Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

so as to permit a continual current to flow onward to the Mississippi or St. François, would reclaim a million or two acres of land, surpassing in fertility the famed borders of the Nile. To those who have never visited the far West, this great basin is rich beyond conception; and in the autumnal season, when teeming with the rankest vegetable productions, in an active state of decomposition, its liberated miasmata, borne on the wings of the wind, have a most deleterious influence on the health of those who reside in the contiguous counties, furnishing an additional argument for using exertions to reclaim it.

"On closing my remarks, which might easily be extended to the size of a volume, I beg leave to call your attention, and, through you, the attention of the committee, to the map which accompanies them. It was drawn by Mr. Godfrey Le Ceur, a gentleman of close observation, who has passed the greater portion of his life amid these swamps and marshes. The specimens of marbles now presented to the committee for their inspection are from near the sources of the St. François, where they abound. They were taken from the surface, and consequently are not equal to that which can be obtained below. The one called 'verd-antique' is of uncommon beauty, and is susceptible of the finest polish. The piece of iron ore is from the Iron Mountain, and is considered of unequalled richness; out of this ore the small bar of iron was smelted in a common blacksmith's forge, and from a portion of the bar the knife was made by a gunsmith in Missouri. It will be found possessed of a fine edge and temper. Instruments made out of this iron oxydise very slowly, which is perhaps owing to the existence of a small portion of nickel in combination.

“Hon. Mr. Davis,

"Very respectfully,

"L. F. LINN.

"Chairman of the Committee on Commerce.”

PERRY COUNTY lies on the right bank of the Mississippi, and its boundaries begin in that river opposite the mouth of Apple Creek; thence up the same, pursuing the west or principal fork thereof, to the division line between townships thirty-three and thirty-four; thence west to the eastern boundary of Madison county; thence north to the northeast corner of the same; thence eastwardly to the southwest corner of section one, township thirty-four north, range eight east; thence in a direct line to the intersection of the principal forks of Saline Creek; thence in a direct line to the mouth of St. Laurent Creek; thence to the Mississippi, and down the same to the beginning.

The minerals of this county consist principally of lead and iron. Lead ore is found in various places within the county, but in greater abundance on Saline Creek, one main branch of which rises in Perry; and the creek itself forms a part of the boundary between this and Ste. Genevieve county. It is believed that the lead ore found in Perry county yields an unusual per centage of lead; and another advantage here consists in the location of the principal mines within six miles of the Mississippi. The mineral lands of the county, however, extend back from the river about twenty-five miles. It is supposed that capital and enterprise only are required to place Perry county high on the list of mineral districts. The iron ore of Perry has been examined by iron-masters, acquainted with the business of manufacturing the article in Virginia and in Tennessee, and they pronounce it of good quality. The iron ore here, being in the vicinity of that prodigy of nature, the IRON MOUNTAIN, has been overlooked; but this is nevertheless one of the treasures of the earth, that will remain when its fatness shall cease to yield the agriculturist the large remuneration that is at present so cheering to all who "sow and reap." The marble of Perry county, when taken from the earth, is soft, but hardens by exposure to the air. When quarried it is white, variegated with blue; but after it has undergone the process of polishing, this blue assumes a green tinge, that adds to its beauty. This marble is found beneath a stratum of blue limestone.

The limestone of the county, after having been subjected to

the simple process of burning on a log-heap, produces lime of pure whiteness. From some of the limestone of Perry county the water cement has been composed. This will be found of infinite value in hydraulic structures. There is a merchant-mill on Saline Creek, that is capable of manufacturing every week in the year two hundred barrels of flour. There are likewise in the county nine saw-mills and seven grist-mills. There is one fulling-mill and two wool-carding machines in Perry. A considerable number of each of these useful machines might be established in various parts of Missouri, with mutual advantage to the parties concerned. There is a merchant-mill nearly completed on Apple Creek, which forms the southern boundary between this county and Cape Girardeau. This is on an extensive scale, and situate about six miles from the Mississippi. It was formerly owned by General Leibert. The present owner, Mr. Ingraham of Louisiana, has the means and the disposition to make it useful to the farmers of the county, and profitable to himself. The first-mentioned merchant-mill is likewise only about six miles from the Mississippi. Its cost was 15,000 dollars. For this bold and beneficial enterprise, the people of Perry county are indebted to Mr. Charles Gregoire. We are disposed to fix our admiration and bestow unmeasured applause on those who are eminently successful in the destruction of human life; but religion and philosophy teach us to give our approbation to the efforts of the gentleman last mentioned, in preference to the "man-killer."

The county of Perry is nearly encircled with Apple Creek, White Water, and Saline, and Cape Cinque Homme Creek runs through the centre of the county. These streams afford millsites and ample water-power, the value of which is inestimable.

The farming products of Perry county consist of wheat, corn, rye, and oats to a vast amount. Barley has likewise been raised here. Tobacco of the finest quality for cigars has been successfully planted in Perry; and the climate and soil are found peculiarly well adapted to that light tobacco which commands the best prices in the New Orleans market. A few years ago a quantity of cotton for exportation was made in this county, but

the latitude is found too high for cotton, beyond the quantity required for household use.

The eastern border of this county, the river-bottom, of about three miles in width by twenty-five in length, deserves particular notice. Its fertility is not surpassed by any other alluvion on the globe. This is the far-famed Bois brulé (Burnt-wood) bottom. The products of this bottom are corn, hemp, potatoes, &c. From this county, and principally from Bois brulé bottom, there is exported annually about forty flat-boat loads of produce and stock, consisting of horses, cattle, hogs, sheep, corn, oats, apples, potatoes, &c. The flour is more advantageously conveyed to market in the steamers that daily pass and touch at the various good landings.

The Catholic college of this county is flourishing, and the reputation it has always justly sustained attracts as many students as can be accommodated. These are at present seventyfive or eighty, who are fortunate in receiving instruction from the professors of the institution, whose diligence and capabilities are alike suited to the responsibilities they have undertaken. The climate is healthy where the institution is located.

PERRYVILLE, near the centre of the county, is the seat of justice for Perry; and, like all our interior towns, is improving gradually with the advancement of farming operations. When mining in the county shall be extended, this place will grow rapidly.

PETTIS COUNTY. The boundaries of this county are by statute described as 66 beginning at the southwest corner of Saline county; thence east to the range line between nineteen and twenty; thence south to the line between townships forty-three and forty-four; thence west to the range line between twentythree and twenty-four; thence north to the beginning."

It is believed by many intelligent men, who are most intimately acquainted with the county of Pettis, that its resources are greater than almost any other county of the state that is not situated on one of the great rivers. Saline lies between it and the Missouri; and Arrow Rock and Booneville are the places of deposite for shipment of its produce, and the landings for mer

chandise imported for the use of the inhabitants of Pettis. The three principal forks of Lamine, Heath's Fork, Muddy and Flat Creeks, come in from a little north of west, through the county; and, after their confluence, form the main branch of Lamine, which then constitutes a southeasterly natural boundary between Pettis and Cooper. Along the borders of these fine branches of Lamine the principal forests of the county grow. These groves stretch up the various tributaries of the three branches, and form a fair proportion of timbered land, for the cultivation of the prairie of the county; a great portion of which is as rich as any land on the globe. It is feared that some of the land southeastwardly of Flat Creek is too wet for the successful cultivation of corn, at all seasons, both in the creek-bottoms and in the prairies. But these lands are dry enough for wheat and grass. Some little attention to draining, by furrows, will easily remedy the apprehended defect. The streams above mentioned happily furnish an unusual amount of water-power for milling purposes; on all of which there are several mill-sites of great value. There is an excellent saw and grist mill nearly completed on Flat Creek. Cranmer's mill, on Lamine, is a good one, and is twelve and a half miles from the seat of justice, in a southeasterly direction, and nearer to the Missouri river. Raimy and Wasson have a good saw and grist mill on the Muddy, about five miles from the county-seat. General Thompson is building a saw and grist mill on this stream, one and a half miles from the centre of the county.

GEORGETOWN, the seat of justice, within a mile of the centre of the county, is advantageously located on the eastern border of a prairie, adjoining the timber of Muddy Creek. This consists of a fine grove three miles in width, and extending ten miles up and down the stream, with little variation as to quality. The prairie on which Georgetown is situated is six miles wide, extending to the timber which skirts Flat Creek. There is a large amount of coal in various parts of Pettis county, and none of better quality than that found near to Georgetown. The place of business has hitherto been at Muddy mills, the name by which Raimy and Wasson's mills are generally known. Since the lo

« ZurückWeiter »