Arkansas intelligencer., 1848-02-05
THE INTERyALIHPROFEnENT CONVENTION.

tIOl OF q EOdu OStWCGIl
The citizens of Van Buren and the surrounding
country will then be called upon to consider on
matter eff more moment to their interest and well
fare ha has been placed before them since the first
settlement of this point Will there be turnout
commensurate with the object under consider
alton? VIII our merchants, who most in
torested in opening communication with the fruit
full counties north Of US, upon the industry of
whose citizens, and their prolific soil, must depend
the future and Ultimate prosperity of the merca a.
tile community, and of the city af Van Buren here
after, exercise that influence with which their
position endows them-that liberality for which
they are so honorably noticed Will those en-
gagged in the mechanic arts and other branches of
business, devote small share of their attention
to this subject when it comes up for their consid-
GRAFTON Will the propretors and owners Of real
estate, who more deeply interested in the well
fare of this young city than all others, appropriate
portion of their time, talent and wealth to this
absorbing object? Or will each one, of all those
interested, exhibit lukewarmness, or what Is
worse. seIfshness, presumng that be may rest
easy behind his desk or his work bench, trusting
that his neighbors will carry on the improvement
and that he will share It's advantages without par
ticpating in the labor and expense Such men
may be among US, for such are to be found in al
most all communities. We hope and trust that
in this instance, they number but few, and that
the influence of their example is limited.
1t is not ony the interest Of the citizens of Van
Buren to promote this object, but neighbors
of Fort Smith. and all Crawford county are inter-
e {.
munty is identified with that Of these places
Their prosperity will add to the prosperity of the
farmers. Fort Smith is as much Interested as
Van Buren. Washington county is as much in
terested as Crawford Benton, Madison, Carroll
as much they. Southwestern Missouri is
deeply interested in opening u channel through
which they can bring their produce to market
This whole region is equally interested then why
will any portion of it stand back There must
be union, concert and energy, to enable to carry
out this important object.
The great capacity of this region of country
is being developed yearly. A few years back,
as sparcely settled we were, upon the river. the
back country did not supply us with the common
necossaries Of life, owing to belief that the soil
not prolific, that the climate was not fruitful.
We then looked to the Ohio country, not only for
our breadStufs and bacon, Bot for all the uxuries.
and nearly every necessary and comfort of life.
Traders from the up-cOuntry would bring us po-
taloes, cabbages, krout and even mince pies. Now
we are shipping down the river, The products of
our own lands, the surplus Of our farms flour,
baco u. pork, beef corn dried fruit, wheat, hay,
cotton &C., which bring back a rich return to our
merchants and farmers. We can all see the re-
sources of our country-it is settling up, and the
husband has discovered that if he nc will
eap-that if he labors the fruits of the soil will
/ pay for the sweat Of his brow.
/ The farmers of Washington, Benton. Madison
and Carroll, are not alone seeking q market at
this point for their produce. Every week the
hardy and Industrious Missourian may be seen
driving through our streets with the fruitful yield
of his prolific ands, exchanging the same for mer-
chandzc. He comes from country pent up by
our mountains, distant from a navigabIe point
/ he tolls over these obstacles to reach the nearest
market. The facts that we are environed by q
country OVERLOOKING with surplus products, and
that this is the natural point for its trade
arc evident; and the necessity of depot for this
country, is equally evident.
Where there exists the necessity for the esab-
Iishmon of this depot, there also exist the means.
/ We have the means among us-the inducements
/ to open this scOmmunicatiOn-andw we are compelled
to make convenient this point, which is its natural
depot, or the enterprise of some other communi-
/ ty will establish another. The surplus produce
OF a country must find market at one place or
another.
We hope our friends in the Norh-we stern coun-
ties, and in Missouri, will attend. We hope oul
own citizens will be among the foremost in putting
their shoulders 10 the wheel, and we hope no one
will wait for his neighbor to take the lead, but thai
he will endeavor to lead off in the movement him
! self.
Our friends at Fort Smith a re as much interest
ed in this movement as we Of Van Buren are. Ii
is as much to their interest to open communica-
tion with the backcountry, as ii is to ours. We
now have bad road to Fayetteville. and wi!ha
Fort Smith gets Il fair portion of the trade that
comes over 1t. If the communication is made
better, and the trade becomes hundred per cent.
better, the portion that will fall to Ft Smith will be