“ The principal mineral deposits of Missouri are zinc and lead. These minerals, usually occurring together, are confined to the area south of the Missouri River and the zinc is confined to the Galena-Joplin District, covering about a dozen counties in the southwestern corner of the State, and extending westward into Kansas. Lead is also found in a large area about Jefferson City, and in another about the old lands of the Pilot Knob region. ”

“ Missouri lies in the milder half of the warm temperate zone. Being far inland, the State is subject to the extremes of a continental climate, which are all the more accentuated by the fact that it is in the path of frequent cyclonic storms. ”

“ The influence of the coal resources of the State is reflected in the establishment of foundries and machine shops. The railroad interests have developed a rapidly increasing industry of car construction, etc. The manufactures of clothing and boots and shoes are also prominent, the latter being a comparatively new industry, but already raising the State to the eighth rank among the boot and shoe manufacturing States. ”

“ The industry is centred principally in Saint Joseph and Saint Louis. The growing of tobacco in the State gives rise to extensive manufactures of this product, especially chewing and smoking tobacco and snuff. The industry is almost wholly confined to Saint Louis, and is also in a flourishing condition. The other two leading industries—the manufacture of flour and grist-mill products, and of liquor—though important, are declining in value. ”

“ The increase of flour-milling in the Southwest has notably reduced the patronage of Saint Louis by that section. The forest resources of the State are being more heavily drawn upon than ever before, and the abundance of supply constitutes an important source of wealth. In the swampy region in the southeast cypress prevails, but elsewhere hard woods are predominant. There is a larger cut of white oak than of any other one species. There was between 1890 and 1900 an increase of 33.7 per cent. in the value of the lumber and timber products. ”

“ No new county can be created with less than 410 square miles. The transference of a portion of one county to an adjoining county must first have the approval of a majority of the electors in the counties affected. The General Assembly provides for the organization and classification of cities and towns, but the Constitution places a maximum limit of four to the number of classes that may be created. ”

“ Missouri is the third zinc-producing State, being exceeded by Kansas and Illinois. The zinc is largely smelted in the gas belt of Kansas, and from there transported to the Gulf ports. The output of lead ore in 1901 was over 20,000 short tons, and the total value of the zinc and lead output of the State for that year was nearly $7,000,000. Missouri is believed to have considerable coal deposits, but its output is kept within narrow limits by the competition of neighboring coal fields. The coal output shows an increase from 784,000 short tons in 1873 to 3,802,088 in 1901. ”

“ From 1824 to the Civil War Missouri was always Democratic, but the Whig minority was very strong. From 1864 to 1872 the Republicans were in power, but the defection of a large body of Liberal Republicans who were opposed to the vindictive policy pursued against those who had participated in the Rebellion led to the reëstablishment of Democratic supremacy, which has remained unbroken since, save for the election of 1894, when the Republicans secured a majority in the Legislature and the Congressional delegation. ”

“ The state maintains insane hospitals, located respectively at Farmington, Saint Joseph, Fulton, and Nevada. There is also a colony for feeble-minded at Marshall. A State Federal soldiers' home is located at Saint James, and a State Confederate home at Higginsville. The State school for deaf and dumb is at Fulton, and the school for the blind at Saint Louis. A boys' reform school is located at Boonville, a girls' reform school at Chillicothe, and the State prison, for both men and women, at Jefferson City. ”

“ In 1900 the number of children between the ages of five and eighteen was 966,400, the number enrolled in the public schools, 719,817, and the average attendance for the school year, 460,012. The State has no compulsory attendance law. The attempt to articulate the high schools with the university has necessitated the appointment of an inspector to examine the work of the high schools. In 1900 about 70 of these schools were upon the approved list of the universities, but there are in all about 500 schools doing from two
to four years of high school work. ”

“ A Governor, Lieutenant-Governor, Secretary, Auditor, Treasurer, Attorney-General, and Superintendent of Public Schools are elected for terms of four years each. The Governor and Treasurer cannot succeed themselves in office. ”

“ If a majority of the popular vote approves, the convention will be held. Voters must have resided in the State one year, and in the county, city, or town sixty days. General elections are held biennially on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November of even years. The State is represented in the National House of Representatives by 16 members. The capital is Jefferson City.
Legislative. Members of the Senate (34) are elected for four years, and Representatives for two years. The Legislature meets on the first Wednesday after the first day of January of odd years. ”

“ The qualifications for the franchise deprived a vast proportion of the citizens of the right to vote and continued in force till 1871, when a more liberal registration law was adopted. A third constitution went into effect in 1875. ”