COUNTY REPORTS. 277 



There is not a more healthful climate in the great Northwest than 

 Buchanan county. The average rainfall and melted snows for 25 years 

 lias been 36.02 inches. 



All the hilly lands along the Missouri river are among our best 

 fruit lands ; the wide bottoms of the river also are unsurpassed for 

 fruits of all kinds, except pears in the prairie portions of the connty. 



The soil is a deep black loam, and is capable of withstanding long 

 drouths or excessive wet. 



Buchanan ranks third in the State in point of i)opulation ; assessed 

 valuation thirty-three million; rate of tax, $1 on the 8100 for county, 

 State and special school tax. No county in the State is better supplied 

 with good and commodious school-houses and churches, located con- 

 veniently all over the county. 



Buchanan county has one of the largest and handsomest court- 

 houses in the State, located in the thriving city of St. Joseph, a city of 

 65,000 people. Thirteen railroads, 98 passenger trains* daily. There 

 are 158 factories of various kinds, employing $9,780,500 capital, pro- 

 ducing $14,890,000 worth of goods; employing 6400 hands, to whom 

 are paid for wages $3,328,800 annually. 



The following statistics shows the commodities shipped by rail 

 during 1891 : 



Cattle, 4003; hogs, 22,650; horses, 580; sheep, 5920; wheat, 379,- 

 420 bushels ; corn, 356,720 bushels ; oats, 44,792 ; mixed grain, 178 

 cars ; flour, 42,750 barrels ; apples, 108,000 barrels ; potatoes, 200,000 

 bushels ; sweet potatoes, 50,000 bushels ; small fruits, 90,000 cases and 

 baskets, besides about one-half of this amount u^ed by our home 

 market. 



The above statistics do not show the number of hogs and cattle 

 slaughtered here by the various packing-houses, amounting to nearly 

 or quite a million dollars. 



From the writer's standpoint, I do not think there is another county 

 in the State that does or can excel Buchanan as a fruit county. For 

 fear I tax your patience, I will close these hurried and rambling thoughts. 



F. McCouN. 



CALDWELL COUNTY. 



Your kind request, asking me to give you some information in 

 regard to fruit-growing and other important interests here in Caldwell 

 county, is duly received, and I will do the best I can under the circum- 

 stances. 



