The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-09-22
ARKANSAS DEPARTMENT
A Friendly Letter Full of Facts.

A Friendly Letter Full of Facts.
 Some years ago the facts set forth in Forest and Farm induced me to settle in Arkansas, and after pleas ant residential experience, l feel con- fident that you will pardon me for enclosing the following copy of a let ter addressed to very warm friend of my boyhood and maturer years to questions touching his removal to this state. "In dealing with your questions l will answer in the order presented. The religious 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 eminent ly practical and rich in rude eloquence and homely illustration. Temperance is fostered by "local option law enabling the inhabitants in any county, municipality or within a radius of three miles of any school house to prohibit the sale of intoxicating drinks and the sentiment of the greater por- tion of the state is towards prohibi- tion. Our school system is on good model, and almost every neighborhood 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 attachments. 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 aver age, and sunstroke is unknown. July and August, owing to our early seed time, finds the bulk of agricultural operations in such state that the farmer need expose himself but little. The state is admirably we'll watered, both in quality and quantity; almost every glen boasts of it's spring and limpid brook. I have seven springs within a 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 seventy-five feet above tide water, but in the northeast corner, among the lovely Boston mountains, is 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 $1 to $10 per acre, yet in many locali- ties you will find farms with twenty or thirty acres cleared, and with plain dwellings and outbuildings thereon, the owners of which are willing to sell and go tout vest" All new coun- tries have more or less of this migra- tory class, and new -comers reap the cost. Clearing land costs from $5 to $6 an acre. The land is variable in character, but not more SO than in your state. Its fertility is very en- during, and this summer l saw field that for forty years has had neither rest or manure, yet fair crop of oats was harvested. Vegetation is of the most luxuriant character; our wood pastures oTopen ranges are extensive and covered with rich, nutritious native grasses and our cattle sub- sist on them till about the 18th of October, and ofttimes until late in November, and enter the barnyard sleek and fat. So you see this au- tumnal pasturage coupled with our early spring leaves a short feeding time indeed. While on this point l would say if you determine to locate here do not sell your cattle; we need higher grade cattle and with your herd you will find beef production profitable. Corn is sure crop, cot ton seed meal is cheap and bran no. excessively high, so that you car readily see that with rich pasture
 free and fat producing food, cheap beef can be marketed at 8 profit at a 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 heavily. Bring a span oi brood mares you will find a profit therein. There is to-day in this state grand opening for stockmen. Alp. ples, plums, pears and peaches beal heavily and uniformly. This is tho first year in thirty that the peach crop has failed us. Washington county was represented by 12S vsrie.
 ties of apples at the State Horticul. ture fair which I attended this fall
 Large in size, brilliant in color and juicy In texture, strawberries and raspberries are everywhere successful
 and l have over 5000 healthy plants embracing, fifteen varieties, and co
 can give you start. Currants, cher, ries and gooseberries do not do well
 ave in very few localities. Our earls ffuit h shipped north and, strange |
 t may seom to you. Wo havA f,r m,