New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-09-01

done TO develop 1t until within the last two years,
since which time thanks to the sagacous energy Of some
to work and export the coal Very little, however can
be accomplished in this direction until the country is
permeated by railways Beside coal, very fine copper
and iron ores, yielding heavy percentage have been
discovered in large quantities on this side OF the rver
while III the mountains the southern bank lead iron,
COAL and sulphur are to be found In great abundance
The country has been well examined by Northern and
Eastern capitalists who however have deferred invest
mens until some action has been taken by the Directors
OF inc Little Rock and Fort smith Railroad Company,
which body meets to-day in the state Capital for the puI
pose OF ACCEPTING the first mortgage bonds Ii IS claimed
that when ths fOrnay shall have been complied with,
work will be immediately commenced in grading the
enough increduous, as tins railroad has been
existence for sixteen years, during which
time nothing has ever been done. II is so long
that brief alluson 10 it may be pardoned Originally
when the Johnson family ruled the State was proposed
10 run the railroad from Little Rock to Fort Smith, by
the following most extraordinary route Connecting at
the northern bank OF the liver opposite the Capital met
the western terminus Of the Memphis and Little Rock
Railroad and proceeded along the river until 1t arrived
opposite Dardanee (abOut 30 miles west Of Little Rock
ana then was TO cross on bridge ana continue up ne
south bank OF the Arkansas until II reached foft
smith All TINS was very pretty Dnt u never
created much sensation ms nothing was ever practG9y
done. The new Board OF Directors contains some Yam
kecs-one of whom. Judge Bowen of the supreme Court
is particularly active and slrewd; and 1t Is he ana the
Governor who stirring up the Board. Now II Is pro
posed to the road continuously from Little Rock
l. e., opposite TO -unti il reaches Van Buren,, at which
point 1t Is suggested mat u sha cross Inc importance
Arkansas, cannot De 700 hSmy estlhhtch VII ahh
South Of this state is magnificent territory-well igh
lIllnlldDlc III t'lcIt IuuhIt0s III lhc
wealth Of its soil. The Atlantic States VIII be
brought into commercial connection with this
splendid region at Little Rock, the ternlni
OF the Memphis and Little Rock Roads. The country
west Of Little Rock rich III its cotton and grain adapta
bitics, while its mineral advantages require only cheap
transportation TO stimulate their development Beyond
this again, splendid empire, whose untitled acres will
speedily be inhabited when the iron horse reaches them
Arkansas will soon be building railroad IN earnest az
least knew that the state Government IS exercising az
its influence to effect this most desirable result; hnd
am assured by Gov. Clayton and other friends OF
progress that everything being done to accomplish
intgt ftgHl
Northern people but 1t is an undenaDe iact that the
only opposition railroads and public schools cmanates
from those Arkansasans who fought under the stars
and Bare" and who the allies OF the DemOcraCy
Upon the Other hand the system Of free education ana
railway development receives the hearty support Of every
Radical in the State