Durango semi-weekly herald., 1901-03-28
IN THE LAND OF
THE RAZOR BACK HOO
ON THE FLY. March 10.

~ Aa'b = ~ AtaI I'll Ao
We are fast nearing the land where
peach trees are in bloom and vegeta-
ton generally is well advanced. For
many miles we have been riding
through wooded section, dotted here
and there with farm houses, or rath-
Ell huts. In many instances, and we are
reminded OF the Arkansas traveller
VINO put in his time fiddling.
we left st. Louis over the st. Lou
is San Francisco line via Paris,
Texas. We passed through SOUTH
ern Missouri, fine agricultural sec
lion, with well kept farm houses and
IN air of prosperity. Fruit is one
>f the leading features and orchards
IRE noticed everywhere. At Spring
ieid Mr.. Fl. put in couple of days
where early childhood was spent.
Leaving Missouri and entering the
state or Arkansas 1t is not long be-
tore one recognizes quite a change.
Al one time the land was entirely coy
cred with timber and stumps are in
evidence in many of the agricultural
aeids. ana we are reminded how much
EASIER is to clear away sage-brush
rom La Plata county lands as we
observed men at work grubbing out
Stumps and roots. From the state
Inc to Eureka Springs, however,
there are many fine farming districts,
Dut between Eureka Springs and Ft.
smith. distance OF 1875 miles. we
are whirled through very uneven
country-hills. ravines and heavy
timber ha
OF some sections of Colorado. The
land is productive, but 1t costs money
TO clear It, Where cleared, this is
great peach section the land being
fertile.
Eureka Springs is the fashionable
resort for st. Louis people and Is In
ieed pretty spot. There are a few
other fair towns along the line. Fort
smith, where we changed to the Iron
Mountain road for Little Rock. is a
,ity of about 10000 population. Wait
ing for rtain gave us couple of
hours to look around. and we were
struck with the manner In which the
ity Is built up. In the first place
zen business portion consists OF but
one street, which runs north and
outh for over a mile, there being
solid line of business houses on ell
ther side. The street is broad and
one would naturally expect to run
across IA side street with a few stores.
but such is not the case. Substan-
tial awnings cover the sidewalk in
front of every store. The sun be-
comes very hot in the summer days,
and as much protection as possible
is provided against the heat. All
effects of the cyclone which partially
wrecked the city and killed q great
many people, have been obliterated,
and the storm Is an only an interest
Ing "Reminiscences for the Inhabitants
and causes the more or less cautious
tc seek places OF safety when heavy
storms put in an appearance. There
are numerous evidences OF storm-pro-
lection In the way OF cyclone cellars,
and the fear of the people is not to
be laughed at when one stops to
think OF the yearly damage and death
list.
Ft. Smith Is on the line OF Okla
homa. from which point mad rush
open to settlement 1t is on the Ar
kansas river, and two lines OF railway,
and outside Of this one wonders what
there Is in the surroundings to keep
up city of 10000 people.
1t is seven-hour journey from Fl.
Smith to Little Rock. and mostly
through n section OF rolling hills COW
cred with timber The usual num-
Der OF towns makes one wonder from
whence they derive their support. as
the country Is so sparsely settled,
but II does not take as much to keep
a southern town going as In Colorado
As rule over half the population IL
colored. and three.fOurths OF the col
oreh people are satisfied II they are
provided with one or two meals ahead
OF course ii Is noticeable-the pro-
viding OF separate cars for colored
people. and every depot has sepa-
rate waiting room for the different
races.
We naturally expected to see nu-
merous saw mills. but strange to say
only one was noticed. There IL a
vast area of timber ripe for the saw.
1t IL mostly oak and other hard wood.
although there is some pine. In the
woods "razorback" hogs. of which
we have all heard. were in evidence.
G. N. r.