The Republican journal., 1907-08-29
THE SOUTHWEST.
Unfavorable Weather and its9 ..Conse-
quences. Railroad Developments. The
Springfield MO-, Normal School. Amuse-
ments. Personal

Springfield MO-, Normal School. Amuse-
ments. Personal.
Correspondence of The Journal
SPRINGFIELD Mo-, Aug. IS, 1907.
The weather is this year certainly a
topic of abiding interest The winter
was unusually mild. We had, in fact,
summer weather during portions of
the month of March, the thermometer
on one occasion taking a notion to run
up to the height of 81 degrees. For
several days it lowered about the 80
point and for some considerable portion
of the month we had summer weather.
People went to work in earnest clean
ing house, taking down stoves, ETC.,
under the presumption that hot
weather had come to stay. Coal deal
ers began to slacken up on coal, fruit
trees of almost all descriptions began
to blossom and bud, grass began to
grow, farmers began to plant in antici-
patton of an early spring. Soon, how
ever, radical change took place, the
thermometer began to drop until it
fell to several degrees below freezing,
and until late in May we had to con-
tend with painfully cold and unpleasant
weather. All kinds of planting were
IN consequence delayed far beyond the
usual time, and nearly every vestige of
fruit, with the exception of straw
berries and grapes and few other
small fruits which blossomed later, or
a second time, were destroyed. As a
result in this land of the big red apple
we are practically without apples,
peaches, cherries and almost all other
kinds of fruit. This is a serious loss
to the agriculturists and horticulturists
of this section of the country; and, in
fact, serious loss to the people as
whole, for all the canning factories
will be closed for the season, which will
mean the loss Of much employment.
Early in the season, moreover, we were
Favored with an abundance of rain. At
the present time everything is very
dry, as in addition to the dryness of the
atmosphere the weather has been in
tensely hot all over the Ozark regions.
Yesterday and today the thermometer
has been at about the 100 mark Yet
we have had 10 hot winds, and late at
night we cool off somewhat AS l write
there are slight indications of showers,
and they will be welcome if they come
We have had but few prostrations
from heat so far although men do not
accomplish as much in the way of
labor. One thing some of us have de-
sired during this prolonged period of
hot Weather-two months on the Maine
coast-but for this season we must
battle with the elements as best we can
for business is more brisk than usual
Several months since the Frisco rail
road system, which as l have told you
before maintains its principal shops in
this city, announced its intention of
making large additions to it's already
large plant and asked the citizens to
donate 800 acres of land lying just west
of the city limits for this purpose. The
land was bought at an expense of S42,-
900. AS SOON as this was done the
company began its work in earnest,
making great changes in the topog-
raphy of the land, and excavations for
foundations. AT the present time
several buildings are in process of con-
struction. AS planned for at the present
time there will be buildings sufficient
to cover a space 5000 feet long by 100
feet wide, and more will follow in the
near future. This means much to the
material development of the city OF
Springfield, particularly to the north
ern part of the city in which the plants
are located.
In other respects Springfield is max
ing rapid progress. Something over a
year ago the State located a Normal
school within our boundaries and dur
ing the year there has been an attend
ance of over 900 students. Last Friday
the corner stone of one of the new
buildings was laid with imposing cere-
monies, Gov. Folk being present and
delivering an inspiring and impressive
address. Twenty thousand people are
reported to have been in attendance.
The school means much for the future
of the city and taken in connection
with the other educational institutions
of the city-Drury College, Lorretto
Academy the Business College, the
High school and the varied Ward
schools-will constitute Springfield the
great educational centre of the South
west.
Politics in Missouri, so far as | know,
are rather quiet at the present time.
There is not much doing, and not much
noise, so far as | hear see The Mis-
souri, Republicans do not appear to be
pressing any favorite son very hard for
the Presidential nomination, and the
politicians and political organs dosnot
appear to be very pronounced in favor
of either of the prominent candidates.
Secretary Taft is to spend day in the