The Forrest City times., 1898-03-11
RESOURCES OF ARKANSAS.
usr Wonderful Growth and Future
 importance.
useeming Move Apparent-Second in Cotton RatstnG, Prs-eminent In Fruit Production, Abundant
 In Raw Materials.

Following will be found an interest Inc article from the pen of Hon. Alex Hull, secretary of state, regarding the mineral and agricultural wealth of Ark ausas, as published in the Age of Steel of a recent date:
 The material resources and advan- taqes of our state are yearly becoming more apparent. Its river valleys are among the most fertile in the world: i,s great prairies are covered with thrifty homes. and afford rich pastorage for stock; its extensive forests yield every variety of wood which man can utilize, and its hills and mountains are treasure houses of valuable ores. In many of the worlds great expositions our agricultural products have taken rank with those of California, Hi uois. and other states famed for their uroducts of the farm. Cotton and hay iu the south. and lumber, cereals, min- erals and fine stock in the north, form a combination well adapted to. the wants of man.
 In regard to climate, we are situated where is affected the transition from the freezing blasts of the north to the torrid atmosphere of the south. Here, in this salubrious cline, the happy farmer can, in a literal sense. ''sit under his own vine and fig tree" protected alike from the extremes of heat and cold, and by the forest-clad hills, he can live in peace and plenty, and enjoy the l-,t- ~f s. Io,
 It can safely be said that Arkansas has no superior in point of varied ad- vantages and unlimited resources.
 Arkansas has been maligned and un- derestimated in the North, but now she is emerging from this false obscurity, and shines as bright as any star in our national constellation. In education, in agriculture, in art, in business tact and ability, in all that conduces to the material prosperity and well being of a commonwealth, she is unexcelled.
 Arkansas, as shown by the govern ment statistics. is second among the southern states in cotton raising, and produces more to the hand than any other state. This staple product of the sVuth, thC hpOi tohSS VI "hiSii bo iiC commercial, industrial and business circles in our state, can scarcely be overestimated enters into the agricult- ural labors of about 65 of the D counties in the state.
 The following table gives at glance the idea of extent, and it's adaptation to diversified interests:
 Npmher of acres % 50o OOo Number of acres Of timber land .... ls 0oo,o 900 Number Of acres under cultivation. 800, 900 Number Of acres adapted to fruit grow
 Ing .....................lo loOO0,OOO Number of acres of government lands 4000, 900 Number of acres of state lands. i,364,0Oo Number of acres of coal lands ......... 2500,0o0 Number of acres of iron ore lands. 100000 Number Of acres of prairie lands. ..... s00,0OO
 Such vast acreage necessarily inn plies marked distinction in topograph- ical features
 About 32 per cent of the tillable land of the state is cultivated, and less than bper cent of the whole area can be de- nominated non-fertile. This estimate includes both mountain and swamp lands. For soil classification the state may be divided into four grades.
 First, alluvial or valley soil, that ag- gregates COCO, 900 acres. This extends along the river courses and contains the aggregated richness of the vast areas of vegetable growth that have been accommodating for ages, rich in all mineral and vegetable elements neces- sary to the growth of cotton, cereals, vegetables and fruits. Here flourish the great cotton plantations of the state, rom which is derived a greater divi- oeno In agricultural returns than from almost any other section of the Union.
 second, about l6,000,000 acres are embraced in tine plateau, rolling Or niiiy lands usually comprised in the generic term of uplands. These lands contain great amount of vegetable mould occasionally red from oxide of iron, slight admixture of sand, easily sui'iVated and very productive. Here haywood, hickory, maple and pine find
 congenial home, and the farmer re- !o'ces In exuberent crops of cotton, 'orn' wheat, oats fruits and berries.
 ihrd' mountain soil, contradictory may seem, when measured by the VT oehSr ruRRtu stdttS, IS cA- s,eulngly rich, where the angle is not ss0soiutely precipitous. Heavily tim .,eu It Is consequently rich in humus. nii valleys and parks are fertile beyond leure. ole Here wheat, apples ard .,oVer constitute grand duplication of ra. ne most favored sections of the north. ,.. als euiogy holds good of all the noun sa m sections. Nestling in mountain asironed plateaus are some of the
 s' fertile prairies of the state.
 .oarth, prairie land is mostly con- eu 70 Prairie, Lonoke and Arkansas aanues; avaa.; level in character and pro- clo~e s'iVe In quality. Here timothy, c,,,,' ei ana herdsgrass flourish. and fruit r;.s reJoices in keen competition sn,;. cotton and corn. Throughout it's nroa' extent, the character of the e,s st.,s vary, yet taken as a whole, no
 'sse m will surpass it.
 s,aae are within the borders of Ar lsns~s lsas over 100000 acres of pubic rrsss ss suoleet'to homestead entry. The f.r,;, proportion of these lands are
 s>' ana US new lines of commuai-