The Kansas herald of freedom., 1856-03-01
Value Of Farm Lands on Different
Sides of the Line.

Value Of Farm Lands on Different
Sides of the Line.
The following facts, related to US a few
days since by an intelligent gentleman
are significant and important. They il
lustrate very clearly and forcibly the
difference between the value of property
in free and slave State. We com
mend the subject specially to our St
Louis contemporaries and to the bushes:
men of that city, as showing whether il
is for their interest to make Kansas 9
slave State. But to the facts.
The gentleman to whom we refer had
just returned from Fort Desmoines, Iowa
On his way he had for traveller a very
intelligent gentleman who owned large,
we'll improved, excellent farm, just south
of the dividing line between Iowa and
Missouri For some cause he was anx-
ious to sell his farm and escape from the
blessed influences ~ of the peculiar
institution.
| A few weeks since a Massachusetts,
farmer was in that section looking for a
farm. After examining several, he
stumbled upon the one of our Missouri
gentleman, and was greatly pleased with
lit. Its location and buildings were all
right; the Improvements were all he
could expect in new country, and on
learning the price 81 per acre, he at
once closed the bargain, and the attorney
was called in to make out the deed. He
commenced writing. and when he came
to 6 of the State of Missouri, of
the first part ''-"Stop," said the Yankee,
in sstonishment; ''you need not write
any more, sir. Is this farm in the State
of Missouri ?'' "Certainly," replied the
seller, ''and is the land any the less pro-
ductive on that account? ?" "By no
MEANS" said the Yankee, .'but l don't
want it, SIR" "Why," said the seller,
''those farms in this neighborhood which
you have examined, with no better land
and improvements than mine, are held at
from ten to fifteen dollars per acre, and
the best of them cannot be bought one
cent less than the highest price named"
"That> may all be very true" said the
Yankee, ''and would prefer to give
twenty dollars an acre for them, rather
than to have yours as gift. and be forced
to live on it. / will not live in slave
State on any terms. Good bye, gentle
men - and away went the Yankee farm
er to buy farm in the free and noble
State of Iowa.
Facts, like the above, show where the
intelligent, enterprising emigrants from
the Eastern States seek for a home for
themselves and their children. They
explain why it is that Illinois, Iowa,
Wisconsin and Minnesota, ale advancing
so rapidly in wealth and population,
while our sister State of Missouri is fall
ing far in the rear. 1t has long been a
settled fact that the mighty current of
emigration from Europe spreads itself
mainly over the free States. and certainly
those who have been reared among the
blessings of free institutions will hereaf-
ter be more cautious than ever about
settling in Missouri, whose Border Ruff
6anism finds such able and respectable
apologists as the Missouri Republican
In 1850 Missouri contained total popu-
lation of 882.O44 and Iowa only 192,-
214, and though it may appear impossi-
BILE, we venture the prediction that the
census of 1860 will show larger popu-
lation in Iowa than in the State of Mis-
souri,.
In all we have to say on this and
kindred subjects, we are actuated by no
i'll feelings towards our sister State of
Missouri. She is in all respects, aside
from the blighting influence of slavery,
noble State. She has large territory,
a genial and inviting climate, and her
agricultural and mineral resources are
scarcely second to those of any State in
the Union. The majestic Mississippi
washes her entire eastern border, and
the mighty Missourisweeps down through
the center the State. Both her central
position and her unquestioned resources
should give her commanding influence;
yet the contrast between her and Illinois
is truly wonderful. Within the last four
years eastern and foreign capital has
built nearly three thousand miles of rail-
road in Illinois it has not built mile in
the State Of Missouri, unless it was Sc
cured by State or st. Louis bonds. city
which owes almost all her prosperity and
her power to the free States of Illinois
and Iowa. Now even this resource has
failed and the railroads have been OBJ
liged to stop. With all the credit and
energy which the State and the city of
st. Louis could command, they have
been able to complete only two lines of
railroad. something over q hundred
miles each.
Such contrasts show the influence of
free and slave labor upon the prosperity
of State, and as time rolls on that con-
trast viii become still more distinct and
striking. But if our Missouri neighbors
choose to clasp cancer to their bosoms,
which is sure to eat out their vitality and
palsy all their energies, weare fully aware
that we have no right to interfere. In
an age like this, however, we claim the
right to lay facts before our readers, and
this is all We propose to do. We would.
indeed, that our Missouri aeighhors
should reflect carefully upon them, and
We are quite sure what would be the re-
suit. Let her abolish slavery to-day, and
we have not a particle of doubt that she
would be hundred per cent. richer to-
morrow than she Is now Chicago
Democrat.