The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1858-08-11

river bottom IS too sandy for Agricultural pur-
poses, ors grass growing. and unfit for anything
txcept growing Cotton wood; there are scarce
Is any improvements on the river bottom be-
tweed 81. i.aais and jefferson city except small
cabins built by persons making it their business
to eut wood lor the boats, ekius out sort Of
living without any Of the cOmGrts OF life, sub
jeel TO be driven from their homes at any time
as was the case this Spring BY the overflow Of
the river. The bluffs vary from perpendicular
fronis IN more gradual ascents capable OF being
cultivated 10 certain extent. Fruits of all
kinds come to the greatest perfection on these
broken lanAs: il Is supposed that the grape will
do better here than in either France or Gsrma-
NJ. Fruit flourish well in the prairies here
some of the natives told me that they never
ruaus any calculation on the fruit crop falling
not esen the peach. l do not think saw a
single fruit tree in the State but was loaded
~ith fruit. I saw Apricotts Nectarnes Pears
Apples, Peaches and Plums, all apparently grow
ing with about as little extra care as our most
neglected orchards in Ohio.
This is we'll timbered country, the timber
extends back quite long distance from the riv-
er before you come to the prairie and there are
a great many streams ofwater running in all di-
IN silofthcm- coal is also abundant in almost
every part Of the State, veins varying in thick
ness from seven to eight feet. There is an abun-
dance ofthe finest quality Of lime stone, it is
nearly as white as marble and will split as nice
ly as free stone, and it is quite easily worked;
you find the stone in quarries along the streams
ard not scattered over the surface ofthe ground.
The prairies are generally narrow and Of very
superior soil, which lets all the surrounding
water filter through in very short space of
time ! saw land in good condition for work
ing in 10 hours after a two days rain,
The timber lend is generally considered the
suTest wheat land, There is considerable to-
bat CO grown on the timber land in portions Ct
the State, paying large profit for cultvating, if
we leave out OF the account the fact that in
very short time it kills the land which some
have succeeded in doing already.
Wheat in Missouri is ofbetter quality than in
Ohio. and will make -four to the same quantity.
The wheat has no enemies to contend with
here except the chinch bug. Last year they
destroyed three fourths of the crop--they also
destroyed large quantities ofcorn and oats
This year there is none Of them to be found.
There are large quantities of hemp grown
here, it is said to be very profitable. Corn
grows here to as great perfection as any place
in the west.
Timothy and clover are not generally sown
but when they are they succeed as we'll as in
Ohio. Isaw as good timothy meadow that was
sown ON stubble ground and narrowed in last
fall as I ever saw in Ohio, first crop. Potatoes
appear to be perfectly at home, frequently
yielding from two to three hundred bushels per
acre.
The scarcity of springs think is one Of the
greatest objections that any person can urge
against Missouri; portions ofthe State however,
arc well watered; IN other parts Of ii there are
scarcely any springs and the native Missourians
are too indolent, as general thing, to dig wells
and depend on cistern water almost entirely,
which, by the by, is excellent water when the
cisterns are properly constructed and taken care
OF saw, or heard Of no instance in which per-
sons digging for water have failed to procure
good water and an abundance of it. In con-
sequence Of the Erairies being narrow, and tim.
ber land on either side with streams of running
water, it will be pretty convenient for stock the
greater portion of the year. The depth Of wells
is from twelve to thirty feet
Land varies as much in price here as in
Ohio In some come choice locations, nj Oh to
large towns, it sells as high as $50 per acre,
but you can get farms of the best quality, with
from so to 100 acres acres improved land, pret-
ty good buildings, and sometimes splendid or
chards within from one-half to five miles OF
small towns and even county seats, at from
eight to 25 dollars per acre. The usual price
from twelve to fifteen dollars, but by going back
some distance from river and railroad, you can
buy improved land as low as FIVE dollars per
acre There are large quantities for sale both
improved and Congress land--.there is in one
land district, (namely the Jackson land district,
upwards of three millions ofacres subject to en-
try, and nearly all at 12la cents per acre
amongst which land there is some as good as is
in the State The conditions upon which per-
can enter this land are: If you be qualified
that you own no land, and you make some im-
prcyements upon it you may enter not to exceed
220 acres, afterwards you may buy as much as
you please at S ,25 per acre. Butsay you why
.is-it-seld so cheap il tits such good country?
will give you what I conceive to be the reason
heretofore slavery has been the barrier that
has kept the State from settling up as rapidly
as other States have done. Now the belief that
sIayeryai doomed has great deal to do with
keeping down the price Of improved lands -
Those who intend to hold on to their slaves are
so anxious to leave, and go where they can
have some assurance that their property viii be
safe from freedom, and free State influence, that
they put price ON theirland that will be sure TO
induce some perseR-te purchase. Another
class who are anxious to seIl is the old settlers
who havebeen accustomed to living kind ofinso-
lated lives without any improvements nigh
enough 70 encroach upon their stock range. =
Now the country is becoming too thickly settled
and they say they must have more room and
they are very anxious 10 SELL.
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