Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1879-05-10
THE G. & A. EXTENSION.

A correspondent Of the Chicago
Times, writing from Kansas City. under
date of April 9th, thus speaks of the
country through which our new railroad
passes:
During the past six years my business
has called me into almost every section
OF our western country, and l have al
ways endeavored to ascertain as fully as
possible the advantages and disadvan-
tages of its different localities. / have
seen the almost %boundless prairies on
the Illinois Central railroad. and recog-
nize the i~nexhaustible fertility of their
soil and its capabilities, but have recog-
nized as we'll its disadvantages, and re-
allied that 1t does not meet the require
ments of every one looking for a per-
manent home. l have looked upon the
beautiful lands of northern Illinois, and
until now have felt that in Winnebago
county all the demands of man should
be satisfied when looking tor a home.
| have seen other portions OF Ohio and
Kentucky which almost %entranced n
with visions of beauty and fertility, but
so fully developed that there seemed
nothing more for man or Creator to do
to satisfy every desire. I have, on gazing
upon the lands on either SIDE OF the
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy railroad.
asked myself, is this land equaled any
where in all this broad republic tor
beauty and fertilityP In coming hither
around Bloomington, and on certain
locations on the Jacksonville road, I
have such visions OF beauty of Landscape.
and such evidences oi fertility OF soil,
that l almost concluded ! have never
seen it equa ed before.
But l have seen within the past two
days in Saline, Lafayette and jackson
counties, Missouri. through which the
extension OF the Chicago ard Alton rail-
road uns. more beautiful land. and
which 1 predict will yet command q
higher prlce, than any l have ever look
ed upon before. During the whole dis.
lance from Glasgow. to Kansas City ]
failed to see a single acre of waste OF
unproductive land. As far as the eye
could reach on either side it was Slightly
rolling, and every square foot suscept-
ible oil cultivation by machinery, and in
a climate adapted for raising almos,
everything the wants of man require.
The fields are as green as those around
Chicago in June, apple trees IN full,
bloom, corn already out of the ground
in many cases. many varieties of trees
In lull leaf, wheat covering the ground
in verdnre, and stock and sheep grazing
In luxuriant pasturage. Most Of the
land was under cultivation. and when
these crops are harvested and delivered
at the depots | predict the profits from
its transportation will more than justify
the most sanguine expectations, of thu
! directors OF the road Or the desire of it!
stockholders, And when this beautiful
country is subdlvided into smaller farms
as 1t is sure to be, aud they produce tt
the amount of their capacity. it will hav'
a local business which will sustain it re
CARELESS of all eastern or western cOn
:, nections. Old residents inform me thes
three counties are the best In The state
, and that this beautiful land extends Ia
! back either side OF the railroad, and tina
r we can hardly realize the amount ant
n variety OF productions seeking transpor
Il Itation by this railroad. Cuts and ravine
along the road three and four feet dee
reach no subsoil, but a combination c
y clay and loan just right for productive
d ness, and still easy OF cultivation, and
lam assured by old residents it is nc
~subject to the droughts or extreme we
seasons so damaging to many section
OF the west. 1t is elegantly watere
and fairly wooded. and coal seems to b
found in sufficient quantities to justif
the expectation that there Is s~uficier
= Tor al: coming time. 1t really seems a
), it the Almighty showed iavoritism i
finishing up this section of His hand
a work. and l fully believe that In comm
= time these lands will be the homes
- an agricultural community as wealthy
prosperous and cultured as those OF ar
section OF the American republic.