The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1873-10-17
Correspondence.
A Trip Through Holt County
Notes by the Way.

iEh
me at Fairview, Holt county. From
thence | crossed the prairie west to the
bluffs, five miles south of Mound City,
and stopped with Il friend. In crossing
the prairie, l observed quite a change
in the face of the county within the
past two years. Quite a large num-
her of new farms have been opened, and
thousands of acres of that rich prairie
soil. in which Holt county abounds, has
been brought under cultivation, and
signs of thrift and industry are visible ali
around. There are thousands of acres
of good prairie lands in this county yet
unimproved, which can be bought for
from $40 to Sl5 per acre. On these
prairics We're grazing herds of cattle, OF
from fifty tn one hundred head each,
scattered in every direction over the
prairies. In looking over the amount
of stock grazing on these prairies, one
is led to wonder what becomes of so
much flesh. But when we go to one OF
the main lines of railways to the East,
and see the number OF long trains OF
cattle and hogs going eastward, we no
longer wonder where they go, but ''who
| eats them?:" The answer comes, 1.-THE
millions of our eastern cities, who are
engaged in mercantile and mechanical
pursuits, and the thousands of consum-
| erS, who are not producers, but live to
eat and wear" On my way to the north
part of the county. made 4 short call ut
Mound City. This place is located in
the bluffs, three and a half miles from
BiTelow. Il station on the Kansas City
& Council Bluffs Railroad, and within
one mile and Il halt from the geograph-
zeal center of the county. 1t contains
about $50 inhabitants and bears the
marks of thrift and enterprise. Quite Il
number of new buildings have been
erected during the past year, and Others
are in course of erection. This place
takes its name from the mound shape OF
the bluffs around it. 1t was formerly
| called Jackson's Point, from the name
of the man who kept 4 hotel ut this
| point If the bluffs. The place contains
one Westinghouse, two hotels, three
stores. three blacksmith shops. one
wagon and one shoe shop, one saw and
gri>t mill, one lumber yard, &c. There
is in contemplation 4 railroad from
| Quincy west to the Missouri river, near
| Rulo. to pass near or through this place.
From its central location and other on
Sidcrations, it is thought by some that
the county seat will be eventually Local
| ted here. Whenever the north and east
part of the county becomes more tliickly
settled, there will be a trial of their
strength in this direction. From this
| place | went to the north part of the
! county to Il new settlement called "Min-
neSota Valley" so called because its
first settlers were mostly from Mime
sofa, and on account of the beauty and
fertility of the surrounding country.
This settlement was commenced over
two years ago. by +. j. Peters, from
Belle Plainc, Minnesota. and now num-
bers twenty-five or thirty families. The
settlement already contains a commodi-
Gus school-house, furnished with the
latest style of furniture. There is also
Il small church organization of Disciples.
and every thing bctokcnS thrift, enter
prise and intelligence of the settlers.
This settlement is located on the west
fork of Squaw Creek, and is a very rich
and beautiful country, seven miles north
of Mound City, and within two miles of
the north line of the county. \. person
can stand in an elevated position, and
see, from one view, over twenty-five
farm houses, which have been erected
within the last two years. and others are
in course of erection. This settlement
is largely due to the enterprise and bIsi-
ness qualities of Mr.. +. J. Peters. who
commenced the settlement, and by his
influence induced an enterpriSing class
| of citizens To settle here. Mr.. Peters
has also made several valuable improve
| mcntS for non-residents, thus bringing
| capital and the means of employment Ia
a number of persons besides his "
family. If we had more such men in
every community, the wild prairie
| would soon be conducted into product
i've farms. Good prairie land can be
bought in this part of the county at from
$40 to SI2 dollars per acre, and north OF
| this a few miles. in Atchison county,
land can be had at from sc to ~ per
acre. Here is a fine opportunity fol-
..stock men, to keep their herds, as
| there are thousands of acres Of rs good
land as can be found in the western
country vet uncultivated, with plenty OF
wafer and the convenicnces of grazing
and farm lands. And why should men
90 to Kansas or Colorado, or any other
western State for homes, when right
in Northwest Missouri we have as good
a country 'as the sun ever shown upon?:'
The expenses of going west and i'm.
proving, and the inconvenience and
lack of as good soil, will overbalance
the difference in the price of land.
The crops in Holt county are fully
equal to any in the Northeast this sea.
son. The corn is estimated at two.
thirds of an average crop, and with the
amount OF old corn on hand, there will
be IN abundance for home use and some
to spare. The wheat sOwn looks re.
markedly well, although some of il wa.
late sown on account of the drouth
| The panic" "Well, what are YOU
| going to do about it?" said we to some
| of the stock men, who have their stock
ready to ship, and were stopped by the
blockade. 1--WE amt a going to do IN
thing about it! we are just going to lie,
| the thing slide until those easterncrs
get hungry, and then, if they have got
| any money, we can send them on u few
| more, and if the railroads will not carry
| them for us, we can drive them, by
Guinea! We have plenty of corn Il
feed them with, and the more we feed
| the heavier will be our stock" So the
farmers are not very badly scared, aftel
all. SPECTATOR.
The Farmers Movement from
Another Standpoint.
Mr.. EDIToR-The farmers movement