davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Russellville Democrat., 1876-03-09
ARKANSAS.
The Country as seen by a
 Stranger.

From the Beatrlce { 4NcD. EA- press VIC clip the following ex- tract from letter written by gentleman of that state who re- gently visited our town and with whom we had the pleasure of be- coming acquainted. We copy 1t to show what kind of a country other people think we have after visit ing it and seeing for themselves. We are pleased to see that this correspondent takes occasion to correct the very erroneous lm- pression which prevails to great extent in regard to our people. Whatever else may be said of Arkansawyers we hold that it cannot be truthfully charged that they are lacking in hospitality or friendly feelings to all strangers who come among us. We say to all who may read the following letter and think a country of the description therein given will suit them, to come along-come right to Pope county and if the country and the people are not as they are represented to be we will agree to acknowledge that we have exaggerated our attractions. Read what Mir. Pethoud says:
 Little Rock is a very pretty place, full of life and business, claiming about twenty thousand inhabitants and is destined at no distant day to be great city as it is now quite railroad centre. From Little Rock we passed up the Arkansas valley on the Little Rock and Ft. Smith Railway, to Altus in Franklin Go. The. sur face of the country along the line is diversified, being valley, hlll and mountain, valley greatly pre- dominating. To the eye of the traveller this portion of the state appears to be an unbroken forest; but upon passing through it you will find farm houses of all kinds from the humble log hut to the more pretentious cottage nestled down in some snug nook with its acres for tillage from ten acres to the good sized farm. The whole country IS covered with heavy growth of timber consisting of oak of various kinds, pine, asE, hickory, sycamore, gum, sassa, fras, hard maple, cottonwood etc. To person brought up in the Northwest, this timber would alone be sight to see, for tree not over thirty inches in diane ter will shoot up to the enormous height of sixty and seventy feet without limb and straight as an arrow. A great portion of this forest has scarcely any under brush, and the farmers girdle the trees, fence in the ground and gc to farming.
 This valley is preemiuently [ fruit region. Apples, peaches
 pears, grapes etc, grow so luxu
 riently and abundantly that they are comparatively valueless ir their season. Peaches will bcal
 fruit the second year, and apples
The Russellville Democrat., 1876-03-09
Collectors Notice.

Notice is hereby gwen that l will be at the different precincts in Pope county for the purpose of collecting the taxes for the year 1875, including the delinquent taxes and penalty for the years 1872. 1873, and 1874, at the fol lowing times and places, to-wit; GALLEY ROCK, Thur. X Fri. 9th & 10th March. GUMLOG, Mon. X Tues. 18th * l4th March. MORELAND, Wed. x Thur. 10th
 S lGth March. GRIFFIN, Fri. & Sat. 17th X 18th
 March,
 LIBERTY, Tues. Wed. x Thur,
 2lst, 22d, x 23d March. INDEPENDENCE, Fri. 2ith
 March,
 NORTH FORK, Sat. 25th Mar. ALLEN, Mon. 27th HICKEY, Tues. 2Sth " MARTIN, W ed. x Thur. 29th & 30th March. CLARKE, Fri. x Sat. March 3lst 6 April lst. DOVER, The balance of the time
 JOE PETTY,
 Sheriff and Collector Pope Co.
 P.S. Owners of land will please bring tbeir last tax receipts.
The Russellville Democrat., 1876-03-09
STATE OF ARKANSAS,
 STATE DEPARTMENT.
LITTLE RoCK. Feb. 6. 1876.

LITTLE NUCk, TUU. U, IoFU' J
 EDITORS GAZETTE: The above letters having been referred to this office, and numerous other letters of like import having been received, beg leave to call your attention to the following, which l hope the papers throughout the state will copy for the informa- Lion of all parties concerned:
 The legislature of ls74-5 passed an act (approved November 2e, 1874 which creates board of commissioners on public con tracts. consisting of the governor,
The Russellville Democrat., 1876-03-09

is no uncommon thing Tor peach- es to measure over three and ap- ples over five inches in diameter The soil is reddish cast but very productive in cotton. corn, wheat and oats. One gentleman informed us that he gathered nine hundred bushels of oats from seven acres of ground! Coal of the finest quality abounds in this valley and within the limits of the grant of the l.. R. & Ft. $. R. w. It is not very extensively mined at present, but enough is known to enable anyone to see that it is inexhaustible. In burning it makes a clear, bright light and leaves no cinders.
 The stock of the country is very poor, indeed, their horses being chiefly Indian ponies, their cattle Cherokee stock, and their hogs well there is nothing like them on any portion of the earth "in the heavens above nor in the waters beneath"
 Cattle and hogs were running out and gathering their own liv- ing, for to the hogs it is literally '.root hog or die" Cotton de- mands so much of their time that they give stock little attention, though some planters have good stock of all kinds. The sheep are better, cleaner wooded, healthier looking than ours. Farming is done in d slovenly manner, the farmers using very inferior blows -chiehy one horse-which turn, probably, seven or eight inch furrow three or four inches in depth. It is 6 great wonder na- tura don't rebel and refuse to yield her harvest under such treatment, but she seems to take it as a matter of course and yields them on an average of from twenty five to fifty bushels of corn, and wheat from fifteen to twenty five bushels to the acre. You must bear in mind that this is on an average, some farms un- der good cultivation yielding far more.
 fear I am getting this too long and may crowd your space, though 1 am not half through, but before I close permit me to say one word concerning her peo- pie, to, if possible, dispel some erroneous notions held by the North in regard to them, The general opinion in the North is that they are rude, domineering class of people, that would shoot you for the least provocation, and if you gave them no reason they would seek one. Nothing would be further from the truth! The ease with which they can make a living and lay by little for a rainy day has tendency to make them a little lazy, l believe, but a more hearted, hospitable, social class of people l never saw. They meet you with open arms and hearty welcome, never stop ping to ask you from whence you came, or to what party or church you belong, nor under what ban ner you fought or whether you fought at all. They unhesitating- ly say they want and must have Northern men and Northern en- terprise to develop the resources of their beautiful valley and teach their farmers how to raise the staples of life. Up that valley is a reading community, intelligent and generous, who take, pay for, and read their county papers and profit thereby. There is no surer index to the intelligence of a community, than the financial condition and make up of its home paper. This valley possess es several of these indexes.
 A. J. PETHoUD.
The Russellville Democrat., 1876-03-09
IMMENSE SENSATION IN WASH
 INGT0N.
UNPARALLELED CORRUP-
 TION.
Excitement in the House.

Il
 to Escape Impeachment, but
 the House Unanimously
 Adopt Resolutions of Im-
 peaclment.
 Below we give some extracts from the proceedings which creat- ed such an excitement in the House of Representatives last Thursday;
 After some unimportant busi- ness, Mir. Clymer presented reso- lutions of impeachment against Wm. W. Belknap, late secretary of war, for high crimes and mis- dcmeanors in office. In the midst of great excitement and with unusual stiffness Tn the house, Mir. Clymer rose and said: "I ask permission of the house to make report from the committee on expenditures in the war de- partment, of so grave importance that 1 am quite certain that when it is heard tkis house will agree that l am justified in asking that permission at this time" Per mission was given, and MT. Cly- mer, taking his position at the clerks desk, read the following report:
 "The committee found, at the very threshold of it's investigation, such unquestioned evidence of the malfeasance of Gen. Wm. w. Belknap, then secretary of war, that they found it their duty to lay it before the house. They further report that this day, at Il o'clock, letter of the president of the United States was present cd to the committee, accepting the resignation, which, the pres ident informed the committee, was accepted about l0:20 this morning. They therefore unani- mously report and demand that said Wm. w. Belknap, late secre- tary of war, be dealt with accord ing to the law of the land, and to that end submit herewith the tes timonv in the case taken, togeth- CT with the several statements and exhibits thereto attached, and also q report of the proceed ings of the committee had during the investigation of this subject, and submit the following resolu- 1 tions:
 "Resolved, That Wm. w. Belk- nap, late secretary of war, be i'm peached of high crimes and mis- demeanors.
 "Resolved, That the testimony in the case of Wm. w. Belknap. late secretary of war, be referred to the judiciary committee, with instructions to prepare and report, without unnecessary delay, suita ble articles of impeachment of said Vim. w. Belknap, late secre- tary of war.
 "Rcsolved, That committee of five members of the house be ap- pointed and instructed to proceed immediately to the bar of tho senate, and there impeach Wm. w. Belknap, late secretary of war, in the name of the people of the United States, of high crimes and misdemeanors when in office, and to inform that body that formal articles of impeachment will in due time be presented, and to request the senate to take such order in the premises as they may deem appropriate"
 Mir. Clymer then proceeded tc read the testimony of Caleb r Marsh, which was taken yester day before the committee, show ing that he had paid secretary Bclknap about S20,000 in eonsid
The Russellville Democrat., 1876-03-09
POPE COUNTY HISTORIC
 AL ASSOCIATION.

By invitation of the cores bonding secretary, & representa- tive of the DEMOCRAT enjoyed the rare treat of attending the eXer- cises of this association last "Wednesday tv ming. The meet inq was held at the school house at the old Gum Log Camp Ground and was attended by most of the nrominent citizens of Gum Log valley. Indeed, we were most agreeably surprised at the inter est manifested and the number present, both male and female. The exercises of the evening con sisted of reports from the various committees who had been appoin- ted at the last meeting. The re- ports were all interesting ana ih- structive. especially the report by Judge Caleb Davis on the cil- mate and early productions oi Pope county. The judges long residence in our county, his hne memory and his emphatic, solid way of giving the early remlnis- ences of full forty years ago. made his remarks full of interest, and we regret thas his report was not written that we might have procured copy thereof for pub llcation. His report on the early hunters and early merchants was also very entertaining. The re port of Mr. G. w. O. Davis, on civil officers was full and complete, and gave a full roster of our ciVil officers from the admission of the State into the Union up to lSoo'
 The report of Dr. Tankersly on the early economy of Pope coun' ty was well gotten up and fur nished much food for reflection.
 After the regular exercises ol the evening our friend, Hon. l. w. Davis, who accompanied us tc the meeting, was called upon for speech, and responded in hi' usual happy manner with abou a thirty minutes talk full ol goo' advice and sound admonitlon U the parents and young men Tn at tendance. interspersing his re marks with witty and amusing "reminiscences of his early eXperi ence.
 After the business of the even inc was all disposed of the soclet, adiourned to meet again on tn 22d inst.
 We return thanks to the societ. for an invitation extended to ou friend and ourself to attend a next meeting, and also to ou good friend Judge Caleb Davl and others for hospitalities show and protIered.
The Russellville Democrat., 1876-03-09
Acts Passed at the Adjourned Session of the Legislature
 of 1875.
NO. 40.

An act regulating the time and manner of holding elections for the determination of the amount of taxes to he levied for school purposes, and for ratifying such elections heretofore held during the year 1875.
 Be it enacted, etc;
 Section l. That hereafter an election shall be held in every school district in the 9tatc of AT.
The Russellville Democrat., 1876-03-09

the Land Commissioners office. Concerning our county officials we, shall have something to say when we have more space to spare.
The Russellville Democrat., 1876-03-09

There is a dairyman living near Pine Bluff, named Hughes, who keeps 100 cows and is building barn I50 by 80 feet and a shed olo feet long.
The Russellville Democrat., 1876-03-09
LIGHT w R N I E D.
SOMETHING FOR INNESTI-
 CATION.
A Matter of No Little ImpOr- tance to the People of
 Pope County.
Will Some one Rise X Explain?

l 0 lOOh dlbcI LllG iHeSi SSe' VI o'A part of the State, and to study the welfare of our people, is the prov ince of this paper, and in discharge of this duty there is matter which we desire to bring to the attention of our readers in Pope County. We wish also to invite the close attention of our officials whose duty it is to straighten out this matter, to the fact that we shall demand, in the name of the tax payers of this county, an in- vestigation of this matter, and shall expect an adjustment of it to be pushed vigorously through, which will secure justice to those who have been victimlzed.
 The matter which we refer to is, the collection of the taxes for 1872 by one A. s. FOWLER, who then claimed to be Collector. It will readily be remembered that the State Board of Equalization cut down our assessment that year Sixty-five per cent. Notwithstan- ding this reduction, however, Fowler went ahead and collected from all he could, on the full as- sessment.
 We believe he collected about Four thousand dollars before he was enjoincd and stopped. There was about Two thousand dollars of that amount in currency and the rest in county and state scrip something like One thousand dollars each. Of the amount which was collected on real estate there is due those who paid it, q reclamation of 65 per cent. which we suppose would amount to something like Two thousand dol lars. This sum of Two thousand dollars was extorted from the tax payers illegally and unjustly, and they should and MUST have it returned to them. The question is, How to come at it. What Tow
 Ter ever did with it, we do not know. If it was paid to the State, the State should refund the 65 per cent. If it was not paid to the State, what become of it? We know that MT. Fowler got it, and either the State and county, or MT. Fowler and his se- curities should be compelled to refund.
 Fowler had a good bond, and il
 he got away with the money, let
 his bondsmen be required to make it good. We wish to know how this matter stands and we call fol
 light. The matter should have
 been pushed long ago. The peo
 pie would find this Two thousand
 dollars nice aid just now to hell pay this years tax, and we think it a good time to stir this matter up.
 Will some one who is posted t tell us how this matter is-wha l became of the money collected why there has been no return o r the overplus, and what steps arr
 necessary to secure a return of i to those who paid it.
 Since writing the above we hay, : learned that the amount due tn county collected by Fowler wa e turned over by him to one of hi
 bondsmen and IS now perhaps i y the hands of the County Cour r If this be true, it seems that tn t peoples part of this portio r might easily be come at and r' s funded. We hope to see thi Il matter sifted to the bottom 2
 once. It is due the people
 know what has become of the IT money. An elucidation is du V from some source, and we call uI Q on the proper one or ones to giv
The Russellville Democrat., 1876-03-09

A gentleman rode up to a pub lie house in the country and asked. "Who is the master of this house:' T am, sir,' replie,l tho landlord; "my wife has becL dead about three weeks.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-04-27
MissACIN, rrrs, CONTENTION.
The Republicans sending u. ~. Damn ut the
Head Of nm unplcdged Dedication.

BosTON, April 90 -Alauson w. Beard on
taking the chair as temporary Chairman Of the
Republican State Convention to-day, said that
he hoped that they would choose representative
men. men whose character stood 50 high ne 10
require no pledges, no Instructions. John Il.
Sandiord was chosen permanent Chairman, j.
Il. u kor, Seth Tuner, aud A. Others. Vice.
Presidents. Mr. sanford said
Noonc who haf Watched the curett Of recent poiiti.
cal cy,nte has fUlod tpste widespread ahd growing
dsstusiacin with the nnnaprgn vi national oi'rs,
hcnnt dcfecUons from our ranks Tue parry la, been
ruu'd ia le -tt0ralods and the House vi konrscnt-
people Is no. lslust lie plrtys record or orcof, mt
iaitnce- aid tcedcnc hat have dc6Getd tlr crar.
actor ana to Of thr puhnc service against leader.
end. aud roo .pr the punlr good Hgarst paru AN.
~ az s d a ss i4 AZ m s Hi sn re
pellet accrssions OF recognized Chliacc ald hy as
y code oi nnnnclf npirhiy that has corrupted
lie tl,aaer rnc couatrS lss lad enough 81 partisan
eject, time part, that ~ poses TO s.. hd
takes TO do something Tor Tue country hat Is
petcnt g. drui with I've cNis 81 cnl,c, ich binuts
ic people TO nnr'iy ,hs y seryiSc n s',,ciag ,ne
revenues from cgnspiracy and th'lt 70 irlie'e 10y
sound and wmchful ecluom, The puhiic burlchs aud
roicy restore confluence ~ the channels OF trade
anu industry
MIR. blackwell offered resolution declaring
that the "onergV and courage Of u. II llristow
In unearthing the dark deeds OF the Whiskey
Ring merit hearty approval" Mr.. 1larrim on
offered an amendment that the high Oh ractcr
OF James q. Blame his puulic services. and bis
nigh abilities, entitle him to the highest Office
IN the gift of the people for President. Points
Of order were raised, and the resolution and
amend ment were tabled.
A resolution was adopted declaring that tho
Convention leave the delegates tn tue National
Convention unpledged. eSpeciing them - work
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-04-27

Mr. Wood Dem, y. ~, from th" Com
mi;tee ON Ways aud Means, Reported back tue
senate amendment 10 the House hli 10 p~ovide
for separate entry OF expre.- package. con
tsined in one imrortation. Tue Senlte amend
mcnt, Witch isto strike ON, the word "expre,s,"
wa concnrrcd IN.
Toe speaker APPOINTED the following Confer
ence CummIttecs; On thc Drncirncy bill
Messrs. Wells (iu.l. Atkins ticru.l and Iiale
tMeJ; ON tuu.ul O. and pipi1nnuc Appr1urit-
ton biiis Nrsere. Singleton Nj .. iauGnl n -
~ d Naldr ~ Ciichl
Tue ril for the reduction Of the army was
made tire uecial order Tor next Nedue.lD.
MIR. tlbsnu ub,m M. If.l offered rt..nl.lii u for
the a.iolhttu-nt OF a select com i.tHa ol uin f
tl.u.Ih~ q thorough Investigation INTO fle uar-
.emcut and conduct OF the Custom House 10
NcW ca. aus. aud or the OflCrs OF thH Marshall
D.-tritt Attorney, Assessor, and collector Of
int"rrui Revenue, ana 81 sucl othrr Federal
officers ~. ~ te Disc vere'l 10 Ne - ni atea III
Nr ~ dn. : aud Vtuiau % ~ Lass. uud % sd--
re~f uese-- lrN cl auge9 ruu reforms. wiki Wow r
90 sit S. Ncw Orle .n-. ana 10 rrp as so IN rs
Wf't etc pINi-N ct.
Mr. I5.',r dtca.. OiioI -c-tei thar tho r,s-
'lu ion D. .Ni e SGD hnH' ~ o. require
rriJ.t tu he made 40 a.. so sent -r--i'n' and
NJ. Gi0-pn con.cutNd so inc m diurnuon.
Mr.. Nore' utop, l. - cxrr's-el tnr tupn thlt
There Wuuid be mo objection 10 inc re-o luton
auopu.d.
l'c House then won't into Comr.iftee a. the
VII !" un 10" Lceie'afiy" NrtlNrri tupn hili. &C.
rIrutnr or piso 4iw4tn. APPROPRIATIONS for tnn
~ Ituditntif. Ait0r If ]-r --ln- a. iAr .
PAGE an, lr 'l.e onI' cis't p'a go Doe dr posed
Nr. wis tDea., M.A from the conference
committee pl fHn llsf.l tH. III. fn Hr u'fh
recoWuO nCinc ,hat .n' ~.n.ta r,redr % 'n
., ncur 20 ti.c-oth of i-s nrrImep'.. uo4e
at them OF ANY lnnurtt GO. ln- req frt W.-
c-ucGrre4 iu The H.. Ga. % .dj burned.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-04-27
ANornhR lNDItv DIrrIcrlrr.


DESvrr, CAL. April 20-Thc Southern
Uio-. under their Cnief lcnacio, having thrc"
YEAR Az ceGed the san LUSH mining region In
collaboration OF certain annual payments to Pc
u.Ie them by the general Government, AMI
having compiled faithfully with their portion 81
he treaty, are now demanding that the settlers
shall abandon their farms and leave the lowe
valley " tho RIO Animas, and In the event Of
their refusing to do 30. threaten war to the
l.nifc.
I'm clio comnlrins that the trcnig IA entirely
too enc. sided 80 eult EfW. Tine whitcs have 20
theil .lda sod tie l.ii.ua have rttciv d,a-Net.
nptuur. lis ltppie could wait ~ lou-er.
-ome time 40 lac sutd that the settlers inl-h.
remain Iutl thc ~prtagc .'ue, hut 30 tn.t tune.
TIE luAl rs remained u1p - ~, p1l' f-'o
Noulu laso 10 leave tie valley. Ana l.uaclO
.n, ni- w.tfl1is aso eNIDenti4 IA earnest IN TINS
me Indiaus have @ iusi cruso ~ complaint,
aul u taA- lracecd 80 hus..t .c, 8; Wt.i tc tc-
cause they h-ve uo otuer zoe ~ VI ooeaiuing
THEIR r-l.~.
Apr..ps az This ,r1 spc,,iv, war, emo citizens
q IA IN "a coautv. m wht, n Tie Anunas mi.
lN. .t.itt 10 l0N.ttD have ttt..tuutI tsc a. OLE
rl..I ~. trtf...rut r protection. ihtN ,ah ini
ui4ultlrg p1st ns cst ihlished "a some point iu
la lI.ta un'Y. J. r., GAriuu1 o. c.tIts too
500 o. So a.d Is utterly us los 10 "a present
t.-ll..u iua op,hlou u al is t.1' O. tl M
rNHt4ia Oe a' At-th.d .hl "a new hur' ci iut' y,
Nnf.h c.Ald be Guae al comparatively it Ie
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-04-27

r.r LroIsl.lIrRr'S WoNN.
\ Day Devoted to Hraa'.l,n i!il.r- rhe 0s,'ca
Charter inuu,ry tVntu.

ALBANY, Ap,n M-rrooklvn moaopo-
i't- t.e'to.t of tine t|iae II the A. 'mbl to-
uH. aul, as u.ual, f-iei {, ct what 70
wanted. ILe CIV fClrtcnos does Mt seem TO
lnd rvne with this REPUBLICAN, Leg Ia gre.
llcr PEG frol .ure, tho ogden char'cr Was kiitd.
.r .r -.i. 'y bulsry. Tho hin torcorrfni7'
l,r b1..l rf ,l.ruca lce7s 10 the Senate g 'fi-
miitne UIl t,i0 and TIE Atlantic avenue ste ni
or f.W. f.f rDich South Br1nslyn he Ncen
To .... ol4.. I'D, ut shooting tua tc-th 4 IT, iro
r4.t.r.lu' rui e od and lions p,a On ucn-
.i' rtr- fa. ,lila Fern, Company t.e Lrs OF
ti, ..n.I i..Iu ul tua u .firfN nNN uraI ~
cana, l,. g.. 80 W. tie oni. tong left here ia
u.i.ul .i.tt ke-.nlnterost -a Nii tln"r-
aud !. 10 d..h,.,i "A.,A-r
~ d.. ripr.- Investigation waa resumed
q. D... "ElA Fancy trsaA. 800 ne
He'o "a '....' a Us thg ea;;trt.r .. b3,W " was
buth tInol. now it was Z, ne Brought aaout.
Nncna.. tGo,h,rn ne mad & lied VITA hos.
81 l. .il--i, y a.9ai :. Fore, 40 werr1. vi d an
airoil u't aEnt}, u t lac e'@a't know any
Hou. Hugh DI.ua4hn, ey-iicsif,or O., KINGS
c.tlntv. When sized Wlctncr tre Hon hugh
Mclaughlin. rN-li--l-. 81. WIS not usually called
Good ma. o. mes Were ciyca T. people. bus he
dldh' nnoN auj .lipg ao1ut "B - s.elaurh-
Dr tvo i.or uitp IS s. who we-c even more IL
nOrint ou tpr -G.j 60 THAI fue the c9uu'it-
lee adJ 4usNed the uNcstisau3n untl FRIDAY,
When. ca. L.. -. l. .nslns ell Il. Il tue hrock lyn
p me- Io,r. v.ll IS summoned u tell now IL
con iluen. wnom tie reporters OF some
Republic "a Htw-n. mrs have ir'h. ported u
l'n-.-'. !lotcl ga UTICA 20 run " th" -t,te Con
Neu.ion, IVA. nocn al day quietly 40 work In has
.Ou-r examining the SJppiy bil. oh he mus |
either veto or pppoye hy Saturday or II VII
trUoiIu - law ~ 7'1te 81 MIN.
iu.rl1N " e-d nas been stalking about tine
lc-isistiVe Tails for he lest tN1, diis. lie h.