The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-03-19
E. G. Mohrstadt Of Stoddard Coun-
ty Indicates Obstacles Which
Have Retarded Its Progress.
SOIL IS VERY PRODUCTIVE.
insufficient Drainage and Imper-
feet Titles the Main Difficult
ties Settlers Seek
f. to Overcome.

E. c. Mohrstadt Of Stoddard County. in
Southeast Missouri, arrived In the city yes
terday on business. Mr.. Mohrgtadt is a
close observer of conditions in his section Of
the State. and is stanch believer in the
future of his county.
Asked concerning the progress the South
east is making. Mr. Mohrstadt said:
While the Southeast was settled earlier than
o te 81 hs sesn raeG 2 e
stacles more difficult Of negotiation than per-
any s peaps e k fs aes mac to
table and Will eventually triumph. Then our
is to be found Between the oceans aiil' GO any
GEOGRAPHICAL CONDITIONS.
There are two obstaGles-one natural. the other
rivers iow from north't9 south throughout south
The former has its sources in Madison and Iron
counties. flows through Wayne, thence between
dary cont IN
Iron and Reynolds counties and flows through
leaving our OF consideration that portion OF
pTnn and ptmiscoi Gov IN the
south OF the general northern boundary OF Arkan-
s sa is COZ - miles, 81 aSse ,h
thu -fourths Of which is in the ozark range Of
rvers are in the for than 100 miles
and do not leave the hills and q; enter the rich
within. less than ,wenIy-tive Inlles. in q direct
g. G5 as the s s Of TIVE hills the
hills OF course coniine the rivers. which there do
e. r F. Se &
are rocky and the velocity OF the current scours
river channel is no wider than it is in the hills
AS as hsy the tn bot 5S9 se where q, b they sns s
oSy % hey sD!ssd sSs 5d si the
and the silt that is carried in solution by
The stream to be deposited in its bed and near
:, This :depos!. has been going On for ag.s. and
. aud Re ;oss Fl .Ss lana sssEIe1
NOT NOT exposed TO = these food.waters from above
s ha bf asds S the Of s
section would cheerfrlly make any sacrifice to
obtaining the best technical assistance.
OBSTACLES TO OVERCOME.
The provision. OF a safe channel for the water
iooa wha. Would i proseessd be most !alaaS!s
territory you'd sUrsar to be a sufficiently diff
with Our psonie. however. have other Obstacles
fuu1s IN lr anase as
much as or more than the land could be sold
70 sny I
title by which they hold it The land is what Is
ne Federal Government to Tho Stale Of Mis;;
a By the s County aa the 10
dispose Of II for dranase. or other reclamation
Of sr 10 s ss' 5 In s
Sheraton Of work which al the time it was
VI, whsh l. h9s proven 0he land
eIes Of In % Ge Ser S S
o Sd ,. a' ws % opinion MIC match h ss
long continued. VII not avail against The county
original patent from the county it exists to-day.
LAND TITLES IMPERFECT
80 IN order to avoid any possible question
Of their respective counties and as they sup.
posed ID Sc the matter at rest forever BY paying
acre in cash. During the nifty years that have
% sesn
{or more than 81. Is an acre, Perhaps o 90 acre.
!sss ,sS IS nosia: iass issss
these peopIe in perfection Of their titles before
to es
aside His course has deferred great many
Of the various eountes by t similar purehases has
ossSr h. Of h the and in
DEVELOPMENT RETARDED.
settlement of land titles. In the last twenty
III IL s..s shi says. Of Rnass aaa ss
braska. and people from those sts;es are turn Urn
ss ih With snf
very insist isis On ste wesSt 81 %
Guilty with title: swamp land has been the sub
let s tract o for
200 acres will not pay the expense of litigation
NJ title end leave anything for the successful
contestant.
roI the State Board of Education to say to
these people that they shall rot come 70 terms
with the county courts. who familiar with
local conditions and values and nre DESIGNATED
by the law to deal with swanp-land transactions,
and that the people shall spend their money to
reclaim their land from food only at the peril OF
losing II years hence might by some be regarded
oppressive. II s certainly opposed TO the best
interests OF the people Of our section.
REVENUE FOR SCHOOLS
Thu school funds and the State and county FUNDS
also will derive much more revenue, obtained by
ordinary taxation, II. development be permitted
to go on than will he the II the property
remains idle swampy. unhealthy and IN litisa..
ton. A cash patent at the statutory figure or
H25 an acre has hitherto always been regarded
as invulnerable and perfectly safe.
But while have difficulties and obstacles to
overcome before section can be said to bios.
som as the rose vet having the fertility Of soil
to