The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-05-12
ARKANSAS DEPARTMENT.
ARKANSAS.
Her History, Her Wonderful Natural Wealth and Her Rapid De-
 velopment.

The following is the response of MT. George R. Brown, president of the Gazette Printing company, to the toast of "Arkansas," at the banquet of the Tennessee Press Association at Memphis:
 "When honored by your commiteee few days ago with the request to re- spond here tonight to the toast of Arkansas" my surprise was only ex- ceeded by my qualification. l was gratified that the state of Arkansas was esteemed by the press of Tennes- see subject worthy of toast at their banquet, and surprised that among so many others of her loyal sons, who could more eloquently portray her wealth of resources, her rapid devel- opment and arts of civilization, l should have been selected to respond. But, with so rich theme, esteem it both a pleasure and duty to respond. If fail to do it justice, it shall be from lack of power rather than from disposition. Perhaps l shall be able t6 do my state some service, and being an Arkansan from deliberate choice, rather than mere accident of birth and location, I can the more enthusiastic ally, ii possible, welcome the present , rush of northern capital, northern ! muscle and northern brains to the ' south. IL so happened I am what is sometimes termed Yankee by our southern people-although New , Yorker is by no means Yankee. United with the south by business in- terests in Arkansas, and by marriage to one of Tennessee's own fair daugh- ters, may claim right to inherit ance among the people of this fair land, and the privilege of speaking for my own grand state. Her name-Ar- kansas-traduced for years from one end to the other of this broad land, synonymous of the bowie knife, the Arkansas toothpick, and the "Arkansas Traveller" she to-day shines out brighter and tenfold more attractive than would have been the case if she had gone along the decades without any attention, which now affords happy contrast.
 "l do not propose to dwell on the Arkansas of the past, although it is rich in romance, classic in its poetry, sublime in it's statesmanship, heroic in it's warriors. History will give due attention to the past. Today is the time which interests us. We care noth- ing about the past.
 "Probably Arkansas to-day is as little known to the outside world as any state in the Union. We have much that is good, and we want our neighbors in Tennessee to know us better, and they will love us more. They will also find market for much of their thoroughbred stock, and un- paralleled inducements for the protita- ble investment of their accumulations of capital.
 "Our state, while new in point of development, runs back into ancient history It was settled by the French in 1870, and purchased from the French government at 3-5 cents per acre in 1903. It became territory in March, 1919, and on the 20th of the following November the Arkansas Gd- zette was born at Arkansas Post. The material used was brought in keelboat from Cincinnati, and was about six months on the water. The date of the New York domestic news in that little newspaper child of 1919 was four months old, while the for eign information was two months older. In 1886 we threw off the ter ritorial swaddling- clothes and blos- somed forth as state. As we were tumbling down the ages from 1920, each decade up to 1860 doubled our population. From 1860 to 1870 the havoc of war told another story. But the decade from 1870 to 1880 placed our population at SO2,525, and to-day the number of inhabitants exceeds 1,500,000. So runs the state away. Were 1 to tell you of all our resources am afraid Tennessee would suffer an exodus, but 1 cannot forbear to tell you some of our good points. If you will push over across the big river, which so majestically flows at your feet, you will find we have about twenty daily journals and upward of POO weekly newspapers.
 "We have a state POO miles across from north to south, and we raise every product known to the temper ate zone and supply semi- tropical fruits in abundance. Of straw berries and melons we run special train leads to the markets of the north. Prior to 1872 we were practically without rail- roads, and now the state is gridironed with them, and we have more miles of navigable rivers than any other state 4,000 miles. The resources are greater than any other section of territory of equal area on the face of the globe. Can you find another state where fifty 'eight out of seventy five counties bear manufacturing minerals? Can you find another state whose long staple