THE ST. LOUIS UNION Book and Job Mo. M. & H. M. WARREN, manufacturers Printing Establishment, No. 35 Locust C. of Warren's Improved Fire and Waterstreet between Main and Second, St. Louis, Proof Composition Roofs, and Roofing Materials, which are kept constantly on hand and for sale (with directions for use) to those in the country who may desire to adopt this mode of roofing. HARLES & HAMMOND, Book and Job M' Safes. MURRAY & DORMAN, Iron Railing Manufactory, corner of Third and Pine streets, continue to manufacture at the above establishment, all kinds of plain and ornamental iron railing, balconies, bank and jail doors, book safes, fire-vaults, iron window shutters, Office and Manufactory, east side Second street, between Almond and, Poplar, St. Louis, Mo. Office hours from 10 to 11 o'clock, A. M., and 4 to 5 P. M. Clothing. iron awnings, lightning rods, bedsteads, grat-ARCHIBALD YOUNG & CO., 99 Main st., ings, and in fact, any thing which can be formed of iron. Boots & Shoes. JOHN HOW. ROBT. COOK. WM. CLAFLIN. Mo., Wanzer Minor & Co., 126 Pearl street, New York, Moses Wanzen and Henry J. Minor, New York, Archibald Young, St. Louis. N. B.-We manufacture all of our own goods, and sell by wholesale at the lowest possible prices. II and shoes, bides, Cloak, dealers in boots L. & J. BIGELOW & CO., Great West JOW, COOK, findings, Tanners' oil, Curriers' tools, &c., ern Clothing Emporium, wholesale and retail, No. 124 Second street, corner of Vine. Baker, Nelson & Co., Cedar st., New York. The relations which exist between wealth and those works of art that adorn and beautify a country, have not received that degree of attention which their influence on the economy of communities would seem to demand. Having observed that architecture and other arts, designed to improve and gratify the taste, are always associated with wealth, men have been led to regard them in the light of parasites possessing no power to affect the financial or social condition of communities in which they are not fostered. But, upon investigation, it will be found that although the embellishments of a city or country may be the offspring of wealth, yet they become in time its most efficient and firmest supporters. A superior order of architecture, displayed in public and private buildings; public parks and gardens skilfully designed and tastefully ornamented; artificial fountains and pleasant villas, possess permanent attractions which continually draw wealth from the remotest borders of civilization. Thither resort the pretenders to taste as well as those who possess true refinement; and he who by the toil of many years has accumulated a competency there establishes his abode,and there enjoys the wealth acquired in some distant and less improved region. Such has been the influence of the ornamental arts in every age and in all countries. And although none of our American cities can boast of a high degree of excellence in works of this nature, yet owing to the neglect of architecture and other ornamental improvements in civic and rural districts, the artistic attractions of the eastern cities exert a most potent influence on the financial condition of the interior-especially in the southern and western states. The money expended in traveling, including board at hotels and admission to places of amusement, is totally lost to the community in which it was produced. And while it serves to swell the volume of wealth and increase the power of capital at the principal points of popular attraction, the producing districts. become poorer and less able to encourage the ornamental arts at home. Of this we have striking instances in the economical history and present condition of the older states of the South; and we have to regret that their example in this respect has thus far been copied by the people of the west. As much as we deprecate our present system of commerce, with its constant tendency to draw the money capital of the nation to one point, yet we are persuaded that even that is less ruinous in its effects than the prevailing custom of traveling east for amusement. In our commercial transactions, though carried on under a system which operates against us, we receive something in exchange for our commodities; but for the money which our citizens spend in their travels the country receives nothing in return. We ask the people of the South and West, if it be possible for their country to prosper and increase in wealth so long as this custom continues. This evil, though long existing, is becoming more apparent each succeeding year. Now, as soon as the buds of spring appear, thousands begin to prepare for a trip to the east; and, that they may not be short of funds, they collect their dues with great severity: while they defer the payment of their own small debts until their return in autumn; and, consequently, by midsummer the smaller channels of circulation are as dry as the ravines of a desert. Owing to these causes, during that season of the year when the handy craftsman and others who rely upon their vocations for support should be most profitably engaged they are left almost without employment, and experience great difficulty in supplying themselves and families with the necessaries of life. The same causes are also breaking down our retail merchants,-especially those who deal in the more costly kind of goods,- for their customers are not only absent for several months of the year, but, while on their travels, make purchases to supply their wants after their return. If this system continues, the handycraftsmen, who constitute by |