Ohio, and the Illinois Rivers, there can be no doubt that she is destined, at no distant period, to become the great receiving and distributing depot of most of the vast region drained by these streams. Having already reached an enviable position among her sister cities, she is looking westward with a system of railways intended not only to bring to her markets the agricultural and mineral treasures of the Missouri basin, but eventually to extend beyond the Rocky Mountains to the valley of the Great Salt Lake, and finally to the golden shores of the Pacific Ocean.

Hannibal, a flourishing town of Marion County, on the Mississippi River, is 153 miles above St. Louis, and 15 miles below Quincy, Illinois. It is advantageously situated for commerce, and is rapidly increasing in population and business. Large quantities of hemp, tobacco, pork, etc., which are raised in the vicinity, are shipped at this point. The adjacent country is very productive, and rather populous. Coal and carboniferous limestone, an excellent material for building, are abundant here. A railroad extends from Hannibal to St. Joseph, on the Missouri, a distance of above 200 miles.

Lexington, a thriving post-village and township, capital of Lafayette County, on the right bank of Missouri River, 120 miles by the road west of Jefferson City. The situation is high and healthy. Lexington has an active trade with the caravans of Santa Fe and the Great Salt Lake. The great emigration to California which has passed through the county for several years past, has furnished a market for grain, cattle, and horses, at very high prices. Extensive beds of coal are found on the river bank here. The population of Lexington, in 1860, was about 5,000.

St. Joseph, the county town of Buchanan County, is situated on the left (east) bank of the Missouri River, 340 miles above Jefferson City, and 496 miles by water from St. Louis. It is the most commercial and populous town of Western Missouri, and one of the points of departure in the emigration to Oregon, California, etc. St. Joseph is surrounded by an extremely fertile region, in which wheat, tobacco, and hemp are cultivated. The town was laid out in 1843, and became the county-seat in 1845. It is connected with the Mississippi River by the Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad, and with St. Louis and Jefferson City by lines of steamboats. The town is well built, and had, in 1860, a population of 8,932, a large female seminary, a convent, court-house, Odd-fellows' hall, several large hotels, five newspapers and periodicals-two of them daily-and ten churches. There were steam flouring and saw-mills, bagging and other manufactories. The trade of St. Joseph in fitting out the emigrant trains and expresses was very heavy, amounting, in some years, to three and four million dollars. It was chartered as a city in 1857.

Weston, a flourishing city and river port of Platte County, picturesquely situated on the Missouri River, 200 miles by the road westnorth-west of Jefferson City, and four miles above Fort Leavenworth. It is the most commercial town on the Missouri River, or in the State, with the single exception of St. Louis. Its frontier position renders it

a favorable starting-point for the emigrants to California, etc., and the vast extent of this emigration, in years past, opened a ready market for cattle, provisions, etc., at excessively high prices. A constant and heavy trade was carried on with Salt Lake City and Valley. It also furnished the private and governmental supplies to Fort Leavenworth. Several newspapers are published in Weston. It was first laid out in 1838.

Independence, a thriving town, capital of Jackson County, is situated five miles south of Missouri River, and 165 miles west-by-north of Jefferson City. It is important as one of the starting-points in the trade with New Mexico and Utah, and a place where many of the emigrants to Oregon and California procure their outfit. It is the center of trade for a considerable extent of the surrounding country, which is extremely fertile. The prodigious tide of emigration which passed through this place for years, created a demand for horses, provisions, and merchandise, at prices which enriched the farmers and traders of this vicinity. It contains several churches, hotels, and newspaper offices. A railroad extends from the town to the river. The Mormons regard this place and the surrounding country as the destined seat of the saints, and as the Holy Land where they, at no distant day, will be gathered. They settled there in 1837, but were expelled by the people of Missouri, and took refuge in Illinois, and afterward in Utah. But to this day they express their expectation of eventually settling at Independence.

St. Charles, the county-seat of St. Charles County, is a thriving town, situated on the left bank of the Missouri River, 22 miles from its mouth, 144 miles below Jefferson City, and six miles by land south of the Mississippi River. Its site is elevated and beautiful. The rocky bluffs in this vicinity present delightful views of the adjacent rivers. Quarries of limestone and sandstone, and mines of coal, have been opened near the town. It is the seat of St. Charles College, which is under the control of the Methodists, and had, in 1860, six professors and fifty students.

Kansas City is in Jackson County, on the Kansas frontier, situated on the right or south bank of the Missouri River, three-fourths of a mile below the mouth of Kansas River, and 14 miles West from Independence. Its population in 1860 was eight or nine thousand. built on high ground, and well laid out, wide streets, and houses chiefly of brick. It is an important station on the emigrant route to the Far West via Kansas River, and the channel of an active trade. The city had, in 1860, 2 daily and 4 weekly newspapers, 7 churches-1 Baptist, 1 Episcopal, 2 Methodist, 1 Presbyterian, 1 Reformed, and 1 Roman Catholic 2 branch banks, an insurance company, several benevolent societies; a number of schools of various grades, including a German free school, a high school, and two female seminaries; an iron foundry, a saw-mill, a flour-mill, a tannery, brewery, and 7 brick-yards. It had, also, manufactories of agricultural implements, boots and shoes, etc., a large pork-packing establishment, and several lumber-yards.

FINANCES.-The total receipts into the State Treasury of Missouri,

for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1865, were $2,463,909.03, and the total expenditures $1,854,661.77, leaving a balance in the treasury of $609,247.26, of which balance $105,535.28 was in currency, and $503,711 98 in Union military bonds and other issues of the State. The total bonded debt of the State, exclusive of bonds loaned the several railroads, was $602,000, of which amount $402,000 matured in 1862 and 1863. For these matured bonds, in pursuance of an act of January 2, 1864, new bonds, having twenty years to run, to the amount of $260,000, had been exchanged. The total amount of the bonds of the State loaned to the railroads, including the bonds guaranteed by the State, was $23,701,000 on which the accrued and unpaid interest up to January, 1866, was $1,307,780. The amount of the war debt of the State reached $7,546,573. This debt was incurred by the State for the payment of the six months' militia, the enrolled militia, and the different organizations called out by order of the Federal commanders. Of the gross amount, the sum of $3,016,657 had been canceled. was in progress of payment by the increased taxation upon persons immediately benefited by the objects for which the debt was incurred, It was believed that within two years the debt would be entirely extinguished.

It

THE NEW CONSTITUTION.-A State Constitutional Convention assembled at St. Louis on the 6th of January, 1865, and proceeded to make a new State Constitution, which was submitted to the people for adoption or rejection at an annual election held on the 6th of June following. The total vote on the question of the adoption of the new Constitution was 85,478, of which 43,670 were in favor, and 41,808 against it. It was, therefore, adopted by a majority of 1,862 votes.

The new Constitution requires a system of registration in every county of the State, to be prescribed by the Legislature. Previous to the adoption of such a system, every voter was required to take an oath, and after its adoption to take the same oath upon the registry of his name. No one unregistered can vote at an election, nor one registered, unless his name has been entered ten days previous. The oath prescribed is designated in the Constitution as the "Oath of Loyalty." Non-residents, whether Americans or foreigners, not otherwise disqualified, can vote after a residence of one year, or one year after having declared an intention to become naturalized. After January 1, 1876, no person unqualified can become a qualified voter, unless in addition to the previous requisites, he shall be able to read and write; cases of physical disability are excepted.

Among other provisions of the new Constitution, is a plan for the reorganization of the judiciary of the State; for a system of free schools, under which gratuitous instruction is afforded to all between the ages of five and twenty years; for the creation of corporations, to be authorized on general principles; and for other changes in the fundamental law of the State similar to those generally adopted in the Northern States. EDUCATION. The new Constitution directs the establishment and maintenance of a State University, with departments for instruction in agriculture and the natural sciences, and a normal school professorship.

The grant of Congress to the State for the endowment of an Agricultural College amounts to 330,000 acres of land.

The State University, at Columbia, is situated in the central and fertile portion of the State. The buildings are large, substantial, and elegant, and were erected without cost to the State. This institution is endowed with the fund arising from the sale of the land granted by the act of Congress of March 6, 1820, to the State for the use of a seminary of learning. Of this fund $1,000,000 was invested in the stock of the State Bank of Missouri, and $20,000 in the stock of the Branch Bank of Chillicothe. The new Constitution required this stock to be sold, or invested in United States or other securities.

The State holds in trust for the Common School Fund $678,967.96, which was invested in stock of the State Bank of Missouri. The new Constitution required this stock, also, to be sold.

OBJECTS OF INTEREST TO TOURISTS.-We shall hardly be able to do justice to Missouri in this respect. To the geologist, the State possesses ample inducements for a visit; while the lover of fine scenery will find much to interest him in the wild bluffs both of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers, which rise to an elevation varying from 50 to 300 feet. In the south-east part of the State, the scene of the earthquakes of 1811 and 1812, may be viewed many traces of that startling event: among others are to be seen, at the bottoms of lakes, submerged forests and canebrakes. Pilot Knob, 444 feet high, and Iron Mountain, 1,500 feet high, the former of steel, as it is said, and the latter of nearly pure iron, are well worth a visit from the curious and scientific tourist. Big Spring, at the head of the Maramec River, rising in a very deep basin, 100 feet across, and surrounded by banks as many feet in perpendicular height, gives rise to a stream 60 feet wide, and 3 feet deep, and with sufficient force to turn 2 mills at its source. The water is extremely cold. Schoolcraft describes a cave near some of the headwaters of the White River thus: "The opening appeared to be 80 or 90 feet wide, and 30 high. A vast, gloomy rotunda opened before us, which very soon after entry increased to a height of 60 or 70 feet, and in width to 150 or 200 feet. This hall extended into the rock southerly, branching off into lateral avenues. We explored the main gallery for 500 or 600 yards, when we met with obstructions." CLIMATE.-The climate of Missouri is variable: in the winter the thermometer sinks below zero, and the rivers are frozen so as to admit the passage of heavily-laden vehicles. The summers are excessively hot, but the air dry and pure. In the autumns, bilious and remittent fevers are common on the river bottoms. Pulmonary complaints, however, to such a degree as to terminate in consumption, are unfrequent.

SOIL AND PRODUCTIONS.-The soil of Missouri, speaking generally, is good, and of great agricultural capabilities; but the most fertile portions are in the river bottoms, which are a rich alluvion, (in some cases, however, mixed with sand,) and in that portion north of the Missouri River, except in the east where a sandy soil prevails. South of the Missouri there is a greater variety in the soil, but much of it is fertile, and even in the mountains and mineral districts there are rich valleys, and

bout the sources of the White, Eleven Points, Current, and Big Black Rivers, the soil, though unproductive, furnishes a valuable growth of yellow pine. The marshy district of the south-east part will, when the population shall have become sufficiently dense to justify the expense of drainage, be probably one of the most fertile portions of the State. The great staple of Missouri is Indian corn, and more hemp is produced than in any State except Kentucky. The other great products are wheat, oats, tobacco, wool, peas, beans, Irish and sweet potatoes, fruits, butter, cheese, pork, hay, flax, honey, and beeswax; considerable rye, buckwheat, market products, grass-seeds, maple sugar, and some rice, barley, wine, hops, silk, and molasses.

CONSOLIDATION OF RAILROAD DEBT.-The Legislature of Missouri passed an act on the 6th of March, 1866, providing for the entire consolidation of the railroad debt of the State, according to which its total amount, on the 1st of January, 1868, will be $30,199,050. The details are thus given:

From the above there is to be deducted the amount paid in coupons and bonds by the several State banks, and by the late owners of the Platte County Railroad, being about $200,000.

The consolidate bonds to be issued in exchange for the original bonds, with accrued interest added, will bear interest for the four years from January 1, 1868, at the rate of three per cent. only; for the four years from January 1, 1872, at the rate of four per cent.; and for the four years from January 1, 1876, at the rate of five per cent.; and thus increasing by quadrennial periods to six, seven, eight, nine, and ten per cent., will retain the latter rate until their maturity, January 1, 1918. This will average 7.76 per cent. per annum, simple interest, through the fifty years.