The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-08-11
ARKANSAS DEPARTMENT.
The Opinion of an Experienced Man on
 the Resources of Arkansas.

a few days ago regarding his views of our state. MT. Meeker was the pioneer coal and iron merchant of Chicago. He went to that city about thirty years since, and from that time to the present has been the most prominent coal and iron dealer in the northwest, having been largely interested in the manufacture of iron and steel, not only in the northwest, but also at the east. We mention this that our readers may know MT. Meeker's opinion of our coal and iron deposits are of more than ordinary value, they are the ac- emulation of lifetime's experience.
 MT. Meeker came to our state for his health, which has been very much impaired by overwork in his business. His active mind, ever on the alert, soon saw the value of our undevel- oped minerals and timbers, and he could not resist the temptation to once more enter the busy world of business.
 On inquiring his opinion of our coal, he replied: "Arkansas is favored with two varieties of coal, one a true bituminous that makes splendid coke and is most excellent for use in all re- verberatory furnaces, in short will answer for every purpose in all metal lurgical operations; the other variety is semi-anthracite with a larger per cent. of fixed carbon than any coal known of that class. No state on the American continent is more favored in regard to situation in reference to it's coals and metallic minerals than Arkansas. You have good quality of iron ore, with manganese on one side of the coal field, on the other zinc and copper of reputed value, and all of these in close proximity to be cheaply brought together at con- mon centre.
 "Why, sir, if our people up north had One-half the personal knowledge of this state that l have, you would sec such revolution here as the na- tives never dreamed of.
 "You ask my opinion of your tim ber-just drop into the Iron Noun tain land office in this city and look at the seventy-five varieties of the most useful timbers found in the United States, all growing in this state in great abundance, and easily accessible. For moment consider the immense territory Arkansas has for market. The amount of timber consumed by the implement manu- lecturers of the north is enormous, be- side the demand from the vast treeless prairies of Kansas, Nebraska, Texas, and the Indian Territory when open for settlement, as no doubt it will be-"
 On asking if he thought the manu- facture of our mineral and timber could be made profitable, he replied "Most assuredly; why not3 Have you not as fine climate as there is on the continent, and can you not grow every agricultural product known to the husbandman? Does not the largest per cent. of beef consumed in the east come from south of the thirty seventh parallel? No, sir, there is no reason why Arkansas should not become a manufacturing state. You have iron and timber now. What else enters into the equipment of our railroad from the common flat coal car to the Pullman palace, or into wagons, farm implements, and f,rniture2 This sub- ject does not even admit of debate. God has blessed your state beyond measure with materials which, if utilized, would make her people the most prosperous of any in our sister hood of states, but He has ordained that man shall earn his bread, and in order to win these future benefits they must take of their coats and go to work"
 It is settled fact that Little Rock is soon to become the manufacturing center of the southwest, and the sooner this fact is realized and taken advan- tage of, the better for those seeking locations.
 The value of real estate in Little Rock and throughout the state is less than in any other section of the coun- try under similar conditions. People from other states have discovered this, and are investing largely both in city and country property.
 It is very gratifying to note the change in public opinion at the north in regard to our state-ignorance and prejudice appear to have been swept away, and now all classes, farmers, manufacturers and capitalists, are seeking locations and investments in every part of the state. As it were, "the stone that the builders refused is become the headstone of the corner."
 The prosperity of our cities and will lages is sufficient evidence of the pros- perity of our agricultural population. All wealth comes from the earth in some form, and as the earth is made to yield up her treasures, 50 cities and towns grow.
 There is no good reason why Little