REYNOLDS COUNTY. Population, 7088. Southeast Missouri- Missouri Southern narrow-gauge railroad passes through the southern part of the county; 100 miles south of St. Louis. SOIL-Hilly, except in valleys and streams and pretty well timbered; clay formation on the hills; in the valleys black sandy loam, very fertile, and producing all the cereals; a number of different clays, granite, marble, lime and sandstone found in large quantities, but not quarried; lead, copper and iron deposits not developed. WATER-Many springs of pure clear water are found; middle fork of Black river and a number of creeks flow through the county. ROADS-Dirt, in fair condition; tax, 5 cents on $100 valuation. TIMBER-Large quantities of white, black and red oak, hickory, ash, yellow pine and gum. Large shipments of logs are made each year; over 13,000,000 feet shipped in 1894. FUEL-Abundance of wood at $1 per cord. COST OF LAND-Farm land, $5 to $30; timber land, $2.50 to $5 per acre. FARM LABOR-Plenty of workers; condition, good; wages, from 13 to $20 per month. PRINCIPAL CROPS-Hay, corn, wheat, oats and potatoes yield good crops; fruits and vegetables grow in profusion; all the popular breeds of cattle, sheep and hogs are raised. SOCIAL AND GENERAL ADVANTAGES-Population, 7088; many churches and district schools; plenty of vacant land for homeseekers; land is cheap and productive. Black river, with its many tributaries furnish an abundant supply of clear, pure water; one of the finest timber counties in the State; health of county is good; scarcely any malaria; crops never fail. Among the educational advantages, which are many, the county normal school holds its session in the county seat each year. Centreville is the county seat. CENTERVILLE-Population, 250; supplied with excellent water from wells and springs; graded streets, stores stocked with all needful goods, two churches, fine public school, Masonic and Odd Fellows lodges, and a fine opening for a wagon factory. About eight miles distant is the wide-awake town of Lesterville. Capital can be well invested in Reynolds county in either land or timber. FACTS AND FIGURES-Reynolds county has 489,666 acres assessed $1,175,691; her town lots are assessed at $12,155; personal property assessed at $387,384; total assessed value of property, $1,575,230. Assessed values are 80.86 per cent of real values; hence, actual wealth of county is estimated at $1,948,095 Reynolds county's personal property consists mainly of Southeast Missouri, borders State line; traversed by branch of Iron Mountain railroad to Doniphan, the county seat; 145 miles south of St. Louis, Mo. SOIL-Rolling hills and valleys; in southeast portion of county there are some swamps which are being rapidly redeemed; the soil, generally speaking, is very fertile; clay for brick making; lime and sandstone for building are found. WATER-Current and Little Black rivers and many creeks flow through the county, making the water supply abundant. ROADS-Reasonable good dirt roads, kept up from the general county fund; no special tax. TIMBER Quantities of yellow pine and oak; considerable lumber shipped each year. FUEL-Mostly wood; $2 per cord. COST OF LAND-Farm land, $10 to $15; timber land, $5 to $8; swamp land, $1.25 to $3 per acre. FARM LABOR-Ample supply of good workers who command from $15 to $18 per month. PRINCIPAL CROPS-Corn, wheat and oats yield good crops each year; small fruits and vegetables yield abundantly; besides home consumption a number of cattle, sheep and hogs are shipped. SURPLUS PRODUCTS-Besides home consumption, the following products were shipped in 1894: SOCIAL AND GENERAL ADVANTAGES-Population, 9810; a wellknown academy; many churches and schools scattered throughout the county. The people are hospitable, industrious, intelligent, and welcome first-class immigration. Homeseekers can find many opportunities to settle to advantage in Ripley county. The health of the people is above the average. Land is cheap; water supply is abundant. With capital the lumber industry could be made to assume enormous proportions. Among a number of towns is Doniphan, the county seat. DONIPHAN-Population about 1500; situated on a branch of Iron Mountain & Southern railroad; abundantly supplied with water from many pumps; graded streets and plank walks; lighted with oil lamp. Doniphan has Catholic and Protestant churches, a good public school, one bank; lodges, A. F. & A. M, A. O. U. W., K. of P., and a number of well stocked stores. Besids the railroad towns, there are a number of "inland" towns, among them, Ponder, Bennett, Fair Dealing and Current View, all growing towns and desirable places in which to reside. FACTS AND FIGURES-Ripley county has 369,331 acres assessed at $1,258,960; her town lots are assessed at $157,466; personal property assessed at $399,086; total assessed value of property, $1,815,512. Assessed values are 73.69 per cent of real values; hence, actual wealth of county is estimated at $2,463,715. Ripley county's personal property consists mainly of— 3,149 horses, assessed at $25.31 per head; total...... ...... Number of schools operated in 1894.... Number of teachers.. Number of pupils... Amount spent for schools... Permanent school fund... $79,714 35,823 51,947 4,375 17,120 85,740 56 60 3,590 $15,632.43 COUNT ST. CHARLES COUNTY. Population, 22,977. Between Missouri and Mississippi rivers, some 25 miles north of St. Louis. St. Louis, Keokuk & Northwestern, Hannibal & St. Joseph, Missouri, Kansas & Texas and Wabash railways traverse the county. SOIL-Eastern half of county is bottom land, with rich alluvial soil, very fertile. Western half is rolling, cleared timber land. PRINCIPAL CROPS-Principal crop is wheat; next comes corn. County shipped in 1894 the following handsome surplus: ST. CHARLES, the county seat, is on the Missouri river and railroad station of the Wabash and Missouri, Kansas & Texas railways. It has some 7000 inhabitants. The city is lighted by electricity, has extensive water works and a gas plant; streets are graded and substantially paved; manufactories are largely represented; car works, tobacco factory, two breweries, two flour mills, several brick-yards, stone quarries and a corn-cob pipe factory. The churches count among the finest in the State; so do the three public school buildings and the Lindenwood college. St. Charles invites capital to embark in the manufacturing of shoes, woolen goods and creamery products. AUGUSTA, on the bank of the Missouri river, some 25 miles above St. Charles, is in the center of the wine-growing portion of the county. FACTS AND FIGURES-St. Charles county has 335,270 acres assessed at $4,297,125; her town lots are assessed at $1,709,490; personal property assessed at $2,645,835; total value of property assessed at $8,652,450. Assessed values are 35.71 per cent of real values; hence, actual wealth of county is estimated at $24,229,768. St. Charles county's personal property consists mainly of 7,415 horses, assessed at $25.56 per head; total. $189.575 68,335 120.000 4,925 66,370 1,543,825 89 97 3,509 $39,021.60 21,203 75 ST. CLAIR COUNTY. Population, 18,058. Western Central Missouri, near border-Traversed by M., K. & T., K. C., F. S. & M. and Osceola & Southern railroads; 90 miles southeast of Kansas City. SOIL Western part, rolling prairie; eastern part, mostly timber, some prairie; bottom lands are rich and fertile; the uplands have a subsoil of clay; one-half of county underlaid with a fine quality of bituminous coal mined extensively; lime and sandstone are found and used for building purposes; iron ore in abundance, but not worked. |