Railroads. Thirteen different railroad systems enter the city, operating 30 different lines, representing more than 50,000 miles in length. The magnitude of this business may be inferred from the fact that 260 passenger trains arrive and depart daily from the Union Station, which is the third largest in America, costing $6,000,000, while $54,000,000 more is in vested in the city's terminal facilities. Two thousand five hundred cars of freight come into and go out of the freight yards every day, thus rendering Kansas City one of the great transfer and distributing points on the conti nent. Two railroad bridges span the Missouri River. In telegraphic communications Kansas City is only surpassed New York and Chi cago in the number of wires entering the city and in the volume of business transacted.
The manufacturing indus tries of Kansas City developed in less than three decades to a position where the city is ranked as the 10th manufacturing city in Amer ica. Statistics gathered at the close of the year 1918 show that Greater Kansas City's plants turned out more than $677,000,000 worth of products during that year or more than $2,000,000 worth for each working There are more than manufacturing plants in the city, the principal products being automo biles, chemicals, flour, iron and steel products, crude and refined oil, packing-house products and soap.
Distributing In addition to Kan sas City's position as a manufacturing city, it is also a very large wholesale market, being the natural gateway to the great southwest terri tory. Kansas City's jobbing trade for the year 1918 amounted to more than $629,000,000. Many eastern manufacturing concerns maintain dis tributing plants, and over $90,000,000 worth of agricultural implements and farm tractors and $70,000,000 of automobiles and accessories were distributed through Kansas City alone, in 1917. The rapid growth and development of the southwest territory, to which Kansas City is the gateway, is likewise responsible for the city's growth. Kansas City's standing with other American cities is indicated by the follow ing: First—in Pullman business, sale of agri cultural implements, yellow pine lumber, hay market, farming territory, tributary trade, miles of park boulevards, winter wheat, stock and feed cattle. Second — as a railroad cen tre, live-stock market, packing centre, horse and mule market. Third— in flour-milling ca pacity and production, grain market, lumber, poultry and egg business, telegraphic business. Fifth —in bank clearings and grain-elevator capacity. Tenth — in manufacturing pursuits.
Government.— At the head of the city gov ernment are the mayor whose term of office is two years ; upper house aldermen consisting of 16 members whose term of service is four years, elected at large; lower house councilmen, 16 members whose term of service is two years, elected one from each ward; city treasurer, comptroller and police judges elected biennially. The other officers are nominated by the mayor and confirmed by the upper house. The board system is used to some extent, there being a hospital and health board, board of park com missioners, board of public works, fire and water board, board of public welfare and board of civil service. The police department is controlled by a board of police commissioners of three members, two of whom are appointed by the governor of the State, and the third of whom is the mayor of the city. Kansas City has a degree of home rule under the State con stitution which at the time of its adoption was very advanced but which is now considered re strictive. Efforts are being made to secure a constitutional amendment to extend the city's power of self-government.
Public The assessed valuation of taxable property was $270,000,000 in 1918, 40 per cent of the actual value. The bonded in debtedness of the city is $7,590,000, not includ ing school debt. The city is also the owner of much valuable property, valued at $22,000,000, not including street improvements, sewers, bridges, etc. The comptroller's last report, 1917, shows the expenditures for operating ex penses of the several departments: Police de partment, $683,798.62; fire department, $475, 45325; hospital and board of health, $464,076.08; board of public works, $496,207.86; street light ing, $187,224.00; parks and boulevards, $415, 443.39; water department $1,447,121.66; other administrative expenses, $672,453.45. The city purchased the waterworks in 1895. The street railway service, which traverses all parts of the city, has 302 miles of track, connecting with all suburban trolley lines. The city has an area of 7514 square miles, with 1,075 miles of streets, of which about 500 are paved.
Parks and city has spent nearly $16,500,000 for its park and boulevard system which contains 3,400 acres and 71 miles of continuous boulevards and are divided into seven park districts. The system is divided into 21 different parks, nearly all of which are con nected by an extensive system of boulevards. Located in different parts of the city and easy of access are eight cemeteries, the largest of which are Mount Washington, Elmwood, Saint Mary's and Forest Hill.