Information Sheet
R Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway Company.
815 Promotional booklet, 1916.
One folder.
This is A Good Dairy Country: Central Missouri, Along Rock Island Lines, a booklet published by the “Rock Island” railroad to promote dairy farming and other agricultural pursuits along its route between Kansas City and St. Louis in Missouri.
In 1904 the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway Company completed a new line across mid-Missouri between St. Louis and Kansas City. The right-of-way passed through no other major cities, so the company determined to promote agricultural industries, particularly dairy farming, along the route in order to increase traffic revenues. The booklet is not dated, although printer’s data on the back page indicate that 5000 copies were reprinted in August 1916.
The booklet presents examples of dairy farmers who have prospered along the route, with favorable descriptions of the area’s climate and soils. The region is “natural blue grass” country, with “cheap land, mild climate and cheap pasture and feed.” The publication also suggests “other profitable lines” in the agricultural field, including fruit-culture, livestock, and poultry.
On pages 4 and 5 there is a profile showing the elevations of towns and streams along the 296-mile right-of-way, ranging from St. Louis at 480 feet to Crest in Morgan County at 1080 feet. Appropriate photographic illustrations are included of healthy herds and prosperous farmsteads.
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