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90 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*