The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1878-04-02

, is il most pigiDle natural mlti site, and an Old
mill has been run for many years. kiei and
wide bottom-lands lie around 1t and Its
neighborhood springs are frequent and the
timber fine; coal shales are disclosed in many
! places; it Il distant from Van Buren, eight
cen miles northward,
| On Lees Creek still northward from Van
| Buren,. is a fine coal bed. of the thickness OF
twenty-eight to thirty-two inches. Coal has
| been lied by smiths and by them termed fine,
1t is easily quarried and in quantity. II is
| known as the Wooten bank. This coal, like
all the coal In this field improves in quality
and thickness rs 1t is penetrated.
Near Robert Sutherands on Lees creek, .
Il T. II, X. - is coal bed, which has been
worked; its thickness we do not know. The
bottom and uplahds here are fertile. Grapes
abound on the hillsides as they do elsewhere
in Crawford. The water i abundant and
good shaes occur from this to Joseph Bry-
ants on Lees Greek, Mt the foot OF Boston
Mountain. 5. 90, r. r. Il. 81, with occasional
outerop of limestone. Great bluffs of sand
stone rise up and are full of iron, and yleld
n good building rock The timber is excel
lent white oak being among the prevalent
oaks and pine being absent. A short distance
from Bryant's. from the Boston Mountain,
runs the Blackbnrn's Fork of Lees Creek. rich
in coal banks. This Ia a good, workable coal.
exposed for thirty inches; has been used by
Smiths for years and into which have been
sunk fourteen pits. This coal. like the great
body of the coal so far used in this valley. is
-bitnmnons Coal has also tor years,
been qualried and transported from pits on
Cove Greek. tributary of Lees Creek, in the
north west corner OF Crawford; it has been
hauled by smiths forty miles. This coal is
very good. its thickness is about twenty seven
inches Boston Mountain il famous for its
very rich benches. hillslopes and table land.
the soil being enriched BY the limestone and
tbnpn firm nj nps la fHa rpir. n il covered
with bottom growth OF timber, such as ash,
walnut, paw paw, oak rich underground, vine
auG shrub. Its peculiarly adapted tor grape.
tobacco, and pastures, the numerous springs
anerding plenty OF water. In early times
cane (reeds) grew on their tops; it produces
extraordinarily of all the grains corn and
grasses.
In the neighborhood of Shannons Mill. 5.
10, r 10, Il 30. on Cedar Creek which empties
into Frog Bayou. quartz fragments have been
discovered. and lead also. The water is sulii-
cient for the supply OF mills. and the low
lands rich. Coul shales also display in this
tract of the country. There is saline spring
in $. 30, T. II, Il. 81, from which the brine
many years ago, was worked. and the yield
of salt good, Boring, without doubt. would
bring stronger brine and make Its boiling
profitable to the salt manufacturer. even IN
this close proximity to the eXhaustless saline
waters. springs and deposits of the east Ghero-
kee country. In sections - and "a are Heard
and Pennyuitt Sulphur Springs. from which
run health giving waters, and which are fa-
nous in their locality. The precipitates are
white, and were they improved by digging,
cleansing them out and walled they would
probably equal springs in Virginia and KEN
lucky. and become Il resort for spring visitors.
There are other sulphur and chaly beate
springs IN this county. On Frog Bayou or
Clear Creek, near Frazer's gin the land is
very fine, as Frog Bayou land all is.
The land is exceedingly fertile, the timber
most excellent. the range unequaled and the
water wholesome generally obtained for
house use by digging, or in cisterns. and
abundance of stock water everywhere. There
Is no better tract inviting the immigrant,
none better for the occupation to be made by
the laborers on your road"