The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1878-05-14

Is most eligible natural mill site, and an old
mill has been run for many years. Rich and
wide bottomlands lie around 1t and III
neighborhood; springs are frequent and the
timber fine; coal shales are disclosed In many
places; II Is 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 tried by smiths. and by them termed tine,
l. is easily quarried and 10 quantity, l. is
all the coal In this field. improves In quality
and thickness as It Is penetrated.
| Near Robert Sutherlands on Lees Greek. 5.
IL, T. IL, X. 81 is a coal bed, which has been
worked; its thickness we do not know. The
bottom and uplands here are fertile. Grapes
abound on the hillsides as they do elsewhere
In Crawford. The water Is abundant and
good shales occur from this to Joseph Bry-
ants on Lees Greek, ut the foot OF Boston
Mountain. $. 20, 7. IL. X. 81, with occasional
outcrop of limestone. Great bluffs of sand
stone rise up and are full of iron, and yield
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 Blackburn's Fork of Lees Greek, rich
in coal banks. This is 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
seml-bituminous. Coal has also, tor years,
been quarried and transported from pits on
Cove Creek. tributary of Lees Creek, in the
northwest corner Of Crawford; 1t has been
hauled by smiths forty miles. This coal Is
very good. its thickness is about twenty seven
inches Boston Mountain is famous for its
very rich benches, hilslopes and table land
the soil being enriched by the limestone aud
fr,,n ton II u.
with bottom growth of timber, such as ash
walnut, pawpaw, oak. rich underground, vine
ane shrub. Its peculiarly adapted for grape
tobacco, and pastures, the numerous springs
affording plenty of water. In early times
cane (reeds) grew on their tops; 1t produces
extraordinarily of all the grains, corn and
grasses.
In the neighborheod of Shannon's Mill. S. |
10, 7 10. X 80. on Cedar Greek which empties
into Frog Bayou. quartz fragments have been
discovered, and lead also. The water is suifi- |
cient for the supply of mills, and the low
lands rich. Coal shales also display In this
tract of the country. There is d saline spring |
many years ago, was worked, and the yield
of salt good, Boring. without doubt, would
bring stronger brine and make its boiling
profita BILE to the salt manufacturer. even in
this close proximity to the eXhaustleSs saline
waters, springs and deposits of the east Chero-
kee country. In sections 80 and "a are Heard
and Pennywitt 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 "A resort for spring visitors.
There are other sulphur and chaly beate
springs in this county. On Frog Bayou or
Clear Creek, near Frazier'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
he laborers on your road"