Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1905-08-03


ara contained 4,S46 volumes. Last
year the total school expenditures
of the county were $50 ,241, of which
$40, 900 went as teachers wages,
the average for the male teachers
being $50.83 per month and for
the female $41.2O.
Mexico is also the seat of Har.
din college, known as the "Vassar
of the West, " the most richly en-
dowed and thoroughly we'll con.
Quoted female college west of the
Mississippi river. It's faculty
numbers some of the best known
educators in the west. Here is
also located the Missouri Military
academy, an institution whose
curriculum stands second to none.
During the past few years there
has been large influx of farmers
into Audrain county from Iowa
aud Illinois. | talked with sever
al Of these and every one stated
that he was we'll satisfied with his
Investment. 7. Il. Okey, who
came here three years ago from
Mansfield, Plat county, ILL.,, said:
Am satisfied Perfectly. My
farm cost me $40 per acre three
years ago and | would not sell it
to-day for a handsome advance. /
farmed in Illinois for many years
and know h great advan-
tages there, but | believed |
could make plenty of money so !
came to Audrain county. Last
year, which was a poor year, my
corn averaged me about 80 bu. to
the acre and this year | feel conf.
dent it will beat that 10 or II bu.
This is a good country, peOpled by
Il Christian class of hOspitable peO-
pie, and | consider that Il man can
do no better than to locate here. |
know that in Illinois / would have
to pay as much for an acre of land
as can get three here for. Not
only is the soil highly productive,
but can raise cattle here with less
expense than in Illinois. We turn
out very early and stock can run
on blue grass clear up to Deem
Der. Taking everything into con-
sideration, | am fully satisfied in
every way and have no desire to
90 back to H." Mr.. Okey is but
one of many who talk in the same
strain. Said Henry Schleeter,
came here two years from Mclean |
county, Ill.,: Il like the coun.
try. | like the people and | am
m ore than satisfied with my farm
and what it will do. | would not
sell except for a handsome advance
over what | gave, and even if |
did dispose of my farm l would
turn right around and reinvest my
money in Audrain county land.
That is what | think of this coun.
try"
There is practically no waste
land in this country, every foot be-
ing tillable. The land is an undu-
Iating prairie, lying high, with ex-
cellent natural drainage and the
seasons are long. Corn planting
begins the last of March aud there
is no danger of an early frost. r.
A. Holmes, who came here three
years ago, from Boone county,
Iowa, where he had farmed for
twenty-siX years, told me that he
started corn planting this year the
last day of March and feels conf
dent that he will have as good a
crop as he ever raised in Iowa aud
the best yield lie ever raised in
Iowa was in 1895, when the average
per acre was 20 bushels. His oats
were all planted this year by
March 10 and will yield him from
81 to 40 bu. when all threshed out.
He has refused a handsome ad-
vance over what he paid for his
Iarm and says Audrain county is
good enough for him.
This years acreage of corn in
this county is the greatest ever
known, and bumper crop is now
assured. Under the old method
Of farming rotation of crops was
an unknown quantity, and much
and was farmed with one crop un-
ii it was materially deteriorated, but
hat manner of things is rapidly
passing away. Improvd condi-