CHAPTER II.

LOUISIANA-1541 TO 1889.

TAKI AKING up the Great West in detail, we naturally turn to Louisiana first.

"Louisiana" was the name given by La Salle in 1682 to all of that portion of the United States west of the Mississippi River (except Texas and New Mexico, then a part of Mexico), that lies between that river and the Rocky Mountains, including Idaho and Washington Territories and the State of Oregon.

This portion of the Great West was first discovered by De Soto in 1541, who, however, did not ascend the Mississippi beyond New Orleans. He died the following year, and was buried in the waters of that mighty stream. His followers were scattered, and no permanent settlement was effected until 1682, when La Salle descended the river from the Canadian settlements and took possession of this vast region in the name of Louis XIV, in whose honor he named the country Louisiana. It is generally believed, however, that no settlement of importance was effected before 1699, and not until 1706 was New Orleans established. The little colony, headed by Bienville, in that year unfurled the flag of France. The French crown retained possession of this territory until 1762, when it fell into the hands of the Spanish crown, and was severely ruled until 1800, when it again fell into the possession of France, and in 1803 was purchased from the French by the United States for $15,000,000. In 1804 the United States divided this territory and named what is now known as Louisiana, the Territory of Orleans, which was admitted in 1812 as, a state, under the name of Louisiana. In the same year war with England was declared, and in 1814 New Orleans became famous because of its noble defense by General Jackson, with 5,000 men, against Sir John Packenham, with 12,000 Britishers. The state grew rapidly thereafter, and to-day ranks very high, New Orleans being second only to New York in amount and value of domestic and foreign exports, amounting to about $100,000,000 per annum. The inward bound coastwise cargoes to New Orleans are valued at about $200,000,000 per annum, imports about $20,000,000. The coastwise and foreign trade together amounts to nearly $500,000,000 per annum.

The Eads jetty system has made it possible for deep-draught ocean-going vessels to enter the port at New Orleans. The only drawback to New Orleans as a port is the necessary towage of ninety-five miles from the jetties. The establishment of deep harbors on the Texas

coast will not affect the importance of New Orleans as a port of entry, . as many suppose. The traffic that the proposed Texas ports will attract will be of a different class, affecting New York more than any other eastern port.

Louisiana contains 41,346 square miles, or 26,461,440 acres. Much of the State is lower than the high-water level of the rivers, and is protected by dykes or levees from inundation. The land is generally of great richness, produces sugar cane, cotton, rice, corn, tobacco, oranges, figs, bananas, peaches, etc.

Louisiana produces annually about 200,000 hogsheads of sugar, about 10,000,000 gallons of molasses, and about 500,000 bales of cotton, which is most all exported from the State. Other crops are most all consumed at home. The forests are extensive, containing several kinds of oak, hickory, locust, sassafras, mulberry and pine.

Louisiana has 1,256 miles of coast on the Gulf of Mexico; the Mississippi River flows through and along the State border for nearly 800 miles. and floats the commerce tributary for nearly 2,000 miles, and the Red and Washita Rivers are also navigable for quite a distance, bringing wealth to the great city of New Orleans.

The school facilities of Louisiana are second to no other Southern State, and are gaining rapidly upon some of the Northern States.

Rail connection has opened up a traffic between New Orleans and Denver which heretofore came by rail from New York, and has placed tropical fruits and sugar into Denver as cheaply as into Chicago. Denver and New Orleans are closely allied. We take their fruits, sugar and molasses, while they take our gold and silver, and the intervening sections our coal. The opening of the proposed Texas deep harbors will not materially affect the relations of New Orleans to Denver, but will materially affect Denver, as it opens up an European and South American trade to Denver which the disadvantages of New Orleans as a port of entry has heretofore barred us from. Texas deep harbors are a necessity, and we demand the immediate attention of Congress in their institution.

Soon after the completion of the Denver, Texas & Gulf Railroad, the direct rail connection, the New Orleans merchants held an exposition of their resources in Denver Chamber of Commerce. Their favorable reception caused the establishment in Denver of branches or agencies of their large mercantile houses, the result of which has been beneficial to both commercial cities.

E take

CHAPTER III.

MISSOURI-1682 TO 1889.

WE up Missouri second in our review of States and Terri

tories, in the order of her seniority of State-hood. We will conform to that rule in our treatise of the sister-hood comprising "The Great West."

LaSalle descended the Mississippi River in 1682 and took possession of the country west of the Mississippi River in the name of Louis XIV, naming it Louisiana. Missouri was included in the cessions made by France to Spain in 1762, and by Spain retroceded to France in 1800, and purchased by the United States in 1803.

St. Louis was known as a fur-trading point as early as 1755, and had less than 1,000 inhabitants, and St. Genevive had about 500 inhabitants. St. Louis was the capital of the District of Louisiana of the Territory of Orleans. When the State of Louisiana was admitted into the Union (1812) the Territory of Orleans was obliterated, and the Territory of Missouri was organized with St. Louis as its capital, which in 1817 contained about 5,000 inhabitants, while the Territory contained about 60,000. In that year the Territory knocked at the door of Congress for admission as a State, and precipitated a fierce excitement regarding the extension of slavery into the unorganized territory of the United States, and that came near disrupting the Union. A compromise was, however, effected, and the State admitted in 1820 under conditions set forth in what has ever since been known as "the Missouri compromise." The President's proclamation was not issued completing the admission, however, until August 10, 1821.

The State prospered, and at the breaking out of the rebellion in 1861 contained upwards of one million people, which has been augmented until the State contains nearly or quite 2,500,000 population.

The State contains 69,415 square miles, or 44,425,600 acres, and has 114 counties. Its chief cities are St. Louis, Kansas City, Hannibal and Jefferson City (the capital).

The Mississippi River runs the entire length of the State on its eastern boundary line (470 miles). The Missouri River forms a portion of the west boundary line, and deflects above Kansas City to the east, and flows across the State from west to east near its middle, and empties into the Mississippi River just above St. Louis. Both streams are navigable throughout their entire course through or along the State, the Missouri for 450 miles, and the Mississippi for 470 miles-over

900 miles of navigable waters available to the commerce of this great State. The profitable use to which this great natural commercial facility has been utilized, one need only point to the magnificent commercial centers, St Louis and Kansas City.

Missouri contains immense natural resources in the form of the baser metals and coal, the south half of the State being rich in coal, iron and lead, also timber. Notwithstanding the fact that the great swamp 100 miles wide starts in about Cape Girardeau and extends into Arkansas, Missouri produced more lead than any other State in the Union, until recently. Colorado now takes the lead by many thousand tons. The north half is rich in agriculture and some coal.

In 1880 there were in Missouri 215,575 farms, averaging 129 acres each, a total of 27,879,276 acres. Of these 16,745,020 acres were improved. Estimated value of farms, $375,633,037.

In 1887 Missouri had in corn 6,406,785 acres, producing 140,949,000 bushels, valued at $52,151,135. Wheat, 1,712,603 acres, producing 27,744,000 bushels, valued at $17,201,280. Oats, 1,358,119 acres, producing 39,793,000 bushels, valued at $10,346,185. All other field crops amounting to a value approximating $200,00,000, or in round numbers, Missouri produced in 1887 from field crops a value approximating $100,000,000.

On January 1st, 1888, Missouri had 782,124 head of horses, valued at $45,040,996; 225,563 head of mules, valued at $15,019,534; milch cows, 737,259 head, valued at $14,344,215; oxen and other cattle, 1,429,453 head, valued at $26,077,367; sheep, 1,087,690 head, valued at $1,894,973; hogs, 3,7,98,799 head, valued at 15,043,246. Total value of live stock, $117,420,331.

The total value of farms, farm animals and farm products of Missouri January 1st, 1888, amounts to $572,752,228.

Such vast resources deserve competitive seaboard markets, and is one good argument for the establishment of a deep harbor on the Texas Gulf Coast, and is there any wonder Missouri joins the progressive movement with Colorado and the Great West in demanding of Congress appropriations for commerce that directly affects two-thirds of the area of this glorious Republic. Colorado has a great many native Missourians within her borders; in fact. Colorado is mainly peopled with immigrants from the older States of the Union, from the progressive, energetic portion of the population of America. While the resources of this great State are similar to the products of Colorado, our interests are common, and together we pull for the main interestDeep Harbors on the Texas Gulf coast.

Missouri is represented on the Inter-State Deep Harbor Committee by Hon. D. H. Armstrong, vice-presidenf, St. Louis, Mo.; Hon. A. L. Tomblin, Stanberry, Mo.; Col. H. F. Fellows, Springfield Mo.; Hon. J. S. Logan, St. Joseph, Mo., and Hon. W. W. Anderson, Louisiana, Mo.