R. T. Van Horn & Co., Publishers.*

February 8, 1870.

     The minstrels have departed.  So has grim weather.  The streets are alive with traffic and business.

     The mayor called a special meeting of the Common Council yesterday, to consider an appropriation to assist in the preliminary survey of the Kansas City and Springfield Railroad from this city in a southeast direction.   Col. Richardson, the President of the railroad company, was introduced and made a long speech in favor of the proposed appropriation.  The council voted and carried a resolution appropriating $2,000 to the company to assist in the preliminary survey.

     The funeral service of Cora, infant daughter of B. R. and H. C. Bacon, aged ten months and ten days, will take place at their residence, on Independence avenue, at 2 o'clock p. m.  The friends of the family are cordially invited.

     The members of the Temple Lodge, No. 299, A. F. & A. M., will meet at the Hall to-day, at 1 o'clock, "sharp," to attend the funeral of Brother Clark.  All M. Masons in good standing are invited to attend.

     We have often alluded to the practice of our exchanges in stealing articles from our columns, without giving proper credit.  We had occasion lately to rap the St. Joseph Union upon this point last week, but it does not seem to have the desired effect, as the Gazette of that place copies our item about the Ray county murder entire, and does not even allude to the fact that it first appeared in these columns.

     How's this for high?  Through the kindness of the gentlemen connected with the United States Revenue office in this city, we are enabled to present to our readers an exhibit of the Revenue collections in this city and St. Joseph for the month ending January 1, 1870.  Kansas City revenues amounted to $12,401.10.  St. Joseph brought in only $5,804.21.  We do not expect after this to hear St. Joe boast of her commercial superiority . Figures won't lie, and these figures show just where the land lies.

     Someone is certainly guilty of criminal negligence in allowing that tree on Ottawa street near Main, to overhang the street.  The grading has taken all the earth from around it, and it now hangs suspended above the roadway by a few roots, like the sword of Damocles, ready when loosened by rain or struck by wind, to kill or maim passersby.  Some one is responsible for th is.  Let it be attended to before it is too late.