The Dawson journal., 1884-12-11
ARKANSAS.
An Interesting Letter from a For
mer DawsOnite.

! OStIIlIS III @AihdIShSj Dy MI w. w.
Harper, n former citizen of Daw-
son:
DEAR FRIEND-Your letter Of
recent date to hand. You desire a
description of Arkansas, as well
as my individual experience, sue
cess, etc. When left Georgia [
came directly to this section of
the State (Southeastern) and
from any personal standpoint |
am about as little acquainted with
the major part of the State as
when | first arrived. 1t is true |
know much Of the country from
meeting with people from the diff
ferent portions of the State.
| Nevertheless, l am satisfied
that we have State that
is destined to become very
great on account Of its natural
resources. This country is famous
for its water-health giving min
eral water, There is no portion
ton of the State that does not
abound in springs of pure and
chrystal water. Every county
has its spring fit for the cure of
some disease to which humanity
is heir. Our forests are very
grand. Timber of nearly every
variety abounds, and in this Ar
kansas has a great source of
wealth. This portion of the State
has in it great many wa
ter courses. We have some
beautiful rivers, navigable and af-
fording many dollars of wealth to
the commercial word. We have
bayous also, and from them thous-
ands of feet of timber are made
into slaves and RATED down the riv-
ers to be sold in New Orleans and
shipped to England and other
countries. Our streams are full
Of fish and the forests abound with
game.
Society in this particular sec
, ton of the State is not so much
t advanced as in some of the older
States. | do not doubt that in
the other sections Of the State
where the country is more popu-
lous that society is equally as gooC
rs anywhere. Our system of laws
> is good enough, but | believe tha
it is characteristic of the Wes
that a horse thief must swing il
the air although a man for the
murder of lis fellow man escapes
' [ think that in the near future
when more railroads have beer
built that our country will become
more populous and then we vii
q have more churches, school houses
{ etc, and that all the progress of ;
3 modern age will be visible here
= This section of Arkansas i
& thinly inhabited and is by II,
+ means thriving at present. w
e have had some bad crop years, ,ant
the people are somewhat i'll deb
and discouraged. Cotton and tn,
mortgage system is too strictl,
p. followed and, hence, hard times
. While the lands are, in a nativ,
: sense, better here than in Georgia
. [ believe that this advantage i
;, offset by the cheap freights, fertil
zers and other conveniences yo,
- have. Our farming class follov
> in the old ruts and pay but littl
. attention to improved methods
Lands are cheap enough here
ranging from Sl.00 to $500, S10.0t
etc, per acre. AS to myself,
can say that by dint of efforts an,
attention to business | have man
. aged to make an independent liy
ing since coming here. Every
thing in my line is at present yer
, dull, but little practice going OF
" [ do not feel contented, and thin
of making a change in the future
" Perhaps whatever of discomfort
feel is due to separation from m
II early friends and relatives.
;, could not advise you to com
E to Arkansas with the hope Q
/; your growing Immediately rict
= nor do l know of any position
! you could get, although | am sur
>, you could find something to dc
g Clerkships pay poorly in my sec
tion of the State, and | motto
from the papers that great man
clerks are out of employment i