Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1886-03-25
A Smith on His Travels.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo-. March 10, 1886.
Ed. Regtster-On the 25th ult. we
left st. Louis amid the smoke and bus
tie of early morning aboard one of the
Frisco passenger trains bound for
this place.
The distance being 237 miles we
spent the entire day on the train; and
we may say not as pleasantly as it
might have been, as the accommoda-
tons on the "Frisco Line" are none of
the best, aud the trains make slow time.
Nevertheless, we gave close advertence
TO the country and towns along our
way, which we will principally notice
in this report to your valuable paper.
From st. Louis to Pacific, distance
of 81 miles, we Travelled through
pretty country lying along the banks
of the Merimac River. But shortly
after leaving this point, southwardly,
we emerged, as it were, into broken
and desolate country, not altogether
depopulated; but, for our life, we could
not see what sustained people or towns.
For many miles we travelled upon u
very elevated ridge, the very back bone
of the Ozark Mountains, that seemed
too poor to produce anything except
knotty, bushy, post and black oaks.
Its only attraction consisted of broad,
deep pools Of water, here and there,
that, we were told, We're well stocked
with different varieties of fish and we
were furthermore informed that a bet
ter country lay on either side of the
road few miles away. We thought
to ourselves, be it so. However, we
would advise friends in coming to this
portion of the State to come by night
and avoid a bad case of the blues.
Yet, some so miles east of this place,
the eyes are rested and relieved from
burning, barren hills, and are allowed
iful homes which gradually improve
and grow more pleasing as you draw
nearer to this, the Queen City of the
Southwest. And when here you are
surrounded by fertile country in ev-
cry direction. Still, the further west
you travel, till into Kansas, the surface
becomes more level and the soil more
fertile, when the very apex of this
worlds fertility has been found, South
east Missouri, perhaps, excepted.
Of the more important towns we
passed through we will mention first,
Pacific. Noted for its glass and stone,
and once as having been the terminus
of the Frisco Line" Has about 1000
inhabitants and presents quite an en-
terprising appearance.
Rolla, the seat of the State School of
Mines, is f1ourishing town Of about
5000 inhabitants. We noticed very
large hotel, several mills, other manu-
factories, the usual number of business
houses, number of churches aud
many nice residences, but it did not
show the proper amount of enterprise
about its streets and public places.
Lebanon, a town of 5000 people.
seemed to be manufacturing point Of
dUlS GU VIC "ouiu
think that rents were low, owing to
the many vacant houses that we OBJ
served. Has some very nice resi-
dences, and its streets looked to be In a
better condition then those of Rolla.
Marshfield, of cyclone fame, is very
pretty town Notwithstanding having
been almost entirely swept away by a
cyclone few years ago. She has all
the industries in common with town
of 3 1000. Has number of beautiful
churches, and excels her more fortu-
nate sister towns, RolIa and Lebanon,
in the way of nice streets, and many
inviting homes attract the eye of the
passer by.
There are several other towns that
we might mention and did intend to-,
| but this makes our art Gle long enough.
Will give you for your next issue a de-
scriptive article of this beautiful little
city.
Wishing the REGISTER and all her
good people prosperous future, we are
Very Truly,
FELIX.