The Republican journal., 1909-08-12
Southern Missouri.
An Interesting Letter from w. H. Williams,
Former Pastor of the NJ. E. Church, Bel

To THE EDITOR OF THE JOURNAL:
Since my last letter to The Journal
many important events have taken place
in this section of the country. The first
and most far-reaching of these events
was the election in the month of Novem-
Der and the election of Republican gov
ernor for the first time since way back
to near the close of the Civil War. The
result of the election was a great sur
prise to almost all. At the previous
State election the legislature went Re-
publican, and in consequence a Republi-
can was elected to the United States
Senate; but Democratic apathy and d.
vision of sentiment were assigned as the
occasion for the Democratic defeat, and
few even of the most sanguine Republi-
cans anticipated the election of Hadley.
The night of the election brought little
hope to the hearts of the faithful few.
During the forenoon of the next day,
however, great change took place in
the hopes and aspirations Of those who,
year after year, had been working and
hoping and longing for the day of eman-
clpation. By noon the election of Hadley
was assured and people began to look
anXiously for the count on the rest of the
ticket. What the result of the change in
the political complexion of the State will
be in its effects upon the welfare of the
State is more a matter of conjecture
than prophecy, and even the conjecture
is likely to be considerably modified by
the political affiliations of the man who
gives expression to his conjecture So
far matters move along to all outward
appearance much as they have done be-
fore. The most important changes which
have taken place so far have been in the
complexion of the appointees to offices
in the gift of the governor. Many of US,
at least, are glad that a change has taken
place and hope for good results from the
change.
Missouri is a growing State. The eli
mate is healthful; the industries are
varied; the population is constantly be-
coming more energetic and expressive as
the years go by and the business inter-
ests develop. The prices of commodities
are much higher here than they were
few years ago. The farmers as a class
are doing well, getting good prices for
butter, eggs, and all kinds of vegetables
and grain. Corn, which you could buy 16
years ago for 25 cents per bushel, is worth
today so cents. Wheat at the present
writing is worth s1.00. All kinds of min
eral bring reasonably good prices.
Springfield is growing rapidly. We have
had our period of depression, as has the
rest of the country. AS railroad town
we have perhaps suffered more from the
effects Of the panic than towns more de-
pendent on agriculture. During the first
few months of the depression local con-
ditions We're very trying; hundreds of
men were thrown out Of employment
and nearly all We're reduced to short
hours and four or five days in the week.
The great enterprise which had been be-
gun in the erection of the new Frisco
shops was brought to a standstill, throw
ing hundreds of men and teams out of
employment. We have weathered the
storm, however, better than we could
have expected to do. But few failures
have been reported among the business
men, street improvements have been
going steadily forward, and the popula-
ton is steadily increasing The recently
published directory, it is claimed, shows
population of approximately $1,000
persons-in the city and its suburbs.
Drury College has been making rapid
progress. The Board of Education and
Mr.. Carnegie have bestowed gifts upon
the Institution which have largely in
creased its endowment. We had very
disastrous fire last winter which destroy
ed the Baldwin Opera House and other
buildings. The fire department was
charged with incompetence, and so for
a time we had quite breeze blowing
around the heads of the fire department
and the city council. A new fire COM
mission was created and new chief ap-
pointed. This, however, failed to restore
harmony, and now we are back where we
were before, excepting the restoration
of the former chief to office. There is
a good deal of improvement going on at
present. A new and larger theatre is
being erected, also some new churches.
A new Normal school has been establish
ed, and new Court of Appeals located
here. The Frisco has expended about
81, 500, 900 in the erection of new plant
for the construction and repair of en-
gines, cars etc. In addition to this they
are retaining large force in both of the
old shops.
Street improvements are going on rap
idly. The street on which the writer
aives has been torn up for seven months |
to put in new brick pavement with
concrete base. The street being paved
is three-fourths of mile in length and
connects with another street which leads
to the square, and from there with two
other streets we have continuous brick