The Forrest City times. [volume] (Forrest City, Ark.) 1871-1919, 1903-11-13


here we found some Ene land some un-
der cultivation but mostly grown up in
timber and cane, but with the best
timber taken Off. This land oyerflows.
but We believe in time will be redeemed.
There are many opportunities for good
Investments in lands, aud like oppor-
tunities for bad investments, and the
best plan for anyone contemplating in
vestments there would be to 60 and see
for themselves.
The farming is done mainly by the
| negroes, but most of the farms are
owned by the white men who either
rent the land to the "niggersn or hire
them to do the work. Here and there.
however, We found white farmer.
Most Of the merchants there do what
is called furnishing business, in
one sense "A credit system. When a
darkey rents farm he will make ar
rangements with some merchant TO
| furnish him with the necessaries of
life while he is making his crop or cot
ton, the crop stands good for the debt
and where man rents farm the rent
is the first lien upon the crop, which
matters are regulated by special state
laws. AS rule darkey is given
about 500 credit on the prospects of "a
crop he can tend with one mule. If
the prospects are for q good crop his
credit will be extended to about $50
These merchants either personally or
through overseers are kept informed as
to the condition of his customers crops
until it is harvested. Under these con.
ditions most of the darkies have the
value of their crops traded up by the
time it is harvested, but some of the
better managers have some money left :,
while scattered here and there are some
wealthy darkies, who own their own
farms, or engaged in some business or
profession.
Here we are reminded of few facts
regarding the race question. The
southerner, Of course, will not tolerate
the idea Of treating the colored race on
the grounds of social equality, but
aside from that they treat him with .
certain degree of respect, and in fact,
from what we saw we are inclined to
believe that the darkies around Forrest
City live better and have by tar better
opportunities in the south than in
many places in the north.
Just now Arkansas is in the heat of
a bitter state campaign by the demo-
Gratis. The state being so strongly
deuocratic, the nomination is equiva-
| lent to an election, so that great inter-
| est is centered Oh the present campaign
for nominations. 1t was our good for
tune to hear the three candidates for
governor. viz; the present incumbent,
jeff Davis, who is running for his
third term; Carroll d. Wood, at pres
ent Judge of the Supreme Court, and
Mr. Vandeventer, eX-speaker OF the
house of representatives. These gen.
tlemen all spoke the same afternoon at
the courthouse. and, although all
democrats, they became very bitter
ana personal in their remarks 1t is
said to be one Of the most bitter cam
paigns IN the history of the state
Before closing this article we must
again thank the Delano boys aud their
families for their many acts of kindness
while we were their guests.
Others who contributed to our en-
tertainment were the following:
+. a. Short, a jeweler. Mr.. Short,
unlike his name implies, is six feet
tall. lie formerly lived in Mississippi
but not at Byhalia,) and was well ac-
quainted with DR.. Joseph Applewhlte,
deceased brother of the late Judge
Applewhite of this place.
w. II. Aldridge, merchant. and fam
lily, with whom we spent very pleas
ant evening and listened to many real
bear stories, of Mr. Adridge's own ex.
perience.
w. r. McCrary and wife, who by
the way are not over forty years of age,
and are the parents of ten children, al
living. AS an Illustration of the health
of that section, Mr.. McCrary informed
us that his doctor bill for this year was
only 50 so.
James III. Alley, farmer, who was in
Morgan's raid through this section.
Nh Alley remembers being at Salem,
where he took possession of buggy
belonging TO someone there.
Paul Pope, "A clerk, who Travelled with
Dick Long with an orchestra through
the south last season.
The following other persons, who
were also very courteous to It's While
there, are deserving of special mention
Dr.. Mcknight, sheriff of the county; T.
c. Merwin, Probate Clerk, an officer
similar to our County Recorder; q. b.