advantage of growing up with those with whom they will be associated in after life and of strengthening the institutions whose interest they themselves may be expected to share in administering, not to speak of the economy and financial advantages consequent upon patronizing home institutions.

As to the colored people, the State has made a most liberal separate provision for their common schools, and, in Lincoln Institute, for their normal and higher education.

The State sustains four normal schools; including the one for colored students mentioned above, and a normal department of the State University.

The State funds for education (permanent) amount to $8,000,000, and are constantly increasing. In addition to this the State makes special appropriations for the University and normals.

This, in brief outline, is a partial view of education in Missouri, its origin, continuous progress and present excellent condition. In this State the immigrant is assured as substantial guarantees for the education of his children as can be offered anywhere.

LABOR, WAGES AND TAXATION.

N regard to the laboring classes in Missouri, their privileges, rights and prospects, it can be said that:

The course of legislation in Missouri has wisely tended uniformly toward the protection of the rights of the laborer, so that he has now a lien upon property improved by him, and no property of the employer is exempt from seizure, on execution issued by virtue of a judgment obtained for wages.

The climate of Missouri is such as to allow laborers to work out of doors a very large percentage of the days throughout the whole year, both summer and winter. In the Northern and Eastern States the great depth of snow and extreme cold prevent outdoor labor for four to six months in the year, so that the profits made during the remainder of the year are wholly appropriated to feed the stock of farmers and support families.

Missouri has not yet made inroads upon her vast natural resources. Her forests are yet to be leveled, her mines developed and worked, her countless acres subdued and cultivated. Again, as she has unprecedented productive power, as varied as great, so she has, by her marvelous transportation facilities, great advantages over States not as fortunately circumstanced, hence her products find ready markets at fair prices, and the industry of man obtains a speedy and adequate reward.

The wages paid in Missouri, regard being had to the time a laborer may work in a year, the cost of living, including food and clothing, compare favorably with wages in other States, and are higher than in a great majority of the States.

SOUTHWEST MISSOURI.

HE great rush of homeless humanity to Oklahoma reveals the impor

THE

tant and startling fact that nearly all of the desirable government lands of the United States are already settled and that cheap homesteading, the source of the Nation's rapid growth and prosperity, is nearly at an end. The attention of those now desiring a home on the soil will be drawn to the cheaper improved lands that have been passed over in the rush to occupy the virgin prairies. Among all such regions Missouri, while being the most desirable, has been as well the most neglected and poorly advertised. There are, in this great State, thousands on thousands of acres of great fertility, which could be cultivated and improved at less actual cost than is necessarily involved in a long journey to the Indian Territory.

Southwest Missouri, which includes the counties of Barton, Bates, Cass, Cedar, Cole, Clinton, Johnson, Moniteau, Pettis, Morgan, St. Clair and Vernon, is the most favorably located with respect to desirable farming lands, minerals and numerous other advantages, and offering very cheap lands of any part of the State. These lands will produce a wider range of agricultural and horticultural products than any other equal area in the United States. Where vast mines of coal, zinc, lead, copper, clay, timbered resources and water power are unsurpassed. The climate is the

most happy medium between extremes obtainable. The educational facilities are unsurpassed, and a social, moral and religious status is squarely of the highest standard known to the age. At the present the country embraced by the counties named has scarcely more than one-fifth of the population which it is capable of sustaining. Opportunities for manufacturing are unlimited, and lands both improved and unoccupied can be bought remarkably cheap. Now would seem the most opportune time for southwest Missouri. The inevitable reaction from the Oklahoma boom should be made to work to advantage by inviting opportunities for securing cheap homes to the benefit of good and sure markets in this State. A large portion of those who are on the move for the purpose of obtaining a home should have their attention called to the mild and healthful climate of this region. The land, well timbered and well watered with pure limpid streams, numerous medical and mineral springs, where every opportunity is afforded the laborer and capitalist to increase their fortunes and surround themselves with the comforts and luxuries of life. We herewith give a hasty review of the counties just before mentioned.

BARTON COUNTY

Is located in the western tier of counties, about 120 miles south of Kansas City. The surface is gently rolling or undulating, not being too flat to drain well or so rolling as to wash. The soil is a rich, sandy loam, easy of culture and slow to feel the effects of a drought; and, of the 375,000 acres in the county, there is scarcely a quarter section that would not make a desirable farm. The growth of this county has been remarkable. Society is as good as can be found anywhere. In eight years the assessed valuation of the property has increased from $2,000,000 to $5,000,000, and the population more than doubled. There is a permanent school fund of over $124,000 per year; and the great agricultural and fruit products are not alone the source of all her wealth and grandeur. Coal veins of minable thickness are found in over half the townships of the State and the output for the year 1888 approached nearly 200,000 tons. Barton county is in the great fruit valley and possessing innumerable fine orchards, where luscious fruitage finds its way in great quantities to Kansas, Colorado, Texas, Alabama and even Tennessee. This industry demands very little care or expense after once the orchard is planted. There are several thriving towns in the county, containing numerous

small manufacturing establishments, and the railroads of the county are amply sufficient for all present needs. Land varies in price, according to location, quality and other considerations that usually give varying values to real estate. Raw lands are worth from $6 to $14 per acre.

Improved farms range from $15 to $40, and good farms, with ordinary

improvements, can be had from $13 to $25 per acre; and these lands, for agricultural purposes, are not inferior to any in the world.

BATES COUNTY

Is also one of the border counties of Missouri and, in consequence, suffered much during the war and was entirely depopulated. At present it contains a population of 40,000 and assessed valuation of about $8,000,000, which is remarkable considering its condition fifteen years ago. Its rapid development is owing to its unsurpassed natural resources, and the county is entirely free from debt of any nature; has splendid schools and school buildings and a permanent school fund. It is 50 miles south of Kansas City, and the surface in the main is high rolling prairie, with much fine timber. The soil, being for the most part underlaid with limestone, cannot be surpassed in fertility by any county west of the Mississippi. From 40 to 75 bushels per acre of well matured corn is produced each year, and every acre properly cultivated, and the average yield of wheat is from 15 to 30 bushels per acre. Vegetables of all kinds are cultivated with success, and tobacco of fine quality can be grown to advantage. The climate is temperate, the winters short and mild, and, consequently, fruits of all kinds do well. Large orchards of apple and peach trees and fine vineyards of grapes can be found in all parts of the county. Several valuable varieties of hard wood timber are found in the county, including walnut, oak, elm, ash, hickory and linden. It is well watered, having the Osage river and its tributaries, which are fed by perennial springs which abound all over the country. The coal measures underlie the greater part of Bates county, and the number of tons of coal has been estimated at about 6,500,000,000. In addition to coal, there are mines of fine building stones, fire clays, and wells of natural gas have recently been found. Zinc and lead are mined in great quantities at Rich Hill, and this point is rapidly coming into prominence as the manufacturing metropolis of southwest Missouri.

CASS COUNTY

Is another of the border counties of Missouri, a little south of Kansas City, has a large public school fund and school houses furnished with all the latest appliances. All the agricultural products peculiar to this climate, including wheat, corn, oats, barley, flax, millet, orchard grass,