CONCERNING THE STATE OF MISSOURI AND ITS Cheap Farming Lands, The Grazing and Dairy Region, The Mineral and Timber Resources. The Unsurpassed Fruit Lands, -AND Limitless Opportunities for Labor and Capital. WITH COMPLIMENTS OF THE General Passenger Department F THE MISSOURI PACIFIC RAILWAY CO.. Transportation F 766 .M68 Dedication. O those who desire to make a good, cheap home for themselves and families, surrounded by all the advantages and comforts of schools, churches, railroads, social and other privileges of an old and well-established community, where good lands can be obtained far below their actual value, this summary of the resources of Missouri is dedicated. 544 Entered according to act of Congress in the year 1889, by མ ག ད ག H. C. TOWNSEND, General Passenger and Ticket Agent Missouri Pacific Railway, PRESS OF WOODWARD & TIERNAN PRINTING CO., ST. LOUIS. . Starley T.Low 3/24161 MISSOURI. LOCATION. M ISSOURI, on account of its central location, is destined for a commanding position in the sisterhood of States. The geographi cal position of a State or country has as great a bearing on the importance of that State or country financially, politically and socially as all other influences combined. Why is New York the Empire State? Why is its influence felt so strongly in all matters of national importance? Why do the sister States look to New York to lead? Why are the political and financial policies of the country dictated from New York? While the United States was confined to the region east of the Allegheny mountains, and the commerce of the country west was of no importance, Virginia, on account of its central location, exerted the controlling influence in the affairs of the nation. Her soil was superior to that of New York, her climate was more genial, and her natural adaptation to acquiring wealth in all branches of industry surpassed that of New York. Her statesmen and great men were made greater because they were citizens of Virginia, and their influence was augmented by the proud position of the great State which they represented. But how great the change. Virginia has lost nothing. In fact, her gain in spite of a disastrous war, has been steady. But how is it with New York? When the Star of Empire was pushed over the barriers of the Alleghany mountains, and the army of emigration took possession of the rich farming lands in the Mississippi valley, the streams of commerce and humanity commenced to flow east and west, instead of north and south. New York harbor was the central point toward which these streams converged, and New York, on account of her commanding position by the sea, held the world for tribute, going and coming, and grew in wealth and power as the nation extended westward. Thus it is seen that New York held its position, not by virtue of its natural fertility or mineral wealth, but because of its location relative to the other States. New York will doubtless always maintain her supremacy, but there are influences at work that will build up a rival in the West. In a country so large as ours there must necessarily be interests which are more or less antagonistic while in no way interfering with the stability of government. The West being an agricultural region, exclusively, finds itself out of harmony both in the matter of finance and political economy with the East, which is largely manufacturing. The center of population, wealth and power has been steadily moving westward since the beginning of the century, and the tendency has been to seek a permanent lodgment in the Mississippi valley. Every advance westward and the admission of every new State has lessened the influence of New York and the East on the affairs of the West and has forced it to a greater reliance on its own resources and the principles that should govern their development. Then, too, the North and the South have not wholly recovered from the antagonisms of the war. But the South is developing its natural resources at a wonderful pace. The South west has increased its population 60 per cent in the past eight years, and over 5,000,000 of people have been added to the population of the whole South since the census of 1880, and the increase in wealth both in manufactures and agriculture has been even more rapid and phenomenal. The interests of the South and West are identical and the reconciliation of the whole country lies in the harmonious working together of those two sections, for their common good. Therefore nothing is plainer than that the West must have a common center where its own commercial, political and social interests will crystalize; but there must also be a common ground on which to meet the South and East. There is no State that has so even an adjustment of forces as Missouri. Here are found in about equal proportions representatives from the North and South, the East and West. The methods, ideas and sentiments of all sections here work harmoniously together. They understand and respect each others principles. St. Louis is rapidly becoming the commercial center of the Mississippi valley. It overshadows the whole Southwestern trade, and gives its protecting influence to every line of production and traffic. In St. Louis then questions concerning the welfare of the whole country can be equitably and impartially adjudicated and it will exert an influence, independent of its commercial greatness, that will be felt in the remotest MISSISSIPPI RIVER BELOW ST. LOUIS. IRON MOUNTAIN ROUTE. corner of the United States. Missouri will change from a State of local to a State of national importance, and the citizen, the merchant, the professional man, and the congressman, will have added to his own abilities and influence, the weight of his citizenship of the great State of Missouri. |