Sharp County record., 1881-03-03
SHARP COUNTY.
HER CLIMATE, SOIL ADVANTAGES
AND RESOURCES.

onarp county WIS tHIdn'ISHcu ny
the General Assembly Of 1865, and
is bounded on the north by the Mis-
souri, line, on the east by Randolph
and Lawrence counties, on the south
by independence county, and on
the west by lizard and Fulton coun-
ties. It's population is a little over
nine thousand. The face Of the
country is; generally undulating,
though djgcEsiiyd with Hrh, aIu.
vial bottcms and fiat up'andS. In
many places the hills are lofty
enough to be called mountains. The
arabic lands are susceptible Of pro-
ducing large yields Of cotton. corn,
wheat, rye, hay, oats, potatoes,
tobacco, and field crops generally,
while vegetables Of nearly every
kind may be produced to perfection,
and all fruits adapted to the climate
attain the highest degree Of perlec-
ton under proper culture. That
portion of the land which is thought
TO be unfit for cultivation, on account
of the stones which lie principally
upon its surface, produces, each
year, luXuriant crop Of wild grass,
upon which largo numbers Of cattle
thrive and fatten during the summer
months, and which, in many places,
could be proftably saved as hay.
On account Of the splendid range
the barrens afford, and their adapt
ability to the production of the tame
grasses, stock raising and sheep
husbandry could be pursued very
proftably y-especially so on the
lands last mentioned, Il large portion
of which can be had under the U. S.
Homestead law almost for the ask
ing. While on this subject, we may
add that we are informed by a gen
tleman who is engaged to some eX-
tent in the wool business that the
wool from our common grade Of
sheep brings almost as good price
in the market as that produced on
lands costing fifty dollars and up
ward per acre, and where the sheep
must be fed daily. 1t seems, there
fore, that North Arkansas offers
inducements to the wsol producer,
superior to any other country.
Sharp county is well timbered,
excepting in the barrens. Surround
ing Evening Shade is a large scope
of country covered by yellow pine,
which is cut by the saw mills in the
vicinity into excellent bnilding lum-
Der.
Health in this portion 'ofthe coun-
try is very good indeed. We will
venture to say that no part of the
country in the entire Southwest
surpasses it for healthfulness--the
lmalarial and bilious diseases so pre-
valent in large scope Of the West
being very rare here, except in a
mild form in the donsely wooded
bottoms.
Scarcely a neighborhood in the
entire county is without its CHURCH
house, which is generally used by
each denomination, and a great in
terest is manifested in the cease of
education. Moro schools are sus-
tanned in the county at present than
ever before, and some of O high
order. Among these may be men
toned the Evening Shade College,
located at the county seat, and the
Ash Flat Academy, twelve miles
north of'this place.
The county also abounds in min
erals, including lren, lead, zine, sc.
A bank ofiron almost rivalng the
famous Iron Mountain, it is said,
may be found in The northern part
Of the county, on Martins creek,
while zine has been successfully
mined and worked at the smelling
works ,of the American Zinc Compa-
ny, at Calamine, in the southeastern
portion'of the county.
Aside from the mineral interests,
the nevcrtalling streams OF pure
water invite capitalists to their nu-
merous mill and factory sites. The
entire county is well watered by
pure springs, brooks, creeks ana
rivers. Among the more prominent
streams may be mentioned Spring
river, Martins creek, Strawberry
river, Piney Fork, Big creek, Mill
creek and Reeds creek.
Ash Flat, situated near the waters
of Big creek, in township Is, range
6 west, is a pleasant, beautiful viii
.lage. and enjoys good trade from
thc country surrounding it. 1t has
ian intelligent and energetic popula-
,tion, and bids fair to become q sub
,stantial little town.
EVENING SHADE,
The county seat, is situated near the
Pney Fork Of Strawberry river, in
a very healthy section of country,
and is improving perhaps as fast as
any similar town in the state. Has
four general stores, three grocery