The Van Buren press., 1867-10-04
The Van buren Press.
VAN BUREN,, ARKANSAS.
Little Rock and Fort Smith Railroad

Little Rock and Fort Smith Railroad
The following article says the Little
Rock Gazette, which we take from the
American Railroad Journal. of the 2lst
Of September, published at New York
indicates the determination of the man
agement of the Little Rock and For
Smith road to put it in course of con
struction at once. We may expect tC
hear shortly OF the road being let to con
tract:
ANOTHER ARKANSAS RAiLRoD.-This i
the age of great railroad enterprises, anC
we are glad to record the fact that th,
State of Arkansas, so long neglected, anC
so long oblivious to the spirit of progress
which distinguishes her more northern
sisters, in arousng from her Rip Var
Wrinkle sleep, and seems about entering
upon a new career of prosperity.
The only road now in operation in Ar
kansas is from Memphis to Little Rock
a distance of l3l miles, which will all b,
finished and ready for business on the Isl
of January next This will give us &C
cess to the heart of the State. But th,
most beautiful and valuable part of Ar
kansas lies west and north of,Little Rock
In the valley of the Arkansas alone, it is
estimated, there is now population oi
considerably upwards of 100000 souls
engaged almost exclusively in agiicul
tural and pastoral pursuits TO penetrate
and develop this vast and inviting region
and bring it within the bounds of mod
ern life and civilization, road has beer
projected from Little Rock to Fort Smith
distance Of l52 miles. The route wa,
surveyed some years ago, and some wDrI
done upon the road, which was interrupt
ed by the late rebellion The company
however, have recently reorganizcl IN
der 4 late act Of Congress, and wish tC
proceed with the work of construction
They have an endowment of ten sections
of land to the mile from the general gov
ernment They also have considerabl,
grant Of lands from the State Of Arkan
sas, and they will also receive, as tn,
grading progresses, $4,000 per mile il
eight per cent bonds of the State. Tn,
lands owned by this company have beer
recently examined, and are known to bt
rich in minerals. and also to embrace
some of the finest agricultural timber
lands in the Arkansas Valley The In.
dian country, Immediately west, is reach
ed by this road. This country is occn
pied by several of the largest and mos
highly civilized tribes in the United
States, viz: the Cherokees, Creeks, Choc
taws, Cllickasaws and Seminoles. Tn,
wonderful fertility Of the soil, the almos
Arcadian loveliness of its numerous val
leys, its vast prairies and immense forests
and its mild, salubrious and genial eli
mate, to say nothing OF its almost fabu
lous mineral wealth which is everywhere
plainly to be seen, mark this wonderful
region as the future seat and centre Of
population, industry and wealth on this
continent This is no overtrawn picture
but will be readily recognized and con
frmed by any one who has ever visited
this fairest portion of our immense terri
tory. aua5
Mr.. j. H. Haney, the chief engineer o.
the company, is now at the Spingle'
House, in this city, with full authority tc
contract for the construction Of the en-
tire road. He will give all needful infor
nation to capitalists and railroad mer
who may desire to investigate the Affairs
of the company. The late hasty miner
illogical examination Of the company's
lands has disclosed very astonishing re-
suits, and Mr.. Haney will exhibit speci
mems Of ores, etc, to those who feel in
tercsted. Ifaf
We believe that no more promising en-
terprise than this has been presented fol
many day, and we are assured by Mr.
Hancy, that those who have the requisite
capital and ability to manage an enterprise
of this magnitude can get most libera
terms
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