class, and one is justly regarded the best in the State, and un¬
surpassed in the Missouri Valley in size and elegance of its appointments.
All these hotels are well sustained, thus indicating that the business of
the great thoroughfares of the West gravitate to the Railroad Centre.
Atchison has three newspapers, two English and one German. The
Weekly Champion was established in 1858, and The Daily Champion
in 1865. The Daily and The Weekly Patriot were established in
1867. The Courier (German) was established early last spring.
The Odd Fellows, Masons and Turners have large and well furnished
halls that are not surpassed in the State. Within three years the number
of new buildings erected was 887, many of which are costly, substantial
and beautiful structures that indicate increasing wealth and taste.
The city is lighted with gas, and has a well organized and efficient
Fire Department, well equipped with the best modern appliances and
steam power, and an ample supply of water for any emergency.
THE CITY or ATCHISON, KANSAS.
17
THE MISSOURI RIVER BRIDGE.
On the i6th of July, 1874, work was commenced on the great railroad
and highway bridge over the Missouri River at Atchison-. On the 25th
of September the caisson for the pivot pier was launched, and on the 20th
of November the pier was completed, resting on the bed rock fifty-five feet
below the surface of the water. Work is now in progress on the second
pier, and the bridge will be completed and ready for the passage of rail¬
road trains and highway travel by the 4th of July, 1875.
The American Bridge Company, of Chicago, has the contract for
building this bridge. Since the inauguration of the work in July last,
from two to three hundred men have been constantly employed upon it.
The bridge will be 1,144 feet long, exclusive of approaches. It will
consist of three fixed spans, each 260 feet in length, and one draw span
364 feet in length. The grade of the bridge will be ten feet above the
high water mark of 1844. The approaches to it will be earth embank¬
ments. The west approach will descend so as to reach the street grade
at Second street, and the eastern approach will descend with a grade of
52 feet per mile, for about a quarter of a mile, where it reaches the level
of the Hannibal & St. Joseph and the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific
Railroad tracks. The bridge is located just south of Main street, in this
city, directly opposite the termini of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe
and the Central Branch Union Pacific Railroad tracks, and nearly opposite
the depots of the Atchison & Nebraska and Missouri Pacific Railroads.
The substructure of the bridge will consist of two abutments and four
piers, all of which will be built of solid masonry of the best quality, laid in
hydraulic cement. The west abutment will rest upon oak piles, driven to
bed rock, and cut off five feet below low water mark. The east abutment
will have a similar foundation, except that the piles will not be driven to
bed rock, that not being deemed necessary.
All of the piers are of masonry, sunk to bed rock, unless a solid
bed of clay be found before reaching the rock. They are built and sunk
upon inverted caissons, by the pneumatic process, which consists in com¬
pressing air by powerful air pumps, and forcing it into the caissons with
such power as to drive the water out.
The superstructure will be built of wrought iron, and each member
will be of sufficient strength to sustain six times the strain which the pas¬
sage of an ordinary freight train will subject it to.
The trusses will be eighteen feet apart in the clear, and twenty-eight
NOW IN COURSE OF CONSTRUCTION AT
ATCHISON, KANSAS.
THE AMERICAH BRIDGE COMPART, OF CHXCAGO, CORTRAOTORS.
THE CITY OF ATCHISON,' KANSAS.
19
feet high, with a sidewalk on each side five feet wide. The floor of the
bridge will be planked with oak, for the passage of highway trafic.
The draw spans will be worked by steam, and when open will give a
clear passage-way for steamboats of 160 feet on each side of the pivot pier.
In point of strength, beauty and permanence, the Atchison bridge will
be equal to the very best railway bridges in America. The American
Bridge Company of Chicago, the contractors, is the most extensive bridge
building company in America, and Maj. Gunn, the Chief Engineer, under
whose superintendence and direction the work is being done, has no supe¬
rior in the country as a skillful and capable engineer.
What the Enterprise Signifies.
The mere fact that a company of capitalists are willing to undertake
an enterprise involving so large an outlay of money during a period of
such general depression, proves conclusively that Atchison has commer¬
cial advantages possessed by no other city in the Missouri Valley. For
these gentlemen are building the bridge as a legitimate business enter¬
prise, firmly convinced that it will pay for the investment. They have
carefully calculated both the cost and the business it will do, and found
that a bridge is needed to accommodate the trade already centered here.
The bridge at St. Joseph was built, not by foreign capital and because it
was demanded by the business transacted between the two sides of the
river, but because the people of St. Joseph wanted it and paid for it. The
bridge at Leavenworth was built in the same way and for the same reason.
Neither of these bridges does any considerable business, and never will.
But there is such a concentration of railroads at Atchison, and the freight
and passenger business between the roads on the east and on the west bank
of the river is so enormous, that a bridge here is a necessity. It will do a
transportation business so large that it will pay to build it. The invest¬
ment is a good one, upon which a handsome profit can be realized.
These facts are recognized by sagacious capitalists, and hence they have
undertaken the construction of the Atchison bridge.
Express Companies.—The Express Companies—American,
Wells, Fargo & Co , and the United States—agencies in this city may
properly be enumerated among its Institutions. Notwithstanding the
facilities afforded in shipping goods by so many railroad lines without the
delay or uncertainty of transfer to other roads, these companies do a
large business in sending out and bringing in packages requiring quick
and reliable returns. Within the past five or six years this business has
been constantly enlarging, until it has reached an annual aggregate of ten
to twelve million pounds of freight and over two million dollars in cur¬
rency, showing a volume of local business the past year of great signifi¬
cance in a correct estimate of the rank to which Atchison is entitled as a
commercial center.
20
THE CITY OF ATCHISON, KANSAS.
CULTIVATED AREA.
In 1870 the area within the State under cultivation amounted to i,-
871,004 acres. In 1873 it amounted to 3,036,171 acres; and in 1874 it
reached 3,659,777 acres. The cultivated area has, therefore, almost
doubled in four years, and the increase during the last year was 623^606
acres. And yet the percentage of cultivated to taxable acres within the
State is only per cent., and still there is a vast homestead area not
yet taxable.
Wheat ,—In 1870 the production of winter wheat in Kansas was
1,076,676 bushels, and the production of spring wheat was 1,314,522,
making the total production of both varieties 2,391,198 bushels. The
total area in wheat was 159,413 acres.
In 1874 the production of winter wheat was 6,898,606 bushels, with
an area of 418,239 acres ; and the production of spring wheat was 2,810,-
777 bushels, with an area of 278,026 acres. The total production of both
varieties was 9,709, 383 bushels ; and the total area was 716,266 acres.
The production of this leading cereal was, therefore, more than quad¬
rupled in the four years.
Corn,—In 1870 the production of corn in Kansas was 17,025,525
bushels, with an area of 608,054 acres. In 1872 the production reached
45,667,451 bushels, with an area of 1,105,374 acres ; the acreage, therefore,
being nearly doubled, and the production nearly trebled, within the two
years. We have no official statement at hand showing the acreage and
production of 1873.
The average yield for 1874 will be the smallest since the admission of
the State. There was a somewhat protracted drought, which would have
reduced the yield very much below the average. But in addition to this,
the State was invaded by a wing of the grand army of grasshoppers, which
extended from the Rocky Mountains and the Indian Territory almost to
Lake Superior. The insects were particularly destructive in the western
and newly settled counties of the State, where the corn crop may be set
down as a total failure. The yield in the State is officially estimated at
only 19,669,256 bushels, although the area was 1,525,421 acres. The av¬
erage is, therefore, a little less than 13 bushels per acre. This is but little
more than one-third of a crop. The reports of the United States Com¬
missioner of Agriculture from 1864 to 1872, inclusive, shows the average
THE CITY OF ATCHISON, KANSAS.
21
yield, per acre, in Kansas, to be as follows, omitting decimals, viz.: For
1864, 25 bushels ; 1865, 41 bushels ; 1866, 34 bushels ; 1867,38 bushels;
1868, 18 bushels; 1869, 48 bushels ; 1870,28 bushels; 1871, 40 bushels ;
Ï872, 38 bushels. Average for eight years, 34 bushels. Computing the
average of 1874 at this average, would give a production of 51,874,314
bushels.
Rye .—In 1870 the production of rye in Kansas was 85,207 bushels,
with an area of 4,097 acres. In 1873 the production was estimated àt
301,957 bushels. In 1874 the production was 421,261 bushels, with an
area of 30,546 acres. The production therefore increased nearly five fold
in the four years.
Barley.—in 1870 the production of barley in Kansas was 98,405
bushels. We have no statement of the acreage at hand. In 1874 the
production was 415,738 bushels, with an area of 24,194 acres. The pro¬
duction was therefore more than quadrupled during the four years.
Oats.—In 1870 the production of oats in Kansas was 4,097,925 bush-
ele. We have no statement of the acreage at hand. In 1874 the pro¬
duction was 7,691,884 bushels, with an area of 315,126 acres. The
production was, therefore, nearly doubled during the four years.
Buckwheat.—in 1870 the production of buckwheat in Kansas was
27,826 bushels; in 1873 the production reached 76,929 bushels. In 1874
the production was 113,664 bushels, with an area of 7,866 acres.
Flax Seed.—In 1870 the production of flax seed in Kansas was
1,553 bushels. In 1872 the production was 3,834 bushels; and in 1873 it
reached 63,478 bushels. In 1874 the production was 174,698 bushels,
with an area of 16,770 acres. The production, it will be observed, has
almost trebled during the last year.
Although Atchison county is one of the smallest in the State, she takes
the lead in the culture of flax. The production of seed for 1874 was 27,-
797 bushels. Brown county, which adjoins Atchison on the north, pro¬
duced 19,310 bushels, and Jackson, which adjoins Atchison on the south,
produced 10,351 bushels. This territory, embracing but one-fiftieth part
of the area of the State, produced nearly one-third of the entire product
of the State. And still the raising of flax is only in its infancy here,
although its successful culture is no longer problematical. It is now
known that Northern Kansas is peculiarly adapted to the raising of this
valuable seed and fiber.
It is believed that a factory for utilizing the fiber of the immense flax
product of this region would be a successful and profitable enterprise.
At present only the seed of the flax is used.
Heinp.—In 1870 the production of hemp in Kansas was 76,000
pounds. In 1872 the production was 1,222,078 pounds ; in 1873 it reached
1,410,304 pounds. In 1874 the production was 2,331,126 pounds, with an
area of 3,135 acres.
Doniphan county, which adjoins Atchison on the north, takes the lead
in raising hemp, the product for 1874 being 1,800,000 pounds. Atchison
county produced only 27,950 pounds, although she, and indeed all the
22
THE CITY OF ATCHISON, KANSAS.
neighboring counties in Northern Kansas, are as well adapted as Doni¬
phan county to the culture of hemp. Its production might be increased
indefinitely.
Tobacco.—In 1870 the production of tobacco in Kansas was 29,-
047 pounds. In 1872 the production reached 201,040 pounds. In 18.74
the production was 293,828 pounds, with an area of 506 acres.
Castor Beans.—In 1870 the production of Castor beans was so
insignificant that no report was made of the same. In 1872 the product¬
ion was 19,362 bushels. In 1873 the production was 59,435 bushels,
being more than treble the production of the previous year. We have, as
yet, no official report for 1874, although we have the assurance that the
production will greatly exceed that of 1873.
Cotton.—In 1870 the production of cotton in Kansas was 2,800
pounds; in 1872 it was 22,772 pounds; and in 1873 it reached 251,222
pounds. We have no report for 1874 at hand. Several of the counties
along and near the line of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad
have cultivated this product successfully.
Sorgbum.—The production of sorghum for 1874 is estimated at
1,092,495 gallons, with an area of 14,103 acres. We have no statement
for previous years. Kansas is well adapted to the culture of this valuable
saccharine production.
Broom Corrí.—The production of broom corn for 1874 is esti¬
mated at 2,680,350 pounds, with an area of 4,176 acres. We have no
statement for previous years, but the production might be augmented
indefinitely, if desirable.
I
Root Crops.—In the foregoing statement we have not included
Irish potatoes, sweet potatoes, sugar beets, turnips, and other field
products grown under the ground. We have not the statistics at hand,
but in the production of such crops, Kansas has no superior in the Union.
The rich, loamy soil is peculiarly adapted to their growth. We believe the
manufacture of sugar from sugar beats could be made profitable.
Dairy Products.—in 1873 the capital invested in cheese factories
in Kansas was $9,810, and the product of these factories amounted to
151,173 pounds. In 1874 the capital invested was $56,313, and the
product was 419,401.
In 1873 the amount of cheese made in the family was 143,932 pounds,
and the amount of butter so made was 6,804,693 pounds. In 1874 the
amount of cheese made in the family was 142,348 pounds, and the amount
of butter so made was 7,457,110 pounds.
Although there was a decrease of 1,584 pounds of family made cheese
during the year, there was an increase of 268,229 pounds of factory made
cheese, the net increase of the product, therefore, being 266,645 pounds.
The increase in the product of butter for the year was 652,417 pounds.
Nurseries, Orchards and Vineyards.—The area of nurseries
THE GITV ©F ATCHISON, KANSAS.
23
in the State is estimated at 5,071 acres; the area of orchards 100,839
acres ; and the area of vineyards 5,558 acres. We have no statement of
the product of orchards and vineyards for 1874.
The following is extracted from the report of the State Board of Agri¬
culture for 1873 ;
" SUMMARY AND COMPARATIVE.
Nurseries,—In i860 and 1870, no report. In 1872 $227,980 invested.
Orchards.—In i860 the value of orchard products was,$656 ; in 1870 $158,046 ; in
1872, 713,954 bushels, estimated at ftfty cents per bushel, gives $356,977 as the value of
the product. . Capital invested in orchards in 1873. $i|6i4.934-
Vineyards.—There were 583 gallons of wine manufactured in i860 ; 14,88g in 1870 ;
34,505 in 1872. Assuming that twelve pounds of grapes will make one gallon of wine,
and that one-half of the grape crop was marketed as grapes and one-half manufactured
into wine, we have the product of 1872 as follows : Grapes manufactured into wine, 414,-
060 pounds; number of pounds sold, 414,960 pounds; making 828,120 pounds in the
aggregate.
414,505 pounds of grapes at 4 cents $16,562.40
34-505 gallons of wine at 75 cents 25,878.75
Total value of crop of 1872 $42,441.15
Capital invested in vineyards in 1872, $181,689. The average yield per acre, accord¬
ing to the return of assessors, is 2,307 pounds. As many of the vineyards are young, and
not in full bearing, this average is too low. The average throughout the State for vine¬
yards in full bearing is about four thousand pounds per acre."
Hay and. Grasses.—T!ie following is a summary of the statistics
of hay and grasses returned to the State Board of Agriculture for 1874;
Hungarian hay, production, 20,907 tons; area, 15,332 acres. Timo¬
thy (meadow hay), 34,067 tons; area, 29,601 acres. Clover (meadow hay),
26,114 tons ; area, 13,974 acres. Millet hay, 67,282 tons; area, 40,225
acres. Prairie meadow hay (native), under fence, 310,966 tons; area,
4^331963 acres.
Timothy pasture, area, 5,011 acres. Clover pasture, area, 3,790 acres.
Blue grass pasture, area, 13,736 acres. Prairie pasture, under fence, area,
398,081 acres.
It will be observed that the total production of hay under fence in a
single year is 459,336 tons. As Northern Kansas is intersected with innu¬
merable streams, skirted on either side with belts of timber, aifording
abundance of water and good shelter, there is nothing but time and capi¬
tal and enterprise needed to make it one of the greatest stock raising
sections of the world. Blue grass takes as kindly to our soil and does as
well in Northern Kansas as in the famous " blue grass region" of Kentucky.
Thoss who receive this Pamphlet are requested, after reading,
to hand it to others who may be interested in the facts it em¬
bodies,
By so doing, they will oblige
THE BOABI) OF TRADE,
ATCHiaON, K ANIS AS,