Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1867-11-22

SEDALrA, Nov. 1lth, 1867.

Letter from Missouri.
.ar SEpALIA, Nov. llth, 1867.
DEAR GAzETTE when left Ce-
dar Falls, / believe you requested a
word from me when we got to our des-
tination. And ihasmuch as numerous
friends requested some account of Mis-
souri,, permit space IN your columns
to make a brief statement of what i
have seen and heaid, Our route was
directly South through Iowa to the
state line. After we passed Tama Co.,
we left behind most of the beautiful
prairies and nice water brooks. The
South half Of Iowa through which we
travelled ,is in many places very bro
ken, and at the time very destitute of
water. The immense emigration to-
ward South West Missouri and South
ern Arkansas, rendered 1t difficult in
some localities to obtain water. North
ern Missouri, until we reached the Han
ibal 4 st. Joe II. r., is much the same
character of Southern Iowa. From
the Hannibal II. II. to the Missouri riv-
er, Is much fine country, and some
counties Ia high state of cultivation,
showing immense crops of corn and
hemp, great meadows, and large herds
Of cattle, sheep. hogs and mules. Con-
siderable winter wheat was sown and
looking well. We crossed the river al
Brunswick, the home of the noted reb.
el Price, who. by the way, has taken q
furlough to another region, the exact
locality leave for loyal men to Judge.
Salina. La Fayette and johnson coun-
ties South Of the river are. the bragg
counties of the State. The soil and its
products, indeed indicate superior
quality, and for locality and fine i'm.
provements, large farms and orchards
perhaps there are but few states tha,
can excel.
! These river counties were settled
some forty and fifty years ago, ant
were the stronghold of the slave powe
when the rebellion broke out, and mos
Of the rebel element now In the Stat,
is confined to these counties. ,. 8 fa@
The country lying between the Mis-
souri River and the Usage River, ives
from Jefferson City to Kansas. through
which passes the pacific II. r.. Is un
doubtedly the best portion Of Missouri
1t is a magnificent country and is des
tined ut no distant day, to be one of tn,
most wealthy portions of the Union
1t possesses good soil, plenty of timbe
and coal, and a climate favorable to tn,
growth of all kinds OF grains, grasse
and fruits Of a temperate climate. II
most parts it is destitute of the clea
running brooks aud creeks, such as ar,
In northern Iowa. South OF the Pacif
ic II. r.. springs are frequent and goot
water is obtained by digging.
When we reached the line OF the Pa
cific II. r., we had more full demon
stration Of the South western emigra
tion. The roads In all directions wer
lined with wagons carrying familie
and their effects to the South. west. S,
great has been the rush into the South
west counties of Missouri, the India,
Territory and Kansas, that house
could not be obtained, and hundreds O
families are camping I'm tents and wag
ons until they can build or provide fo
winter. Others are coming back int,
the older and more thickly settle,
counties. The emigration is chief,
from Ohio, Illinois and Iowa, yet ther
are many from New York and the New
England States. The whole countr,
south of the Pacific II. II. Is alread,
mostly of Northern and Eastern ele
ment. Their new towns, farm houses
school houses and churches, all remin,
one OF the settlements of Northern II
linois or Iowa. 8feF. f#.a~ a
Sedalia, of Pettis County, is q towi
Of 5000 Inhabitants, Warrensburg, o
Johnson, 1900, and Clinton OF Henry
ZOO. are all wide awake business pla
ces, mostly built up by northern mel
since the war. Railroads are bein
built aud projected. A new railroad
now under contract from Sedalia to Ft
Scott, South west Kansas. There ar
plenty of lands yet to occupy In Pettis
Johnson. Cass, Bates, Henry and more
southern counties. Unimproved prair
lie rates from $4 to SO per acre, accor
ding to its quality and convenience I
rail road. and improved Farms rat
from $40 to S25 per acre, with ordinar.
location and moderate improvements
Better locations with very good i'm
provements, rate from $25 to $35 pc
acre. To q man who prefers mild eli
mate there are here certainly great In
ducements.
The query Is often made about socie
ty, and can loyal man live in securi
ty In Missouri? Except few Of tn
older counties on the river, I woul'
not hesitate to say, from my observa
tions that within two years, Missouri
will compare with Iowa as state 70
good society and loyalty.
i Many localities now even surpas
southern Iowa. The president OF tn
Sedalia 4 Fort Scott Railroad, relate,
the following to me q few days ago
.'Said he was making a speech dowi
In some of the Southwest counties II
favor of their Rail road, when he wa
through, he extended the privilege {,
any gentleman present to say anythin,
they chose for or against the road
Whereupon an old fogy got up AM
said he would like well enough to hav
a railroad. but lie feared II they got on
the Yankees would be sure to come Ii
amongst them. The president replied
"Old man you may as we'll quiet you
fears, the Yankees are com. ng, raj