The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1885-10-15
FROM ARKANSAS.
The Soil, Climate and Productions Of Bent
County.

County.
To THE EDITOR see by communications
from the northeast part of the State that your
paper sheds its light in that region as We'll as
here, and perhaps few lines from this section
would not be wholly unntereSting to some of
your numerous readers. Until within the last
few years the State Of Arkansas has been to
great extent shut in from outside communica-
tons, and consequently but little has been
known by those outside of the undeveoped
wealth that actually exists within her borders.
1t is only in the near future when Arkansas
will be checkered by railroads, and her many
resources-agricutural, mineral and manufac-
turing-developed, that she will stand in the
front rank of the Southern States
Benton County, in the northwest corner, is
delightfully."- situated, having an altitude of
about 800 feet above the level of the sea, and
has smoother surface than most portions of
the State. The western portion of the County
is about evenly divided between prairie and
TIMBER and the eastern portion about one
fourth prairie and three-fourths timber land.
The country is well watered by beautiful run
ming streams formed from springs The soil is
we'll adapted to raising wheat, barley oats rye,
corn, all kinds of grasses, fruits and vegetables.
Homes can be obtained at low figures. I'M
proved lands ranging from $40 to $50 per acre;
unimproved lands at from So to 81 per acre.
The climate of this country could not well be
overestimated. We do not suffer with the
long, dreary Winters of the North or with the
intolerable and languishing heat of the sun
burnt South. Malaria is unknown, and hum
dreds who have come to, Benton County suffer-
ing with diseases of all descriptions, except
perhaps consumption, have entirely recovered,
and even upon cOnsumptlyeS the climate has
an invigorating influence.
The seasons of this country are generally
regular causing, of course, more average yield
of crops each year, and not raising all one year
and none the next, as is the case in many Sec
tions of country. The general yield of wheat
is seldom less than Is bushels and not often
more than 20 bushels per acre. The average
yield Of corn is about 30 to 40 bushels. A fail
ure either of cereals or fruit products has
hardly ever been known. Horse and mule
raising is a profitable investment in this
County, as they are less liable to disease than
in many places. Winter feeding does not last
more than four or five months. The cotton
raising region, which is good market for all
our surplus horses and mules, is within day
or two's drive.
OF course this country has its drawbacks, but
they are chiefly those that can be removed by
the hand of enterprise and get up for in
stance, the large surplus of fruit that goes to
waste every year could be turned to good &C
count by the establishment of fruit canning
factory in any or all of its towns.
Any one coming here with from 81 900 to
81, 800 that would invest two-thirds of his means
in home and the balance put in young stock
can do well. A good living can be obtained
here with as little cost as in any part of the
United States; a mans own efforts can furnish
the kitchen with fish, flesh and fowl, and he
can have his table garnished with all kinds of
vegetables and fruits for the mere trouble and
tri1ing cost Of raising them, and wild fruits,
such as Strawberries, huckleberries, blackber-
ries, grapes, dewberries and plums for the pick
ing.-MoNTRovILLE PHILLIPS, Co. III, goth
Iowa, Maysville. Benton Co., Ark.