CORRESPONDENCE. THE origin and design of this pamphlet on the Resources of Missouri are explained by the following letters. To the Editor of the N. Y. Tribune. SIR: At the request of the State Board of Immigration, of which I am President, Professor Waterhouse has prepared the accompanying papers for publication. They will serve to answer thousands of inquiries made from every part of the United States. The public interest manifested in the subject of these papers justifies me in asking their publication in your paper. I am, very respectfully, Your obedient servant, Gov. THOS. C. FLETCHER, THOS. C. FLETCHER. DEAR SIR: The accompanying papers are hasty and informal expositions of the advantages which Missouri offers to the immigrant. In many instances, it has been found impossible to illustrate the resources of this State by recent statistics. For the last six years, no full record of industrial products has been kept. The civil war materially deranged every branch of business. So largely did it interrupt the operations of agriculture, mining and commerce, that the statisties of these departments during the rebellion would, even if they were accessible, convey an altogether erroneous and inadequate impression of the capabilities of Missouri. But time does not impair the force of a fact. If freshness adds to its interest, age does not detract from its truth. A decade of years has not deprived the statistics upon the minerals of Missouri of their power of producing conviction. And, though the facts which are familiar to our citizens may be new to Eastern and European emigrants, the only vital point is the efficacy of these facts to impress upon the public mind a full comprehension of the resources of Missouri. Hoping that a general knowledge of our economic advantages will convert many emigrants from other States and countries into immigrants and citizens of Missouri, I am, with high regard, yours truly, S. WATERHOUSE. St. Louis. This series of papers has been revised and enlarged. It is hoped that the errors which have escaped correction are not sufficiently grave to weaken the force of the general conclusions. In some instances, from the impossibility of obtaining trustworthy statistics, approximate estimates have been given; but these estimates express the best judgments of men practically conversant with the subjects under discussion. These articles are mere "advertisements" of the material resources of Missouri. The very object of the series precluded any thorough treatment of the several topics. A fuller discussion would have made a pamphlet too large for general circulation. The very kind and gratifying reception which a generous public has already given these articles induces the hope that a further indulgence will be granted to sincere efforts for the material growth and mental culture of our noble State. Washington University, June 1st, 1867. S. W. |