The Lincoln County herald., 1871-11-30
SCRAPS Of County Hisssry.
By "MAC."

sands Of people have come to tho Mis-.
sis.ippi river At Hannibal and Louisiana,
aud kept straight on west, never think.
ing of turning south aud finding the
best of farming lands within forty 10
sixty miles of St. Louis. Very few of
these emigrauts knew there was such .
county 40 Lincoln. The reasons Of their
passing us by may be generally given.
First, tho location of our county being
such that there is no ferry on the Miseis.
sippi on our 80 miles Of river front, or
for miles both above and below our
county lines. The second and most i'm.
portant reason is, that our county has
not been advertised, written about. or
talked about outside Of our own borders.
The United States census Of 1870
places our population at 1885. No
town in the county had a population Of
800. There we're no large manufactur-
ing establishments and after making
liberal allowances for all the trades and
professions, there we're about $4,000 Of
our people living on farms. Yet there
are thousands Of acres Of as good laud
in this county as can be found anywhere,
in the condition It was ut the time Of the
discovery Of America. 1t does not pro
duce, and never has produced, q grain Of
wheat.
With over 600 square miles Of land
aud only about 1900 farms, and no emf
grafton worth mentioning, We are not
doing our duty to our county or our
selves, when we keep quiet and like
Mcawber "wait for something to turn
up" Our population does not increase.
We should let the outside world know
the advantages we have to offer, and
show that our county is capable Of pro
ducing, end has produced, moro and
better tobacco, corn, wheat and other
grain per acre than lands Of other coun.
ties have or can produce; and that our
markets are as good and more acceptable
than other parts of this and other states
which are reapiug the benefits Of large
increase Of population by emigration
from the Eastern and Southern states.
This county has about IS miles Of
navigable river front-32 miles on the
Mississippi and 13 miles on Cuivrc river.
There are q number Of landings at which
boats take on and discharge freight. |.
is 60 miles from the lowest landing to
St. Louis, and as freights by river are
always cheaper than ny railroad, the east.
ern half of our county can have its pro
ducts put on the St. Louis market at the
same cost as sections of country who use
the railroad, and are within Is or 20
miles Of the city.
A strip of land on the Mississippi
varying in width from two to Eve miles
aud extending the whole lenth of this
county, parts of which are subject to
overflow in times of extreme high water
is called the "Mississippi bottom" Thi.
land is iuexhaustably fertile, and its soil
is Of uufuthomable depth. Some Of the
wealthiest Of our citizens have made
much money BY pasturiug their Aock'
and herds on this bottom during the sum
mer and taking them to market in the
fall. An occasional sailing was all the
attention given to make q herd Of 6ne
fat besves.
A gentleman has come here the pas,
year and expended several thousand dol
lars in the purchase and improvement o.
these lands; and if the experience ol
past times proves anything, then it is
certain that all our friend Brevador has
expended will return to him increased q
thousand fold. There are thousands Of
acres Of the bottom not enclosed, and
offered for sale st merely nominal figures
Extensive stock farms might be made
or hay from the meadows would command
the best prices as soon ss the tame grasses
succeed the rank prairie grass. And ten
to twelve hours from the time Of starting
from home, man may BE- in the market
at St. Louis.
To conduct either . stock or hay farm
so that it will "pay" to its full capacity,
requires considerable capital; but the
profits OF such investments are aud will
continue TO be far greater than ten per
cent compound interest 10 immediate
returns, not to count the increase 10 the
value Of the lands.
ITO be continued ssmi-occasionslly.]