The Green Forest tribune., 1903-01-24
OUR PEOPLE ENTHUSIASTIC
State Horticultural Delegates to
 Receive the Best We Have.


 The mass meeting Monday night was not as we'll attended as it seems that circumstances un- der which it was called would de- mand, but there was quite a rep resentative crowd out, and the enthusiasm displayed on the sub- ject of horticulture and the enter tainment of the people who come here to attend the meeting of the state society was quite gratifying to those who are making a local effort for the success of this meeting.
 The house was called to order by E. s. Foreman, chairman of the committee on arrangements, and c. B. Grim was chosen chair man of the meeting. In prefac- ing his statement of the object he had in view in calling the cit- izens together, MT. Foreman said that only few years ago that this section was isolated to the extent that it was practically a little kingdom, commercially speaking, of it's own. That we made our markets, consuming our own products to a large ex- tent; that agricultural products have in times past been known to bring even better prices in and around Green Forest than they were quoted at in the great trade centers of the country. That the money dropped by freighters and travellers and that circulated on account of a few stock driven out constituted the money with which the business of the country was done. We neither bought nor sold to a large extent, and that in the semi easy going state of affairs not much change was needed.
 But the coming of the railroad, he said, has wrought wonderful change of conditions. The coun- try is poorer at the present time from commercial standpoint than it has ever been before. We have been thrown in competition with the corn and wheat belt in the production of grain and as result grain can be shipped in here cheaper than it can possibly be raised consequently the home market for corn and wheat has been obliterated and that the people are now all buyers with practically nothing to sell. That few hogs are shipped out only to be brought back to us from the packing houses, we paying freight both ways and the packers a big profit, and naturally the country is drained of money and a strengency is felt in every line of business.
 The new condition, he declared, must be met with new methods. The sluce of money that is going out all the time must be counter acted by the creation of one that will bring money in. We cannot do it by raising corn and wheat for our section is not adapt ed to it. In the grain belt one man can raise more than ten can here. Experience of others has proven that this country is unex- celled for fruit and that the re- demption of the country must needs lie in the planting of or- chards. Benton and Washing ton have demonstrated that it is not only bread winning avo- cation but that hundreds and hundreds of farmers over there have absolutely grown rich at the business. This country must wake up to the advantages to which nature has SO lavishly adapted it, and instead of a poor country growing poorer every day We can make it fabulously rich.
 Mir. Foreman stated that the object of bringing the horticul- turists of the state here was to try to diffuse an interest among our people on the subject of fruit raising and to show people who