The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-02-25

is more than likely that his very open handed ness and open-heartedness have lured the Goddess of Fortune to smile upon him until to- day he is the wealthiest man within the linn it's of the state he has served so zealously. A native of Illinois, Colonel Roots came to Arkansas an officer in the United States ar my, and being struck by the great possib lities Of this state he decided to make it his home, and accordingly bought cotton plantation be- fore retiring from the army. He served with credit in the 10th and II st Congresses and there after turned his attention vigorously to busi- ness. and 1t has been the application of his extraordinary talents to Arkansas resources that has made him what he is to-day. There fore. what he may have to say of these re- sources can but carry conviction to persons outside the state.
 A representative of the ARKANsAw TRAVELLER dropped in to see him at the bank after the convention was over, and found him talking to an old friend of his from Illinois about the wealth of his adopted state, and here is what he was saying:
 The grains of Arkansas equal those of Kan sas the fruits equal those of California, and the Arkansas apples excel any others ever found. Our timber excels that of Michigan in its palmiest days Why, the gentleman just this moment talking to the cashier Is exten- sively and profitably engaged in shipping Ar kansas timber to Europe. Our cotton ranks superior to that Of any other locality in tine have it laugh with increase, this is the coun- try where that miracle IS truly reality. The mineral deposits, too, are wonderful beyond conception, among which are immense deposits of iron of superior quality, with coal and lime stone near at hand Indeed, in minerals well in fruits and farm products Arkansas can say to investigators in the words of tho general merchant, If you don't See what you want ask for it, and YOU will find that we have it.
 CHRISTIAN WORK
 How about the morals of the people of Ar kansas ~ Col Roots was asked.
 -ln the famous words of another w ain | DO better nor we ugnt to- be. But many years ago. before there were railroads much Iopu- lation i'll this country, and it sort of frontier wild, it was gwen such a bad reputation, that think there has been more effort put forth by the peo pie at home, well as by those from other states, lAboring and spending their money, as in missionary neid, toward bringing about a good state of morality than has. in my opinion
 been expended in any other part of the United states containing the sa ne population Why. the Methodist Episcopal Church mas sent from the northern states for church and educational work more than s3UO, ,0JJ here in the past twenty years They have prolaoed- commensurate re- suits In this city. that elegant edihce you saw on the bank of the river is the Little Rock Uni- versit;. That is fo. whites and the Philander Smith college, most creditabie institution, Is their colored college. The benign influence of their churches and rigid Chri istianity is spread all over the state. And the denominations that are not favored by financial aid from the north are also grandly liberal and thoroughly aggressive in their work. The Methodist Eris- copal Church, south, whose members are every where throughout the state, raised over &. .to in their Arkansas conferences for the Inainte- nance of their college at Altus. The Catholics have schools of their own The PresDy yterians have well-supported college at Bstesvile. The Episcopalians have under their fostering care and general supervision Buckner College in Seba stian county. I speak of these schools as indicative of some of the work being done by church erganiz atieBs.-We- have. by the way. great cause for pride in the excellent conduct of our free school system. Little Rock free schools having enviable reputation through out the United States. The efforts prompted by Christian workers for the moral betterment in Arkansas have as 1 have said, been great but the results have been commensurate. LAW AND ORDER
 Laws" Col. Roots continued, except the election laws, are well enforced. Bowie-knIyes matters Of the long past. And, under A law which is quite rigidly enforced. any person caught carrying a pistol becomes subject to 6 fine of not less than $50 Statistics sbow less than average number Of murders In propor- ton to the population. Railroad robbers have more constantly and vigorously been brought to justice in Arkansas than anywhere else. The temperance cause has been worked for az gressyely. I am informed there is not drink ing saloon in any town on the railroad be- | tween Little Rock and Memphis. and that forty out of the seventy-nye counties have, as eoun- ties, prohibited the keeping of liquor saloons, and that a very considerable portion Of the territory Of the other thirty five counties is der prohibitory regulation through the enforce ment of local-OptiOu legisiation-
 While there is 6 large part of the population