Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1871-06-22
FROM THE WEST.
Missouri-Its People, Lands, &c


SPRINGFIELD, No., June Is, 1871.
One can hardly realize the small space
of time required to make a trip from Knox
vile into the "Great West. Tuesday,
dinner at Knoxville; supper Wednesday
evening at st. Louis, lsix hundred and
fifty-seven miles away,) and Thursday
evening supper at Springfield, the centre
of a rich agricultural region in the great
moving, growing, prosperous State of Mis-
souri,. Fifty-fve hours sufficed for our
transit from Knoxville to this place-dis-
tance nine hundred miles-and eight hours
of that time spent in reposing on a good
bed in the Southern Hotel at st. Louis.
What change This country is filled
up, to large extent, with men formerly
from our State. We remember, when a
boy, of seeing them getting ready to come
out here. They procured good strong
wagons, covered them with canvass, pre-
pared tents, and, TO all outside appear
ances, prepared for year on the road.
Then they started on their long, dreary
journey, which required about as many
days as it now does hours. They were
subjected to all the inclemencies OF the
weather, whereas we now have palace cars,
in which one is almost as comfortable as at
home. To their energy, in Transforming
this country from wilderness to rich
productive state, we are indebted for this
great change. And the change will still
goo on. Springfield is now city of ten
thousand inhabitants, and has the appear
ance of thrift and enterprise, though the
rapid growth which characterizes many
Western cities is not met with here.
J., Much of the country between here and
st. Louis is barren and sterile, yet there is
some excellent land. The road passes over
the celebrated Ozark country, which pre-
sents some beautiful and romantic scenery.
Unlike the mountains of Tennessee, the
timber is scattered very thinly over the
mountains, which in the distance gives
them the appearance of orchards or
groves planted in regular manner for
utility or beauty. These mountains contain
ore is dug out along the Atlantic and Pa
cific road, and shipped to blast furnaces
near st. Louis. This forms very consid-
erable part of the business of the road. This
road also passes through a fine grazing
country. Thousands upon thousands of
acres are covered with the richest verdure,
upon which vast herds of fine cattle Craze
and grow fat with but little attention from
man. This forms in a large degree the in-
dustries of the country. These cattle, af-
ter arriving at maturity are sent to market
in the East, and are source OF wealth and
prosperity to the people.
But while this country presents advan-
tages superior in some respects to our own
beloved East Tennessee, we have others
they cannot claim. We find no pure, bright
sparkling water gurgling from its fountain
here, Nor do we meet the pale emaciated
chill-cursed victim i'll East Tennessee.
They may have more rich soil here than
we have, and do have it, yetwe enjoy ma
tures smiles in a much greater variety
than they. While we would not underrate
this great country, we have seen nothing
in it yet that tends to rob us of our admi-
ration for our native State.
Immigrants are still coming here by
hundreds. Every train brings them. The
stalwart young man bids adieu to his pa
rents in the older States, and is found seek
ing home among the rich prairies of Mis-
souri,. The sire of a dozen children leaves
the old homestead in the East where he
has resided half century and looks for
habitation here where he hopes to give his
numerous progeny better bringing up"
This spirit will continue to fill up the
Western country, until every acre of our
vast public domain is occupied. Many men
come West, who, if they would make the
same sacrifices, and go to work as indus
triously in the East, would make just as
much as they do here. Yet there are thous-
ands here growing immensely rich.
w. r.