The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1907-11-15
GLUE GRASS in MISSOURI.
!. Was First Brought Here 70 Pacify
Homesick kentucktans.
the Kansas civ ST.,

kentucky blue grass MAS iutroducesi
ia Missouri by air emisrant Of The early
days i'm order to prevent "a Wholesale
exodus of kentucilians back to their
native sod. The tall wild prairie grass
of Missouri. stretching from cter!!ty
40 eternity as one of Inc pattaGnacls
expressed it, MAD the nomes,oaa>rs
scasick. The boy WHO led the eNpadi-
ticm-Miiiam SElith 10y nalne--i& Vet
living in Macon. Mo, and his front
lawn is velvet carpeted with Tic blue
grass brought from Kentucky IN u hcu-
tick in 1910. Mr.. Smith was 80 wears
old the 4th of last May. Ne WAS >.
Years old when he led the expedition
from kentucky To this state. Tho emf
grants had not been in the state long
when they begau putting their things
back In the wagons.
whats the matte: with 3ou fol
lows" asked Slnitt.
Cant live in a land where srass'A
over the oXen's back" said q llonieslrN
man.
We can II it,"
1t don't look good to us"
Smith begged and pleaded. but most
of those who came here with him went
back. lie knew what was The matter.
Two or three men agreed to Wait -un>l'
young Smith went back home and re-
turned with his blue grass seed. lie
made the long trip from northern Mis-
souri, TO Lexington. Ky. for that pur-
pose alone, but events proved thai ii
was worth all the trouble. When tue
wild grass was cleaned out and the
blue grass sown in it's place the region
began to look homelike. Smith made
another trip. and this time he carried
commissions from people far and wide
pioneers journeyed Il hundred miles on
more to get a sack OF the emblem OF old
Kentucky when Smith got back with
his DAD The k%entuckians began To
come back as Missouri assumed the app
pearance of their native state. Year
extended until today Missouri is AS
worthy Of the title The Blue Grass
State" as is the home of Colonel Wat
terson.
Mr.. Smith is now full OF years and
proud of his part I'm the states de-
velopment. He has only one real mis-
take TO look back upon with regret.
That is that he did NOT buy ST. Louis
when ii was offered to him for s25 pr
acre. lie had the money. too. On his
first trip to Missouri he stopped over /"
day or two at the French hamlet. A
land agent took him to one side ard
said:
Stranger. I've got one Of the bes,
propositions YOU eve heard oG-iani
right i'm the heart of the city at so ar
acre. Think of it! Some day this
town will be a place OF five or sin.
Yes. ten thousand people! Then youl
lots will be worth a hundred dollars
apiece! How's that for profit! Stu
a,ed right here on the river. got two
bus lines. q couple of taverns, a news,
paper II a church or two. It's tine
chance of a lifetime tor a young mar
like you!"
That was i'm March. 1899.
The place seemed dead" said Mr.
Smith. in speaking of the matter re.
Gently. There didn't seem 10 be enough
life round the town to get up a corl
fight. n | decided to push on To bet.
ter prospects. Even the people there
excepting the real estate agents. didn',
seem very sanguine ovel the outlook
VI certainly never occurred to me that
my $1,000 at that time had the power
OF putting me in the class With Monte
Nristo had ! not steeled myself agains
the voice OF the promoter. j guess h.
didn't know it,. either. M he'd hav.
taken h bargain himself. Whom I e
TO st. Louis these days it's an inter.
esting subject for contemplation IL
walk up and down Broadway and re.
call the time ! turned it down at 81.
an acre"