Morgan County republican., 1912-07-25

limited supplies and equipment, and de.
pend largely on getting our necessities
from the people. In doing so we made
no mistake. Occasionally ii was neces-
sary to insist that our hosts accept pay
ment for our Accommodations.
Gravois Mills is a trading and milling
point for large territory. There are
postoffice, store, school house. grist mill,
wooden mill and half dozen dwellings. |
The grist mill is run by water power
from portion of the overflow from a
fine, clear lake. The lake is fed by
mammoth spring of pure water. Grav-
ois Mills is frequently visited by city peo-
pie for summer outing, and it is a
charming, restful place. When we asked
what time the postofce opened, our host,
who is also postmaster, replied: ANY
time anyone wants in."
We left Gravois Mills about z and con-
tinued south through Morgan county
Some of the hills are high and some low
and easily climbed Practically all Of
the Ozark region was originally covered
with timber, The lands that are farined
have been cleared. We were told that
the best way to get rid of the timber
and the brush was to girdle the trees,
whicH would soon kill them, and then
turn in goats, which would clean up the
brush. Grass seed, it is said, will catch
when sown on the ground without fur
ther attention. A large part of the hills
is covered by rocky wastes of little or no
value. Some of the hills are quite free
from stone. The only safe way is to as
sumo that it is all stone or make per
sonal examination.
We met man who, with his fam lily,
were hoeing the weeds. All were bare.
footed. The woman did not seem to feel
that she was undergoing any particular
hardship. Her household duties were
doubtless light and she was spending
part of her time with her husband and
not working very hard.
1t was nearly noon and we were pass
ing farm house. why do you so by
without stopping" called the owner
from the yaru. We gladly turned i'll and
took dinner. We had pork, stringbeans,
new potatoes, beets, onions, bread and
butter, huckleberry pie, sauce, jelly and
coffee. Everything on the table was
grown on the place except coffee, sugar,
salt and vinegar. Living is not expen.
sive in the Ozarks, as nearly all food can
be raised ON the farm. Our host, b. IL.
Wilson, was an Ohio man, who owns
| ,OO9 acres of land. He keeps cattle,
hogs and sheep. Last winter he fed his
hogs 81 90 wheat to get them through
the winter, as corn was especially hard
Wilson also raises mules, which he turns
off at good profit.
We met a man starting to Gravois Mill
with four horse load of wheat. He
raises hogs, cattle and sheep. but thinks
sheep pay best. The overflow of the
streams On his cultivated land does not
|
the soil wash from his neighbor's farms
and thus enriches his own land. His or,
chard will yield him fine crop of apples
but he will get no peaches this year.
There was complaint in Morgan county
that wolves bothered the sheep, but there
seem to be no trouble from this source
in the parts OF Camden and Miller coun
ties that we travelled through.
Occasionally we came to fine country
home with all up to date appearance.
Such place is owned by George Carver
near the ferry over the Usage river at
Usage Iron Works. Here we lost some
time by going to the ford instead of the
ferry. The ferryboat is ingeniously ar
ranged so that the current strikes the
side of the boat and pushes it across the
river. The Usage is big river. 1t was
recedng from a recent food stage when
we crossed it was % or 80 rods wide.
A small creek runs into the Usage at
this point and We spent little time fish.
ing. Our efforts we're rewarded by the
capture Of rather small black bass. We
fried him with bacon and enjoyed our
supper John White is slorekeeper and
host at Usage Iron Works. He was here
, when the iron works were in operation
40 years ago. There Is much iron in the
!, rocky hills about the place, but the per.
centage is low and it's extraction is diff.
cult. great furnace was constructed oi