The Forrest City times., 1896-07-24
FEATURES OF ARKANSAS.
A New Railroad that will Open Up One
of the Best Sections of the State.
other Projected Lines that Are Reasona-
blv Certain TO be CoDstructed-A Chap
ter on Farm Mortgages and In
teresting Features Discussed.

The charter of new railroad corpo-
ration was filed in the Office of secre-
tary of state recently. The projected
route is FROM Stillwell, Indian Terri
tory. a point on the Kansas City, Pitts
burg and Gulf railroad, southeastward
through Washington county, Madison,
Carroll, Boone, Searcy, Van Buren,, Gle
burne and White to Bald Knob June
ton, where it intersects the Iron Noun
tain railway. From Fayetteville the
route is somewhat northeast to Carroll
ION, where it changes to the southeast.
The curve is made to avoid the hills
which lie in Madison and Newton coun-
ties. At Bald Knob the line connects
with branch of the Iron Mountain
which runs almost a due east course to
Memphis, Tennessee. The distance
from Bald Knob to Stillwell is $50 miles
A glance at the map shows the reader
the general course of the route. The
country traversed is rich in minerals.
besides a splendid agricultural region
which embraces large area of the ia
nous fruit belt of Arkansas. The cap
italists composing this new railroad cor
poration have ample means to build
and equip the road and it is believed
the work will be finished with the least
possible delay. It's building will serve
10 direct the attention of thousands of
people and attract working men as well
rs prospectors, capitalists and visitors
to the state. While this road seems to
be an assured fact there are rumors of
Other Projected Railroads,
some Of which have been discussed in
time past by the newspapers as well as
the public. For many years the Kan
sas City, Fort Scott and Gulf railroad
company have cherished a longing to
extend their line from Springdale to
Hot Springs, incidentally touching Lit
tie Rock, and reaching New Orleans
via the Natchez railroad. 1t is ru-
mored that this company now have in
view project to build branch line
from Miami, Indian Territory, to Ben
tonville, Arkansas, thence to Clarks-
vile on the Little Rock and Fort Smith
road, which is said to be the shortest
point on the Memphis and Gulf system
to Hot Springs. Already survey has
been made by this system from Spring
field to Russellville, which if extended
to Hot Springs, would be almost an air
line route from Springfield to the City
Of Vapors, with New Orleans and Kan
sas City for terminals. 1t is rumored
moreover that a project is afoot for con-
structing a branch line from the st.
Rock, though the chances are somewhat
remote. 1t is reasonable to presume
however that much will be done in the
line OF railroad building in Arkansas as
soon as the present business depression
ends. The resources of Arkansas are
not unknown to capitalists of other
states The mineral wealth, unsur-
passed fruit lands, manufacturing ad-
vantages and farming facilities are
daily becoming known to the outside
world and must eventually attract both
immigration and capital If half the
projected lines of railroad shall be
bnilt within the coming two years the
state will enjoy a season of prosperity
equal to that ever experienced by any
northern state. No other state offers
such a wealth of raw material waiting
Tor the magical touch of skilled indus
try to transform it into mercantile COM
modities. Arkansas is now on the
threshold of development as an indus
trial community, and her progress and
triumph within the coming few years
Will surpass anything known in her
history.