Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1837-06-29
MISSOURI.

| ihe statements OF Inc ioIDwIng letter ma
be relied upon. The writer, DR.. Moon
MAX, was formerly member OF the Lecis
iature of Virginia, from Rockingham coun
ty, and is gentleman Of worth and intelli
gsnce.
From the Rockingham Register
The following letter from DR.. J. j
MooRMAN, formerly OF Harrisonburg, will
be read. we are persuaded, with great inter.
est:
PALMYRA, Mo-, April 1st, 1887.
Mr. Iparfman,-
IR:-Before leaving Virginia. las, fall.
promised many OF my friends in Rockingham
to write them descriptive of this country. II
leisure permitted I would gladly comply
with each OF these promises in detail, hut as
my engagements will not conveniently al
low me TO do this, and as believe that all or
most oil those promised, are readers Of your
paper, have thought proper To address this
letter TO you and ask you TO give il an inser-
tion, Ut, IN your opinion, its matter is OF suf.
hcien! general interest TO justify you in doing
90. MY friends to whom ] extended this
business sort ofpromise, will, I hope, receive
u IN discharge oil my obligation, while
trust II may not be entirely uninteresting OF
useless to others.
A general description Of Missouri. and
poriraiture Of all its general advantages and
disadvantages, as applicable 10 the whole or
10 different parts of the Stale IN contrast with
others, would require space far beyound the
ORDINARY iimiis of letter; nor is this, per
maps, the Kind OF information which would
ne most satisfactory and useful tn my friends
u is the little detailed information in reIa.
'ion 10 new countries that persons at q dis.
lance most need those things that enter as
u we're into the kneading trough into the
every day business of the life OF those W no
settle IN them from such data general con,
c'usi"ns may DO formed with much correct
ness.
In speak ing OF this country, 7 shall as far
ss possible, confine myself 10 detail of facts.
leaving my friends 10 form their own con.
illusions.
he country 10 which my remarks shall
nave particular reference, is called here the
country Of the upper Mississippi" or thai
country which stretches from the confluence
OF The Missouri northwardly, to the mouth
oil The Dies Moines, distance OF $50 miles.
From personal observations Of different
paris OF The State and from general fame,
remark that this particular section Of Mis-
sour VIII compare advantageously with any
Portioa oil ITS territory as respects beauty Of
surface richness Of soil or general proper
ions OF timber and prairies. OF its advanta.
ges Tor spring and stock water, and water for
machinery, 1t will compare with any other
terrible POI tim Of the state. Ia a CONNER
ciai point OF view its advantages over every
Other part north and west Of ST. Louis ere
obvious. The safety and facility Of na.iga.
ing the Mississippi, in comparison to its
great rival The Missouri, are uniformly adj
united. While transportation upon the
hrsi is sale and expeditions, upon the last il
u tedious and dangerous. cannot better
Illustrate this than by stating the fact, that a
company has been Incorporated and is now
actually engaged in building rail road 100
miles in length, from point on the Missis-
slPpi, $50 miles above ST. Louis, TO point
ON The Missouri, 100 miles above the same
city, without reasonable prospect Of freight.
ing the product from the country lying upon
the Mississippi
vi the soil I'll this country, fame has said
so much tina, any thing that could add might
look "waste:u! and ridiculous oXcess"- 1T
IS certainly rich-rich almost without ex-
ception, tho varying in quality TO some ex
tent, nut not TO the same that we witness in
the Valley of Virginia. 1 am sure that
have not seen one hundred acres of land in
this section of the state that would be called
poor in Virginia.
The general surface OF the country is pleas.
ingiy undulatng or rolling :-portions on
the immediate borders Of water courses are
low and et:-it il rarely billy, with the ex.
cepiion of the bluffs usually betting the low
lands just alluded 10.
In this region of the state, with the excep>
ton of the upper and more northern portion
o! II, The most desirable lands have general
w been entered but good second and third
rate entries may still he made. In the north.
western part Of the district OF which I am
treating, there is large body Of the finest
land IN the state that has not yet been brought
into market.
The price OF second hand lands is greater
here than in any other part OfIhe state equal
ly distant from market. The usual price OF
farms may be said to be from 81 10 S15 per
acre. Interior situations are sometimes
bought Tor leSs,-supelior ones often sold for
more.
The first settlers Of this country were eli.
Their poor or addicted 10 hunting, and little
regarded the refinement Of the older states.
Every thing in building, subduing the forest
and supporting themselves, was effected
with their own axe, plough and rifle, and
hence we aiten find here what we often see
in the Valley Of Virginia, houses without
even one glass window, the light and cir be-
ing admitted by door opposite a blazing
hearth.
! Still some Of The log houses with puncbeon
! floors, cispboard roofs and wooden cbimneys
are very desirable for the fresh emiyran
anxious for shelter, and who comes pre-.
pared TO erect for himself more comfortable
dwelling.
| Emgrants coming 10 this country TO set
| lie fayms should he nrenared In o ndttta ba vi