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sorbed by the Kansas City Club in 1892, the latter club thereby gaining a membership of about one hundred new members. Of the present membership of the Kansas City club only eight were among the original incorporators. They are: Colonel A. A. Tomlinson, James H. Oglebay, Senator William Warner, Sanford B. Ladd, Gardiner Lathrop, George D. Huling, L. F. Wilson and Sylvester T. Smith. The last two named are now non-resident members. The present (1908) officers of the club are: President, C. A. Lawler; vice presidents, C. L. Ross, M. V. Watson and F. A. Taylor; treasurer, V. W. Flowerree. The secretary is A. A. Austin who has held that office since 1899. There are about four hundred and fifty active members and over a hundred non-resident members well known men in the United States and foreign countries.

Quite an important factor in these organizations is the University club whose membership consists of men who "shall have received a degree from a College or University in good standing, or who shall have attended such College or University, the United States Military Academy or the United States Naval Academy for two years." The club was formerly at home in the old S. B. Armour residence at 1216 Broadway, but later was removed to spacious quarters at the corner of Eleventh street and Baltimore avenue. The club was founded November, 1900, and incorporated March, 1901.

The Kansas City Athletic club, more popularly known as the K.C. A. Cs., is just what its name implies, purely athletic. The present club is the outgrowth of an organization similarly named, which was organized in the early '90s. The organization then had quarters at Fairmont park, where they had athletic grounds and a quarter mile track. Owing to the inconvenient location of the club and mode of transportation, the present club was organized with rooms in Strope's hall at Ninth and Central streets. The gymnasium equipment then consisted of two punching bags and a vaulting horse; the other furnishings were in keeping with the limited finances of the organization. The first officers of the club were B. E. Fryer, president; E. J. Dillon, secretary; and Hood Lyle, treasurer.

The club was obliged to seek larger quarters owing to the increase in membership, in 1900, and leased rooms in the Pepper building, now the Studio building, on Ninth and Locust streets. For a time, funds were so low that it appeared that the club would go under, but a few loyal members came forward, signed personal notes and helped the club to get onto its feet. The membership increased until now the club ranks among the first of its kind in the country. On August 22, 1906, the club threw open the doors of a new club house, a building of their own designed especially for their use by architect club members. The new building located at 1016 Central street, has a gymnasium 56x122 feet and 28 feet high, and the largest assembly room, outside of Convention hall, in the city. The building is three stories high and

so constructed that two more stories may be added at a future time. The cost of the building was about $50,000 and the furnishings $20,000. The club also has about four acres of ground between Gillham Road and Oak street, and Thirty-second and Thirty-fourth streets, which are laid out in an athletic field of the most approved style.

Every up-to-date city has its country club, generally a great, rambling, picturesque house, situated in the suburbs of the city, surrounded by beautiful forest trees and rolling grounds.

Such are the country clubs of America to-day, of which Kansas City has three-only one, however, being known as "The Country club," the other two are the "Evanston Golf club," and "Elm Ridge." The "Country club” was incorporated for forty-nine years, May 1, 1896, "for the purpose of advancing by rational amusement, the mental and bodily health of themselves and their associates." The incorporators were Hugh C. Ward, Charles F. Morse, the late Jefferson Brumback, H. L. Harmon, A. W. Childs, C. J. Hubbard, J. E. Logan, Gardiner Lathrop, St. Clair Street, Ford Harvey, Egbert H. Chapman, Edward S. Washburn, the late William B. Clarke. Membership in the club is limited to 275, of whom 25 may be juniors, between 21 and 27 years of age. The social features of this club are emphasized. Every Saturday night from the middle of May until fall, dinner is served on the porch of the club house after which music and dancing follows. On Decoration day, Independence day, and all other holidays, golf competitions are held for cups given either by the club or directors. Open house is always kept New Year's day and Christmas day.

During the year 1908, $30,000 was spent in improvements, part of this amount on the athletic field which is intended primarily as a polo field, but provides also for other sports as well. Previous to the year 1908, an athletic field was not so much a necessity, for the Hunt and Polo club had its own grounds; but since its merging with the Country club, such grounds are required. All members of the former organization, with the exception of eight or nine, were members of the Country club and the consolidation had practically little effect, except to do away with two sets of grounds. The club is beautifully situated on nearly a quarter section of land, at Fifty-second and Broadway, part of the Hugh C. Ward estate.

The "Evanston Golf Club" was organized about 1897, when golf was new to the West and "is the club with the one idea," the second word in its title giving the keynote of its organization. When the club first started, the links were at Fairmont park. Seven of those original members are still active. They are: R. W. Hodge, Dr. George B. Norberg, John Harriss, John Lumpkin, Ernest A. Cronin, Neal S. Doran and Albert Young. The club moved. from Fairmont park on March 12, 1901, to Evanston on the Independence

line some distance east of Colon 1 Van Horn's country home on the high ground north of the Fifteenth street road. When Washington park was taken for a cemetery, the park bath-house was moved to Evanston and used by the Evanston Golf club for a locker house, and a new and spacious club house was built at Evanston. At that time George Mathews was president and George B. Peck, vice president. In the spring of 1905, the old Swope home and grounds, opposite the entrance to Swope park were leased for a term of fifteen years. The old residence was left standing and additions were built on either side. The Swope homestead had been noted for years as one of the most attractive country seats in Jackson county. Aside from the necessary improvements in transforming the grounds into a golf course and the erection of suitable buildings, nothing has been done to mar the natural beauty of the surroundings.

Like the "Country club," the social feature is not neglected. Dancing is indulged in every Saturday during the summer and every two weeks in the winter, under the rules of this club, the wives and daughters of members are also active members. About fifteen rooms are reserved for the use of members who wish to live at the club during the summer, but as these are in such demand, no one is allowed to remain longer than two weeks. The present membership is 300. The officers of the club are J. C. Fennell, president; Frank P. Sebree, vice president; Alex. Jaussen, treasurer; Geo. B. Flack, secretary.

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The "Elm Ridge club" is the outgrowth of the "Kansas City Jockey club and Fair association" which was incorporated December 6, 1902. this club, as in the "Country club" and "Evanston," the social feature predominates. Golf, tennis and other sports are indulged in, but horse racing is really the sport most favored. The club has built what is considered the most complete horse racing plant in the West. Membership is limited to 400 and there are now more than 300. The present officers are: Frank Rozzelle, president; F. A. Britton, 1st vice president; C. C. Peters, 2d vice president; J. H. Felty, secretary; and W. A. Rule, treasurer.

The Knife and Fork club has filled a place in the social and literary life of our city that has been unoccupied prior to its advent. The club is a social organization composed of men representative of the principal business and professional interests, devoted to the idea of good dinners and good fellowship, with a discussion over the cigars of current events and other topics of interest pertaining to the betterment of mankind and the advancement of civilization.

In the month of October, 1898, the plan of such an organization was suggested and the preliminary work begun by Herbert S. Hadley, now (1908) Republican candidate for governor of Missouri, Denton Dunn and J. J. Vineyard. November 29, 1898, 50 or more gentlemen assembled in the club room

of the Coates House in answer to letters that had been sent out. The idea of the club was taken up with enthusiasm, officers were elected, a committee on constitution appointed and the first dinner announced for December 15, 1898, at which time a constitution and by-laws were adopted. These dinners. have been held monthly except during the summer, and a speaker of some note is generally the guest of the club.

The Knife and Fork club aims to be more of a good fellowship club, as its unique name indicates. It is, however, not at all without its instructive side, for aside from the value of the papers and the addresses themselves, the interchange of ideas by men of different points of view, is an opportunity hardly offered elsewhere.

A club quite as unique in organization as the Knife and Fork club in name, is the Women's Dining club, composed entirely of women who are in the business world. The club's history is brief as it has only been organized since February, 1908.

The "Women's Athletic club" was organized in May, 1908. The athletic and dining features predominate here and everything is in accordance that helps to make a pleasant recreation place for women. Mrs. Viola Dale McMurray is director of the club.

The Progress club is a Jewish organization. The first meeting called in 1881 was for the purpose of promoting sociability and culture among the Jews. About 40 responded and became charter members. The following officers were elected: B. A. Flineman, president; Sam'l Latz, vice president; Harry Benjamin, secretary and Harry Ezekiel, treasurer. The first meetings and gatherings were held on the third floor of the John Taylor Dry Goods company. Three years later the club moved to a hall on Twelfth and Main streets. Here they remained for seven or eight years until sufficient funds were raised to erect the present club house, which is on Washington near Tenth street. This club represents the cultured strata of Jewish society and has always aimed at the highest and best in social functions. The present membership is about 150 with the following men holding office: Al Rothenberg, president; Theodore Griff, vice president; E. Allbright, secretary; Dan Lyons,

treasurer.

The City club was organized Washington's birthday, February 22, 1908. On that day about 50 business and professional men met at the Sexton hotel and the club was organized with this purpose: "To aid through its own efforts and co-operation with other agencies and with those in authority in getting the things efficiently done which tend to promote the public welfare of Kansas City." Alexander New was made president; C. W. Moore, vice president; and D. L. James, treasurer. The organization has nothing whatever to do with politics and reform; the idea is merely to help the civic authorities

in perfecting plans which have been passed upon by the council. Municipal affairs are the chief topics of discussion at these luncheons. The ordinance for the registration of dairies was one of the first matters to be pushed through. The club has had such people to address them as: Minnie Maddern Fiske, B. Fay Mills and John Spargo. The present officers of the club are: President, Henry F. Hoit; vice president, Charles Sumner; secretary, Henry D. Faxon; treasurer, Thornton Cooke.

The Midday club, generally speaking, is a noon day edition of the Commercial club, with a membership limited to 400 business or professional men in good standing. The club was organized in March 8, 1908 and has its rooms. on the entire fourteenth floor of the Commerce building. The idea of the club is to have a place where these different men may meet to plan and discuss business over the luncheon table. The man of to-day realizes that every minute counts and he feels that even during this one hour he must not leave his business. In this way the club rooms are the start and finish of many a business enterprise. The officers are: Hugh C. Ward, president; Charles W. Armour, first vice president; Ford Harvey, second vice president; H. L. Harmon, third vice president; W. R. Clarke, secretary; and O. C. Snider, treasurer.

CHAPTER X.

BANKING AND FINANCE.

In the years of Kansas City's early history the nearest banks were in Lexington, and to that point prospective borrowers and holders of large checks and drafts were compelled to go. In the winter season very little business requiring exchange was transacted. Occasionally such accommodations were obtained from the government at Fort Leavenworth. Branches of banks organized under the state laws were established early in the '50s in Liberty, Missouri, and Independence, Missouri, and the banking facilities for Kansas City business men were brought much nearer home. In a few years Kansas City without banks had become more important commercially than the neighboring towns that boasted of banking facilities. Since the year 1856, when the first bank was established, Kansas City has steadily increased in importance. as a banking center. The banks of Kansas City are important factors in the financial development of the West.

The first banking house in Kansas City was that of Northrup & Chick, established in 1856. In the preceding year these wholesale merchants, who had acquired a high standing in financial circles and who held large deposits

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