Page:History of Southeast Missouri 1912 Volume 1.djvu/235

 CHAPTER XII PERIOD PROM 1804 TO 1821 Population — Character of Immigrants — Settlements in Various Parts of the Section — Early Settlers — Industries — Farming — Mining — MerchaJtoising — Prevailing High Prices — Manufacturing — Hunting — Transportation — Steamboats — Social Life — Lawlessness — Gambling — Dueling — Some Famous Dtoels — Hospitality — POSTOPPICES AND RaTES OF POSTAGE NEWSPAPERS SCHOOLS LIBRARIES — DrESS. We have followed the changes in the gov- ernment of Missouri under the United States, from the purchase in 1803 to the time when the territorial assembly petitioned Congress for the organization of a state government. We have seen that Louisiana was first made a district and attached to the territory of Indiana; that later it was organized as a territory of the first class, and kno-wn as the Territory of Louisiana ; that in 1812 it was organized as a territory of the second class under the title of the Territory of IMissouri ; that in 1816 it became a territory of the third or highest class. We have further seen the organization of a government, the various gov- ernors who held executive authority in the ter- ritoiy; we have seen the formation of the gen- eral assembly and the gradual growth of self government among the people of the territory. We have now to recount the growth in popula- tion of the territory after its transfer to the United States. At that time the total population of Upper Louisiana, including the settlements in Arkansas, was not more than 10,000 ; at the time we have now reached, 1818. it is prob- able that there were, in Missouri alone, nearly 40.000 people. This was a remarkable growth. It is not strange, however, that the population increased very rapidly. There was a great movement of population from east to west and Missouri was situated on the line of the principal part of this early movement. We maj' not forget the great part played in west- ern immigration by the Ohio river. It offefed a safe and easy road from east to west, and those who used this highway almost invariably came to Missouri. Not all of them remained within the borders of the state, but many of them did so. for not only was Missouri in the main highway of east-to-west travel, but it offered imusual attractions to settlers. Its soil, its climate, its timber, its minerals all combined to draw inhabitants. The fact that it had become a part of the United States, that restrictions on religion and on trade had been removed, were powerful inducements to immigrants. These Americans who came to Missouri in this period were, for the most part, farmers. They came to cultivate the soil. Accordingly, we find them scattered over the state and 175