The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-05-03
THROUGH ARKANSAS.
Bill Arp Takes Trip Through tho Rich
and Fertile Land.


and Fertile Land.
NIL Arp IN the Atlanta Constitution.
Well, | thought hal seen rich, fertile
land aud big timber before. but am free
TO say mover saw anything in Texas or
elsewhere Ia compare with the region |
have Just been over. Going from Mem
phis to Forrest City, distance Of thirty
miles, the traveller signs, and wonders II
this IN Arkansas more miserable swamp
canno, be found, but that Is the end Of Il.
You thcp reach Crowlcy's ridge, which
extends northward from Helena for 100
miles, and marks the break between
swamp aud table land. ! went from For.
rest City Ia Helena, a distance Of forty.
five miles, and from there, northwest TO
Clarendon, distance Of fifty miles, and Il
Is all one unbrokcn AREA Of the finest lands
on the continent II Is not prairie, and
never was In the memory Of man. sup
pose that half Of Il has been cleared, aud
the cleared land altcrnatcs with the prim.
tive forests that stand mp grand aud
majestic, and happily has no underground.
There Is a dignity about these forests that
have never seen elsewhere. The big
trees are not close together, but at stately
distance. The hunter can ride all day In
the chase and the tcamstcr who hauls logs
10 the saw'mill or slaves 10 the depot does
not have " cut his way or take any par.
ticular route. II is all beautiful sylvan
scene. These lands average a bale OF cotton
10 the acrc without fertilizers and with but
little cultivation. From sixty 10 seventy.
five bushels Of corn Is considered fair
crop, though | hearl an old Mulhattan
say that the corn stalks used to grow 80
big that the bears climbed them, and he
had pulled many cub out OF the shuck.
There IA world OF cotton made on these
lands, aud 80 per cent oi Il Il made by
Negro labor. They work when they please
aud quit when they please. They will ~
To town every saturday and glory in a
rainy day ~ that they can , again They
pay - an aero Tor the rnt OF the land. aud
~ there Is nobody else 10 rent Il and labor
Is not abundant, they have their own way
pretty much. ! am assured that they 10
not wally work more than about four
months Ia the year. The merchant who
advances 20 them will sell a S75 mule for
slOO and take lien, aud lac hardly ever
loses his debt Cotton IL everything here.
/ This nice little town OF Mariana with
only ,0O0inhabiianis, handlcsabout n, 900
bales aud that N not half the product oi
the county. Hce arr nice churches. pleas.
ant homes, good schools aud happy, pros.
porous people, and Il all comes from cot.
ton nothing else but cotton. The land.
lorla most all live In the towns or the little
villages along the railroads The negroes
occupy the country. II Is n notable laci
that negro labor, uncertain and unreliable
a. u h, Is the source oi all the wealth oi
this beautiful pgion. just lot them have
an exodus all Of asuddcn, and oil business,
oil property would collapse like balloon
That had burst The negro u still great
factor In southern homes aud southern In.
dusirics. lie Is still the servant Of the
white man aud u happy aud contentcd IN
that service. They are tat aud slick AMI
gIcasy. aud can laugh louder and show
morc pcarly teeth than anybody. They
know no want or suffering, they ask nc
pity. and tue cominiseratlon Of plilan'