retary; J. S. Chick, treasurer; John W. Byers, James M. Love, A. M. Winner and J. P. Harper. The original capital stock was $120,000.

The Fifth street cable line was the first to be transferred into an electric line. The change was made in November, 1898. The Brooklyn avenue, or Tenth street line, was the second to be changed to electricity, in December, 1899; the Westport cable line, changed to electricity in May, 1900, was the third. The change from cable to electric lines was rapid after 1900. While the Metropolitan Street Railway Company was converting the cable lines into electric lines it, at the same time, was forced to provide for the increase of business due to the rapid development of the city. In addition to reconstructing the roadbed, it was necessary to buy new rolling stock and make an enormous increase in the electrical machinery needed for generating the necessary power. The changes in the system and the increase in business required an expenditure of approximately ten million dollars in four years.

CHAPTER XIV.

THE CIVIC ASSOCIATIONS.

Kansas City's reputation as a commercial center is due, to a very great extent, to several aggressive civic associations that have made it their chief business to tell the world of the city's unsurpassed advantages and to uphold its business integrity. Several commercial associations having worthy purposes, were organized in the early years of the city's existence, but they expired during the Civil war or afterward.

As the city grew and as greater possibilities for trade developed, the necessity for a comprehensive organization that would unite the business interests of the city and strive for the general advancement of public prosperity, became apparent. To meet this need the Commercial club was organized, July 18, 1887, with fifty-seven members, and incorporated in December of the same year under the laws of Missouri. In its articles of incorporation the club gave these as its purposes:

"The objects of the association shall be to promote the progress, extension, and increase of the trade and industries of Kansas City, acquire and disseminate valuable commercial and economical information, promote just and equitable principles of trade, and foster the highest commercial integrity among those engaged in the various lines of business represented; to increase acquaintanceship among its members, and facilitate the speedy adjustment,

by arbitration, of business disputes; to interchange views, and secure concerted action upon matters of public interest, freely discuss and correct abuses, using such means as may be best calculated to promote the interests and rights of its members as business men and citizens, looking chiefly toward the commercial development of the city."

These avowed purposes have been accomplished to a great extent. The organization became known as the "Club that Does." This complimentary notice is from the New York Times:

The greatest thing in Kansas City-chief maker of Kansas City, its prophet apostle and crowner is the Club That Does. The Commercial Club' is the incorporate title of it. It is not among the new, hustling elements of Kansas City. It has lived long enough to have inspired, started, strengthened, developed and rounded out good things multitudinous for the town. From the very start it accomplished things, and age inflicts neither languor nor lameFifteen years ago it started upon its campaign of Kansas City upbuilding. It had public approval from its beginning; now it commands public enthusiasm. More than 800 Kansas City business men are on its rolls, and not one laggard on its list."

ness.

The first board of directors of the Commercial club was composed of the following: W. B. Grimes, L. E. Irwin, E. L. Martin, W. J. Anderson, Ryerson Ritchie, T. B. Bullene, E. M. Brannick, K. L. Barton, Joseph Cahn, G. W. Fuller, S. W. Gregory, A. R. Meyer, J. M. Nave, J. G. Stowe, A. G. Trumbull and T. F. Willis. From those were named the following officers: W. B. Grimes, president; L. E. Irwin, first vice-president; E. L. Martin, second vice-president; W. J. Anderson, treasurer; Ryerson Ritchie, secretary. The Commercial club always has been willing to foster any enterprise that would benefit Kansas City. Its chief endeavor has been to promote the commercial interests of the city. The Commercial club began to urge a reduction in freight rates in 1889. After a contest lasting more than one year, the club won a notable victory. The question of transportation rates became so important that the Commercial club founded the Transportation bureau, presided over by a freight expert, whose business it is to guard the interests of Kansas City shippers and especially to correct discrimination in freight rates. The Transportation bureau was organized in 1889, in the administration of Frank A. Faxon. The first commissioner of transportation was A. J. Vanlandingham, appointed November 21, 1889.

The Commercial club was interested in the movement to re-establish steamboat navigation on the Missouri river The organization used its influence to induce Congress to make an appropriation for improving the Missouri river, and to have a United States engineer located in Kansas City to have charge of river improvements.

The objects and purposes of the Commercial club were clearly set forth in an address by A. R. Meyer at his inauguration as president of the club in August, 1895:

"It may be truly said that since the foundation of this association there has been no movement seeking the advantage of our city and its business, social and moral interests, which, if not indeed originally organized by you, at least received received through your endorsement and support that encouragement and character to which success was largely due. The name you bear-Commercial Club-does you injustice. It no longer fairly expresses the character and object of this association. Starting out with the object of promoting social intercourse and mutual helpfulness among men of business, its members, it has become a training school of citizenship, the recognized authority and judge of all matters concerning the welfare of our city, the genial host of visitors, the accredited representative of the city and its spokesman in all relations with the world about us.

"To correctly estimate the power of this association for good and for the advancement of this city, and in order to show to you, my friends and fellow members, the true sphere of activity and the true object and purpose of this association, let me ask you to picture to yourselves, if, indeed, your imagination can undertake such perilous flight, let me ask you to consider what this city might be if all her sons gave to her cause the same generous loyalty and unselfish care, and to their duties as citizens the same attention that is given by this association.

"I ask you again, to make the usefulness and possibilities of this association yet more clear, that you contrast with this picture that of a city without public spirit and public enterprise; a city populated by people too selfish and narrow to realize that individual and the common success and advantage are indissolubly connected; that a healthy soul is impossible without a healthy body; that happiness and enjoyment of life are prerequisites to business success and to every other success."

The Commercial club has branched out far beyond its original purposes of having freight rates reduced, making trade trips and securing other business reforms; not less conspicuous in its records are the campaigns for clean streets, public sanitation, and for better park and boulevard system. The Commercial club advocated the issuance of bonds by the school district to build the public library and the Manual Training High school.

The greatest monument to the Commercial club is Convention hall. The club took the initial step toward having the hall built by calling a special committee and authorizing the presiding officer to appoint an executive committee to solicit subscriptions for the building fund. The meeting was held in June, 1897, after the close of a very sucessful "Home product" show

managed by the Commercial club. Convention hall was dedicated in February, 1899. When the hall was destroyed by fire, April 4, 1900, it was the Commercial club co-operating with the directors of Convention hall that immediately began to make plans to construct the second building.

The celebrated slogan of the Commercial club, "Make Kansas City a Good Place to Live In," originated with Frank A. Faxon, president of the club in 1889-90.

One of the effective methods employed by the Commercial club to bring trade to Kansas City and strengthen business relations with the tributary territory is the yearly trade excursion. The trade trips have made friends for Kansas City and extended commerce. The first trade excursion of the Commercial club was taken in November, 1888, to Holton, Kans. The longest trade extension trip was taken in 1903, May 12 to 23, when the journey extended to New Mexico. The Commercial club, it is said, was the first organization of the kind in the United States to give trade extension trips.

The Commercial club on many occasions has acted as host for Kansas city and entertained distinguished visitors. The club gave a reception to Admiral Schley, November 20, 1902. These are the names of some of the other noted men entertained by the Commercial club:

Grover Cleveland, Benjamin Harrison, Theodore Roosevelt, Jay Gould, Cornelius Vanderbilt, Chauncey Depew, General McArthur, General Funston, Lieutenant Hobson, Right Hon. Lord Munson and William M. Chinney of London, John Home, Jr., president of the New York Board of Trade; George W. Childs, John Wanamaker, Don Francisco Caseo of Old Mexico, and Chinese Minister, Wu-Ting-Fang.

The first annual banquet of the Commercial club was given, November 19, 1894, to commemorate the one hundredth anniversary of the commercial independence of the United States, or the signing of the treaty between this country and Great Britain, negotiated by John Jay. The first annual dinner was held at the Coates House and these were among the speakers: Ex-governor Alexander M. Dockery, Senator William Warner, General McD. Cook, Morrison Munford, E. H. Allen and Judge John F. Philips.

The Commercial club is a legislative body, and no subject of any importance is ever determined except by the club in regular or special session. Either the standing or special committees must make a report to the club, and upon the action of the club depends whether or not the report of any committee shall be adopted or rejected. The standing committees of the Commercial club are as follows: Arbitration, auditing, executive, entertainment, house, insurance, municipal legislation, state and national legislation, transportation, manufacturers, trade extension, membership and inter-city committee.

A board of directors of fifteen members is elected annually, and from their number the officers for the ensuing year are chosen. The secretary is elected by the board of directors. There have been only two secretaries of the club since its organization: Ryerson Ritchie, who served from 1887 to 1892, and E. M. Clendenning, elected in September, 1892 and serving in 1908. It is an unwritten law in the club that no man shall serve more than one year as president. The term begins in September. These are the names of the presidents:

William B. Grimes, 1887-88; L. E. Irwin, 1888-89; Frank A. Faxon, 1889-90; J. M. Patterson, 1890-91; G. F. Putman, 1891-92; Charles Campbell, 1892-93; J. C. James, 1893-94; George W. Fuller, 1894-95; A. R. Meyer, 1895-96; M. V. Watson, 1896-97; William Barton, 1897-98; H. W. Evans, 1898-99; U. S. Epperson, 1899-00; C. J. Schmelzer, 1900-01; W. B. Thayer, 1901-02; J. F. Richards, 1902-03; A. D. Parker, 1903-04; L. M. Miller, 1904-05; J. D. Robertson, 1905-06; O. V. Dodge, 1906-07; II. B. Topping, 1907-08

The membership of the Commercial club in 1908 included nine honorary and 437 active firms, or an active membership of 1,130 individuals. The membership of the club represents about 75 million dollars in capital. The Commercial club moved into its present (1908) quarters in the Board of Trade building, August 1, 1888.

A small group of business men met early in the spring of 1898 to discuss the formation of an organization that would foster and develop the young business interests of the city-a field somewhat different from that ocupied by the Commercial club. The first gathering led to another and finally a meeting was held, May 26, 1898, to perfect the desired association. C. A. Shepard, president of an oil company, called the meeting to order, and the talk of organizing the association that has proved to be a power in Kansas City, was begun.

Walter S. Dickey, who had been chosen temporary chairman, and John N. Powell, who had been elected temporary secretary, began their work. R. G. Weber suggested the name, " The Manufacturers Association of Kansas City, U. S. A.," and it was adopted. Thereupon W. J. Berkowitz, R. T. Neilson, R. W. Hilliker, A. M. Egbert, Walter S. Dickey, R. G. Weber, J. J. Heim, C. S. Morey and John H. Powell devolved the task of drafting the by-laws and articles of agreement. And in these by-laws and articles of agreement were included everything that could be suggested for the good of the organization and the city.

"The purposes of the corporation shall be educational, social, fraternal and beneficial," the articles read. "It shall have no capital stock, and it is not organized for pecuniary gain or profit. Its aim shall be to promote the