Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1883-07-28
LEXINGTON, n11ssoIRI, SATURDAY July Is 1888
s.a h1.sQVGRERN MISSOURI sbul
oYEsar. thgs so2aatakSs ths c6drae eafella4 Ii En-
pire Takes its way. I.,ts i'ii
Herr AFraculib raj, Nor SIC ylsnrAl
ana aMtIeral sEsesourees. Lamhir u
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Ar Ar .EE8hnaiop afa Plain Authentic Facts,
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h IL 1.-THE THE NTIELLIGENcERG = nEAH EDrT0Ri
weary every mall bfinRs fettets Of inquiry
FROM northerh Missouri, Snd hsvink pprronfsed
I hans ofgsuT readers sasseef adsseriBhf ifd
fsbstract uthiaI southern co,uttSs wilsaoa,
with Nour, peEmisssiog, sonnly. L -gansfbr
i; enter upon this task prompted by no sell
fish, other motive. I am not q. land specue
i - pr am extending my apprecistloh / II
-.-e ride oserthe. ozArks, received at the
hand Of some railroad company who have =
rocky hillside they want to build city on.
assume it simply as source Of satisfaction to
the thousands whose attention has been d.
rected this way by numerous published ac-
counts, but afraid yet to venture, knowing
full well the propensities OF men to lie IN the
interest of their several causes. And, dust
here let me say that the H. q. Times had q
correspondent q few weeks ago writing up
Augusta and the pigeon roost, who would
| almost lie without cause-just forfun.
have travelled over portions Of thirteen
| counties of southern Missouri and by way Of
abbreviation will say, that I find all the coun-
try south Of a parallel with, Springfield very
similar as regards the points indicated above,
except in climate, and the immense forests of
yellow pine of which only few extreme
southern counties can boast, and there is no,
doubt very short distance on the southern
slope Of the Ozarks makes aomarked differ
ence in the seasons. With these facts before
your readers will write, of Oregon county
chiefly. :. i
Oregon county is a border county; was or
ganized in 1915, and contains an area of a
fraction less than 100000 acres, At the be-
ginning Of the war Oregon had population
OF about 5000; during the war the county was
almost depopulated. During the ten years
between 1850 and 1880, her gain was only
about 800 souls. In the decade interve ming
1870 and 1880. the increase was only about
2,5o0; giving her population of about 5,70O
In 1880. During the last three years the
population of Oregon county has nearly
doubled. Good authority gave me the list at
10000 for this writing. Compared with the
northern counties of the state, the taxable
wealth OF this county would not increase in
proportion to the increase of population from
tne TACT that those who emigrate here are
usually in moderate circumstances and in
many cases are less able to pay taxes on the
Land they buy than were the spectators from
whom they bought it. However, we do not
require much revenue, the county owes only
about $4,000 and the proposition is to pay
$o,ooO OF that this year. We have a good
courthouse and Jail, and poor-farm con-
tanning something less than 500 acres of land
with buildings sufficient for this climate. I |
believe there is not bridge in the county,
and we do not need bridge in the county and |
we DO not want any; very few at any rate.
The lands of this county are quite varied in |
The north and northeastern part /
Is 1t appears to me, just about as rough as it
could have been made, suffice it to say that
anywhere in Oregon county north of the
river Eleven Points, ,can be found a fac -simile
10 the location of Kansas City. These hills
and rocks, however, are in a great measure
atoned for by $4,000 acres of as fine yellow
pine timber as ever grew; beside the herds of
1eer and the flocks of turkeys finding there
friendly and undisturbed resort in the time
u their propagation; and the hundreds of
1ever failing springs of purest water, which,
Ike SO many strands of silver flow from eyery
hillside and rushing down their rocky way
eem attuned to the doleful cadenees of the
'nclent pine whose feet they wash and with
me accord bespeak in tones of fear the AL
Mighty power, the everlasting glory of Him
Who could create scene like this. 81.
Ihese forests Of pine are as yet but little
worked. There is perhaps not more than :
wo saw mills in this county engaged in cut
Ing this timber. The reason of this is. the
Ocal demand is not sufficient to pay more
nd there are no shipping facilities within
easonable hauling distance. A. j. Lasley, Z
ocated six miles northwest of Alton, is cut y
ing from 1900 to 10000 feet per day, the
reater part of which is hauled on wagons to
ifferent points on the K. c., S. &M.
nd distances ranging from twenty to thirty
liies. This state of affairs will not lastlong.
iither the Doniphan branch of tue Iron Il
fountain road will be extended or the X. c., c
F. q M. company will provide a means of Il
citing this lumber into the markets.
IN the south and southwestern part of the "
Ouhty the greater part Of the land can be p
litlVated. Here is q vast amount Of valley e
no uP-lands. These up-lands are known Ia
ere as barrens-all of which are good farm W
lg lands. The timber in this portion of the II
'unty consists of black. red, Spanish, white b.
I'D post-oak and hickory. 1t is unusually II
nall, but occasionally can be seen some fine al
slts of white oak and walnut near water cl
purses. We have men here who can re- tl
ember when there was no timber on the at
o-lands. These barrens have always been Is
nsidered of little value as agricultural lands 10
1tll within the last few years. Let this be pi
1t may, do not wish to discuss the relative OF
erits of the different character of land and to
i'll give as my impartial opinion that at
f1cient grain of all kinds to supply the local vi
,mand can be raised on either, and that the W.
an who undertakes to make grain raising ee
the outside world profitable makes seri. &C
hen the water will want to use all the '''
ace between the bluffs. He will not find ~
In the up lands, because the land will not
oduce sufficient quantities without the exJt =.
nditure of vast amount of time and money g.
preparation. Under the present mode of 40
eparation and cultivation the average yield II
corn, on the up-lands is about 80 bushels, Nv
heat 10 bushels, oats about 30 bushels. That pi
the valleys and river bottoms would show ci'
increase Of probably ten per cent in an or ~
nary season. ! am convinced that any of up
is land would produce more than it does 81
th better cultivation. Our ~ erage farmer liz
es not plow, he scratches, and it is poor l"'
ratch at that. Many of them believe that q
en- blowing il ruinous 10 hnth lapds ond III