Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1903-08-07
TRIP THROUGH the SUNNY SOUTH

TRIP THROUGH the SUNNY + s0u|1l|
What Chas. Moult0n Saw Durinl
. Trip In tho Sunny South
Over the Frisco System.
A Glimpse of the Future OF th'
South Between Springfield,
Mo-, and Birmingham, Ala.
Springfield 10 Birmingham is . die
tancs Of 533 miles. and there 10 hardly I
mile Of the whole distance that does no.
possess some especial interest, eithei
because of the work Of nature. OF b.
cause Of historical associations. From
the summit Of the Oxsrks at Springfield
to the shadow Of Red Mountain al
Birmingham, tho tourist on the south
eastern line Of the Frisco. 10 never out
Of something 70 interest and instruct
Whether skirting the blu6, the Rorges
and creeks Of the Ozarks, OF speeding
through the cotton fields OF Mississippi
the traveller cannot fail to realize that
this is . great country. In travelling
over this line there is not the Lonesome
ness and ssmeness that is experienced
on the CREST plans Of the west. A trir
over this line cannot be adequately do
scribed In cold blsck and white. 90 q
to be understood and appreciated BY
the citizen Of the north, but must b
taken to b appreciated. and such Z
trip 10 we'll worth the time and expense
to any one. m
Il Il 10 not the intention Of the writer
OF the object Of this article to now en-
ter into description Of towns or locali'
ties but to give In . hurried. general
way. some Of the principal features Of
the country passed through.
TO begin with, IL is only necessary "a
remark that Springfield u the great op'
Grating center Of the Frisco System.
and the point OF intersection Of the traf.
fic between st. Louis, and the south.
west and west, and between Kansas
City and the southeast, and the point
whore IL located ths great shops Of the
system. springhsld'is not . mining
town. and yet In reality 10 . central
point in the great mineral belt of south
west Missouri. Il il the real home Of
the big red apple. and thousadds Of
acres Of orchards are in tho vicinity.
II 10 situated on the summit Of the
Ozark mountains. though not the high
est point. II IL Z city Of homes. schools
and churches. and well deserves its sp.
plicstion Of the Queen Of the Ozarks. /"
Leaving Springfield on the early
morning train, the traveller can enjoy .
daylight ride through to Memphis,
Tenn, distance Of 9sl miles. and to
one who 10 unfamiliar with that section
Of the country. the trip will be enjoy.
able. After leaving Springfield . few
miles behind. the country becomes
more broken and fewer large farms.
To offset this. however, the scenery is
in many places grand and imposing.
and the many clsarings and now farms
Indicate that development i the order
Of the day. At Cedar Gap. Al miles
from Springfield. the highest point on
the Oxsrks u passed. and soon we arc
on the down grade Cedar Gap gets ito
name from the gap or pass through the
which unfolds . view
from either side or direction here that
Is mot soon forgotten, because Of the
panorama Of hill and valley, and the
long distance that can be seen. It 10
said that . health and pleasure resort 10
to be created here that will attract sum.
mer sojourners from long distances,
sven from old England.
Mansfield. the next station, contests
with Cedar Gap the honor Of occupying
a +. / - : az
the crest Of the Oxarks, and IL coming
Into Considerable prominence ~ . min.
Ing town for lead and xinc. and it 10
even whispered that there are still
more valuable ores In adjacent hills.
II IL pretty town and bears all the
evide0ces Of the oak and pine forests
that are 90 plentiful, and the saw mill
10 in evidence everywhere.
Mountain Grove is not only pretty
town but full Of business and activity,
and is having healthy growth. It 10
In the great fruit belt Of tho Osarks,
and also In AZ excellent country for
general farming and stock raising. 1t is
the seat Of the Missouri experiment
station. and prides itself on its educa-