The Forrest City times., 1898-02-25


 road Legislation
 Easing prediction on the great strides
 the south made the past year in foreign .rade and increase of manufactures, it :, safe to say that there will be still ,reater enlivenment in all fields of in Sustrial activity the present year. New
 Enpland cotton mills are tending this
 way. and it is conceded by the best
 informed manufacturers that the south ;s the coming field of iron production,
 AS well as steel, and will soon be in
 form to dictate the price of these pro-
 ducts Railroad construction continues
 unchecked in many southern states,
 and while this section has experienced
 no sudden outbursts of prosperity, such
 AS have marked certain sections of the
 grain producing west and the manu.
 featuring centers of the east, it has felt
 to an appreciable extent little breezes
 and whiffs in various localities and
 departments, and the signs are that
 large share of prosperity will follow in
 due time A general impression pre-
 yails that the south can now, with
 timely and proper effort on her part,
 enter upon a career of development
 never dreamed of. Arkansas has special
 reason to feel the glow of satisfaction
 at the outlook. Geographical and
 other natural advantages combine to
 make her queen of the realm. Oppor-
 tunities lie open to the people for
 acceptance which they cannot afford to
 disregard. Other southern states have
 set an example which the people of
 Arkansas should follow. A convention
 of the business and public spirited peo-
 pie of Georgia was held recently in
 Atlanta for the purpose of discussing
 business questions with view of in-
 ducing capitalists to establish certain
 manufacturing plants in that state. A
 movement was also started for obtain
 ing an amendment to the state consti-
 tuition exempting such plants from tax
 ation for term of years. At Shreve-
 port, La, also, joint meeting of the citizens and board of trade was held for the purpose of discussing industrial improvement and ways and means to draw capital and immigration to that section of country, which was reported
 as being the most important meeting ever held there as to practical results. It is plainly evident that business and industrial classes of the south are giv- ing more thought to improvement than ever before. The present year is des- tined to go into history as an epoch of progress in the south. Impetus has been given to the progressive move
 ment in Arkansas by the liberality and enterprise of the St. Louis Southwest ern railway in aid of the Omaha expo- sition. The people readily saw the opportunity this offer presented and they proceeded to grasp it with firm hold. Discussion of the Omaha expo- sition naturally leads to the discussion Of other topics akin to it, and the result IS general defiection of thought into lines of public improvement, causing a subsistence of political strain, in de- gree at least At a meeting of the com mercial league, recently held at Fort Smith, decided action was taken in refer ence to an exhibit at Omaha of the states resources on broad and comprehensive plan. To this end the following resolu- ton was passed:
 Thatit would be an injustice to our state to make only partial exhibit of it's agrian or agricultural resources but that all the products CT Arkansas should be represented at the ex- position. Accordingly the commercial league oi Fort Smith heartily indorses the action of Inc state commissioners in deciding to have a state exhibit and we will lend their efforts our enthusiastic support, and we would respect iuny urge them and the people Of the state to immediate and earnest effort"
 In all parts of the state the people are Tn line with the sentiment expressed oythe commercial league of Fort Smith. striking evidence of changed sen ument regarding hostile legislation toward railroad corporations rises spon- taneously in all parts of the south Doth Georgia and Texas went on record last season as opposed to the politician who wins votes in posing as the friend oi the plain people by advocating meas ures having for their purpose design oih hJure railroads by placing upon them unjust limitations. Tennessee has fol- lowed the example of Texas and Geor- gla by refusing to enact law to in- crease the assessment of railroad prop erty m that state in an unjust manner speaking of this proceeding a recent issue of the St. Louis Republic says: me legislature is evidently not In sympathy N,lh the radical legislation affecting railroads ateh HoYernor Taylor proposed and urgently usooated. Two pet measures proposed by the sosernor were knocked out. The senate re- @ ~eleu oill which had passed the house, ap- s.s s.o'lhg and adopting the railroad commission vss aSsscssments Of railroad property for last et sao these these assessments showed an increase vio., VooVOo over the assessments of the pre- rrinHss var A more stunning rebuke was ad- rnistered In the house, however where a h,n4llIe proposed in retaliation for suits nstas,, failed Tor want of constitutional Toaa ,y' nny This bill proposed to give the rail- resssu SoiuihiSsloners power to back assess and So .e.s railroad property for three years back I theS diiSuent were the bills supporters that mipts,alea ssllea amendments that the law be ad- and hee.eu ID accordance with the constitution An @. assessments be equalzed."
 ni these records point to reversal seAon and revulsion of sentiment "n'ch Is highly creditable to the legis- sures of the south. Just legislation aja js ooth people and corporations will tha ooth people and corporations. and
 ras,S rae citizens of the south are coming to 4