The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1894-06-02
An INTERESTING LETTER.

&tcS9ua Couutls AFkhushs, Wuefo
went to visit my brother, T. X. Dunn,
who left this his native county twenty
three years ago, and since which time
we have not met, | concluded TO give
you brief account of my trip.
| left Greenyille al ii q. IN, on the
Huntington branch of the Y. & NJ. v.
X. II. Nothing OF unusual interest
was observed on the route TO Hunt
ington. The apparently excellent cou-
dition Of the crops of corn and cotton
showed a more perfect stand and thor
ough state Of cultivation than l have
witnessed In years at this season OF
the year. We reached Huntington at
about IL m.. and proceeded at opce 10
the landing to embark for Arkansas
City In steam launch; and barring
the fact that tho boiler was located on
the forepart of the launch, obstructing
materially the passway to the seats in
the rear thereof, we crossed the mighty
river quite comfortably.
We reached Arkansas City and
boarded the train for McGehee sta.
uon, distant about 13 miles. Our stay
at this place was only few moments;
but sufficient to impress upon US the
evil effects of overfiows and the neces-
sily OF not only levees, but "plenty OF
dirt In them" In this connection l
Will say that | observed the new lcvee
recently built, and although seen from
the car window only, It struck me
that the base of the levee was not near
sufficient for the height The country
between Arkansas City and Trippe
should be offered for sale In the sum-
mer mouths, when the leaves of the
trees hide the high water mark. How
ever, lbe soil is equal TO our own
Delta, II they can ever succeed In
leveeing and draining ii. From Trippe
to McGehee, distance of a few miles,
the land is above any ordinary over
flow.
After dinner at McGehee, your cor
respondent seated himself in mag
niiicent Pullman, and proceeded TO
Pine Bluff. The only objects of inter-
est were the occasional fair grounds,
with accompanying race track, giving
evidence Of the attention paid to the
raising of fine stock, and for consid.
cradle distance along the line OF the
road a bountiful supply of Jobnsou
grass, which | at first took for corn
greatly in advance Of any | had seen
Imagine my disgust when | came IN
sight Of the plowmen and hoe-handi
struggling to destroy 1t and leaving
the corn apparently just peeping above
the ground.
We reached Pine Bluff about 4:3(
p. m., aud must confess that l wal
agrecably surprised, expecting as | dit
to find little dilapidated town, who's,
buildings were crumbllng with age
and streets half paved, or not at all
On the contrary found bright ant
stirring city, whose buildings wer'
constructed of substantial materials
and whose architectural finish woull
do credit to some Of our large metrop
olises. The streets are regularly lait
of, and paved with kind Of paving
brick, apparently set on edge. Tn,
court house, situated in large yart
, at the terminus of one Of the mail
streets, is very handsome building
the observatory OF which command
magnificent view of the Arkansa
river, which at this point Is no inslg
niticaDt stream, and the great vale,
opposite Pine Bluff. Another objec
of interest, and one which our Boar
of Supervisors might copy with ad
vantage and profit to our citizens, wa
handsome brick building situated Il
, the court house yard. in gilt letter
circling the large arched door is th
name Jefferson County Expositio
Building" In this building, which /
kept open during all business hour
are displayed the various products an
industries of the county. Agricultu
rists, horticulturists, miners, aud pa
irons of other industries meet here
expose products aud interchange view
: This building was recently constructed
! and is purely county affair--no aI
:, preparation having been asked of th
Government, as is usually the case. /
fact every man, woman and chill
= wants the Government 10 take care {
! ! them-at least | am sure 1t Is 40 wher
the so.called Populist politician exist
spent the evening and part Of th
/, night at tho Trulock Hotel, most d
! lightful house, leaving at 3 a. m. o
! the Cotton Belt for Buckner, Id mil'
: southwest of Pine Bluff. This coul
4 try is IN the main poor, and but ft
!. the lumber industry, | don't see no
a the people subsist. The towns, wit
j. few exceptions, are of q temporar
y character, in many instances bein
v abandoned when the pine lumber Civ
. out. reached Buckner at 7:55 o. n
= and breakfasted at tho Hotel Bledso
= kept by a gentleman of that nan
: from Meridian, which place he 10
= four years ago. lie seems Statistic
!, with the change, but bis estimsb
wife and daughter would cheerful
return.
3 Through the agency Of Mr.. Bleds'
+ procured o first class buggy OIL
ys mule and SET out at $40 for Bodcav