The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1903-07-23

said to be for sale at from $3.50 to $500
per acre, that can be cleared up and
converted into fine farms in the space
of from three to five years
My companion was, however, most
strongly impressed by the beautiful
prairie farms around Stuttgart, in Ar
kansas county, and it was indeed a
beautiful sight to see, as far as the eye
could reach level fields clothed with
green crops, dotted with pretty farm
houses, surrounded by orchards and
vineyards and having near to each barn
tall windmill ready to draw up pure,
soft water from the living lake lying
deep down under the prairie land.
We saw many good towns and sew
eral large lumber plants, where the
mills were saving and shaping millions
of feet per day, and hundreds of cars
were being loaded for the different
markets. We saw cotton-gins and bal
ing presses, but they are idle now; for
from an agricultural standpoint the
work now going ON is that of prepare
tion-the work done with pillow and hoe
getting ready for sales later on. We
saw many melons and some fruit,
mostly apples. Grapes do not seem to
be ripe yet, and the peaches were a
failure this year, the late spring frosts
having made sad havoc of that crop.
Eyed down in Texas, around Tyler and
Jacksonville, there were but few
peaches. l was told that the peach in
dustry in the last named section as all
industry, had only been in operation
for four or five years, and that this is
the first time they have been affected
by the frost; that frosts, so late as they
were last spring, have not affected that
section before within s or 10 years past.
We know that it was a remarkably cold
spring in our own section, and the
same condition seems to have been
general.
AS we neared Texarkana darkness
came on and my friend, after taking his
last look out of the window, leaned
back in his chair and remarked, per-
haps for the twentieth time: l don't
see why my people work their poor
hills instead of coming to this country"
/ said: perhaps it is on account of
health. You know this country is said
to be full of chills and fevers."
He replied: 81 have thought of that
and have been looking out for signs of
such diseases. Now when / was in
Florida, every where on the fences and
posts, or any where that a sign could
be put up, you could see Or. Some
body or-the- Others chill cure, or ma
malaria cure, put up; but have not
seen such an advertisement today.
Besides, I have watched the people,
and they are large, strong looking men
and women, seemingly as healthy as
any in our section. The young mer
and ladies are handsome and pretty
with bright eyes and compilations, moi
showing the jaundiced look of people
subject to bilious troubles. Now thai
bridal party at Stuttgart, from the ole
people bidding their daughter good
! bye, to the young men and womer
, throwing rice, offering congratulations
to the bride and groom and bubbina
over with fun, and on down to thu
bright faced little fellow that threw al
old shoe at the bride as she stepped OF
the train, and burst into merry laugh
ter, was as strong, as healthy, as fnC
, looking, as handsome, as pretty and al
| happy party as ever saw. No! These
! people may sometimes have chills an(
fevers and other malarial troubles, an(
8 doubtless they do; but they can't b.
worse than other troubles are in on
. section, for these people show as mucl
7 freedom from disease and as mucl
+ physical strength as any I have eve
, seen.
! My friend parted from me at Texar
, kama, and, as have not, on the res
. of my trip been with such another com
panion, as the rest of my remarks mus
a be based on my own observations, an,
! as this communication is already lon
: enough, shall close here.
= G. L. LEE.