The Taney County republican. (Forsyth, Mo.) 1895-1992, 1914-04-30
Missouri Land Of Promise

the place, Missouri-or for that mat
ter almost any one OF the older states.
Following the posting Of some
bills with the familiar and other
things too numerous to mention" end
ing, crowd has gathered at the old
farm home; the auctioneer is on the
block and rapidly much property,
from horses to heirlooms, is Knocked
down" to the highest bidder. The
next day neighbors, tried and true,
haul to the train personal effects that
have been retained. These things
are loaded into a freight car, and a
week or two later the family follows.
Old friends are at the train TO see John
and his folks" leave. Not only are
old neighbors there, but in the crowd
on the little depor platform are others.
Among these is the aged physician
who pulled father through that long
spell Of fever and who is intimately
acquainted with the slight physical
frailties Of every member Of the
family, The preacher, too is
there-the preacher who was so
long pastor Of the country church
where John and Mary worshiped,~ the
preacher who had rejoiced with this
family in days Of gIadness, who had
sympathized with them in sorrow and
especially when the little mound was
made in the graveyard back Of the
church. And the banker who always
backed John in any safe business,
counting character strong in collateral
because he has known the family so
long, is there to say goodbye. The
train comes and the family, provided
with homeseekers' tickets-might say
lottery tickets?-is soon aboard. Each
member tries to be brave as he says
goodbye, but it is evident that hearts
are heavy. The breaking Of home
ties is not easy.
Why did John and his family goi
Why do many leave Missouri and
other states each year, going to arid
Or semi-arid portions Of the United
States, 10 Mexico with its never-failing
crop Of revolutions, or to the far away
Canadian Northwest2 Why? Lurid
land literature advertising, not al
ways truthful-has had great influence.
The real estate circular picturing the
orange groves does not tell Of frost,
food and labor troubles. In proclaim
ing the productiveness OF the irrigated
land under the big bitches nothing is
said OF hail and OF water-right troubles.
Or if the land cannot be irrigated the
possibilities Of dry-larming methods
are dwelt upon, even though the land
be so dry that it requires ten acres 10
rust one nail. II it's far TO the north
west, then the point stressed is wheat,
not the weather. The greatness Of
the far-away land is shouted through a
giant megaphone TO a brass band ac-
compartment, while the glory Of the
home state the state where is the
old farm and on that farm the end oil
rainbow and the pot Of gold--is kept
as quiet as "a nurse in bedroom slip.
pers administering soothing syrup from
a rubber spoon"
Why should any Missourian who
wants to farm 60 away2 Midway be.
tween the geographical and population
centers OF the United States, Missouri
is in the very center Of the agricultural
universe. No other state grows as
many crops so well. No other state
gives employment 10 both cotton pick
ers and ice hands. And we grow oul
own ham and eggs as well as straw
berries and ice cream. In live stock
production and in general farming We
stand far to the front. Truly a grea
state is ours, but we have been to busy
TOO blow about it. Then, with plov
and COW, both improved; will
dredge and ditch, and with bette
farming methods generally a
advocated by agriculture collegC
and state board Of agriculture, anC
as practiced by progressive people
Missouris star is in the ascendant
To-day is yet a pioneer period pio
peer period in opportunities, not ii
hardships. Churches, schools, trans
portation facilities civilization, if yol