CEDAR COUNTY. Population, 18,055. Southwest Missouri; 110 miles south of Kansas City; 40 miles northwest of Springfield. SOIL-Eastern portion, broken and timbered. West part, level and prairie. Soil, sandy clay and loam, very productive. Coal underlies portion of this county to an extent yet unknown; a sufficient amount for home consumption has been mined for several years. Fine clay of superior quality; lime and sandstone of excellent quality; also lead, zinc and iron are found, but undeveloped. WATER-Springs, wells and cisterns. Big and Little Sac rivers, Horse, Bear, Cedar, Turkey and Alder creeks flow through the county. ROADS-Dirt roads, in good condition. Poll-tax, $3. TIMBER-Plenty of oak, hickory and sycamore. Some walnut. Only walnut logs are marketed. cord. FUEL-Coal and wood. Coal, $2.50 per ton; wood, $1.25 per COST OF LAND-Farms, $15 to $25 per acre; timber land, $5 to $10. FARM LABOR-Supply, ample; condition, good; wages, $13 to $17 per month. PRINCIPAL CROP-Corn; time of growth, four to five months; yield per acre, 25 bushels. None marketed, all fed to stock. COST OF PRODUCTION-10 cents per bushel; average selling price last year, 20 cents per bushel; average selling price for five years past, 30 cents per bushel. Crop valued at about $500,000. Other products-Corn, wheat, oats and hay are raised to advantage. About twofifths of the cultivated acreage is corn, one-fifth in wheat, one-fifth in oats and the balance in hay. A few dairy cattle and sheep. About 20,000 beef cattle were marketed in 1895; 5000 hogs raised and marketed in same year. SOCIAL ADVANTAGES-Population, 18,055. Principally native born Americans. Some Germans and a very few of other nationalities. Many flourishing churches and schools are scattered throughout the county. GENERAL ADVANTAGES-People refined and hospitable. Health, good. Schools and churches numerous. Land, cheap and productive. Markets, convenient. Water, supply abundant. There are a number of thriving and growing towns, among which are Filley, Cedar Springs, Omer, Pleasant View and Eldorado Springs. The county seat is Stockton. STOCKTON-Population, 600. Supplied with water from springs, cisterns and wells. A number of well-stocked stores. Streets in good order; sidewalks of plank and stone; lighted by lamps. Taxes, State, 25 cents; county, 50 cents; school, 60 cents; city, 20 cents. Stockton has two beautiful churches, a fine public school, two flourishing banks, aggregate capital, $35,000, deposits, $130,000, and a flouring mill. The principal fraternal organizations are represented. FACTS AND FIGURES-Cedar county has 315,454 acres assessed at $2,117,044; her town lots are assessed at $391,664; personal property assessed at $1,188,599; total assessed value of property, $3,697,307. Assessed values are 52.55 per cent of real values; hence, actual wealth of county is estimated at $7,035,788. Cedar county's personal property consists mainly of 9,707 horses, assessed at $20.97 per head; total....... Schools in 1894..... Teachers.. Pupils..... Amount spent on schools. Permanent school fund $203,560 66,271 177,470 6,467 62,682 313,481 84 100 4,785 $26,120.65 36,071.43 CHARITON COUNTY. Population, 26,772. Northern Central Missouri; 70 miles from Jefferson City; traversed by Wabash, A., T. & S. Fe and C., B. & Q. railroads. Considerable coal found and mined. Fine clay for bricks and tiling is also found. PRINCIPAL CROPS-Wheat and corn yield abundantly. Small fruits and vegetables grow in profusion. All the popular breeds of cattle, sheep and hogs are raised and shipped in large numbers each year. Besides home consumption, the following produce was shipped in 1894: FARMING-Generally the land is very fertile and can be purchased at a low figure, considering its productiveness. Fine crops of tobacco are raised, and large amounts are shipped each year. GENERAL ADVANTAGES-Railroad facilities good for moving and marketing crops. Healthy climate and good people who favor first class immigration. Keytsville, the county seat, is a prosperous and growing town. FACTS AND FIGURES-Chariton county has 475,646 acres assessed at $3,443,227; her town lots are $705,009; personal property, $1,529,329; total assessed value of property, $5,677,565. Assessed values are 21.85 per cent of real value; hence, actual wealth of county is estimated at $25,984,279. Chariton county's personal property consists mainly of— 14,544 horses, assessed at $17.35 per head; total.......... $252,437 77,198 245,596 Southwest Missouri; traversed by main line of St. Louis & San Francisco and the White river branch of the same road; 20 miles southeast of Springfield; 120 miles from Jefferson City. SOIL-The black loam of the river bottoms is very productive. The higher lands, though a little rocky, are good for raising grasses of all varieties. The mean elevation of the county is about 1300 feet. Fine quality of clay for bricks and tiles, limestone for building and lead are found. Lead is mined to advantage in several places. WATER-Fine springs and wells. The James fork of White river runs through the county. ROADS-Dirt, in fair order; poll-tax, $2. TIMBER-Oak, hickory and walnut; sycamore plentiful in river bottoms; cross-ties and furniture lumber cut for market. FUEL-Wood, $1.50 per cord. COST OF LAND-Farms, from $15 to $20 per acre; timber land, from $5 to $10 per acre. FARM LABOR-Supply, good. Wages, from $13 to $15 per month, with board. PRINCIPAL CROPS-Corn; time of growth, from April to August; yield 30 to 50 bushels per acre; average price last year, 20 cents per bushel; average price for five previous years, 35 cents per bushel. Corn, wheat, rye, oats, timothy and clover yield good crops. Vegetables and fruits natural to this part of the country grow in profusion. CATTLE-Few dairy cattle and sheep; hogs in large numbers are raised and shipped each year. SURPLUS PRODUCE-Besides home consumption, the following products were shipped in 1894 : SOCIAL ADVANTAGES-Population, 16,212; 90 per cent American, balance principally German; many churches of various denominations; 70 county schools; lodges of I. O. O. F. and Masons; the people are intelligent, refined and moral; in fact, it is a Christian county in every respect. GENERAL ADVANTAGES-Climate of an even temperature; land cheap and good; throughout the county fruit and vegetables for canning are raised; inhabitants invite immigration; there are a number of growing towns, among them the county seat, Ozark. OZARK-Population, 1300; situated on a branch of St. Louis & San Francisco railroad, among the foot hills of the mountains and near the beautiful White river; good water supplied from wells and cisterns; streets in fairly good condition, with wood and stone walks, well lighted by oil lamps; tax aggregating about $1.30 on $100 valuation. ADVANTAGES-Ozark has churches of various Protestant denominations, a fine public school, a flourishing bank, capital, $26,000, deposits, $65,000; lodges of Masons, Odd-Fellows, A. O. U. W. and a number of fine brick-store buildings, at which all needful articles can be purchased. A FINE BUSINESS OPENING for a canning factory; capital and push can find many opportunities for investment among the energetic citizens of Ozark. FACTS AND FIGURES-Christian county has 315,712 acres assessed at $1,454,240; her town lots are assessed at $136,015; personal prop |