Mexico weekly ledger., 1902-09-04

A MIssOURIAN ON IOWA.

From the Chillieothe Constltution-Democrat.
To the Editor OF the Constltutlon-Democr
ROCK RAPIDS, IA, August 2l.-On
May l, 1902, ! entered the state of
Iowa and since that date have travel
ed by rail just five thousand, two hum
dred and twenty miles. within her
borders. j believe | have ridden on
every road In the state and to-day
closes my season In the extreme north
west county of the state. After thor
ough and extensive observation, / be-
lieve Iowa one Of the greatest, IL not
the best, state In the great slsterhood
OF states. The nature of my business
has called me only to every county
seat In the state and l have had the
pleasure and honor Of meeting with
each the sheriffs and auditors and
many Of the other officers in each OF
the NINETY and nine" counties.
Nearly quarter of a century since
became "knight of the grip" and
in my time have travelled this great
country OF ours from the pine forests
of Maine to the land of the orange
blossoms where the nightingale sings,
and westward to the golden gate, but
In none Of my travels have | seen a
more fertile country, or met more
intelligent people, or more dignified or
gentlemanly set Of county or state Of
ticers than those of Iowa.
A country itself usually indicates
the character and intelligence Of those
who inhabit it, and certainly this
beautiful country is no exception to
the rule. do not remember ever to
have Travelled through a neater, clean
er looking lot of towns, and especially
have | noticed with pleasure the pride
of the people as shown in their public
buildings, county and state There
are but two finer state buildings in the
union than the one at Des Moines-
New York and California. | have
crossed the state on all of its main
lines Of railroad and the pretty towns
strung along their lines Of steel, like a
string Of pearls around the neck Of a
beauty, have made my travel a per-
petual delight. AS TO fertility, crops,
ETC., the far-famed Egypt" Of Illinois
must look TO her laurels as the "Ko-
ran" country OF the great west.
II there Is deficiency which | have
noticed, 1t is in the seeming scarcity of
female colleges, where young lady
may graduate and receive a college
diploma. have noticed a great many
fine public school buildings and nor
NAL schools, and other educational in
stitutions, but not as many female
colleges as the wealth and intelligence
Of Iowa would suggest. beliye there
is less waste land in this state than in
any other state in the Union; / have
noticed this closely. Another thing
which indicates the pride and push Of
Iowa is the fact that a railroad runs
to every single county seat in the
state; not one half or one-fourth, or,
in fact, but very few states can boast
of as much.
At first l took the state as my ter
rltory rather against my inclinatiOns,
but now have Travelled 1t thorough
ly. l only hope that it may be my
pleasure to meet again next summer
the same genial set of county officers,
who have made it a source Of pleasure
to travel in the state, and when l go
to my home in Mexico, Mo-, the
hospitable land Of fine horses, big
mules and pretty women, | will tell
them to offer the Iowa man every
reasonable encouragement to buy land
in the imperial State of Missouri, !"
around which you may build a wall 40
feet high and we will still flourish as
the green bay will, "for we can live
without the rest Of the world-but we
don't want to-" We win welcome the
good Iowa man and his family, and
make them feel at home, and as we
Missourlans shave to be shown" in
Iowa, when you come down to Missou-
ri, we will return the favor by "show-
ing you a good time" in our fair land
Of "fruits and flowers" where the
latch string hangs out in every Mis-
souri, home. Yours truly,