Mexico weekly ledger., 1895-10-10
LETTER FROM LITTLE ROCK.
An Interesting Description OF Travel
in Arkansas.

Pine Bluff you are carried through th
cotton country of Arkansas. On bot
sides of the road as far as the eye ca
see the cotton fields abound. tn
bursting balls forcing their fluffy con
tents to the warmth of southern su
are soon ready for the pickers, an
here and there the throngs of darkie
can be seen steadily pursuing thei
vocation, with the characteristic sac
trailing at their side, down one ROY
and up another until the "bottom
crop has entirely disappeared.
Now again, we leave this scene, th
picture changes and we find ourselve
dashipg through a dense forest, a
places the ground seems damp an
moist and many of the trees bear un
mistakable signs of "high waite
mark" during previous overhows
with which this section has in pas
years been so ruinously devastated
And right here word about the over
flows. Thanks to the effective worl
OF the Levee Boards in this section
such scenes as have been familiar tt
settlers of from three to ten years
back win in the future only be met
with in the pages of history. A mah
may now safely retire at night behind
the shelter of an Arkansas leveeand
not be called upon before morning TO
| transfer the furniture in the lower
part of his dwelling up into the attic
| Arriving at Dumas, which is my
destination, | find q small settlement
in the heart of the woods, when De-
sides having three or four stores, de-
pot, and post Office, also has the
Court House, being the seat for lhe
Wahson district.
Here | am met by two Mexico boys,
Messrs. IL. O. and E. S. Pindali, Whom
| am very glad to meet. Shelby mas
been Deputy Circuit Clerk at this
place during the summer and owe mas
been Assistant Prosecuting Attorney
for the county, spending his time
chiefly between Arkansas City and
Dumas In the distance another fam
liar form looms up and directly l grasp
the hand of Judge X. j. Pindaii, who
as lawyer, farmer and politician is al
| most as well known in that country as
| the Arkansas River. After few
preliminaries- vain attempt by
Owe to arraign some darkey for trial,
everything was there except the
darkey- we make fresh start through
the woods for Pendleton on the
Arkansas River, which is Il miles dis
tant. MIR. Dan Quilting, a bright
young gentleman and student at the
University of Arkansas, invited me to
seat beside him in rig, that L was
afterward informed was commonly
called "Nancy Hanks and the hearse,"
presumably on account of aforesaid
quadruped's speed (?).
Well, Shelby and the Judge led with
double team of mules and we fol-
lowed. For about two miles the dust
was intense, so much so that found
the only way to travel was either in
linen duster-with which | was un-
provided-or strip off your coat and
vest if you did not want them to
change coioc.-,W We got along nicely
however after we ieft the dust and
the ride through the woods was both
interesting and instructive. Natures
green carpet under foot, studded with
the most magnificent palms that l
ever looked upon, taken together with
the varied assortment of trees
and shrubs, made an ideal spot for
one who was tired and wanted to rest
"communing with nature" AS the
sun sinks into the West we arrive at
Pendleton, at which place I spent the
most pleasant week that it has been
my fortune to enjoy since my resi-
dence in the South. Mr.. Quilting,
Sr., has for many years been engaged
in the mercantile business at this
point and one can safely say has
watched the rise and fall of king cot
ton. 4 true Southern gentleman,
he and his very interesting family en-
tertain in a way that you cannot ap-
preciate unless you have the same
good fortune as your correspondent.
In my opinion there is no hospitality
equal to true Southern hospitality,
and wish to take this medium of ac-
knowledging its receipt at Pendleton,
Ark.
Pendleton and the adjoining planta-
tions, Ditched, Medford, Red Fork
and Belco, are beautifully dotted with
the prettiest lakes imaginable. Al
Silver Lake, which is four miles long
and the finest in the state about
one mile from Pendleton, Mr.. Quilting
has steam launch capable of holding
about dozen people. This proved a
great source of pleasure during my
visit, especially on the moonlight
evenings. l also made visit tt
Belco Lake and island, the property
of Mr.. X. o. PIndall. 1t is beautiful
estate and quite picturesque. Judge
Pindall makes an excellent host.
Next a visit to Gillett, Arkansas
county, was made. This is at presen
the terminus of the Stuttgart ant
Arkansas River railroad. This is ;
thriving little town situated upon thu
Grand Prairie. The country aroum'
offers every Inducements to hom,
seekers. The road will be completed
on to the river in short time.
Speaking of affairs from o birds
eye point of view everything seem
on the tide of prosperity. The stat
is making the best show at Atlanta
Neck and shoulders beyond any othe
state. This is turning the attentio
of capitalists towards Arkansas. Cot
ton is firm and selling at sos. Tn
, merchants report increased sales an
, everything is looking rosy. We hav
had decided cold spell during tn
last week, but we have our usus
sunny days back again. l hope I
. tell you more of the east in the nes
future. JACK BERNHARDT.
am ready for business. You ha,
hadr you look and are now ready
buy. l have stacks of goods and mo