the assertion that no other similar area in the world has such a variety or such an extent of mineral wealth. SALT. There is salt enough in Kansas and Nebraska to supply the continent, and it is of exceptional purity. At the great salt wells at Lincoln, Nebraska, and at numerous places along the lines of the Kansas Pacific and Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroads in Kansas, the salt water flows to the surface, and crystallizes by solar evaporation into huge cakes, of exceptional strength and purity. This great interest is as yet wholly undeveloped, but at some future time salt from these localities will constitute a prominent feature of Kansas City's commerce. COAL. The coal resources of the New West are also immense. All southwest Mis" souri and southeastern Kansas are underlaid with a superior article of bituminous coal. About fifteen thousand car loads are annually moved along the line of the Missouri River, Fort Scott & Gulf road, most of which is sold in this city. The veins lie near the surface, which makes mining easy and cheap. The prevailing price in this city is not materially above that of other cities contiguous to coal mines, and the quality of our coal is very superior for fuel and steam purposes. That obtained at Fort Scott will run a railway engine sixty-five miles to the ton, while forty-five is the highest of other soft coals obtained in the United States. All the western part of Missouri, south of the river, is underlaid with coal of the same veins, and hence of the same quality, and it extends westward in Kansas, to an ascertained distance of seventy-five miles, and may be found much farther west. In the mountain districts of the west it is abundant. LEAD. This mineral is found in great quantities in southwest and southern Missouri, and as far west and north as Pleasanton, Kansas. The principal mines at the present time are at Joplin, Missouri, and they have been developed within the past six years, though known for a much longer time. It is the best soft lead found on the American continent, and is, we believe, the only American lead of which the best quality of paints can be made, without an admixture of foreign lead. Of the extent of the product there are no statistics. ZINC Is also found at Joplin, Missouri, of exceptional purity and richness, and it is being successfully mined and smelted. The late Hon. Henry T. Blow, of St. Louis, affirms that it is from fifty-five to sixty-five per cent. oxide, or thirty-five to fifty per cent. pure metal. IRON. Missouri is already famous for the extent and richness of her mines. This reputation has been made principally by the ores found in the southeastern part of the State, but the same deposit extends to the western. In fact, all southern Missouri is underlaid with it, as with coal and lead, though outside of the mines at Pilot Knob and Iron Mountain, it is but little developed. It is found also in inexhaustible quantities in the mountains of Colorado and New Mexico. GOLD AND SILVER. The gold and silver mines of Colorado and New Mexico have been famous for many years. Specie and bullion from New Mexico was a prominent article of traffic in the old days of the Santa Fe trade at Kansas City, though the mines were then but little developed and worked only by the indolent Mexicans. The extent and richness of these mines will not be ascertained for many years to come. The whole Rocky Mountain country is full of gold and silver, as well as coal, iron and lead. Of the annual yield of most of these minerals the statistics are not available, but we here quote from a report for 1880, carefully compiled by John J. Valentine, Superintendent of Wells, Fargo & Co.'s Express, St. Louis, the total product of the precious metals of the western mines for, indeed, it will be seen that that and other sections connected commercially with Kansas City show the largest increase: "Colorado Commenting on the product of the mines Mr. Valentine says: shows an increase of $6,871,474 over our report of last year-chiefly from Leadville district. California shows an increase in gold of $579,579, and a decrease in silver of $360,873. Nevada shows a total falling off of $6,966,093, the yield from the Comstock being only $5,312,592, as against $8,830,562 in 1879, a decrease of $3,517,970. The product of Eureka district is $4,639,025, as against $5.859,261 in 1879, a decrease of $1,220, 236. Utah shows an increase of $982,074. Dakota shows an increase of $914,094. Arizona shows a notable in HISTORY OF INDEPENDENCE. Introductory Names of Early Settlers Given Under Blue Township-County Seat Located in 1827-Additions to the Town of Independence-Sale of Lots-First Instrument of RecordThe First Court-Gold Excitement-The First Court House-Jails and Sheriffs-Business of the City-Banking, Etc.-Streets and Boulevards-Beautiful Scenery-Incorperation-Names of Mayors-Religious History-Joab Powell— Baptists—M. E. Church, South-Christian Church-Old School Presbyterians-M. E. Church-Cumberland Presbyterians - Old School Baptists--Latter Day Saints--Catholic Church-The Cemetary-Colleges and Schools-Secret Societies-Business Directory-Wayne City Bluff-The Finest Mansion in Jackson County. In this sketch of the history of the city of Independence we shall endeavor to give a comprehensive, though not exhaustive review, of its establishment as the seat of justice of Jackson county, its growth and development and its present condition. Those who know the history of Independence so well that the most observant and inquisitive historical pen could not bring to the mind a single unheard-of incident or experience, nor present an old one in a new light, perhaps may not highly prize what is so familiar to them; but posterity will cherish a deep interest in any facts with which their fathers were associated. Independence is one of the most beautiful little cities in the Union; the large and elegant homes, the tall and branching shade trees, the smooth macadam streets, the large and beautiful court house, the commodious churches, the colleges and schools, the substantial business houses, the wealth and business enterprise and the moral and intellectual culture of the citizens, all conspire to make Independ ence the pride not only of those who reside within its immediate bounds, but of the State at large. In speaking thus of this little city of Independence we are at the same time aware that our noble State, Missouri, contains many other good towns, and that the fertile soil, the sunny skies, the fruitful seasons, the advantages of culture and the smiles of Providence are blessings enjoyed in every clime, but to the same extent and degree as found here exceedingly few examples can be cited. Independence is most emphatically one of Missouri's representative towns, but that it is in every particular a model we shall not pretend to maintain. However, it is certainly much easier with Independence in mind to frame an ideal model, than taking most other cities of the same size as the basis. The early settlers for the most part came from Kentucky and Tennessee, though some were from Virginia and other States. Scholarly parents have removed to Independence in order to secure the best advantages for their children, and there is no place in the State better suited to their purpose. Not many of the first settlers of Independence are now alive; a very few who came soon after the first still live and relate the scenes in which they took such active interest. The laying out of the town, the establishment of the seat of justice for Jackson county, the building of the first Court House and Jail, the New Mexico Trade, the Gold Excitement, Doniphan's Expedition, and many more events of that nature are nearly forgotten by the few old settlers and scarcely heard of by the youths. The settlement of Jackson county is inseparably connected with the settlement of Independence. In these pages devoted to this beautiful growing town we shall endeavor to present as many facts, as a short sketch will permit. Such men as Abraham McClellan, Richard Fristoe, Samuel C. Owens, Jacob Gregg, Henry Burris, Joel P. Walker, L. W. Boggs and others were among the first pioneers who directed the affairs of this county. Independence was laid out by David Ward, Julius Emmons and John Bartle son in 1827. These gentlemen were appointed by the General Assembly of Missouri to pre-empt a tract of land upon which to locate a county seat for Jackson county; their final report bears the date of March, 1827. The first court was held by David Todd, on the 21st of May, following. The original town plat contained 240 acres, upon which have been found sixteen springs of pure water. The town site now contains 600 acres, with a population of 3,146, as given by the census of 1880. The first public land was sold in Jackson county on the 1828. 11th day of November, The first census of Jackson county was taken by Mr. Jacob Gregg, in 1826, and he received $10 for ten days services. It hardly looks as if it could have been thoroughly done in that time by one person, but such is the record. Mr. Samuel Newton was the commissioner appointed to number the lots and his report gives much of local interest. Labor was cheap, one dollar a day being his own charge for services. He quotes whisky at 50 cents per gallon, and he charged the city 25 cents for the survey of each lot. Paper was high, he having paid $1.50 for four quires, which now can be bought for less than half that price. In the matter of labor and the products of the soil, prices were far below those of the present day; but when it came to articles of manufacture, which was then in its infancy, the old settlers were compelled to pay pretty good prices. Thirtyseven and a half cents a quire for common writing paper and 25 cents for two paste boards would astonish those of the present day, if it was asked of them. S. G. Owens, Garrett M. Hensley, Jno. R. Swearingen and Judge John Smith were appointed commissioners to sell lots. John Dunston was surveyor, and completed his work Jan. 9, 1827, afterward the town was platted off by Geo. W. Rhodes, which plat is on record in the office. Abner J. Adair purchased the first lots, Nos. 20 and 21, in old town; these lots are now occupied by Mrs. McClanahan and Theophilus Thompson. Three years after the first part of the town was laid off, the annexed part, the south half of northwest quarter of section No. 2, was added by special act of the Legislature, and Abram McClelland was appointed commissioner to convey the property to various individual purchasers. This act was passed in 1831. The plat of Independence, approved by the County Court, is given herewith : "COUNTY OF JACKSON, } To-wit; STATE OF MISSOURI, COUNTY COURT, SPECIAL TERM, "We, the undersigned Justices of the County Court of Jackson county do approve of the within plat of the Town of Independence, the seat of justice of this county, and direct the same to be deposited in the office of the Recorder of the county for safe keeping. Given under our hands and seals the day and date above written. Additions at various times have been made to the original plat, some of which were by the following persons: Joseph Hansbrough's addition, Nov. 28, 1845; Geo. W. Rhodes, surveyor. J. F. Moore's addition, June 10, 1846. S. H. Woodson's addition, February 14, 1848. Henry Rubey's addition, Sept. 13, 1850. McCoy's addition, April 5, 1852. Woodson & Maxwell's addition, March 20 1851. Michael Fallon & Jacob Haller's addition, October 28, 1852. John F. McCauley's addition, January 28, 1852. SALE OF LOTS. The first sale of lots took place on the 9th, 10th and 11th days of July, 1827, and in the Recorder's office will be found the report of the commissioner of the sale to the court. The account reads: "Commissioner's accounts of lots sold in the town of Independence, at the first sale held, on the ninth, tenth and eleventh days of July, A. D., 1827." Lot No. 6, James Allen, $11.50; James Blakely, security. Lot No. 4, John Cornet, $14.62; L. W. Boggs, security. Lot No. 74, Jesse Butler, $10.00; James Kimzey, security. Lots Nos. 116, 19, 135 and 136, Samuel Newton; Samuel C. Owens, security. Lot No. 61, John Thornton, $12.00; Samuel C. Owens, security. Lot No. 93, Solomon G. Flournoy, $49.72; Rowland Flournoy, security. Lots Nos. 113 and 114, G. Johnston, $20.00; S. V. Noland, security. Lot No. 103, Cicero Brown, $10.00; Gan Johnston, security. Lot No. 76, Daniel Monroe, $10.00; Elisha Todd, security. Lots Nos. 134, 127, 124, 125, 126, 79, M. Franker & E. Todd; Eli Roberts, security. Lots Nos. 73 and 85, Lewis Jones, $22.00; James Moze, security. |