erty assessed at $2,170,940; total assessed value of property, $8,976,370. Assessed values are 40.73 per cent of real values; hence, actual wealth of county is estimated at $22,038,718. Marion county's personal property consists mainly of— 8,296 horses, assessed at $21.03 per head; total... Number of schools operated in 1894. Number of teachers... Number of pupils.... Amount spent for schools. Permanent school fund. $174,475 28,145 136,160 10,070 44,520 779,705 66 135 5,328 $68,764 88 MERCER COUNTY. Population. 14, 581. North Central border; traversed by Des Moines & Kansas City, and Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific railroads; 100 miles northeast of Kansas City and 200 miles northwest of St. Louis. SOIL The greater part of the county is rolling; about one-fifth of the county is timbered; the prairie land is black loam, very productive for the raising of all kinds of grasses; excellent brick clay is found; limestone is quarried for building purposes. WATER-Wells, cisterns and springs; east fork of Grand river borders the west side of the county; west fork of Medicine creek and many other smaller creeks flow through the county. ROADS-Dirt roads, in fair order. Poll tax, one to three days' labor. TIMBER-Oak, hickory, maple, elm and walnut, of which large shipments are made annually, in the shape of lumber, ties, etc. FUEL-Wood and coal. Wood, $2 per cord. Coal, $3 per ton. to $15. FARM LABOR-Supply equal to demand; condition good; wages, $12 to $18 per month. PRINCIPAL CROPS-Corn; grasses grow abundantly, small fruits, vegetables and berries do well. All the well-known breeds of cattle, sheep and hogs are raised to advantage. Poultry raising is a great industry and no county in the State is better adapted for it. SURPLUS PRODUCTS-Besides home consumption, the following products were shipped in 1894: SOCIAL ADVANTAGES-The population of 14,581 consists of Amercans, German and Irish. Churches of various denominations and 89 schools indicate refinement and morality of inhabitants. Mercer county has many advantages to offer homeseekers as a place of residence. GENERAL ADVANTAGES-General health of county good; lands sell cheap; people progressive; bulk of crops raised convenient to market; railroad facilities excellent. No county in the State better suited for general farming; owing to fine pasture of indigenous blue grass, stock can be raised to advantage; paying investments for all those possessing capital and push. Among a number of thriving towns is Princeton, the county seat. PRINCETON-Population, 1500; situated on Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific railroad; abundantly supplied with water from many wells. and cisterns. Streets well paved and in good condition; sidewalks in good order and lighted by oil lamps. Taxes-town, 50 cents; county, 50 cents; State, 25 cents. ADVANTAGES-Princeton has five handsome houses of worship; two fine public schools; two flourishing banks; lodges of the popular fraternal societies; many well-stocked stores. Besides railroad towns, there are a number of "inland" towns, among them Goshen and Modena. FACTS AND FIGURES-Mercer county has 388,004 acres assessed at $2,277,445; her town lots are assessed at $188,735; personal property assessed at $1,108,062; total assessed value of property, $3,574,242. Assessed values are 43.47 per cent of real values; hence, actual wealth ofcounty is estimated at $8,222,318. Central Missouri; traversed by Missouri Pacific railroad; 20 miles south of Jefferson City; 125 miles west of St. Louis. SOIL-The county contains considerable river and creek bottom land, some prairie and the remainder or greater portion is a broken timber land; the bottom lands have a black and clay soil, very rich and productive. West part of county is underlaid with coal; some pockets have been opened showing a wonderful thickness; good clay for bricks; limestone for building, and lead and zinc have been developed in many places. WATER-Springs, wells and cisterns. The county is unexcelled for its fine springs. The Osage river and many large creeks flow through the county. ROADS-Dirt; in fair order. Tax, 10 cents on $100 valuation. and staves are shipped in large quantities. FUEL-Mostly wood; average price, $1.50 per cord. COST OF LAND-Farm land, $5 to $50 per acre, according to loca tion; timber land, $2 to $5 per acre. PRICIPAL CROPS-Corn; time of growth, April to September; yield per acre, 40 bushels; average price per bushel last year, 20 cents; price for five years previous, 35 cents per bushel. Total value of product last year amounted to over $700,000. Wheat, hay and oats are raised to advantage; small fruits and vegetables grow in profusion. All the popular breeds of cattle, sheep and hogs are raised and shipped each year. SURPLUS PRODUCTS-Besides home consumption, the following products were raised and shipped in 1894: SOCIAL ADVENTAGES-With a population composed of 16,341, honest and industrious Americans and Germans; numerous churches, embracing all denominations, and 80 schools conveniently located. Miller county offers many inducements to homeseekers. GENERAL ADVANTAGES-General farming is sure to be productive; lands easily farmed and cheap; considerable interest being manifested in fruit-raising; health, good; county well drained and watered; farms can be purchased on reasonable terms; educational interests, good; inhabitants invite first-class immigration. Among a number of towns is Tuscumbia, the county seat. TUSCUMBIA-What the county seat lacks in the number of inhab. itants is more than compensated for in the refinement and culture of its citizens. The town is most beautifully situated on the Osage river, abundantly supplied with water; streets graded and in good condition; sidewalks of board and stone; and with its beautiful houses of worship, fine public school and many stores well stocked with firstclass goods, and delightful society; it presents advantages that one would imagine could only be found in a larger place, Tuscumbia is recommended to new comers as a pleasant place to settle. FACTS AND FIGURES-Miller county has 352,453 acres assessed at $1,309,242; her town lots are assessed at $148,344; personal property assessed at $755,250; total assessed value of property, $2,212,836. Assessed values are 43.60 per cent of real values; hence, actual wealth of county is estimated at $5,075,311. Miller county's personal property consists mainly of 5,306 horses, assessed at $24.05 per head; total. 2,294 mules, assessed at $23.50 per head; total. 12,978 neat cattle, assessed at $8.82 per head; total.. 12,636 sheep, assessed at 98 cents per head; total.. 25,702 hogs, assessed at $1.15 per head; total....... Money, notes and bonds..... Schools in 1894. Teachers. Pupils.... Amount spent on schools. Permanent school fund. $127,650 53,910 114,565 12,485 29,720 236,930 80 83 3,810 $18,591.14 14,386.50 MISSISSIPPI COUNTY. Population, 10,566. Southeast Missouri; borders the Mississippi river, and is traversed by St. Louis, Arkansas & Texas, and St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern railroads; 120 miles south of St. Louis. SOIL-Level, some swamp land; the swamps are being redeemed rapidly; the bottom land is a rich loam, and is very productive. WATER-Mississippi river borders the county on the east, and St. James Bayou drains the southern portion. ROADS-In good order. TIMBER-Oak, ash, hickory and gum; large shipments of lumber are made each year. In 1894, nearly 13,000,000 feet were shipped out of the county. FUEL-Wood; average price, $1.50 per cord. COST OF LAND-Farms, $20 to $35 per acre, according to location; timber land, $10 to $15 per acre. FARM LABOR-Sufficient for demand; condition, good; wages from $10 to $15 per month. PRINCIPAL CROPS-Corn; time of growth, about six months; average yield per acre, 45 bushels; average selling price last year, 20 cents; average selling price for five years past, 35 cents; bulk of crop raised near market. All the popular breeds of cattle and hogs are raised and shipped each year. Soil well adapted for the cultivation of watermelons; thousands of acres are devoted to this product, and many hundred car loads are shipped annually. |