Charles City intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Floyd County, Iowa) 1864-1866, 1865-11-09
Correspondence Of the Charles City Tntclllsencer


UxIoN, FRANKILN Co., MISSOURI.
October 20, 1865.
To Hon. A. b. r. Hidrath:
DEAR SIR You have no doubt, ere this,
learned that have engaged in the Law and
Land Agency business here There is much
more business of that kind TO be done in this
State now than in Northern Iowa, and there
are not near as many men qualified to do it
here as there. Many Of the old attorneys hav'
Ing been engaged in, or having been In sym
pathy with, the rebellion, have left the State;
and many others who are still here cannot
practise because they cannot or decline to take
the oath required by the new constitution Of
free Missouri, adopted in July last that they
were not directly or indirectly engaged in the
rebellion.
design remaining here until there Is more
law business, &C., to be done i'm Charles City
and vicinity, and as shall always take deep
interest in the progress and welfare Of Floyd
county and its citizens, and particularly in
Charles City, desire to be posted of what
happens and transpires there, and know of no
better medium to get such information
promptly and eheaply than to take your
Charles City iateii;gencer. therefore send
you the money fur the same
Franklin county, Missouri, is situated In
the southeasterly part of the State. II is the
first county west Of st. Louis and only few
hours ride per railroad from the city of st.
Louis, one of the best markets in the United
States. am informed that farmers can 60
there with their produce for about ninety
cents, and get return ticket Free The coun-
~ Is bounded on the north by the Missouri
river and Pacific railroad, which 10 now com.
pleted to Kansas City. The southern branch
of the Pacific railroad also passes through the
county, SO that the people in every part of the
county have convenient and cheap facilities
for Transporting their produce to st. Louis.
The surface of the county is considerably
broken. consisting chiefly of ranges Of hills or
ridges separated from each other by streams
and fertile valleys. The soil, principally on
the ridges and hill sides, is a fat yellow clay
and loan, and in the bottoms doep black
loan. The numerous streams, of which the
Bourbcnse and Meramec rivers are the princi-
pal ones, afford an abundance of water and
water powers. II is one Of the best timbored
counties In the State There is but little prai-
rie land in 1t. This county is particularly
rich in minerals. Fully one-haIf of it is
known to be q lead feld--in fact ores may lie
looked for In profitable, workable quantities
In almost every section. New mines are now
constantly being opened and worked, and in
short time fortunes will be realized there
from. There are now fully thirty lead mines
In the county and four lead furnaces. Rich
brown hematitic iron ore, copper, coal. alabas-
ter, and glass sand are also found in the coun-
y In several places. ~ yt
The soil and climate arc about like that in
the vicinity of Cincinnati, Ohio, and are par
ticularly well adapted to the culture of grapes
for wine and fruits Of every kind. But wheat
and corn and all other kinds of the usual
grains and vegetables sl-o grow here very we
and bring good price. Wheat averages
about fifteen or twenty bushels per acre, and
corn from forty TO eighty bushels per acre
Wheat now brings 81, 90 and 81, so per bush
Ell, and corn and potatoes from 40 TO 50 cents
per bushcl; good apples 81 90 per bushel );
butter 80 cents per pound eggs IS cents per
dozen and all other things in proportion
The population Of the county is now about
20, 900, about three fourths of which Is intelli.
gent, Industrious, loyal Germans. The large
plantations and tracts Of mining and unim-
proved lands lately owned by the slave hold
ers arc now being divided and sold to emf
grants from the North and East 1t is quite
healthy and perfectly safe for loyal men in
nearly every part OF this State now.
Good farms with good improvements, build.
ings, bearing orchards, &C., can still be pur-
chased here for from $1,000 to $500 per
acre. and unimproved farming, timber and
mining lands for from $3.50 to $1,000 per
acre.
The rebellion has indeed brought about
complete change here. Those who we're here.
tofore governed and oppressed by the slave
holders insolent, Overlooking aud generally
incompetent reign. now hold and control the
Offices while the few rebels remaining, or are
now and then returning, waiting to sell their
property, sneak around with cowcd aud down
| cast looks, and with the marks Of Cain and