Morgan County republican., 1912-07-25
Observations Aioot in the Ozark
Mountains.
A Hundred Mile Tramp Through the
Hills Reveals Some Of the Pos
sibilities OF the Ozarks.

Actuated by desire for better knowl-
edge of the Ozarks, and for some life out
of doors, my l6-year-old son and our
selves few weeks ago headed south
from Versailles, Mo-, on the road that
leads to Gravois Mills. Each of us carried
over our shoulder newpaper carriers
bag containing few charges of raimehf
and food enough to meet any immediate
requirement. Although our packs weigh
ed less then ten pounds each, we found
later that they always grew heavier to-
ward the end of days tramp.
Versailles is situated on the border line
Of the Ozark hills and few minutes walk
brought us to some sure enough hill
country. We left town at 4 O'Clock, hop
ing to reach Gravois mills, ten miles
away, before night-fall. After an hours
walk we fortunately overlook a good ma
tured fellow going in our direction with
a small load lumber. He invited us to
ride, and we gladly accepted his inv-
tation. Without this aid we would hard
ly have reached our destination that
night. We were not hardeend to walking
and hill climbing consumes the energy of
tenderfoot with considerable rapdity.
The road was rough and stony, and the
running gear Of the heavy wagon was not
provided with springs. As we jolted
along the driver gave us considerable in
formation. He was in the employ of The
Leben of Kansas CITY, who is developing
an Ozark farm about six miles south of
, Versailles. He thought that sheep
brought more money in that locality.
They can get about dollar year for the
wool and sell the lambs for perhaps S3 Sc
each. Sheep in the Ozarks require but
little attention, and the usual period OF
winter feeding is very short.
A. {. Ritchie, another Kansas City
, man, lives on form south of Versailles.
On his place is fifteen-acer orchard, a
portion of larger orchard that belongs
to an estate. Mr.. Richie has sprayed his
; tree and the others across the road have
not been cared for. Mr.. Ritchies trees
look thrifty and are bearing a fine crop
of apples. The unsprayed trees across
the boundery line are decaying and dy-
= ing, and what fruit there is will be of in
ferior quality. There is no question of
the great possibilities of orcharding in
the Ozarka, and these adjacent orchards
| t,,tt nj
management will produce profitable
fruit; lack of care and poor management
destroys the orchard. Mr.. Richie has
to do exxa spraying to kill the insects
that migrate from his neighbours bread
in < ground, but perhaps this condition
will not always prevail.
Shortly after leaving our friend VINO
gave us the ride, we cooked our supper
by the roadside spring Ourr On
sisted principally of bacon and eggs, to-
whce our ravenous appetites gave no
quarter. We started out to obey the Boy
Scout rule to use but one match in light
ing fire, and for the seven times we
cooked our own meals during the week
we were in the hills we used grand total
of seven matches. AS Gravois mills was
yet three miles away and the sun was
10 nearly down, we used no unnecessary
time in camp, but agaiu " hit the trail
brisk walk brought us to Crowds
creek. We knew of the creek, but moi
Of its size. The recent rains made the
usually modest creek a respectable river
of some six rods in width. But the watei
. was not deep at the ford and we removed
our shoes and stockings and crossed with
e no difficulty except that the sharp grave
4 and stones made their way rather too fa
:, into the bottoms of our bare feet.
q A smaller creek at Gravois Mills wa
crossed on log and we soon presented
a ourselves at the only public house il
"town" as applicants for a nights lodg
ing. We found at Hotel Marker goot
beds and fine breakfast in the morning
Everybody in the Ozarks seem to go t
bed and get up'wth the chickens. 81,
: O'Clock a. III. is the usual breakfast hour
= and before that time our host had in
/ formed us that it was time to "turn out. ;
On the trip we were continually the re
cipients of the famous "Missonri hospi
tality" Wherever we asked for mea
: or lodging we were aways accommodated
We had been told that it would be per