The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1874-06-11
WESTERN MISSOURI.
Letter from the Rev. r.. v. CampbelI.
BUTLER, Mo-, June 9th, 1877!

buTLER, MO-, June 9th, 1874.
Ep1roa JouRNAI.--It would have been
wiser if had declined to comply with your
request, at least until had become some
what acquainted with this State. As it IL.
can only give you ohatty sort Of
ACCOUNT OF THINGS.
First, then, please bear in mind that the
name OF this State is Missouri, the name
OF the county Is Bates, and tho name Of the
town is Butler; population Of county, 90
900; Of tho town 1000. As l came
through the eastern and middle parts Of the
State ia the night time, know nothing
about them. The first thing notioesbl,
was the
ENORMOUS BREADTH OF oosN
that is planted. Turn my eyes which way
would, l was still more likely to see corn
than wheat. There are yet vast prairies
not enclosed, and here thousands of cat
tie are grazing. They are brought from
Kansas and Northern Missouri, while the
grass is young and abundant. OF course
they are herded day and night, and are des-
tined for Chicago and New York. About
this corn; what is done with it 1t is now
worth Is cents per bushel, though in the
fall it is worth but fifteen cents. Much of
1t is fed to stock and much is shipped to
the South, where corn cannot be raised.
THE PRAIRIEs HERE DIFFER
from those in Minnesota in that they arc
much more rolling; indeed, in some looali-
ties, they nearly cease to be prairies. The
soil l do not as yet understa nd, as it is
sandy and yet limestone abounds. I have
been accustomed to associate this stone
with clay soil, but my theory fails here,
for the soil seems to DO warm, and is
warm, as it is we'll adapted to the culture
Of the sweet potato. I see the vines grow
ing in nearly all the gardens. One
thing find here as a pleasant contrast
with Minnesota, that is,
FRUIT,
apples. cherries, pears and especially
peaches. From the number Of peach trees
on the farms, should judge them to be
mostly seedlings and of course inferior.
The peach crop promises to be most abun-
dant this season, and am told that this
fruit is rarely ever failure. Some kinds
of apples do not do well here, among
which are the Geniton and wine-sap. To
show how these people do in the fruit line
take this as an example. One Of my
elders lives just outside the corporation
line and he has young orchard Of one
thousand apple trees in bearing.
THIS VILLAGE
has superb view on all sides, tho prairie
stretching away in undulations, so that
looking over the timber in the lowlands
from our front door, can see houses eight
and ten miles distant. The growth Of this
county is something marvellous. You may
remember that at the time of the Kansas
trouble, it was depopulatea by order Of
Gen. Ewing, and IN the year 1866 there
were only 500 people in the entire county
OF thirty miles square now there are TO-
ooo. This town was entirely destroyed
during the Rebellion, and in 1868
there were but Eve houses. The people
are from Pennsylvanla, Ohio, Indiana and
Kentucky principally. There are several
families from the neighborbood of Mari
eta. The town is Southern in style ::
that is, the court house occupies the cen.
ter of grand square and the business
houses are arranged about that square and
face towards it. 1t is wonderful how
much business is done here the merchants
are all happy, and I have not heard even
one man complain of dull or hard times.
We have in town two excellent steam four
ing mills, saw mill, and WOODEN fac.
tory of 120 spindles which turns out IN
excellent grade of cloth.
With all these actions, I sadly
MISS THE LOVELY LAKES
ana sparkling waters of Minnesota, and
long to get drink from some of the st..
Cloud wells. By the way, I was not here
many hours till met St. Cloud man.
Guess 1ho Well, it was Miles Brown.
He inquired abou: all the old settlers. 1
DO not know what he is doing. do not
find it any warmer here yet than it is with
you at this season. Wood and coal are
both abundant and cheap wood 81 per
cord, and coal delivered at eleven cents
per bushel. More anon,
E. V. CAMPBELL.