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The timber is oak of all kinds, (except chestnut
oak and live oak,) hickory, peeaa, black walmrt,
dn, hackberry, maple, (hard and soft,) cotton
wood, <fcc., <fcc.
Mechanics of all kinds find work to do- at fair
pi ices for these hard times; Wages are not as
high as they were a few years since, but are pretty
well up yet. Slone Masons have from SI,OO to
$2,50 per day ; Carpenters SI,OO to $3,00 ; other
micbanici in proportion. Plows sell from s6*so
to 16,00, for old grouti 1 plows; prairie plows
$15,00 to $45,00, <fec. Horse-shoeing $1,50 to
$2,50. The demand is greater than the supply.
Land, improved, from $4,00 to $15,00 per acre*
as per quality, improvement, convenience, &c. —
There are not many first class houses yet in the
country ; buildings are mostly of logs, some few
frame houses on farms ; but from 20 to ICO acres,
fenced, and in cultivation, is not nucoramon. Un
improved land rates from $2,50 to $lO. Prairie
timber, and’ prairie, can frequently had together—
not always. On the Missouri side of the line, the
land is all entered. On the Kansas side, some en
tered, and some not; but about all claimed’ that is
worth anything. The country is much thicker
settled on the Kansas side, than on the Missouri
side.
Some neighborhoods are well supplied with
springs; others have none. Good water is easy
found in wells ; stock water is plenty. We have
no water power improved ; all our machinery is
driven by steam. We have plenty of steam mills,
particularly saw-mills—in operation all over this
country.
Horses and mules rate from $25 to $1,50 per
head; oxen S4O to SSO per yoke; miik cows sls
to S3O per head ; beef, 2 to 5 cents per pound ;
pork, in lajl, $3,50 per hundred now
10 cents per pound ; flour $4,50 per hundred, &c.
Kansas City is now our nearest navigation,
which is fifty miles from this place? There is a
railroad surveyed through this county, which will
probably be finished in two or three years.
New comers are liable to Lave the chills or a<*ue
the first season in this country—-not always the
case; not so bad a3 the first settlin-g of Illinois or
Northeast Missouri. Upon the whole, this is as
1 ealthy as any part of the West.
Horses, or mules, are the best teams to bring to
this country, and good two-1i073e wagons. Such
stock can almost always be put in on land, at a
fair price. Cattle from the North or East do not
do well heie, and should not be brought.
limes are hard here now, and money scarce; so
now is a favorable time to make locations here, as
a little money will go a long ways.
4 arms can generally be found to rent for a year,
ly those who prefer to rent; the first year ore
third of the crop is rent, is the custom ; houses in
town rent quite high.
Now, brethren, I have tried to give you the in
formation asked for in your letters, to the bent of
my abilities; but let me enjoin you to come and
-oe this beautiful country for yourselves, as it may
loi k il.fhjrent from what }ou expect, and the soon
er y u can come, the better; come this summer, if
SOUTHERN BAPTIST MESSENGER.
possible; tbe best way will be to come to Kansas
City, either by the liver from St. Louis, or by the
Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad •, then to West
Point, Missouri. Call at my shanty, and I will as
sist all I ean in getting you homes. I hope the
good Lord will enable a goodly number of his cho
sen ones to come out and help us to contend for
the faith once delivered to the saints; and may
he bless you on your way, and prosper your jour
ney, is tbe prayer of your unworthy brother.
J. E. GOODSON, M. D l .
Jackson Cos., Ala., June 8, 18G0.
Brethren Beebe & Purington :—May grace,
mercy and truth be multiplied unto you, and all
the Israel of God. I take the present opportunity
of writing a few lines for your disposal. The
blessed Lord says, “I am the way, the truth, and
the life, no man cometh unto the Father, but by
me. We are here brought to see the great Bead of
the church, declaring the fulness of wisdom, power,
virtue, merit, and grace dwelling in himself, the
head of Lua church, to complete the great woik of
Redemption. We find the gospel saying, be was
before all things, and the head of the church ;
therefore we look at Jesus as the way in the crea
tion, preservation, conviction, and conversion of
all the elect. And the foundation of God standeth
sure in every dispensation of time, having this
seal, the Lord knoweth them that are his; yes dear
brethrer, every one that have heard the voice oft! e
good shepherd, are sealed with the Holy Spirit of
promise, tint o the day of redemption. Then we
see Jesus giving his life for all the Father gave
him. I hear him saying, they shall hear my voice,
and there shall be one fold and one shepherd. I
do believe all the Father gave him shall come to
-him.; then>all hi* ehildren.are taught'of the same
preceptor, who spake as never man spake. He
finds all his people in the wilderness of sin, gives
them eyes to see, ears to hear, and hearts to under
stand. Jesus becomes their wisdom, righteous
ness, sanctification, and redemption, and says an to
them, because I live, ye shall live also.
I wish to say to the brethren sisters who
write for the Messenger , that I am well pleased
with the paper, and it is a source of comfo t to
me. I desire to inform the brethren of the time
and place of holding the Mud Creek Association,
which will convene with the Mud Creek church,
on the fourth Saturday in September, in Jack
son Cos., Ala., on the line of the Memphis and
Charleston Rail Road, one mile of tbe Bellefonte
depot. The brethren greatly desire the presence
of brethren Wm. L. Beebe, J. L. Purington, D.
W. Patman, and T. P. Dudley, with as many oth
ers as feel to visit us. If any of the preaching
brethren can come, please inform us through the
Messenger.
Farewell, in the bonds of tbe gospel,
ELIJAH R. BERRY.
Fayette Cos., Tenn., June 6, 1860.
Brethren Beebe & Purington : —Some time
ago, bro. E. A. Header* and myself traveled in
company, and tried to preach for several churches. I
viz : Laodicea, Hopewell, Friendship, and Pilgrim’s
Rest; begining at Antioch, on the first Sunday
and Saturday before in April. These churches are
in Lafbyelte, and Pontotoc Counties, and appear to*
be in peace, and in a healthy condition. Having
three gifts, bro. Maples in Laodicea, bro. Pi ice is*
Hopewell, and bro. Castleberry in Friendship*,
which I hope the Lord will make a blessing to tho
churches, at each of which we were met by re
spectable congregations, and were cordially receiv
ed. Wednesday evening, we arrived at bro. Head
ers, and found his family in usual health. Preach
ing at his Meeting House, (Pilgrim’s Rest.) Thurs
day ;■ although a good deal of sickness prevailed
in the vicinity, a very respectable and interesting
congregation vras present. Friday, we went some
twenty miles to Joseph Headers, Yallabusha Cos.,
in the neighborhood of Shiloh, and preached for
the brethren, Saturday, and Sunday, and Eld. S'.
Canterberry met us on Sunday, and preached also.
We took dinner with bro. Brown. At this place
we met with many interesting brethren, which our
limits keep from mentioning specially. Sunday
evening, brother Brown sent a bov and buomry.
and conveyed us to Cufleeville, where we took the’
cars before day, and traveled down to Holmes Cos.,
stopping at West depot, where we were met by
several brethren, who conveyed us to Rocky
Springs, where we preached to a good congrega
tion, and stayed all night with sister Lockhart.—
Next day, we preached at Hickory Spring, located
perhaps on the premises of brother B. Griffin, (be
aut hot’ of the History of the Mississippi Baptists,,
went home with bro. Boze, who conveyed us next’
day to a School House, where we preached to the
people,, and that evening we were taken by brother
Canterberry to his house at Pickens’ Station, on
the 1 Rail Road. 1 ’ Next day vVe had preffehing at a
Mr. Balls, who- i's on a bed of affliction ; and re
turned to bro. Canterberry’s. That night we took
the cars at 9 o’clock, for Lower Miss., over 100
miles ; arrived at the- depot, Summit, about 9
o’clock on Friday. Here we were met by brother
John \\ ilkerson, and taken out to sister Griffins,
some 3-0 miles. Here we were met by Eld R,
YV ilkerson, and his companion. Perhaps few
brethren have been more persecuted by the Mis
sionary Baptists, than this excellent man, and the
two or three churches that stand fast in the doc
trine of sovereign grace, being surrounded by tbe
enemies of truth. Saturday and Sunday, we
preached at bis meeting house to very good assem
blies. Saturday night, we stayed with bro. John
W ilkinson; Sunday night we stayed with old
bro. R. W ilkerson. Monday, we traveled about
16 miles to Mt. Olive; Eld. R. W. and bro. J. W,
and sister Griffin in company, where we bad a two
days appointment. Wednesday morning, Francis
YY ilkinson, son of Eld. R. Wilkinson, took us back
within a mile or so of the depot, where we stayed
with a Mr. Jackson, a Missionary Baptist, who
treated us very kindly indeed. Next day he gave
us dinner, and sent us to tbe depot, without any
charge, requesting us to call again. We took the
cars at 1 o’clock, and at 9 o’clock, arrived at bro*