The Osceola times., 1888-02-11
AN ADDRESS.
Arkansas Bureau Of Immi-
grafton.


State capital on January 3lst and
February lst, 1883, take this meth
cd Of calling the attention Of the
people Of the State of Arkansas, to
the Importance Of the work began by
the convention.
You have State second TO none
IN the Union in its natural resources.
It's the equal Of any State in adap-
liability to raising cotton.
Its fruit has carried off the first
prize wherever exhibited.
As a country for vineyards it has
no superior.
1t has almost boundle.s fields of
the finest steam and heating coal.
1t has lead, zinc, iron, manganese,
silver, gold, gypsum and
other metals in profusion.
1t has more miles of navigahle
rivers than any other State.
1t has every lay of land and vari.
riety Of soil that can be found any.
where.
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 100000
acres of fertile lands, extending di-
agonally through the State from Mis-
souri, TO Texas, and from Little Rock
to the Indian Nation, which they
will sell on long credit.
Although but about 200 miles in
longth, north and south, it produces
every kind of crops, commonly rails
ed in the temperate zone, as we'll as
many Of the semi-tropical fruits and
crops.
1t has fine and rapidly imrrov.
ing public school system.
Its rate Of taxation, limited by
constitutional provisions, compared
with that Of many of the States is
merely nominal.
II has vast forests of pine, oak,
ash, walnut, cherry, hickory, pecan,
gum, cottonwood, and other varieties
Of timber.
1t has salubriOus and healthful
climate.
1t has railroads traversing it in
every direction already in operation,
others building and many more pro.
jected.
1t has cheap and good building
material.
1t has splendid building and paw.
ing stone.
1t has cheap lands Of excellent
character.
In short it has everything that
could be asked by the earnest immi.
grant seeking home where his Ia.
bor would be fairly remuneratcd.
Notwithstanding all these adyan.
tages, your State has not made that
advancement which she should have
made because her citizens haze fail.
ed to present these advantages to
the public aud make them known to
those seeking to better their condi
ton by 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 attention
OF the c. untry to Arkansas and give
ita fair start in the race of prosperity.
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 com,
mittee notifies them that the people
are ready for the work to begin,
which will be when the county bu-
reaus are established, 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.
son in each county, whose duty It il
tn organize . bureau of immigration
in their respective counties. to gath.
er statistics, and raise money to car.
ry out the plans arranged by thu
convention. These men will call
upon you to organize and to raise
fund Of $4,000 in the State, in the
proportion in each county 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 the executive
committee in advertising the State
At large, and two-thirds to be ex.
pended by the respective county bu.
reaus.
To make this work effective, there |
must be hearty cooperation among
all the people, The work must be
begun promptly and pashed with
sigor.
The convention which inaugurated |
his work, was composed of leading
men from nearly every county in the
State, men who love tie State and
nave its good a. heart.
Will the people of Arkansas re.
'pond to the pall made by the con.