The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1868-03-20
Communicated.
Southwest Missouri.

Sedalis. is 189 miles west of St.
Louis, on the (Missouri) Pacific Rail
road The city has population Of
about 5000, and is situated in beau
tiful country, the county. seat of Pet
tbs, and about Central Missouri. 1t
has many beautiful residences and
fine stores, and eight churches. The
Methodist Episcopal Church seems
to predominant. 1t is the center of a
good local trade, and has, heretofore,
enjoyed the benefit of large South
west trade, in fact, / saw wagons load
ing at commission houses here for
Fort Gibson, on the Arkansas River,
three hundred miles from this point
1t has just completed a commodlous
free school building, suitable to ae-
commodate 500 scholars, at a cost of
over $4,000. Its business men and
inhabitants generally are irst-class
Eastern people. The city maintains
two weekly papers, the Sedalia Times,
a lively Radical paper, and the Dem
ocrdtic Press, which represents its
side fully - comment unnecessary.
We left Sedalia, taking a southwest
direction. Crossed Grand River, in
Henry County, 40 miles from Sedalia
Ia beautiful stream. and, at no dis
tant day, there viii be Touring
mills erected on this stream, as its
water power is said to be unsurpassed.
We passed on % miles from Grand
River, over a beautiful prairie coun-
try, rather sparsely settled, but APP
parently we'll timbered. Arrived at
the Usage River, a beautiful stream,
navigable for medium sized steamers
some six months In the year. Crossed
to the south side Of said river, and
going up it a short distance, we reach
ed the new town of Altoona. The site
of this newly laid out town is a most
beautiful one, located in the midst Of
a lovely country and sixty five miles
south of the Pacific Railroad, in the
center of the great Southwest. 1t did
seem to me | had found the Italy of
America; no new town in this State
to-day has brighter prospect than
this place. 1t is situated on the south
bank of the Usage River, in St. Clair
County, at the head of navigation on
the Usage River. Osceola, thirty five
miles below this point, had been con-
sidered the head of navigation on
this river ever since the. country had
been settled, until last year, some gen
tleman, with a steamer we'll laden
with salt, determined to hunt for a
higher point, and Altoona is the point
of their search. | learned here that
every preparation was now made to
have ali branches of trade represented
on opening of Spring navigation.
Engineers and chain men were meas
uring here and there, and few new
houses were under construction.
During my short stay here, / found
the lands around this place unsur-
passed, and much like the far-famed
lands around Jacksonville, ILL.,, be-
sides having the advantage of a more
mild and warmer climate. [ have
never seen a heavier underground of
hazel, sumac, rosin weed, &c, which
are always indications of good soil.
Coal and good building stone are
plenty; also, fine, never falling springs
of pure, cold water.
This place is extensively surround
ed by a population of Industrious
farming people Most of them came
10 from other States since the close of
the late uapledsdntness, who supply
abunknt support for themselves and
the emigrants who are now focking
ia By scores TO this beautiful new
South. At the head of navigation on
the Usage, Altoona cannot fail to be
town of much consequence before
macy years. Buck EYE.