The Green Forest tribune., 1893-05-11
ARKANSAS COMMENDED.
TnE UNPARALLELED ADVANTAGES OF OUR
STATE, ITS EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM,
Laws, Temperance, Climate, and Minerals Dis
cussed by Governor Fishbsck.

The following is the address of
Gov. W. Nj. Fishback, delivered at
the Governors Convention recent
ly held at Richmond, Va:
Under the geniel and health-giv-
ivg climate of our State, and in the
face Of almost every species of po-
litical obstacle, ther has grown up
in Arkansas a religious and social
condition not inferior to that of any
other State in the union.
RELIGION.
We have in Arkansas some $500
churches, or one to every 322 in
habitants, over one-half OF which
have been erected within the past
ten years.
Ten years ago the NJ. 3. Church,
South, had about 525 churches, val
ued at nearly 100000, and 96 par
sonages valued at $500 Now
they have 1893 churches and 1876
parsonages, valued in the aggre-
gate at about 81 100000; and dur
ing the same decade they have
erected educational buildings val
ued al about $200,000.
The colored Methodist have 173
churches and 1886 members.
Their church property is valued at
S233,425.
The Baptist denomination is con-
ceded to be the largest in the State,
have 1772 churches and SO, ,499
members.
The colored Baptists' have 588
churches and 81 ,4G5 members, but
[ have no other statistics concern
ing them.
We have in all twenty-nine de-
nominations.
EDUCATION.
Our educational advancement
within the past ten years has been
at an unparalleled pace. The
school enrolment of our youth has
increased at 81 rate Of per centage
from two to fifty times as great as
that OF any other State admitted in
to the union at the time of, or pri-
or to the time of our own admls-
sion.
We have 5000 school houses, or
one to every 375 inhabitants, l,547
of which have been erected in the
past ten years.
We have one college or seminary
for every $4,000 inhabitants, over
two-thirds Of which have been
erected within the last decade.
A State University and three
Normal schools afford free educa-
tion of higher order. Two-ftths
of our State tax and half of our
county taxes support our schools.
We have in the negro districts 900
separate schools for the colored
people. Several of their school
houses cost from $40, 200 to $40, 900
each. They have also several col
leges and the State supports one
normal school for colored teachers.
About two years ago Hon. F. ?.
Laws opened at his own expense
in the village of Beebe free Bible
school, which has constantly grown
in interest until now it has mem
bership of 235 and an average dali
ly attendance of 35. [ know of no
other such institution in the world.
The good it is accomplishing should
awaken general interest and gener-
al inquiry throughout Christendom.
While within the past thirteen
years the South has expended $780,
100000 in the free education Of the
youths of our section, in Arkansas
we have expended during the same
period $40, 100000 with an average
of $50, 900 children.
SYSTEM OF LAWS.
1t were enough, perhaps, to say
of our system Of laws that two
years ago the congress, controlled
by political party not in sympathy
with the majority of our people,
selected from the statutes of Arkan-
sas the entire body of laws by
which one of tho territories OF the
Union is governed.
1 am very mnch in doubt if thore
is community in the world Of
equal population where the laws
are more generally enforced and
obeyed than in this State
The carrying OF concealed weap-
ons is, in Arkansas, a crime and
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