The Republican journal., 1904-02-11
LETTER FROM MISSOURI.
A Visit to the Fair Grounds. St. Louis.
Missouri Mules. Indian Territory. Texas
and its Products. Missouri Grafters.
The Temperance Problem. A Tribute to
Charles F. CHM.
Correspondence of The Journal !

AAe AcHPeiouSe 1IoUlem. tribute to
Charles F. CHM.
Correspondence of The Journal.
SPRINGFIELD. Mo-, January 25, 1904.
Since my last letter to The Journal /
have been to so many places. seen so
many things, and SO many things have
transpired in this section of country.
that find it difficult as l sit down to
write to make such a selection of items
as may prove interesting to many of
our friends who are numbered among
the readers of The Journal. l have
made three trips to st. Louis, the city
toward which the eyes and feet of null
titudes will soon begin to turn. On
each of these occasions l embraced the
opportunity of paying a visit to the
Worlds Fair grounds. The ride from
the Union Station to the fair grounds
covers distance of six or seven miles,
yet the cost on the electric cars is only
five cents each way, and the ride is very
enjoyable. At the time of my visits
rapid progress was being made in the
erection of the beautiful and commo-
dious buildings which are to be the re-
ceptacle of such interesting, instructive
and priceless treasures. Even were |
equal to the task it would be hardly
necessary to attempt any description
of what things there will be in store
for those who will come to see this
greatest of all great fairs. Our western
papers are full of the subject, particu-
larly the papers of st. Louis. The
buildings occupy much more space
than any previous exposition held
either in the old world or the new.
Many of our Maine friends will take
advantage of the opportunity to visit
the Southwest. st. Louis is city of
great promise. The wholesale trade is
developing quite rapidly and fine sub
stantial residences are very much in
evidence in certain sections of the city
The Union depot is one of the finest in
the world, and every effort is being put
forth to handle with as much ease as
possible the enormous traffic which is
sure to be realized at the time of the
Worlds Fair.
From St. Louis southwestward have
travelled nearly 100 miles, through Mis-
souri,, Indian Territory and Oklahoma
but this journey conveys no adequate
idea Of the extent of territory involved
in the Louisiana purchase, or of what
its purchase has done, and will yet do, in
the development of our countrys re-
sources, population and wealth.
At this time ! must not write again
of Missouri's material resources in ag-
riculture, horticulture and mining, nor
of her Chickens hogs and, by 10 means
least, of her mules, which at this season
of the year we pour into the South in
train loads from this section of country
alone. Where they all come from is a
mystery to me, but they come and come
and come, day after day without any
appreciate diminution of the supply;
and they bring good prices, too; 5000
will not buy you very good span, but
When once you have bought good
span they are good for an average life
time. They hardly seem to know what
it is to get tired, and are very easily
kept. How long they live nobody seems
to know. The only dead ones l have
ever seen were some that were struck
by lightning. The trade in mules is so
brisk in Springfield that the mayor has
enforced the ordinance compelling tie
drivers to lead them through the city
in place of driving them.
Portions of the Indian Territory are
rapidly developing. One of the finest
sights l have ever seen was cattle
ranch in the Indian Territory west of
Oklahoma City. How many thousands
of cattle there were on the ranch l
could not learn, nor the extent of ter
ritory embraced in the ranch, but for
mile after mile as we passed through,
and as far as the eye could see to the
northward, the multitudes of cattle
were spread out before you. Fine cat
tie they were, too, and in fine condition.
l spent one day last summer in Okla
homa City, which claims population
of 10000. 1t has some fine streets and
buildings and no one would suppose
that it had so recently been opened to
settlement. Ninety miles west of Ok
lahoma City is Lawton, and near it
Fort Sill. At Lawton Hog Wood, as
the people named him, drew the first
choice OF land and selected piece of
land running parallel with the city
which is now largely occupied by rail-
road tracks. Next to him Miss -,
who was described to me as a hello
girl, with strong emphasis on the first
syllable of the word, selected her piece
of land as the second choice. She has
since married and lives, 1 was told, in
the city of Lawton.
A few months ago had the privilege.