MISSOURI VALLEY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



SOUTH MISSOUEI. 



ITS BEAUTIES, ITS ADVANTAGES, ITS PEOSPECTS. 



[by G. W. HOPKINS OF SPRINGFIELD.] 



Mr. President and members of the Missouri Valley HortieuUural Society: 



Having furnished you a paper last year on the future prospects of 

 this part of Missouri, and promised to continue the subject at some 

 future time, I will now endeavor to fulfill that promise. 



Taking- advantage of the occasion of the meeting of the State Hor- 

 ticultural Society at AYest Plains, Mo., I embarked at Springfield on 

 the morning of June 7th, and after a few hours ride over the Gulf 

 railroad arrived at that flourishing little city. 



On the route we passed several nice towns, among which were 

 Cedar Gap, Mountain Grove and Willow Springs. At all of these 

 places are found saw mills and huge piles of lumber, the product of 

 the pine forests of the surrounding country. 



At Willow Springs are found evidence of prosperity. ISTew houses 

 are being erected, real estate is booming, and everything shows an air 

 of business. It is from here the Current Eiver railroad is being built, 

 which penetrates the finest belt of j)ine timber in the State. This road, 

 when completed, will certainly be an important factor in cheapening the 

 price of lumber. 



Of the beautiful city of West Plains, and the hospitality of its citi- 

 zejis to the members of the Horticultural Society, it is not necessary 

 for me to speak. Others have exhausted the subject, and I simply en- 



