The Forrest City times., 1896-06-12

If railroad this year than any other tate in the union. In the state there are nine lines projected, the aggregate length of which exceeds 800 miles. Last year only 1903 miles of road were con- .,ructed in the union, therefore if the mileage contemplated in Arkansas ,bould be finished this year it will make almost a third as much as the en- tire mileage construction in tho country l last wear. The state needs more roads. and there is no doubt boom of rail- road building will set in as soon as the money question is settled and confi- aence is once more restored in financial circles
 Eastern Arkansas is quite well sup nlied with railroads The Iron Noun tain line enters the state near the northeast corner and runs almost bee line course to Texarkana, situated near the southwest corner. The Cotton Belt line parallels the Iron Mountain, enter ing the state still nearer the northeast corner. Each line has branches extend ing in different directions, besides the l vast number of lumber mills distribu- 1 ted throughout the eastern part of the state have lines of railroad stretching into the forests from 10 to 30 miles, many of which will eventually be incor- porated into trunk lines. The Kansas 1 City, Fort Scott and Gulf road runs a southeast course from Fulton county to Memphis, Tenn, distance of nearly ,5O miles, through fertile section abounding in forests of hardwood tim Der, affording an outlet for forest prod ucts as well as the fruitage of farms.
 The Little Rock and Memphis runs almost due east from the state capital across a part of Grand Prairie and through heavily timbered districts east ward to Memphis, 135 miles. Then there are numerous
 Short-Line Roads,
 Such as the Midland, extending from Helena to Clarendon; the B. and B., from Brinllley to Newport; the Stutt- gart and Arkansas River, from Stutt- gart eastward, and other lines thread ing the eastern and southeastern part of the state, which with the projected lines and lines now building constitute . network of roads almost equal to that of the eastern and northern states. The Little Rock and Fort Smith road, a branch of the Iron Mountain system, runs from the state capital westward, following close to the course of the Ar kansas river, through rich farming and mineral region. The extreme western part of the state has the San Francisco, which enters the state about 50 miles east of the Indian Territory and runs a southwesterly direction a hundred miles, then branches off into the Indian territory southwest of Fort Smith. The Kansas City, Pittsburg and Gulf, now under construction from Sloan Springs to Texarkana, will doubtless be finished this season, open ing direct line from Texarkana to Kansas City and throwing open a rich section of the state. But there is a sec ton Of country lying north of the Ar kansas river, between the Iron Noun tain and San Francisco roads, embrac- Ing perhaps 20 counties and covering and area of about 80 miles north and south and 40 east and west
 Which Has No Railroad,
 Except here and there spur or offshoot aone of the main lines. This section of .he state is commonly called North Ar sansas, bounded on the north by the ozark mountains and on the south by 'ne Boston mountains It is, in short, .ne upland region of the state-dralned " numerous rivers and their tributa- hes and prolific with timber and min eras' This section of country may not yleld as much grain and grass as the prairies of eastern Kansas and north mSsouri, but owing to it's exemption rom drouth the yield is regular one season with another, while the climate temperate in both summer and win N' Then, too, it's fruit and vegetable products are almost certain every year anu Will In future be the leading sta p.eS' Many farmers are turning their s''entlon to fruit growing as an indus 1h while the raising of live stock is
 eOe'Vlne attention. Cattle, sheep and
 0ss thrlve, and they require less feed
 au care In winter than in the territory vest, as sudden changes of weather are sss frequent, while blizzards never oc-
 ' III this region. There has been a
 eauy Inflow of immigration for years rass' yet development has been re-
 A,ued' m' owing to lack of railroads.
 It.. a'ines are opened, but the mineral ma Ds pied upon the ground for want of o1 transportation, while lumber a0 iruit are shut out of market for the oo reason. The resources of the c,an ry are being heralded abroad msa. ua.iy but surely, and the settle Tr z. ol the land continues to increase.