PREFACE.

THE present times are the beginning of a fresh chapter in the history of Missouri. The tide of intelligent, industrious, and earnest men, the rapid inauguration of public improvements and private enterprises upon a scale heretofore unknown, the employment of skill and capital in mining and manufacturing, the transformation of thousands of acres of the virgin soil to cultivated farms, and the rapidly growing villages and creation of new business centers, give us every reason to date the opening of the new epoch in the development of the resources of Missouri from the close of the war.

After long years of struggle, the State stands to-day redeemed from slavery and oppression, and, as will be seen by reference to the New Constitution herein, she has taken her position in the front ranks of the Free States, and now "guarantees the property, protects the rights, and yields the largest liberty to all her citizens.”

After having thoroughly acquainted himself with the character of this State, by extensive tours and correspondence, during the past ten years, the writer has pre

pared the following pages, not to produce a pleasing and salable book, but to supply the demand for full and reliable information about this noble State. Portions of the information, especially the descriptive and historical notes, were collected before the war. After the smoke of our battles had cleared away, and the New Era fairly dawned upon the State by the adoption of the New Constitution, it was decided to complete and publish this work without unnecessary delay. Missouri suffered more from the effects of the war than any other Northern State, and the consequent disarrangement of traveling facilities, the removal or destruction of county records, the disruption and disorganization of religious and educational societies, rendered the task of collecting reliable information neither pleasant nor satisfactory.

The most careful observer and candid writer cannot, in making tours through a State, give as full and reliable details respecting many important matters as the reader would desire in a standard work; hence the author has not relied solely upon his personal observations, but sought, from the best available authority in every department, the testimony and experience of practical men. Special articles have been prepared for this work on Geology, Mineralogy, Grape Culture, Wine-making, Hemp Culture, Mineral and Agricultural Resources, Timber, Trees, etc., by persons who were believed to be most competent authority in those several departments.

It has been the aim of the writer to address himself to the general intelligence of the educated, observing, and thinking men-to state facts as to the location and character of our various soils and minerals-to describe the resources and advantages of the State, rather than to indulge in theoretical speculations.

Of course it is impossible for perfect accuracy to be obtained in a work of this description; for, while the author has left one portion of the State with correct statistics to that date, and is visiting other sections, new towns spring up, and older ones grow apace. For instance, Chillicothe is reported to have built 300 and Mexico 200 new dwellings and business houses within the past twelve months. The same is true of other portions of the State. Virgil City is so new as not to be located upon any maponly four months old, and now numbers twenty dwellings, a steam saw-mill, hotel, stores, brick machines, etc., with prospects so extensive that the projectors have located the plat in two counties-partly in Cedar and Vernon Counties. Western people who build towns in this manner, who construct railroads at a rate of from three to five miles per day, do not stand still to be photographed, nor care one iota how rapidly they outstrip the statistician's estimates of their business or population. However, from the pains taken, this work is believed to contain very few errors, and none of great importance. Travelers or citizens who may notice mistakes or omis

sions will confer a favor by reporting the same to the author, at St. Louis, by mail, that future editions may be as nearly accurate as possible.

To the press of the State, for universal courtesy and co-operation, and to those who have given encouraging notices in advance; to the several railroad companies, for traveling facilities for visiting points along their lines, and to the many citizens who have done their State good service by contributing information for this work, the author would return his grateful acknowledgments.

And here the writer feels called upon to express his gratitude to a generous public for the very liberal patronage bestowed upon his six previous publications on Western States and Territories. Imperfect as have been his labors, his motives have been appreciated, and the census statistics for the past decade indicate that published information has no unfavorable results upon the increase of the population or wealth of the West.

This work is submitted to the public as it is, with the promise of a better, if it is demanded. If the author has succeeded in representing "Missouri as it is in 1867"-if his task shall tend to throw a light over the immigrant's path, to direct intelligent labor and capital where there is unlimited and remunerative demands-if this work shall serve to eradicate or lessen whatever of misconception or of prejudice may have existed in the minds of strangers-if, as the fruit of his labors, the author shall

be able to place Missouri before the world in her true light, and to assign to her that lofty rank among the States which she must attain and forever hold-he will feel that he has not fallen short of the elevated goal of his ambition, and, in the consciousness of duty fulfilled, will reap a golden reward.

N. H. P.