The Van Buren press., 1875-12-21
NEW YEARS.

Never. since Arkansas has been a
State, have her people had more occs-
sion to be happy" than on the dawn
ng Of the coming New Year. Never
before has the genius Of quiet reisned
so supreme as during the year that has
closed. Our farmers have been amply
rewarded. Early in the spring we were
threatened with frost. and our farmers
worried, lest the fruit should be killed
But the largest fruit crop raised for
years, was gathered. At the same time,
superabundant rains threatened damage
to the maturing wheat. but the largest
harvest, since the war, was garnered, and
farmers are made glad by flour of their
own raising. The cotton yield has been
immense, and our storehouses are full of
the staple awaiting shipment. Farmers are
exhilarated-they are able to meet their
liabilities Merchants are jubilant--their
prospects are brighter now than before
since the war. The enterprise, that the
dread goblin of unc.s ainty AID tivercd
with the veil of stupor, has arisen, sha.
ken off the dust from the mantle Of
years, and manifested its vigor by the
footsteps of improvement that mark its
presence among us New dwelling
houses, new mills, large amount of land
cleared and cultivated, business facilities
advanced, and oil branches of industry
largely increased. When we remember
all these things in connection with the
politically and financially distressing
condition OF the State, one year and
half ago, we have every reason to feel
proud of the extraordinary recuperative
powers of our people Everything
seemed to point to a future, for our
State, fraught only with disastrous drea.
riness. A funeral gloom, deep and por
tcntious, concealed every vision of the
fate that was to be hers in the time to
come, The" thunaers in the distance
roared; the lishtning's vivid fash dane
ed cross the sky, and hearts of men and
women Qnailed in fear of the approach
Ing storm But the storm wasted its
strength ere, it had reached her portals :;
the clouds Of storm rolled away, and
the sunshine of peace and prosperity,
like sweet guardian angel, has bestrew-
ed the path of our people with abundant
happiness. From the dssension and tu.
mutt of 1874, we have grown to be q
most thrifty and promising State. How
meet, then, in the presence of these bliss
full facts, that the New Years of 1876
should be very happy one.
Within the past year arrangements
have been made by which the railroad
will be completed to this place by next
July, and the mere knowledge of this
fact has aroused us from the ruinous
lethargy in which we have been so long
bound. Before 1876 shall draw to a
close, the whistle Of the iron horse will
SUR INTO pustle anu activity this section OF
our State. Emigration, with all the hap
py results with which it is ever attended ,
will flow in uron rs Our healthy local
ity, our excellent resources, and our
splendid farms, will hold out inducements
to those, who come amepg us, to remain,
that will be positively irresistible. Let us,
then. be thankful for the past hopeful
for the future. Let us bury the inhar
monious schims that have divided our
community in the past, and with united
energies. work for the good of our town
and county, and may the next year that
dawns upon us, be to all our people, as
New YEAR"