The Monticellonian., 1895-11-22
ARKANSAS A GREAT STATE.


 tion and the south. In referring to Arkansas it said:
 To obtain a fair sample of true southern hospitality and good cheer, with the chances ten to one in favor of big red apple half the size of his head, the visitor has but to go to the Arkansas section in the Agricultur building. That state has quantities of valuable mineral, marble, farm, fruit and valuable timber lands, which it Is anxious to have occupied by the right class of settlers, and with possibly the thought that the expen- allure would be as bread east npon the waters, the legislature of the state made liberal appropriation for an exhibit at the Cotton States exposi- tion. The railroads which tap the rich lands which are open for settle ment not only put up as much money as the legislature appropriated, but added third greater amount. In ad- ditien to the exhibit they instituted an information bureau at Atlanta, charged with the duty of voicing the merits of everything pertaining to the exposition, whether of exhibits or in- viduals
 Nearly 2 fourth of the entire floor space of the Agricultural building is taken up by the display of the re- sources of Arkansas. From eight to ten persons in the employ of the state are on hand at all times to explain the various exhibits and vouchsafe info-- nation to those who may desire to learn of Arkansas status, industrial, educational or otherwise. W. G. Vineenheller, state commissioner of agriculture, mines and manufactures, has charge of the exhibit, and is as sisted by J. c. Colquitt. speaker of the Arkansas legislature The Missouri kimber, of Chicago, who is credited with being the best handler of adver- Using matter at the exposition. Col. Hughes. of Fort Worth also veteran advertiser, and formerly general pas senger agent of the Missouri, Kansas < Texas railway, represents the Cot ton Belt Railway Co. Col. NJ. L. De Malher, of the Arkansas Gazette, whose seventy-fve years rest so light fy upon his shoulders that few would imagine that he had passed the half century mile-post, is in charge of the information bureau. Col. De Nalher Is scientist as well as journalist of wide repute.
 There are, he claims, two hundred billions feet, board measure, of timber in the state, ot which seventy-fve to one hundred billion feet consist ef pine. The superficial area of the mar ble regions of the state comprised in the counties of Baxter, Independence, Marion, Boone, Searcy, Newton, Car roll, Benton, Madison and Washington is 5000 miles, with an apparent thick ness to the beds of 150 to 300 feet.
 The exhibit of zine ores from the state is comprehensive. Of superior quality, that is, with more metal to the ton, the zinc ores of Arkansas are declared to be of such charat ar that upon the advent of the St 41ouis x Fort Smith railroad, there is every likelihood of their displacing Joplin zine in the markets of the world. Granite is shown, not In immense blocks, but enough to show the quali- ty, from the granite belt which lies in the immediate proximity to Little Rock. The belt from which the speci- mems come is l3 miles in length and on an average 2 miles in width. The bauxite fields of Pulaski and Saline counties, from which specimens are shown, is claimed by Col. De Malher to be five times greater in extent than has before been made known by state authority.
 In the mineral exhibit of the state Is shown an oeher which comes from Mon- ticello, ill Drew county, which Is claim ing to have five times greater body than all other ochers of commerce, color included, and when calcined gives product that rivals the best wagon red on the market Specimenso of chalk, carrying & to 92 per cent. carbonate of lime, come from the chalk beds of southwest Arkansas, which are located north of Texarkana Specimens of manganese ore are shown, which come from the two great fields located in the state-onein Independence and the other in Polk county.
 South Arkansas is shown to have an area of 5,00O, 900 acres, where are found all elays used in the ceramic arts The state has 5000 miles of nayigable wa terways. Its coal fields, both of anthracite and semi-bituminous, are said to be second only to those of Pennsylvania. Most extensive of any feature of the Arkansas exhibits is that of it's apple crop. This is sup piled with fresh fruit every two weeks, therefore is in perfect condition, and will remain so throughout the exposi- tion. The apple belt of the state com prises 100000 GOO acres. Out of 16,- ooo,ooo bushels of apples, raised in four counties they ship scarcely more than 1,500 carloads. Where formerly buyers, the farmers of Arkansas have for sale this year 20, 900, GOO bushels of corn. The season of the year pre-. cluding the possibility of display of straw berries, this portion of the states resources is shown by photographs, paintings and statistics. The total shipment of strawberries this year amounted to 536 carloads and it is claimed that if the season is favorable next year, the total will run to 1,200 or 1,500 carloads.
 Interesting Moves.
 Some very interesting moves are be- ing made on the railroad checker