Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-12-31
LETTER.
corre,nondenee Of the Ledrar.l

ana seventy-hve u III Is apou1
ninety miles on an airline and about
two hundred and seventy miles by
water from the city of Memphis. Il
was a trading point for the Indians
in the year 1926, and up to the late
war there was only one small store
house and cotton shed, but since that
time many changes and improvements
have taken place. Streets and alleys
have been laid off, the primitive Ar
kansas cabin has been leVeled to the
ground and the commodious residence
reared in its stead. Eight or ten sub
%stantial business houses and four com
modious warehouses have taken the
place of the little store-house on the
bank the billiard hall and bowling
alley have taken the place of the
shooting-match /; the daily paper and
modern literature have usurped the
place of the Arkausaw doctor and
avid Bill, the Indian Slayer" the
hand grist-mill has given away to the
steam mill, and other changes too u
merous in our brief communication to
enumerate.
About 400 bales of cotton are annu-
ally shipped from here by merchants
and farmers; hundreds of tons Of cot
ton seed are shipped to the Memphis
oil mills. The larger portion of the
staple shipped goes to Memphis. A
large amount of game and fish, hides,
furs. etc, are also shipped. Three
Memphis packets and one or two New
Orleans packets land at our wharf
weekly in the busiest seasons Of the
year. Freights of all kinds are cheaper
than at any time for anumber of years
past. We are indebted to our Mem
phis and White river packets fol
copies of the reliable and newsy
LEDGER and other Memphis papers
That old veteran, Admiral John B
Davis, seconded by his well known
lieutenant, Ed Crowell, have perma.
nently entered the White river trade
There are several large mounds in
the corporate limits of our town, sup.
posed BY some to have been built By
the Indians, but according to the yer
sion of some of the oldest settlers Al
far back as thirty years ago large trees
three or four feet thick, were growing
on the mounds. They we're I'M
doubtedly built by a prehistoric rae,
of people. The largest mound is stu
ated upon the banks of thu
bay, and when the waters subsid,
in the spring charred bones and re
mains of the human skeleton can b
picked out from the side Of the noun,
that have been washed by the wave;
Our village cemetery is also situate,
' upon one Of these mounds, and occa
} sionally when the sexton is engage
/, in digging a grave he picks up curious
: ly-shaped pieces Of earthen ware
. hints, stone, hatchets, quantity shape
= rocks and stones. We have not hear
e of any one finding anything Of intriI
S sic value in these mounds. Tn
4 would be a good point for any persC
, to come who is writing a history
Arkansas. 1t is probable some info
: nation of importance could be o.
d tanned.
I The Christmas holidays with /
/, passed off quietly. As usual on sue
: occasions we had our Christmas tn,
a in the town hall" and to use a pa
ented phrase, it fairly groansd beneat
e its weight Of pretty things, After Il
a gifts had been distributed two lar
!. cakes we're put up and sold, the fir
Il to be voted to the most intellige
married lady in the communit
the other to be voted to Il
II most beautiful young lady preseT
/ Tbs bidding was animated and excl
ing. The first cake brought S118, al
n voted to Mrs. Laura Boyce, the ell
IS CANT. graceful and accomplished la
Of Colonel w. H. Boyce. The COZ
pliment was well and fttingly b
slowed. The second cake was vot
| 70 Miss Ida Gotten Of this vicinit
S one Of our most beautiful and fasci
d ating bellies. Miss Lucina Hall, a Vi
" itor here from Independence, Mis-
! received a highly f~attering and col
- plimentary vote. The last ca
le brought the sum of $34. We und,
stand the money will be donated 1
IT church purposes.
! Farmers here are making contra
- with labOrers for the year 1879. I
It condition Of agricultural affairs 8
ID gradually growing better. The ha
ie times have taught us economy, and
q. no distant day we hope to be inc
pendent and free from debt. Wis
ns ing the LEDGER unbounded pr,
ID perity, and its thousands of reader
n happy New Year, l will close.