The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1866-04-25
Missouri Oorrespondenee.--No. /.

readers are already aware 7 removed 90
this State IN October last before leaving
Lansing was requested by many friends
to write them freely, concerning the soil,
climate, productions, people and coalition
Of society in this much talked Of country
have compiled With that request % some
extent, and have written many long letters
10 old associates and particular friends
White doing so, IL occurred 70 me. that
there were yet many more Who might be
interested to read what might write-but
it would be TOO great tax upon my time.
and too large Z consumption o. fools cap,
should write TO each individually You .
have relieved NE from the difficulty by
generously rendering me The use Of your /
columns, I hope I may not fail 10 interest
those al least OF your readers, with whom
l am personally acquainted
Springfield. as yoa viii see by reference
10 the map, is situated OF Wilson's Creek
in the County OF Greene, and precisely
upon the 3-th parallel Of North latitude,
and 4 little West Of the 10th meridian OF
7 longitude West from Washington. This IS
about all that can be learned Of It from the
map II shall be my object ia these letters
/ to give your readers other facts concerning
the country called South West Missouri,
which has I very uncertain and inletermi-
nate boundary upon the North and East.
but Of which, for the purposes c0ntempla-
ted in these letters, We VIII consider this
+ city the geographical, Is it IS the CONNER
cial centre II is situated upon the summit
Of the Ozark Mountains 50 called IN the
i geography, out no one OF your readers, il
suddenly and miraculously translated 10
this place without the intermediate process
Of getting here, would for moment sps-
pect that he was upon the summit Ola noun
tain Of no uncomfortable altitude. And I
who Just came here IRON ST. Louis, by
way OF railroad 10 Rolla. and thence ly
the slow process Of stage coach. WITH mg
eyes wide open, q part or Tie time. can
hardly realize that I am now upon the
highest point Of land between the Alegha-
MES. and the Rocky Mountains The process
Of ascent is so gradual And yet such IS
the fact. Al or near this place. Is the great
divide between the waters OF the Missouri
on the North. and the Arkansas on the
? South The surface Of the country for
many miles in each direction from here IS
T generally rolling with no abrupt hills Dor
deep valleys. This side OF R0.A on and
between the Little Pney. Big Pines aud
Gasconade rivers il IS otherwise. the
hills often rising abruptly, and the country
generally being rough, rocky and Uninn-
TIM. Many New Englanders and other
Yankees, have settled at and about R0.'a.
and seem to be delighted with that country
} II is, undoubtedly fine fruit country A.
Rolla I met a Mr. Smith formerly from
Jackson Co. Michigan. who has fine iarn
at a little station on the railroad ten miles
East of Rolla, and who Is somewhat cr'.
brated in that region, as an aO0iit 4oni-l
and horticulturist As you approach the
South West. the hills are still higher bat
I begin 10 spread ont broader and longer
until they seem TO unite, and iolm one
grand undulatine mountain OF timber and
prairie watered here and there 10y heaut
, ful pearly brooks, and noisy babbhuE
T creeks, fed 10y innumerable springs, clear
as crystal ever flowing and eNhaustless a
the love OF God. IL no other country, have
ever seen so many. and such beautiful
springs and streams Almost every farm
has its boosted spring Many ct them are
times, 20 move mill
Unlike most other portions Of Missouri.
the soil here. is gravelly. On the prar.e-.
and even in the timbered land i'm other por-
r lions OF the State the flrme~. ,e ~..
PEELED to use polished steel plou. Is. lAcge
not being sufficient grit in the soil to scour
plOughs Of east iron. Not 50 here. az
though from custom. steel ploughs are
mostly used Eastern men viii Introduce
and use the cast iron plough. when they
shall come and possess the land.
This soil IS adapted TO, and does produce
, the largest crops of corn tobacco. wheat,
and all the grasses. This is cOniesseily
the best wheat portion Of tie State. Blue
grass. Clover, Timothy. aud Red top gror
in great luxur.ance. Hungarian Grass is
grown TO a great extent, and is a very no
triciOus fodder for cattle Ii J. Injurious
for horses. Oats cannot be grown here
with success For fruit, it IS beyond an
doubt the best soil aud climate in all the
West. Mssourians call it the Haly OF
America, ana alter seelnr The prOfusl0n o.
wild grape vines and berry bushes in the
woods, along the bill sides, and I'D The
valleys, and after 80 beholding with Hy OVID
eyes the extensive orchards OF apples.
pears, peaches, plums and cherries, and eat
ing my ill Of the most delicious apples ct
fifty cents per bushel, have no reason 10
say that it is q misnomer
The standard apple here. is called the
"Geniting" which seems to be q cross be-
tween the Westfield Seek-no-further and
the Rhambo, and IS, TO my taste, al inn
prOyement upon both those varieties. II
is enough to make ones mouth water. to
listen to the accounts given by the old citi-
zens. Of the quantities and qualities of tie
wild fruits Of this country. Wild grapes
and plums, nearly as large and fine Ia
vOred, as the tame varieties; and berries of
all kinds in the greatest profusion.
I came here for the purpose principally,
finding a milder and healthier climate. aud
have not been disappointed. As the lati-
tude would indicate, 1t is far preferable %
that Of Michigan l spent a part Of tie
month Of February last, from the 18TH 10
the 2sth) in this part OF the state. Your
readers doubtless viii not soon forget. the
terrible storm which commenced or the
night Of the 18th and the intense cold
weather which followed. Here, the wealth
er was cold, but not intensely 50 But
little snow fell and what did fall. remained
but q few days. Tie weather soon became
warm and spr.ny-Ike. Farmers com
meuced their plOwing and some rariens F