The Russellville Democrat. [volume] (Russellville, Ark.) 1875-1898, 1890-05-29
AsOthers See Us.

The following letter written by
Prof. I. B. Northup to his home pa
per, the Tecumseh (Neb.) Journal,
is reproduced by request
RussELLvILLE, ARK, April "a, 1890.
Eds. Journal:--Being requested
by friends in johnson county to give
a short description of this part while
on visit here, take this method to
reply should you grant me space.
Russellyille is situated about eighty
miles east of the Indian Territory
line midway between Fl. Smith and
Little Rock, on the Fit. S. d L. r.
railroad, containing in the neighbor
hood of 1000 inhabitants. This
town contains two newspapers, one
democratic and published by b. f.
Jobe, a genial. wide awake man. The
other is religious paper. Russell
vile contains large number OF bus
mess houses, two grist mills, two
planning mills, one large cotton fac.
tory, several churches of the differ
ent denominations, one college under
the supervision of Prof. Lee, assisted
by an able corps of teachers, among
the number r. A. Ross, formerly of
Vesta, who is making his mark here.
This town is just enjoying boom OF
prosperity, as work on several large
brick business houses will soon com
mence. Cotton is the leading pro
duct of this part as the soil Is not
adapted to grain. There has been q
great deal of rain this spring which
has delayed cotton planting. The
country is rough and broken covered
with timber and well watered. The
land is very stony and has to be clear
ed of timber before cultivation. The
primative single shovel and mule
constitute the sole equipment of
many farmers here. On visit
through the country one will observe
log houses (some without windows
still occupied that were built before
the war-plantations that have not
been cultivated since 81. A visit to
the mountains of this part will salts
fy the curiosity of pleasure seekers.
Here may be seen pine and cedar
groves-trees standing 150 feet high
that must be centuries old. In these
mountains is found eagle Rock, a
mass of stone boulder near 100 feet
in height occupying space equal in
area to solid block in Tecumseh. |
This is the spot where romance says
the Mexicans buried 30 pony loads |
of gold, and the credulous are still |
inclined to dig for it, South of here
a short distance Mt. Nebo may be
seen standing LOGO feet high, and a
hotel is built on the summit, which |
is popular resort at all times of
the year. Strawberries are now in
the market, soon to be followed bv !
other frults-and | might remark
here, for quality and quantity in
peaches, berries and apples. Arkan +
sas as state has few rivals. A visit
to the mountains three miles north
west of here brought US to the farm
Of w. w. Warren, former resident
OF Vesta. Mr.. w. is comfortably fix
ed here where he owns 100 acres Of
land, on which is found one OF the
finest orchards in this part OF the
country. Mr. w. is engaged in farm
ing and fruit raising and is instruct
ing the natives In the northern mode
of farming, and does not wish to ex
change his mountain home for Ne
oraska prairie. Here we met +. II.
Ross and son G. who are welded to
he climate and development Of Ark
lnsas and will experiment with cot
ON raising this year. A. j. flaming
ind family are here, and are lend
ng helping hand in the progress
If Russellyille. In all | find the PEG
Die Of the south generous and warm
hearted who gladly welcome the PEG
Die Of the north TO this part and
the business men Of Rus
who are wide-awake, gen
al progressive class Of citizens. And j
n reply to parties in johnson coun
y who ask "can / make money at
arming in ArkansasY' / simply
answer, there are many who haye.
T. BIN.