Missouri
Imperial Mistress of States
Introductory Review
To make answer to inquiries received at this office from those who desire to locate in the state, this hand book, giving a brief review of conditions and possibilities has been prepared. The natural resources of this State, its capability of supporting an immense population within its own borders, furnishing both the necessaries and luxuries of life, has attracted the attention of homeseekers from every part of the civilized world, has directed an incessant flow of immigration to the State and promises an era of progress and advancement hitherto unknown to our people.
Prior to this, the growth of the State in the face of unfavorable circumstances has been gratifying to us, and has attracted the attention of others. The immediate future promises phenomenal results, and a full development of our agricultural- and mineral resources, and a realization of the great possibilities predicted by the best thought and careful observation of those most familiar with Missouri and her conditions.
Could the hand of prophecy lift the curtain that obscures the future, could the bright sunlight of midday be thrown on coming Missouri, the revelation would be astounding, even to those who have been impressed with the great future that awaited her and are supposed to be informed as to her unlimited resources.
Then southeast Missouri will have been thoroughly drained and levied and her rich alluvial cotton, wheat, corn and vegetable fields extended over territory as rich as the valley of the Nile.
Missouri's profitable orchards and vineyards will cover a million acres and will ship thousands of trains loaded with delicious fruits, and vintage that will compare favorably with the most noted output of France.
Her blue grass pastures will feed herds of cattle, horses, mules, and sheep that will be prize winners at the world's greatest live stock exhibitions and upon which breeders may draw for the improvement of their stock and the reputation of their herds.
Her corn fields located on the fertile valleys of her on rich elm and walnut uplands, and on productive prairies will feed swine, beef steers, and mutton that will command fancy prices and make handsome returns to our farmers.
Our mining interest, now in its infancy, will have been more fully developed and our tons of iron, zinc, lead and nickel will have been increased to train loads.
Then with a public school system and school fund unsurpassed, with a state university with its normal department, and departments of law and medicine and agriculture, all fully equipped and sufficiently endowed, with normal schools in ever section of the state, eleemosynary and penal institutions advanced in management and perfect in appointments and our state peopled with an intelligent, educated, and courageous manhood, we may claim the title of Imperial Missouri, Mistress of Commonwealths.
Governor Stephens in his address at the Tennessee Centennial Exposition, 1897, says, "the world judges of ability to do by what he has done and we are content to have our State estimated by the same standard."
"Everything needed in the economy of man's existence can be dug from her hills and mountains, hewn from her quarries, sawed from her forests or produced from her soil."
Kentuckv produces no better Short-horn cattle, mules or horses, Vermont can not boast any finer sheep, Ohio better bogs, Scotland purer bred Galloways nor England better Herefords."
"Total taxable property in Missouri is $1,107,983,473, while the actual cash value is over $3,000,000,000."
"Total annual value of surplus commodities marketed in Missouri is $172,000,000. Total tons of lead 67,404, worth $1,862,000, zinc 93,149 tons worth $1,706,000, coal 2,401,293 tons worth $2,642,808."
Missouri is the first in the production of mules, third in hogs and corn and sixth in iron and horses; third in number of farms, third in improved lands and more unincumbered farms than the whole of the six New England States."
At the World's Fair Missouri took more premiums than any other State or any foreign nation, her exhibitors brought back honors, ribbons, diplomas and $35,000 cash prizes.
She was first in general agricultural exhibit, first in herbarium and won twenty prizes in pomological exhibit.
She took four of the most valuable awards in forestry, was first is saddle horses, Berkshire hogs, Merino sheep, Angus cattle and mules and took forty eight prizes in educational department. Three of our live stock breeders, Messrs. Gentry, Shattuck, and Estill were awarded more premiums than any other three exhibitors at Chicago. "And by this standard we are willing to be judged."