The Van Buren press., 1860-04-20
Letter from D. D. Owen. State Ge-
49, ologiSt

We are enabled, by si'scial fasor Of
friend, to lay before oar readers the follow
ing lct;cr from DR.. Owen. our able and &C
eomplished State Geologes which Will be
found to contain much valusble informa-
ton concerning the mineral and agricultur-
al resources of Arkansas, deduced from the
iaJors of the geological explorations Of
last year, and heretofore unpublished. 1t
viii te observed that the object of the LETT
ter has special reference to a system Of
Raiiway communication, without which all
these vast resources are utterly worthless.
Let the same wisdom which prompted the
Geological Survey, now afford us the means
Of developing the immense natural resourc
es which are shown to exist, anl nothing
can prevent Arkansas, so long the object of
scorn and neglect. from assuming the proud
rank in the fair sisterhood of States, which
the Creator intended she should occupy:
New HARMONY, IND, March I, 1860.
w NJ JOHNSON, Eso-Dear Sir am
at present actively engaged in working up
the materials of our last seasons operations
in Your State in the Office and laboratory,
preparatory to taking the field again this
season therefore l can reply to your letter
of the 26th February only in very general
terms, which, I perceive, is all you require.
l will preface my remarks by stating
what am fully convinced Of that there is
nothing that tends more to prevent the ad-
vancement of the interests of the State of
Arkansas than the want of facilities Of unin-
terrupted transportation by railroad at all
seasons of the year. Neither the farmer, the
manufacturer, or miner can expect to thrive
unless he can have a free and constant in
tercourse with the Mississippi, and the net
work of Southern and Eastern line of Rail-
roads ont of the State. Both the mechanic
and the merchant are deeply interested in
the same kind Of internal improvements,
to say nothing Of the traveller for business,
pleasure or health.
| regard the alluvial lands of the Arkan-
sas river-which extend for several miles in
width on either side, from its mouth to Fort
Smith-as among the finest agricultural
! lands of our country, particularly well
adapted for the cultivation of cotton, both
from their peculiar composition, and the
climate in which they lie These lands
are now well protected from overflow by a
general system of levees, now universally
constructed where there is any danger from
inundation a large proportion Of these
lands are equal in fertility to the Red River
lands which they much resemble in appear-
ancc and composition. Until lately they
have not been appreciated rs they should
have been, and they are rising rapidly in
value being worth, in wild state, from
$40 to Sl5 per acre, and, when improved,
$40 to 800. The resources OF the Arkan-
sas valley for producing cotton are immense,
and this trade alone would, in my opinion,
| Justify Railroad along the whole extent Of
the Arkansas valley.
The mineral resources Of the counties "
ing on either side irtmciiatcly adjacent to
the Arkansas River, or watere1 by its trib
utaries are important and varied.
A coal region extends on either siic of the
Arkansas River from Perry and Conway
counties to the Indian Boundary the
thichest, best, most accessible and available
| beds of coal are in johnson, Sebastian
| ana franklin ceuntIes. The Spadra Bsd in
johnson is Immediately adjacent TO the Ar
kansas River. The most important beds
in Sebastian are 10 or II miles south of the
River, those Of franklin, within 6 or s
miles. The coal is mostly of semi btu
minous character, rich in fixed Carbon, diff
| tering in this respect, from the ordinary
btuminous Goals OF the West and rcsem-
bling more the Cumberland Goals Of Mary
| land and those of the Smokey valley in
f! Pennsylvania.
Goals might be carried, with proper IA
cilitics for transportation to New Orleans
and the intermediate depots at a cheaper
rate than from any of the mines situated
on the Ohio, Mississippi or Missouri Rivers
of course, would be a great benefit to New
Orleans and the towns and cities on the
Mississippi below Napoleon.
In the first Geological Report of Arkan-
sas, you will see what has been said in re-
gard to the mineral viens containing Silver
lead, besides ores of copper, zinc and iron.
The surveys of the past season prove THAI
the same system of metallic veins extends
from Pulaski through Saline, and thence
into the Territories, possessing the same es-
sential characters along its course, and there
fore well worthy the attention of the miner
and smelter.
Iron ores of excellent quality, and in
quantity sufficient, according to surface in
dications to supply numerous Iron Works
have been discovered during the progress
of the Geological Survey in the counties of
Pulaski, Saline, Hotspring, Newton and
Madison, as well as in Carroll and several
other counties not included in the district
specified in your letter.
In the frst report the geological forma-
tions of the counties have been reported as
favorable for the discovery of ores of lead
from it's close analogy to the lead region
around CRANKY in Newton County, Mis-
souri,, which has proved to be one of ths
richest lead regions in the Western States
i These statements have been fully confirmed
by discoveries made during the past season
in Newton County. Arkansas, of very
promising lead region and by the fact es-
tablished this season, that not far beneath
the limestone formation Of Benton, granite
exists, which rs shall show in my next
report, is favorable indication for the pro1-
unity OF productive metallic veins.
The Geological Survey has proved. also,
that Hotspring county, besides its invalu-
able Hot Springs, contains vast deposit
Of magnetic iron ore, similar to that OF the
Pilot Knob and Iron Mountain Of. Missouri
and in the same vicinity there is greater
variety OF different minerals than has been
found in any Of the Western States.
! In the Fourche Cove, 4 miles from Little
Rock. as well as On the waters of Hurricane
ICreck uuarries of most exrellent cranate