The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1899-09-02
IMPERIAL MISSOURI.
An Interesting Article on the Re-
sources of the Keystone State
of the Great West.
AGRICULTURAL and OTHER RESOURCES.
What the State Marketed In lS9S-An
Array of Facts Which VIII Surprise
a Majority OF Missourians Compared
With Other States.

a Majority OF Missourians Compared
Witt, Other States.
To adequately describe Missouri Is
to weave what seems to the reader a
fairy tale of beauty. culture, peace
and happiness, says Secretary of State
LeSucur. in the st. Louis Republic.
Ranking generally as fifth in the gal
aNy of our great American common
weaiths, Missouri easily stands first
when considered as an independent
producer of all things that are neces-
sary for the happiness and comfort of
mIn.
The population of Missouri at this
time is at least 3,25O.00O souls. Mis-
souri, gained in population in the last
United States census decade 25-56 per
cent. The valuation of property for
taNation has steadily and rapidly in
creased. until il has surpassed that of
its great sister east of it, the state of
Illinois.
Missouri. in area. covers GAIL
square miles. or over 4f,O00,00O acres.
1t is larger than any state east of or
liz uIB'i nv -'AiSSiHllpit. 'NN'lt
the state of Minnesota. 1t is 2S2 miles
from north to south. and 535 miles
an average width. The entire states
of Maine. Massachusetts, Connecticut,
New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Is
land and Delaware could be put down
eide by side within its limits, and still
leave q margin of 900 sGuare miles.
arrieuIture
Missouri is the third state in tn"
Union in the number of its farms,
and the third state in the number of
-scres in improved land, having over
o use 200 acres under cultivation, or a
larger acreage for the harvest than is
possessed by the states of Michigan
and Minnesota combined, or the states
of Maine, Massachusetts. Connecticut,
Minnesota and Rhode Island.
The climate of Missouri is temper
ate and equable. Extremes of summer
heat and winter cold are rarely eN-
perienced. A few days. or, at most,
a few weeks of hot weather in mid
are all that can be credited
to us. The winters are never so cold
as to interfere with ordinary outdoor
work. Missouri autumns are proven
bal for their beauty, and are as de-
1iglltfui as those of southern Europe
or California.
Missouri has no desert lands. Its
great plains in the central and north
err portions are as rich in a~lluvial
deposits as are the bottom lands of
the lower Mississippi. Its ~undulating
hills in the south are the natural
home of the vineyard and the orchard.
The Ozark region of the state is be
coming famous not only in the Unit
ed States, but in Europe, for its mag
nificent and steadily borne fruits. The
whole of southern Missouri, at no dis
tant day. will be one vast vineyard.
apple and peach orchard. Its river
bottoms Dear woods of the greatest
commercial value. Its mines. many of
them in their infancy, are either ex-
ceiling or reaching up to the first
place among those of other states. 1t
is capable of supporting ten times as
many people as are nov within its
borders.
Missouri is abundantly supplied
with springs and large streams of wa
ter, many of them distinguished for
their volume. The water-p0wers of
the springs and streams south of the
Missouri are unlimited, and the dav
is not distant when these vast water
powers will be brought into use and
made to turn the wheels of thousands
of manufactures. !
Lead aud Zinc.
The production of both lead and zinc |
In IL counties for the year ending June
so, 1895. has increased to an extent
that has attracted wide attention, O
only in the state. but throughout the
entire country. Total number of shafts |
operated MAS Col. the tota! number us
miners employed. including prospcc-
tors. 4.910. and other help 2.G99. max
ing the total number Of men employed
in and about the mines 7.699. The lead
product amounted to 1861 tons. and '
sold for the sum of $3~,0il.055. while ,
the output of zinc ore was I39,G6S tons. !
aud sold for $2,92T,32l. making a
grand total for both metals of S5,93s.-
$40, being an increase of &C per cent.
over lnc previous year In connection |
with the lead and zinc there WAS an
output of bayrites of 1G. 100000 pounds. !
and ct tripoli, 4.170,OO0 pounds. Lead
ore "f all grades averaged S4O.S6 per
ton. Zinc ore of all grades averaged
5000 per ton. For the first six months
OF 1899 high-9radc lead ores averaged !
$50 per ton, and hiGh-grade zinc ores
averaged $40 per ton. 1t is estimated
that Tor the fiscal year ending June
80. 1899. the value of the lead and zinc
product will exceed that of the pre-
~vious year by at least $3.50O,0OO.
T~hirty-siN counties produced coal
during the year ending June 30, 1S9S,
The number of mines operated was 377.
O; which les were shaft openings. 81
slopes. 96 drifts and 50 strip pits. The
mines consumed 67.O3O kegs of powder,
al Il cost of S117,3S6. The average num-
her of miners employed during the
winter season was 1925. and of other
help 1.520. The average number of
miner. CmnlOypd in simmer was 4 gqi