The Van Buren press., 1859-08-17
For the Ian Baren p,...
Van Buren, and Fort su;+,

S4s o01C0.
Ms. EDiros IL have noticed for som. tin. -.
impehec animosity which exists betve,, ~. g.,
above named places. have alv.v. .o..;sss.,:. ).
adepanable fact that two small towns .;,,,...s
tagcthe. vill persist in endeavorine "a -. !.
progress OF each other. FoolishIy .tte,nr,;.. =
build up one by pulling down another. in ~. e..
OF all experience. for who ever heard Of tv,
towns going ahead any more rapidly by mal,n,,s
ana vitupesating one another True this r;r.,.-
y said TO be motive power in working good te
both places, but this truth IS applicable to town,
having es.aiaiss iaterests. Where the interests q
the two towns sre by no means conflicting. how
can one be advanced by the downfall of the other
1t 49, alas, too true that the bare forked animal
seems never in his proper element unless he is in
strife Of some kind II there is nothing to Quarrel
with his neighbor about. he will quarrel with him.
self and declare that he is living in q verv dead
age.
The "love Of contention F" between the two cities
at present is the probable terminus of the Fort
Smith and Little Rock Branch of the Cairo and
Fulton Railroad. For long time the people Of
Fort Smith seemed determined to carry out the sui
cidiai plan Of constructing road on the south side
OF the river How the heads Of the people ever fell
into SO gross misconception of their own interes
is far from my own comprehension Why thew
could not discern the consequences of the accom-.
Piishment Of their pet scheme. am wholly uusbla
to conjecture What build road that III take ali
the trade Of the county JSsm Port Smith and .e...
ter IT along the road the way to the county line
mus oul".ng up new shipping points. At the ex.
pense Of the city. These mi.judgments arc often
si'e results Of raiseoneeption Of the object Of
railroad. or too hasty jumping at the conclusion
that the whistle Of the steam car WILL magic like,
call up wealth. population. etc.. from the uuwill-
ling earth. Railroads are to the inland what
'teamships are to the ocean They bring in wealth
and take out produce and wealth. Now, although
the country in general must feel the influence, and
In some measure be improved. yet the design of q
city should be to concentrate trade. and every act
that tends to disperse is injury to the city.
road on the south side of the river would have this
very effect. and the citizens are beginning at length
to open their eyes to this simple truth. That idea
they have abandoned. but still they see fit not only
to refuse material aid to the construction of the road
on this side the river but even discountenance it,
vilify and abuse the Company-sotto voce-charg-
ing them with infamous designs, such as selling
the donated lands and poeketing tie money. Such a
charge is truly unworthy of the gentlemen of the
city Of Fort Smith. The Company are no adven-
turers seeking to plunder the people of the State,
but men who have been respectable and true citi
zens of the State for years Nothing but the most
pitiable envy and jealousy could have suggested
the accusation. cannot believe that it proceeds
from any but those of humble ability, but en-
iarged avariciousness. The reliable men would
never SO far forget the rules of common polteness
as to sacrifice their title to the name of gentlemen
at the shrine of jealousy. Fort Smith declares that
she will contribute her quota towards building the
road if Van Buren will guarantee that it shall 90 to
Fort Smith. The utter nonsense of this excuse is
too palpable to deceive any one. OF what value
would a guarantee from Van Buren, be, when she,
As Fort Smith says, has not one-h half the popula
ton or wealth Of Fort Smith, and could not, con
sequently fulfil the guarantee il she made it. One
thing the people Of Van Buren, or any other
people Of common sense, will guarantee and that is
that unless Fort Smith takes stock in the road and
puts her shoulder to the wheel the road will not 90
there. She must not be unreasonable as to ex-
pect that the people Of the north side Of the river
will make q road for her.
=. But vdoe'9inr th,.exliaes rlxfonsy between the
two towns? The interests of the two places are
by no means coaqiefing. and why SHOULD they keep
up that feeling Of unfriendly rv.lry which does no
credit to the heads hearts of the citizens of
either place. The trade Of the two places comes
from sources diametrically opposite Fort Smith
gets her trade from the southern Counties and the
Indian territory west Of her. Van Burca from her
northern counties and the Indian territory west of
her. Where does the interest conflict Fort Smith
expect to make herself port for the coun-
ties ON the north side Of the river - the failure of
the isnominious project of building road through
the nation in order TO cut off Van Buren. fully
demonstrated. Why does she not 90 to work and
make q trade west and south as Van Buren, has
west and north. instead of belching forth her spleen
upon railroad company. who are doing all they
can to advance the interests Of Western Arkansas.
Le. US bury all these foolish quarrels ana remem
ber that We should labor for the good of tie entire
west, as well for our cities Cities are built nm
and sustained by the country in this State, and if
We do not sustain the farmer and stool, raiser, We
cannot lie surprised at retardation r the progress
Of our cities. Fort Smith has good start, and
railroad would make its considerable city. Van
Buren has also good start, and immense capital
for 50 small place. and the railroad will make her
! great place. One town cannot destroy the other.
md neither need hope to enjoy that bissal state Of
ceiling always attendant upon an ignominious tri-
amph over q neighbor and friend The despoiler
may enjoy momentary pleasure, but it will be
quickly followed by biting remorse
Let us go to work with might and main and
build road the north side of the river, and then
We will soon be ready to interlace the state with
oads. Mr.. HASEY. the surveyor and engineer of
he road has now completed the second or location
survey OF the first twenty miles, and is pre-
oaring his estimates or specifications for the pur
pose Of letting the road to contractors In short
lime all will be ready to commence the grading.
In October the lands will be sold, and those Who
ieermine totaks contracts need have NO fear about
he psy. fnr the land is ahundantly sufficient to
complete the road 1t is now time for us to conceu
rate all the force Of the west in making a good
tart now ID the time to cast the die of our desti
~. If the first twenty miles is completed without
rouble. the rest of the road will be built of neces
ity. and then there viii be no difficulty in making
road to Fort Smith. if she will act well her pert
md belD AL sIe che ol,<,<S,o. L