The Forrest City times., 1895-01-18

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 N ,; s;$s::s'; ;;$ E: ]: :?::;;:: *: s;:;: $: : and influence which attach to the office in such a manner as will most promote the general development of the moral. intellectual and material resources of our commonwealth. Accordingly have addressed myself to this task with whatever zeal and ability I could com- mand. If have not given the usual attention to mere matters of detail CT routine, it has been because 1 have re- garded these higher duties as far more important and imperative. In accord ance with these conceptions of what was demanded of me, I have sought to bring the wonderful material resources of Arkansas, as well as her high relig- ious and educational and social stand ard prominently before the world, as well through the Colum bian Exposition as through every otLer available agen- cy which promised beneficial results
 It was to this end that 1 sought and obtained the cooperation of most of the governors of our sister southern commonwealths in "Southern Gov
  bling of which awakened a worldwide interest in the southern states, and es- pecially in Arkansas as field for in- vestment and i'm migration.
 It was with this view that appoint ed as Commissioner of Mines, Manufac- lures and Agriculture, Hon. w. G. Vim cenheller, upon whose services at the Worlds Fair so much of the future of Arkansas will depend
 It was to this purpose that have de- voted so much of my time and attention to ascertaining the quality and quanti- ty of the immense, but undeveloped re- sources of our state, and to advertising them to the capitalist and home-seeker; and l feel pardonable pride in know ing that ample evidence is not wanting that my efforts in this behalf are yield ing harvest which will grow richer and more abundant as the years go by. There are those, 1 am aware, who will criticise my action in this regard as being without the scope of my legit- innate functions, and who would con- fine the duties of the chief executive to a lower plane. For such have neith- CT quarrel nor apology.
 IMMIGRATION.
 At no period within the history of our state have the time and circumstances been so pro- pitious as the present for large influx of i'm. migration and capital. The whole world seems 10 have suddenly awakened to the fact that this southland Of ours, with its vast and undeve- oped resources, offers unprecedented opportu mites to capital and ideal homes to the immi- grant. Most of sisters of the south are availing themselves of this, their supreme oc- tN,t want of funds for properly advertising our won derful advantages.
 Already two streams of immigration are moy- ing; one from north to south and one from the eastern southern states, which IS selling out to the northern immigrants and itself movin g westward.
 Arkansas has everything to attract moro than her share of both streams. l earnestly recon mend that not less than ten thousand dollars be appropriated and turned over to the Com. missioner of Mines Manufactures and Agricul- ture, for this purpose alone. I need scarcely call to the attention of so intelligent a body what profitable investment this would be to the state.
 If by such an expenditure amounting to le ess than one cent to each inhabitant, only one hun dred thousand immigrants having the small average of only one hundred dollars each, could be induced to settle in Arkansas the same rate Of taxation as we now pay would secure to the state treasury fifty thousand dollars, or 400 per cent every year, to say nothing of its increase and its advantages to the counties in which 1t would locate.
 From reports coming to our Commissioner of Mines, Manufactures and Agriculture, since the publication of his report, there have been brought into one single county in northern Ar kansas since the Worlds Fair, upwards of two millions of dollars. Five mills tax on this will yield the state all the fair cost her in less th an two years, and thls from one county.
 ATTRACTION TO IMMIGRANTS.
 We have one of the best, if not the best clin- ates in the United States. The death rate, as reported by the United States Surgeon Gen eral, is less among the troops stationed in this state than anywhere else in the union. The death rate in our state, even including our swamp and alluvial lands, which occupy al least one fourth of the state is I 92 per thousand less than that of the northern states
 The census of 1880 shows the cash value per acre of our farms to be greater than that of any other state in the union except Louisiana
 Our fruits carry on the premiums everywhere and all the premium fruits are seedlings show ing that it is the soil and climate which pro duce them. Whenever and wherever intelli- gent and experienced farmers come here and get out of the cotton ruts they prosper phe. nomenally
 We have no such thing as failure Of crops We have rain and sunshine in plenty. We have water. and timber. and soil and climate, and