produces as many chickens as Missouri. In 1890 the U. S. census re po rted 22,785,848 chickens in our State. The only other state that a pproached this enormous number was Illinois. In 1890 Missouri, with 2,674,184 inhabitants, stood fifth among the States in point of population. Missouri has 238,043 farms; only two states exceed this number; only one state-Texas-bas more acres of land devoted to farm purposes. Missouri's 238,043 farms are valued at $625,858,361. In 1890 it took $21,830,719 worth of implements and machinery to cultivate these farms. In 1890 the live-stock was valued at $138,701,173, and the farm products at $109,751,024. Missouri has 963,808 horses: only three other States exceed this number. many. Missouri has 351,599 mules: no other State in the Union has so In 1890 the U. S. Census officials found 4,987,432 hogs within our borders only two other States could show as many. The 6,072,121 acres of farms that were devoted to the cultivation of corn resulted in 196,999,016 bushels of that grain. In 1890, 3,567,635 ton of hay were harvested by Missouri farmers; they also produced in that year: 9,424,823 pounds of tobacco. 8,188,921 bushels of Irish potatoes. 561,551 bushels of sweet potatoes. 8,698,170 bushels of apples. 1,667,789 bushels of peaches. 2,721,240 gallons of sorghum. PRINCIPAL FARM PRODUCTS. APPLES Are profitably and abundantly grown in the following counties: Atchison, Nodaway, Holt, Andrew, Jackson, Livingston, Jasper, Newton, McDonald, Webster and Howell. BUTTER MAKING Is a profitable and important industry in Scotland, Saline, Sullivan, Nodaway, Andrew, Harrison, Mercer, Schuyler, Adair, Daviess, De Kalb, Caldwell, Lafayette and Jasper counties. COAL . Is mined extensively in Macon, Bates, Lafayette, Ray, Vernon, Putnam, Henry, Randolph, Barton, Audrain, Boone, Callaway, Johnson and St. Clair. CORN Is a principal and paying crop in 89 counties. COTTON Is a principal crop in the following counties: FRUITS AND VEGETABLES Dunklin, Pemiscot, Are a principal and paying crop in St. Louis, Nodaway, Jefferson, Gentry, Platte, Buchanan, Clay, Lafayette, Caldwell and Clark counties. HAY Is a principal crop in Barton, Vernon, Bates, Henry, Cass, Lewis, St. Clair, Audrain, Jackson, Jasper and Pettis counties. IRON Is found in Dent, Crawford, St. Francois, Iron, Phelps, Wayne, Greene, Franklin and Macon counties. LEAD Is mined in great quantities in Jasper, Newton, Franklin, Greene, Jeffers on, Lawrence, Madison, St. Francois and Washington counties. LUMBER Is the principal source of wealth in 15 counties, viz: Pemiscot, Butler, New Madrid, Carter, Wayne, Mississippi, Reynolds, Stoddard, Texas, Dunklin, Iron, Shannon, Ripley, Scott and Madison. MELONS Are profitably and abundantly grown in Scott, Mississippi, Stoddard, Pike and Butler counties. NURSERY STOCK Is raised with profit and is a great industry in Nodaway, Knox, Holt, Jackson, Greene, Daviess, Pike, Henry and Franklin counties. PASTURES ARE GOOD, AND CATTLE ARE Raised to special advantage, in 37 counties; hogs in 35 counties; sheep in five counties; mules in five counties. POULTRY RAISING Is a great industry in Nodaway, Greene, Clark, Henry, Madison, St. Charles, Knox and St. Louis counties. POTATOES Are profitably and abundantly grown in 30 counties. OATS Are a principal and paying crop in 14 counties. SMALL FRUITS Are profitably and abundantly grown in Nodaway, Howell, Andrew, Iron, Lafayette, St. Louis, Taney, Webster and Jefferson counties. TOBACCO Is raised with profit in the following counties: Schuyler, Macon, Howard, Taney, Douglas, Callaway, Platte, Carroll, Linn, Marion, Cooper, Camden and Laclede. WHEAT Is a principal crop in 60 counties. ZINC Is mined in great quantities in Jasper, Jefferson, Lawrence, Newton and Wright counties. MANUFACTURES. With the splendid showing of agricultural and mineral wealth, it would seem enough had been said: but there yet remains to point out the fact that though outranking many states in point of mines and agriculture, Missouri also occupies a place in the first rank, with respect to the number and importance of manufacturing establishments. Our 14,052 manufactures, representing $189,558,546 of paid up capital, pay 143,139 employes $76,417,364 a year. The labor represented by this amount of wages, applied to $177,582,302 worth of raw material, resulted in finished goods that sold for $324,561,993. The greater portion of our factories is divided among the four largest cities of the State, thus: In 1890 Missouri's mineral product was valued at $15,931,575. Coal was mined to the extent of 2,551,823 tons (long): iron to the extent of 265,718 tons. RAILWAYS. In 1890 Missouri had 5887 miles of railway: This was 2178 more miles than were in the State in 1880. PUBLIC DEBTS. Despite certain errors of National Public Policy which have tended to hamper the efforts of America's yeomanry to acquire that affluence and comfort which should ever result from toil and thrift, by wise and economical county and State Government the people of Missouri have reduced their public debt to $19.24 per capita. 1880, $60,263,761—in 1890, $51,557,568.) In 1880 State debt was........ In 1890 State debt was...... Decrease in the 10 year period.... In 1880 county debts were.... In 1890 county debts were..... Decrease in the 10-year period.... Municipal debt 1880. Municipal debt 1890. Increase in 10-year period.... (Combined debt $19,509,000 11,759,832 7.749,168 12,073,312 10,240,082 1,833,230 27,934,665 28,092,103 157,438 This 14.44% reduction of the combined debt of Missouri is all the more striking when compared with the increase noted in the debts of states all around us. In the same 10 year period within which Missouri's combined bebt was decreased by $8,706,193, Ohio's debt was increased $18,021,211-(from $53,044,175 to $71,065,386), this was an increase of 33.97% or $2.76 per capita. 928. Michigan's debt increased 40.52%, from $12,055,902 to $16,941, Minnesota added $14,722,496, making her debt in 1890 $26,050,929 as against $11,328,433 in 1880. Iowa owed $8,137,767 in 1880, in 1890, $11,275,319-an increase of $3,137,552 or 38.55%. Nebraska increased from $7,489,974 to $15,536,772—(increase of $8,046,798-107.43%.) Kansas increased from $15,912,114 to $40,629,022. This addition of $24,716,908 to her public debt is equivalent to $12.50 per capita-it is an increase of 155.29%. Although the same large general conditions, which have conspired to cover many farms all over the country with mortgages, have been as operative in Missouri as elsewhere in the Union, it is gratifying to note that the prudence and conservatism with which our State affairs have been conducted have enabled our people to withstand unsatisfactory general conditions far better than has been done by our sister states. As briefly indicated above, while Missouri has been decreasing her public debts, the debts of other states have leaped upwards to figures hitherto unknown in the history of State Governments. The per capita combined State indebtedness of Missouri in 1890 was $19.24; Ohio's was $19.35, Minnesota's $20.01 and Kansas' $28.47. TAXABLE WEALTH. The Assessors of Missouri's 114 counties report property subject to taxation to the value of $441,656,622. As the average of assessed values throughout the State is only 35.22% of true values, the actual value of Missouri's property, real and personal, may be placed at the enormous sum of $1,253,993,816. The following figures for the 114 counties show the stock and cattle found by the assessors in 1895. It is a matter of note that the assessor's report is usually considerably under the actual figures, hence the number of horses and cattle actually in Missouri is doubtless much larger than appears from this showing. 963,808 head of horses assessed as worth... $20,887,397 6,572,658 20,611,053 840,343 5,939,150 |