Missouri

mis-oo'ri, a state of the American Union. It is situated near the geographical center. It lies on the west bank of the Mississippi between Louisiana and Arkansas. The Missouri River, entering from the west, divides the state into a north and a south section. The general shape of the state is that of an oblique quadrilateral. A small extension at the southeast angle follows the Mississippi for a distance of thirty-four miles. The northern boundary is chiefly the parallel of 40 deg 30'; the southern that of 36 deg30' north latitude. The area is 69,415 square miles.

TOPOGRAPHY AND CLIMATE. Northern Missouri is chiefly an undulating or rolling prairie country, not differing essentially from southern Iowa. The bluffs of the various rivers are bold and are well timbered. Southeastern Missouri is a wooded region. Central Missouri is prairie. The table land of the Ozark Mountains rises in the southwest to a point 1,600 feet above the sea. The lowest point in the state, the extreme southeastern corner, lies 275 feet above the sea. The extreme temperatures are 104 deg and--20 deg. The mean summer temperature ranges from 75 deg to 79 deg according to locality. The mean winter temperature ranges from 28 deg to 40 deg. The Missouri River is usually closed with ice during the winter season. The Mississippi not infrequently remains open as far north as St. Louis.

MINERALS. The state is rich in mineral wealth. The earth and rocks of the state vary from the latest glacial drift and alluvial bottoms to those of primitive origin. There are excellent clays for making brick, as well as marble, limestone, sandstone, and granite for building. Coal measures, already extensively worked, are thought to underlie about 2,000 square miles of territory. The lead mines are the most extensive known. The state also leads in the production of zinc. Iron ore of excellent quality is mined in southern Missouri. Iron Mountain is one of the largest known masses of iron in the world. It is almost a solid mountain of iron. Pilot Knob is celebrated for iron ore. A good half of the state of Missouri lies in the region of the famous black soil for which the Mississippi Valley is noted. In the southern part of the state the soil varies from the alluvium found in river bottoms to the heavy clays of the uplands. Much of the clay is tinged with red from the iron veins.

FORESTS AND GAME. Like other states, Missouri has been prodigal of its timber. In the southeast, however, there are still heavy forests of oak, maple, ash, hickory, elm, pecan, and chestnut. While no longer laying claim to be a sportsman's paradise, the state still affords shelter to many wild animals. Prairie chickens are found in the prairie region of the west. Quail are abundant along the bluffs and in the hilly region of the Ozark. Gray squirrels, fox squirrels, and rabbits are numerous. Wild turkeys and the Virginia deer are still found by the persistent hunter.

AGRICULTURE. Agriculture is the chief industry. Missouri is noted for winter wheat. Named in order of volume the chief field crops are wheat, oats, corn, rye, sweet potatoes, Irish potatoes, and buckwheat. Tobacco, hemp, and flax are raised extensively. Missouri is a great apple, peach, and berry state. The leading apple is the Ben Davis. Pears, cherries, plums, and grapes do well. Twenty million dollars a year is a very conservative estimate of the value of the annual fruit crop. The station of Sarcoxie alone, ships from 200 to 400 cars of strawberries a year. A strong impulse to horticulture has been given by the work of the Missouri Botanical Garden at St. Louis. Tomatoes, peas, cabbage, and potatoes are grown extensively for the city markets. The fruits and vegetables of the state reach the large distributing centers after shipments from the Gulf States have begun to fail. In addition to the local crop, large quantities of corn are imported from Kansas. Sheep raising is carried on in the southern counties. The state leads the Union in the production of mules and swine.

HISTORICAL. The eastern shore of Missouri was explored by Marquette, Joliet, and La Salle. It was taken possession of by the latter in the name of the French king April 9, 1682. The first settlement was made by the French at St. Genevieve at an uncertain date, not later than 1763. St. Louis was settled by the French in 1764. The territory passed into the hands of the general government with the purchase of Louisiana from Napoleon in 1803. Missouri was organized as a territory in 1812, and was admitted to the Union in 1821. In 1826 the capital was established at Jefferson City. The great bulk of the early settlers came from North Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia. In later days there was a heavy influx of Germans and people from the Northern States of the Union. At the outbreak of the Civil War there was a strong sentiment in favor of secession, but it was prevented from becoming effective by the prompt action of the Unionists due largely to German settlers who were opposed to slavery.

EDUCATION. A system of public schools was established in 1839. The state took an early stand in favor of public high schools. Four normal schools are maintained by the state. The state university, a vigorous, promising institution, with the usual colleges, including law and medicine, is located at Columbia. Both men and women are admitted. Washington University, at St. Louis, is heavily endowed. St. Louis University is under Jesuit control. The leading churches are the Roman Catholic, the Methodist, the Baptist, the Presbyterian, and the Episcopalian.

POPULATION, ETC. The population in 1900 was reported at 3,106,655, an average of forty-five per square mile. There were but 161,324 persons of negro descent. Named in order of size, the chief cities are St. Louis, Kansas City, St. Joseph, Joplin, Springfield and Sedalia. Three-fourths of the manufactures of the state are centered at St. Louis. Boots and shoes, wagons, cars, clothing, flour, grist, beer, meat, and tobacco are the chief articles.

STATISTICS. The following statistics are the latest to be had from trustworthy sources:

See St. Louis; Kansas City; Lyons; Missouri Compromise; Santa Fe; Shaw Gardens; Lead