The Harrison times., 1900-07-07

ness or professional standing at
their home, as the case NAV be.
But the business or professional
standing, to the contrary notwith
standing, as individuals or as class.
they. act upon the principle of
all things being fair in the war
made upon q rival 6efSS S,szld for
that reason go back upon the Ar
kansas country as mineral pro-
positions. They do this from a sense
of desperation, which sometimes
overtakes sober business men whose
investments are threatened by rival
interests of an another count ).
Or, in substance, they become
ratified" over what they see in Ar
kansas, and throw at its mineral
territory, boomerang type of critic
ism, without taking time to reflect,
that it is sure to return to plague
them with criticism of their own
territory, of which it is in con-
sequence implied that it is in need of
such means of defense.
The moral of it all is this: Not
withstanding, in certain quarters,
any attack on the Arkansas field is
rolled under the tongue as a
sweet morsel, and thereafter the
widest possible circulat ton given to
it, it is a fact, that its miners and
mine owners, who are its local au-
thorities, have always been in
dulgent toward people who make
clumsy and groundless attacks on
the mineral character of the country.
They have been inspired to this
course, by the fact of many author
tiles who have left behind them fair
and fragrant memories. They NAV
not have expressed, in public or in
private, fattering opinions of the
country, but it was seen from the
outset, that no matter what the
conclusion might be, the quality of
their Judgment would not be
strained.
They were candid with themselves
and hewed to the line, no matter
where the chips might fall. And
when, afterwards, it was seen that
they had erred in their determina-
.:----,--I---a------s- -Seeucu1eur.
The reason of their mistake was
apparent, and there was nothing
further to say; excepting as it might
have been necessary to point out
missing links in the chain ofevidence.
upon which all mineral territory
must depend their claim to public
notice. But which omission had es-
capped the notice of the beholder, or
which had been overlooked by those
who had served as guides in the spe-
cial or general round of the country.
1t is in fact, (the present develop
ment of the Arkansas feld) a case
OF a country, with but few friends at
court, which has gained upon public
notice simply by reason of its merit
There have been no intricacies or
subtle plans of prom ters, to compli-
cate the situation for outsiders, who
desired to get in on the ground floor.
And the men who have made it the
country it is. at its present stage of
development, have labored tor it up
on meritorious grounds, without
thought of such immediate conse-
quences, as an irrestible movement,
which was to bring them abundant
mining capital, railroad connections,
and an appropriation from Con-
gress; of 81 100000 for the improv-
ments OF their river way outlet to
market.
And, as to the other side of the
story, it follows in this case, as it
does in business adventure in gen
eral, that some one from too long
waiting has row and then given
up his place among menvwho
have put their money and labor into
the new mineral field of Northern
But with railroad con-
nections in sight, and improved nav
lgation of White river under head
way, tits the rule and not exception,
that such recalcitrants are ready to
rue their bargain, with 40 TO so per
cent added as compensation to
those who had bought from them.
They all do it, simply because it is
worth while.
And this is all there is to it. or the
whole thing, of the Arkansas coun-
try as rich ard inviting mineral
field, would have fallen through long
ago