The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-04-28
ARKANSAS DEPARTMENT
A Friendly Letter Full of Facts in Re
 gard to Arkansas.

A Friendly Letter Full of Facts in Re
 gard to Arkansas.
 Some years ago the facts set forth in Forest and Farm induced me to settle in Arkansas, and after pleasant residential experience, feel confident that you will pardon me for enclosing the following copy of letter ad- dressed to very warm friend of my boyhood and maturer years to ques- tions touching his removal to this state: "In dealing with your questions, I will answer in the order presented. The relig ious tone of the people is deep and earnest. Save near large centers of population you will miss trained choirs and cushioned pews, but find the preaching emil nently practical and rich in rude elo- quence ands shomely illustration. Tenn perance is fostered by "local option law" enabling the inhabitants in any county, municipality or within ra- dius of three miles of any school house, to prohibit the sale of intoxi- eating drinks, and the sentiment of the greater portion of the state is towards prohibition. Our school system is on good model, and almost every neigh bOrhood maintains school portion of the year, and in the towns and cities schools highly graded are sustained. The teachers as a class have fair liter ary attainments. The winters are mild, the thermometer rarely falling to zero, and then for brief space only. Except during cold spell-usually in January-ploughing is both prac- ticable and desirable. The heat is not as at points further north, the uni formly cold nights reducing the average, and sunstroke is unknown. July and August, owing to our early seed time, finds the bulk of sgricultu- ral operations in such state that the farmer need expose himself but little. The state is admirably well watered, both in quality and quantity almost every glen boasts of it's spring and limpid brook; 1 have seven springs within hundred yards of my door. You must bear in mind the fact that the greater part of our land is rolling in character. The altitude at the southeast corner of the state is only 75 feet above tide water, but in the northeast corner, among the lovely Boston mountains, is above 5000 feet. Of course you can see at a glance that we have large territory of rich allu- vial bottom lands consequent on six navigable rivers traversing the state. Unimproved lands range in price from S1 to $l0 per acre, yet ill many locali- ties you will find farms with 20 or 30 acres cleared and with plain dwell ings and outbuildings thereon, the owners of which are willing to sell and go tout vest" All new countries have more or less of this migratory class, and newcomers reap the reward of their labors at nominal cost. Clearing land costs from $5 to $6 an acre. The land is variable in charac- ter, but not more so than in your state. It's fertility is very enduring, and this summer saw field that for forty years has had neither rest or manure, yet fair crop of oats was har- vested. Vegetation is of the most lux uriant character our wood pastures or open ranges are extensive and covered with rich, nutritious native grasses, and our cattle subsist on them till about the 18th of October, and oftimes until late in November, and enter the barnyard slick and fat. So you sec this autumnal pasturage, coupled with Dur early spring, leaves short feed- ing time indeed. While on this point would say if you determine to To- rate here do not sell your cattle; we need higher grade cattle and with your herd you will find beef produc- tion profitable. Corn is a sure crop, cotton seed meal is cheap and bran not excessively high, so that you can read fly see, that with rich pasture, free and fat producing food, cheap beef can be marketed at profit at less figure than can be possibly done on land at sixty dollars per. acre, combined with long, severe winters. Tame grasses take kindly to our soil and cut heav- fly. Bring span of brood mares you will find profit therein. There is to-day in this state grand opening for stockmen. Apples, plums, pears and peaches bear heavily and uni formly. This is the first year in thirty that the peach crop has failed us. Washington county was repre- scented by 12S varieties of apples at the State Horticultural Fair, which I attended this fall. Large in size, bril- liant in color and juicy in texture, strawberries and raspberries are every where successful, and I have over 5000 healthy plants, embracing fifteen va- rieties, and so can give you start. Currants, cherries and gooseberries do not do we'll, save in very few locali- ties. Our early fruit is shipped north, and strange as it may seem to you, we Aava for O,rr 1otor rspontpor cor<s o