Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-06-29

and Improvements from Mem-
phis to Little Rock.

MEMPHIS, June q. ls77.
In a former communication ! promised
| would give you some remarks on the
progress of the State Of Arkansas be-
tween here and Little Rock. As you
know, from here to St. Francis river, a
distance of forty miles, is bottom land,
and has been the source Of the greatest
trouble the Little Rock railroad has had
in running the road; but that is now in
such condition that in a short time it
will be as good as any other portion of
the road, and, as | remarked in a former
communication, you will be able to
breakfast in Memphis and dine in Little
Rock. The supper stand going west is
OF present at Black Fish Siding, and
you get the worth Of your money-every-
thing the season and market affords. and
we'll cooked.
You then push on to Forest City, Eve
miles beyond St. Francis river, on the
top of Crowley'S ridge, a place that had
no existence at the close of the late war,
but now the seat Of trade for a large ex-
tent Of country, with several large stores
IN each department of business, and
daily growing in population and import.
ance.
You then come to Palestine, a town of
considerable trade and Importance, aud
rapidly filling Up with emigrants from
Ohio aud Indiana.
Wheatley is another place on the line
OF the road, which is improving. l no.
ticed several new ~storehouses and dwell
liags under way, all indicating a pros
porous condition.
You then come to Brinkley, a place of
rapid growth and Importance. Thev
are now erecting a new and c~ommodious
hotel, which, when completed, would do
credit to a much larger place. l noticed
several churches, of different denomlna.
tons, n a Roman Catholic church
erected principally by our fellow.citizep.
John Gum, Esq, who, with ESQUIRE
Black, have a large saw-nill, which.fur.
nishes lumber for the railroad and the
country nearly all the way to Little
Rock. They obtain the timber from
their " lands, of which they have a
large body in the vicinity Of their mill.
and offer great inducements to actual
settlers.
You then come to Devalrs Bluff on the
west side Of White river, which you cross
on an iron bridge. This town has not
improved as fast as others from some
cause or other l Cannot see the cause.
as it stands On a high bluff overlooking
White river.
There are several other depots and
minor places between here and Little
Rock, but the chief in Importance ia
Lonoke, which is situated in a good
cotton and wheat country, and is fast
filling up with enterprising citizens from
the Northern States, who sold their land
from whence they came at forty to fifty
dollars per acre, and ~reinvested here
from at two to FIVE dollars per acre
for much richer and better lands.
You then arrive at Carlisls, a place
laid out about four years ago by ex-Gov.
ernor Had!ey, the present postmaster Of
Little Rock, and now contains a popula-
ton of one thousand to fifteen hundred
inhabitants, mostly from the Western
States. 1t is situated in the center OF a
large prairie. and l am told those North.
ern farmers who have bought and settled
here say they can raise better crops on
their 81 so pee acre land than they used
to do on $40 land 10 Ohio.
You next arrive OF Little Rock, which
all your readers know is one of the most
beautiful and lourishing cities in ths
whole South. | am informed that there
are large settlements Of people from
Cnio, Indiana aud Illinois along the line
OF the Little Rock and Fort Smith rail.
road, and all are highly pleased and
prospering.' Arkansas 10 destined to be
a great State, whose trade and friend
ship Memphis should cultivate.
Yonrs, J. M. J.