The Van Buren press., 1876-07-25


This followed by a square pillar from the
famous Spadra vein, in a section SO inch
es thick, taken 40 feet below the surface,
from underneath root of black slate
BY the anal ysis-which accompanies
each block-this is remarkably dry coal,
with only 8 per centum OF volatile mat
ter, and superbly rich one, having SO
per centum of carbon. Allister's mine,
Franklin county, shows vein 45 inches
thick, Is feet below the surface, beneath
roof of black slate. This is fair cook
ing coal, but not SO rich in carbon, the
volatile element being over IA, and fixed
carbon not quite II per centum. For
heating and steam purposes these Goals
are richly adapted, but, containing sui
phur to considerable extent and not be
ing largely susceptible to coking process
es, should suppose that for the smelt.
Of ores they were hardly available; bu,
to Offset this lack, the abundant timber
Of the state will supply the best charcoal
and limestone for duxing purposes is
found proximate to all the finest ore beds
Two other samples of coal of similar
qualities make five representative selec-
tions, showing richness superior to the
Pittsburg Goals, and in formation, ap-
pearance and quality like the famous
Cumberland vein of Maryland. Thirty
three varieties Of minerals are arranged
in cabinet made of native woods, the
richest specimens being employed to
show the capabilities of the state for cab
met work There are fourteen varieties,
consisting Of cherry, bois d arc. holly ETC.
artstically disposed to produce the pleas
ing effect of strong contrasts without
dscord. Among these l noticed a panel
of" corrugated pine wood entirely
new to me, and as exquisitely marked as
some of the best MORE patti erns of wal
nut and ash 1t grows in great abun.
dance, and from its rich shading must
become very popular in wood finishing
Among the minerals contained within the
cabinet l saw fine examples of gray COZ
per with veins of lead, bledc, sulphte Of
zinc, manganese, iron, ETC., and a speci-
men Of native silvsr smeltec from lamp
Of ore weighing 275 pounds, which yield
ed to the ton three hundred and thirteen
aud eight tenths ounces Of silver, and a
proportion of lead equal to 33 per CEN
,um of the whole weight. 1t is said that
the rich, silver. bearing mineral belt that
passes through Zacatecas and Chihua-
lua, Mexico, penotratef to the middle Of
the state of Arkansas, and the hope is
ventured tibet it may be as rich in the
latter as in the former country. There
are in this case also some more splendid
crystals from Hot Springs, and in their
office the commissioners use crystal ink
stand Of the natural formation, without
any fationing of art whatever. It is ex-
tremely curious, and is accompanied by =
pen older almost equally so, being a
most delicate ttciq Of the antlers of what
would seem to have been baby deer,
but fawns don't come into the world rea-
dainty u sprig of horn could have come
from, graceful enough Tor the jewcled
finger of---st least an Indian princess.
The commission in their varieties enter
tainment will show you a petrified hu-
name foot so perfect that even the corn
and bunon protuberances are quite well
marked underneath the moccasin, and the
asseous stratum in the ankle. In the
same mound was discovered a cross, also
petrified, indicating that those remains,
many, many years ago, had chrisatin
burial.
But to return to my case. 1t will be,
however, to quit 1t again at once, for
havn't space il had the patience to emu
merate tithe of the samples of mineral
riches brought from the Hot Springs and
other points throughout the rich domain
of the State.
1t will suffice to say that no mineral
product is unrepresented their coal fields
Of twelve thousand square miles, the
neighborirg iron deposits, their zinc,
lead and silver mines, their cave of nitre
and nitrous earth, their salt springs, their
world-famous MILESTONE quarries, are all
eloquently expressed in the well-filled and
we'll arranged cases that furnish the Ar.
kansas building, and exhibited with sau-
witty and keen intelligence that makes
your inspection a trip of pleasure.
On the other side of the entrance door
is a pyramid composed Of the native
woods-a section of cotton wood 7 fee,
in diameter, section .of grapevine La
inches, and of sassafras 26 inches in di-
ameter, are indications of the kind ol
growth attained. Besides these they
have representative chips from 8 to l:
inches thick and to feet diameter, from
their immense forests of pine, walnut
oak, ash, hickory, cyprus, which with
many other varties furnish the lumber
to the markets Of the east In large and
fast growing trade. But | must hurry
on without mention Of one-fourth o
the captivating evidences of plenteou:
growth that greet you on every hand il
the cornucopia.
In the agricultural building orc of thu
best displays Of cereal plants is made b,
Victoria Land in the British department
DR.. Lawrence tells me that MIR. G. Col
Inns Levy, secretary to the royal commits
sion, proposes to exchange with ,Arkan
sas in that kind Of production. His re
quest comes from admiration of her cx
cellent contributions, and is accepted by
the Arkansas commissioners AS courte
Gus acknowledging Of rivalry. Among
the handsomely arranged collection no
ticcd sheaves of oats four feet high, will
heads of extraordinary fullness ant
weight: wheat five feet high, corn sixteel
feet, with the ears eight feet from th'
ground; clover gathered May %, yer,
rank and very tall; Egyptian and Ger
man millet, timothy, Hungarian and 9th