Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1886-05-06
IRONTON. MO-. THURSDAY. n

field had a population of $500 and wa
rapidly growing, but being the center
of the widest enthusiasm, and held a
times by both armies, suffered much
Several battles of some Importance
were fought within the city limits.
Forts and other visible indications of
war are yet to be seen. Only few
miles south the famous battle of Will
son Creek was fought where Gen. Lyon
fell. This brave mans history and
this battle is too well known to need
any comment by us in this connection.
At the close of the war Springfield had
almost declined to her attitude held in
1886, only the aspect was much more
commentable: where stood the cabin
homes and natures lovely haddiwork,
lay wrecked buildings, ashes and the
evil works of horrid war, and dis
cord and destruction was felt IN every
breast: homes once happy, with many
vacant chairs. But soon more pleas
| ing relations were reached: the Ratchet
was buried, the tide of emigration be-
gan to fl' w, and by 1870 Springfield
had population of nearly 5000. Her
darkest hours had passed, but the
| panic of 1878 TO '76 Eeld ler in check
for awhile; yet the census of 1880 show
ed gain of 5000. 1t was then, though,
that Springfield realized her greatest
boom, and to-day has 10000 iEhabit-
ants full of energy and business enter
prise. While Springfield has grown
exceedingly rapid the last few Yeas,
the growth has not been of a vac
cilating character. More than 40
different manufactures have been
founded within the city limits; con-
sis:ing of fOunderies, Touring mills,
planning mills, wagon factories, tobacco
factories, woolen factories, cotton fac
tories and various others, while her
railroad advantages are unsurpassed
for a town of the size. The "Frisco
Line" runs east and west, connecting
her direct with the overfowing east
and with the fruitful west. while the
Kansas City. Springfield & Memphis
gives her direct communication with
the sunny south and prosperous north
west; besides has two branch roads
with prospects of others. Has tile ma
chine shops Of these roads, il short, all
the advantages that railroads may
bring. In mercantile way, has numer-
ous large wholesale establishments
and the usual Number of retail houses.
The Springfield wholesale grocery.
hardware and dry goods companies,
and the SiIsly Happy Home cook stove
company, do an immense business in
this portion of the State and northern
Arkansaw.
The educational facilities are not
surpassed by any city Of like preten-
sions in the west, the public schools
being repre- sented by four commodious
ana well arroin ted buildings Of brick
or stone, und,r tie supervision of ex-
cellent teachers; also has the South
western Mercantile College. Loretta
Academy, and Drury College. Drury
Col.egeis an Institution of such imppr-
tance we deem it proper to mention it
especially in this connection. 1t was
founded IN 1872 Ivy pr. Drury and Prof.
Fairbanks, of England, as a nQn-sec-
farian Christian institution. The main
college building is Il large four-story
structure, costirg, together with chap
ell which is beautiful stone edifice,
and other buildings, S150, 600. 1t has
all the conveniences and necessities of
a first-class college. Has very efficient
corps of Professors, fifteen in humber,
and last year more than SEQ students
we're i'm attendance. The various de-
grees are conferred upon graduates, and
the courses are as thorough and as
complete as the State University. The |
churches are all represented. while
several have elegaps church edif1ces
and large memberships; we may also
add that the morality of the town is
excellent.
Springfield has ali the modern ac-
cessaiies of live city. Three inie: |
pendent street aat lines, running
through all portions of the city, gas
and water works, and an electric light
plant --one of the best in United States.
The fire department is SO we'll organ
lied and equipped that it "nips every !
fire in the bud, The GtFests aye nat il
as gooA g Qonailion a~ they might be,
nevertheless they are constantly being
The youthfulness of the
city and the extensiveness of the co..
porate limits may account for that, H.
gether with the hustle p Improvement.
However, some of the streets of Spring
geld are to be admired for their per-
fectness in all particulars. st. Louis
and Walnut streets may especially be
These tW2 ztFaess are also |
adorned by many hand
some and commodious residences. Yet,
Springfield can not boast of the ele-
gancy and grandeur of her mountain
like homes as much as other cites mat 1
we have visited 2f her equal preten-
lions otherwise, however the average
of her villas surpass Ii
them by far. An equilibrium seems to
have prevailed among the citizens in tha
erection of residences, which admirable
TACT saenls to exist in other relation
81 ips. The desire to surpass the neioh-
,,artiou1o~