Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1871-04-27
For the Belnsss Oasuats,s

For the Belneps 0hruatsle4 FEr
CEDAR RAPIDs, Iowa, April 9th, 1870.
DEAR cCHRoN1CLE;, Sincs We last
wrote You, we have made q flying trip
down into the great city of Missouri,
and thought that perhaps q briefsketch
of the result of our observations might
not fail to interest at least some
of your many and intelligent readers;
hence, we make an essay to pen you
token of appreciation and respect.
Our trip lay via Burlington and OF
tumwa, Iowa and Macon city, Mis-
souri,; here we struck the Hannibal and
st. ] ,seph Railroad, and thence, took
a westwardiy course to Laclede, point
on the above Railroad and about la
miles west OF Hannibal. From Cedar
Rapids, took enthusiastically course
in the valley Of the Cedar and Iowa
rivers and crossed the latter at COlums
bus Junction; along these water courses
is an abundance ct timber which Is
mostly good and mm3p up principally
Of maple, hlaekeWalnat, iQaks, and cot
touW0oa.a Asfaxu aDa oar .0hsefvxtions
have extended III tho dvefs and small
streams in the Westera beatod with an
abpndAuee Of timber, . which, we are
told, grows very fast. When the large
timber b cut OF, there is always lux.
uriaut growth of underwood which
soon assumes size large enough to
make good posts and Grewood. The
country between; this city and BuYling-
ton presents variety gf phases; some
slUughs, qnagmires, and qRicksands
aEH f0and, but Q good deal of the country
in the southern part is very attractive
to tAeeyes Of Q traveller. In the neigh
bOrhood Of Skunk river, west Of Bur-
lington, are lands that will challenge
the world In point ~ fertility; Along
the north Missouri Railruad, in north-
ern Missouri, there appears to be an
abundance Of tplhef Of . eood quality
pears to beef q good quslityand in a
thrifty condition. The country along
the III. d St. =. r. r. presents different
aspects, bat 1t is; not so varied as that
previously noted, and on an average
we must unhesitatingiy pfonounce 1t as
good as any we have seen, especially
Is this true of that surrounding the VII
lage of Laclede; this place has a popula-
ton of about one hundred inhabitants,
two churches, and schools in which four
teachers are employed, and is situated
on dividing ridge of the creeks, Tur-
key creek ON the east, and Locust creek
on the west; and besides, as before
stated As its having the H. 4 st. J. Rail-
road passing through it, there is good
lair prospect for the competition of 2
Road which is partly graded and
which will connect with the n: E.,
run 8. W., passing through Simeus, the
County seat, Laclede, and connecting
with o branch Road, running from
Chilicothe, a point on the ii. d Sc. j.,
to Brunswick point on the West
branch MN. r. R.,a which connects
directly with Kansas city, thus giving
Laclede direct conps ction with the n.
E., s. W., E., W., and IS. T.. which
with its desirable locality viii certain
'lainly have tendency to attract inn
migration and capital, and open trade,
and as the country develops its, re-
sources, thereby make this thorough
ly business centre. The knd here lays
beautifully, has astable and productive
soil, and rests on a. .fhree.foot vein Of
COAL which crops out here ut some
points. Bfook6eld, El04 miles west Of
Hannibal, is . city Of seyefd ti3olisand
inhabitants and pe1aapS ;p06s011BS aS.
much attraction for. the westward
pianeefs ss the mafqrity 0f Western
citita.g Al cod SHAFT b being sunk here,
which Is quite an ifend lt ,Bnrier,
East q BnOOk6eld, there Is Local mine
ltrsady In operation and is said 10 yield
= very good quality Of that invaluable
B sels .s .sss sss s Ss.ss Srsssss ssss
c9ess 81 ossr sbs W., ss think nie
is simpix relating the. truth In . generic,
sS.E Is ssS gss,.Ssls siS.e fssSis sss
HsSsS E ss sgssss 8 ks ses sssls ass;
and eyerythin9 tands to edetract and
nothing 70 attract of e least 70 retain
il. There isno market; nothing to sell,
heaee'nothing 70 create Q market. An
unfsvoFAble season edectg the West
diHbpently fromsth East; here are no
maHnfaeturiee, the country undevelop-
ed, everythin9 TO do. everything ~ de
paete the purse Of the farmer, the peo-
pieare lspd-poor and house-poof, and
the crops the main dependence. II the
crops fail, the monetary channel Ii dried
up, the farmers are in debt and nothing
with which to pay, and every branch
of trade is stagnAted and the whole
countTysis oppressed with tho incubus
Of monetary scarcity; add to this the
additional tax for building school
houses, public houses, and Railroads
and we believe the real monetary con-
dition Of many parts Of the West will
be realized. Rutsthis is noble c0unfry.
Her beauty and the vastness OF her
agricultural resources can scarcely be
conceived; and . good crop over the
West this year will give to business
renewed energy and vitality and thor
'oughly metamorphose every branch Cf
trade. In Missouri, wheat prospects
are glorious. -. d.
; ANEcporEar 6rEsxB.- -sstezne being
one day ins coffee house, observed q
spruce young fellow 1t the .dreside who
was speaking ofthe clergy - Q body Of
disciplined inpOcteKs. Stcrne got Nm
while the young man was speaking and
approached the FIRE, pattinX and coax
ing favorite little dog. Coming 1t
length close tothe gentleman, he said:
Hs.Sir, this would be. the prettiest little
Eanimal in the world, had he not one
disorder. p" stWhat disorder is that ?'e
asked the fellow. '.sWhy sir," replied
.Sterne,s isone that always, makes him
bark when he sees gentlenlsn in
n