The Forrest City times., 1892-02-26
Items From the Capital.
Lrrrrr Rock, AnK Feb. 22, 1892.

iisr INV N hftN Nps ~--f 'N'-' From The Times Special Correspondent.
 The mining. manufacturing and az ricllltural bureau, presided over by M. F. Locke. is one of the most important offices in the state. The register Kept m the office will show that during the past twelve months over fifty thousand people have called, examined the rx- hibits and gathered all the information they could get about the products and other resources of Arkansas. This register glves the name and .postoiiice address of every one who calls. They come from all parts of the world. In the office is kept. in jars prepared for that purpose. specimens of fruit and grain so labelled that one can know at once from what county 1t came. The northwest and middle counties of the state are best represented. The mih- eral exhibits are from the following counties: Carroll, Madison, Newton. Boon, Marion, Searcy, Baxter, Fulton,
 Izard, Stone. Independence, Sharp,
 White, Faulkner, Pulaski, Saline, Perry, Yell. Logan, Franklin Craw- ford, Sebastian, Montgomery, Garland, Hot Sprinus Clark Nevada, Pike, How
 ard aud Sevier. q mas.s,.. sfs
 Coal and manganese are the most profitable minerals now being mined. ]. But iu the collection of exhibits in the
 office are excellent specimens of anti ,nony, nickel, gslena, iron, zinc, copper, pigment, clays. such as Ochre oxide, kaoln (from which the finest porcelain can be made). s0apstone, gypsum ,marl
 beds in inexlaustible quantities, silica sand for making glass, and the finest
 whetstone in the world. One wlietstone quarry in Garland cDunty Is being worked, from which stones are being shipped to all parts of the United States as well as to Europe. Large quantities of white chalk are found iu Red river valley, which is as white and free from blemish as the very best English chalk; and we have large beds of stone from which as fine Il Portland cement can be made as is found in any country. All these facts and many others are so pre- sented to the public by Mir. Locke that any one may know of the vastness of the resources of the state. He publishes biennial report and a monthly bull letin for free distribution.
 Mfr Locke has on hand large quan- tity of Havana tobacco seed. Any farmer in tile state who will apply for it, will De sent package of this seed free. He llas also bought two hundred bushels of long staple cotton seed for free distribution, and he is sending out sugar beet seed free of charge. He tried to get the government to supply him with free seed, but the officer i'll charge replied that he could not get enough to furnish the congressman and senators with seeds for their constitu- ents. The last legislature appropriated ten thousand dollars per year to meet the expenses of the office, and Mr. Locke is applying this money where he thinks the most good can be accom- plished.
 The state convention will be called to meet about the 10th of June-nOt later than the 18th, and perhaps as early as the 7th. The state central committee will hardly think 1t neces- sary to call two conventions. So that after the 10th of March tllH candidates for state offices will go work in earnest to secure the nomination.
 The opposition to democracy will not show its hand until after the state con vention. and even theilit is believed that the main fight will be made on T still hunt. The republicans will have a full ticket for county offices in this county, but they have not yet made their an. nouncements.. The democratic candi- dates seeking a nomination are sllak- | ing hands vigorously and spending money for drinks freely.