Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1879-04-26
DUB

DUB COUNTY.
Our county contains about S95 ,00C
acres OF land. three fourths of which
Is prairie. We have 23. 900 inhabitants
have a river frontage Of fifty miles
have III miles of railroad. to-wit: st
Louis and Lexington, 2sl; Chicago ane
Alton, 81; Kansas City and Eastern
12 we ship more grain and live stock
than any other county In the state o
the same size; have as fine horses
mules and cattle as can be found in thu
state; raise and ship more fruit thar
any other county in the state; have more
coal than any other county. and shiE
probably as much as any other county
Our 500. 900 acres of land is as good as
any other body of land the same size
on the face of the earth. We raise
as much corn and wheat per acre as
any other county; We have more fine
fruit orchards than any other county /;
we have as secure and handsome pub
lie buildings. as any other county,
we have as good roads and bridges.
and as good a system tor working
and keeping them up; the expenses
of our county government will compare
favorably with those of any other county
In the state.
We have managed to compromise q
fraudulent debt (plaoed upon Us when
our people were disfranchised) better
and more successfully than any other
county in the state. We have reduced a
debt of 81. 200. 900. which drew interest
at the rate OF 10 per cent, to q debt of
$738 ZOO, at 6 per cent. Our county
has given the new or compromise bonds
its moral pledge by voting on the prop
osition to fund the old bonds, and by the
election OF officers to carry out their
pledge. which gives the holders of our
new bonds the word and honor of q true
and intelligent people that their bonds
shall be paid when due, and that the IN
terest shall not default. Our taxes will
compare favorably with most of the
counties in the state. being. for county
purposes, 80 cents On the 800 valua-
ton. Yet. if you walk into the court
house in u nelghboring county of
johnson. where the dirt 10 six inches
deep on the floor, and whore their
ty records are insecure-without a fire
proof building to hold them-some of
the people there will tell you that La
fayette county is bankrupt. And when
you 60 to eur neighboring county OF
where NO court house can be
found. with no safe place for their re-
cords. and where the people of Sedalia
(the future capitol of our state) pay
.fue per cent faces, you will be
told by some that the taxes are too high.
&C.. and yet, It you will walk down to
their depot when the Lexington train
comes In to their city. you a hear the
men say that the Lexington
branch train brings more freight than
Any other fifty miles of road in the state
hat it would be a. good q fortune as a
nan could want.
A gentleman came out from Kentucky
winter with . view of locating some
where in our state. He stopped at Sc
lalia with some of his friends, who I'D.
him to keep out of Lafayette coun-
y. as the taxes were enormously high,
be. He visited . number OF counties,
Pettis a careful survey. Finally
,e told his friends that he would, Just
or the novelty OF the trip. take the train
visit Lafayette county for a day.
lie came in the morning and returned
he same evening, and this is the tale he
well. I saw the biggest corn
talks in Lafayette county l have seen
'ince 1 left Kentucky l saw the best
of wheat I have yet seen in Mis-
'ouri; I got off the tram at a little sta
ion called Aullville; 1 borrowed a
'pade, and in walking from farm to farm
often dug down to see how deep the
was, and in several places 1 went
Town three feet. and failed to reach the
bottom; l came up to q farm house, and
conversation with the owner told him
t was a great pity that such a rich and
inc country should be so burdened with
axes; he seemed astonlshed at my re-
mark, and invited me into his house, |
vent to his desk, drew forth q tax re-
'eipt. saying II paid my taxes the other
lay; let Us see how they run You see,
ny land is assessed at ten dollars per
.cre; (less than one-half its value,) we'll,
lere we figure the state tax at 40 cents,
he county tax 80 cents, the road tax 10
cents, (this l work out on the road) the
'chool tax 80 cents-so. all told, my taxes
IRE 81 60 on the 800 valuation ; besides,
'ir, our taxes are being reduced every
'ear; we have no floating debt, our
being u on a cash basis, Sc"
babe him good evening, and have
made up my mind to buy a farm in La
ayette county; I an sorry that I cannot
'emain IN Pettis, but you know we Ken
uckians want the best of land, that which
will grow hemp ii we desire to raise it.
labor is scarce. and l would rather have
me acre OF number one, than two acres
f second rate lands"
The people OF Lafayette county do not
to deceive any one, and we do
'ot desire to misrepresent. but we say.
q all candor. that Lafayette county, in
'ur opinion. Is the best agricultural
ounty in the state. This was, before
he war. the great hemp growing coun-
and all know that it requires number
land for hemp. The great trouble
ere is that the farms are too large; our
own toom much land, and can not
i've it proper attention.
THE RELIEF FUNDS.
The negro relief committees OF St.
'ouis have fallen out about the DISPOSE,
on Of the funds, and the result Is thu,