The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1895-12-12
MISSOURI.
City and Cole County.

towards Missouri. Patience
has its W reward. Through gilt
tering advertisements, thu surplus
population Of tho east ha, been GO
ing into Kansas, Nebraska and the
Dakotas, but now great, imperial
Missouri is receiving her just quota.
In fact, thousands who went to Kan
sas, Nebraska, Iowa and the north,
have turned their faces in this direc.
ton. A warmer climate with lots Of
and water is winning them
away from the prairie towns of the
north and west. The old time COW
cred movers wagon has become n
familiar figure on our streets again.
Inquiry always results in the same
reply, from the west" or ''the
north" Most Of them are going to
south Missouri. In doing this many
are overlooking the advantages of.
fered in q dozen central Missouri
counties lying just south of the Mis-.
souri, river, including Cole, Miller,
Maries, Usage and Camden. All of
these counties have excellent soil,
fine timber, lands well watcred, and
as cheap as can be had from the
government. In fact, there is some
government land TO be had in all of
them. Cole county, of which Jeffer.
son City is the county seat, is one of
the best. 1t has a population of
about 20, 900, and an area Of about
250,0 900 acres, $4,000 of which are
in cultivation. The annual prodact
is valued at over 1000, 900. The
taxable wealth of the county is over
81, 100000, and the rate of taxation
for state, county and school purposes
is something less than one
mill. The county is well supplied
with public schools and churches.
A new court house will probably be
erected in the near future, costing
not less than 100000, and the cree.
ton of same will not increase the
AK rate at all, as the present interest
collected will be ample to cover the
bono ed Indebtedness.
The cultivators Of the soil, the
farmers, are a sober, industrious, en-
terprising people, and as a class are
rs well TO do and as prosperous al
any farmers in the state. The prin
cipal crops are corn, wheat, hay ant
! oats. Stock raising is followed by
large number. The production o.
hoga, cattle and mules is consider
able. The couaty is n Of the bes'
wheat producers in the state. Tha'
record has been established so far al
quality goes, and in quantity, thu
number Of bushels TO the acre viii
average about twenty-five. The up
lands produce fine bluegrass fol
grazing purposes. II is indeed thu
home Of the bluegrass. The county
Is also fast acquiring a reputation for
its splendid fruit, such as apples
peaches, pears, etc. The cultivation
of the strawberry is also very exten
sive about jefferson City. The cul'
tivation of this berry was commenced
five or six years ago, and now it ha'
a reputation excelled by none. Ship
ments to Omaha in 1895 amounted tt
about $4,000. The county is ex
cellently watered. The Missouri
river runs the entire length of thu
county for thirty miles on the north
The Usage, n of the most beauti'
full and romantic streams in thi'
country and known as the Hudson
OF the west,' sweeps around it oil
the east for miles. The Moreal
river, with a north and south branch
runs through every township in tn
county from east to west. The bot
tom lands along the streams are til,
most productive in the world, ant
whether the season be wet or dr.,
there is never a crop failure. Ii
fact, there has never been a GRO
failure in Cole county. The suppl.
of hard timber throughout til
county, consisting of oak, walnut
hickory, ash and elm, is abundan
for all purposes and the finest in tn
west for manufacturing purposes
Large portions Of the county are un
derlaid with lead, zinc and coal. Goa
mines are now operated at Centre
town and Elston Station, in thi
county. Lead and zinc mines hay
been developed in a small way only
There are a number of small village
located throughout the county. Rus
seliyille, a prosperous little town
has a population Of about 200; Hick
DRY Hill, so; Decatur, 3oj Brazito
80; Elston, 200; Usage City, 200
Marion so; st. Thomas, 200 Gen
tretown, 200; Lohman, 200; Tea
and Usage Bluff, about rs each.
In relation to the climate We quot
| the following l%anpuaUe nj ex.Goy