The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1879-08-28
Tne starh guuuu aeauera 2mp as s7a

become comparatively useless. How
much Of our time is thrown away, or
not properly utilized by searching for re-
freshing knowledge, and gathering pearls
and gems in the field of thought.
Joplin, the lead city, is in Jasper coun'
ty, and two or three years ago was a
town of ten or twelve thousand people,
but the decline in lead has lessened la
Dor and production in that direction,
and we learn the population is consider
ably less than three years ago. Fortunes
have been made in lead by the lucky
ones. Zinc, that few years ago was
hardly worth bothering with, now com.
mands Ikice that partly makes up for
the low price of lead, and hence the dig.
ging goes on more or less. We saw them
digging for lead and zinc in Carthage, al
though no profitable strikes have been
made in or near Carthage. The lead and
coal in this part of Missouri and Kansas
have induced the building Of railways
and branches, so that this region is be.
ing well provided with railway facilities.
While in Carthage we met Fred. Burk-
hart, of Lamar. Mr.. B. is county clerk
and recorder of Barton county, adjoin'
ing Jasper, serving his third term. He
was born in old Bethlehem, and learned
the type setting art in Canton, in the
German Office with Mr.. Hafenbradle.
He had good many questions tn ask of
persons and things in Canton and Stark
county.
We extended this trip to Springfield,
being also our second visit there. Broth
er John has been in the hardware trade,
and dealing largely in agricultural ma.
Chinery since shortly after the war.
Springfield is fine town, the Oldest
prominent town in southwestern Mis-.
souri,. It is the residence of Governor
Phelps, the present Governor, and is a
town Of considerable wealth and bust
ness. Carthage will, ere long, dispute
the palm with Springfield, for the latter
town now does not exceed the former in
population more than a thousand or two.
Three miles from Springfield is one Of
the seventy soldiers cemeteries in the
country, which we visited. 1t is beau
tifully situated and kept in fine trim.
The keeper has residence of stone and
is much of a gentleman. Of those inter-
red, Sl7 are known and 1877 are un.
known. or the 70 soldiers cemeteries
1S are in Virginia, in Missouri, in
Kansas, l in Indian territory, and 8 in
Arkansas.
Springfield is in an elevated locality,
being about the summit of the Ozark
range of hills The country is consider
ably rocky and stony, and the soil not
that of the rich vallies of Kansas. OF
course there is much good land, but
whoever buys land in that region had bet.
ter be sure he is right, that is, if he wants
farming land.
After pleasant stay, excepting the
hot weather, of near week, we return.
ed by the same route to Kansas city.
This city of enterprise is the town of
that region. Great strife has existed for
years between Kansas City, Atchison
and Leavenworth. The railway compa.
nies that sought for years to make the
other towns the great points, have been
compelled to give it up and run their
lines to Kansas city, and business men,
too, are removing tbither.
Judge Jenkins told us of Leaven.
worth man calling to see about renting a
warehouse the Judge had charge Of
When informed the rent was $125 a
month, he said such building could be
rented at Leavenworth for $3.50 year.
He returned in a week and told the
Judge he would take the warehouse /;
but was informed the building was rent
ed the very day he was there before.
Buildings and houses Of all kinds are
thus snapped up in Kansas city. We
were told of business building, 40 feet
front, that in ten years had brought the
owner $4,000, being 40 per cent on the
cost. a.-
The Alton railway has proved bless.
ing to the town. Before its completion
freight was $l25 car, and after, was put
down to $40 car from Chicago to Kan
sas city, All are familiar with the way
the fare to St Louis, Chicago and New
York has been tomahawked, so cents to
St. Louis, $5 the round trip, used to be
$l4; to Chicago 81 30 and to New York
$l5. Competition in some things is a
blessing, and especially in railway traf.
tic, encouraging travel and promoting
trade.
After day or two's rest we took the
Alton route for Chicago, enjoying the
luxury Of reclining chairs, and seeing,
to US new portion Of the grand farm
ing State of Illinois. AS far as we could
see through Missouri and Illinois, the
crops of wheat and oats had been good,
and the corn crop promised well.
[To BE CONTINUED
TO THAT BLATANT REPUBLICAN,,
WHO SAYS THERE WAS NO CON-
TRACTION.