The Russellville Democrat., 1888-02-16
A Ringing Address From the
state Board of Immigration.

state Board of Immigration.
To the People of the State of Arka;isss,
The undersigned, composing the ex-
ecutive coya :stee III the Arkansas Blu
reau of Immigration, organized by the
convention held Mt the State capital on
January 3lst and February 1st, 1888
ton of the people of the State of Ar.
kansas, to the importance of the work
began by the conyenticn.
You have a State second to none i'm
the Union in its natural resources.
1t is the equal of any State in adapta-
bilty to raising cotton.
| It's fruit has carried off the first
prize wherever exhibited.
As country for vineyards it has nc
superior.
1t has almost boundless fields of the
finest steam and heating coal.
1t has lead, zinc, iron. mangan ese,
anthony, silver, gold, gypsum and
other metals in profusion.
1t has more miles of navigable rivers
than any other State.
1t has every lay of land and variety
of soil that can be found anywhere.
There are two millions of our land
belonging to the State; one hundred
and sixty acres of which she will do
nate to each actual settler.
The st. Louis, Iron Mountain &
Southern Railway Co. own 1000, 900
acres of fertile lands, extending dag
onally through the state from Missouri
to Texas, and from Little Rock to the
Indian Nation, which they will sell on
long credit.
Although but about 200 miles in
length, north and south, it produces
every kind Of crops. commonly raised
in the temperate zone, as well as many
of the semi. tropical fruits and crops.
It has fine and rapidly improving
public school system.
Its rate of taxation, limited by consti-
tutional provisions, compared with
that of many OF the States is merely
nominal.
1t has vast forests of pine, oak, ash,
walnut, cherry, hickory, pecan, gum,
cotton wood, and other varieties of tim
Der.
1t has a salubrious and healthful CHI
mate.
1t has railroads traversing it in every
direction already in operation, others
building and many more projected.
1t has cheap and good building mate
rial.
1t has splendid building and paving
stone.
1t has cheap lands of excellent char
acter.
In short it has everything that could
be asked by the earnest immigrant
seeking home where his labor would
be fairly remunerated.
Notwithstanding all these advantage
es. your State has not made that ai-
vancement which she should have
made because her citizens have failed
to present these advantages to the pub
lie and make them known to th0sss
seeking to better their condition sE
changing location. The convention
above referred to agreed upon plan of
action, which, If it receives the hearty
support of the people, will turn the at
tention of the country to Arkansas and
give 1t fair start in the race for pros
perity.
The railroad companies operating
roads in this State have agreed to issue
excursion tickets to any part of the
State semi-monthly at half the usual
fare, good for thirty days, and will
commence as soon as the committee
notifies them that the people are ready
for the work to begin, which will be
when the county bureaus are establish
ed, the necessary funds raised, printed
matter ready, and proper committees
appointed, charged with the duty of
showing them over their respective
counties.
The convention selected one per sor
in each county, whose duty it is to or.
ganize bureau Of immigration in theil
respective counties, to gather statist,
les, and raise money TO carry out the
plans arranged by the convention
These men will call upon you It o organ
ize ana to raise fund of $500 90 in the
State, in the proportion in eaf; III count,
that the assessed value of the property
in the county bears to the aggregate
value of all the property in the State
one-third to be spent by tn exeeutiv,
committee in advertising the State a
large, and two thirds to b c expended
by the respective county b, Ireaus.
To make this work effe ctive, ther,
must be hearty eo-operatic N among al
the people. The work mn INST be begun
and pushed with vigor.
The convention which inaugurateC
this work, WAS compose d of leading
men from nearly every county in th'
obatCy bich VIM iONc tHHs Dldic anu nav
its good at heart.
viii the people of i.rb ansas RESPOND
to the call made by the convention, ant
show to the world what Arkansas i
and what she may lie made.
There are thou sands of good, liv,
men IL the Unite, ID States who are ga
gerly seeking re liable information a
TO the different sections OF country
Men who can oe secured TO build vi
our waste place IS, and assist us in work
ing out the de stiny of our State.
Your active, earnest and immediate
cooperation. will rebound not only il
the welfare of the State at large, bu
to your Individual good as well.
People ',f Arkansas, your place is IL
the front rank in the march of progress
The que ,tion to be decided by you is
viii you. take the place 10 which yoi
are entitled, or will you allow thu
prize to be snatehed from your hand
by those who make up their lack of TIN
advantages possessed by you, by supe
rior energy.
All newspapers friendly to the pros
perlty of Arkansas, are requested Z
publish tins address.
Very Respectfully,