The situation of this State near the center of the continent, and upon the summit of the plateau which embraces the head waters of the three great river systems of North America, gives it special advantages. The total area of the State is 51,479,242 acres, of which 32,000,000 acres are arable land. Agriculture is the prominent interest and wheat the staple production, but the hardier grains, potatoes, hay, honey, and maple sugar, are becoming important. The lumber business is constantly increasing. Copper, lead, iron, gold and silver have been discovered in some parts of the State, but the mines have not been sufficiently developed to give any proper estimate of their value.

In the northern part of the State is an immense forest region, estimated to cover upwards of 21,000 square miles, constituting one of the great sources of wealth and industry of the State. West of the Mississippi, lying between it and the Minnesota, and extending south of that stream, is the "Big Woods," about 100 miles in length and 40 miles wide. This district is full of lakes, and broken by small openings. The prevailing woods are oak, maple, elm, ash, basswood, butternut, black walnut, and hickory.

Products. In 1854, the number of plowed acres in the State was only 15,000; in 1860, there were 433,276; in 1866, 1,000,000, and in 1867, over 1,200,000; in 1865, upwards of 8,000,000 bushels of wheat were exported, in 1866 over 10,000,000 bushels, and in 1867 the aggregate yield was as great.

In 1861, the exports of lumber from this State were about 30,000,000 feet. This trade is constantly increasing; in 1865 upwards of 83,000,000 feet were manufactured at St. Anthony and St. Croix Falls, besides 15,500,000 shingles, and 16,500,000 laths. The products of 111,000,000 logs, of an aggregate value of $1,662,810 were exported. In 1866, the amount of logs and lumber cut and manufactured was about 175,000,000 feet; in 1867, about 276,000,000 feet.

The steamboat business of Minnesota is as yet confined to the Mississippi, the Minnesota and the St. Croix rivers. On the Mississippi, the business is principally done by the "North Western Union Packet Company," which in 1868 owned 11 first class packets, 19 stern wheel steamers, together with 131 barges, and employed over 2,000 men. The capital stock of this company is $1,500,000. Their boats ply between Dubuque and St. Paul, and La Crosse and St. Paul. The Northern Line boats ply between St. Louis and St. Paul, and consist of 9 first class side-wheel packets, 8 stern-wheel steamers, and 60 barges-a boat leaving St. Louis and St. Paul daily. The aggregate tonnage at St. Paul, for 1867, was 13,308.22 tons.

Minnesota possesses ample and effective water power. The falls and rapids of St. Anthony alone, with a total descent of 64 feet, afford an available hydraulic capacity, according to an experienced and competent engineer, of 120,000 horse power. There are now at the Falls of St. Anthony, 13 grist mills, 14 saw mills, 2 woolen mills, 2 paper mills, 1 oil mill. These with minor establishments there, produced in 1867. $4,669,358 worth of manufactured articles. There were in the State 511 manufacturing establishments in 1860, with an aggregate capital of $2,500,000, producing annually $4,500,000 worth of manufactures. The number of establishments in 1868, is estimated at 2,000, with a capital of $10,000,000.

19. MISSISSIPPI.

Capital, Jackson. Area, 47,156 square miles. Population, (1860), 791,305. Mississippi was settled by the Spaniards about the year 1540, and at Natchez by the French, in 1716. It was organized as a territory, April 7, 1789, and admitted into the Union as a State, December 10, 1817. An ordinance of secession was adopted by a State convention, January 9, 1861, and declared null and void by another convention, on the 22d of August, 1865. By the act of Congress of March 2, 1867, this State with Arkansas, was

placed in the 4th Military District, under the command of Major General Ord, by whom an election was ordered on the first Monday of November. At this election, a majority voted for a convention, which assembled at Jackson, January 7, 1868, and adopted a new constitution, May 15, which was submitted to the people June 22, but rejected by a majority of 7,629. The State has not been admitted to representation in Congress.

Under the former constitution the Senate was composed of 32 members elected for four years, and the House of Representatives of 92 members elected for two years; the sessions of the Legislature were biennial.

The constitution adopted by the convention May 15, 1868, provides that all male inhabitants of this State, except idiots, and insane persons, and Indians not taxed, citizens of the United States or naturalized, twenty-one years old and upwards, who have resided in the State six months, and in the county one month next preceding the day of election at which said inhabitant offers to vote, and who are duly registered, and who are not disqualified by reason of any crime, are qualified electors.

JUDICIARY.

The High Court of Errors and Appeals consists of a Chief Justice and two Associate Justices. It has appellate jurisdiction only.

The Circuit Courts have original jurisdiction in actions and suits when the principal involved exceeds $250.

Chancery Courts are held in each judicial district of the State, by the Judges of the Circuit Court for such district, at the same time and place appointed for holding the Circuit Court of each county. And at least one week of every term is given to the chancery side of the docket. This court has jurisdiction in all matters of equity, provided the matter or thing in controversy shall exceed $250.

By an act of November 24, 1865, the county court was established, with inferior criminal and civil jurisdiction to the Circuit Courts.

UNITED STATES COURTS.

Circuit Judge, Noah H. Swayne. District Judge-Northern and Southern Districts, Robert A. Hill. District Attorney-Northern District, James E. Stewart; Southern District, R. Leachman. Marshals-Northern District, John Blevins; Southern District, R. H. Winter.

HIGH COURT OF ERRORS AND APPEALS.

Chief Justice, A. H. Handy, Canton.

Associate Justices, H. T. Ellet, Port Gibson; W. L. Harris, Columbus. Clerk, S. Livingston. Reporter, R, O. Reynolds.

CIRCUIT COURTS.

1st District, Judge, James M. Smiley; Attorney, M. V. B. Huff. 2d District, Judge, John E. McNair; Attorney, R. P. Willing. 3d District, Judge, J. S. Yerger; Attorney, R. V. Booth. 4th District, Judge, John Watts; Attorney, A. Y. Harper. 5th District, Judge, J. A, P. Campbell; Attorney, S. S. Calhoun. 6th District, Judge, H. W. Foote; Attorney, T. H. Woods. 7th Dis trict, Judge, A. M. Clayton; Attorney, G. E. Harris. 8th District, Judge, William M. Hancock; Attorney, C. A. Smith. 9th District, Judge, W. D. Bradford; Attorney, J. A. Blair. 10th District, Judge, Wm. Cothran; Attorney, W. R. Barksdale.

TERMS OF COURTS.

An act of the Legislature passed at the called session, February 1867, provides for the holding of the High Court of Errors in four districts, the head-quarters of the 1st District being at Jackson, the 2d at Oxford, the 3d at Macon, the 4th at Mississippi City. The Circuit Courts are held semi-annually in each county.

FINANCES.

We have been able to obtain no reliable statement for 1867 or 1868. Receipts for 1866,

Disbursements for the same time,

Balance in Treasury Jan. 1, 1867,

$569,045

507,086

$61,932

EDUCATION.

According to the census of 1860, there were in Mississippi 13 colleges, having 856 students; 1,116 public schools, having 30,970 pupils, $385,679 income, $107,947 of which was from public funds, $29,689 from taxation, and $21,205 from endowments; 169 academies and other schools, having 7,974 pupils, $313,522 income, $44,211 of which was public funds, and $37,875 was endowments.

Most of these institutions were closed during the war, and a portion of the buildings and other property was destroyed. A few have been reōrganized, but the unsettled condition of the State and the lack of educational funds have prevented the adoption of an efficient school system. versity of Mississippi has had about 200 students in attendance.

CHARITABLE AND PENAL INSTITUTIONS.

The Uni

Previous to the war, an Asylum for the Blind, one for the Deaf and Dumb and an Insane Hospital, were in operation at Jackson.

The Mississippi State Penitentiary was turned over to the United States Government, January 17, 1868, by special command of the executive of the State, and was placed in charge of First Lieutenant John R. Hynes of the 24th U. S. Infantry, as Superintendent. The number of prisoners, September 25, 1868, was 356, the annual expense $20,500. The income from labor, exclusive of that employed on the prison, or by the government, is not more than $1,000. The prison was in a dilapidated condition when turned over to the United States Government. It had been leased out, but for some

causes it became necessary to apply to the U. S. Government for relief.

Mississippi State Institution for the Education of the Blind, Jackson. WILLIAM MERRILL, A. M., Superintendent. Number of pupils during 1865-6, 24; average number, 20; current expenses, $8,000.

POPULATION, WEALTH AND INDUSTRY.

The population of the State at different periods was as follows:

Only about one third of the area of the State was under cultivation in 1860. The great staple was cotton, in the production of which Mississippi ranks third. Since the close of the war its culture has been increased, but a larger proportion of the cultivated land than formerly, is employed in the production of wheat and corn.

Products. The principal products in 1866 were-corn, 11,913,650 bushels, value $18,704,430; wheat, 258,687 bushels, value $654,478; rye, 23,684 bushels, value $48,078; oats, 101,768 bushels, value $110,927; potatoes, 385,818 bushels, value $246,604; tobacco, 165,507 lbs., value $49,652; hay, 29,611 tons, value $814,302.

20. MISSOURI.

Capital, Jefferson City. Area, 65,350 square miles. Population, (1860), 1,182,012. Missouri was settled at St. Genevieve in 1763 by the French. It was part of the territory ceded by France, by the treaty of April 30, 1803, was organized into a separate territory, June 4, 1812, and admitted into the union as a State, Dec. 14, 1821. A new Constitution was adopted by the Constitutional Convention, April 8, 1865, and ratified by the vote of the people on the 6th of June; it went into effect July 4, 1865.

The above officers are chosen at the general election on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, every two years, 1868, 1870, &c., and hold office for two years.

The Senators, 34 in number, are chosen from as many districts, for four years, one-half biennially; the Representatives, 200 in number, are chosen for two years, all at the same time as State officers. The compensation of Senators and Representatives is $5 per day, and $5 for every 25 miles of travel. The Lieutenant Governor, the President pro tem. of the Senate and the Speaker of the House receive each $7 per day. The General Assembly meets once in two years, on the last Monday in December.

White male citizens of the United States, and white male persons of foreign birth, who may have declared their intention to become citizens of the United States, according to law, not less than one year nor more than five years before they offer to vote, who have resided one year in the State, and sixty days in the county, city or town, are entitled to vote. After 1876, new voters must be able to read and write unless disabled therefrom by physical disability.

JUDICIARY.

The Judiciary consists of a Supreme Court, Circuit Courts, and District Courts. The Supreme Court consists of three Judges, the Circuit Courts of one Judge for each of the 20 circuits. There are six Districts, in each of which is a District Court, held by the Judges of the Circuit Courts embraced in the District.

UNITED STATES COURTS.

Circuit Judge, Samuel H. Miller. Clerk, Benjamin F. Hickman.

District Judges, Samuel Treat; A Krekel. District Attorney, C. G. Mauro. Clerks, Benjamin F. Hickman; Adams Peabody. Marshal, J. B. Rogers.

SUPREME COURT.

Judges. David Wagner, Lewis C. Philemon Bliss and Warren Currier, St. Louis.

Clerks. O F. Fishback, St. Louis;
Marshal, Wm. S. Voois, St. Louis.

United States Circuit Court.
United States District Court.

Wm. M. Albin, St. Joseph; N. C. Burch, Jefferson City.
Salaries of Judges, $3,000 each.

TERMS OF COURTS.

First Monday in April and October, at St. Louis.

Third Mondays in February, May and November; for Eastern District at St. Louis, Western District at Jefferson City.

Supreme Court. At Jefferson City, second Monday in January and first Monday in July; at St. Louis, third Monday in March and October; at St. Joseph, third Monday in February and August.

District Courts. 1st District at Jefferson City, 1st Monday in June, and December. 2d District at Cape Girardeau, 2d Monday in February and July. 3d District at Springfield, 3d Monday in June and December. 4th District at Macon City, 3d Monday in January and July. 5th District at St. Joseph, 4th Monday in June and December. 6th District at St. Charles, 2d Monday in January and July. The terms of the Circuit Courts were altered by the Legislature in 1868.

Receipts from all sources to December 31, 1868, 15 months,

Total

Disbursements,

$3,148,497.01

9,443,001.51

$12,591,498.52

11,852,951.00

$738,547.52

Balance, December 31, 1868,

The total annual interest for which the State must provide is $1,095,050, payable semi-annually.

The expenditures for the two fiscal years of 1866 and 1867, were as follows:

For the executive and administrative departments.

For the legislative department.

For the judiciary department

For public charities.

Amount.

Average per year.

$97,888.04. .531,276.27.

$48,944.02

265,638.13

For other purposes..

.426,899.48........ 213,449.74

The whole expenses of the Legislative, Judicial and Executive Departments, can be met by the levy of a two mill tax,