The Van Buren press., 1875-11-16
What They say of Us

! Codd. one of the editors Of the Land Own
er" of Chicago, Writing of his trip for hi
paper, he has this to say of the portions o
| Craw ford county he visited. As his notice
of the business portion of the town Is I'm.
perfect and would be doing injustice to thos,
| that are omitted, we strike out that portion
of the notice. This Is what the doctor SAYS
| Alma is a small town, situated about nine
miles from Van Buren,, aud forty from Altus
| the end OF the l.. H. Il +. ). X. r.. enjoying 3
population OF about 300 inhabitants 1t wa,
| originally founded by Col, NJ. f. Lock. II
became Incorporated eighteen mouths az,
| and j. ID. James has been elected mayor. I'll.
| fertile farming lands in the Immediate vicini
~ aud surroundings, are of the richest kind
| and tie yield most productive In corn, wheat
and cotton. especially in the Frog bayou bot
toms. where the finest farms almost in the
State are cultivated. There l. Il plenteous
supply of water from the numerous streams
and springs for all outdoor md In door ne
ccssities. The chief trade Is IN the sale of
cotton, grain and wheat. and richly repay ;
the producer for it would appear that the
earth yielded up her choicest fruits for man S
use and benefit In plenteous and luxuriant
crops, and that without any further aid in
manure than what nature gave and the hand
OF man needs only to SOW and reap the result
in wealth.
Ivan Buren Is a thriving and fast improv-
ing city. situated on the north bank OF the
Arkansas river in Crawford county, and is
| the capitol Of the county aud tile county seat
] 1t was laid out in 1880 and became incorpora-
| ted In Si3, and has grown inarvelously into
healthy and prosperous trading little city,
with an enterprising spirit, having its mills
and factories, and may be fairly called the
young Giant of the Northwest portion of the
State. Its population numbers about 150D.
with county population of about l2000. Its
! first mayor WAS the Hon. B. Ogden. +. NJ
Neal now fills that office. Its merchants and
traders enjoy Il reputation for uprightness
and soundHess in all their Transactions not a
single failure having occurred tor years
| amongst them The chief products of the
surrounding fertile lands (Which for forty
years have not required manure), are corn,
the average yield being from forty to sixty
bushels, but where the land is cultivated, it
has yielded hundred bushels, the value be-
| ing from fifty to sixty cents per bushei, the
soil being fully fourteen feet deep in the bot
toms. and has never failed in crops. Cotton
| Is extensively grown, and produces from one
to one and half bales to the acre 5000 bales
! having been obtained of this crop during the
season. Wheat has yielded from twelve to
| twenty bushels per acre. with fine crop of
oats, and Oh the uplands barley grows we'll.
The splendid farming bottom lands, extend
over twenty four miles long, and are about
| forty six miles wide. comprising sc, 900 acres.
! The agricultural products OF these fertile
| lands vie III richness and quantity with any
State in tile Union. The irrigation all along
! these bottoms is ample lor all purposes, the
| tributarie. of the Arkansas river and the
rich springs abounding all along the hills,
giving their ample supply and passing
through Crawford county and Lees Creek.
| Flat Rock. Clear Creek and Little Mulberry,
| On all the uplands. there are the pine springs
enlly from twenty-five to forty feet deep be-
low the surface. The lands of these heights
| produce good cereals and grapes of all kinds,
the soil being malata, impregnatcd with iron
| ore.
| THE chief trade of Van Burcn consists OF
the products of the rich surroundings, Which
are cotton and corn, with fine fruits, and an
abundant crop of grapes, peaches and pears.
Its manufactures embrace six fourin. mills.
nth gin and cotton mills. Its educational
schools number the free schools, and some
| private establishments. 1t enjoys an intelli-
gent press j $. Durham being the editor and
| publisher of the weekly Van Buren, Press, es
tablished 1850.
THE health bi the citizens is taken care OF
] By DR., norlnnd Dir Rrnrn Dr nibroll. Dr.
Pernot Dr. White and Dr. Decherd. The re-
/ lcions denominations are the Catholic. Prot
estant, Presby ytclian, Episcopallan, and Meth
odist Churches.
O." The citizens, for etiquette, friendship and
hospitality, Intelligence and social classes
may be ranked in the foremost States of the
| Union, while the agricultural population are
| regulated by the principles of good peace
aud fellowship among all men. the colored
| race being Influenced and guided by those
examples and the entire country may fairly
| be said to be free from wickcdness and vice
the laws being observed and freely submitted
! to.
" The mineral products are ore and coal,
which are found In great plenty on the
streams, the coal heing within few feet of
| the surface IN some places, while in many it is
almost visible on the face of the earth, and is
traded in the city by the settlers for merchan-
| disc. etc, each possessor of the lands he
| holds being entitled to his coal and ore. The
coal is excellent for household and steam
| purposes, being almost free from ash and
| klinkers.
IN our visit to this fine town we were
| waited upon by a adeputation of her leading
| citizens, who came over to the city of Fort
Smith, and escorted MS from that city to
| theirs which is distant about five miles, and
separated by the splendid aud wide Arkansas
| river, an ample ferry being built for trans
| portaton between the north and south banks
| at this point. many OF the citizens of TT. Smith
having accompanied us and parted us with
| regret and best wishes for our future pros
| perty; and the warmcst hopes were express
ed that the great Northwest. and the entire
world, through the medium of our welcome
| visit, should receive a true report OF that and
| and other portions of the State, the pros peri
| ity and fertility of Arkansas. and might lead
many to come and enjoy the wealth OF the
| finest lands of the Southwest. We took our
departure. late in the evening, from the tru-
est men we ever met on any soil
| with the pleasant memories of men and
! things We return from Hot Springs to st,
Louis, thence to Chicago-so like Arkansas
in great things, great doings and great flu
ture. Home again, after most pleasant and
profitable jaunt.
In concluding this somewhat desultory ac-
count of Il journey fraught with so much
pleasure we have to say of Arkansas, briefly,
that it is the coming State. To own land in
Arkansas. should be the ambition of every
man seeking for home in great, prosper
ous and free commonwealth The govern
ment can stop its work of reconstruction in
Arkansas, The reconstruction going on there
is being accomplished by her own citizens,
and should be initiated by the other States
Arkansas Is an empire of peace. plenty and
prosperity. Go thou aud dwell there,
- Ladies Reversible OTTO