COUNTY REPOETS. 289 



be bous^it for $1.2.") to $2.50 per acre. P. Gabriel and B. B. Cahoou 

 each own a large portion of this land. During my 14 years' residence 

 in Fredericlitown I have always seen pears, apples and grapes. 

 Peaches are not so sure, yet every year here and there some may be 

 found, more or less. 



2^ow the question arises, where is your market"? Predericktown, 

 the county seat, 2200 inhabitants, Mine LaMotte, 4 miles therefrom, and 

 De Soto pay well enough. When the Iron Mountain railroad runs 

 night trains, as it did before, I can put my fruit on the St. Louis mar- 

 ket as early as its suburbs, who have to pay hundreds of dollars for 

 an acre of land. 



What do trees cost, and where can they be bought? Apple-trees 

 true to name, two and three years old, can be bought in Frederick- 

 town for 10 cents ; pear-trees, 30 cents ; plum, quinces, grapes and 

 others can be had equally cheap. There are itinerant peddlers who, 

 under the name of '^ whole-root" grafted trees (a modern humbug ), sell 

 in this county stunted, worthless stock unworthy the "work of plant- 

 ing it. 



The people of this county are well known for their hospitality and 

 kindness, and are the most tolerant to be found anvwhere. We have 

 no poor-house. Predericktown has a graded school nine months in 

 the year, besides a Catholic school ; churches of all denominations, 

 several stores, two flour and grist-mills, wagon shops and saw -mills, 

 planing mill, etc. A. A. Blxjmer. 



MILLER COUXTY. 



Miller county is in Central Missouri, about 30 miles southwest from 

 Jefferson City. A branch of the Missouri Pacific railroad from Jeffer- 

 son City runs through the northwest part of the county, affording a 

 good outlet to market; Eldon, Olean, West Aurora and Bagnell are 

 all good shipping points. Good churches and schools abound — two 

 acadamies in county. A good live farmers' club also in county. Con- 

 sidering location and access to market, land is very cheap, and is well 

 adapted to fruit-growing. In the past five years considerable progress 

 has been made in this direction — a number of commercial orchards 

 being planted out. Laud is rolling, and along Osage river is broken ; 

 this class of land can be purchased very cheap, and there is consider- 

 able acreage yet to be opened up ; wood and ties are always market- 



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