Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1913-09-04

jefferson CITY, Mo.-lnte-e
facts and figures are given "a
Good Roads, boosting bulletin en-
titled agricultural Statistics. NJ
souri,, 1913" which Labor coamis-
sioper John T, Fitzpatrick issued re-
Gently to show the necessity OF q
network of improved state highways
which will place the remotest spot in
Missouri in close touch with the mos;
busy center.
Information is given that there are
277,244 farms in the state, taking up
an acreage amounting to 2;.591.24S
acres of the 4S.9S5,2SO acres of land
in Missouri OF the farm lands "a
5S1,1SG acres are improved ard un-
der cultivation. leaving t0,@10,0G2
acres, of which S,91S,972 acres ara
still nearly liz their original s>@ts.
which means we'll timbered, with
some sections high and dry, but ready
for dairying and sheep and goat rails
ing, and other sections low and very
fertile, ready to produce from Is to
100 bushels of corn per acre annu-
ally the moment they are cleared
drained and protected by high, SUI
~stantial levees. Then there are
10000 acres not included in, the far
area, and aside from the 100000
which the cities and towns take II
ready to be put to some use,
Is The Bureau of Labor Statistics
bulletin goes on to state that goot
roads and the taking up of all of the
un%improved lands in the state will
easily raise the total worth OF Mis-.
souri's annual farm products, includ-
ing live stock and dairy outputs from
$500, 100000 to 100000. 009. Live
stock aud dairy products will double
In amount and value, Missouri will
take first place for its annual orn
yield instead of holding third posi-
ton, and the wheat crop will increase
20 per cent, advancing the state one
or two notches in that respect,
The average size farm of Missouri.
one, of about 1875 acres, annually de-
rives, when averaged, about $1,S43
from products which are sent to mar
ket. In addition there is the free
living, the best that the land affords
with such articles as chicken, coun-
try butter and hams, buttermilk and
rich cream on the daily menu, if II
is desired. Also free rent when the
farm is owned by the person running
it. No outlay for fuel is neces-
sary.
With all farms OF the state, the
buildings on them and other improve
ments and all domestic animals, poul-
try and bees, worth a total of $2,O52.'
917, A it means that the average
farm, one of 125 acres, is worth ST.
495. The average worth of these farm
lands per acre is $42.
Unimproved lands can be bought
in certain places for IS an acre up,
and improved for $40 and up, accord
ing to the location. A network Of
good roads will double the value OF
all cheaper farm land, which is, as
a rule, only cheap because it is In
a remote place.
OF the 277, 244 farms in Missouri
1872, 285, or 69.4 per cent are operated
by the owners Negroes W 2,lOS
farms, leaving 1857 negro tenants
running farms on a share basis.
The barriers of prejudice between
Kansas and Missouri that have ex
listed since the Civil War swept away
by a ommon enthusiasm for thu
cause of good roads and mutua
4 pledges Of assistance in lettering tht
\ highways Of the two states was the
theme of the speeches made by the
governors of Kansas and Missouri al
a dinner given in Columbia. History
does not record that a governor o.
Kansas ever before visited a cover
nor of Missouri, nor does it relate
anywhere that a governor Of Missouri
ever paid a social visit to the chic
executive of our neighbor state to the
west. Governor Major established s
precedent in road improvement worl
by setting aside two days for tina
purpose. He also set another prece
dent by inviting the governor of Kan
sas to visit him and be his guest a
the executive mansion. 1t might b.
said that Governor Hodges created
precedent in his state by accepting
o.
During the past year 31,7S6 acres o
the government land in Missouri wal
disposed Of to homesteaders. Thi'
was all south of the Missouri river
So far as can be proven by records
in the state office, only 1,061 acres o
government land is left in Missouri
This is in small tracts, all of it soutl
of the Missouri river, and the larges
tract in any one county is 2S0 acre,
in fancy county.
o
While on a tour inspecting the re
suit of the two days work on th'
roads Governor Major said; Mex
year l am going 20 ask the governo
of Kansas to Issue a proclamation
calling on the people Of his state t,