Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1880-02-19
MISSOURI.

Geographically situated In the heart Of the
United States, Il offers greater advanta ges than
any other state in the Union. It's climate is de
ilghtful and 1t iS not subject TO the wi lting cp
idemlc heats OF the South, nor 20 the cold
cherries winters OF the North. Oar winters
are short and our Aummers long. We are com
paratively free from drouths and cyclones,
which are so disastrous to the farmers In Kan
sas. The reason of this Is obvious; Kansas Is a
prairla state. continuous stretch Of level praI-
rie, having no forest 10 ward or and break the
violence OF the Winds, or prevt Mt a drOuth by
retaining q moisture furnished by the rains aud
checking rapid evaporation. Missouri is q
prairie and timber state combined consequent
ly we suffer but little from storms and drOuth.
This advantage alone should influence parties
contemplating change Of location, 10 give
Kansas wide berth, and settle within the or
ders of Missouri. I'm the Eternal itnesS Of
things" nothing could have been arranged bet
ter than the disposition OF the prairie and tim
Der land In Missouri. Our prairie and timber
alternate. There tS no prairie land that has
not timber contiguous 10 it, so that all our
prairie farms have timber belonging 10 them,
for fuel fencing and building purposes. OF
this Kansas cannot boast, but feel the necessity
for they have commenced planting forests, OF
which the next generation will hardly yet reap
the BENEFITS.
We have fertile and productive soil and an
nually produce immens. crops OF wheat, corn,
oats, potatoes, hay, apples and grapes
We have fine bottom lands, but are not bless
ed like Kansas with alkali deserts and shallow
uplands.
Our state Is rich In minerals. such as coal,
iron, lead, zinc and pOtters clay, and mining
for these Is extensively carried on. thus giving
us home consumption for all our farm pro-
ducts.
Our soil produces just as much as the best OF
Kansas soil, and just as In good quality. But
when Kansas and Missouri farmer 60 TO
dispose OF their crops 1t makes the difference.
The Missouri farmer gets higher price for his
products; And whyH Because he has home
market, because he has exercised his judgment
and located in great mining and nanuiactur-
ing state, knowing full well that where such
industries abound there Is always demand for
farm products. Even the Commissioned OF Ag-
riculture, In an indirect way, argues the supe-
riority of Missouri over Kansas, as an agricul-
tural state. He says In his report for 1878,
Missouri raised six million bushels of wheat
more than Kansas, and ive million bushels
more OF corn. For the wheat the average price
In Missouri was one dollar, while the average
price In Kansas was eighty-hye cents. For
corn the average price was twenty-seven cents
In Missouri while ii Kansas 1t was twenty y-one
cents Thus you perceive that Missouri has
the advantage OF good market.
Missouri Is judged by some people, by tho
n xrhi i.h no
Louis TO Kansas City passes; this Is unfair.
The railroad follows the line OF the Missouri
river until some distance west Of Jefferson City
and the surface along the Missouri Is broken,
hilly, and very irregular, consisting OF high,
precipitous bluffs. This is no proper way to
Judge Missouri, or to have an opinion on, as
TO Missouri'S advantages as an agricultural
state.