Omaha daily bee., 1897-01-16
RESOURCES Of
TRANSM|SS|S.
S|PP| REGION
STATES REPRESENTED IN The EXPOSITION
Hidden Wealth Yet to Be Brought Into the
Worlds Markets.
VAST COUNTRY BUT PARTLY DEVELOPED
Character of the Products that Will Be
Exhibited.
UNEXCELLED lNDUC EMENTS FOR SETTLERS
What the Transmiss'ssippi Exposition viii
Stand For.
LATEST AND MOST RELIABLE STATISTICS
Descriptive Account of the wealth
and Resources of the Great
Trnnsmississippi States
and Territories.
ATEST AND MOST RELIABLE STATISTICS
Descriptive Account of the wealth
and Resources of the Great
Transmississippi states
and Territories.

The nineteenth century and more es-
peoially the latter half of it, has witnessed
marvellous development of material re-
sources and colossal increase in wealth in
the United States. This unparalleled mate-
rial progress Is nest notable in that por-
tion Of the continent lying west OF the Mis-
sissippi. In this domain agriculture finds
most prolific soil, which, when fully de-
veloped, can feed the population OF the
world, while upon its cattle ranges countless
herds are nurtured on natural grasses The
rice plantations of the gull states, the wheat
fields Of Minnesota and the Dakotas and
the corn belt of the Missouri valley, furnish
abundance for the teeming millions The
granite ribbed mountains of Missouri, Wyom-
ing and Colorado vie with Pennsylvania in
deposits of coal and iron, which are destined
at no distant day to shift the center OF in
dustrial production from the Alleghanies to
the Rockies. The petroleum fields of Wyom-
ing will eupplant the oil fields OF Ohio.
And who can compute the mineral wealth
of the transmisslssippi states, with their
mountains of gold and silver and mex
haustible deposits of copper lead, zinc and
other valuable products Of the mine? All
these natural products of the mountain, for
est, orchard and farm, together with the
handwork of the artisan and artist, and
the educational advancement made by the
people of the west, are to be placed before
the world in the great Transmississippi and
International Exposition of 1898.
From this region comes nearly all the
gold and silver produced in the United
States, and nearly every mineral known to
commerce is dug from its mountains. Be-
tween the Mississippi river and the Rocky
mountains lies the granary of America.
Cereals of almost every description are pro-
duced in great abundance The production
Of sugar in the United States is confined
almost exclusively to the states OF Louisiana,
Nebraska, Utah and California. The cotton
of Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas and Indian
territory constitutes one-half of the cotton
raised in the United States, and its annual
value is computed to be $lG1 100000 The
timber of the Pacific coast states, Missouri,
Arkansas, Minnesota and Texas is almost
limltless in extent and variety.
This magnificent empire, with its bound
less resources. which have scarcely begun
to be developed, already has 67 OOOO GOO acres
under cultivation, with agricultural products
valued at 1898 33l 92O year
THE GREAT CORN BELT.
The states and territories west of the
contain the great wheat and corn
belts, which in 1895 are credited with rais-
ing 1,1OO,O0O,OOO bushels OF corn, valued at
1895, 900 900, and 100000 900 bushels of wheat.
valued at $4,000, 900. The transmssisslpH
hay crop for 1895 aggregated 27, 900, 900 tons,
valued at $3.50 900 900. The Transmississlppi
is par excellence the great cattle
raising ground OF America.
Perhaps the mcst striking proof OF the
wealth and resources of the country west of
the Mississippi is afforded by the statistics
Of live stock. The number of horses and
mules In the states and territories west OF
the Mississippi was computed to be S,45S.sO9.
and their value Is estimated at $i62, ,639, ,621.
The number Of cattle is computed at 30,070,-
SIG, and their value is estimated to be s461,-
J93 266 The number of sheep and hogs 10
computed at 5O,S11 800, and their value $685.
los, O75. In other words, the aggregate value
1f the live stock and horses west of the
Mississippi In round numbers is 81, ,091, $780,
DG2.
The mineral wealth OF the trnnsmisslsslppi
tates includes practically all the precious
metals and the bulk OF other valuable min
rails produced in the United States. The
n the transmissIssippl states exceeds $780,
100000. The production Of copper and other
minerals exceeds In value the gold and silver
product. The vast ccal beds which for the
most part are lying dormant produce an
aggregate Of 10000 900 tons year, valued
i from $250OOOOO to s3O,OOO,OOO.
The country west of the Mississippi is
apidy extending It's manufacturing capac-
ty. According to the most conservative
the number of operatives In mills
nd factories exceeds 100000, earning in
wages over s75,OOO,OOO year The value OF
he product of these factories and mills Is
omputed at sl3G7 s35 9S7
With an assessed valuation OF real and
ersona property aggregatlng over sG.OOO,-
OOOO which represents less than one.fourth
4 actual property values. the lowest esHpati