The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-05-01
FROM ST. LOUIS 10 CAIRO.
ste Genevieve-Gfahd rowef-=Cape
ississiPpi scenery
Floods : Agricultural = Mineral
ResOurces-POlitical, &C., &c.
Correspondence OF the Star.
CAPE GIRARDEAU; Mo-.

FLOODS = Agricultural = Mineral
urces-Political, &C., &c.
Correspondence OF the Star.
CAPE GIRARDEAU; Mo-.
April 20, 1875.
One of the most plea excursions
at this season Of the year, perhaps, is a
trip down the Father of Waters, now at
nood tide, on board Of one Of those float
ing palaeas belonging to the Anehor-line
of steamers, plying between st' Louis
and Vicksburg, Miss.
The first place of interest after leav-
ing st. Louis Is Jefferson Barracks, one
of the pioneer military posts of the Great
West, once some twelve miles distant
from old St. Louis, but now nearly abb
sorbed by the recent rapid and steady
growth of that great city.
The next place Of interest to the trav-
eler, perhaps, Is the town Of Ste.
Genevieve, sixty miles below
ST.. Louis, the Oldest town in Mis-
souri,. settled, it Is said, in 1735, in the
vicinity of which are located the Potosi
and Mine.La-M Mott lead mines, which
have been successfully operated for over
half ID century.
The next point OF especial interest is
Grand Tower, some one hundred and
twenty miles below st. Louis, in Perry
County, Ill. Here is situated the "TOwer
Rock.O a circular rock some eighty feet
in height, nearly round, and entirely sur
rounded by water. Its sides are nearly
perpendicular, the top being nearly
| level and is said to contain an area of
some three or four acres Of land, upon
which is a growth of forest and ever
green trees Of an average height Of forty
| feet, and when viewed from the deck OF
a steamer, is to say the least, most
wonderful and picturesque object. The
scenery here on both siues OF the river
Is perhaps the most varied and pleasing
to be found at any point on the Missis-
sippi.
The next place of Importance is Cape
Girardeau, Mo-, one hundred and fifty
miles below, st. Louis and some fifty
miles above Cairo, LII. This place is de-
| IlIghttully situated on an eminence COM
mandiug view of the Mississippi River
| tor several miles above and below, and
of the great and fertile "bottom" or low
land ol Illinois.
1t is surrounded by a fine agricultural
country and is destined to become the
metropolis Of Southeastern Missouri,
| and is deserving of more than passing
notice. Cape Girardeau was first set
tied by the French as far back as 1894;
the town was first laid out in 1905, anu
incorporated in 1924, since which time,
lup 10 tue War for the Union, it seems to
Ihaye made but little progress, and is
one OF the many beautiful localities in
ISouthern Missouri which show too plain.
ly the blignting effects OF slavery upon
the thrift and enterprise of its older citi
zens. And then again during the War
for a period of over four years, it was
alternately at intervals occupied by the
Union and Confederate forces, wher
each citizen was compelled to purchase
Immunity for his loyalty or disloyaity
at a very exorbiIant figure, which prae.
ticalIy impoverished its citizens. Since
, then new order OF things has prevailed
business houses have sprung up, com
merce revived and extended, railroad
enterprises inaugurated, gravel roads
( built. and the education OF the masses
| HAS been carefully and literally proyid
i | ed for.
The country surrounding Is excellen
for farming or grazing. Cotton, tobac
= co, corn, wheat, peanuts, etcs, are pre-
lduced in abundance with less cultur
q than is required in Ohio or Indiana, al
: of which hnd q ready market at tn
"Cape" at ST. Louis prices. And jus
there might add that farming lands Q
an excellent quality can be purchases
or rented on very reasonable prices an,
upon most liberal terms. In addition t.
| its excellent farming lands Cape Cir
ardeau County is we'll supplied will
minerals, among which may be namet
lead, copper and iron in abundance. Il
addition l may add, last but not least
, | in this connection ia the immense de
: posts of kaolin. or porcelain Cay, for tn
1 70, nf q oil n,,l
pure white sands, suitable for the man
ulacture of plate glass. Several acre
oil these sands and clays, together witt
an abundance oil paint OF all cOl0rs ma.
3 be seen at the banks recently opened b,
, Air, j, w. Reed, some Six miles iron
the city OH the Jackson Gravel Road
There are also numerous and EXTENSIVE
beds of marbles, suitable tor building
ETC., OF all shades and qualities, tron
which is also manufactured very supe
rior quality Of lime; also gypsum, ce
. ment, brick clays, fire brick, granite
/ sandstone, etc, in great abundance, to
getner with great bodies OF heavily tim
, Dered lands upon which may be foun,
+ sugar maple, hickory, spruce, pine, pop
: lar, etc.
Tue city of Cape Girardeau now boast
OF one of the finest harbors or ''land
lingsn of any town or city on the Mlsss
Q slppl, and the claim is, ] believe, gen
I. orally conceded. In educational faclll
!, ties 1t can not be surpassed by amy tow
3 or city in the State outside OF st. Louis
: The Southeast Missouri. State Norma
: school building recently erected here i
:. one of the most elegant and commOdiou
lstructures ofits kind in the West. Ihi
lbuiIding alone, together with tn
: grounds, furniture, &C., is valued at S175
: f0O0. This school was opened last au
: tumn, under the cnarge of Prof. l.. II
!, Cheney, as Principal, a very atfable gen
tieman and thorough and accom-
!. plished scholar, and oil practical expe
: rience as an educator. assisted by a
:, able corps of teachers. The number q
u students enrolled now number over tw
' hundred and fifty young ladies and gen
= tlemen, which will be largely increasel
= = at the opening of the school year in Ser
. tember next. In addition to the MOI
J NAL is the City Public or Graded Sehoe
!. building, q large and elegant structurt
:. | we'll furnished, The cost Of which it
! safe to say was not less than $60,00
Then there is st. Vincenrs Coilegt
= Catholic, and Young Ladies' Seminar
undar the ehareA of the SiSters of IOl