The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1903-08-13
The West as We Saw II.


through some of the finest farming
land in the United States. Twelve
years ago much of the land through
which passed was in forest and swamp
with small farms cleared up, and was
worth from five to twenty dollars per
acre; but since that time large tracts of
forest have been removed, swamps
have been drained, the land has been
brought into cultivation and is worth
now anywhere from fifty to one hun
dred dollars per acre. Along the road
are several towns doing great eal of
business, where twelve years ago only
a small country store and house or
two could be seen; and, where cypress,
gum and other trees then flourished, |
saw fields of fine cotton and corn.
l shall not say anything about Little
Rock, further than it is thriving
town, and that inquiry among the
working men showed me that firemen
and brakemen on railroads are much in
demand, and that laborers of all kinds
are greatly desired; also that labor in
all branches of labor are high.
From Little Rock l went into Lon
oke county, staying there nearly
week, and going thence to Monroe
county, where | struck the Cotton
Belt Road at Brinkley.
Having been quite we'll acquainted
with that section of Arkansas twelve
and more years ago, / desired to exam
inc it somewhat carefully, that | might
note the changes and improvements
made, and therefrom get fair idea of
the changes throughout the state.
The much greater part of the people
used to know were still living and
were looking well and hearty. The
health of the country they said, had
steadily improved as it was cleared up,
and would continue to improve. Broad
stretches of prairie and acres of forest
land have been cut up into small farms
and put into cultivation, producing
good crops of wheat, oats, corn and
cotton; and comfortable cottages, half
hidden in orchards and vineyards dot
the landscape, while cattle and sheep
Craze in the fields. Wild prairie land,
which sold for five dollars per acre five
years ago, sold for fifteen dollars per
acre last spring, and all lands have
risen in value. The farmers are, for
the most part, in easy circumstances,
and, while not rolling in wealth, the
people seem to be prosperous and con-
tented.
If am asked what the price of land
is in that section, my reply is: "Any-
where from two and one-half to one
hundred and twenty five dollars an
acre. Improved lands close to good
of transportation are dear; but other
lands, equally as good by nature, are
cheap.
How can this be? 1t is because there
are thousands Of acres of land that are
still in timber and unimproyed, wait
ing to be developed. There are not
enough people, by thousands, in Ar
kansas and Texas to clear up and cul-
tivate the lands. Those there have all
they can do on the farms already OPP
ened, and thousands Of homesteads are
ready for those who choose to go and
purchase them,
Last spring, Mr.. Editor, when the
Federation of Women's Clubs held its
session in Johnson City, | listened
with great interest to the several re-
perts on the work already accomplished
by the ladies, and what they still hoped
to do, also with great interest to thu
remarks on tlfe ends, aims and objects
of the Federation and of the severa
clubs composing it. ! was surprised
at the amount of work they had done
at the wide range of their intentions
and endeavors, and | thought that, i
our men would look upon their fellow
men and at the purposes and obliga
tions Of human life through the eyes o
these good women, the world would b
pure, righteous, prosperous and happy
Among the papers and remarks tina
interested me most during the proceed
ings of that meeting were those tha
told of work among the mountaineers
describing them as warm hearted
hospitable, kind, passionate, revenge
full, ignorant and poverty -strickel
people, wishing for better things tha
d they have, whose longing, wistful eye
tell almost as sorrowful story as i
told by the said eyes of the savage.
The means proposed to uplift ther
we're to go among them aud educat
them where and as they area goo
. plan so far as it goes; but, Mr.. Editor
p people, who live in poverty in thi
country, must live in comparative idle
ness, and the idle, slothful man ls, as
r rule, incapable of being improved.
Then thought, as | listened, VIII
should the children of these people, &
they grew up, dig ginseng, pick be-
ries and grow miserable crops on poe
hillsides for means of support {
drift into mining aud lumber camp
or into towns, earning bare living q
day laborers, the majority of the
learning vices which, added to the il
norance already darkening their mind