RANSON UNIT INVESTMENT TRUSTS SERIES 85
487, 1999-09-01
Previous: EV CLASSIC SENIOR FLOATING RATE FUND /MA/, N-23C3B, 1999-09-01
Next: KEMPER DEFINED FUNDS SERIES 86, S-6, 1999-09-01




                                                     REGISTRATION NO. 333-84105
                                                                    CIK# 910954

===============================================================================

                  SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                        WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                        ----------------------

                           AMENDMENT NO. 1
                                  TO
                        REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                  ON
                               FORM S-6

                        ----------------------

              FOR REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT
               OF 1933 OF SECURITIES OF UNIT INVESTMENT
                  TRUSTS REGISTERED ON FORM N-8B-2

A.  EXACT NAME OF TRUST:
               RANSON UNIT INVESTMENT TRUSTS, SERIES 85

B.  NAME OF DEPOSITOR:
                     RANSON & ASSOCIATES, INC.

C.  COMPLETE ADDRESS OF DEPOSITOR'S PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES:
                     Ranson & Associates, Inc.
                  250 North Rock Road, Suite 150
                    Wichita, Kansas  67206-2241

D.  NAME AND COMPLETE ADDRESS OF AGENT FOR SERVICE:

                                                    Copy to:
        ALEX R. MEITZNER                         MARK J. KNEEDY
     Ranson & Associates, Inc.               c/o Chapman and Cutler
  250 North Rock Road, Suite 150             111 West Monroe Street
    Wichita, Kansas  67206-2241             Chicago, Illinois  60603

E.  TITLE OF SECURITIES BEING REGISTERED:  Units of Beneficial Interest

E.  APPROXIMATE DATE OF PROPOSED SALE TO PUBLIC:
           As soon as practicable after the effective date
                   of the Registration Statement.
 _
|X|   Check box if it is proposed that this filing will become effective at
      2:00 P.M. on September 1, 1999 pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule 487.

===============================================================================
     The registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or
dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall
file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration
Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of
the Securities Act of 1933 or until the Registration Statement shall become
effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a),
may determine.

<PAGE>

                     RANSON UNIT INVESTMENT TRUST, SERIES 85

S&P MidCap 400 Index Trust, Series 2 seeks to increase the value of your
investment by investing in a portfolio of the stocks of companies in the
Standard & Poor's MidCap 400 Index.  Of course, we cannot guarantee that the
Trust will achieve its objectives.

                Units are not deposits or obligations of any bank
                  or government agency and are not guaranteed.

       You should read this prospectus and retain it for future reference.

                                September 1, 1999



             The Securities and Exchange Commission has not approved
   or disapproved of the Units or passed upon the adequacy of this prospectus.
               Any contrary representation is a criminal offense.


















<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
RANSON UNIT INVESTMENT TRUSTS, SERIES 85

ESSENTIAL INFORMATION

AS OF AUGUST 31, 1999*
SPONSOR, SUPERVISOR AND EVALUATOR:  RANSON & ASSOCIATES, INC.
                          TRUSTEE:  THE BANK OF NEW YORK
                         LICENSOR:  STANDARD & POOR'S, A DIVISION OF THE MCGRAW-HILL COMPANIES, INC.

                                                                     S&P 400
                                                                   MidCap Trust
                                                                   ------------
<S>                                                                <C>
Cusip (Cash)                                                         753269182
Cusip (Reinvest)                                                     753269190
Number of Units (1)                                                     26,856
Fractional Undivided Interest per Unit (1)                            1/26,856
Public Offering Price:
 Aggregate Value of Securities in Portfolio (2)                     $  255,399
 Aggregate Value of Securities per Unit                             $     9.51
 Plus Sales Charge of 4.9% (5.152% of net amount invested)          $      .49
 Public Offering Price per Unit (3)                                 $    10.00
Redemption Price per Unit (4)                                       $     9.46
Estimated Organization Expense per Unit (2)                         $      .05

<S>                                                    <C>
Minimum Value of Trust under which Trust Agreement
 may be Terminated                                     The Trust may be terminated if the value thereof is
                                                       less than the lower of $2,000,000 or 20% of the total
                                                       value of Securities deposited in the Trust during
                                                       the initial offering period.
Mandatory Termination Date                             October 31, 2005
Supervisor's Annual Surveillance Fee                   Maximum of $.003 per Unit
Evaluator's Annual Evaluation Fee                      Maximum of $.003 per Unit
Trustee's Annual Fee                                   $.009 per Unit
Evaluation Time                                        3:15 p.m. Central Time
Record and Computation Dates (5)                       FIRST day of January, April, July and October
Distribution Dates (5)                                 FIFTEENTH day of January, April, July and October

<FN>
* The business day prior to the Initial Date of Deposit

- --------------------

(1) As of the close of business on the Initial Date of Deposit, the number of
    Units may be adjusted so that the aggregate value of Securities per Unit will
    equal approximately $10.  Therefore, to the extent of any such

                                        2

<PAGE>
    adjustment the fractional undivided interest per Unit will increase or decrease
    from the amounts indicated above.

(2) Each Security is valued at the closing sale price on a national securities
    exchange or the Nasdaq National Market.  Unitholders will bear all or a
    portion of the expenses incurred in organizing and offering the Trust.  The
    Public Offering Price includes the estimated amount of these costs.  The
    Trustee will deduct these expenses from the Trust at the end of the initial
    offering period or six months after the Initial Date of Deposit (whichever is
    earlier).

(3) On the Initial Date of Deposit there will be no accumulated dividends in the
    Income Account.  Anyone ordering Units after such date will pay his pro rata
    share of any accumulated dividends in such Income Account.

(4) The redemption price includes the estimated organizational costs.  The
    redemption price will not include these costs after the initial offering
    period.

(5) Distributions from the Capital Account and capital gains distributions, if
    any, will normally be made in December, as required.
</TABLE>









                                        3

<PAGE>
THE TRUST FUND

Ranson Unit Investment Trusts, Series 85 (the "Fund") includes one underlying
unit investment trust designated as S&P MidCap 400 Index Trust, Series 2 (the
"Trust").  The Fund was created under the laws of the State of New York pursuant
to a trust indenture (the "Trust Agreement") dated the date of this prospectus
(the "Initial Date of Deposit") between Ranson & Associates, Inc. (the
"Sponsor") and The Bank of New York (the "Trustee").*

The S&P MidCap 400 Index Trust contains common stocks issued by substantially
all of the companies which comprise the S&P MidCap 400 Index.  As used herein,
the term "Securities" means the common stocks (including contracts for the
purchase thereof) initially deposited in the Trust and described in the
portfolio and any additional common stocks acquired and held by the Trust
pursuant to the provisions of the Trust Agreement.

On the Initial Date of Deposit, the Sponsor delivered to the Trustee Securities
or contracts for the purchase thereof for deposit in the Trust.  The Sponsor
will seek to create an initial portfolio that substantially replicates the
Index, however, this initial deposit into the Trust may consist of an equal
number of shares of each of the stocks which comprise the Index.  See
"Portfolio."  In either case, during the first 30 days of the Trust's life (the
"Initial Adjustment Period"), the Sponsor intends to create and maintain a Trust
portfolio which duplicates, to the extent practicable, the weightings of stocks
which comprise the Index.  The Sponsor anticipates that within the Initial
Adjustment Period, the Trust will comprise the stocks in the Index in
substantially the same weightings as in the Index.  Of course, there is no
guarantee that this will occur during the first 30 days of the Trust's life.  In
connection with any deposit of Securities, purchase and sale transactions will
be effected in accordance with computer program output showing which Securities
are under- or over-represented in the Trust portfolio.  Neither the Sponsor nor
the Trustee will exercise any investment discretion in connection with such
transactions.  Precise duplication of the relationship among the Securities in
the Index may not be achieved because it may be economically impracticable or
impossible to acquire very small numbers of shares of certain stocks and because
of other procedural policies of the Trust, but correlation between the
performance of the Index and the Trust portfolio is expected to be between .97
and .99 over the term of the Trust.

By investing in substantially all of the common stocks, in substantially the
same proportions, which comprise the Index, the Trust seeks to produce
investment results that generally correspond to the price and yield performance
of the equity securities represented by the Index over the term of the Trust.
Due to various factors discussed below, there can be no assurance that this
objective will be met.  An investment in Units should be made with an
understanding that the Trust includes payments of sales charges, fees and
expenses which may not be considered in public statements of the total return of
the Index.

Subsequent to the Initial Date of Deposit, the Sponsor may deposit additional
Securities in the Trust, contracts to purchase additional Securities along with
cash (or a bank letter of credit in lieu of cash) to pay for such contracted
Securities or cash (including a letter of credit) with instructions to purchase
additional Securities, maintaining, as closely as practicable the same
proportionate relationship among the Securities in the portfolio

- --------------------
* Reference is made to the Trust Agreement and any statement contained herein is
  qualified in its entirety by the provisions of the Trust Agreement.

                                        4

<PAGE>
as reflected in the Index.  Thus, although additional Units will be issued, each
Unit will continue to represent approximately a weighting of the then current
components of the Index at any such deposit.  Precise duplication of the
relationship among the Securities in the Trust may not be achieved because it
may be economically impracticable as a result of certain economic factors and
procedural policies of the Trust such as (1) price movements of the various
Securities will not duplicate one another, (2) the Sponsor may purchase shares
of the Securities in round lot quantities, (3) reinvestment of excess proceeds
not needed to meet redemptions of Units may not be sufficient to acquire equal
round lots of all the Securities and (4) reinvestment of proceeds received from
Securities which are no longer components of the Index might not result in the
purchase of an equal number of shares in any replacement Security.  If the
Sponsor deposits cash, existing and new investors may experience a dilution of
their investments and a reduction in their anticipated income because of
fluctuations in the prices of the Securities between the time of the cash
deposit and the purchase of the Securities and because the Trust will pay the
associated brokerage fees.  To minimize this effect, the Trust will attempt to
purchase the Securities as close to the Evaluation Time or as close to the
evaluation prices as possible.

The Trust consists of (a) the Securities listed under the "Portfolio" as may
continue to be held from time to time in the Trust (b) any additional Securities
acquired and held by the Trust pursuant to the provisions of the Trust Agreement
and (c) any cash held in the Income and Capital Accounts of the Trust.  Neither
the Sponsor nor the Trustee shall be liable in any way for any failure in any of
the Securities.  However, should any contract for the purchase of any of the
Securities initially deposited hereunder fail, the Sponsor will, unless
substantially all of the moneys held in the Trust to cover such purchase are
reinvested in substitute Securities in accordance with the Trust Agreement,
refund the cash and sales charge attributable to such failed contract to all
Unitholders on the next distribution date.

On the Initial Date of Deposit, the Sponsor delivered to the Trustee Securities
or contracts for the purchase thereof for deposit in the Trust.  For the
Securities so deposited, the Trustee delivered to the Sponsor documentation
evidencing the ownership of that number of Units of the Trust set forth under
"Essential Information."

THE TRUST PORTFOLIO

The Trust portfolio will consist of as many of the S&P MidCap 400 Index stocks
as is feasible in order to achieve the Trust's objective of attempting to
provide investment results that duplicate substantially the total return of the
S&P MidCap 400 Index.  Following the Initial Adjustment Period, the Trust is
expected to be invested in no less than 95% of the stocks comprising the Index.
Although it may be impracticable for the Trust to own certain of such stocks at
any time, the Sponsor expects to maintain a correlation between the performance
of the Trust portfolio and that of the Index of between .97 and .99 over the
term of the Trust.  Adjustments to the Trust portfolio will be made on an
ongoing basis in accordance with the computer program output to match the
weightings of the Securities as closely as is practicable with their weightings
in the Index as the Trust invests in new Securities in connection with the
creation of additional Units, as companies are dropped from or added to the
Index or as Securities are sold to meet redemptions.  The Trustee will generally
seek to make these adjustments on the business day following the relevant
transaction in accordance with

                                        5

<PAGE>
computer program output showing which of the Securities are under- or over-
represented in the Trust portfolio.    Of course, there is no guarantee that
this will always be practicable.  Adjustments may also be made from time to time
to maintain the appropriate correlation between the Trust and the Index.  The
proceeds from any sale will generally be invested in those Securities which the
computer program indicates are most under-represented in the portfolio.  See
"Investment Supervision."

Due to changes in the composition of the S&P MidCap 400 Index, adjustments to
the Trust portfolio may be made from time to time.  It is anticipated that most
of such changes in the S&P MidCap 400 Index will occur as a result of merger or
acquisition activity.  In such cases, the Trust, as a shareholder of an issuer
which is the object of such merger or acquisition activity, will presumably
receive various offers from potential acquirers of the issuer.  The Trustee is
not permitted to accept any such offers until such time as the issuer has been
removed from the Index.  Since, in most cases, an issuer is removed from the
Index only after the consummation of a merger or acquisition, it is anticipated
that the Trust will generally acquire, in exchange for the stock of the deleted
issuer, the consideration that is being offered to shareholders of that issuer
who have not tendered their shares prior to that time.  Any cash received as
consideration in such transactions will be reinvested in the most under-
represented Securities as determined by the computer program output.  Any
securities received as consideration which are not included in the Index will be
sold as soon as practicable and will generally be reinvested in the most under-
represented Securities as determined by the computer program output.

In attempting to duplicate the proportionate relationships represented by the
Index, the Sponsor may purchase or sell stock in quantities of less than round
lots (100 shares).  In addition, certain Securities may not be available in the
quantities specified by the computer program.  For these reasons, among others,
precise duplication of the proportionate relationships in the Index may not be
possible but will continue to be the goal of the Trust in connection with
acquisitions or dispositions of Securities.  See "Investment Supervision."  As
the holder of the Securities, the Trustee will have the right to vote all of the
voting stocks in the Trust portfolio and will vote such stocks in accordance
with the instructions of the Sponsor.

Investors should note that the Trust is not sponsored, endorsed or promoted by
or affiliated with Standard & Poor's and Standard & Poor's make no
representation, express or implied, to the Trust or Unitholders regarding the
advisability of investing in an index investment or unit investment trusts
generally or in the Trust specifically or the ability of the Index to track
general stock market performance.

Although there can be no assurance that such Securities will appreciate in value
over the life of the Trust, over time stock investments have generally out-
performed most other asset classes.  However, it should be remembered that
common stocks carry greater risks, including the risk that the value of an
investment can decrease (see "Risk Factors-Certain Investment Considerations"),
and past performance is no guarantee of future results.

THE S&P MIDCAP 400 INDEX

The S&P MidCap 400 Index is composed of 400 domestic stocks chosen for market
size, liquidity (bid-asked spread, ownership, share turnover and number of no
trade days) and industry group representation.  As

                                        6

<PAGE>
of July 30, 1999 the S&P MidCap 400 Index was comprised of the following
industry groups: Industrials (77.5%), Utilities (10.0%), Financials (9.7%) and
Transportation (2.8%).  As of July 30, 1999 the companies in the S&P MidCap 400
Index were listed on the following stock exchanges in the amounts indicated: New
York Stock Exchange-287 companies (71.7%), Nasdaq National Market-106 companies
(26.5%) and American Stock Exchange-7 companies (1.8%).  As of July 30, 1999 the
mean market capitalization of the companies in the S&P MidCap 400 Index is
approximately $3,459 million with a total market value of $889 billion.

The following table depicts the Year-End Index Value for the S&P MidCap 400
Index for the period shown.  Investors should note that the table represents
past performance of the S&P MidCap 400 Index and not the past or future
performance of the Trust (which includes certain fees and expenses).  Past
performance is, of course, no guarantee of future results.  Stock prices
fluctuated widely during the period and were higher at the end than at the
beginning.  The results shown should not be considered as a representation of
the income yield or capital gain or loss which may be generated by the S&P
MidCap 400 Index in the future.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                   Closing Total     Closing Year-     Annual Total
Year-End           Return Index*       End Index        Return **
- --------           -------------     -------------     ------------
<S>                <C>               <C>               <C>
  1991                148.276           146.59            50.10%
  1992                165.941           160.56            11.91%
  1993                189.097           179.38            13.95%
  1994                182.320           169.44            -3.58%
  1995                238.745           217.84            30.95%
  1996                284.587           255.58            19.20%
  1997                376.375           333.37            32.25%
  1998                448.314           392.31            19.11%
  Thru 7/30/99        468.944           407.46             4.60%

<FN>
- --------------------
 * Total Return Index reflects June 28, 1991 base period = 120.57 to date daily
   dividend reinvestment.

** 1991 Annual Total Return and Annual Performance data are based on 12-month
   performance using backtesting methodology prior to June 19, 1991.
</TABLE>

The weightings of stocks in the S&P MidCap 400 Index are primarily based on each
stock's relative total market value; that is, its market price per share times
the number of shares outstanding.  Stocks are generally selected for the
portfolio in the order of their weightings in the S&P MidCap 400 Index,
beginning with the heaviest-weighted stocks.  It is anticipated that at the end
of the Initial Adjustment Period, the percentage of the Trust's assets invested
in each stock will be approximately the same as the percentage it represents in
the S&P MidCap 400 Index.

The Trust has entered into a license agreement with Standard & Poor's (the
"License Agreement"), under which the Trust is granted licenses to use the
trademark and tradename "S&P 400" and other trademarks and

                                        7

<PAGE>
tradenames, to the extent the Sponsor deems appropriate and desirable under
federal and state securities laws to indicate the source of the index as a basis
for determining the composition of the Trust's portfolio.  As consideration for
the grant of the license, the Trust will pay to Standard & Poor's an annual fee
equal to .02% of the average net asset value of the Trust (or, if greater,
$10,000).  The License Agreement permits the Trust to substitute another index
for the S&P MidCap 400 Index in the event that Standard & Poor's ceases to
compile and publish that index.  In addition, if the index ceases to be compiled
or made available or the anticipated correlation between the Trust and the index
is not maintained, the Sponsor may direct that the Trust continue to be operated
using the S&P MidCap 400 Index as it existed on the last date on which it was
available or may direct that the Trust Agreement be terminated (see
"Administration of the Trust-Amendment and Termination").

Neither the Trust nor the Unitholders are entitled to any rights whatsoever
under the foregoing licensing arrangements or to use any of the covered
trademarks or to use the S&P MidCap 400 Index, except as specifically described
herein or as may be specified in the Trust Agreement.

The Trust is not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by Standard & Poor's
("S&P").  S&P makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, to the
owners of the Trust or any member of the public regarding the advisability of
investing in securities generally or in the Trust particularly or the ability of
the S&P MidCap 400 Index to track general stock market performance.  S&P's only
relationship to the Licensee is the licensing of certain trademarks and trade
names of S&P and of the S&P MidCap 400 Index which is determined, composed and
calculated by S&P without regard to the Licensee or the Trust.  S&P has no
obligation to take the needs of the Licensee or the owners of the Trust into
consideration in determining, composing or calculating the S&P MidCap 400 Index.
S&P is not responsible for and has not participated in the determination of the
prices and amount of the Trust or the timing of the issuance or sale of the
Trust or in the determination or calculation of the equation by which the Trust
is to be converted into cash.  S&P has no obligation or liability in connection
with the administration, marketing or trading of the Trust.

S&P does not guarantee the accuracy and/or the completeness of the S&P MidCap
400 Index or any data included therein and S&P shall have no liability for any
errors, omissions, or interruptions therein.  S&P makes no warranty, express or
implied, as to results to be obtained by the Sponsor, the Trust, any person or
any entity from the use of the S&P MidCap 400 Index or any data included
therein.  S&P makes no express or implied warranties, and expressly disclaims
all warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose or use,
with respect to the S&P MidCap 400 Index or any data included therein.  Without
limiting any of the foregoing, in no event shall S&P have any liability for any
special, punitive, indirect, or consequential damages (including lost profits),
even if notified of the possibility of such damages.  "Standard & Poor'sr",
"S&Pr", "S&P MidCap 400 Index" and "Standard & Poor's MidCap 400" are trademarks
of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. and have been licensed for use by the Trust.
The Trust is not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by Standard & Poor's and
Standard & Poor's makes no representation regarding the advisability of
investing in the Trust.


                                        8

<PAGE>
RISK FACTORS

PRICE VOLATILITY.  Because the Trust invests in common stocks, you should
understand the risks of investing in common stocks before purchasing Units.
These risks include the risk that the financial condition of the company or the
general condition of the stock market may worsen and the value of the stocks
(and therefore Units) will fall.  Common stocks are especially susceptible to
general stock market movements.  The value of common stocks often rises or falls
rapidly and unpredictably as market confidence and perceptions of companies
change.  These perceptions are based on factors including expectations regarding
government economic policies, inflation, interest rates, economic expansion or
contraction, political climates and economic or banking crises.  The value of
Units will fluctuate with the value of the stocks in the Trust and may be more
or less than the price you originally paid for your Units.  As with any
investment, we cannot guarantee that the performance of the Trust will be
positive over any period of time.  Because the Trust is unmanaged, the Trustee
will not sell stocks in response to market fluctuations as is common in managed
investments.

DIVIDENDS.  Common stocks represent ownership interests in a company and are not
obligations of the company.  Accordingly, common stockholders have a right to
receive payments from the company that is subordinate to the rights of
creditors, bondholders or preferred stockholders of the company.  This means
that common stockholders have a right to receive dividends only if a company's
board of directors declares a dividend and the company has provided for payment
of all of its creditors, bondholders and preferred stockholders.  If a company
issues additional debt securities or preferred stock, the owners of these
securities will have a claim against the company's assets before common
stockholders if the company declares bankruptcy or liquidates its assets even
though the common stock was issued first.  As a result, the company may be less
willing or able to declare or pay dividends on its common stock.

CONSUMER PRODUCTS COMPANIES.  The Trust invests in a significant number of
issuers within the consumer goods industry.  Any negative impact on this
industry will have a greater impact on the value of Units than on a portfolio
diversified over several industries.  These companies generally include
companies in the consumer cyclicals and consumer non-cyclicals sectors.  You
should understand the risks of these companies before you invest.  These
companies face risks due to cyclicality of revenues and earnings, changing
consumer demands, regulatory restrictions, products liability litigation,
extensive competition, foreign tariffs, foreign exchange rates, transportation
costs, the cost of raw materials, unfunded pension fund liabilities and employee
and retiree benefit costs and financial deterioration resulting from leveraged
buy-outs, takeovers or acquisitions.  Because the economic health of consumers
greatly impacts these companies, recession or tightening of consumer credit or
spending could adversely affect these issuers.  Pharmaceutical companies face
additional risks such as extensive governmental regulation, lengthy governmental
drug review processes and substantial research and development costs.  The
failure to obtain government approval or successful test results for a drug
could have a substantial negative impact on a company.  All of these factors can
have a negative impact on the value of your Units.



                                        9

<PAGE>
ADDITIONAL UNITS.  The Sponsor may create additional Units of the Trust by
depositing into the Trust additional stocks or cash with instructions to
purchase additional stocks.  A cash deposit could result in a dilution of your
investment and anticipated income because of fluctuations in the price of the
stocks between the time of the deposit and the purchase of the stocks and
because the Trust will pay brokerage fees.

VOTING.  Only the Trustee may sell or vote the stocks in the Trust.  While you
may sell or redeem your Units, you may not sell or vote the stocks in your
Trust.  The Sponsor will instruct the Trustee how to vote the stocks.  The
Trustee will vote the stocks in the same general proportion as shares held by
other shareholders if the Sponsor fails to provide instructions.

YEAR 2000.  The Trust could be negatively impacted if computer systems used by
the Sponsor, Evaluator, Supervisor or Trustee or other service providers to the
Trust do not properly process date-related information after January 1, 2000.
This is commonly known as the "Year 2000 Problem".  The Sponsor, Evaluator,
Supervisor and Trustee are taking steps to address this problem and to obtain
reasonable assurances that other service providers to the Trust are taking
comparable steps.  We cannot guarantee that these steps will be sufficient to
avoid any adverse impact on the Trust.  This problem is expected to impact
corporations to varying degrees based on factors such as industry sector and
degree of technological sophistication.  We cannot predict what impact, if any,
this problem will have on the issuers of stocks in the Trust.

From time to time Congress considers proposals to reduce the rate of the
dividends-received deduction.  Enactment into law of a proposal to reduce the
rate would adversely affect the after-tax return to investors who can take
advantage of the deduction.  Unitholders are urged to consult their own tax
advisers.  Further, at any time after the Initial Date of Deposit, litigation
may be initiated on a variety of grounds, or legislation may be enacted with
respect to the Securities in the Trust or the issuers of the Securities.  There
can be no assurance that future litigation or legislation will not have a
material adverse effect on the Trust or will not impair the ability of issuers
to achieve their business goals.

FEDERAL TAX STATUS

The Trust has elected and intends to qualify on a continuing basis for special
federal income tax treatment as a "regulated investment company" under the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code").  If the Trust so
qualifies and timely distributes to Unitholders 90% or more of its taxable
income (without regard to its net capital gain, i. e., the excess of its net
long-term capital gain over its net short-term capital loss), it will not be
subject to Federal income tax on the portion of its taxable income (including
any net capital gain) that it distributes to Unitholders.  In addition, to the
extent the Trust timely distributes to Unitholders at least 98% of its taxable
income (including any net capital gain), it will not be subject to the 4% excise
tax on certain undistributed income of "regulated investment companies."
Because the Trust intends to timely distribute its taxable income (including any
net capital gain), it is anticipated that the Trust will not be subject to
Federal income tax or the excise tax.



                                       10

<PAGE>
Distributions to Unitholders of the Trust's income, other than distributions
which are designated as capital gain dividends, will be taxable as ordinary
income to Unitholders, except that to the extent that distributions to a
Unitholder in any year exceed the Trust's current and accumulated earnings and
profits, they will be treated as a return of capital and will reduce the
Unitholder's basis in his Units and, to the extent that they exceed his basis,
will be treated as a gain from the sale of his Units as discussed below.
Although distributions generally will be treated as distributed when paid,
distributions declared in October, November or December, payable to Unitholders
of record on a specified date in one of those months and paid during January of
the following year will be treated as having been distributed by the Trust (and
received by the Unitholders) on December 31 of the year such distributions are
declared.

Distributions of the Trust's net capital gain which are properly designated as
capital gain dividends by the Trust will be taxable to Unitholders as long-term
capital gain, regardless of the length of time the Units have been held by a
Unitholder.  A Unitholder may recognize a taxable gain or loss if the Unitholder
sells or redeems his Units.  Any gain or loss arising from (or treated as
arising from) the sale or redemption of Units will generally be a capital gain
or loss, except in the case of a dealer or a financial institution.  The
Internal Revenue Service Restructuring and Reform Act of 1998 (the "1998 Tax
Act") provides that for taxpayers other than corporations, net capital gain
(which is defined as net long-term capital gain over net short-term capital loss
for the taxable year) realized from property (with certain exclusions) is
generally subject to a maximum marginal stated tax rate of 20% (10% in the case
of certain taxpayers in the lowest tax bracket).  Capital gain or loss is long-
term if the holding period for the asset is more than one year, and is short-
term if the holding period for the asset is one year or less.  The date on which
a Unit is acquired (i.e., the "trade date") is excluded for purposes for
determining the holding period of the Unit.  Capital gains realized from assets
held for one year or less are taxed at the same rates as ordinary income.  Note
that if a Unitholder holds Units for six months or less and subsequently sells
such Units at a loss, the loss will be treated as a long-term capital loss to
the extent that any long-term capital gain distribution is made with respect to
such Units during the six-month period or less that the Unitholder owns the
Units.

The Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 includes provisions that treat certain
transactions designed to reduce or eliminate risk of loss and opportunities for
gain (e.g., short sales, offsetting notional principal contracts, futures or
forward contracts or similar transactions) as constructive sales for purposes of
recognition of gain (but not loss) and for purposes of determining the holding
period.  Unitholders should consult their own tax advisers with regard to any
such constructive sales rules.

In addition, it should be noted that capital gains may be recharacterized as
ordinary income in the case of certain financial transactions that are
considered "conversion transactions" effective for transactions entered into
after April 30, 1993.  Unitholders and prospective investors should consult with
their tax advisers regarding the potential effect of this provision on their
investment in Units.

Distributions which are taxable as ordinary income to Unitholders will
constitute dividends for federal income tax purposes.  When Units are held by
corporate Unitholders, Trust distributions may qualify for the 70%

                                       11

<PAGE>
dividends-received deduction, subject to the limitations otherwise applicable to
the availability of the deduction, to the extent the distribution is
attributable to dividends received by the Trust from United States corporations
(other than real estate investment trusts) and is designated by the Trust as
being eligible for such deduction.  To the extent dividends received by the
Trust are attributable to foreign corporations, a corporation that owns Units
will not be entitled to the dividends-received deduction with respect to its pro
rata portion of such dividends, since the dividends-received deduction is
generally available only with respect to dividends paid by domestic
corporations.  The Trust will provide each Unitholder with information annually
concerning what part of the Trust distributions are eligible for the dividends
received deduction.

The Trust may elect to pass through to the Unitholders the foreign income and
similar taxes paid by the Trust in order to enable such Unitholders to take a
credit (or deduction) for foreign income taxes paid by the Trust.  If such an
election is made, Unitholders of the Trust, because they are deemed to own a pro
rata portion of the foreign securities held by the Trust, must include in their
gross income, for federal income tax purposes, both their portion of dividends
received by the Trust and also their portion of the amount which the Trust deems
to be the Unitholders' portion of foreign income taxes paid with respect to, or
withheld from, dividends, interest or other income of the Trust from its foreign
investments.  Unitholders may then subtract from their federal income tax the
amount of such taxes withheld, or else treat such foreign taxes as deductions
from gross income; however, as in the case of investors receiving income
directly from foreign sources, the above described tax credit or deduction is
subject to certain limitations.  The 1997 Act imposes a required holding period
for such credits.  Unitholders should consult their tax advisers regarding this
election and its consequences to them.

Under the Code, certain miscellaneous itemized deductions, such as investment
expenses, tax return preparation fees and employee business expenses, will be
deductible by individuals only to the extent they exceed 2% of adjusted gross
income.  Miscellaneous itemized deductions subject to this limitation under
present law do not include expenses incurred by the Trust so long as the Units
of the Trust are held by or for 500 or more persons at all times during the
taxable year or another exception is met.  In the event the Units of the Trust
are held by fewer than 500 persons, additional taxable income may be realized by
the individual (and other noncorporate) Unitholders in excess of the
distributions received from the Trust.

Distributions reinvested into additional Units of the Trust will be taxed to a
Unitholder in the manner described above (i. e., as ordinary income, long-term
capital gain or as a return of capital).

Under certain circumstances a Unitholder may be able to request an in kind
distribution upon termination of the Trust.  See "Amendment and Termination."
Unitholders electing an in kind distribution of shares of Securities should be
aware that the exchange is subject to taxation and Unitholders will recognize
gain or loss based on the value of the Securities received.  Investors electing
an in kind distribution should consult their own tax advisers with regard to
such transaction.

The federal tax status of each year's distributions will be reported to
Unitholders and to the Internal Revenue Service.  Each Unitholder will be
requested to provide the Unitholder's taxpayer identification number to the

                                       12

<PAGE>
Trustee and to certify that the Unitholder has not been notified that payments
to the Unitholder are subject to back-up withholding.  If the proper taxpayer
identification number and appropriate certification are not provided when
requested, distributions by the Trust to such Unitholder (including amounts
received upon the redemption of Units) will be subject to back-up withholding.

A Unitholder who is a foreign investor (i.e., an investor other than a United
States citizen or resident or a United States corporation, partnership, estate
or trust) should be aware that, generally, subject to applicable tax treaties,
distributions from the Trust which constitute dividends for Federal income tax
purposes (other than dividends which the Trust designates as capital gain
dividends) will be subject to United States income taxes, including withholding
taxes.  However, distributions received by a foreign investor from the Trust
that are designated by the Trust as capital gain dividends should not be subject
to United States Federal income taxes, including withholding taxes, if all of
the following conditions are met:  (i) the capital gain dividend is not
effectively connected with the conduct by the foreign investor of a trade or
business within the United States, (ii) the foreign investor (if an individual)
is not present in the United States for 183 days or more during his or her
taxable year, and (iii) the foreign investor provides all certification which
may be required of his status (foreign investors may contact the Sponsor to
obtain a Form W-8 which must be filed with the Trustee and refiled every three
calendar years thereafter).  Foreign investors should consult their tax advisors
with respect to United States tax consequences of ownership of Units.  Units in
the Trust and Trust distributions may also be subject to state and local
taxation and Unitholders should consult their tax advisors in this regard.

The foregoing discussion relates only to the federal income tax status of the
Trust and to the tax treatment of distributions by the Trust to United States
Unitholders.

Unitholders desiring to purchase Units for tax-deferred plans and IRAs should
consult their broker-dealers for details on establishing such accounts.  Units
may also be purchased by persons who already have self-directed plans
established.

PUBLIC OFFERING OF UNITS

PUBLIC OFFERING PRICE.  During the initial offering period, Units of the Trust
are offered at the Public Offering Price (which is based on the aggregate
underlying value of the Securities and includes a sales charge of 4.9% of the
Public Offering Price which charge is equivalent to 5.152% of the net amount
invested) plus a pro rata share of any accumulated dividends in the Income
Account of the Trust.  In the secondary market, Units are offered at the Public
Offering Price (which is based on the aggregate underlying value of the
Securities and includes a sales charge of 4.9% of the Public Offering Price
which charge is equivalent to 5.152% of the net amount invested) plus a pro rata
share of any accumulated dividends in the Income Account of the Trust.  Such
underlying value shall also include the proportionate share of any undistributed
cash held in the Capital Account of the Trust.  A portion of the Public Offering
Price includes an amount of Securities to pay for all or a portion of the costs
incurred in establishing the Trust.  These costs include the cost of preparing
the registration statement, the Trust indenture and other closing documents,
registering Units with the Securities and Exchange Commission and states, the
initial audit of the Trust portfolio, legal fees and the initial fees and
expenses of the

                                       13

<PAGE>
Trustee.  These costs will be deducted from the Trust as of the end of the
initial offering period or after six months (whichever is earlier).

The sales charge per Unit in both the primary and secondary market will be
reduced pursuant to the following graduated schedule:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                   PERCENT OF       PERCENT OF NET
NUMBER OF UNITS*                 OFFERING PRICE     AMOUNT INVESTED
- ----------------                 --------------     ---------------
<S>                              <C>                <C>
Less than 10,000                       4.9%             5.152%
10,000-24,999                          4.5              4.712
25,000-49,999                          4.3              4.493
50,000-99,999                          3.5              3.627
100,000 or more                        3.0              3.093

<FN>
- --------------------

* The breakpoint sales charges are also applied on a dollar basis utilizing a
  breakpoint equivalent in the above table of $10 per Unit and will be applied
  on whichever basis is more favorable to the investor.
</TABLE>

An investor may aggregate purchases of Units of the Trust for purposes of
qualifying for the volume purchase discounts listed above.  The reduced sales
charge structure will apply on all purchases of Units in the Trust by the same
person on any one day from any one dealer.  Additionally, Units purchased in the
name of the spouse of a purchaser or in the name of a child of such purchaser
under 21 years of age will be deemed, for purposes of calculating the applicable
sales charge, to be additional purchases by the purchaser.  The reduced sales
charges will also be applicable to a trustee or other fiduciary purchasing
securities for a single trust estate or single fiduciary account.

Units may be purchased in the primary or secondary market by officers, directors
and employees of the Sponsor and its affiliates and registered representatives
of selling firms and members of their immediate family (including spouse,
children and parents) without a sales charge.  Investors may purchase Units at
the Public Offering Price less the concession the Sponsor allows to broker-
dealers through registered investment advisers, certified financial planners or
registered broker-dealers who in each case either charge periodic fees for
financial planning, investment advisory or asset management services, or provide
such services in connection with the establishment of an investment account for
which a comprehensive "wrap fee" charge is imposed.

For purposes of calculating the applicable sales charge, purchasers who have
indicated their intent to purchase a specified amount of Units of any Ranson
sponsored unit investment trust in the primary offering period by executing and
delivering a letter of intent to the Sponsor, which letter of intent must be in
a form acceptable to the Sponsor and shall have a maximum duration of thirteen
months, will be eligible to receive a reduced sales charge according to the
above tables based on the amount of intended aggregate purchases as expressed in
the

                                       14

<PAGE>
letter of intent. A Unitholder who purchases Units during the letter of intent
period in excess of the number of Units specified in a Unitholders letter of
intent, the amount of which would cause the Unitholder to be eligible to receive
an additional sales charge reduction, will be allowed such additional sales
charge reduction on the purchase of Units which caused the Unitholder to reach
such new breakpoint level on all additional purchases of Units during the letter
of intent period. If the total purchases are less than the amount specified, the
Unitholder involved must pay the Sponsor an amount equal to the difference
between the amount paid for these purchases and the amounts which would have
been paid if the higher sales charge had been applied; the Unitholder will,
however, be entitled to any reduced sales charge qualified for by reaching any
lower breakpoint level.

Unitholders of any series of any Ranson equity unit investment trust may utilize
their redemption or termination proceeds to purchase Units of the Trust subject
to a reduced sales charge of 3% of the Public Offering Price (3.093% of the net
amount invested).

Unitholders of unaffiliated unit investment trusts having an investment strategy
similar to the investment strategy of the Trust may utilize proceeds received
upon termination or upon redemption immediately preceding termination of such
unaffiliated trust to purchase Units of the Trust subject to a reduced sales
charge of 3% of the Public Offering Price (3.093% of the net amount invested).

As indicated above, the initial Public Offering Price of the Units was
established by dividing the aggregate underlying value of the Securities by the
number of Units outstanding.  Such underlying value shall include the
proportionate share of any cash held in the Capital Account.  Such price
determination as of the opening of business on the Initial Date of Deposit was
made on the basis of an evaluation of the Securities prepared by the Trustee.
After the opening of business on the Initial Date of Deposit, the Evaluator will
appraise or cause to be appraised daily the value of the underlying Securities
as of the Evaluation Time on days the New York Stock Exchange is open and will
adjust the Public Offering Price of the Units commensurate with such valuation.
Such Public Offering Price will be effective for all orders received at or prior
to the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange on each such day.  Orders
received by the Trustee, Sponsor or any dealer for purchases, sales or
redemptions after that time, or on a day when the New York Stock Exchange is
closed, will be held until the next determination of price.

The value of the Securities is determined on each business day by the Evaluator
based on the closing sale prices on a national securities exchange or The Nasdaq
National Market or by taking into account the same factors referred to under
"Redemption-Computation of Redemption Price."

The minimum purchase in both the primary and secondary markets is 100 Units (25
Units for tax-deferred retirement plans and Uniform Gifts to Minors Act
purchases).

PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION OF UNITS.  During the initial offering period, Units of the
Trust will be distributed to the public at the Public Offering Price thereof.
Upon the completion of the initial offering, Units which remain

                                       15

<PAGE>
unsold or which may be acquired in the secondary market (see "Market for Units")
may be offered at the Public Offering Price determined in the manner provided
above.

The Sponsor intends to qualify Units of the Trust for sale in a number of
states.  Units will be sold through dealers who are members of the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. and through others.  Broker-dealers and
others will be allowed a concession or agency commission in connection with the
distribution of Units during the initial offering period as set forth below.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                          Regular Concession or
          Number of Units*                  Agency Commission
          ----------------                ---------------------
          <S>                             <C>
          Less than 10,000                        4.00%
          10,000 but less than 25,000             3.60
          25,000 but less than 50,000             3.50
          50,000 but less than 100,000            2.70
          100,000 or more                         2.20

<FN>
- --------------------
* The breakpoint discounts are also applied on a dollar basis utilizing a
  breakpoint equivalent in the above table of $10 per Unit.
</TABLE>

In addition, volume concessions will be allowed as described in the table below.
These volume concessions will be paid to a selling firm based on aggregate sales
of all Ranson indexed equity unit investment trusts by the firm during a single
calendar month.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
         Aggregate Unit Sales          Additional Volume Concession
         --------------------          ----------------------------
      <S>                              <C>

         $500,000 -    $999,999                   .10%
       $1,000,000 -  $1,999,999                   .15%
       $2,000,000 -  $3,999,999                   .20%
       $4,000,000 -  $5,999,999                   .25%
       $6,000,000 -  $9,999,999                   .30%
      $10,000,000 - $14,999,999                   .35%
      $15,000,000 - $19,999,999                   .40%
      $20,000,000 - $49,999,999                   .45%
      $50,000,000 or more                         .50%
</TABLE>

Certain commercial banks are making Units of the Trust available to their
customers on an agency basis.  A portion of the sales charge paid by their
customers is retained by or remitted to the banks in the amounts shown above.
Under the Glass-Steagall Act, banks are prohibited from underwriting Trust
Units; however, the Glass-Steagall Act does permit certain agency transactions
and the banking regulators have indicated that these particular agency
transactions are permitted under such Act.  In addition, state securities laws
on this issue may differ from the

                                       16

<PAGE>
interpretations of federal law expressed herein and banks and financial
institutions may be required to register as dealers pursuant to state law.  The
Sponsor reserves the right to change the concessions or agency commissions set
forth above from time to time.  In addition to such concessions or agency
commissions, the Sponsor may, from time to time, pay or allow additional
concessions or agency commissions, in the form of cash or other compensation, to
dealers employing registered representatives who sell, during a specified time
period, a minimum dollar amount of Units of the Trust and other unit investment
trusts underwritten by the Sponsor.  At various times the Sponsor may implement
programs under which the sales force of a broker or dealer may be eligible to
win nominal awards for certain sales efforts, or under which the Sponsor will
reallow to any such broker or dealer that sponsors sales contests or recognition
programs conforming to criteria established by the Sponsor, or participates in
sales programs sponsored by the Sponsor, an amount not exceeding the total
applicable sales charges on the sales generated by such person at the public
offering price during such programs.  Also, the Sponsor in its discretion may
from time to time pursuant to objective criteria established by the Sponsor pay
fees to qualifying brokers or dealers for certain services or activities which
are primarily intended to result in sales of Units of the Trust.  Such payments
are made by the Sponsor out of its own assets, and not out of the assets of the
Trust.  These programs will not change the price Unitholders pay for their Units
or the amount that the Trust will receive from the Units sold.  The difference
between the discount and the sales charge will be retained by the Sponsor.

The Sponsor reserves the right to reject, in whole or in part, any order for the
purchase of Units.

SPONSOR PROFITS.  The Sponsor will receive gross sales charges equal to the
percentage of the Public Offering Price of the Units of the Trust as stated
under "Public Offering Price." In addition, the Sponsor may realize a profit (or
sustain a loss) as of the Initial Date of Deposit resulting from the difference
between the purchase prices of the Securities to the Sponsor and the cost of
such Securities to the Trust, which is based on the evaluation of the Securities
on the Initial Date of Deposit.  Thereafter, on subsequent deposits the Sponsor
may realize profits or sustain losses from such deposits.  See "Portfolio."  The
Sponsor may realize additional profits or losses during the initial offering
period on unsold Units as a result of changes in the daily market value of the
Securities.

MARKET FOR UNITS

After the initial offering period, the Sponsor may maintain a market for Units
of the Trust offered hereby and to continuously offer to purchase said Units at
prices, determined by the Evaluator, based on the closing sale prices of the
Securities.  While the Sponsor may repurchase Units from time to time, it does
not currently intend to maintain an active secondary market for Units.  To the
extent that a market is maintained during the initial offering period, the
prices at which Units will be repurchased will be based upon the aggregate
closing sale prices of the Securities in the Trust.  Accordingly, Unitholders
who wish to dispose of their Units should inquire of their broker as to current
market prices in order to determine whether there is in existence any price in
excess of the Redemption Price and, if so, the amount thereof.  The offering
price of any Units resold by the Sponsor will be in accord with that described
in the currently effective prospectus describing such Units.  Any profit or loss
resulting from the resale of such Units will belong to the Sponsor.  If the
Sponsor decides to

                                       17

<PAGE>
maintain a secondary market it may suspend or discontinue purchases of Units of
the Trust if the supply of Units exceeds demand, or for other business reasons.

REDEMPTION

GENERAL.  A Unitholder who does not dispose of Units in the secondary market
described above may cause Units to be redeemed by the Trustee by making a
written request to the Trustee at its Unit Investment Trust Division office in
the city of New York and, in the case of Units evidenced by a certificate, by
tendering such certificate to the Trustee properly endorsed or accompanied by a
written instrument or instruments of transfer in form satisfactory to the
Trustee.  Unitholders must sign the request, and such certificate or transfer
instrument, exactly as their names appear on the records of the Trustee and on
any certificate representing the Units to be redeemed.  If the amount of the
redemption is $25,000 or less and the proceeds are payable to the Unitholder(s)
of record at the address of record, no signature guarantee is necessary for
redemptions by individual account owners (including joint owners).  Additional
documentation may be requested, and a signature guarantee is always required,
from corporations, executors, administrators, trustees, guardians or
associations.  The signatures must be guaranteed by a participant in the
Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program ("STAMP") or such other signature
guaranty program in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, as may be
accepted by the Trustee.  A certificate should only be sent by registered or
certified mail for the protection of the Unitholder.  Since tender of the
certificate is required for redemption when one has been issued, Units
represented by a certificate cannot be redeemed until the certificate
representing such Units has been received by the purchasers.

Redemption shall be made by the Trustee on the third business day following the
day on which a tender for redemption is received (the "Redemption Date") by
payment of cash equivalent to the Redemption Price for a Trust, determined as
set forth below under "Computation of Redemption Price," as of the Evaluation
Time stated under "Essential Information," next following such tender,
multiplied by the number of Units being redeemed.  Any Units redeemed shall be
canceled and any undivided fractional interest in the related Trust
extinguished.  The price received upon redemption might be more or less than the
amount paid by the Unitholder depending on the value of the Securities at the
time of redemption.

Under regulations issued by the Internal Revenue Service, the Trustee is
required to withhold a specified percentage of the principal amount of a Unit
redemption if the Trustee has not been furnished the redeeming Unitholder's tax
identification number in the manner required by such regulations.  Any amount so
withheld is transmitted to the Internal Revenue Service and may be recovered by
the Unitholder only when filing a tax return.  Under normal circumstances the
Trustee obtains the Unitholder's tax identification number from the selling
broker.  However, any time a Unitholder elects to tender Units for redemption,
such Unitholder should make sure that the Trustee has been provided a certified
tax identification number in order to avoid this possible "back-up withholding."
In the event the Trustee has not been previously provided such number, one must
be provided at the time redemption is requested.

Any amounts paid on redemption representing unpaid dividends shall be withdrawn
from the Income Account of the Trust to the extent that funds are available for
such purpose.  All other amounts paid on redemption shall

                                       18

<PAGE>
be withdrawn from the Capital Account for the Trust.  The Trustee is empowered
to sell Securities in order to make funds available for the redemption of Units.
Such sale may be required when Securities would not otherwise be sold and might
result in lower prices than might otherwise be realized.

Unitholders tendering Units for redemption may request a distribution in kind (a
"Distribution In Kind") from the Trustee in lieu of cash redemption A Unitholder
may request a Distribution In Kind of an amount and value of Securities per Unit
equal to the Redemption Price per Unit as determined as of the evaluation time
next following the tender, provided that the tendering Unitholder is (1)
entitled to receive at least $1,000,000 of proceeds as part of his or her
distribution or if he paid at least $1,000,000 to acquire the Units being
tendered and (2) the Unitholder has elected to redeem at least thirty days prior
to the termination of the Trust.  If the Unitholder meets these requirements, a
Distribution In Kind will be made by the Trustee through the distribution of
each of the Securities of the Trust in book entry form to the account of the
Unitholder's bank or broker-dealer at Depositor Trust Company.  The tendering
Unitholder shall be entitled to receive whole shares of each of the Securities
comprising the portfolio of the Trust and cash from the Capital Account equal to
the fractional shares to which the tendering Unitholder is entitled.  The
Trustee shall make any adjustments necessary to reflect differences between the
Redemption Price of the Units and the value of the Securities distributed in
kind as of the date of tender.  If funds in the Capital Account are insufficient
to cover the required cash distribution to the tendering Unitholder, the Trustee
may sell Securities.  The in kind redemption option may be terminated by the
Sponsor at any time.

To the extent that Securities are sold, the size and diversity of the Trust will
be reduced but each remaining Unit will continue to represent approximately the
same proportional interest in each Security.  Sales may be required at a time
when Securities would not otherwise be sold and may result in lower prices than
might otherwise be realized.  The price received upon redemption may be more or
less than the amount paid by the Unitholder depending on the value of the
Securities in the portfolio at the time of redemption.

The right of redemption may be suspended and payment postponed (1)  for any
period during which the New York Stock Exchange is closed, other than customary
weekend and holiday closings, or during which (as determined by the Securities
and Exchange Commission) trading on the New York Stock Exchange is restricted;
(2) for any period during which an emergency exists as a result of which
disposal by the Trustee of Securities is not reasonably practicable or it is not
reasonably practicable to fairly determine the value of the underlying
Securities in accordance with the Trust Agreement; or (3) for such other period
as the Securities and Exchange Commission may by order permit.  The Trustee is
not liable to any person in any way for any loss or damage which may result from
any such suspension or postponement.

COMPUTATION OF REDEMPTION PRICE.  The Redemption Price per Unit (as well as the
secondary market Public Offering Price) will generally be determined on the
basis of the last sale price of the Securities.  The Redemption Price per Unit
is the pro rata share of each Unit in the Trust determined on the basis of (i)
the cash on hand in the Trust or moneys in the process of being collected and
(ii) the value of the Securities less (a) amounts representing taxes or other
governmental charges payable out of the Trust, (b) any amount owing to

                                       19

<PAGE>
the Trustee for its advances and (c) the accrued expenses of the Trust.  During
the initial offering period, the redemption price and the secondary market
repurchase price will also include estimated organizational and offering costs.
The Evaluator may determine the value of the Securities in the following manner:
if the Security is listed on a national securities exchange or the Nasdaq
National Market, the evaluation will generally be based on the last sale price
on the exchange or Nasdaq (unless the Evaluator deems the price inappropriate as
a basis for evaluation).  If the Security is not so listed or, if so listed and
the principal market for the Security is other than on the exchange or Nasdaq,
the evaluation will generally be made by the Evaluator in good faith based on
the last bid price on the over-the-counter market (unless the Evaluator deems
such price inappropriate as a basis for evaluation) or, if a bid price is not
available, (1)  on the basis of the current bid price for comparable securities,
(2) by the Evaluator's appraising the value of the Securities in good faith at
the bid side of the market or (3) by any combination thereof.  See "Public
Offering of Units-Public Offering Price."

RETIREMENT PLANS

The Trust may be well suited for purchase by Individual Retirement Accounts,
Keogh Plans, pension funds and other qualified retirement plans.  Generally,
capital gains and income received under each of the foregoing plans are deferred
from Federal taxation.  All distributions from such plans are generally treated
as ordinary income but may, in some cases, be eligible for special income
averaging or tax-deferred rollover treatment.  Investors considering
participation in any such plan should review specific tax laws related thereto
and should consult their attorneys or tax advisers with respect to the
establishment and maintenance of any such plan.  Such plans are offered by
brokerage firms and other financial institutions.  The Trust will waive the
$1,000 minimum investment requirement for IRA accounts.  The minimum investment
is $250 for tax-deferred plans such as IRA accounts.  Fees and charges with
respect to such plans may vary.

The Trustee has agreed to act as custodian for certain retirement plan accounts.
An annual fee of $12.00 per account, if not paid separately, will be assessed by
the Trustee and paid through the liquidation of shares of the reinvestment
account.  An individual wishing the Trustee to act as custodian must complete a
Ranson UIT/IRA application and forward it along with a check made payable to The
Bank of New York.  Certificates for Individual Retirement Accounts cannot be
issued.

UNITHOLDERS

OWNERSHIP OF UNITS.  Ownership of Units of the Trust will not be evidenced by
certificates unless a Unitholder, the Unitholder's registered broker/dealer or
the clearing agent for such broker/dealer makes a written request to the
Trustee.  Units are transferable by making a written request to the Trustee and,
in the case of Units evidenced by a certificate, by presenting and surrendering
such certificate to the Trustee properly endorsed or accompanied by a written
instrument or instruments of transfer which should be sent by registered or
certified mail for the protection of the Unitholder.  Unitholders must sign such
written request, and such certificate or transfer instrument, exactly as their
names appear on the records of the Trustee and on any certificate representing
the Units to be transferred.  Such signatures must be guaranteed as stated under
"Redemption-General."

                                       20

<PAGE>
Units may be purchased and certificates, if requested, will be issued in
denominations of one Unit or any multiple thereof, subject to the minimum
investment requirement of 100 Units or $1,000.  Fractions of Units, if any, will
be computed to three decimal places.  Any certificate issued will be numbered
serially for identification, issued in fully registered form and will be
transferable only on the books of the Trustee.  The Trustee may require a
Unitholder to pay a reasonable fee, to be determined in the sole discretion of
the Trustee, for each certificate re-issued or transferred and to pay any
governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with each such transfer or
interchange.  The Trustee at the present time does not intend to charge for the
normal transfer or interchange of certificates.  Destroyed, stolen, mutilated or
lost certificates will be replaced upon delivery to the Trustee of satisfactory
indemnity (generally amounting to 3% of the market value of the Units),
affidavit of loss, evidence of ownership and payment of expenses incurred.

DISTRIBUTIONS TO UNITHOLDERS.  Income received by a Trust is credited by the
Trustee to the Income Account of the Trust.  Other receipts are credited to the
Capital Account of the Trust.  Income received by the Trust will be distributed
on or shortly after the 15th day of January, April, July and October of each
year on a pro rata basis to Unitholders of record as of the preceding record
date (which will be the first day of the related month).  All distributions will
be net of applicable expenses.  There is no assurance that any actual
distributions will be made since all dividends received may be used to pay
expenses.  In addition, amounts from the Capital Account of the Trust, if any,
will be distributed at least annually to the Unitholders then of record.
Proceeds received from the disposition of any of the Securities after a record
date and prior to the following distribution date will be held in the Capital
Account and not distributed until the next distribution date applicable to the
Capital Account.  The Trustee shall be required to make a distribution from the
Capital Account if the cash balance on deposit therein available for
distribution shall be sufficient to distribute at least $1.00 per 100 Units.
The Trustee is not required to pay interest on funds held in the Capital or
Income Accounts (but may itself earn interest thereon and therefore benefits
from the use of such funds).  The Trustee is authorized to reinvest any funds
held in the Capital or Income Accounts, pending distribution, in U.S. Treasury
obligations which mature on or before the next applicable distribution date.
Any obligations so acquired must be held until they mature and proceeds
therefrom may not be reinvested.

The distribution to the Unitholders as of each record date will be made on the
following distribution date or shortly thereafter and shall consist of an amount
substantially equal to such portion of the Unitholders' pro rata share of the
dividend distributions then held in the Income Account after deducting estimated
expenses.  Because dividends are not received by the Trust at a constant rate
throughout the year, such distributions to Unitholders are expected to
fluctuate.  Persons who purchase Units will commence receiving distributions
only after such person becomes a record owner.  A person will become the owner
of Units, and thereby a Unitholder of record, on the date of settlement provided
payment has been received.  Notification to the Trustee of the transfer of Units
is the responsibility of the purchaser, but in the normal course of business
such notice is provided by the selling broker-dealer.

As of the first day of each month, the Trustee will deduct from the Income
Account of the Trust and, to the extent funds are not sufficient therein, from
the Capital Account of the Trust amounts necessary to pay the

                                       21

<PAGE>
expenses of the Trust (as determined on the basis set forth under "Expenses of
the Trust").  The Trustee also may withdraw from said accounts such amounts, if
any, as it deems necessary to establish a reserve for any governmental charges
payable out of the Trust.  Amounts so withdrawn shall not be considered a part
of the Trust's assets until such time as the Trustee shall return all or any
part of such amounts to the appropriate accounts.  In addition, the Trustee may
withdraw from the Income and Capital Accounts of the Trust such amounts as may
be necessary to cover redemptions of Units.

DISTRIBUTION REINVESTMENT.  Unitholders may elect to have distributions of
capital (including capital gains, if any) or dividends or both automatically
invested into additional Units of the Trust without a sales charge.  In
addition, Unitholders may elect to have distributions of capital (including
capital gains, if any) or dividends or both automatically invested without
charge in shares of any one of several front-end load mutual funds underwritten
or advised by Scudder Kemper Investments, Inc. at net asset value if such funds
are registered in such Unitholder's state of residence, other than those mutual
funds sold with a contingent deferred sales charge.  Since the portfolio
securities and investment objectives of such Scudder Kemper advised mutual funds
generally will differ significantly from those of the Trust, Unitholders should
carefully consider the consequences before selecting such mutual funds for
reinvestment.  Detailed information with respect to the investment objectives
and the management of such mutual funds is contained in their respective
prospectuses, which can be obtained from the Sponsor upon request.  An investor
should read the prospectus of the reinvestment fund selected prior to making the
election to reinvest.  Unitholders who desire to have such distributions
automatically reinvested should inform their broker at the time of purchase or
should file with the Program Agent referred to below a written notice of
election.

Unitholders who are receiving distributions in cash may elect to participate in
distribution reinvestment by filing with the Program Agent an election to have
such distributions reinvested without charge.  Such election must be received by
the Program Agent at least ten days prior to the Record Date applicable to any
distribution in order to be in effect for such Record Date.  Any such election
shall remain in effect until a subsequent notice is received by the Program
Agent.  See "Unitholders-Distributions to Unitholders."

The Program Agent is The Bank of New York.  All inquiries concerning
participating in distribution reinvestment should be directed to The Bank of New
York at its Unit Investment Trust Division office.

STATEMENTS TO UNITHOLDERS.  With each distribution, the Trustee will furnish or
cause to be furnished to each Unitholder a statement of the amount of income and
the amount of other receipts, if any, which are being distributed, expressed in
each case as a dollar amount per Unit.

The accounts of the Trust are required to be audited annually, at the Trust's
expense, by independent public accountants designated by the Sponsor, unless the
Sponsor determines that such an audit would not be in the best interest of the
Unitholders.  The accountants' report will be furnished by the Trustee to any
Unitholder upon written request.  Within a reasonable period of time after the
end of each calendar year, the Trustee shall furnish to each person who at any
time during the calendar year was a Unitholder of the Trust a statement,
covering the calendar year, setting forth:


                                       22

<PAGE>
(A)  As to the Income Account:

     (1)  Income received;

     (2)  Deductions for applicable taxes and for fees and expenses of the
          Trust and for redemptions of Units, if any; and

     (3)  The balance remaining after such distributions and deductions,
          expressed in each case both as a total dollar amount and as a dollar
          amount representing the pro rata share of each Unit outstanding on
          the last business day of such calendar year; and

(B)  As to the Capital Account:

     (1)  The dates of disposition of any Securities and the net proceeds
          received therefrom;

     (2)  Deductions for payment of applicable taxes and fees and expenses of
          the Trust held for distribution to Unitholders of record as of a
          date prior to the determination; and

     (3)  The balance remaining after such distributions and deductions
          expressed both as a total dollar amount and as a dollar amount
          representing the pro rata share of each Unit outstanding on the
          last business day of such calendar year; and

(C)  The following information:

     (1)  A list of the Securities as of the last business day of such
          calendar year;

     (2)  The number of Units outstanding on the last business day of such
          calendar year;

     (3)  The Redemption Price based on the last evaluation made during such
          calendar year;

     (4)  The amount actually distributed during such calendar year from the
          Income and Capital Accounts separately stated, expressed both as
          total dollar amounts and as dollar amounts per Unit outstanding on
          the Record Dates for each such distribution.

RIGHTS OF UNITHOLDERS.  A Unitholder may at any time tender Units to the Trustee
for redemption.  The death or incapacity of any Unitholder will not operate to
terminate the Trust nor entitle legal representatives or heirs to claim an
accounting or to bring any action or proceeding in any court for partition or
winding up of the Trust.

No Unitholder shall have the right to control the operation and management of
the Trust in any manner, except to vote with respect to the amendment of the
Trust Agreement or termination of the Trust.

INVESTMENT SUPERVISION

The Trust is a unit investment trust and is not an "actively managed" fund.
Traditional methods of investment management for a managed fund typically
involve frequent changes in a portfolio of securities on the basis of economic,
financial and market analyses.  The portfolio of the Trust, however, will not be
actively managed

                                       23

<PAGE>
and therefore the adverse financial condition of an issuer will not necessarily
require the sale of its securities from the portfolio.

As a general rule, the only purchases and sales that will be made with respect
to the Trust's portfolio will be those necessary to maintain, to the extent
feasible, a portfolio which reflects the current components of the Index, taking
into consideration redemptions, sales of additional Units and the other
adjustments referred to elsewhere in this prospectus.  See "Trust Portfolio."
Such purchases and sales will generally be made in accordance with the computer
program utilized to maintain the portfolio, the Trust Agreement and procedures
to be specified by the Sponsor.  The Sponsor may direct the Trustee to dispose
of Securities and either to acquire other Securities through the use of the
proceeds of such disposition in order to make changes in the portfolio or to
distribute the proceeds of such disposition to Unitholders (i)  as necessary to
reflect any additions to or deletions from the Index, (ii) as may be necessary
to establish a closer correlation between the Trust portfolio and the Index or
(iii) as may be required for purposes of distributing to Unitholders, when
required, their pro rata share of any net realized capital gains or as the
Sponsor may otherwise determine.  As a policy matter, the Sponsor currently
intends to direct the Trustee to acquire round lots of shares of the Securities
rather than odd lot amounts.  Any funds not used to acquire round lots will be
held for future purchases of shares, for redemptions of Units or for
distributions to Unitholders.  In the event the Trustee receives any securities
or other properties relating to the Securities (other than normal dividends)
acquired in exchange for Securities such as those acquired in connection with a
reorganization, recapitalization, merger or other transaction, the Trustee is
directed to sell such securities or other property and reinvest the proceeds in
shares of the Security for which such securities or other property relates, or
if such Security is thereafter removed from the Index, in any new security which
is added as a component of the Index.  In addition, the Sponsor will instruct
the Trustee to dispose of certain Securities and to take such further action as
may be needed from time to time to ensure that the Trust continues to satisfy
the qualifications of a regulated investment company, including the requirements
with respect to diversification under Section 851 of the Internal Revenue Code,
and as may be needed from time to time to avoid the imposition of any excise tax
on the Trust as a regulated investment company.

Proceeds from the sale of Securities (or any securities or other property
received by the Trust in exchange for Securities) are credited to the Capital
Account for distribution to Unitholders or to meet redemptions.  Except as
stated under "The Trust Fund" for failed securities and as provided herein, the
acquisition by the Trust of any securities other than the Securities is
prohibited.  The Trustee may sell Securities, designated by the Sponsor, from
the Trust for the purpose of redeeming Units tendered for redemption and the
payment of expenses.

ADMINISTRATION OF THE TRUST

THE TRUSTEE.  The Trustee is The Bank of New York, a trust company organized
under the laws of New York.  The Bank of New York has its Unit Investment Trust
Division offices at 101 Barclay Street, New York, New York 10286, telephone 1-
800-701-8178.  The Bank of New York is subject to supervision and examination by
the Superintendent of Banks of the State of New York and the Board of Governors
of the Federal Reserve

                                       24

<PAGE>
System, and its deposits are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation to the extent permitted by law.

The Trustee, whose duties are ministerial in nature, has not participated in
selecting the portfolio of the Trust.  For information relating to the
responsibilities of the Trustee under the Trust Agreement, reference is made to
the material set forth under "Unitholders."

In accordance with the Trust Agreement, the Trustee shall keep records of all
transactions at its office.  Such records shall include the name and address of,
and the number of Units held by, every Unitholder.  Such books and records shall
be open to inspection by any Unitholder at all reasonable times during usual
business hours.  The Trustee shall make such annual or other reports as may from
time to time be required under any applicable state or federal statute, rule or
regulation.  The Trustee shall keep a certified copy or duplicate original of
the Trust Agreement on file in its office available for inspection at all
reasonable times during usual business hours by any Unitholder, together with a
current list of the Securities held in the Trust.  Pursuant to the Trust
Agreement, the Trustee may employ one or more agents for the purpose of custody
and safeguarding of Securities comprising the Trust.

Under the Trust Agreement, the Trustee or any successor trustee may resign and
be discharged of the trust created by the Trust Agreement by executing an
instrument in writing and filing the same with the Sponsor.

The Trustee or successor trustee must mail a copy of the notice of resignation
to all Unitholders then of record, not less than sixty days before the date
specified in such notice when such resignation is to take effect.  The Sponsor
upon receiving notice of such resignation is obligated to appoint a successor
trustee promptly.  If, upon such resignation, no successor trustee has been
appointed and has accepted the appointment within thirty days after
notification, the retiring Trustee may apply to a court of competent
jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor.  If the Trustee becomes
incapable of acting or becomes bankrupt or its affairs are taken over by public
authorities, the Sponsor may remove the Trustee and appoint a successor as
provided in the Trust Agreement.  Notice of such removal and appointment shall
be mailed to each Unitholder by the Sponsor.  Upon execution of a written
acceptance of such appointment by such successor trustee, all the rights,
powers, duties and obligations of the original Trustee shall vest in the
successor.  The Trustee must be a corporation organized under the laws of the
United States, or any state thereof, be authorized under such laws to exercise
trust powers and have at all times an aggregate capital, surplus and undivided
profits of not less than $5,000,000.

THE SPONSOR.  Ranson & Associates, Inc., the Sponsor of the Trust, is an
investment banking firm created in 1995 by a number of former owners and
employees of Ranson Capital Corporation.  Ranson & Associates, Inc. is the
successor sponsor to unit investment trusts formerly sponsored by EVEREN Unit
Investment Trusts, a service of EVEREN Securities, Inc.  Ranson & Associates,
Inc., is also the sponsor and successor sponsor of Series of The Kansas Tax-
Exempt Trust and Multi-State Series of The Ranson Municipal Trust.  Ranson &
Associates, Inc. is the successor to a series of companies, of first of which
was originally organized in Kansas in 1935.  During its history, Ranson &
Associates, Inc. and its predecessors have been active in public and corporate
finance and have sold bonds and unit investment trusts and maintained secondary
market activities

                                       25

<PAGE>
relating thereto.  At present, Ranson & Associates, Inc., which is a member of
the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., is the Sponsor to each of
the above-named unit investment trusts and serves as the financial advisor and
as an underwriter for Kansas municipalities.  The Sponsor's offices are located
at 250 North Rock Road, Suite 150, Wichita, Kansas 67206-2241.

If at any time the Sponsor shall fail to perform any of its duties under the
Trust Agreement or shall become incapable of acting or shall be adjudged a
bankrupt or insolvent or shall have its affairs taken over by public
authorities, then the Trustee may (a) appoint a successor sponsor at rates of
compensation deemed by the Trustee to be reasonable and not exceeding such
reasonable amounts as may be prescribed by the Securities and Exchange
Commission, or (b) terminate the Trust Agreement and liquidate the Trust as
provided therein, or (c) continue to act as Trustee without terminating the
Trust Agreement.

The foregoing financial information with regard to the Sponsor relates to the
Sponsor only and not to the Trust.  Such information is included in this
Prospectus only for the purpose of informing investors as to the financial
responsibility of the Sponsor and its ability to carry out its contractual
obligations with respect to the Trust.  More comprehensive financial information
can be obtained upon request from the Sponsor.

THE EVALUATOR.  Ranson & Associates, Inc., the Sponsor, also serves as
Evaluator.  The Evaluator may resign or be removed by the Trustee in which event
the Trustee is to use its best efforts to appoint a satisfactory successor.
Such resignation or removal shall become effective upon acceptance of
appointment by the successor evaluator.  If upon resignation of the Evaluator no
successor has accepted appointment within thirty days after notice of
resignation, the Evaluator may apply to a court of competent jurisdiction for
the appointment of a successor.  Notice of such registration or removal and
appointment shall be mailed by the Trustee to each Unitholder.

AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION.  The Trust Agreement may be amended by the Trustee
and the Sponsor without the consent of any of the Unitholders: (1) to cure any
ambiguity or to correct or supplement any provision which may be defective or
inconsistent; (2) to change any provision thereof as may be required by the
Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor governmental agency; or (3)
to make such provisions as shall not adversely affect the interests of the
Unitholders.  The Trust Agreement may also be amended in any respect by the
Sponsor and the Trustee, or any of the provisions thereof may be waived, with
the consent of the holders of Units representing 66 2/3% of the Units then
outstanding of the Trust, provided that no such amendment or waiver will reduce
the interest of any Unitholder thereof without the consent of such Unitholder or
reduce the percentage of Units required to consent to any such amendment or
waiver without the consent of all Unitholders of the Trust.  In no event shall
the Trust Agreement be amended to increase the number of Units issuable
thereunder or to permit the acquisition of any Securities in addition to or in
substitution for those initially deposited in the Trust, except in accordance
with the provisions of the Trust Agreement.  The Trustee shall promptly notify
Unitholders of the substance of any such amendment.



                                       26

<PAGE>
The Trust Agreement provides that the Trust shall terminate upon the
liquidation, redemption or other disposition of the last of the Securities held
in the Trust but in no event is it to continue beyond the Mandatory Termination
Date set forth under "Essential Information." If the value of the Trust shall be
less than the applicable minimum value stated under "Essential Information" (40%
of the aggregate value of the Securities-based on the value at the date of
deposit of such Securities into the Trust), the Trustee may, in its discretion,
and shall, when so directed by the Sponsor, terminate the Trust.  The Trust may
be terminated at any time by the holders of Units representing 66 2/3% of the
Units thereof then outstanding.  In addition, the Sponsor may terminate the
Trust if the Index is no longer maintained.

No later than the Mandatory Termination Date set forth under "Essential
Information," the Trustee will begin to sell all of the remaining underlying
Securities on behalf of Unitholders in connection with the termination of the
Trust.  The Sponsor has agreed to assist the Trustee in these sales.  The sale
proceeds will be net of any incidental expenses involved in the sales.

The Sponsor will attempt to sell the Securities as quickly as it can during the
termination proceedings without in its judgment materially adversely affecting
the market price of the Securities, but it is expected that all of the
Securities will in any event be disposed of within a reasonable time after the
Trust's termination.  The Sponsor does not anticipate that the period will be
longer than one month, and it could be as short as one day, depending on the
liquidity of the Securities being sold.  The liquidity of any Security depends
on the daily trading volume of the Security and the amount that the Sponsor has
available for sale on any particular day.

It is expected (but not required) that the Sponsor will generally follow the
following guidelines in selling the Securities:  for highly liquid Securities,
the Sponsor will generally sell Securities on the Mandatory Termination Date;
for less liquid Securities, on each of the first two days of the termination
proceedings, the Sponsor will generally sell any amount of any underlying
Securities at a price no less than 1/2 of one point under the last closing sale
price of those Securities.  Thereafter, the price limit will increase to one
point under the last closing sale price.  After four days, the Sponsor currently
intends to sell at least a fraction of the remaining underlying Securities, the
numerator of which is one and the denominator of which is the total number of
days remaining (including that day) in the termination proceedings without any
price restrictions.  Of course, no assurances can be given that the market value
of the Securities will not be adversely affected during the termination
proceedings.

In the event of termination of the Trust, written notice thereof will be sent by
the Trustee to all Unitholders of the Trust.  Within a reasonable period after
termination, the Trustee will sell any Securities remaining in the Trust and,
after paying all expenses and charges incurred by the Trust, will distribute to
Unitholders thereof (upon surrender for cancellation of certificates for Units,
if issued) their pro rata share of the balances remaining in the Income and
Capital Accounts of the Trust.

The Sponsor currently intends, but is not obligated, to offer for sale units of
a subsequent series of the Trust at approximately the time of the Mandatory
Termination Date.  If the Sponsor does offer such units for sale,

                                       27

<PAGE>
Unitholders may be given the opportunity to purchase such units at a public
offering price which includes a reduced sales charge.  There is, however, no
assurance that units of any new series of the Trust will be offered for sale at
that time, or if offered, that there will be sufficient units available for sale
to meet the requests of any or all Unitholders.

LIMITATIONS ON LIABILITY.  The Sponsor:  The Sponsor is liable for the
performance of its obligations arising from its responsibilities under the Trust
Agreement, but will be under no liability to the Unitholders for taking any
action or refraining from any action in good faith pursuant to the Trust
Agreement or for errors in judgment, except in cases of its own gross
negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct or its reckless disregard for its
duties thereunder.  The Sponsor shall not be liable or responsible in any way
for depreciation or loss incurred by reason of the sale of any Securities.

The Trustee:  The Trust Agreement provides that the Trustee shall be under no
liability for any action taken in good faith in reliance upon prima facie
properly executed documents or for the disposition of moneys, Securities or
certificates except by reason of its own negligence, bad faith or willful
misconduct, or its reckless disregard for its duties under the Trust Agreement,
nor shall the Trustee be liable or responsible in any way for depreciation or
loss incurred by reason of the sale by the Trustee of any Securities.  In the
event that the Sponsor shall fail to act, the Trustee may act and shall not be
liable for any such action taken by it in good faith.  The Trustee shall not be
personally liable for any taxes or other governmental charges imposed upon or in
respect of the Securities or upon the interest thereof.  In addition, the Trust
Agreement contains other customary provisions limiting the liability of the
Trustee.

The Evaluator:  The Trustee and Unitholders may rely on any evaluation furnished
by the Evaluator and shall have no responsibility for the accuracy thereof.  The
Trust Agreement provides that the determinations made by the Evaluator shall be
made in good faith upon the basis of the best information available to it,
provided, however, that the Evaluator shall be under no liability to the Trustee
or Unitholders for errors in judgment, but shall be liable for its gross
negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct or its reckless disregard for its
obligations under the Trust Agreement.

EXPENSES OF THE TRUST

The Sponsor will not charge the Trust any fees for services performed as
Sponsor.  The Sponsor will receive a portion of the sale commissions paid in
connection with the purchase of Units and will share in profits, if any, related
to the deposit of Securities in the Trust.

The Trustee receives for its services that fee set forth under "Essential
Information."  However, in no event shall such fee amount to less than $2,000 in
any single calendar year.  The Trustee's fee which is calculated monthly is
based on the largest number of Units of the Trust outstanding during the
calendar year for which such compensation relates.  The Trustee's fees are
payable monthly on or before the fifteenth day of the month from the Income
Account to the extent funds are available and then from the Capital Account.
The Trustee

                                       28

<PAGE>
benefits to the extent there are funds for future distributions, payment of
expenses and redemptions in the Capital and Income Accounts since these Accounts
are non-interest bearing and the amounts earned by the Trustee are retained by
the Trustee.  Part of the Trustee's compensation for its services to the Trust
is expected to result from the use of these funds.

In its capacity as Supervisor, the Sponsor will charge the Trust a surveillance
fee for services performed for the Trust in an amount not to exceed that amount
set forth in "Essential Information" but in no event will such compensation,
when combined with all compensation received from other unit investment trusts
for which the Sponsor both acts as sponsor and provides portfolio surveillance,
exceed the aggregate cost to the Sponsor for providing such services.  Such fee
shall be based on the total number of Units of the Trust outstanding as of the
January record date for any annual period.

For evaluation of the Securities, the Evaluator shall receive that fee set forth
under "Essential Information", payable monthly, based upon the largest number of
Units of the Trust outstanding during the calendar year for which such
compensation relates.

The Trustee's fee, Supervisor's fee and Evaluator's fee are deducted from the
Income Account of the Trust to the extent funds are available and then from the
Capital Account.  Each such fee may be increased without approval of Unitholders
by amounts not exceeding a proportionate increase in the Consumer Price Index or
any equivalent index substituted therefor.

The Licensor receives an annual fee from the Trust equal to the greater of .02%
of the average net asset value of the Trust or $10,000.  This fee covers the
license to the Trust of the use of various trademarks and trade names as
described under "The S&P MidCap 400 Index."

The following additional charges are or may be incurred by the Trust:  (a) fees
for the Trustee's extraordinary services; (b) expenses of the Trustee (including
legal and auditing expenses, but not including any fees and expenses charged by
an agent for custody and safeguarding of Securities) and of counsel, if any; (c)
various governmental charges; (d) expenses and costs of any action taken by the
Trustee to protect the Trust or the rights and interests of the Unitholders; (e)
indemnification of the Trustee for any loss, liability or expense incurred by it
in the administration of the Trust not resulting from negligence, bad faith or
willful misconduct on its part or its reckless disregard for its obligations
under the Trust Agreement; (f) indemnification of the Sponsor for any loss,
liability or expense incurred in acting in that capacity without gross
negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct or its reckless disregard for its
obligations under the Trust Agreement; and (g) expenditures incurred in
contacting Unitholders upon termination of the Trust.  The fees and expenses set
forth herein are payable out of the Trust and, when owing to the Trustee, are
secured by a lien on the Trust.  Since the Securities are all common stocks, and
the income stream produced by dividend payments, if any, is unpredictable, the
Sponsor cannot provide any assurance that dividends will be sufficient to meet
any or all expenses of the Trust.  If the balances in the Income and Capital
Accounts are insufficient to provide for amounts payable by the Trust, the
Trustee has the power to sell Securities to pay such amounts.  These sales

                                       29

<PAGE>
may result in capital gains or losses to Unitholders.  See "Federal Tax Status."
The Trust may pay the expenses of updating its registration statement each year.
Unit investment trust sponsors have historically paid these expenses.

LEGAL OPINIONS

The legality of the Units offered hereby and certain matters relating to federal
tax law have been passed upon by Chapman and Cutler, 111 West Monroe Street,
Chicago, Illinois 60603, as counsel for the Sponsor.

INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

The statement of financial condition, including the Trust portfolio, of the
Trust at the Initial Date of Deposit, appearing in this Prospectus and
Registration Statement have been audited by Allen, Gibbs & Houlik, L.C.,
independent auditors, as set forth in their report appearing elsewhere herein,
and are included in reliance upon such report given upon the authority of such
firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

                              --------------------











                                       30

<PAGE>
REPORT OF ALLEN, GIBBS & HOULIK, L.C.
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS


UNITHOLDERS
RANSON UNIT INVESTMENT TRUSTS, SERIES 85

We have audited the accompanying statement of financial condition, including the
Trust portfolio, of Ranson Unit Investment Trusts, Series 85, as of the opening
of business on September 1, 1999, the Initial Date of Deposit.  The statement of
financial condition is the responsibility of the Sponsor.  Our responsibility is
to express an opinion on the statement of financial condition based on our
audit.

We conducted our audit in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards.
Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable
assurance about whether the statement of financial condition is free of material
misstatement.  An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the statement of financial condition.  Our
procedures included confirmation of cash, a letter of credit deposited, or the
purchase of Securities by correspondence with the Trustee.  An audit also
includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made
by the Sponsor, as well as evaluating the overall statement of financial
condition presentation.  We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis
for our opinion.

In our opinion, the statement of financial condition referred to above presents
fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Ranson Unit
Investment Trusts, Series 85 as of September 1, 1999, in conformity with
generally accepted accounting principles.



                             ALLEN, GIBBS & HOULIK, L.C.


Wichita, Kansas
September 1, 1999






                                       31

<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
RANSON UNIT INVESTMENT TRUSTS, SERIES 85

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
AT THE OPENING OF BUSINESS ON SEPTEMBER 1, 1999, THE INITIAL DATE OF DEPOSIT

<S>                                                                          <C>
TRUST PROPERTY

                                                                             S&P MidCap
                                                                              400 Trust
                                                                             ----------
Contracts to purchase Securities (1) (2)                                     $  255,399
                                                                             ----------
Total                                                                        $  255,399
                                                                             ==========

NUMBER OF UNITS                                                                  26,856
                                                                             ==========

LIABILITY AND INTEREST OF UNITHOLDERS
Liability-
   Organizational costs (3)                                                  $    1,343

Interest of Unitholders-
   Cost to investors (4)                                                        268,558
   Less:  Gross underwriting commission and organizational costs (3) (4)         14,502
                                                                             ----------
   Net interest to Unitholders (1) (2) (4)                                      254,056
                                                                             ----------
       Total                                                                 $  255,399
                                                                             ==========

<FN>
- --------------------
Notes:

(1) Aggregate cost of the Securities is based on the last sale price evaluations
    as determined by the Trustee.

(2) An irrevocable letter of credit or cash has been deposited with the Trustee
    covering the funds (aggregating $257,436) necessary for the purchase of the
    Securities in the Trust represented by purchase contracts.

(3) A portion of the Public Offering Price represents an amount sufficient to pay
    for all or a portion of the costs incurred in establishing and offering the
    Trust.  The amount of these costs is set forth under "Essential
    Information."  A distribution will be made as of the close of the initial
    offering period or six months after the Initial Date of Deposit to an
    account maintained by the Trustee from which this obligation of the
    investors will be satisfied.

(4) The aggregate cost to investors includes the applicable sales charge assuming
    no reduction of sales charges for quantity purchases.




                                       32

<PAGE>

</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
RANSON UNIT INVESTMENT TRUSTS, SERIES 85
S&P MIDCAP 400 INDEX TRUST, SERIES 2

PORTFOLIO AS OF SEPTEMBER 1, 1999

                                                                                       Theoretical
                                                                                      Percentage (%)
Portfolio                                                                               of Total
   No.     Symbol    Company Name (1)                    Shares     Cost ($) (1)     Market Value (2)
- ---------  ------    ----------------                    ------     ------------     ----------------
<S>        <C>       <C>                                 <C>        <C>              <C>
    1      BGEN      Biogen, Inc.                          40          3,070.00            1.35
    2      XLNX      Xilinx, Inc.                          40          2,797.50            1.19
    3      VRTS      Veritas Software                      50          2,962.50            1.15
    4      LLTC      Linear Technology Corp                40          2,517.50            1.13
    5      MXIM      Maxim Integrated Prod                 40          2,692.50            1.06
    6      ADI       Analog Devices                        50          2,575.00            1.04
    7      ALTR      Altera Corp                           60          2,527.50            0.98
    8      HDI       Harley-Davidson                       50          2,725.00            0.98
    9      UVN       Univision Communications              30          2,212.50            0.80
   10      SEBL      Siebel Systems, Inc                   30          2,060.63            0.73
   11      MRIS      Marshall & Ilsley Corp                30          1,756.88            0.72
   12      CHIR      Chiron Corp                           50          1,606.25            0.68
   13      EGRP      E*Trade Group                         70          1,750.00            0.68
   14      TER       Teradyne, Inc                         20          1,361.25            0.68
   15      CTAS      Cintas Corporation                    30          1,541.25            0.67
   16      MEDI      MedImmune Inc                         20          2,063.75            0.67
   17      VISX      VISX Inc.                             20          1,810.00            0.67
   18      SYK       Stryker Corp                          30          1,728.75            0.65
   19      INTU      Intuit, Inc                           20          1,791.25            0.64
   20      WPO       Washington Post                       10          5,390.00            0.64
   21      CMVT      Comverse Technology                   20          1,560.00            0.63
   22      VTSS      Vitesse Semiconductor                 20          1,360.00            0.61
   23      CTXS      Citrix Systems                        30          1,710.00            0.58
   24      MOLX      Molex Inc                             50          1,603.13            0.58
   25      CEFT      Concord EFS Inc                       40          1,485.00            0.56
   26      GENZ      Genzyme Corp                          20          1,128.75            0.55
   27      EPG       El Paso Energy                        40          1,462.50            0.52
   28      OK        Old Kent Financial                    30          1,185.00            0.52
   29      LEG       Leggett & Platt                       60          1,327.50            0.51
   30      NCR       NCR Corp                              30          1,312.50            0.51
</TABLE>


                                       33

<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
RANSON UNIT INVESTMENT TRUSTS, SERIES 85
S&P MIDCAP 400 INDEX TRUST, SERIES 2-CONTINUED


                                                                                       Theoretical
                                                                                      Percentage (%)
Portfolio                                                                               of Total
   No.     Symbol    Company Name (1)                    Shares     Cost ($) (1)     Market Value (2)
- ---------  ------    ----------------                    ------     ------------     ----------------
<S>        <C>       <C>                                 <C>        <C>              <C>
   31      CNTO      Centocor Inc                          20          1,197.50            0.50
   32      SANM      Sanmina Corp                          20          1,500.00            0.50
   33      TDS       Telephone & Data Systems              20          1,392.50            0.50
   34      DST       DST Systems Inc                       20          1,330.00            0.49
   35      ERTS      Electronic Arts                       20          1,372.50            0.49
   36      FSCO      First Security Corp (Utah)            60          1,301.25            0.49
   37      FTN       First Tennessee National              40          1,280.00            0.49
   38      KSE       KeySpan Corp                          40          1,180.00            0.49
   39      SBUX      Starbucks Corp                        50          1,143.75            0.49
   40      FRX       Forest Laboratories                   20            970.00            0.47
   41      QTRN      Quintiles Transnat'l                  30          1,074.38            0.47
   42      RLR       ReliaStar Fin'l Corp                  30          1,351.88            0.47
   43      WAT       Waters Corporation                    20          1,318.75            0.47
   44      ATML      Atmel Corp                            30          1,179.38            0.46
   45      AYE       Allegheny Energy Inc.                 30          1,012.50            0.46
   46      COFI      Charter One Fin'l                     50          1,170.31            0.46
   47      SNPS      Synopsys Inc                          20          1,118.75            0.46
   48      TOS       Tosco Corp                            40          1,020.00            0.46
   49      ZION      Zions Bancorp                         20            995.00            0.46
   50      BBBY      Bed Bath & Beyond                     40          1,100.00            0.45
   51      FISV      FIserv Inc                            40          1,232.50            0.45
   52      TIF       Tiffany & Co                          20          1,057.50            0.44
   53      TROW      T. Rowe Price Assoc                   40          1,237.50            0.44
   54      ABK       Ambac Financial Group                 20          1,056.25            0.43
   55      HBCCA     Hispanic Broadcasting 'A'             10            747.50            0.43
   56      JBL       Jabil Circuit                         20            896.25            0.43
   57      TSN       Tyson Foods                           70          1,124.38            0.43
   58      ANF       Abercrombie & Fitch Co                30          1,046.25            0.42
   59      SCI       SCI Systems Inc                       20            996.25            0.42
   60      LGTO      Legato Systems Inc                    20            861.25            0.41
   61      WFT       Weatherford Int'l Inc                 30          1,068.75            0.41
   62      APCC      American Power Conversion             60          1,053.75            0.40
   63      FDO       Family Dollar Stores                  50            984.38            0.40
</TABLE>


                                       34

<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
RANSON UNIT INVESTMENT TRUSTS, SERIES 85
S&P MIDCAP 400 INDEX TRUST, SERIES 2-CONTINUED


                                                                                       Theoretical
                                                                                      Percentage (%)
Portfolio                                                                               of Total
   No.     Symbol    Company Name (1)                    Shares     Cost ($) (1)     Market Value (2)
- ---------  ------    ----------------                    ------     ------------     ----------------
<S>        <C>       <C>                                 <C>        <C>              <C>
   64      MTP       Montana Power                         30            928.13            0.40
   65      RIG       Transocean Offshore Inc.              30          1,020.00            0.40
   66      CDN       Cadence Design Systems                70            953.75            0.39
   67      RDA       Readers Digest Assoc                  30            937.50            0.39
   68      AFC       Allmerica Financial                   20          1,130.00            0.38
   69      FMO       Federal-Mogul                         20            912.50            0.38
   70      GILD      Gilead Sciences                       10            779.38            0.38
   71      NE        Noble Drilling Corp                   40            985.00            0.38
   72      PNW       Pinnacle West Capital                 20            760.00            0.38
   73      CDO       Comdisco, Inc                         40            842.50            0.37
   74      CVG       Convergys Corp                        40            825.00            0.37
   75      JNY       Jones Apparel Group                   40          1,037.50            0.37
   76      POM       Potomac Electric Power                30            795.00            0.37
   77      QLGC      QLogic Corp                           10            870.63            0.37
   78      DSS       Quantum Corp-DSSG Stock               50            915.63            0.36
   79      GLM       Global Marine                         50            887.50            0.36
   80      HRD       Hannaford Bros.                       10            717.50            0.36
   81      NES       New England Electric System           20          1,043.75            0.36
   82      SBL       Symbol Technologies                   30          1,044.38            0.36
   83      CBSS      Compass Bancshares                    30            796.88            0.35
   84      DPL       DPL Incorporated                      50            946.88            0.35
   85      HRL       Hormel Foods Corp                     20            805.00            0.35
   86      LGE       LG&E Energy                           40            920.00            0.35
   87      NI        NiSource Inc                          40            950.00            0.35
   88      RJR       RJ Reynolds Tobacco Hldgs             30            823.13            0.35
   89      VVI       Viad Corp                             30            898.13            0.35
   90      ASD       American Standard Cos                 20            820.00            0.34
   91      DL        Dial Corp                             30            832.50            0.34
   92      ESV       ENSCO Int'l                           40            852.50            0.34
   93      LIT       Litton Industries                     10            640.00            0.34
   94      NBR       Nabors Industries                     30            810.00            0.34
   95      NEG       Energy East                           30            750.00            0.34
</TABLE>


                                       35

<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
RANSON UNIT INVESTMENT TRUSTS, SERIES 85
S&P MIDCAP 400 INDEX TRUST, SERIES 2-CONTINUED


                                                                                       Theoretical
                                                                                      Percentage (%)
Portfolio                                                                               of Total
   No.     Symbol    Company Name (1)                    Shares     Cost ($) (1)     Market Value (2)
- ---------  ------    ----------------                    ------     ------------     ----------------
<S>        <C>       <C>                                 <C>        <C>              <C>
   96      SDS       SunGard Data Systems                  30            750.00            0.34
   97      AWK       American Water Works                  30            873.75            0.33
   98      BOW       Bowater Inc.                          20          1,072.50            0.33
   99      GPT       Greenpoint Financial Corp             30            776.25            0.33
  100      MCHP      Microchip Technology                  10            547.50            0.33
  101      SHX       Shaw Industries                       40            800.00            0.33
  102      TE        TECO Energy                           40            840.00            0.33
  103      WEC       Wisconsin Energy                      30            733.13            0.33
  104      DVN       Devon Energy Corp (New)               20            772.50            0.32
  105      MNMD      MiniMed Inc.                          10            909.38            0.32
  106      PHSY      PacifiCare Health Sys                 10            600.00            0.32
  107      LEA       Lear Corporation                      20            803.75            0.31
  108      SPW       SPX Corp                              10            847.50            0.31
  109      SYB       Sybron Int'l                          30            772.50            0.31
  110      UNIT      Unitrin, Inc                          20            718.75            0.31
  111      CSN       Cincinnati Bell                       40            740.00            0.30
  112      HUB.B     Hubbell Inc. (Class B)                20            776.25            0.30
  113      MYL       Mylan Laboratories                    40            792.50            0.30
  114      NFB       North Fork Bancorp                    40            725.00            0.30
  115      PKS       Premier Parks                         20            655.00            0.30
  116      SCG       SCANA Corp                            30            750.00            0.30
  117      CPN       Calpine Corp                          10            906.25            0.29
  118      SEPR      Sepracor Inc                          10            748.75            0.29
  119      USG       USG Corp                              10            490.00            0.29
  120      AGE       Edwards (A.G.), Inc.                  30            753.75            0.28
  121      BJS       BJ Services                           20            685.00            0.28
  122      CDP       Consolidated Papers                   30            798.75            0.28
  123      CY        Cypress Semiconductor                 30            693.75            0.28
  124      PRH       Promus Hotel Hldg                     20            581.25            0.28
  125      RHI       Robert Half Int'l                     30            787.50            0.28
  126      SKS       Saks Incorporated                     40            672.50            0.28
  127      SON       Sonoco Products                       30            712.50            0.28
  128      TCB       TCF Financial                         20            565.00            0.28
</TABLE>


                                       36

<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
RANSON UNIT INVESTMENT TRUSTS, SERIES 85
S&P MIDCAP 400 INDEX TRUST, SERIES 2-CONTINUED


                                                                                       Theoretical
                                                                                      Percentage (%)
Portfolio                                                                               of Total
   No.     Symbol    Company Name (1)                    Shares     Cost ($) (1)     Market Value (2)
- ---------  ------    ----------------                    ------     ------------     ----------------
<S>        <C>       <C>                                 <C>        <C>              <C>
  129      FNV       FINOVA Group Inc                      20            760.00            0.27
  130      LNT       Alliant Energy                        20            578.75            0.27
  131      MKC       McCormick & Co.                       20            640.00            0.27
  132      MRBK      Mercantile Bankshares                 20            655.00            0.27
  133      MUR       Murphy Oil                            10            507.50            0.27
  134      NETA      Network Associates Inc                40            675.00            0.27
  135      NU        Northeast Utilities                   40            702.50            0.27
  136      RATL      Rational Software                     30            811.88            0.27
  137      SII       Smith International                   10            466.88            0.27
  138      UDS       Ultramar Diamond Shamrock             30            783.75            0.27
  139      ASBC      Associated Banc-Corp                  20            705.00            0.26
  140      BLC       Belo (A.H.) Corp                      30            568.13            0.26
  141      FVB       First Virginia Banks                  10            442.50            0.26
  142      ILN       Illinova Corp                         20            637.50            0.26
  143      OSSI      Outback Steakhouse                    20            592.50            0.26
  144      SOI       Solutia Inc.                          30            600.00            0.26
  145      ACS       Affiliated Computer Svcs              10            427.50            0.25
  146      IBP       IBP, Inc.                             30            688.13            0.25
  147      IT.B      Gartner Group                         30            615.00            0.25
  148      MAN       Manpower Inc                          20            540.00            0.25
  149      MLM       Martin Marietta Materials             10            456.25            0.25
  150      MLNM      Millennium Pharmaceuticals            10            589.38            0.25
  151      STK       Storage Technology                    30            630.00            0.25
  152      UCU       UtiliCorp United                      30            695.63            0.25
  153      BBC       Bergen Brunswig                       40            617.50            0.24
  154      BJ        BJ's Wholesale Club                   20            565.00            0.24
  155      COMR      Comair Holdings                       30            633.75            0.24
  156      DLTR      Dollar Tree Stores                    20            660.00            0.24
  157      DME       Dime Bancorp Inc                      30            551.25            0.24
  158      HIB       Hibernia Corp                         50            646.88            0.24
  159      HMA       Health Management Assoc               70            560.00            0.24
  160      ORI       Old Republic Int'l                    40            620.00            0.24
  161      PMI       Premark International                 20            665.00            0.24
</TABLE>


                                       37

<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
RANSON UNIT INVESTMENT TRUSTS, SERIES 85
S&P MIDCAP 400 INDEX TRUST, SERIES 2-CONTINUED


                                                                                       Theoretical
                                                                                      Percentage (%)
Portfolio                                                                               of Total
   No.     Symbol    Company Name (1)                    Shares     Cost ($) (1)     Market Value (2)
- ---------  ------    ----------------                    ------     ------------     ----------------
<S>        <C>       <C>                                 <C>        <C>              <C>
  162      TGP       The Timber Co                         20            481.25            0.24
  163      UFS       U.S. Foodservice                      30            624.38            0.24
  164      CIV       Conectiv                              30            643.13            0.23
  165      PNR       Pentair Corp                          10            455.00            0.23
  166      PSD       Puget Sound Energy, Inc.              20            473.75            0.23
  167      ROST      Ross Stores                           10            416.25            0.23
  168      SDW       Southdown                             10            505.00            0.23
  169      ARW       Arrow Electronics                     30            596.25            0.22
  170      CCB       CCB Financial                         10            472.50            0.22
  171      CNF       CNF Transportation Inc                10            389.38            0.22
  172      DBD       Diebold, Inc                          20            532.50            0.22
  173      FAST      Fastenal Company                      10            501.25            0.22
  174      HB        Hillenbrand Industries                20            570.00            0.22
  175      MBG       Mandalay Resort Group                 30            615.00            0.22
  176      MLHR      Miller (Herman)                       20            471.25            0.22
  177      NCI       Navigant Consulting                   10            438.75            0.22
  178      NIS       NOVA Corp                             20            520.00            0.22
  179      PL        Protective Life Corp                  20            595.00            0.22
  180      PMA       PMI Group                             10            425.00            0.22
  181      SRP       Sierra Pacific Resources (New)        20            487.50            0.22
  182      TECD      Tech Data Corp                        20            741.25            0.22
  183      AFG       American Financial Group Hldg         20            590.00            0.21
  184      ASFC      Astoria Financial                     20            657.50            0.21
  185      CQ        COMSAT Corp                           20            695.00            0.21
  186      IGL       IMC Global Inc.                       30            478.13            0.21
  187      IPL       IPALCO Enterprises                    30            628.13            0.21
  188      IVX       IVAX Corp                             30            495.00            0.21
  189      NBL       Noble Affiliates                      20            620.00            0.21
  190      NFG       National Fuel Gas                     10            470.63            0.21
  191      OGE       OGE Energy Corp                       20            470.00            0.21
  192      PFGI      Provident Financial Group Inc.        10            418.75            0.21
  193      SFS       Santa Fe Snyder Corp                  50            487.50            0.21
  194      SVRN      Sovereign Bancorp                     50            501.56            0.21
</TABLE>


                                       38

<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
RANSON UNIT INVESTMENT TRUSTS, SERIES 85
S&P MIDCAP 400 INDEX TRUST, SERIES 2-CONTINUED


                                                                                       Theoretical
                                                                                      Percentage (%)
Portfolio                                                                               of Total
   No.     Symbol    Company Name (1)                    Shares     Cost ($) (1)     Market Value (2)
- ---------  ------    ----------------                    ------     ------------     ----------------
<S>        <C>       <C>                                 <C>        <C>              <C>
  195      TDW       Tidewater Inc                         20            650.00            0.21
  196      TFX       Teleflex                              10            465.00            0.21
  197      VSH       Vishay Intertechnology                20            428.75            0.21
  198      APOL      Apollo Group                          20            438.75            0.20
  199      BID       Sotheby's Holdings                    20            582.50            0.20
  200      CCN       Chris-Craft Industries                10            506.25            0.20
  201      IBC       Interstate Bakeries                   20            478.75            0.20
  202      IDTI      Integrated Devices Tech               30            585.00            0.20
  203      IGT       International Game Technology         30            525.00            0.20
  204      MEC       MidAmerican Energy Hldgs (New)        20            572.50            0.20
  205      OEI       Ocean Energy Inc (New)                50            506.25            0.20
  206      REY       Reynolds & Reynolds                   20            437.50            0.20
  207      SE        Sterling Commerce Inc                 30            573.75            0.20
  208      SSW       Sterling Software Inc                 20            402.50            0.20
  209      SYMC      Symantec Corp                         20            600.00            0.20
  210      BKS       Barnes & Noble                        20            473.75            0.19
  211      DF        Dean Foods                            10            402.50            0.19
  212      EAT       Brinker International                 20            480.00            0.19
  213      FLO       Flowers Industries                    30            474.38            0.19
  214      GMT       GATX Corp                             10            333.75            0.19
  215      HHS       Harte-Hanks, Inc                      20            448.75            0.19
  216      ICN       ICN Pharmaceuticals                   20            415.00            0.19
  217      LYO       Lyondell Chemical Co                  30            436.88            0.19
  218      PSS       Payless ShoeSource Inc. Hldg.         10            498.75            0.19
  219      WL        Wilmington Trust Corp                 10            500.00            0.19
  220      YRK       York International                    10            411.25            0.19
  221      ADTN      Adtran Inc.                           10            381.25            0.18
  222      AVT       Avnet, Inc                            10            442.50            0.18
  223      CBT       Cabot Corp                            20            461.25            0.18
  224      CDD       Cordant Technologies                  10            413.75            0.18
  225      CYN       City National Corp                    10            331.88            0.18
  226      FHS       Foundation Health Sys Inc             40            510.00            0.18
  227      KEA       Keane Inc                             20            432.50            0.18
</TABLE>


                                       39

<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
RANSON UNIT INVESTMENT TRUSTS, SERIES 85
S&P MIDCAP 400 INDEX TRUST, SERIES 2-CONTINUED


                                                                                       Theoretical
                                                                                      Percentage (%)
Portfolio                                                                               of Total
   No.     Symbol    Company Name (1)                    Shares     Cost ($) (1)     Market Value (2)
- ---------  ------    ----------------                    ------     ------------     ----------------
<S>        <C>       <C>                                 <C>        <C>              <C>
  228      LE        Lands' End                            10            503.75            0.18
  229      LNCR      Lincare Holdings                      20            527.50            0.18
  230      MCN       MCN Energy Group Inc.                 30            536.25            0.18
  231      MPS       Modis Professional Svc                30            474.38            0.18
  232      MRA       Meritor Automotive Inc                20            436.25            0.18
  233      SNC       Snyder Communications                 20            407.50            0.18
  234      STR       Questar Corp                          20            377.50            0.18
  235      TGH       Trigon Healthcare Inc                 10            363.13            0.18
  236      ART       ACNielsen                             20            500.00            0.17
  237      BOH       Pacific Century Financial Corp        20            371.25            0.17
  238      DOL       Dole Foods                            20            503.75            0.17
  239      HNI       HON Industries                        20            471.25            0.17
  240      HTN       Houghton Mifflin                      10            477.50            0.17
  241      KLT       Kansas City Power & Light             20            481.25            0.17
  242      KNE       K N Energy                            20            407.50            0.17
  243      RPM       RPM Inc                               30            399.38            0.17
  244      WH        Whitman Corp                          30            500.63            0.17
  245      BEC       Beckman Coulter Inc                   10            473.75            0.16
  246      BTH       Blyth Industries                      10            283.13            0.16
  247      CMH       Clayton Homes                         40            380.00            0.16
  248      IFMX      Informix Corp                         60            436.88            0.16
  249      LANC      Lancaster Colony                      10            328.75            0.16
  250      LZ        Lubrizol Corp                         20            507.50            0.16
  251      MHK       Mohawk Industries                     20            452.50            0.16
  252      RE        Everest Reinsurance Hldgs             10            277.50            0.16
  253      SWFT      Swift Transportation                  20            416.25            0.16
  254      TRN       Trinity Industries                    10            313.75            0.16
  255      WPSN      Westpoint Stevens                     20            480.00            0.16
  256      AKS       AK Steel Hldg. Corp                   20            420.00            0.15
  257      BWA       Borg-Warner Automotive                10            473.75            0.15
  258      HMN       Horace Mann Educators                 10            301.25            0.15
  259      KSTN      Keystone Financial                    10            265.63            0.15
  260      LEE       Lee Enterprises                       10            286.88            0.15
</TABLE>


                                       40

<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
RANSON UNIT INVESTMENT TRUSTS, SERIES 85
S&P MIDCAP 400 INDEX TRUST, SERIES 2-CONTINUED


                                                                                       Theoretical
                                                                                      Percentage (%)
Portfolio                                                                               of Total
   No.     Symbol    Company Name (1)                    Shares     Cost ($) (1)     Market Value (2)
- ---------  ------    ----------------                    ------     ------------     ----------------
<S>        <C>       <C>                                 <C>        <C>              <C>
  261      MEG.A     Media General                         10            490.00            0.15
  262      MPL       Minnesota Power Inc                   20            356.25            0.15
  263      OXHP      Oxford Health Plans                   20            310.00            0.15
  264      WABC      Westamerica Bancorp                   10            319.38            0.15
  265      WAC       Warnaco Group                         20            440.00            0.15
  266      WGL       Washington Gas Light                  10            266.88            0.15
  267      XRAY      Dentsply Int'l                        20            496.25            0.15
  268      ABF       Airborne Freight                      10            251.88            0.14
  269      CSL       Carlisle Companies                    10            400.00            0.14
  270      IDA       IDACORP Inc. Hldg. Co                 10            313.13            0.14
  271      PZZA      Papa John's Int'l                     10            397.50            0.14
  272      RYN       Rayonier Inc                          10            415.00            0.14
  273      TECUA     Tecumseh Products Co                  10            570.00            0.14
  274      VLO       Valero Energy                         20            425.00            0.14
  275      ALK       Alaska Air Group                      10            432.50            0.13
  276      CNK       Crompton & Knowles                    20            350.00            0.13
  277      FHCC      First Health Group Inc                10            215.63            0.13
  278      HE        Hawaiian Electric Industries          10            355.63            0.13
  279      HSB       HSB Group Inc                         10            371.88            0.13
  280      HSC       Harsco Corp                           10            276.88            0.13
  281      IMN       Imation Corp                          10            281.88            0.13
  282      MTX       Minerals Technologies                 10            495.00            0.13
  283      NNS       Newport News Shipbuilding             10            314.38            0.13
  284      OG        Ogden Corp                            10            227.50            0.13
  285      PMS       Policy Management Systems             10            305.63            0.13
  286      PXD       Pioneer Natural Resources             30            341.25            0.13
  287      PZL       Pennzoil-Quaker State (New)           20            277.50            0.13
  288      SZA       Suiza Foods Corp                      10            318.75            0.13
  289      UCR       UCAR International                    10            243.75            0.13
  290      ALEX      Alexander & Baldwin                   10            241.88            0.12
  291      ATG       AGL Resources Ltd                     20            361.25            0.12
  292      BGP       Borders Group                         20            266.25            0.12
  293      CYT       Cytec Industries                      10            233.13            0.12
</TABLE>


                                       41

<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
RANSON UNIT INVESTMENT TRUSTS, SERIES 85
S&P MIDCAP 400 INDEX TRUST, SERIES 2-CONTINUED


                                                                                       Theoretical
                                                                                      Percentage (%)
Portfolio                                                                               of Total
   No.     Symbol    Company Name (1)                    Shares     Cost ($) (1)     Market Value (2)
- ---------  ------    ----------------                    ------     ------------     ----------------
<S>        <C>       <C>                                 <C>        <C>              <C>
  294      FBN       Furniture Brands Int'l                20            401.25            0.12
  295      KELYA     Kelly Services                        10            281.25            0.12
  296      SLVN      Sylvan Learning Systems               20            397.50            0.12
  297      UFC       Universal Foods                       10            211.25            0.12
  298      ARG       Airgas Inc                            20            262.50            0.11
  299      ARV       Arvin Industries                      10            357.50            0.11
  300      CHD       Church & Dwight                       10            465.00            0.11
  301      CLE       Claire's Stores                       10            188.13            0.11
  302      CVD       Covance Inc.                          20            321.25            0.11
  303      DCI       Donaldson Co                          10            196.25            0.11
  304      FSS       Federal Signal                        10            209.38            0.11
  305      GTK       GTECH Holdings Corp                   10            252.50            0.11
  306      GY        GenCorp                               10            215.00            0.11
  307      IV        Mark IV Industries                    10            198.75            0.11
  308      KDN       Kaydon Corp                           10            306.88            0.11
  309      PZB       Pittston Brink's Group                10            238.13            0.11
  310      TSAI      Transaction Systems Architects        10            294.38            0.11
  311      UVV       Universal Corp                        10            283.75            0.11
  312      WCS       Wallace Computer Services             10            213.75            0.11
  313      WIT       Witco Corp                            20            323.75            0.11
  314      AHG       Apria Healthcare Group                20            337.50            0.10
  315      ALB       Albemarle Corp                        10            173.13            0.10
  316      BOBE      Bob Evans Farms                       10            203.75            0.10
  317      CATP      Cambridge Technology Partners         20            273.75            0.10
  318      CTP       CMP Group Inc Hldg Co                 10            265.63            0.10
  319      DEX       Dexter Corp                           10            364.38            0.10
  320      FOE       Ferro Corp                            10            240.00            0.10
  321      FULL      Fuller (H.B.) Co                      10            602.50            0.10
  322      ITG       Investment Technology Group (NEW)     10            272.50            0.10
  323      JEC       Jacobs Engineering Group              10            330.00            0.10
  324      MODI      Modine Mfg                            10            297.50            0.10
  325      NDSN      Nordson Corporation                   10            491.56            0.10
  326      OCR       Omnicare, Inc                         30            288.75            0.10
</TABLE>


                                       42

<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
RANSON UNIT INVESTMENT TRUSTS, SERIES 85
S&P MIDCAP 400 INDEX TRUST, SERIES 2-CONTINUED


                                                                                       Theoretical
                                                                                      Percentage (%)
Portfolio                                                                               of Total
   No.     Symbol    Company Name (1)                    Shares     Cost ($) (1)     Market Value (2)
- ---------  ------    ----------------                    ------     ------------     ----------------
<S>        <C>       <C>                                 <C>        <C>              <C>
  327      OLS       Olsten Corp                           20            205.00            0.10
  328      OMX       OfficeMax Inc                         30            226.88            0.10
  329      PCP       Precision Castparts                   10            355.00            0.10
  330      RDK       Ruddick Corp                          10            185.63            0.10
  331      SRM       Sensormatic Electronics               20            233.75            0.10
  332      STE       STERIS Corp                           20            251.25            0.10
  333      WCLX      Wisconsin Central Trans               20            318.75            0.10
  334      BDG       Bandag Inc                            10            332.50            0.09
  335      CAR       Carter-Wallace                        10            178.75            0.09
  336      CBRL      CBRL Group, Inc                       20            262.50            0.09
  337      CNL       Cleco Corp. Hldg. Co.                 10            332.50            0.09
  338      CSK       Chesapeake Corp                       10            338.13            0.09
  339      ELY       Callaway Golf Co                      20            198.75            0.09
  340      KMT       Kennametal Inc.                       10            265.00            0.09
  341      PNM       Public Service of New Mexico          10            188.13            0.09
  342      SQNT      Sequent Computer Systems              10            176.25            0.09
  343      SR        Standard Register Co                  10            270.63            0.09
  344      SUP       Superior Industries                   10            280.00            0.09
  345      UFI       Unifi, Inc                            20            270.00            0.09
  346      VRC       Varco Int'l                           20            247.50            0.09
  347      AME       Ametek, Inc.                          10            208.13            0.08
  348      BN        Banta Corp                            10            235.00            0.08
  349      CRUS      Cirrus Logic                          20            223.75            0.08
  350      GVA       Granite Construction                  10            250.00            0.08
  351      LFB       Longview Fibre                        20            258.75            0.08
  352      MAH       Hanna (M.A.)                          10            136.88            0.08
  353      OLN       Olin Corp                             10            141.88            0.08
  354      QHGI      Quorom Health Group                   20            176.25            0.08
  355      SCHL      Scholastic Corp                       10            396.25            0.08
  356      SJM.A     Smucker (J.M.)                        10            230.00            0.08
  357      SQA.A     Sequa Corp                            10            676.25            0.08
  358      TRL       Total Renal Care Hldgs                20            161.25            0.08
  359      WMO       Wausau-Mosinee Paper                  20            275.00            0.08
  360      AG        AGCO Corp                             20            206.25            0.07
</TABLE>


                                       43

<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
RANSON UNIT INVESTMENT TRUSTS, SERIES 85
S&P MIDCAP 400 INDEX TRUST, SERIES 2-CONTINUED


                                                                                       Theoretical
                                                                                      Percentage (%)
Portfolio                                                                               of Total
   No.     Symbol    Company Name (1)                    Shares     Cost ($) (1)     Market Value (2)
- ---------  ------    ----------------                    ------     ------------     ----------------
<S>        <C>       <C>                                 <C>        <C>              <C>
  361      CPU       CompUSA Inc.                          30            181.88            0.07
  362      FLS       Flowserve Corp                        10            158.13            0.07
  363      GGC       Georgia Gulf                          10            181.88            0.07
  364      GLT       P.H. Glatfelter Co                    10            131.88            0.07
  365      IEI       Indiana Energy                        10            211.88            0.07
  366      MENT      Mentor Graphics                       20            179.38            0.07
  367      PRGO      Perrigo Co                            20            158.75            0.07
  368      PSSI      PSS World Medical Inc                 20            178.75            0.07
  369      SDRC      Structural Dynamics Research          10            161.25            0.07
  370      SHLM      Schulman (A.), Inc                    10            179.38            0.07
  371      STEI      Stewart Enterprises, Inc              30            162.19            0.07
  372      WTS       Watts Industries                      10            220.00            0.07
  373      AIN       Albany International                  10            165.63            0.06
  374      BEV       Beverly Enterprises (New)             30            150.00            0.06
  375      BKH       Black Hills                           10            247.50            0.06
  376      BOCB      Buffets Inc.                          10            111.88            0.06
  377      CRS       Carpenter Technology                  10            228.75            0.06
  378      JBHT      Hunt(J.B.) Transport Serv Inc.        10            148.13            0.06
  379      OSG       Overseas Shipholding Group            10            139.38            0.06
  380      ROL       Rollins, Inc                          10            156.88            0.06
  381      RT        Ryerson Tull, Inc. (New)              10            189.38            0.06
  382      WLM       Wellman, Inc                          10            168.13            0.06
  383      ACN       Acuson Corp                           10            157.50            0.05
  384      DRYR      Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream              10            170.00            0.05
  385      EY        Ethyl Corp                            20            106.25            0.05
  386      IMC       International Multifoods              10            226.88            0.05
  387      LNCE      Lance, Inc                            10            130.00            0.05
  388      MWHS      Micro Warehouse, Inc.                 10            122.50            0.05
  389      MXM       MAXXAM Inc                            10            571.25            0.05
  390      AIND      Arnold Ind                            10            142.50            0.04
  391      BUR       Burlington Industries                 20            113.75            0.04
  392      CLF       Cleveland-Cliffs                      10            320.63            0.04
  393      HMY       Heilig-Meyers Co                      20            106.25            0.04
  394      SSSS      Stewart & Stevenson Services          10            118.75            0.04
</TABLE>


                                       44

<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
RANSON UNIT INVESTMENT TRUSTS, SERIES 85
S&P MIDCAP 400 INDEX TRUST, SERIES 2-CONTINUED


                                                                                       Theoretical
                                                                                      Percentage (%)
Portfolio                                                                               of Total
   No.     Symbol    Company Name (1)                    Shares     Cost ($) (1)     Market Value (2)
- ---------  ------    ----------------                    ------     ------------     ----------------
<S>        <C>       <C>                                 <C>        <C>              <C>
  395      VL        Vlasic Foods Int'l                    10             73.75            0.04
  396      ENC       Enesco Group                          10            172.50            0.03
  397      MAG       MagneTek, Inc                         10             92.50            0.03
  398      NCH       NCH Corp                              10            445.00            0.03
  399      OS        Oregon Steel Mills                    10            109.38            0.03
  400      STAR      Lone Star Steakhouse                  10             76.25            0.03
                                                                    -----------
                                                                    $255,398.75
                                                                    ===========
</TABLE>


NOTES TO PORTFOLIO

(1) All or a portion of the Securities may have been deposited in the Trust.
    Any undelivered Securities are represented by "regular way" contracts for
    the performance of which an irrevocable letter of credit or cash has been
    deposited with the Trustee.  At the Initial Date of Deposit, the Sponsor has
    assigned to the Trustee all of its rights, title and interest in and to such
    undelivered Securities.  Contracts to purchase Securities were entered into
    on August 31, 1999 and all have an expected settlement date of September 3,
    1999 (see "The Trust Fund").  The market value of each Security is based on
    the last sale price of the Securities respective Market.  As of the Initial
    Date of Deposit other information regarding the Securities is as follows:
    Cost to Sponsor:  $257,436; Profit (Loss) to Sponsor:  ($2,037).

(2) The percentage listed under this heading represents each Security's
    proportionate relationship of all stocks in the Index as published by
    Standard & Poor's on the day before the Initial Date of Deposit.  Because
    the stocks included in the Index and the value of such stocks may change
    from time to time, and because the Trust may not be able to duplicate the
    Index exactly, the percentages set forth above do not necessarily
    represent the actual weighting of each Security in the Trust portfolio on
    the Initial Date of Deposit or on any subsequent date.  See "The Trust
    Portfolio."



                                       45

<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Contents                            Page
- --------                            ----
<S>                                 <C>
Essential Information                 2
The Trust Fund                        4
The Trust Portfolio                   5
The S&P MidCap 400 Index              6
Risk Factors                          9
Federal Tax Status                   10
Public Offering of Units             13
Market for Units                     17
Redemption                           18
Retirement Plans                     20
Unitholders                          20
Investment Supervision               23
Administration of the Trust          24
Expenses of the Trust                28
Legal Opinions                       30
Independent Auditors                 30
Report of Independent Auditors       31
Statement of Financial Condition     32
Portfolio                            33
Notes to Portfolio                   45
</TABLE>




<PAGE>

   ----------------

        RANSON

         UNIT

      INVESTMENT

        TRUSTS

   ----------------


                                     [LOGO]


                                   S&P MIDCAP

                                       400

                                   INDEX TRUST




                                    SERIES 2



                          ----------------------------
                          PROSPECTUS SEPTEMBER 1, 1999
                          ----------------------------




<PAGE>

                       CONTENTS OF REGISTRATION STATEMENT

This Registration Statement comprises the following papers and documents.

     The facing sheet
     The Prospectus
     The Signatures
     The following exhibits.

1.1.   Trust Agreement.

1.1.1. Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust.  Reference is made to Exhibit
       1.1.1 to the Registration Statement Form S-6 for Ranson Unit Investment
       Trust, Series 53 (File No. 333-17811) as filed on January 7, 1997.

2.1.   Form of Certificate of Ownership (pages three and four of the Standard
       Terms and Conditions of Trust included as Exhibit 1.1.1).

3.1.   Opinion of counsel to the Sponsor as to legality of the securities being
       registered including a consent to the use of its name under "Legal
       Opinions" in the Prospectus.

4.1.   Consent of Independent Auditors.





                                      S-1

<PAGE>

                                   SIGNATURES

     The Registrant, Ranson Unit Investment Trusts, Series 85, hereby identifies
Ranson Unit Investment Trusts, Series 53, EVEREN Unit Investment Trusts Series
39, Kemper Defined Funds Series 45 and Kemper Equity Portfolio Trusts, Series 1
for purposes of the representations required by Rule 487 and represents the
following: (1) that the portfolio securities deposited in the series as to the
securities of which this Registration Statement is being filed do not differ
materially in type or quality from those deposited in such previous series; (2)
that, except to the extent necessary to identify the specific portfolio
securities deposited in, and to provide essential financial information for, the
series with respect to the securities of which this Registration Statement is
being filed, this Registration Statement does not contain disclosures that
differ in any material respect from those contained in the registration
statements for such previous series as to which the effective date was
determined by the Commission or the staff; and (3) that it has complied with
Rule 460 under the Securities Act of 1933.

      Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
Registrant, Ranson Unit Investment Trusts, Series 85 has duly caused this
Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto
duly authorized, in the City of Wichita, and State of Kansas, on the 1st day of
September, 1999.


                                  RANSON UNIT INVESTMENT TRUSTS, SERIES 85,
                                      Registrant


                                  By:  RANSON & ASSOCIATES, INC.,
                                      Depositor


                                  By:           ALEX R. MEITZNER
                                      ---------------------------------------
                                                Alex R. Meitzner

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration
Statement has been signed below on September 1, 1999 by the following persons,
who constitute a majority of the Board of Directors of Ranson & Associates, Inc.


     SIGNATURE                     TITLE
- ----------------------      -----------------------


DOUGLAS K. ROGERS           Executive Vice           )
- ----------------------       President and Director  )
Douglas K. Rogers


ALEX R. MEITZNER            Chairman of the Board    )
- ----------------------       of Directors            )
Alex R. Meitzner


ROBIN K. PINKERTON          President, Secretary,    )
- ----------------------       Treasurer and Director  )     ALEX R. MEITZNER
Robin K. Pinkerton                                     -----------------------
                                                           Alex R. Meitzner

- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
An executed copy of each of the related powers of attorney was filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the Registration Statement
on Form S-6 of The Kansas Tax-Exempt Trust, Series 51 (File No. 33-46376) and
Series 52 (File No. 33-47687) and the same are hereby incorporated herein by
this reference.


                                      S-2



                                                                   EXHIBIT 1.1

                                CHAPMAN AND CUTLER

                          RANSON UNIT INVESTMENT TRUSTS
                                    SERIES 85

                                 TRUST AGREEMENT


     This Trust Agreement dated as of September 1, 1999 between Ranson &
Associates, Inc., as Depositor, and The Bank of New York, as Trustee, sets forth
certain provisions in full and incorporates other provisions by reference to the
document entitled "Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust For Equity Trusts
Sponsored by Ranson & Associates, Inc.,  Effective January 7, 1997" (herein
called the "Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust"), and such provisions as are
set forth in full and such provisions as are incorporated by reference
constitute a single instrument.

                                WITNESSETH THAT:

     In consideration of the premises and of the mutual agreements herein
contained, the Depositor and the Trustee agree as follows:

                                     PART I

                     STANDARD TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF TRUST

     Subject to the provisions of Part II hereof, all the provisions contained
in the Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust are herein incorporated by
reference in their entirety and shall be deemed to be a part of this instrument
as fully and to the same extent as though said provisions had been set forth in
this instrument.

                                     PART II

                      SPECIAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF TRUST

     The following special terms and conditions are hereby agreed to:

       (1)  The equity securities listed in the Schedule hereto have been
     deposited in trust under this Trust Agreement as indicated in each Trust
     named on the attached Schedule.

       (2)  For the purposes of the definition of the term "Unit" in Article I,
     it is hereby specified that the fractional undivided interest in and
     ownership of a Trust is the amount set forth in the section captioned
     "Essential Information" in the final Prospectus of the Trust (the
     "Prospectus") contained in Amendment No. 1 to the Trust's Registration
     Statement (Registration No. 333-84105) as filed with the Securities and
     Exchange Commission on September 1, 1999.  The fractional undivided
     interest may (a) increase by the number of any additional Units issued
     pursuant to Section 2.03, (b) increase or decrease in connection with an
     adjustment to the number of Units pursuant to Section 2.03, or (c) decrease
     by the number of Units redeemed pursuant to Section 5.02.


                                   -1-

<PAGE>

       (3)  The terms "Income Account Record Date" and "Capital Account Record
     Date" shall mean the dates set forth under "Essential Information-Record
     and Computation Dates" in the Prospectus.

       (4)  The terms "Income Account Distribution Date" and "Capital Account
     Distribution Date" shall mean the dates set forth under "Essential
     Information-Distribution Dates" in the Prospectus.

       (5)  The term "Initial Date of Deposit" shall mean the date of this Trust
     Agreement as set forth above.

       (6)  The number of Units of a Trust referred to in Section 2.03 is as set
     forth under "Essential Information-Number of Units" in the Prospectus.

       (7)  For the purposes of Section 6.01(g), the liquidation amount is the
     amount set forth under "Essential Information-Minimum Value of Trust under
     which Trust Agreement may be Terminated" in the Prospectus.

       (8)  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Standard Terms and
     Conditions of Trust, the requisite amount of Units needed to be tendered to
     exercise an in kind distribution shall be that amount set forth in the
     Prospectus.

       (9)  Section 1.01(21) is hereby stricken and replaced by the following:
     "Percentage Ratio" shall mean, for each Trust which will issue additional
     Units pursuant to Section 2.03 hereof, the actual number of shares of each
     Equity Security as a percent of all shares of Equity Securities necessary
     to cause the Trust portfolio to replicate, to the extent practicable, the
     Standard & Poor's MidCap 400 Index immediately prior to any subsequent
     deposit of Securities as determined by computer program output operated
     independent of the Depositor which tracks such index."

       (10) Section 2.01(b) is hereby amended by adding the following
     immediately after the first sentence of the second paragraph of such
     Section the following:  "Such additional Securities may be deposited or
     purchased in round lots;  if the amount of the deposit is insufficient to
     acquire round lots of each Security to be acquired, the additional
     Securities shall be deposited or purchased in the order of the Securities
     in the Trust most under-represented in the Trust's portfolio in comparison
     to their percentage weighting in the Standard & Poor's MidCap 400 Index as
     determined by computer program output operated independent of the Depositor
     which tracks such index."

       (11) The first sentence of Section 2.01(e) is hereby stricken and
    replaced with the following:


                                   -2-

<PAGE>

           "If Securities in the Trust are sold pursuant to Sections 3.07 or
          8.02 hereof or if there are excess proceeds remaining after meeting
          redemption requests pursuant to Section 5.02, and the net proceeds of
          any such sale are not otherwise reinvested as provided in such
          Sections, the net proceeds of any such sale may be reinvested, if in
          the opinion of the Depositor it is in the best interests of the
          Unitholders to do so, in short term U.S. Treasury obligations maturing
          on or prior to the next succeeding Capital Distribution Date or, if
          earlier, December 31 of the year of purchase (the "Reinvestment
          Securities")."

       (12) Section 3.07(a) is hereby amended by adding the following
     subsections immediately after Section 3.07(a)(ix):

               (x)  "that the Security has been removed from the Standard &
          Poor's MidCap 400 Index; or

               (xi) that computer program output operated independent of the
          Depositor which tracks the Standard & Poor's MidCap 400 Index
          indicates that the Security is over-represented in the Trust's
          portfolio in comparison to such Security's percentage weighting in
          such index."

       (13) Section 3.07 is hereby amended by changing the current subsection
     (c) to subsection (d) and adding the following as a new subsection (c):

               (c)  "In the event a Security is sold pursuant to Section
          3.07(a)(x), the Depositor may direct the reinvestment of the proceeds
          of the sale of such Security, to the extent practicable, into any
          security which replaces such Security as a component of the Standard &
          Poor's MidCap 400 Index or, if no security so replaces such Security,
          into any other Securities which are under-represented in the Trust's
          portfolio in comparison to their percentage weighting in the Standard
          & Poor's MidCap 400 Index as determined by computer program output
          operated independent of the Depositor which tracks such index.  In the
          event a Security is sold pursuant to Section 3.07(a)(xi), the
          Depositor may direct the reinvestment of the proceeds of the sale of
          such Security, to the extent practicable, into any other Securities
          which are under-represented in the Trust's portfolio in comparison to
          their percentage weighting in the Standard & Poor's MidCap 400 Index
          as determined by computer program output operated independent of the
          Depositor which tracks such index.  Without limiting the generality of
          the foregoing, in determining whether such reinvestment is
          practicable, the Depositor may, but is not obligated to, specifically
          consider the ability of the Trust to reinvest such proceeds into round
          lots of a Security."



                                   -3-

<PAGE>

       (14) The second paragraph of Section 3.10 is hereby stricken and replaced
     with the following:

               "In the event that an offer by the issuer of any of the
          Securities or any other party shall be made to issue new securities,
          or to exchange securities, for Trust Securities, the Trustee shall
          reject such offer.  However, should any issuance, exchange or
          substitution be effected notwithstanding such rejection or without an
          initial offer, any securities, cash and/or property received shall be
          deposited hereunder and shall be promptly sold, if securities or
          property, by the Trustee; provided, however, if such securities are
          components of the Standard & Poor's MidCap 400 Index, the Depositor
          may advise the Trustee to keep such securities.  The cash received in
          such exchange and cash proceeds of any such sales shall, in the
          following priority, be (1) reinvested, to the extent practicable, into
          any Securities which are under-represented in the Trust's portfolio in
          comparison to their percentage weighting in the Standard & Poor's
          MidCap 400 Index as determined by computer program output operated
          independent of the Depositor which tracks such index or (2)
          distributed to Unitholders on the next Distribution Date in the manner
          set forth in Section 3.04(b) regarding distributions from the Capital
          Account.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in
          determining whether such reinvestment is practicable, the Depositor
          may, but is not obligated to, specifically consider the ability of the
          Trust to reinvest such proceeds into round lots of a Security.  Except
          as provided in Article VIII, the Trustee shall not be liable or
          responsible in any way for depreciation or loss incurred by reason of
          any such rejection or sale."

       (15) Section 5.02 is hereby amended by adding the following immediately
     after the last sentence of the second paragraph of such Section:

               "If Securities in the Trust are sold for the payment of the
          Redemption Value and there are excess proceeds remaining after meeting
          redemption requests, the Depositor may, but is not obligated to,
          instruct the Trustee to reinvest such excess proceeds into any
          Securities which are under-represented in the Trust's portfolio in
          comparison to their percentage weighting in the Standard & Poor's
          MidCap 400 Index as determined by computer program output operated
          independent of the Depositor which tracks such index."

       (16) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, if at any time the
     Standard & Poor's MidCap 400 Index shall no longer be compiled, maintained
     or made available, the Depositor may (a) direct that the Trust created
     hereby continue to be operated hereunder utilizing the components of the
     Standard & Poor's MidCap 400 Index, and the percentage weightings of such
     components, as existed on the last date on which the Standard & Poor's
     MidCap 400 Index components and weightings were available to the Trust or


                                   -4-

<PAGE>

     (b) direct the Trustee to terminate this Indenture and the Trust created
     hereby and liquidate the Trust in such manner as the Depositor shall
     direct.






















                                   -5-

<PAGE>
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Trust Agreement
to be duly executed.

                                     RANSON & ASSOCIATES, INC.,
                                       Depositor


                                     By     /s/  ROBIN K. PINKERTON
                                          ---------------------------
                                                  President



                                     THE BANK OF NEW YORK,
                                       Trustee


                                     By     /s/  JEFFREY BIESELIN
                                          ---------------------------
                                                Vice President










<PAGE>


                                   SCHEDULE A

                         SECURITIES INITIALLY DEPOSITED
                          RANSON UNIT INVESTMENT TRUSTS
                                    SERIES 85


     (Note:  Incorporated herein and made a part hereof is the "Portfolio" as
set forth in the Prospectus.)















                                                                   EXHIBIT 3.1


                               CHAPMAN AND CUTLER
                             111 WEST MONROE STREET
                            CHICAGO, ILLINOIS  60603

                                September 1, 1999



Ranson & Associates, Inc.
250 North Rock Road, Suite 150
Wichita, Kansas  67206



     Re:  Ranson Unit Investment Trusts Series 85; File No. 333-84105
          -----------------------------------------------------------

Gentlemen:

     We have served as counsel for Ranson & Associates, Inc., as Sponsor and
Depositor of Ranson Unit Investment Trusts Series 85 (the "Fund"), in connection
with the preparation, execution and delivery of Trust Agreement dated the date
of this opinion between Ranson & Associates, Inc., as Depositor, and The Bank of
New York, as Trustee, pursuant to which the Depositor has delivered to and
deposited the Securities listed in the Schedules to the Trust Agreement with the
Trustee and pursuant to which the Trustee has issued to or on the order of the
Depositor a certificate or certificates representing all the Units of fractional
undivided interest in, and ownership of, the Fund, created under said Trust
Agreement.

     In connection therewith we have examined such pertinent records and
documents and matters of law as we have deemed necessary in order to enable us
to express the opinions hereinafter set forth.

     Based upon the foregoing, we are of the opinion that:

      1.  The execution and delivery of the Trust Agreement and the
     execution and issuance of certificates evidencing the Units of the
     Fund have been duly authorized; and

      2.  The certificates evidencing the Units of the Fund, when duly
     executed and delivered by the Depositor and the Trustee in accordance
     with the aforementioned Trust Agreement, will constitute valid and
     binding obligations of the Fund and the Depositor in accordance with
     the terms thereof.




<PAGE>

                                  -2-


     We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement (File No. 333-84105) relating to the Units referred to
above and to the use of our name and to the reference to our firm in said
Registration Statement and in the related Prospectus.

                                Respectfully submitted,



                                CHAPMAN AND CUTLER







                                                                EXHIBIT 4.1





                         CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

     We consent to the reference to our firm as experts under the caption
"Independent Auditors" and to the use of our report dated September 1, 1999 in
Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement (File No. 333-84105) and related
Prospectus of Ranson Unit Investment Trusts, Series 85.




                                     ALLEN, GIBBS & HOULIK, L.C.

Wichita, Kansas
September 1, 1999










© 2022 IncJournal is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission