The Forrest City times., 1892-01-29
Impressions of Arkansas.

Prescott ficayune
 Mir. James M. Rogers. myself and son. started from Seymour, Ind, on the 18th of September last for Arkan- sas. We ad some land in township g, 9 ", we had never seen, Our ob- ject was to see land. timber and people, and whatever else might be of interest.
 We took the 0. Sc NJ. and Iron Noun tain routes, getting off at Prescott on the l1th. arriving at our destination, the Bowen postofice, in Pike county. about midnight. Mir. Dilmns Bowen, a very clever gentleman, tool. ns to his house. We made his house our h0fxe for several days and were weil treated.
 T thing of most note to Ine in passing through Illinois and Missouri was tbe scarcity of timber. l had passed over the same road sixteen years before. The thing noticeable was that the timber on the railroad through Arkansas had so greatly depleted since ls.5- tn Illinois l saw so many straw ricks and stacks and scarcely any in Missouri and Arkansas. The absence of tame pastures in Arkansas was also strange to me. Another thing of note was l only saw one flock of sheep in Arkansas; 80 also was the poor breed of cattle and hogs. Another thing obseryed-the farmers depended al- most entirely OF cotton for an income. l believe farmers should diyers.fy their crops more, raising more stock, grain, and vegetables, and about half as much cotton. Then their cotton crop would bring them as much cash as 1t does now. and these ether things would be SD much clear gain. 1 noticed the farmers had bad p'aD of moTf gaaing their growing cotton to the merchants for supplies, in advance, paying enOr- nous prices for the same. The farmer had better i've on mush and milk 8 while than always keep behind. It is easier to Keep little ahead than d good ways behind. I noticed another thing, that north of Little Rock there were great many saloons. Some times there would be three or four in d TOW in some little villages. I observed a blight resting upon these tonws. No wonder, for these nuisances were busy day and night devouring the wealth, the health, the time and morals, and the peace and souls of the people, giving back in return for the same, crimes, litigations and unspeak- able wretchednesS. After passing IAttiC ietSA NHS pItstoct lO Scc HO saloons in the towns. l observed that the towns were much more fl0urishing here than where the curse of the saloon rested. l WAS pleased to notice in this part of the state the peace, good be- hayior and hospitality so prevalent.
 l was i'll Prescott on Saturday, the 10th day of September, and asked a barber if he shaved on Sunday. He said it was not allowed I attended the joint discussion between MT. Me Rae and MT. Bush. The order and behavior was much better than you would see in Indiana. heard little or no swearing ir the state. and all the drunkenness l observed was that of an Illinois party of five or six on the train, who passed the bottle until some of them got tight. was at Hot Springs on Sunday. Although there was much passing and repassing I ob- served no swearing, drunkenness or rowdyism. l think the carving of concealed weapons is not 80 common in Arkansas as it is in Indiana Some persons here think man from the North would be mistreated in the South. They get such ideas from the papers and speakers who want a solid North to oppose solid South for the political offices. My experience is that a man will be treated we'll in the South If he behaves himself. | would like to have called on yon, Mr. Editor, for a friendly chat, but my time would not admit, and your time, knew, was precious.
 THOMAS CONWAY.
 Crotherville, Ind.