The Russellville Democrat., 1879-05-01
Impressions of Arkansas.


 From the Decatur tnl.) Republican.
 The State of Arkansas is, to the outside world, almost an unknown region. Admitted into the Uniou in 1886, with a population of 52,240, it only numbered within it's borders 4S3,47 inhabitants in 1870. Its progress, as will be seen by these figures, has been remarkably slow, in spite of It's healthful location. The tide of immigration has passed it by and sought other lands to the north and northwest of it's borders. It would be foreign to the objects of this article to discuss the causes which have kept Arkansas In the background, the purpose being mere Fly to speak of the advantages it offers to the emigrant.
 To the man who desires to secure cheap Homestead, Arkansas offers  many advantages. It has diversi- fled soil, upon which nearly all the productions of the temperate zone can be raised. While It's bottom lands are peculiarly adapted to the cultivation of the cotton plant, they will also yield rich crops of corn, samples of which were shown to the excl IS on party that would have been no diseredit to Illinois. On the uplands wheat of the best quail ty is grown, and though the cultiva- tion of this and other cereals has been neglected in a great measure, because of the almost insane desire to grow cotton, experience has shown that the diversity of crops which has been so profitable in the North would be just as beneficial in Ar kansas. Oats, also, seem peculiarly adapted to the soil, and the speci- mems shown were such as would de hght the heart of an Illinois farmer especially this year. No atten- tion has been paid to the raising of of blue grass, though it is said to flourish we'll. Timothy and millct grow to mammoth size, and the cas. tor bean, Tn it's wild state, reaches almost to the proportions of a sap ling, Fruits of all kinds are pro duced with degree of certainty un- known in Northern climes, and the specimens on exhibition were of a kind that would make the mouth of an anchoritc water. Peaches, pears, apples, figs and other fruits grow in abundance, while the hills and mountains produce grapes of the very first quality. There is nc doubt as to the fertility of the soil.
 The native woods of Arkansas em. brace large variety, adapted to all the wants of man. Cypress, poplar, yellow pine, walnut, ash, linn and other useful varieties abound in end less quantity, and the trees grow to size which fully attest the fertility of the soil. The lumber interests of the State must soon come into prom. thence, and manufacturing grow into a wonderful industry. At pres ent there are only few saw and blaming mills, but the manufacture of furniture and other necessary products of lumber will soon follow There IS no furniture factory in the State, and the buildidg of one at Little Rock could not fail to be Q profitable investment. The same might be said of other industries of similar character. The mineral wealth of Arkansas is almost unlimited, and embraces deposits of iron, coal, lead copper, zinc, tin, silver, manganese and other ores. Besides these are quarries oI the best of building stone, marble whetstone rock, etc. There are also vast deposits of ochres and paint earths, while sand for glass making together with nitre caves, saline springs, etc.
 Of the unoccupied lands in the State, the United States Government still owns about eight million acres all of which is subject to homestead entry. The State of Arka ns something over a million
 sides two and half mill,
 confirmed swamp lar
 finally be in her
 swamp lands are
 1 per acre, cash. .
 are disposed of