Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1902-12-22
!. GOSSIP BY GRAPHlC'S !
/. MAN ABOUT TOWN. :
J. j. !. 4 j, 4 T. i. j. !. ]. j. j. = i i l.

ne dtlcullOH Ol llle Mail ADout
Town was called to an old house at 314
West Third avenue, by one of the pres
ent employees of the Cotton Belt, who
stated that this house was the general
headquarters of tie Cotton Belt when
the road was first completed. The
| road was first a narrow gauge and the
| first train passed through Pine Bluff
| local one way, before that time, how
ever. bat the unfinished bridge across
vented through traffic. This old house
| was for some time the headquart
ers of A. E. Buchanan. who had two
oftices-one in Arkansas and the 9th
1r in Texas. He was the head man for
| Il e. Arkansas and Missouri divisions,
and maintained chief clerk at each
headquarters Mr.. II. Riley was, at
| that time. the local agent. c.. F. Stew
ems was chief engineer of the system
at that time. and his Office was also
| in this building. The chief train dis
| hatcher was also located here and his
pane was w. H. Gossell, since died.
| Ed IedWidge was chief clerk. and w.
A. Lee, who is now connected with the
| Light and Water company, was his as
| sistant. The house was built about
| 1S47 by Judge J. Stevens, who was a
oarpeter by trade, but engaged in 9TH
er business and was about 1852 elected
probate judge of Jefferson county.
Judge Stevens was an excellent char
acter. When the Cotton Belt came
| through Pine Bluff this was the only
available building the company could
get, and the house was secured at a
rental of SIS per month, and Mrs. Stev-
ems, who still resided in the house,
moved into the corner house on the
west. which she also owned and the
company took charge The depot, at
that time was located on the pres
| ent site, and was an old wood frame
| building, which was burned few
years ago. The locomotives at that
| time We're wood burners. One of the
men then employed, told of a wash
| out WHICH occurred February /. 1884,
| and the. whole countl'5 va, submerged.
no al; RI rod
that trains were not a.lt TO resume
business until about Am. /, of the
same year The Oh louse is still
owned by one of the d"Ughters of
| Judge Stevens. who :sow resides in
| Texas. and is occupied at present
| by a colored family.
A notable visitor in Pine Bluff is
| Mr.. Peter b. McCarty. of Kansas City,
Mo. Mr. McCarty is secretary of the
| Southwestern Fireman's association,
and is also a travelling man, represent
ing the New York Betting and Pack
ing company. AS secretay of the
| firemans association. Mr. McCarty is
one OF the prime movers of the annual
fireman's tournament which is held at
Kansas City. and which yearly attracts
attention Of the country. Kansas City
is the home OF the Paris exposition
prize winning team of firemen. and
is Justly proud of the laurels won by
! its representatives and the annual
tournament held there. Mr.. McCarty
was in Pine Bluff last spring on busi-
ness trip and at that time interested
the Pine Bluff firemen in making an
effort to attend the tournament, and
by the next one, which will be held in
June he is confident that Pine Bluff
will have representatives there. Mr..
McCarty is one of the best known rub
Der hose statesmen who makes Pine
Bluff, and he has many friends here.
+ +
/ j. c. Dukes, the editor of the Pine
Bun Herald. negro organ, stated yes
terday that the plan to consolidate
| the local negro newspapers was to
TE1 up money enough TO make it pos
>;tle to run d,,ily for six months,
&nd if within that time j; proved sue
cess they would continue The plan
seems feasible and shows enterprise
on the part Of the colored people.
! ------
Better be good, little ehilluns.
Chris mus is comm erlone: