WILLIAM H. SPEERS.

 

Emporia News, June 3, 1870.

We observed a large steam boiler and the machinery for a saw mill of no small capacity, this week, at the depot. On inquiry we learned that it was billed to W. H. Speers & Co., and destined for some point on the Little Walnut.

Walnut Valley Times, June 10, 1870.

Mr. Spear [Speers] passed through town this week with a portable saw mill to be put up ten miles below Douglass.

[LETTER FROM M. F. (MAX FAWCETT).]

Emporia News, June 24, 1870.

                                           ARKANSAS CITY, June 14th, 1870.

EDITORS NEWS: We are having frequent and terrific rains here now. Our town is improving rapidly, forty more houses are under contract, and are being built as fast as lumber can be obtained to build them with. Mr. W. H. Speers, of Peoria, Illinois, has a new thirty horse power stationary steam saw mill on the way, which will be here in a day or two. Mr. Speers has had a number of years of experience in the mill business, having run mills in Iowa, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Illinois. When his mill arrives we will have two mills. Mr. Wolsey [Woolsey] has his shingle machine in operation and is turning out six or eight thousand first class shingles a day.

 

The 1874 Creswell township census lists William Speers, age 37, and his wife Augusta, age 28.

 

                            [Frank Speers and William H. Speers were brothers.]

                                        Arkansas City Early Day Residents: 1893.

                                W. H. Speers, age 55. Wife: Augusta Speers, age 47

                         Daughter of W. H. and Augusta Speers: Anna Speers, age 21.

                                          Brother of W. H. Speers: Frank Speers.

                                 Frank Speers, age 46. Wife: Rachel Speers, age 39.

 

Winfield Courier, January 30, 1874.

                                            [Item from Arkansas City Traveler.]

Frank Lorry’s mule team was drowned in the Walnut at Harmon’s ford last Saturday. Ed. Keho was driving and barely escaped with his life. He did not know the river was up and drove in with the mules checked and straight across the river. After floundering sometime both animals were drowned, but not until they had drifted almost to Speers’ mill. The wagon and mules were drawn out and the harness saved.

The law provides that a gauge shall be placed at every ford, indicating the depth of the water, but we never have had one at any of the fords in this township. Soon after the mules were drowned, a wagon with men, women, and children was about to attempt a crossing and were only saved by the warning of John Harmon, who told them of the danger.

Winfield Courier, August 7, 1874.

                                                      [Item from the Traveler.]

Wm. Speers has completed all arrangements for the erection of a flouring mill in this city and will proceed to work at once.

Winfield Courier, September 11, 1874.

                                                      [Item from the Traveler.]

Wm. Speers has gone after his new steam mill, and will have the  machinery here in a few days. An effort is being made to have it located on the townsite.

Winfield Plow and Anvil, November 19, 1874.

FROM the Arkansas City Traveler:—

“The boiler of Speers’s steam flouring mill burst last Monday, but will be in running order again in a few days.

[ANNOUNCEMENT: FRANK GALLOTTI FOR COUNTY TREASURER.]

Winfield Courier, September 16, 1875.

                                   TO THE VOTERS OF COWLEY COUNTY.

This is to certify that we, whose names are hereto sub­scribed, do most heartily recommend for our next County Treasurer, FRANK GALLOTTI, who has for the last year and a half faithfully and satisfactorily performed the duties of said office while acting in the capacity of Deputy; and we do hereby further certify that his character during that time has been such as to fully entitle him to the recommendation. The records of said office kept by him, bears ample testimony of his capability and efficiency. We consider him well qualified to fulfill the duties of said office, and therefore cheerfully recommend him to the voters of Cowley County as well worth of their cordial support, and who, if elected, will most faithfully and systematically perform the duties of said office.

                        [One of those who signed the petition: William H. Speers.]

Winfield Courier, January 1, 1876.

                                                             Arkansas City.

In 1870 the following enterprises were established and were the first of the kind in the city:  C. R. Sipes' hardware store; Sleeth & Bro. saw mill; Richard Woolsey hotel; Newman & Houghton clothing house (first in the county); Paul Beck, blacksmith shop; E. D. Bowen grocery store; Keith & Eddy drug store; J. J. Mitchell Harness shop; T. A. Wilkinson, restaurant and boarding house; Wm. Speers, first ferry across Arkansas river.

Wm. Speers is the proprietor of a substantial steam grist and saw mill, located upon the townsite of Arkansas City.

        [Unknown: Whether Frank Speers, a brother, worked with his brother, W. H.]

Arkansas City Traveler, January 26, 1876.

                                                           EAGLE MILLS.

                                                      Arkansas City, Kansas.

                                            W. H. SPEERS & BRO., Proprietor.

Have two sets of burrs and are grinding Wheat and Corn night and day. Two experienced millers have been engaged, and the flour made is all Warranted. Custom and Merchant work a Special­ty. Toll one-fifth for ten bushels and upwards. Parties coming with grists will not have to wait. Flour, Meal, Shorts, etc., always on hand and for sale.

[BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.]

Arkansas City Traveler, April 19, 1876. Front Page.

Full Report of All the Business Transacted by the Board of County Commissioners Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, April 10, 11, and 12.

                                               COUNTY CLERK’S OFFICE,

                                         WINFIELD, KANSAS, April 10, 1876.

Petition of Reuben Bowers and others, of Bolton Township, asking for the vacation of a County road, presented, and granted; and W. H. Speers, John Carder, and Amasa Davis appointed viewers; and the County Clerk is hereby ordered to give the necessary legal notice.

Arkansas City Traveler, June 21, 1876.

WANTED. A No. 1 Miller, and a man with team to haul logs, at Steam Flouring Mill, Arkansas City. W. H. SPEERS.

Arkansas City Traveler, June 28, 1876.

WANTED. A No. 1 Miller, and a man with team to haul logs, at Steam Flouring Mill, Arkansas City. W. H. SPEERS.

Arkansas City Traveler, June 28, 1876.

THOS. BAKER has rented the Billiard Hall, and L. C. Currier is working at Speers’ mill.

Arkansas City Traveler, July 12, 1876.

SPEERS’ mill whistles fifteen minutes before 12 and fifteen minutes before 6 in the evening, by his own time.

Arkansas City Traveler, April 18, 1877.

WM. SPEERS repaired the boiler of his engine this week.

Arkansas City Traveler, June 6, 1877.

WM. SPEERS had a new boat made and is carrying all parties with grists for his mill free of charge across the Arkansas.

Unknown whether the following applies to William H. Speers or his brother, Frank.

Arkansas City Traveler, August 30, 1876.

HON. WM. P. HACKNEY, one of the most successful lawyers in Southern Kansas, with O. M. Seward, of Coshocton County, Ohio, were attending the trial of Speers versus Goodrich, before Judge McIntire yesterday.

Arkansas City Traveler, September 26, 1877.

ECONOMY. WM. SPEERS pays $20 for the saw dust from Lippmann’s mill, and hauls it to his own mill for fuel.

Arkansas City Traveler, October 3, 1877.

The head blew out of the steam chest at Speers’s mill Monday. It is all right now again.

Arkansas City Traveler, November 21, 1877.

                                   TWENTY-SIX BUILDINGS UNDER WAY.

A BUILDING ASSOCIATION WAS FORMED A FEW WEEKS AGO, and entered into by twelve parties, agreeing to build a house each. Since then fourteen more have declared their intention to build. The original twelve were:

S. P. Channell

W. M. Sleeth

A. A. Newman

L. H. Gardner

O. P. Houghton

Gardner Mott

H. P. Farrar

Silas Parker

J. L. Huey

C. R. Sipes

R. C. Haywood

James Wilson

The additional fourteen are:

J. C. McMullen

Thomas Baird

J. Dodwell

Mrs. Dean

C. C. Wolf

E. J. Fitch

Mr. Ray

Wm. Speers

T. A. Gaskill

D. Logan

J. T. Shepard

Kendall Smith

Jas. Benedict

David Finney

Mr. Gaskill has his house almost enclosed, and the founda­tions and preparations are being made for several others.

Winfield Courier, December 6, 1877.

                                            MORE ARKANSAS CITY ITEMS.

Messrs. Speers & Martin are making rapid progress on the new ferry west of town, and promise to have it completed and in running order in a few days. They don't propose to stop for ice, sand bars, high water, or anything else when they once get started.

Arkansas City Traveler, January 9, 1878.

There was good skating on the pond near Speers’ mill last week, and many of the boys accepted the opportunity of enjoying the sport.

[ROW AT SPEERS’ MILL.]

Arkansas City Traveler, January 30, 1878.

A slight disagreement took place at Speers’ mill last week between a couple of stalwart young men, over a little balance due that one owed the other. The matter was amicably settled after some delay, Tom convincing Dow that times were hard, which so affected him that he mourned until his eyes were black.

Arkansas City Traveler, March 27, 1878.

Through the death of a relative in California, William and Frank Speers inherited several thousand dollars. An attorney offered them $3,000 each for their claim, and they concluded they had better have that much clear, and accepted it.

Arkansas City Traveler, April 3, 1878.

The engine used on Christy’s steam thresher is to be placed on the ferry west of town by Speers and Walton, to try the experiment of ferrying by steam.

Arkansas City Traveler, April 3, 1878.

The election of city officers took place last Monday with the following result.

MAYOR: JAMES BENEDICT, 61; W. M. SLEETH, 37.

COUNCILMEN: J. T. SHEPARD, 63; WM. SPEERS, 59; THOS. BERRY, 63; C. R. SIPES, 58; I. H. BONSALL, 61; S. P. CHANNELL, 40; A. A. NEWMAN, 37; H. P. FARRAR, 37; E. D. EDDY, 37; T. H. McLAUGHLIN, 40.

POLICE JUDGE: JAMES CHRISTIAN, 84; TIMOTHY McINTIRE, 12.

                                                 Total number of votes cast: 98.

It is generally supposed that the officers elected will favor granting a saloon license on a proper petition.

[SPEERS AND WALTON: OBTAINING AID FOR STEAMBOAT.]

Arkansas City Traveler, April 24, 1878.

Messrs. Speers and Walton, of Arkansas City, are endeavoring to obtain the aid of the towns on the Arkansas River for the purpose of running a light draft boat between that point and Wichita. The boat is built, the machinery spoken, and everything in readiness to push the experiment. Mr. Walton was in town on the 12th looking after their interests. The citizens of this place will hold a meeting on the night of the 17th, to hear the gentleman’s plans and objects, and to discuss the feasibility of the project. Independent.

Arkansas City Traveler, April 24, 1878.

SPEERS and WALTON will have their steam ferry boat ready to run this week, and before long will make a trial trip to Oxford, El Paso, and Wichita.

Arkansas City Traveler, May 1, 1878.

                                      SURVEY OF THE ARKANSAS RIVER.

                                Our Member of Congress Moving in the Matter,

                   And a Company Building a Steamboat—One Coming to Wichita.

                                                     [From the Wichita Eagle.]

Thomas Ryan, our Member of Congress, writes, under date of April 2, that the House Committee have agreed to a survey of the Arkansas River. The following is the letter written to Scott, of Arkansas City.

                                          WASHINGTON, D. C., April 2, 1878.

FRIEND SCOTT: The House Committee on Commerce has agreed to provide for a survey of the Arkansas from Fort Smith up to the mouth of the Little Arkansas, to determine the cost and practica­bility of making it navigable for commercial boats. The survey will be thorough, embracing the subjects of river, slack water, and canal investigation.

                                                         THOMAS RYAN.

In this connection Messrs. Walton and Speers, of Arkansas City, are building a light draught boat, of fifty feet length by sixteen feet beam, capable of carrying twenty ton of freight, drawing about seventeen inches of water. The boat is about ready to receive its engines, and the proprietors propose to visit Wichita within two or three weeks, we believe. These gentlemen are satisfied that after once learning the channel, they will find no difficulty in making regular trips, and to that end they were interviewing our businessmen on Monday.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, May 2, 1878. Front Page.

                                               Item from the Wichita Beacon.

Messrs. Speers & Walton, of Arkansas City, are proposing to open navigation between Arkansas City and Wichita. They have a boat already built 16 x 50 feet with a draft of ten inches, and a carrying capacity of 40 tons. They will ask of our city and citizens the sum of $500; $250 to be paid upon the completion of two round trips between the above places. The trial trip will be made within the month. T. M. Lane will shortly circulate a petition for a subscription. There is no money to be paid until the feasibility of the navigation is demonstrated; our citizens should not withhold the sign manual.

Arkansas City Traveler, May 8, 1878.

SPEERS and WALTON are going to name the steamboat the “Arkansas Traveler.”

Arkansas City Traveler, May 8, 1878.

                                                         New City Council.

The new City Council met on Monday, April 29th, and orga­nized by appointing the following committees and officers.

Committee on Finance:

J. T. Shepard, Chairman.

I. H. Bonsall.

T. E. Berry.

Committee on Ways and Means:

C. R. Sipes, Chairman.

W. H. Speers.

T. E. Berry.

Committee on Public Improvements:

J. T. Shepard, Chairman.

C. R. Sipes.

W. H. Speers.

Committee on Ordinances:

I. H. Bonsall, Chairman.

J. T. Shepard.

T. E. Berry.

James Morgan was appointed marshal and street commissioner, and I. H. Bonsall, city clerk.

Arkansas City Traveler, May 22, 1878.

Our town at this time faithfully illustrates the lines of the Irish poet:

“The rich may ride in chaises,

But the poor must stay at home, be J____s.”

During the past week some ten of our leading businessmen’s wives have gone east and north to spend the summer: Mrs. O. P. Houghton, Mrs. J. L. Huey, Mrs. R. C. Haywood, Mrs. A. A. Newman, Mrs. H. P. Farrar, Mrs. M. Rexford, Mrs. David Thompson, Mrs. Ed. Thompson, Mrs. Wm. Sleeth, Mrs. S. P. Channell.

In about a month from now, what a rich harvest it would be for a traveling show to come along that had attractive female performers. The poor women that are left will have to confine themselves to such home pleasures as picnics and yachting up and down the river on Speers & Walton’s elegant little steamer, while their more favored sisters are inhaling the cool breezes of Lake George and the St. Lawrence River, and feasting on codfish and New England herring.

MRS. JUDGE CHRISTIAN has gone north (to Winfield), also, for a few days, on a visit to her daughter, Mrs. A. W. Berkey.

Mrs. Cramer has got married and gone East also (across the Walnut).

Arkansas City Traveler, June 26, 1878.

MESSRS. SPEERS and WALTON contemplate putting up the ferry west of town again.

                                     NAVIGATION OF THE RACKENSACK.

         The Steamers Arkansas Traveler and Aunt Sally Have Solved the Question.

                  Arkansas City to be the Great Port of Entry to Southern Kansas.

                                                BRING ON YOUR WHEAT.

Winfield Courier, July 11, 1878.

The “Arkansas Traveler” navigated by Messrs. Speers and Walton have demonstrated that the Arkansas River from the Pawnee Agency to Oxford is navigable for steamboats, and the “Aunt Sally” has removed all doubt from that part of the river from Pawnee Agency to Fort Smith. Boats of 150 tons burden and two feet draft can run all the way from New Orleans to Arkansas City for a part of the year without doubt.

The “Aunt Sally” is not one of the lightest draft boats. It draws about 14 inches light and 20 inches loaded. It is an old clumsy concern of very little value and was chosen to make the trial trip because if it should succeed in getting up the river and fail to get back, its loss would scarcely be felt. Its owners have a much larger boat that draws less water which they will now send up for a load. Other boats will follow and the present outlook is that a great deal of wheat is to be shipped from Arkansas City this year.

If this commerce proves to be what is promised, it will be a “great thing” for Cowley County; even if boats can run only three or four months in a year, it will be a great help. Twenty boats, each carrying 5,000 bushels of wheat to a trip, and each making fifteen trips in a year, would carry off our surplus crop and bring up our heavy groceries, lumber, and machinery, at a total saving of not less than $200,000 a year to our farmers.

If this proves a success, it will be due to our enterprising friends at Arkansas City who have struggled and labored, and spent their money freely for years to accomplish this result and they will justly reap the advantages of a large trade and an extraordinary impetus to the growth and importance of their town. We heartily congratulate them on their present flattering prospects and would gladly aid them by any means in our power, not only for themselves but for the benefit it will be to the whole county. Three cheers for Arkansas City!

Arkansas City Traveler, August 14, 1878.

Since the practical test of the navigation of the Arkansas by Messrs. Speers and Walton, an effort has been made at Wichita to organize a company for the purpose of purchasing a light draught steamboat, the object being to ascertain whether or not the Arkansas River can be made navigable as far up as that city. If it could, there would be millions in it for Wichita.

Winfield Courier, September 12, 1878.

                                                     Real Estate Transfers.

W. H. Speers and wife to H. C. Robinson, lot 20, block 70, Arkansas City; $95.

Arkansas City Traveler, October 9, 1878.

                                                      OUR STEAMBOAT.

We again call the attention of everybody in the city and country to the fact that the building of the steam­boat is progressing steadily, and desire to call particular attention to the fact that these parties deserve such aid as the farmers and city feel that they can give. Farmers desiring to donate wheat can deliver it to Messrs. Schiffbauer Bros. & Co., or to Wm. Speers at the mill—not to be delivered to the parties building the boat until the boat is ready for her first trip. She will be loaded, and her first trip down the river will be an attempt to reach Little Rock with a load of wheat.

Arkansas City Traveler, October 31, 1878. Editorial Page.

We assure our Bolton Township friends, and all interested in the navigation of this river that anything we can do in their behalf, or in furtherance of their enterprise, will be done willingly and cheerfully. Our faith in the ultimate success of this scheme was never stronger, and we believe the day is not far distant when this southern tier of countries will have the best outlet in the State for their produce, and at a saving to them of thousands of dollars in railroad bonds not voted. Next spring and summer will see many boats here from the South, buying our grain at a good round figure, or for a moderate sum ready to float it down to the best of markets, where its superior quality will command the highest prices. The snug, well built craft lying west of town is a monument to the industry and self-denial of the two gentlemen who have risked their little all, and confidently devoted their time and means to the completion of the boat, relying only upon the generosity of their many friends for what assistance is tendered them. If the enterprise is a success (and we earnestly hope it will be), to Messrs. Walton and Speers, no less than to those now laboring on the boat, the people owe a debt of gratitude not easily paid, as they have worked untiringly for the interests of the community.

Arkansas City Traveler, January 15, 1879.

Speers’ saw-mill is now turning out native lumber to order. This was much needed.

Arkansas City Traveler, January 15, 1879.

SAWING—LUMBER. I am now prepared to do sawing. Parties having logs to be sawed should bring them in before the mill is crowded. I also furnish lumber at reasonable rates and on short notice. W. H. SPEER.

Arkansas City Traveler, January 22, 1879.

Speers’ mill is still turning out lumber.

Winfield Courier, March 27, 1879.

                          NAVIGATION OF THE UPPER ARKANSAS RIVER.

The question of utilizing the vast, though ever-changing current of water, known as the Upper Arkansas River, flowing through our State from west to south-east, and making it the highway to a southern market, has been a living subject with the enterprising agricultural people of Cowley, Sumner, Sedgwick, and those counties lying along and contiguous thereto, ever since the first settlement of that fertile valley in 1870. Owing to their remote distance from a railroad or a market, and the consequent cost of transporting the vast surplus of wheat raised in Cowley and Sumner, this matter has been of vital interest to the people living within their borders. The subject has been discussed in the field and in the grange; has been the slogan of the country politician and the shibboleth of the farmers. It has been resolved upon by conventions, petitioned for by representatives and memorialized by our State Legislature until Congress has taken the matter under consideration, and appointed a commission of competent engineers to personally visit, examine, and report on the feasibility of opening up the stream for navigation, from some point near the terminus of the Wichita branch of the Santa Fe railroad to Little Rock, Arkansas.

In view of these facts, a brief account of the local and individual efforts to solve the problem will doubtless be of interest. During the fall of 1872, A. W. Berkey and A. C. Winton, of Cowley County, built a small flatboat at Arkansas City, loaded it with flour, and started down the river, bound for Little Rock. While they may not have had the “unexplored wild­ness” that lay between De Soto and the dream of his ambition or the dangers that beset Coronado in his march of disappointment through undiscovered Kansas to encounter, yet four hundred and fifty miles of an unknown river, guarded by a semi-barbarous people who have no particular good feeling towards a frontiers­man, lay between them and civilization, presented anything but a cheerful outlook for this pioneer voyage. The trip was made, however, without adventure, and in a reasonable length of time. The produce disposed of, the navigators returned overland to Arkansas City, and reported a fair depth of water and a lively current from the State line to Fort Gibson.

On the strength of this report, a joint stock company was immediately organized, and an agent appointed to proceed at once to the Ohio River and purchase a suitable steamer to ply between the points named. A light draught wharf packet was procured, and a point known as Webbers’ Falls, between Little Rock and Fort Gibson, reached on her upward trip. Here it was found that her engines were of insufficient power to stem the current, so she was taken back to Little Rock, and there sold at a loss to her owners of twenty-five hundred dollars.

This failure temporarily dampened the ardor of even the enthusiastic commercial path-finders, and nothing further was attempted until the summer of 1878, when Messrs. W. H. Speers and Amos Walton, two leading public spirited citizens of the county, equipped a “ferry-flat” with a 10 horse-power threshing machine engine, and by several trips up and down the river for a distance of 60 miles from Arkansas City, demonstrated beyond a doubt that a steamer could be successfully propelled on the Arkansas River at any season of the year. The flat was fifty feet long, sixteen feet wide, and drew ten inches of water. This novel little craft visited Grouse Creek, the Walnut River, Salt City, the Kaw Indian Agency, Oxford, and other points along the river, and attracted crowds of people wherever it went. At Oxford a public reception was tendered its officers and crew! These experimental trips were all made while the river was at its lowest stage, and prior to the annual “June rise.”

Soon after this and while the “ferry-flat” was still promi­nently before the public, Mr. I. H. Bonsall, an experienced engineer and prominent citizen of Arkansas City, corresponded with the businessmen of Little Rock, and induced them to send a boat on a trial trip to the upper country.

The little steamer, “Aunt Sally,” (see engraving) a tug built for the deep sluggish bayous of Arkansas, and used in the local cotton trade there, was selected and manned for the pur­pose. Though not designed for swift water, this crude little steamer made the complete voyage, and, in command of Captains Lewis and Baker, with Mr. Chapman as pilot, landed safely at Arkansas City, and was moored there, in the Walnut River, Sunday morning, June 30th, 1878. The officers reported sufficient water and a safe current for light draught steamers for the entire distance, and expressed themselves of the opinion that a boat built especially for the purpose could run regularly between the two States every day in the year.

Soon after the “Aunt Sally” returned South, Henry and Albert Pruden and O. J. Palmer, of Salt City, Sumner County, started for Little Rock with a “ferry-flat” loaded with seven hundred bushels of wheat. The wheat was sold at a good round figure, and the gentlemen returned, reporting a successful trip and a good stage of water.

On their return, the businessmen of Arkansas City, finding that steamboat owners in the lower country were not disposed to adventure up so far with their boats, resolved to build a steamer themselves, and with it make regular trips between their city and the Indian agencies in the Territory. After several attempts to find men of experience to take the matter in charge, McCloskey Seymour secured the services of Mr. Cyrus Wilson, who began the building of a boat for the purposes named.

Wednesday afternoon, November 6, 1878, the “Cherokee,” the first steamboat ever built in Kansas, was successfully launched at Arkansas City.

The hull of this boat is 83 feet long, 16 feet wide on the bottom, and 85 feet long and 18 feet wide on the boiler deck; beam, 22 feet, with guards extending 2 feet around a model bow. She carries two twenty-horse power engines, and with all her machinery, draws less than eight inches of water; and, when loaded to the guards, will not draw over sixteen inches. The shallowest water found on the bars between Arkansas City and Little Rock during the lowest stage of the river was eighteen inches. From this it will be seen that the “Cherokee” will answer the purposes for which it was built, and be of great service in transporting the supplies from these counties to the Indian Agencies lying south and east of Arkansas City.

With the Arkansas River opened for navigation, and a good line of boats and barges making regular trips between the points named in this article, business of all kinds will receive a fresh impetus in Southern Kansas. There will be no railroad monopo­lies, no “pooling of earnings,” and no forming of combinations to affect the interest of the producers. The farmers of this locality will then have a highway of their own by which they can exchange their surplus wheat, flour, and corn for the coal and lumber of the Lower Arkansas. The advantages of this proposed line of commerce are apparent, and need not be repeated here. The attention of Congress has been called to them, and we pa­tiently await the official report of its Commission on the subject of navigating the Upper Arkansas River.

—[State Agricultural report.]

[CITIZENS TICKET, ELECTED ON MONDAY WITHOUT OPPOSITION.]

Arkansas City Traveler, April 9, 1879

                                                     VOTE AS FOLLOWS:

MAYOR: JAS. I. MITCHELL, 117

COUNCIL.

J. T. SHEPARD                 118

I. H. BONSALL                116

H. GODEHARD                113

GEORGE ALLEN       116

WM. SPEERS             116

D. SIFFORD                         2

T. H. McLAUGHLIN      1

POLICE JUDGE.

L. KNIGHT                       115

O. P. HOUGHTON               1

Arkansas City Traveler, August 20, 1879.

The election of delegates to the county convention passed off quietly last Saturday, there being but one ticket in the field. The following are the delegates and alternates.

DELEGATES.                                    ALTERNATES.

G. H. McINTIRE                                 T. L. MANTOR

C. R. MITCHELL                          JERRY TUCKER

ED. G. GRAY                                K. F. SMITH

R. MAXWELL                                    D. B. HARTSOCK

S. MATLACK                               W. D. MOWRY

W. H. SPEERS                                    W. R. SCOTT

JAMES RIDENOUR                           EDGAR BIRD

Arkansas City Traveler, October 8, 1879.

Every convenience afforded the public who bring their grist to Speers’ Mill. Good camping grounds, cool water, and fresh grass.

Arkansas City Traveler, October 15, 1879.

Neighbor, tell the new-comer to bring his grist to Speers’ Steam Mill.

Arkansas City Traveler, October 15, 1879.

For good XXXX Flour go to Speers’ Mill.

Arkansas City Traveler, December 3, 1879.

Flour and feed delivered to any part of the city by leaving orders at Speers’ Mill.

Arkansas City Traveler, December 3, 1879.

Horse feed for sale at Speers’ Mill. Delivered to any part of the city.

Arkansas City Traveler, Wednesday, December 10, 1879.

Every convenience afforded the public who bring their grist to Speers’ Mill. Good camping grounds, cool water, and fresh grass.

Remember that low water never stops Speers from grinding.

Arkansas City Traveler, March 10, 1880.

                                                COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS.

By an oversight we failed to publish the proceedings in last issue, but give the same below.

                                                           March 1st, 1880.

Council met in regular session. Present: J. I. Mitchell, Mayor; W. H. Speers, George Allen, J. T. Shepard, and I. H. Bonsall, Councilmen. Bills were presented and disposed of.

Arkansas City Traveler, March 24, 1880.

                                                        CASH ACCOUNT.

                              July 18, 1880: W. H. Speers, flour for Mrs. Tush: $1.25

Arkansas City Traveler, October 13, 1880.

Where is that well for the waterworks? We would like to see it. Democrat.

Our friends up the way are probably not yet aware that the contract was let some three weeks ago, and that work has been progressing on said well for something like two weeks. If you have the time, and are not too lazy, you had better take a walk down in the neighborhood of Speers’ mill, where you will see a hole eight feet in diameter and about twenty-two feet deep. In case enough water is found, this is to be “that well for the waterworks.”

Arkansas City Traveler, April 6, 1881.

                                                        CITY ELECTION.

At the election held on last Monday, the following gentlemen were elected to hold the reins of municipal government for the coming year.

MAYOR: H. D. KELLOGG.

COUNCILMEN: James Benedict, J. B. Nipp, H. Godehard, O. S. Rarick, Wm. Speers.

POLICE JUDGE: I. H. Bonsall.

Arkansas City Traveler, April 13, 1881.

W. H. Speers has just added a kitchen and porch to his residence, which much improves the appearance of the same. Messrs. Beecher & Son were the builders; and, as a matter of course, the work is well done.

Arkansas City Traveler, April 20, 1881.

                                                COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS.

At the meeting of the City Council, held in the Council room, on Monday, April 11th, the following gentlemen—Mayor and council-elect—were sworn in and a called meeting was immediately held, and the following committees appointed.

FINANCE COMMITTEE: James Benedict, J. B. Nipp, and W. H. Speers.

ORDINANCES: H. Godehard, James Benedict, and O. S. Rarick.

PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS: O. S. Rarick, H. Godehard, and W. H. Speers.

WAYS AND MEANS: J. B. Nipp, James Benedict, and W. H. Speers.

WATER WORKS: W. H. Speers, O. S. Rarick, and J. B. Nipp.

On motion, adjourned to meet the first Monday in May, that being the regular meeting.

Arkansas City Traveler, April 27, 1881.

                                                    OUR WATER WORKS.

                    A GRAND SUCCESS AND A NOTABLE ACQUISITION TO

                                                        ARKANSAS CITY.

There are few things more conducive to the well-being of a community than a plentiful supply of pure water, for domestic and public use, as well as for the protection afforded against the spreading of destructive fires. Situated as we have hitherto been, dependent for our supply of this necessity of life upon several deep wells, which, although fully adequate for all ordinary wants were of necessity almost useless as a protection to property from fire, made the urgency of our need for something more effective than the existing supply more and more apparent each day.

But the old has given place to the new, and today Arkansas City can boast the possession of as fine and effective a system of water works as can, of the like caliber, be found anywhere. It is now scarcely a year since the project of supplying the city with water was first broached, yet that short time has sufficed, thanks to the energy and public spirit of the ex-Mayor and City Council, in conferring upon the city the inestimable advantages of an unlimited supply of pure spring water. The works, of which a short description is herein given, were put in at a total cost to the city of about $1,700, counting in the $300 expended on the well. This outlay will be far more than recompensed in the event of its preventing one destructive fire, let alone the advantages daily conferred upon our citizens.

The machinery necessary to the pumping of the water into the tank consists of an “Eclipse Windmill,” supplied by the Fairbanks Co. This windmill, which is run by a wheel 14 feet in diameter, is automatic in its action, and therefore needs no attention or regulation other than to be started and stopped.

This part of the works is located near W. H. Speers’ mill, and the supply of water is furnished from a spring that has never, in the past twelve years, been known to fail. It may be well to mention, that though the pumps were kept constantly going last week, no visible effect was observed in the level of the water of the spring.

The tank, or reservoir, is located on South Summit Street, and has a capacity of 993 barrels. It is constructed substan­tially of pine, is fourteen feet in height, well painted and mounted upon a stone foundation, also fourteen feet in height. It is estimated that the level of the water is forty feet above the road level at the fire plug on Matlack’s corner. There are three fire plugs on Summit street, at the intersection of Cen­tral, Fifth, and Sixth Avenues, with three family hydrants between them.

Messrs. O. P. Houghton, W. E. Gooch, and Maj. Sleeth have already laid the water into their residences, and as soon as the pipes are laid on other thoroughfares, a matter now under consid­eration, we think the expense of running the works will be more than covered by the amount paid for this privilege alone.

At this writing the tank, which has been gradually soaking, is full to its utmost capacity, in which condition it will in the future be kept.

Arkansas City Traveler, May 25, 1881.

                                                              FOR SALE!

A 35-horse power engine and boiler, in first-class order. Can be seen at work in the Eagle mills, Arkansas City. Reasons for selling: have made arrangements to use a water power.

                                                            W. H. SPEERS.

Arkansas City Traveler, August 3, 1881.

Mr. W. Speers has added a bay window to his residence, thereby adding much to its appearance as well as comfort.

Arkansas City Traveler, August 31, 1881. Editorial Page.

                          NOTE: VERY HARD TO READ! VERY SMALL PRINT!

                                                       Roll of Old Soldiers.

                    The following is a list of the Old Soldiers of Creswell Township.

NAME                                          COMPANY          REGIMENT        RANK

W. H. SPEERS                                      A                        2 Ills. B.          Private

Arkansas City Traveler, September 7, 1881.

                                                                 CANAL.

We are informed that by tonight the canal will be ready for water, and nothing more is needed but to admit the same whenever the mills are ready for business. It is expected that the Ayres’ mill will soon be ready, as the building is complete and the machinery nearly in place, and work upon the Speers’ mill is being prosecuted vigorously.

Arkansas City Traveler, September 14, 1881.

                                                      TO THE FARMERS.

It has been rumored that I have stopped grinding until my new mill is completed, which is not the case. I am doing both custom and exchange work. And will continue to do so until further notice. Will grind corn or wheat for toll or exchange as reasonable as any mill in the Walnut Valley. No delay, and good flour. Call and see me, at the Eagle Mills.

                                                            W. H. SPEERS.

Arkansas City Traveler, October 12, 1881.

Report of senior department of Arkansas City High School, for first month, of those who did not communicate without permis­sion, and whose absences and tardiness were excused.

Charley Randall, James Robinson, Frank Theaker, Frank Barnett, Horace Vaughn, Jessie Norton, Jessie Finley, Cora French, Lula Walton, Ella Mann, Alto Maxwell, Flora Gould, Hattie Hand, George Beech, Mollie Christian, Etta Barnett.

                                            INTERMEDIATE DEPARTMENT.

The following were neither absent nor tardy during the past month: Hattie Franey, Annie Speers, Archie Coombs, Ella Hoyt, Emma Redden, Sarah Hill, Arthur Coombs, Johnnie Garris, Nettie Johnson, Libbie Fouke.

                                                JENNIE PETERSON, teacher.

Arkansas City Traveler, January 4, 1882.

W. H. Speers will grind grists of ten bushels and upwards for a one-sixth toll and also has on hand a goodly supply of native lumber for sale. See his “ad” in this issue.

AD:                                             ATTENTION FARMERS.

From this date on I will grind grists of ten bushels and upwards for a

                                                        ONE SIXTH TOLL.

Arkansas City Traveler, January 4, 1882.

Native Lumber of every description always on hand for sale at SPEERS’S MILL,

                                                      Arkansas City, Kansas.

Arkansas City Traveler, February 22, 1882.

J. L. Huey and wife, Mr. Ordway and wife, Wm. McConn and lady, Stacy Matlack, Major Searing, Mr. Ingersoll, Conductor James Miller, Samuel Hoyt, Michael Harkins, H. P. Farrar, C. M. Scott, H. Godehard, Wm. Speers, Mr. Roberts, Chas. Hutchins, Chas. Howard, W. Wolfe, S. Longsdorff, Herman Wyckoff, Pink Fouts, Mr. Abbott, Chas. Holloway, and J. M. Bell, were among the number who braved the storm and went to Winfield on the special train to hear the Governor lecture on temperance last Sunday.

Excerpts from long article re Ayres’ Mill...

Arkansas City Traveler, April 19, 1882.

                                                          The Canal Mills.

We congratulate Mr. Ayres upon the successful completion of this enterprise, and doubt not the advantages, offered by him to the farmers of this section, will meet with a ready response.

In this connection a word of credit is due to Mr. G. W. Abbott, of Avon, Fulton Co., Illinois, who has had charge of the construction of the mill. Mr. Abbott is a thorough mill wright, and the Canal Mills are a testimony to his ability.

We under­stand that Wm. Speers has secured the services of Mr. Abbott to get his new mill in running shape.

Arkansas City Traveler, April 26, 1882.

Mr. G. W. Abbott, the gentleman who put in V. M. Ayres’ mill, and under whose supervision Mr. Speers’ new mill is ap­proaching completion, left for Avon, Illinois, this morning for a two weeks visit to his family. Mr. Abbott thinks of bringing his family to Southern Kansas, and we should be glad if he concluded to permanently locate in our city.

Excerpts from long article...

Arkansas City Traveler, May 17, 1882. Personals Page.

                                                      Arkansas City Boom.

From the books of Uriah Spray, trustee of Creswell Township, we glean the following statistics which are decidedly encouraging.

His enumeration shows the population of Arkansas City to be 1,356; the population of Creswell Township, outside of the city, 671; and the total population of both township and city, 2,027.

Under the head of “Manufactories” are three grist mills. That of Searing & Mead, capital invested $20,000, work ____ men, and grind 351 bushels per day. Wm. Speers’ Mill, capital invest­ed $7,000, grinds 250 bushels per day. V. M. Ayres’ Mill, capital invested, $20,000. Grinds 500 bushels per day.

Mr. Speers also has another mill in the city, capital invested $1,000.

Excerpts...

Winfield Courier, May 18, 1882.

                                                      THE CONVENTION.

          The Solons Meet in Conclave and Elect Delegates to the District and State

                                                             Conventions.

Creswell Township, Delegates: G. S. Rorick, W. M. Sleeth, Theo. Fairclo, R. H. Reed, Uriah Spray, W. H. Speers, S. Matlack. Alternates: A. Dunn, O. J. Pickering, J. Barnett, R. J. Maxwell, Chas. France, J. L. Huey, John Williams.

We further recommend that J. B. Nipp cast the vote for R. H. Reed, that C. M. Scott cast the vote for U. Spray, and Calvin Swarts cast the vote for W. H. Speers for Creswell Township in this convention, those delegates and their alternates being absent.

Arkansas City Traveler, May 24, 1882.

We are pleased to note the return to this city, last week, of Mr. G. W. Abbott from Avon, Illinois. Mr. Abbott is accompa­nied by his wife and two children and will, we hope, permanently locate here. At present he is engaged in superintending the fitting up of the machinery and putting in running order Wm. Speers’ new flouring mill.

Arkansas City Traveler, May 24, 1882.

                                                       Several Lies Nailed.

                                    CRESWELL TOWNSHIP, May 20th, 1882.

Ed. Traveler:

Permit me space in your paper to reply to an article which appeared in last week’s Democrat. It is so evidently the work of spleen, and comes so near to downright intentional lying that I do not feel it right to let it pass. The article referred to is headed “A Pretty Kettle of Fish,” but it is too wordy for repro­duction here.

In the first place the issue was not Hackney, or anti-Hackney, but Whiskey, or anti-Whiskey—such issue being made secretly by a few persons; and some good temperance men put on the ticket to give it tone, and the Democrat know such to be the case.

Secondly—Creswell Township was represented in the Conven­tion by the ticket elected with the exceptions shown below, the reason of which exceptions will be seen by the following extracts from the report of the Committee on Credentials.

Creswell Township: Delegates—G. S. Rarick, W. M. Sleeth, T. Fairclo, R. H. Reed, U. Spray, W. H. Speers, S. Matlack. Alternates—A. Dunn, A. J. Pickering, I. Barnett, R. J. Maxwell, Chas. France, J. L. Huey, John Williams.

We further recommend that J. B. Nipp cast the vote for R. H. Reed, that C. M. Scott cast the vote for U. Spray, and Calvin Swarts cast the vote for W. H. Speers for Creswell Township in this convention, those delegates and their alternates being absent.

Why the Democrat is so worked up on a Republican issue, and goes for Mr. Bonsall by name, is more than we can tell, unless it is on account of its editor being so badly scooped by the people when he ran against Bonsall for Police Judge a few weeks since.

                                                     ONE OF THE PEOPLE.

Arkansas City Traveler, September 6, 1882.

We call attention to the new “ad.” of the Eagle Mills, which appears in this issue. These mills are under the management of W. H. Speers, who will be pleased to see his old patrons at his new quarters on the banks of the raging canal.

AD:                                                 THE EAGLE MILLS,

                                               ARKANSAS CITY, KANSAS.

         CUSTOM OR EXCHANGE WORK SOLICITED. TOLL ONE-EIGHTH (1/8).

                             FLOUR, FEED, BRAN, ETC., ALWAYS ON HAND.

                         GRINDING AT ALL HOURS OF THE DAY AND NIGHT.

                                               W. H. SPEERS, PROPRIETOR.

Arkansas City Traveler, September 6, 1882.

The Eagle Mills on the canal is now running on full time, and doing fine work. Mr. Speers says he is ready to exchange or do custom work at any time night or day.

Winfield Courier, October 12, 1882.

                                                     Winfield Machine Works.

Mr. Abbott, the new member of the firm, is a practical Millwright and Draughtsman from Avon, Illinois. He came to Kansas in June, 1881, with Mr. Ayres, to superintend the building of his new mill on the canal at Arkansas City, after which he superintended putting in the machinery of Mr. W. H. Speers’s new mill at the same place, and is well qualified to build any mill from the water wheel or engine to the flour packer.

Mr. S. Clarke has been with us since September, 1878, and is a machinist, engineer, etc.

Arkansas City Traveler, November 1, 1882.

The following pupils were neither absent nor tardy without an excuse during the past school month: Annie Wagstaff, Ida Lane, Fanny Forrester, Ethel Clifton, Clara Ford, Belle Johnson, Hatty Franey, Nettie Franey, Annie Speers, Emma Mann, Renna Grubbs, Laura Jones, Laura Ware, Lillie Rarick, Gertie Peterson, Sam Cleveland, Eddie Scott.

                                               ANNIE L. NORTON, Teacher.

[FLOUR MILLERS.]

Arkansas City Traveler, February 28, 1883.

                                                          Worth a Thought.

The following from the Caldwell Commercial we submit to our millers as showing how they appear away from home. We must, however, call attention to the fact that W. H. Speers is an exception to the rule, as his “ad” of the “Eagle Mills” has been in the TRAVELER for several months past.

“The other day one of our merchants walked into the Commercial office and asked to look over our Arkansas City exchanges. We handed him the last issue of the TRAVELER and Democrat, both of which he looked over carefully, and then inquired the names of the mills in Arkansas City, as he couldn’t find an advertisement, nor any mention of a mill being in the town in the columns of either paper. We presume that the Arkansas City millers labor under the impression that ‘advertising don’t pay.’ And that if their home papers do their full duty, they will state week after week for the ‘benefit of the town,’ that John Jones, Bill Smith, et al, are running mills and have flour for sale. Of course, it don’t enter the heads of the aforesaid millers that they, as well as the newspaper publishers, are under any obligations to do anything for the town. They deem their Christian example and the enterprise they have shown in setting up a business, but of which they can make from 20 to 50 percent on the capital invested, a sufficient compensation for all the favors the local newspapers can shower upon them. They forget that in the live towns of the west there must first be newspapers and that newspapers, more than upon any other influence, make it possible for enterprises like the milling business to establish themselves in such towns. A business that won’t pay to advertise in this day and generation, ought not to exist. It don’t supply a want, and therefore it might just as well draw out of the contest, and the milling business is no exception.

Caldwell Commercial.

Partial listing...

Arkansas City Traveler, June 20, 1883.

A list of the telephones in our city with their respective numbers and location will be found in this issue.

                    LIST OF TELEPHONE INSTRUMENTS IN ARKANSAS CITY.

 1. Speers’ Mill.

 2. Cowley County Bank.

 3. A. T. & S. F. Depot.

 4. V. M. Ayres’ Mill.

 5.

 6. Searing & Mead’s Mill.

Arkansas City Traveler, Supplement, December 19, 1883.

Amount of scrip issued by city clerk from May 1, 1883, to December 15, 1883, inclusive.

                                           W. H. SPEERS, RENT OF SPRING.

Excerpted from a long article...

Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, February 16, 1884.

                                  ARKANSAS CITY AND SURROUNDINGS.

                   Her Facilities for Manufactures and Inducements to Capitalists.

                                                     Her Live Businessmen.

Between the confluence of the Walnut and Arkansas Rivers, in the southern part of Cowley County, Kansas, and possessing about three thousand inhabitants, lies Arkansas City, destined at no very future day to be the city of distribution for the great southwest. It is no idle saying which causes this to be asserted. Her natural advantages are equaled by no other city in this quarter of the globe. Passing along her southern boundary, from the Arkansas to the Walnut Rivers, is a canal, whose water power capacity is unsurpassed in the entire west. This enterprise was inaugurated in 1881, by the Arkansas City Water Power Company, consisting of A. A. Newman, Jas. Hill, W. M. Sleeth, and S. Matlack.

With a celerity almost marvelous, the Arkansas was spanned with a dam, the channel from the one river to the other completed, and three mills, as if by magic, sprang into existence. These are the flouring mills of V. M. Ayres, W. H. Speers, and The Arkansas City Roller Mills. The volume of water was found to be ample for the purpose of these mills, and the company, by widening and deepening this channel, can furnish sufficient power for three as many more.

[CITY COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS.]

Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, May 10, 1884.

                         COUNCIL CHAMBER, ARKANSAS CITY, May 2, 1884.

Present, F. P. Schiffbauer, mayor; C. G. Thompson, F. C. Leach, T. Fairclo, A. A. Davis, and O. S. Rarick, councilmen.

The following bills were allowed.

[EXTREMELY SMALL PRINT...COULD NOT READ MONEY AMOUNTS.]

                                                  W. H. Speers, rent for spring.

Arkansas City Republican, August 23, 1884.

                                                          A Daring Robbery.

Last Monday morning our citizens were startled by the report that a bold robbery had been committed just south of the bridge crossing the canal near where Speers’ mill formerly stood. The trial which was held Monday afternoon, developed the following facts.

On Saturday, a young man from Caldwell, now known as the “confidence man,” and Ernest Kimmel, ascertained that a young man, called about town, “Posey,” had about $30 in money on his person. They courted him with fervor and endeavored to make him drunk. They were unable to have him drink beyond a small quantity of liquor, not sufficient to intoxicate him. On Sunday the same methods were employed, but were alike unsuccessful. On Sunday evening young Kimmel  disappeared. The “confidence man” told Posey that there were parties beyond the canal that they could visit and have a “jolly time,” and asked the latter if he would accompany him. Posey readily assented, and the two started. They had crossed the bridge mentioned before, and had passed a short distance beyond, when a third party suddenly arose before them and commanded them to “hold up your hands.” The confidence man was seized with sudden fright and obeyed the command with alacrity. Posey followed the example of his illustrious companion. The robber searched both parties, taking a pocket-book from the former, and $78 in cash from Posey. The robber and the confidence man then left Posey to find his way back to town as best he might. Night Marshal Coryell and John Williams, from suspicious movements, kept the two parties under surveillance and tracked them to a box-car, which they were seen to enter. Soon after, Messrs. Coryell and Williams approached the car and ordered the persons within to come out. The persons so commanded left the car in haste from the other side and strove to escape. After a hard chase, they were captured. Kimmel endeavored to prove an alibi, but failed. The evidence was so strong that his Honor, Mayor Schiffbauer, bound the two parties over to the district court in the sum of $500 each. No one being found to stand good for their appearance, they were remanded to the county jail, there to await their trial for highway robbery.

We understand that the name of the confidence man is Hillman, and Posey’s name is Macomber.

Arkansas City Republican, December 6, 1884.

                                      Navigation of the Upper Arkansas River.

The question of utilizing that vast, though ever-changing current of water known as the Upper Arkansas River, flowing through our state from northwest to southeast, and making it the highway to a southern market, has been a living project with the enterprising agricultural people of Cowley, Sumner, Sedgwick, and those counties lying along and contiguous thereto, ever since the first settlement of that fertile valley in 1870. Owing to their remote distance from a railroad or a market, and the consequent cost of transporting the vast surplus of wheat raised in Cowley and Sumner, has this matter been of vital interest to the people living within their borders. The subject has been discussed in the field and in the grange, has been the slogan of the country politician and the shibboleth of the farmers. It has been resolved upon by the conscientious, petitioned for by representatives, and memorialized by our state legislature until congress has taken the matter under consideration, and appointed a commission of competent engineers to personally visit, examine, and report on the feasibility of opening up the stream for navigation, from some point near the terminus of the Wichita branch of the Santa Fe railroad to Little Rock, Arkansas.

In view of these facts, a brief account of the local and individual efforts to solve the problem will doubtless be of interest. During the fall of 1875, A. W. Burkey and A. C. Winton, of Cowley County, built a small flat-boat at Arkansas City, loaded it with flour, and started town the river, bound for Little Rock. While they may not have seen the “unexplored wilderness” that lay between DeSota and the dream of [CANNOT READ NEXT WORD...THINK IT IS A MAN’S NAME], or the dangers that beset Coronado in his march of disappointment through undiscovered Kansas, to encounter yet four hundred and fifty miles of an unknown river, guarded by semi-barbarous people who had no particular good feeling towards a frontiersman, laying between them and civilization, presented anything but a cheerful outlook for this pioneer voyage. The trip was made, however, without misadventure, and in a reasonable length of time. The produce disposed of, the navigators returned overland to Arkansas City, and reported a fair depth of water and a lively current from the state line to Fort Gibson.

On the strength of this report, a joint stock company was immediately organized, and an agent appointed to proceed at once to the Ohio river and purchase a suitable steamer to ply between the points named. A light draught wharf packet was procured, and a point known as Webber’ Falls, between Little Rock and Fort Gibson reached on her upward trip. Here it was found that her engines were of insufficient power to stem the current, so she was taken back to Little Rock, and there sold at a loss to her owners of twenty-five hundred dollars.

This failure temporarily dampened the ardor of even the enthusiastic pathfinders, and nothing further was attempted until the summer of 1878, when Messrs. W. H. Speers and Amos Walton, two leading public spirited citizens of the county, equipped a “ferry flat” with a 10 horsepower threshing machine engine, and by several trips up and down the river for a distance of 60 miles from Arkansas City, demonstrated beyond a doubt that a steamer could be successfully propelled on the Arkansas River at any season of the year. The flat was fifty feet long, sixteen feet wide, and drew ten inches of water. This novel little craft visited Grouse Creek, the Walnut River, Salt City, the Kaw Indian Agency, Oxford, and other points along the river, and attracted crowds of people wherever it went. At Oxford a public reception was tendered its officers and crew. These experimental trips were all made while the river was at its lowest stage, and prior to the annual “June rise.”

Soon after this, and while the “ferry flat” was still prominently before the public, Mr. I. H. Bonsall, an experienced engineer and prominent citizen of Arkansas City, corresponded with the businessmen of Little Rock, and induced them to send a boat on a trial trip to the upper country. The little steamer, “Aunt Sally,” a tug built for the deep, sluggish bayous of Arkansas, and used in the local cotton trade there, was selected and manned for the purpose. Though not designed for swift water, this crude little steamer made the complete voyage, and, in command of Captains Lewis and Baker, with Mr. [NAME OBSCURED] as pilot, landed safely at Arkansas City, and was moored there, in the Walnut River, Sunday morning, June 30th, 1878. The officers reported sufficient water and a safe current for light draught steamers for the entire distance, and expressed themselves of the opinion that a boat built especially for the purpose could run regularly between the two states every day in the year.

Soon after the “Aunt Sally” returned south, Henry and Albert Pruden, and O. J. Palmer, of Salt City, Sumner County, started for Little Rock with a “ferry flat” loaded with seven hundred bushels of wheat. The wheat was sold at a good round figure, and the gentlemen returned, reporting a successful trip and a good stage of water.

On their return, the businessmen of Arkansas City, finding that steamboat owners in the lower country were not disposed to adventure up so far with their boats, resolved to build a steamer themselves, and with it make regular trips between their city and the Indian agencies in the Territory. After several attempts to find men of experience to take the matter in charge, McCloskey Seymore secured the service of Mr. Cyrus Wilson, who began the building of a boat for the purposes named.

Wednesday afternoon, November 6, 1878, the “Cherokee,” the first steamboat ever built in Kansas, was successfully launched at Arkansas City. The hull of this boat is 83 feet long, 18 feet wide on the bottom, and 85 feet long, and 18 feet wide on the boiler deck; beam, 22 feet, with guards extending 2 feet around a model bow. She carries two twenty horsepower engines, and with all her machinery draws less than eight inches of water, and, when loaded to the guards, will not draw over sixteen inches. The shallowest water found on the bars between Wichita and Little Rock during the lowest stage of the river was eighteen inches. From this it will be seen that the “Cherokee” will answer the purposes for which it was built, and be of great service in transporting the supplies from these counties to the Indian agencies lying south and east of Arkansas City.

With the Arkansas River open for navigation, and a good line of boats and barges making regular trips from Arkansas City, business of all kinds will receive a fresh impetus in Southern Kansas. There will be no railroad monopolies, no “pooling of earnings,” and no forming of combinations to affect the interest of the producers. The farmers of this locality will then have a highway of their own by which they can exchange their surplus wheat, flour, and corn for the coal and lumber of the Lower Arkansas.

                                                                      ---

We furnish this bit of navigation reminiscence to our readers to show what has been done to make the Arkansas navigable. It is taken from the biennial report of the state board of Agriculture. The scheme which has now been made practicable by our millers was contemplated and experimented on as early as 1875. It will be seen that “Aunt Sally” made a successful voyage and her officers pronounced sufficient water and a safe current for light draught steamers for the entire distance, such as our millers are now building. Mr. Moorehead will remain in Arkansas City for a short time and then go east to pay a visit. His next trip will be up the Arkansas on the millers boat, which is now being constructed. He has no doubts whatever but what we will be shipping merchandise down the river within 60 days. It will be a great day when that occurs. The failure of the “Cherokee” and others to make a successful trip was because they were not constructed properly. They were not built for such shallow water.

Excerpted from a long article...

Arkansas City Republican, December 20, 1884.

                                                        ARKANSAS CITY.

                                  Her Business Firms and Their Establishments.

               OUR ANNUAL REVIEW OF THE CITY AND BUSINESS FIRMS.

. . . . But the horizon of our prosperity was not reached until 1882. Passing along her southern boundary from the Arkansas to the Walnut rivers, is a canal, whose water power capacity is unsurpassed in the entire west. This enterprise was inaugurated in 1881, by the Arkansas City Water Power Company, consisting of A. A. Newman, Jas. Hill, W. M. Sleeth, and S. Matlack, and completed in 1882. Immediately three flouring mills sprang up. These are the mills of Landes, Beall & Co., V. M. Ayres, and W. H. Speers. By a widening and deepening of the channel, the volume of water can be made sufficient for any demand that may be desired. Then on the banks of the Walnut, we have Searing & Mead’s. These four mills average the manufacture of about 1,000 barrels per day. The wheat and corn for a radius of forty miles is made into flour here. Thus we have a home market for our farm products. Wheat brings a higher price here than in any other portion of the state.

Excerpts...

Arkansas City Republican, April 11, 1885.

                                                            District Court.

From the Daily Courier we glean the proceedings of the mill of justice.

Court met Tuesday morning and went through a few cases. The term will last six weeks and the docket is quite heavy.

Isaac L. Newman vs. William H. Speers et al—defendant Speers was given leave to answer by Monday next.

Arkansas City Traveler, April 29, 1885.

                                              Notice to Hog Buyers and Others.

You are hereby notified not to purchase or remove any hogs from my hog lot, situated upon my mill property, and near to what is known as Speers’ Custom (or Union Mills); the same being situated upon a part of the s ½, ne ¼, sec. 13, township 34 south, range 4 east, Cowley County, Kansas, as I own an interest in all of said hogs.

                       Arkansas City, Kansas, April 28, 1885. WILLIAM H. SPEERS.

Arkansas City Republican, August 8, 1885.

J. R. Rogers and J. L. Huey have purchased the flouring mill of W. H. Speers, down on the canal, and by October will have a complete roller system in operation. The firm will do business under the name of J. L. Huey & Co. Mr. Rogers is a first-class miller and a young and energetic businessman. Mr. Huey is one of our bankers and is known to all. We wish the new firm success.

Arkansas City Traveler, November 18, 1885.

We learn from D. P. Marshall, secretary of the Farmers’ Co-operative Milling Exchange, that a site has been purchased for the erection of their mill, and assessments will be collected to go to work this fall. The spot selected is west of Speers’ mill, and the mill, when completed, will be connected with the K. C. & S. W. Railroad by a branch. The purchase of the ground we are informed has been delayed until the railroad depot was located, as facility of transportation was a main consideration. This enterprise has long been talked of, but it seems now in a fair way to crystallize, and we hope to see it carried through successfully.

Arkansas City Traveler, February 24, 1886.

The Farmers’ Co-operative Exchange, at a meeting of the directors held last Wednesday, resolved to purchase the old Speers’ mill, and put it in repair for immediate operation. Assessments are being levied to raise the purchase money: $8,500.

Arkansas City Republican, May 22, 1886.

                                                        Council Proceedings.

The city council met Monday evening in regular session. Present: C. G. Thompson, C. G. Thurston, A. A. Davis, A. D. Prescott, J. Hight, C. Dean, and O. Ingersoll.

The allowing of bills occupied the attention of the council first.

                                                 W. H. Speers, $9.40; referred.

Arkansas City Republican, May 29, 1886.

                                                        Council Proceedings.

Monday evening the city council met. Present: Mayor Schiffbauer, Councilmen A. D. Prescott, O. Ingersoll, A. A. Davis, C. T. Thurston, C. G. Thompson, and J. Hight.

The following bills were allowed.

                                           W. H. Speers, lumber, $9.30; allowed.

Arkansas City Traveler, September 15, 1886.

                                                          The Water Supply.

The new water supply is likely to be turned on in a day or two. The standpipe is finished; except the cap and some ornamental work at the top, but the connection with the pipe from the pump house and with the street main is not yet made. At the engine house, workmen are busy fitting up the interior, it being Mr. Quigley’s intention to put on an extra finish inside and out, and ornament the grounds in the most tasteful manner. A ditch is being dug from Speers’s spring to conduct the outflow to the well under the pump house, so as to secure an ample supply of water to meet the most pressing exigency. The pumps have been set working, and their movement is entirely satisfactory. When the standpipe is filled and all the preparation completed for turning the water into the mains, a test of their soundness will be made by putting on an extra pressure. This will discover any flaw that may exist in the pipes or their couplings, and these being repaired, the water service may then be considered as in effective working order.

There is no question but the Inter-State Gas company have done their work in a thorough and creditable manner, and the usefulness of their outlay will come home to all our citizens.