The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-10-06
ARKANSAS DEPARTMENT.
ARKAN SAS.
A FINE EXHIBIT AT ST. LOUIS.
The Greatest Timber State in the Union.
 Magnificent Fruits and Grasses-- Un- limited Mineral Wealth -- Boundless Attractions for Immigrants.
Gloha.Damocrat.

Globe Democrat.
 The splendid display of Arkansas in the exposition is department that pleases all visitors, on account of the vegetable products that remind them of the stories told of the rarities in plant life in California and Australia. On account of it's geographical posi- tion and topography the state raises the products of two climes, the north and the south tapping over each other. In the same field may be seen the su- gar cane of Louisiana and the corn of Illinois, the rice ot the south and the wheat of Dakota. All the cereals and grasses of America are found within its borders, and every plant known to the American husbandman can be grown successfully. It is the home of the peach, the strawberry and the vine, and is the seeding garden for the future pomologists of the continent, growing seventy eight varieties of seedling apples. Arkansas took the $250 prize and the Wilder medal for the best fruit ct the Boston Pomolog- ical show one year ago, and its fruits were pronounced at an exhibit made at Riverside, Cal, last winter, the best ever seen on the Pacific coast. The soil and climate are particularly adapted to the raising of apples, the leading fruit. There is not textile fiber used that is not offered to the manufacturer by Arkansas. With seventy-five native woods, the wants of the artisan are supplied. In min- erals it ranks equally high, having quantities of manganese not excelled in quality by any yet discovered. Manganese is an important mineral, used as an ingredient in the manufac- ture of Bessemer steel. Here are also found the largest antimonial deposits in the world, not excepting Borneo. Here, too, is the only deposit of stea- tite, or soapstone, in the Mississippi valley, and mountains of marble and granite of quality unexcelled, besides iron, copper, lead and zinc in good quantity and quality for commercial and manufacturing purposes. The stock of the state is attracting good deal of attention, and Holsteins and Jerseys are common. For sheep the ranges of hills are just the thing, and, pasturage being abundant, they four ish as we'll as anyw here else. Every condition of climate, night of land and grass favors sheep raising. All this and much more in climate that equals Italy and on soil that can be bought for $2 50 an acre. The rural ists are not confined to one crop 8 year, but may raise two or more. Ere quently they have raised two crops of Irish potatoes on the same ground, or after crop of oats or wheat crop of German millet. Grass Is frequently cut two or three times year. Truly, Arkansas is land of many crops and nine months of harvest. Little Rock is the principal city and the capital, conveniently located at the state cen ter and on many centering railroads, but other good towns are Fort Smith, Pine Bluff, Helena, Hot Springs, Tex arkana and Newport. If wall were put around the state shutting 1t out from the rest of the world the people could still flourish, eat and drink well and be happy and progressive. Most of the fruits are marketed in the green state, but last year about fifty canning establishments were set at work. In giving excursions to the cheap lands the Iron Mountain has put the first- class excursion fares at one fare for the round trip. The Missouri Pacific offers unual opportunities for visiting the state. and General Passenger Agent H. c. Townsend and his assistants have given a great deal of informa- tion. The coming trips are advertised as harvest excursions for September 25, and October and 2S.
 Peaches, apples, pears, strawberries and other fruits find profitable mar ket, ss the location ot Arkansas gives it nearly 8 month advantage over the latitude of St. Louis and three weeks over the great fruit section of south- ern Illinois. The state is not restricted to northern markets, for as the north ern fruits begin to ripen the shipping begins toward the southward, where the crop is exhausted, and 1t is no unnsual thing to see at the express office packages from the same grower add, essed to Dallas and Austin, Tex, on the south, and Kansas City and St. Louis on the north. The quality of the markets is owing to the geograph. ical condition of the state, which occu. pies . middle ground between the great and populous northwest and the gulf states and cities of the south, and In the same ratio ofdissances e the stat+ is earl,er than the north 90 1t is later than the south. There a'e three diff ferent attitudes. each requiring differ ent varieties of fruits 10 secure the best results. Ia the highest attitudes the northern apples, sach as Northern Spy, Rhode Island Greening and HubbaFt- GOT. A<> ,unN and iu fkA snxno lr,na laxsr