Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1910-02-03
LAND CONGRESS
ATTRACTS CROWDS
MIssouRPs LAND AND INDUS
TRIAL SHOW MEETS WITH
GREAT SUCCESS.
PROMINENT PEOPLE TAKE PART
Thousands of sightseers Attend Meet
ings-Woman Take an lmpor-
tsnt Part in Program
Many Speakers.

Springfield, Mo.-The opening of
Tthe Missouri Land and Industrial Con-
gress last Wednesday under the d.
rection of the state board of immigra-
ton, Springfield claimed the credit Of
entertaining N of the largest and
most representative throngs of Mis-
souri, boosters ever assembled in the
state.
Boomers were here from every part
of the state, and the comprise about
the most active and enthusiastic
crowd that ever c~ongregated in Mis-
souri, town with one object in view
that of proclaiming to the world the
advantages offered to the capitalist,
the homeseeker and the wage Garner
by grand old Missouri.
Wednesdays Session.
The first session of the congress
was held at the Landers theater at
10 o'clock. Mayor Louis P. Ernst
made al address Of welcome and John
H. Curran of st. Louis, chief com
missioner, responded. This was fol-
lowed by an address by Gov. Hadley.
Gov. Hadley, in his address at the
opening of the congress, said in part:
Il feel that not only do the people
of Missouri, but also the people of 9th
er states, know too little of what we
have accomplished and of the vast un
developed that Missouri has
to offer. The total area of the state
of Missouri is $4,000, 900 acres, of
which only 23,500,000 acres are inn
proved and in cultivation. Thus near
~ one-half Of the soil of Missouri
has never been touched by a ploW-
share. Seventeen million acres of for
est await the stroke of the woodman's
K And yet Missouri, which vas the
first state lying wholly west of the
mississippi to be admitted to the
Union, is nearly 100 years old and has
within it's domain cities that have
passed the first century of their ex-
istence. | believe that this fact has
u dloO JSnuCu W ClCdlV LAC lulpl CoplOh
that all of our sourc are devel-
oped; that all our soil has been culti-
waited, and that all of our wealth has
been exploited. And thus it is that
those who live in states to the east,
to the north and to the south, who
have been looking for new homes In
the west and the southwest, have sup
posed that in Missouri the door of OPP
%portunity was closed and have passed
on to other states and other terrific
ries.
''The value of the dairy products of
the state in 1908 was less than $10,-
DOC, 900, while the value Of these prod
ucts in each of our sister states to
the north and to the west exceed $780,
100000 each year. And yet there is
no better dairy section in u entire
country; according to the testimony
of experts, than that which is found
in the plateau Of the Ozarks.
Equally great are the possibilities
Of the development Of our agricul-
tural wealth by the use Of the unused
soil. There is in the state Of Mis-
souri, today e 5000, 900 acres Of
swamped or flooded lands, the cultiva-
ton of which is prevented or impaired
by reason of swamps and overfiows.
If this land was reclaimed SO as to
yield o certain crop each year, that
which 1t would produce would be suf-
ficient to support the entire popula-
ton Of the state.
More Science Needed.
THAT our soil has not been ~scientifi-
cally cultivated is a truth that is
clearly apparent. The average pro
duction of wheat in this country is
only ID ushel per acre, and yet in
Belgium, France and England the
yield is nearly 30 bushels per acre.
And, yet, the soil upon which the
wheat is grown in America is the
equal of the soil of any Of these for
cign countries.
I'm the midst, therefore, Of this in
vestigation by the American people as
to the Of present conditions,
Missouri opens. her doors and bids
them welcome. She can offer more
room for h~omeseekers and more OPP
~portunities for investors than any
state In the Union"
Wednesdays program Of the land
congress included three interesting
sessions, in which some of the most
prominent men in the state partici-
pated. HI. A. Buehler Of Rolla, state
~geologist, denvered an a4aress at the
forenoon session, following the speech
Of Gov. Hadley, on Missouri Mining
High.
He smote, with clinched hand, his
chart. Shall / swear by high heaven?9
he cried, A deepening Of her color
showed that her heart was omehow
touched.