Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1879-06-28
LAFAYETTE COUNTY.
The tide of returning prosperity which

The tide of returning prosperity which
we believe is about to visit the country
would naturally bring with it to Lafay-
cite county many persons desiring to
make investments in real estate. and we
feel very confident that the completion
of the Chicago & Alton railroad through
the entire length OF the county will give
to this tendency a very great impetus.
The value of a great trunk line, with
such cities as Kansas City, St. LOUIS and
Chicago as terminal points. can hardly
be overestimated, giving. as it does, the
greatest possible facility OF transporta-
ton, when taken in connection with the
Missouri Pacific and Kansas City & Eas-
tern railways, and the Missouri river.
With these tour great transportation
routes there are very few agricultural
counties in the United States so well
provided with means Of marketing their
produce.
Lafayette county contains $4,000
acres of land. about three-fourths OF
which is prairie. The soil is OF great
depth and very rich, the lands being &C.
knowledged as being the best agricul-
tural lands IN the state OF Missouri. The
beauty of the country is proverbial and,
as we might naturally in our local pride.
paint it c0uleur de rose, we present the
testimony of a stranger, who wrote as
follows from Kansas City to the Chicago
Times, last April: 81 have looked upon
| the beautiful lands of northern Illinois.
and until now have felt that in Winnie
bago county all the demands of man
should be satisfied when looking for a
home. 1 have seen other portions of
Ohio and Kentucky which almost en-
tranced one with visions OF beauty and
fertility. but SO fully developed that
there seemed nothing more for Creator
or man to do to satisfy every desire. l
have, on gazing upon the lands on either
side of the Chicago. Burlington & Quin-
cy railroad, asked myself, is this land
equalled anywhere in all this broad re-
public for beauty and fertility? In COM
ing hither around Bloomington, and on
certain locations on the Jacksonville
road, l have seen such visions of beauty
of landscape, and such evidences of fer
Utility of soil, that l have almost conclu-
ded 1 had never seen it equalled before.
But 1 have seen within the past two
days in Saline, Lafayette and Jackson
counties, Missouri, through which the
extension of the Chicago & Alton rail-
road runs. more beautiful land, and
which I predict will yet command a
higher price than any l have ever look
ed upon before. During the whole dis
lance from Glasgow to Kansas City I
failed to see q single acre OF waste or
u%nproductive land"
This county has about 10000 inhabi-
tants; it has fifty miles of river front,
and III miles of railroad. 1t ships more
gram and live stock than any county il
the state; has as fine horses, cattle, mules
and hogs as a be found even in Ken
lucky. 1t raises and ships more fruit
than any county in the state. and is III
derlaid with a vein of the very best of
coal, which is being successfully mined.
For hemp, wheat. corn, oats: rye, fruit,
the soil and climate cannot be surpassed.
Health is exceptionally good. The
county has good roads and bridges; has
$50 900 in its school fund; good public
schools; excellent female seminarles;
and churches of all the various denomi-
nations. The finances of the county are
managed by able and honest officers.
who have the entire confidence of the
people. The present valuation of the
property OF the county is $4,000, 900.
The present rate of taxation for state,
county and school purposes, all COM
bined, is 81 60 on the 500. The debt
of the county. formerly a large one, is
greatly reduced by good management,
and with matters controlled as they now
are, will be gradually e1tinguished
without increasing taxation.
To farmers who are living upon high
priced lands in the east, and who desire
to settle their children around them on
good land and in an intelligent and NOR
al community. we would extend an in
v~itation to visit this county. The lands
are better than those further west, and,
taking the improvements into consider
alton, cheaper. Owing to the general
shrinkage of values magnificent farms
can be bought for so little money that
when the value of the houses, outbulld-
ings and fences is reckoned, it is found
that the land is a free gilt.
The people Of Lafayette are a genial,
temperate, mora, industrious and frugal
people. They are h%ospitable and neigh
borly. Law and order are enforced by
fearless Inc conscientious officers. The
people desire immigration. Their farms
are now too large. and it is desirable
that they should be divided. Situated
just tar enough south to give US mild
winters. we are far enough north TO Sc
cure Ice in winter. and to have sufficient
frost Inc 10Y to freeze and %renovate
the soil. In fine, there is no better
country on Gods tootstool. If you don't
believe US, come and see.
MI. Eugene Lawrence, in ar editorial
which we speak of at length elsewhere,
says of the republicans who controlled
the southern states, '.the measures OF
the reformers of 1885-7O have not been
without their lasting effect" and pro-
ceeds to set out what he considers their
benefits. He forgets to say that the
measures" of these "reformers" were
principally directed to increasing the
debta Of the southern states the follow
ing sums: Alabama, 1926, 7O5, 7S1; Ar
kansas. S15. 1928, 1856; Florida, Sl5, 1885,
456; Georgia, S:2,912, $50: Louisiana,
1923, 5O6, 474; Mississippi, ST, 1867 ,449;;
North Carolina. $l9, 10Y .522; South Car
DINA, S9,441, $50; Tennessee. $5.277,-
1879; Texas, $12, 629 ,O2l, and Virginia,
Sc, 1923 1923. The grand total OF this in
crease amounting to the immense sum