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Missouri and Its Resources.

MISSOURI is the second, in extent of territory, of the United States, Virginia being the first. It is situated between 36° and 40° 40' north latitude, and 11° 45' and 17° 30' west longitude, bounded on the north by the Iowa territory, on the east by the Mississippi River, separating it from Illinois, Kentucky, and Tennessee, on the south by the State of Arkansas, and on the west by the Indian territory. Its permanent boundaries, as described by the constitution adopted in 1820, are as follows: --

Beginning in the middle of the Mississippi river, on the parallel of 36° north latitude; thence west along said parallel to the mouth of St. Francois River; thence up and following the course of that river, in the middle of the main channel thereof, to the parallel of 36° 30'; thence west along the same, to a point where the said parallel is intersected by a meridian line passing through the middle of the mouth of the Kansas River, where the same empties into the Missouri River; thence from the point aforesaid, north along the said meridian line, to the intersection of the parallel of latitude which passes through the rapids of the river Des Moines, making the said line correspond with the Indian boundary line; thence east from the point of intersection last aforesaid, along the said parallel of latitude to the middle of the channel of the main fork of the said river Des Moines; thence down along the middle of the main channel of the said river Des Moines to the mouth of the same, where it empties into the Mississippi River; thence due east to the middle of the main channel of the Mississippi River; thence down and following the course of the Mississippi river, in the middle of the main channel thereof, to the place of beginning.

Territory since acquired changes these boundaries, so as to take in all the territory embraced, by running a line from the northwestern corner of the state west, to the middle of the main channel of the Missouri River; thence down along the middle of the main channel thereof, to the mouth of the Kansas River, which constitutes what is called the Platte country.

Part of the territory on the north, is claimed by the Territory of Iowa, on the ground that the "rapids in the river Des Moines," means the Des Moines rapids in the Mississippi, and not the rapids of the Des Moines River itself. The claim of Missouri is supported both by justice and common sense, and also by the general understanding of the people at the time of the adoption of the constitution, as to the meaning of the words, rapids of the river Des Moines.

The soil and climate of Missouri are capable of producing all the agricultural products of any of the states, with the exception of sugar from the cane. The face of the country is generally rolling, with the exception of the southeastern part of the state, which may be called hilly. All that part of the state north of Missouri River, and that south of the Missouri and west of the Gasconade, may be called rolling prairie, nearly the whole of which is capable of cultivation. That part of the state between the Gasconade and Mississippi Rivers may be called hilly, but it affords good grazing and abounds in mineral wealth. The soil generally, throughout the state, is deep and rich, produced by the decayed vegetable matter of centuries. Wherever the prairie fires are kept down, there springs up thick underbrush, which, in a few years, is converted into a forest. Some parts of St. Louis County, which, a few years ago, were prairies, are now covered with timber, so that hardly any prairie can now be found in the

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county. And so it is throughout the state. The country on the St. Francois River, which was formerly capable of cultivation, has, by the effects of the earthquake which destroyed New Madrid, become marshy, but it might again be capable of cultivation, by clearing out the St. Fancois, and by draining; but at present, while so much good land is to be obtained at the government price, it would be unprofitable. There is no doubt, however, that this part of the country will, in the course of time, be all drained and cultivated. Timber is found in larger or smaller quantities throughout the state. The river bottoms throughout the state, are covered with a thick growth of cotton wood, oak, elm, ash, black and white walnut, hickory, &c. The head waters of the Gasconade are covered with a thick growth of the yellow pine, of which large quantities are sawed into lumber, and floated to market. The value of lumber produced, according to the census of 1840, in the state, was $70,355, oh which Pulaski county furnished $25,300, and Cooper $10,580. The amount has more than doubled since that time, and the annual value produced for 1842, was at least $200,000. In 1840, 356 barrels of pitch, tar, &c., were produced.

The statistics of agriculture show that there were, in 1840 --

Horses and mules	196,032, of which Boone County had the largest number, 8,753; Pike, 7,375; Callaway, 7,177
Neat cattle	433,875, St. Louis 1st, 22,877; 2d, Cooper; 3d, Pike.
Sheep	348,018, Clay 1st, 18,166; 2d, Pike; 3d, Callaway
Swine	1,271,161, Callaway 1st, 38,528; 2d, Boone; 3d, Lafayette.
Poultry,	estimated value, $270,647

The agricultural products of the state, are wheat, barley, rye, oats, buckwheat, Indian corn, hops, potatoes, hay, hemp, flax, tobacco, rice, cotton, sugar, &c. According to the census, the number of bushels of the different kinds of grains, were --

					Value.
Wheat,	1,370,386	bush.	at 30	cents p. bush.	$311,115
Barley,	9,801	"	50	" "	4,900
Oats,	2,234,947	"	20	" "	446,989
Rye,	68,608	"	20	" "	13,721
Buckwheat,	15,318	"	20	" "	3,065
Indian corn,	17,332,524	"	15	" "	2,599,878
Potatoes,	783,768	"	15	" "	117,665
Hops,	789	lbs.
Wax,	56,461	"	25	" lb.	14,165
Wool,	562,265	"	25	" "	140,566
Hay,	49,083	tons	$10	" p. ton	490,830
Hemp and flax,	18,010 3/4	"
Tobacco,	9,067,913	lbs.	3	" lb.	272,037
Rice,	50	"
Cotton,	121,121	"	5	" "	605,605
Silk cocoons,	70	"
Sugar,	274,853	"	5	" "	13,747
Dairy products,					100,432
Orchard "					90,878
Will,	22	gall's.
Gardens, market					37,181
Nurseries and florists,					6,205

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There are but few manufactories yet in Missouri, except those of more immediate importance, carried on with a small capital, and by few hands. Hardly any state, however, affords better opportunities for manufacturing. Nearly all the small rivers emptying into the Mississippi and Missouri, afford good water power, and some of them to an indefinite extent. The Gasconade, Niangua, a branch of the Osage, Platte, and Grand Rivers afford excellent mill sites. The upper and lower Niangua springs, are good mill streams, and the lower one is occupied by a company engaged in the manufacture of iron. Coal abounds in many parts of the state, and is obtained with little difficulty. According to the census, there are nine woolen manufactories in the state, six of which are in Calloway and three in Pike. The value of goods manufactured, was $13,750; number of persons employed, 13; capital invested, $5,100. There are no manufactories of cotton or silk. A large quantity of cotton, however, is used in family manufactures, a great deal of which is brought from the Ohio River, under the name of spun yarn, to make common domestic goods. The value of homemade or family goods, in 1840, was $1,149,544. There are several manufactories of bale rope and bagging on the Missouri River, and two in St. Louis. The value of the produce of the mixed manufactures, in 1840, was $11,115; number of persons employed, 40; capital invested, $4,885. The whole of this was in Franklin County.

Hemp, which was but little attended to when the census was taken, is now extensively cultivated; and if the plan proposed by the general government, of procuring all the articles for the use of the navy, from our own country, should be carried into effect, there is no doubt that Missouri will produce a large quantity of hemp for this purpose. The soil and climate are well adapted to the cultivation, both of hemp and flax; and as our farmers acquire experience, they will raise and prepare an article of the best quality. Several machines, for the purpose of cleaning and preparing hemp, have lately been invented; and if the manufacture is encouraged, we shall be able to furnish it at a much cheaper rate than it can be imported. Flax can also be cultivated for the purpose of manufacturing linen, which would be of great advantage to the state and the community, in general, as we should supply ourselves as far as possible. The value of hats and caps manufactured, was $111,620; straw bonnets, $100; capital invested, $30,195; number of persons employed, 82.

The number of tanneries, was 155; sides of sole leather tanned, 31,959; sides of upper leather, 55,186; number of men employed, 325; capital invested, $208,936. The other manufactories of leather, saddlery, &c., 340; value of manufactured articles, $298,345; capital invested, $179,527.

Soap and candles were manufactured only in St. Louis. The number of pounds of soap manufactured, 138,000; the number of pound of tallow candles, 243,000; number of men employed, 15; capital invested, $16,700.

The number of distilleries, 293; gallons produced, 508,368; number of breweries, 7; number of gallons produced, 374,700; number of men employed, 365; capital invested, $189,976.

Powder mills, 1; pounds of gunpowder made, 7,500; men employed, 2; capital invested, $1,050.

	Value produced.	Men employed.	Capital invested.	No. of factories.
Drugs, &c.	$13,500	8	$7,000	. .
Earthenware,	12,175	33	7,250	12

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	Value produced.	Men employed.	Capital invested.	No. of factories.
Confectionary,	$1,000	1	$500	1
Cordage,	98,490	139	71,589	21 ropew'ks.
Musical instrum'ts,	500	2	50	. . .
Carriages, &c.,	97,112	201	45,074	. . .
Flouring mills,	960,058	1,326	1,269,019	64
Grist "				636
Saw "				393
Oil "				9

Daily newspapers, 26; weekly, 24; semi and tri-weekly, 5.        

Brick and stone houses built, 413; wooden houses, 2,202; men employed, 1,966; cost of building, $1,441,573.

Value of all other manufactures not enumerated, $230,083; capital invested, $282,965; total capital invested in manufactures, $2,704,405.

The value of skins and furs obtained, amounted to $373,121; but in this is included the value of those obtained by the fur traders of St. Louis, which amounted to $306,300, nearly the whole of which is the product of the territories north, west and north, as far as the Rocky mountains, and even as far as the Columbia River.

The number of men employed in the manufacture of machinery, was 191; and the value produced, amounted to $190,412.

The number of small arms manufactured was 950, and the number of men employed in the manufacture was 48. The value of manufacture of the precious metals, was $5,450; number of men employed, 12. Value of other metals manufactured, $60,300; men employed, 72. The value of stone, marble, &c., manufactured, $32,050; men employed, 73. Value of bricks and lime, $185,234; men employed, 671.

These statistics are all under, rather than over the truth; and the value much greater than that assigned. Many things are entirely omitted, for instance, furniture, in which a large capital is employed in St. Louis, and many men engage. Tobacco and hemp will, in all probability, become the staple articles of export products of Missouri, as the soil and climate are well suited to their production. The number of pounds produced in 1840, according to the census, was 9,067,913, which, estimating the hogshead at 1,400 lbs., would make 6,477 hhds. The crop for 1841, was about 9,000 hhds. of which 8,500 passed St. Louis. The following estimate, taken from the St. Louis Republican, will show the different quality and estimated value for 1841: --

2,000	hhds.	Strips.	worth in Europe	$175=	$350,000
2,500	"	1sts.	" New Orleans	130=	300,000
2,500	"	2ds.	" "	70=	175,000
1,500	"	X	" "	50=	75,000
500	"	Bull's eye	" "	25=	12,500
			Total value,		$912,500

The crop for 1842 is estimated at 15,000 hhds., but the prices have fallen off from that of 1841. These estimates are made by a house who took out an open policy of insurance on tobacco for $500,000. The crop of 1843 is estimated at 20,000 hhds. More than 5,000 hhds. were inspected at the tobacco inspection warehouse the past year, although the

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inspection had been established but little over a year. Strips are not included in this, as they are mostly shipped directly to Europe. A large quantity of chewing tobacco is manufactured in the state, some of which, manufactured in St. Louis by T. Campbell, a little age being given it, is equal to any of Jesse Hares, or Langham & Armisteds. The capital invested in this manufacture, in 1840, was $51,755; number of men employed, 188; value produced, $89,996. Since that time, however, it has more than doubled.

Wheat, grain, pork, bacon, &c., which were imported into the state, a few years ago, from the Ohio River, are now extensive articles of export to the south and east; and the St. Louis flour takes a high stand in the eastern market. In 1841, 80,000 bushels of wheat, and 110,000 barrels of flour, were shipped from St. Louis to New Orleans, worth in St. Louis, at the time, $610,000.

In mineral wealth, probably no state of the Union excels Missouri. Iron, lead, copper, coal, &c., are found in inexhaustible quantities. Salt springs are found in almost all parts of the state; and while boring for salt water, in Marion County, a layer of rock salt of 60 feet in thickness was found, which, on trial, was fit for the table. Silver is sometimes found in the galena or lead ore, but not enough to make it profitable working. One or two specimens of virgin gold have been found, but where they came from we cannot say.

Iron and lead are the two principal minerals. The latter has been procured since the first settlement of the state; the former, except for domestic purposes, has not been sought for until within the last few years. Iron is found in many different counties; in some of those on the Osage and Niangua Rivers, in Crawford, New Madrid, St. Charles, St. Francois, St. Genevieve, Stoddard, and Washington. The principal works for the smelting and preparation of iron, are in Crawford and Washington. In 1840, there were in Crawford county, 1 furnace, 3 bloomeries and forges, producing 50 tons of bar iron, and consuming 300 tons of fuel, employing 50 men, with a capital of $75,000. The manufacture has much increased since that time, but the amount produced is not known. In Washington County there was, in 1840, 1 furnace producing 180 tons, 1 forge producing 68 tons of bar iron, employing 30 men, with a capital invested of $4,000.

Massie's iron works, in Crawford County, have been in operation for many years, and produce a metal of most excellent quality. This establishment is situated on one of the principal branches of the Meramec, near the head spring, which deserves the name of a river where it bursts out of the earth.

In Washington County, there is a vein of micaceous oxide of iron, yielding about 75 per cent of fine iron, and to an indefinite amount. It is 500 feet broad from east to west, and 1,900 in the other direction, when it disappears beneath the soil. Connected with this locality, is found a great deal of hematite, or bog iron ore. An instance of this is found on the Castor, a branch of the St. Francois River, where it is said to lie in such masses as to be used for building mill dams. In Washington and Madison Counties may be found the most remarkable localities of iron in the world, being what may be fairly called mountains of iron. The Iron Mountain, in Washington County, is about 1 mile broad at the base, 400 feet high, and 3 miles long, and has the appearance of being composed of

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masses of iron ore. It is literally a mountain of magnetic iron ore, so pure, that it yields from 70 to 80 per cent of metal under the ordinary process for converting ore into malleable iron. At the base, the ore lies in pieces from a pound weight upward, but increase in size as you ascend, until they assume the appearance of huge rocks, which would remind the beholder of those "fragments of an earlier world" of which the Titans made use. Six miles south, in Madison County, is another mountain called the Pilot Knob, composed of micaceous oxide of iron, lying in huge masses. This ore will yield about 80 per cent of metal. A full description of the iron ore of these counties, and of the Iron Mountain and Pilot Knob, will be found in No. -- of "Silliman's Journal of Science," by Professor Shepherd, of Yale College.

In the days of speculation, some most extensive plans, connected with these mountains, were formed. A charter was obtained from the legislature, for the Missouri Iron Company, and the plan for a large city was laid out at the base of the Iron Mountain; maps were drawn, with plenty of square miles upon them; colleges, both medical and literary, were sprinkled over the map with great profusion; a railroad ran from this large city on paper, to another large city on paper, located on the banks of the Mississippi, which was likewise on paper; another railroad ran to St. Louis, which had a real bona fide existence. All these speculations, however, fell to the ground, in the general crash that overtook all such plans. The cities, which were like a dandy's whiskers, extensively laid out but thinly settled, have now no existence. A charter for another company, has been obtained from the present legislature; and it is to be hoped that, as it tends to develop the resources of this large and growing state, that it will meet with a prosperous issue.

Lead is found in many different parts of the state. It is found in Cole, Franklin, Jefferson, Madison, St. Francois, St. Louis, Washington, and several other counties. The number of pounds produced in 1840, was 5,295,455, from 21 smelting houses, employing 252 hands, with a capital of $235,806. Of this, Washington County produced 1,107,000 lbs.; St. Francois, 1,155,000 lbs.; Madison, 1,263,455 lbs. Some lead is also found on the Osage; how much has been shipped from there is not known. The amount of lead produced from the United States lead mines, in this state, from 1825 to 1835, when the superintendence was transferred to the War Department, was as follows: --

In the year ending September 30th,	1825,	lbs.,	386,500
" " "	1826,	"	1,374,962
" " "	1827,	"	910,380
" " "	1828,	"	1,205,920
" " "	1829,	"	1,198,160
" " "	1830,	"	8,060
" " "	1831,	"	67,180
	Total,	5,151,252

Washington County is one of the most productive in this mineral; in fact, the whole may be called one large lead mine. The ore, by the former process of smelting, yielding from 65 to 70 per cent, but much of the metal was wasted; while, by the present method, at least 80 per cent is

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procured. In fact, Missouri, if required, could supply the whole country, and we might almost say the world, with lead.

Copper is also found to a considerable extent, in several counties, although it has been worked out to a small extent until within the last few years. There are several furnaces now engaged in smelting copper at the present time. Madison County produced, in 1840, 150,000 lbs. of copper ore, and the quantity has much increased since that time. This ore is found in Madison, Washington, Wayne, St. Genevieve, St. Francois, and several other counties, though in smaller quantities. The copper made in this state is said to be of an excellent quality, and free from foreign matter.

Bituminous coal is found in St. Louis, St. Charles, Pulaski, Gasconade, Cole, Chariton, Salina, Howard, Cooper, Boone, Lafayette, and in almost all the counties in the state. No anthracite coal has, as yet, been found in the state, and in all probability never will be. A mine of coal has lately been opened in Cole County, near the Osage River, which is said very much to resemble the canal coal of England. It is very light, black, no luster, and looks almost like pure bitumen. When you find a good specimen, it may be lighted in the flame of a candle, when it will burn until it is consumed. If this can be procured in sufficient quantities, it will be very valuable, as it is an excellent coal for furnaces and for manufacturing purposes generally. The coal formation is supposed to underlie nearly the whole state. The number of bushels raised in 1840, was 249,302, giving employment to 69 men and with a capital invested of $9,488. Of this quantity, St. Louis raised 233,000 bushels. Sufficient coal can be produced for nearly all manufacturing purposes.

Salt springs are found in nearly all parts of the state, but, as yet, little is manufactured. Cooper, Howard, Randolph, and Salina, are the only counties that show any return by the census. The number of bushels produced was 13,150, giving employment to 36 hands, with a capital invested of $3,550. Enough salt could be made in the state to supply all its wants, if capital and industry were applied to its production. The vicinity of Salt River abounds with mineral springs, which produce salt of an excellent quality.

Marbles are found in many different parts of the state. Some of them possess great beauty, with veins of different colors -- red, green, blue -- and some of them almost deserve the name of verd antique. They are generally of a highly crystalline character, containing, frequently, crystals of carbonate of lime, of some size. There is a quarry of marble, a few miles south of St. Louis, which is very beautiful, and well suited for mantel-pieces, center-tables, and the like. Marbles are also found on the Osage and Niangua Rivers, in the counties of Howard, St. Francois, and St. Charles.

Saltpetre is found in caverns on the banks of the Meramec, Current, and Gasconade Rivers. Sulphate of barytes, or heavy spar, is found at the lead diggings, in Washington, Jefferson, and St. Francois Counties. Plaster of Paris is found in the cliffs, on the banks of the Kansas River. Potters' clay and fullers' earth are also found. Specimens of antimony, manganese, and zinc, are also found. The latter is found as a sulphuret, at the lead mines, in Washington, Jefferson, and St. Francois Counties. It exists in considerable quantities, and may hereafter be found worth working.

The commerce of this state is, for a state so very young, very extensive. There are 3 houses engaged in foreign trade, and 39 commission

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houses, with a capital of $746,500. The retail dry goods, grocery, and other stores, number 1,107, with a capital of $8,158,802. The number of men employed was 345. The number of men employed in internal transportation, 79. Butchers, packers, &c., 128, with a capital of $173,650. Hardly any interior state of the Union possesses greater advantages than Missouri. Its whole eastern border is washed by the great father of waters, while the muddy Missouri rushes madly through the interior, bisecting the state, and furnishing the means of navigation for more than a thousand miles from its mouth. Several of the branches of the Missouri can be made navigable at a small expense. The Osage is navigable for boats of a light draught, for about 200 miles, at high water: and a few locks and dams would render it navigable at all seasons of the year. The Grand River, on the north, can also be improved. In 1839 and 1840, surveys were made by order of the state, and estimates made for a scheme or internal improvements. It was proposed to improve the North, Grand, Osage, Salt, and Maramec Rivers, and to build a railroad from the city of St. Louis to the Iron Mountain. Nothing, however, has as yet been done, as the state was unwilling to embarrass herself with a heavy debt for internal improvements, in times of such pecuniary pressure. In this, experience shows that she has acted wisely. While other states are loaded with debts, which it will require years to pay, Missouri is comparatively clear of debt; and if times should improve, and the country become prosperous, she can then undertake works of internal improvement, with the hope of carrying them through. At present, she "bides her time."

The estimates made of the cost of the Osage improvement, were	$204,600
" for Grand River,	19,787
" Salt "	399,080
" Maramec, (with a canal,)	3,440,000
" Iron Mountain railroad,	2,942,723

The Osage and Grand River improvements will be those first made. That of the Osage is important, as it waters a large and fertile territory, producing heavy crops of wheat, tobacco and hemp, and is capable of supplying large quantities of beef and pork. The engineer estimated that the improvement of this river would save the people residing with the district of territory it waters, $329,594 annually.

The total population of Missouri, according to the census, was 383,702; of which 58,240 were slaves, 1,574 free colored, the rest white inhabitants.

White males,	173,470;	free colored males,	883;	slaves, males,	28,742
" females	150,418	" females	691	" females,	29,498
Total,	323,888		1,514		58,240

Of this population, 742 are employed in mining, 92,408 in agriculture, 2,522 in commerce, 11,100 in manufactures and trades, 39 in navigating the ocean, 1,885 in navigating the rivers, and 1,469 in the learned professions and engineering.

Of the deaf and dumb, there are whites 126, blacks 27. Blind whites 82, blacks 42. Insane and idiots at public charge, whites 42, blacks 50; at private charge, whites 160, blacks 18.

The number of pensioners, for revolutionary and military services, was

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122. The subject of education has not as yet received that attention it demands. If colleges and universities were all that is required, it might do, as there are no less than six in the state, which is five too many. The State University was established several years ago, at Columbia, in Boone County; that having subscribed more for the purpose than any other in the state. It is to be hoped that party and sectarian feelings will never touch the sacred subject of education, but that all will unite in training the minds of the young, so that they may become good and industrious citizens. The total number of students, in colleges, was 495. Two medical schools have been established in St. Louis, within the past two years, which are quite prosperous, with an excellent faculty, and a large number of students. The number of academies and grammar-schools was 47, with 1,926 students; primary and common schools 642; students attending the same, 16,786. The number of scholars at public charge was 526; and the number of white persons, over twenty years of age, who cannot read and write, 19,457.

Many thriving towns have sprung up, within a few years, in this state, and which bid fair to become of some importance -- situated on the banks of our large rivers, and shipping ports for large and fertile districts of country. Among these may be mentioned Hannibal, Booneville, Independence, Weston, Rocheport, and several others. St. Louis, however, is destined to be the largest city in the state; and, in all probability, will become the largest west of the Alleghenies, next to that of New Orleans. Anyone who will glance at the map of the Mississippi and Missouri valleys will see that its geographical position, and natural advantages, ensures this. Situated on the first bluff below the mouth of the Missouri, it is the first point, below the stream, that affords a good site for a city. The Mississippi, below this point, is navigable for boats of the largest class, at nearly all seasons of the year; some of which carry from eight hundred to a thousand tons of freight, downstream. Above this point, the rivers are shallower, so that freight, to be sent either up or down, must be here landed and reshipped. The Missouri, a few miles above, runs westward -- navigable for steamboats for a thousand miles, draining one of the most fertile states of the Union. North, runs the Mississippi, to the Falls of St. Anthony, between the fertile and rapidly growing territories of Iowa and Wisconsin, and the state of Illinois. A few miles above the mouth of the Missouri, is the Illinois River, running for three hundred miles to the northeast, through the fertile state of Illinois. It is to be hoped that, in the course of a few years, a canal will unite this river with the waters of Lake Michigan; which will open the trade of the eastern part of Wisconsin, and western part of Michigan, to the markets of St. Louis. The trade of the whole of this part of country passes by St. Louis, and it is constantly increasing. Groceries of all kinds will seek this market, to be reshipped to the north, east, and west. Instances have been known of persons purchasing cigars and coffee in St. Louis, shipping them to Peru, on the Illinois, by steamboats, and waggoning thence to Chicago; and selling them there at lower prices than those brought from New York, by continuous water navigation. From this point is shipped nearly all the lead produced at the mines in Illinois and Wisconsin.

The population of St. Louis, within the present city limits, is more than thirty thousand; when, by the census of 1840, it was but little above twenty-four thousand. The imports and exports, for 1841, exceeded

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$30,000,000. From the 1st of January, 1841, to the 1st of January, 1842, the number of steamboats visiting St. Louis amounted to 1,928, with an aggregate tonnage of 262,281 tons. The number of boats, in 1842, was 2,050, with tonnage of 302,698 tons.

The following, taken from the St. Louis New Era shows the amount of produce received at the port of St. Louis, during the week ending February 2, 1843: --

"Tobacco, 106 hhds., 58 boxes, and 2,000 lbs.; Lead, 788 pigs; Flour, 4,068 bbls., 65 casks; Wheat, 4,267 bbls., 1,699 sacks; oats, 115 sacks; Corn, 44 sacks; Buckwheat Flour, 33 bbls.; Beans, 34 bbls.; Bacon, 179 casks, 13 boxes, 9,000 lbs.; Lard, 960 bbls., 784 kegs, 55 casks; Pork, 677 bbls.; Beef, 164 bbls.; Sausages, 127 kegs; Tallow, 32 bbls.; Hides, 315; Whiskey, 165 bbls.; Butter, 23 bbls., 48 kegs; Soap, 35 boxes; Honey, 8 bbls.; Ale, 50 bbls.; Green Apples, 65 bbls.; Onions, 6 bbls., 19 sacks; Dried Fruit, 20 bbls., 14 sacks; Bale Rope, 69 coils; Beeswax, 8 casks,5 sacks, 1 bbl.; Flax-seed, 64 bbls.; Hemp-seed, 41 bbls.; Feathers, 18 sacks; Rags, 11 sacks; Furs, 10 bales; Lard Oil, 8 kegs, 15 bbls.; Peltries, 14 bales; Straw Brooms, 458 doz."

Within the same week, upwards of 9,000 barrels of flour went south; while, but a few years since, flour was an article of import from the Ohio River.

The commerce of St. Louis has hardly begun to develop itself. But, as the resources of the country, in all directions, are opening and increasing, year by year, it is but fair to presume, that the commerce of St. Louis will only be surpassed by that of New Orleans; unless her own citizens basely throw away the advantages nature has given her, or she be crushed by the jealousy of the legislators from the interior of the state.