The Russellville Democrat., 1888-04-12
From Tennessee.

Correspondence OF the Democrat.
MARTINS Nuts, Tenn, March 3l.--
As am . reader OF your paper and
have been for several years, please al
low me space in your columns Tor
few notes. have just returned from
your state, and for the benefit Of those
wishing 10 look for western homes
will relate W hat l saw and know OF
Pope county. After visiting relatives
near Atkins | started out over nice
upland country, much OF it woodland
fine post oak. hickory and lockwood
growth, nice farming country, along
the foot of Crow mountain extending to
the northwest. Much OF this land can
be hOmesteaded. Railroad land can be
bought from IS to 81 per acre. Well
improved land from $40 to $40 per acre.
This portion of Pope county grows cot
, ton from one-half TO one bale per acre.
Wheat, oats, fruits, grapes, vegetables,
sorghum, clover, and the grasses are
but partially introduced. We think
the good farmers Of this county will
soon open up fine hay farms and raise
more fine stock,
We extended our visit to Potts' Sta
ton. a new town on the railroad. Its
| churches, school houses and business
| houses denote thrift, with some manu-
| featuring business springing up. This
! town seems to be surrounded and settled
by people from North Carolina and
might be called the Carolina district.
| They are thrifty, we'll TO do people,
their industry and economy will show
| immigrants how well they could live
IN Pope county. We visited much
| through this district and we know the
! ladies are kind aud social and delight
in spreading thei. tables with fruits
and vegetables and other good things
| to make their visitors feel cheerful.
Having extended our trip westward to
the Arkansas river through what IL
known as Holly Bend, we saw the I'm.
est cotton and corn land we ever saw,
principally above high water and will
produce ! "a bales of cotton per acre and
corn from 60 to IS bushels per acre,
and much of 1t yet to clear.
| Having extended our trip In the di-
rection Of Russellville, the county seat,
we found nice little city Of many In
| habitants, where we made many &C
quaintances, among them the editor
who. always busy, found time to talk
with us. In yiwing the college, the
many business houses, their stocks and
brisk trade. impressed us with the
thrift of the place. The number Of
school houses aud churches, all show
up good society. The fine court house
nearing completion 10 fine bnilding.
The great cotton factory under head
way win bring in good revenue. The
mining interests in and around this
city are. we think, much neglected.
Coal In abundance is near by and only
three banks are worked as yet. From
specimens we saw OF coal and iron ore
we predict q great future for this
county In mineral wealth.
Having met many genial acquaintan-
ces we now think of returning home By
way of Atkins, nice thrifty town, Of
many social inhabitants. After max
| ing many acquaintance, among them
| Col. James w. Dickey, . citizen Of this
town, we stopped with him and his
nice, clever lady, who delights in pre-
paring her table with good things that
| make Tennessean feel cheerful. The
Col. gave us much useful information
| in regard to lands and their value over
Pope county. We found him q genial,
nice man. At this place we found our
long absent friend and acquaintance,
Rev. Mr.. McInally, preacher In charge
on this circuit; having heard his hrst
efforts in the ministry we had much OF
life to review. After taking a hasty
view of this thriving town, we were
presented with specimens of coal and
iron ore taken from near the surface
near town. This would be good
place to invest capital in developing
and working iron. which we believe 10
abundant.
WILLIAM SINCLAIR.