The Monticellonian., 1895-01-18

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 N NYA honorable posi-
 A$G ton is the use
 Il of the prestige and influence which attach to the office in such manner as will most promote the general development of tho 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 1 have not given the usual attention to mere matters of detail or routine, it has been because have re- garded these higher duties as far moro important and imperative In accord ance with these conceptions of what was demanded of me, have sought to bring the wonderful material resources of Arkansas, as well as her high relig ions and educational and social stand ard prominently before the world, as well through the Golum bian Exposition as through every other available agcn- cy which promised beneficial results.
 1t was to this end that sought and obtained the cooperation of most of the governors of our sister southern commonwealths in "Southern Gov ernors' Convention,n the very assem- bling of which awakened worldwide interest ill the southern states, and es- pcciaf1y in Arkansas IS field for in vestment and immigration.
 It was with this view that I 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
 1t was to this purpose that I 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 a 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, am aware, who will eriticise 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 to have suddenly awakened to the fact that this southland Of ours, with it's vast and undevs- oped resources offers unprecedented opportu mites to capital and ideal homes to the immi- grant. Most of our sisters of the south are availinR themselves of this their supreme oc- n...I. want of funds for properly advertising won derful advantages.
 Already two streams of immigration are mov- ing; one from north to south, and one from the eastern southern states, which .s selling out to the northern immigrants and itself moving westward
 Arkansas has everything to attract moro than her share of both streams. I earnestly recom- 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 1 noed scarcely call to the attention of so intelligent body what n profitable investment this would be to the state
 If by such an expenditure, amounting to less 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 p.r cent every year, to say nothing of It's increase and it's advantages to the counties in which it 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 than two years and thls from one county.
 ATTRACTION TO IMMIGRANTS
 We have one of the best, if not the best clim ates in the United States. The death rate, as reported by the United States Surgeon Gen era, Is less among the troops stationed in this state than anywhere else m the union. The death rate in state, even including swamp and alluvial lands, which occupy at least one fourth of the state is .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 of 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 us failure of crops We have rain and sunshine in plenty. We have water and timber, and soil, and climate and we have social condition which slll compare favorably with the best communities in the United States.
 What else could the intelligent immigrant desire He will certainly find no warmer wei come anywhere on the globe than in Arkansas. But the world don't know this.
 ATTRACTION To CAPITAL
 The undeveioped condition of Arkansas, par ticularly in regard to it's mineral wealth and water power, offers especial opportunities to enterprsing carital Our coal field has scarce ly been touched as yet, and we ship only about 750000 tons of coal We ought to ship several million tons.
 Our zinc fields occupying 216 square miles, as reported by Dr. Branner, state geologist, is, much of it within one per cent of theoretically pure zinc ore. having the minimum per cent of iron, and took the premium over the world at t-e coluDauiaa Exposition. Being above drain