The Forrest City times., 1897-07-30
THE ARKANSAS OF TODAY
Wonderful Increase of Incorporated
 Companies in the State.
Farmers Are Paying More Attention to Crops Than Politics and There Isz General Revival of Interest and
 An increase of Business

The first half of the year 1897. ended June 30, leaves memories of an awaken cd business and an increased hope for lasting revival of new conditions in every line of industry The bank clear ings of Little Rock, the state capitol, for the last week of June, exhibit gain of almost ss3, 900 over the corresponding week of last year, while the records of the office of secretary of state show that more railroad companies have been incorporated and manufacturing associations formed since the opening of the year than in any year in the history of the state. It is generally thought by people outside of Arkansas that four mills and lumber plants, in- cluding barrel stave factories and shingle mills, constitute the bulk of manufacturing industries, but glance at the records of secretary of state will convince any one that this is a mis- take. The large list of new manufac- turing associations formed includes a large and varied line of industries
 Studying Their Interests.
 Ever since the worlds fair at Chicago in 1895, the people in Arkansas have been studying the problem of how to increase and diversity the industries of the state, and they have kept an eye on northern cities for suggestion as well as capital. The old idea of seggre- gation and practical indept ndence is uprooted and in its place is planted a determined notion to develop home resources and enlarge every industry with view of increasing local activity and broadening interstate traffic. One of the first advance steps taken by the state to bring itself into close social and trade relations with the industrial center of the union is to increase its railroad mileage, in order that this section of country may be seen and known as it is, not as it has been repre- sented. nor as it exists in the imagina- tion of large number of people living outside of the state. While it is a fact that there is much ignorance In the south concerning the north. it is also . fact that there is more misconception in the north respecting the south, with d large element of prejudice in both sec tions toward the other. It is natural that illconceived notions should exist
 The main cause of it is found in the logic of trade and travel. Traffic and travel flow from east to west and from west to east. The tide is turning from north to south. At present the west is in fact, broadly speaking, child of the east, in other words, the western popu- lation but recently migrated from the eastern states, and family inter course as well as commercial, is main tained between the two sections, form ing business and social tie not easily severed. True it is, the eastern para grapher has his fun at the expense of the western cowboy, while the western writer gets even by gentle fling at the dude of the effete east; but these inter- changes are not ebullitions of prejudice, for eastern and western folks are not ignorant each of the others condition, nor are they moved by prejudice or swayed by malicious thoughts. Trade relations are broadening between the north and the south and the same social ties which bind the east to the west are steadily developing. The column of visitors from northern cities to southern resorts is enlarging with recurring winters; while the volume of home seekers and spectators, the one search ing for cheap home, the other for profitable investment, is constantly growing. The law of trade is inexora ble.
 Getting Better Acquainted.
 Trade relations develop new social conditions. Already the adopted citi- zens of Arkansas count their northern kinsmen by thousands, and while there is perceptible change of the tide of immigration to the south, there is a promise, moreover, of a reversal of the old order which sent it westward ho, or at least of fair read adjustment which will bring the north and the south into as close relation as the east and the west have ever been, in both social and commercial lines. The railroad is a potent neutralizer which will in short time as effectually eXpunge the sec. tional division of interests on lines oi latitude as it has on lines of longitude Changes in the whirligig of commerce and politics have wrought a sentimen, which declares sectional lines shall be tue map Ol the union.
 Crops Are Better Than oratory.
 The sentiment does not exist in spots or localities, it isgeneral throughout the state The new Arkansas, like the new south, has come to stay. Perhaps nc better idea of the prevailing spirit ot reform can be gained than by reading the following editorial expression clipped from a late edition of the Arkan. sas Gazette, published at Little R ,ck
 The Arkansas farmers are taking q ueepei interest in their work just now and making more calculations for the future than ever be- fore. They are satisfied that to acquire wealth they must diversity their crops. They are tired of hearing every year the song Of the politician the chorus of which has reference throughout to the poor farmer" He has seen the polite ian come and the politician go, and was about beginning to feel that his song of the 'pool farmer" would go on forever. and that was all there was to him So he determined to dc something for himself The farmers of Inde- pendence county for instance. have concluded shax, aap rafee snsnathfurr afea hgSfdoo ,ase.,