The Forrest City times., 1898-10-07


these may be added coal oil. A certain
section of the Boston mountain region
was long ago split by volcanic action.
This fissure extends distance of TWEEN
ty-five or thirty miles through the zinc
and copper district, and in places where
the walls of the opening are clearly de-
fined the rocks are stained with coal
oil and visible traces of the liquid are
found elsewhere throughout that re-
gion. In places the air is perfumed
with its odor, but no systematic effort
has been made to ascertain the extent
to which this valuable oil prevails or to
test its quality. Regarding the char
acter and quality of the rock which
abounds throughout the districts tribu-
tary to White river, some definite in
formation is given by Prof. Branner,
whose researches in other lands and
whose practical knowledge of geology,
enable him to speak authoritatively.
Having investigated the rock forma-
tions of the country in question. he says
the lime, granite and marble beds Of
this region are the finest in the world.
This opinion was given by Prof Bran
ner after ne had inspected the quarries
OF Vermont, Tennessee and other
states, besides those of the Andes, the
Sierre Nevada and the Rocky noun
tains. In his annual report of the geo.
logical survey of Arkansas of 1888,
Prof. Branner says, "The list of minerals
of west central Arkansas includes more
than 140 distinct species or varieties Of
minerals occurring within the region to
which this report relates. The inform
alton here given is as complete as it
can be from the field and office studies
thus undertaken. No opportunity has
been presented for making thorough
quantitative chemical analyses Of
doubtful species, nor for determining
the exact relations of such minerals as
appear to be new to science. All that
can now be said upon this latter point
is that the determinations here given
and the undetermined minerals collect
ed, taken together, do not probably
constitute more than half of the whole
number of species existing in the area
traversed."
In other words, the half of the mineral
wonders of this region has never yet
been told, and the hidden treasures vet
remain slumbering. Means of ingress
by river improvement will cause an in
flow of capital and energy and soon
the concealed wealth will yield itself to
the influences of modern skill and in
genuity in the now silent valleys, and
the result will be a general improve
ment of wagon roads leading into the
interior, and the inhabitants of these
regions will experience the exhiliration
that is awakened by the electric touch
of commerce. All classes and every in
dustry will feel the benefcient effect OF
transportation facilities, and new life
and inspiration will be impaired TO the
people affected by the change. The
press of the state should lend helping
hand in the promotion of the enterprise.
So powerful an agent in shaping public
thought can do much to excite interest
in this simple yet comprehensive scheme
for internal improvement.
White river with locks and dams will
spring from state into national import.
ance, and with the opening of the
Nicaragua canal it will assume an in.
ternational significance, for the terri.
tory it drains is stored with raw mater.
ial which can be changed by skilled
labor into commodities for which there
is demand in all parts Of the globe