Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1869-02-10
About Southwest Missouri.
ecial Correspondence of the CnRoNIcLEI
BOLIVAR. Mo-, Jan. a5, 1869.

EDITOR CHRONICLE In answer
to several letters of inquiry from your
section, in regard to Southwest Mis-
souri,, permit me the use of your col
umns as a medium of communication.
Many persons, doubtless, besides
those who have written me, will be
interested in hearing something of
this Ito them far-distant region-nOw
the focus of immigration from all parts
of the Union. People from the East
ern and Middle States are seeking
homes here because lands are cheap,
and the opportunities for acquiring
competency are more plentiful than
in the older States. Immigrants from
Michigan, Iowa, Wisconsin and Min
nesOta, come here to escape the long
and rigorous winters that prevail in
northern latitudes; while refugees
from Kentucky, Tennessee, and other
southern States, find i'm "Free Mis-
souri, exemption for themselves and
families from Ku KluX terrorism, and
the civil strife and turmoil so preva-
lent in unreconstTucted regions.
Take map of the United States and
look for Missouri upon it. You will
find that, instead of being remote and
inaccessible, it occupies a position in
the very heart of the Union, being
midway between the Atlantic and
Pacific coasts, with Arkansas and
Louisiana to the south, and Iowa and
Minnesota on the north. The bounda-
ries of the State contain an area larger
than England and Ireland put tOgeth-
er, while she has within herself the
resources of an empire. With her i'm
eral wealth, numerous rivers and
streams, extensive forests, genial
climate and mild winters, no State or
Territory furnishes more desirable
prospects, and diversified pursuits, to
immigrants from the older States, than
Missouri. Added to this are the inn
portant considerations that she is tran
quil and loyal; enjoys free schools,
free speech, a free press, and free
thought. The night has passed away
in Missouri, and the dawn is full of
hope.
And especially is this the case with
Southwest Missouri. The march of
free principles, since the war, has beeL
rapid, steady and sure in this portion
of the State-noted throughout the
war for its fidelity to the Union, al
though repeatedly ravaged and over
run by cOntending armies. At the
late Presidential and State elections
every county of the twenty-One COM
posing this 1.-THE Fourth) COnsression-
al District, gave a Republican major
ity. Our Senators and Representa-
tives to the Legislature, from this
section, present a grand, unbrOken
unit on all measures of Republican
policy. This, in short, is the WEST
ern Reserve" of Missouri, as loyal and
determined as that of Ohio.
The statement in Governor Fletch-
er's late message, that the population
of Missouri had increased fifty per
cent. in the last four years, is illustra-
tive of the unprecedented growth of
the State in all that goes to make a
great commonwealth. During the
past year 2,620 foreign immigrants
came into and passed through Ohio.
OF this number 1914 were destined
for Missouri, or nearly One-fOurth of
the whole; mainly Germans from the
vine-clad hills of Fatherland, bring
ing with them the industry, economy
and thrift to which they had been
trained at home.
But these are only atoms in the
avalanche eofimmigration that is pour
ing into the State. By the hundreds
and thousands people are coming from
the Northern, Middle and Eastern
States. attracted hither by cheap lands,
a salubriOus climate, and the preva-
lence of liberal ideas. Inject, almost
daily, prospecters from Ohio, Penn
sylvania, New York, the New Eng
land States, and other portions of the
Union, who are looking up locations
for themselves, or have been sent out
to select sites for colonies from these
older States, embracing neighbOr-
hoods, and even whole communities.
l notice in your paper that a "West-
ern Emigrant Association for North
ern Ohio" headed by General Gar
field, has been organized in your vicin-
ity, for the purpose of forming a col
Ony TO go West early in the spring.
They cannot do better than come to
Southwest Missouri. True, there is
no navigable water flowing through
this section, and no railroad completed;
but we have plenty of clear, raj id
streams; and the, Southern Pacific
Railroad, running from st. Louis TO
the Kansas line, in a southwesternly
direction, is being pushed forward as
rapidly as money and means can ac-
cOmplish its construction. This road,
after getting through the Usage noun
tain region, penetrates the very Eden
of Southwest Missouri, with thousands
OF acres of valuable land inuring to