The Forrest City times., 1898-03-11
ARKANSAS AT OMAHA.
Exposition Notes Prepared Especially
 for the State Press.
By Order of Arkansas Board of Commis. sioners to the Trans smississippi and In- ternationsl Exposition, Which
 Opens June I.
[BY w. D. MATHEWS. sEcnErAHY.l

lBY W. D. MATHEWS. SEcRErARY.l The active officers of the board of commissioners express great confidence in the success of the big enterprise of putting up state building and filling it with various products. It is discour- aging, naturally, to start in on such an apparently impossible undertaking, with not dollar of state or other public aid, depending entirely upon the liberality and enterprise of individual citizens and limited number of cor porations. That for every dollar in- vested at Omaha by Arkansas many will return there is not shadow of doubt, but this is matter upon which some people profess to be skeptical. 1t is an opportunity that may not be presented again, and if we should permit it to go by unimproved, people living outside might well conclude that all the bad reports that have for years been in circulation are true, and that indeed Arkansas was wasteless back-number state, instead of one of the very richest in the universe. However, judging from the many expressions of interest and promises of aid that have been received during the past ten days from all over the state we will be at Omaha in good shape. If each locality and per- son responded with just a little cash the necessary amount could be raised and the burden not be felt. Will you do your part? Don't wait for some other town or some other person-show that you are right. Start the ball rolling. Make remittances to Geo. c. Hardness, treasurer, who will acknowledge re- ceipt. He will, at the close of the ex- position, render full itemized state ment showing where every cent was placed.
 The showing made by Arkansas at Omaha Tn the way of fruits will simply be astonishing. We lead every state in the Union, not excepting California.
 Eureka Springs will reproduce one of ling water fresh and running all the time, and for public use.
 There will be fruit to burn-no, to eat-in the Arkansas building, and of every variety from the luscious straw berry to the peach and apple.
 While Arkansas is not great in manu- featuring it will show some surprising things and convince capitalists that at the base of supplies of the raw mate rial should be the factories.
 Don't argue that because your contri- button must of necessity be small that it will not count. Chip in as though it were million dollars, and you may rest assured the act will be duly re- corded and appreciated. Don't wait for the collector to come around (he is often mighty slow, but send it direct to the treasurer. Put yourself in posi- tion to say when you visit Omaha and the home building, II own part of that myself and have perfect right to go in there and feel like was under my own roof"
 Here is a truthful item from the Para gould Pathfinder:
 Tt is of vital importance that our state should be represented at this great show. No better opportunity has ever been offered Ar kansas to refute the false impressions about her, and to reveal to the world her matchless resources. No one denies that we need men and money to make our section and the state what it, of right. should be, the most prosper ous, populous and powerful commonwealth in the southland Omaha is at the center of section from which we must draw immigration and capital Both will come if we let them know our advantages and attractions. All that is necessary IS plain, truthful. correct ex- hibit of our resources. Let this be done and every person in Arkansas will be a paainer by the influx of people and money that will surely come as a result
 The Cotton Belt railway people are doing a splendid work in preparing a composite exhibit, embracing all the territory through which their line passes Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas. This in no way conflicts with the state exhibit in fact, it is valuable auxiliary. One will help the other materially. Col. Fordyce and Mir. LeBaume assure us of their earn est interest and in every way promise to assist in the glorious work. It is commendable fact that the Cotton Belt is doing so much on its own hook and at great expense, and only emphasizes the importance of the entire state being properly represented. If it a good thing for the Cotton Belt country it is surely good thing for the balance of the state.