Chariton County. Location Near the center of the State, east and west, and north of the Missouri river. The Missouri river is the southern boundary and the Grand river the western boundary. Railroads traversing county-Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe; Wabash. County seat-Keytesville. Water-The county is well watered by tributaries of the Missouri, Grand and Chariton rivers. Timber Timber originally covered about one-half the county. There is still considerable merchantable timber in the bottoms along the streams. All the hard wood varieties are to be found, and cottonwood and maple. Minerals-Coal is mined at several points for local supply; and, in addition, reports to the Bureau of Mines shows an output for 1910 of 953 tons. Both wood and coal are used for fuel. Roads-Dirt roads are fairly well improved, and out of the lowlands they are usually in good condition. Interest in good roads is increasing, and public roads will receive greater attention. Transportation facilities are good. Land-The land in Chariton runs from high prairie to bottoms that overflow. The soil is rich and productive. In recent years much drainage has been done in the low bottoms, and the results have been very satisfactory. It has been demonstrated that drainage on a large scale is a good investment, and there is an increase in drainage in all the counties in the State where there is much low, overflow land. The price of land ranges from $40.00 to $100.00 per acre. Farm labor, from $25.00 to $35.00 per month. Live stockhogs, cattle, horses, mules and sheep-is one of the large farm interests; and corn, wheat, hay and tobacco are the leading farm crops. In fact, Chariton is one of the two or three counties in the State that produces tobacco as a staple crop. The shipments for 1910 were 518,055 pounds. Broom corn is also produced as a money crop. Social advantages-The farmers are prosperous, schools and churches numerous, good railroad facilities and good towns, all evidence the progress of the county, and give assurance that Chariton is a good place to live and rear a family. Our advice is that an ice plant, a woolen mill, shoe factory and cob pipe factory would receive encouragement. The leading towns are Keytesville, Salisbury and Brunswick. SURPLUS SHIPMENTS FROM CHARITON COUNTY IN 1910. In the following table is shown the commodities produced in the county and shipped out by freight and express. No effort has been made to estimate the local consumption, as it would at best be only an estimate, with no assurance of absolute accuracy: Population, 15,832. Total taxable wealth, $9,713,195. Personal property is assessed at about one-third of its actual value. about one-fifth. REAL ESTATE. Real estate at Number of districts in county.. 138 Am't spent for teachers' salaries.. 182 Am't spent for incidental expenses. 7,322 Permanent school fund. Average tax levy for school purposes, 46 cents on $100 valuation. $64,525.45 18,452.30 189,366.89 Christian County. Southwest section of the State, ten miles south of Springfield and one county north of the Arkansas line. Railroads traversing county-St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern; St. Louis & San Francisco. during the past year in the improvement of roads, and affords wonderful water power possibilities. Timber-Oak, hickory and walnut; sycamore plentiful in river bottoms. The timber supply is large and principally used for ties and furniture lumber. Wood for fuel sells for $2.00 per cord. Mineral-Shows mineral prospects, but little development. Lead and zinc have been mined at Ozark. Traces of iron ore are found. Limestone is everywhere. Land-The northwest is a plateau, lying high and level. The balance is rolling and rough. Fruit growing is very profitable; 2,260 barrels apples were shipped in 1910; also had a surplus of corn, wheat and oats. It is a great stock country, and about all of the rough land is suitable for grazing purposes. Good improved farms can be purchased from $30 to $50 per acre. Hill lands, unimproved, from $5.00 per acre up. Farm labor can be secured for $20.00 per month with board and lodging. Social advantages-The people are largely American-born. Very few colored people. Eighty per cent of the population own their own homes. Schools and churches are numerous throughout the county. The leading lodges are represented in most of the towns and villages. SURPLUS SHIPMENTS FROM CHRISTIAN COUNTY IN 1910. In the following table is shown the commodities produced in the county and shipped out by freight and express. No effort has been made to estimate the local consumption, as it would at best be only an estimate, with no assurance of absolute accuracy: ASSESSED VALUATION OF COUNTY, 1910. Population. 15,832. Total taxable wealth, $3,810,305. Personal property is assessed at about one-third of its actual value. Real estate at about one-fifth. Number of districts in county. PUBLIC SCHOOLS, 1910. 82 Am't spent for teachers' salaries... 104 Am't spent for incidental expenses. 5,277 Permanent school fund.. Average tax levy for school purposes, 65 cents on $100 valuation. $24,203.14 3,056.22 27,990.68 Clark County. The extreme northeast county of the State. Railroads traversing county-Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe; Chicago, Burlington & Quincy. The county is watered by the Mississippi, Fox, North Fabius, Wyaconda and Des Moines and tributaries. Roads-Dirt roads in fair condition, with an increasing interest in good roads. Timber-Considerable timber yet stands in this county., Abundant timber for local uses and fuel. Minerals-Coal is found at several places sufficient for local consumption, but none shipped out. Land-The lands of Clark are made up of bottoms, prairie and hilly land. Some of the bottoms are protected by a well-kept levee, and such lands are high-priced and valuable. Live stock and all the principal cereals are produced successfully. Many large elevators evidence the importance of cereal crops. Big flouring mills and pickle works are entitled to special mention. Also a condensed milk factory is successfully operated at Kahoka. Social advantages-The population are nearly all American-born, and are prosperous and progressive. Good schools, numerous churches and good railroad facilities and a generous soil are among the things which tend to make social conditions good. Direct communication over the Santa Fe with Chicago and with St. Louis over the Burlington are things to be considered. The Mississippi river is also a means of transportation to be recognized. The building of the great dam across the Mississippi at Keokuk, now rapidly ap proaching completion, will have a tremendous influence upon conditions in Clark county, as well as other counties in that section of the country in Missouri, Iowa and Illinois. It seems destined to increase manufacturing enterprises manyfold in the near future, and hence demand for farm products will be greatly multiplied. SURPLUS SHIPMENTS FROM CLARK COUNTY IN 1910. In the following table is shown the commodities produced in the county and shipped out by freight and express. No effort has been made to estimate the local consumption, as it would at best be only an estimate, with no assurance of absolute accuracy: Population, 12,811. Total taxable wealth, $5,084,478. Personal property is assessed at about one-third of its actual value. Real estate at about one-fifth. Average tax levy for school purposes, 52 cents on $100 valuation. |