and Dan Geary, city clerk, changing seventy-three names of streets at one For convenience the cross streets were changed from the names of time-honored citizens to numbers.

time.

CHAPTER VI.

THE LEVEE OUTGROWN.

A township justice of the peace and a constable were able to preserve order in the "Town of Kansas" until 1853. A circumstance occurred in December, 1852, that hastened the necessity for a municipal government. A man was arrested for some trivial offense and brought to trial, whereupon it was discovered that the officers who tried the case held commissions issued for the next township east, locating the jurisdiction of the justice of the peace and the constable six miles from where they had been exercising authority. The town at once applied to the Missouri legislature for a charter and, February 22, 1853, Governor Sterling Price placed his signature to a bill incorporating the "City of Kansas." After the charter had been granted the following announcement was posted:

"Notice is hereby given that, according to the provisions of an act of the general assembly of the State of Missouri, approved February 22, 1853, entitled 'An act to incorporate the City of Kansas,' an election will be held by the qualified voters within the limits of said city as defined by said act, at Kansas, on Monday, the 28th day of March, A. D. 1853, to ascertain whether they will accept or reject the act of incorporation."

The election was held and the charter was ratified by a large majority. The boundaries of the town, as defined in the charter, were the river on the north, Ninth street on the south, Summit street on the west and the alley between Holmes and Charlotte streets on the east. Not all of the land included in this territory was platted until several years after the charter was granted.

The charter obtained, the "City of Kansas" announced that an election would be held April 18, 1853, for the purpose of electing a mayor and aldermen. A proclamation to this effect signed by Dr. Benoist Troost, Lott Coffman and Thompson McDaniels, was posted on the trees near the levee. At the election sixty-four votes were polled. William S. Gregory, the whig candidate, was elected mayor with thirty-six votes. Dr. Benoist Troost, the Democratic candidate, received twenty-seven votes. A democratic council was elected, composed of the following: Dr. Johnston Lykins, Thomas H.

West, William G. Barclay, Thompson McDaniels, and Milton J. Payne and William J. Jarboe. N. B. Hedges was elected city marshal. The judges of the election were Thomas Wolf, Lott Coffman and J. P. Howe. Shortly after William S. Gregory had been elected mayor, it was learned that he had not lived within the city limits the required length of time to be eligible to the office. He at once resigned as mayor and Dr. Johnston Lykins, as president of the council, became mayor, completed the term and was elected mayor in. 1854. The other ante-bellum mayors of Kansas City were: John Johnson, 1855; M. J. Payne, 1856-57-58-59; G. M. B. Maughs, 1860; R. T. Van Horn, 1861.

The representation above, of the city of Kansas was drawn for the Pictorial by Mr. Kilburn, the view being taken on the spot, and executed with his accustomed fidelity. The city is in Jackson County, Missouri, and is located on the south bank of the Missouri river. one hundred and thirty miles from Jefferson City. It is a place of considerable business, and embraces all the elements of future greatness. We present it as it appears today. but the cities of the West grow out of all recognition in a very few years. In the old world. the view of a town taken today would exhibit few changes from one a century old-the little settlements on the Rhine, for instance, are quite stationary-while rapid expansion and perpetual improvement are the features of our settlements, particularly a marvel even to us of in the great West, which is dotted here and there with foci of life and business, often New England, with whom progress and extension are the watchwords.

At the first meeting of the city council, April 25, 1853, the following city officials were appointed: Pierre M. Chouteau, treasurer; S. W. Bouton, register; G. W. Wolf, assessor; Hallon Rice, wharf master and tax collector; Judge Nelson, city attorney. At this meeting a resolution was adopted requesting the old town company to settle its affairs and transfer its surplus