The Brinkley argus., 1907-11-08
PROGRESSIVE COTTON
 PLANT.
An ARGUS Representative
 Writes of the Town.

spent a day and nignt reCeity hit "'e nrosoerous town of Cotton Plant; and the conclusion was inevitable that the place is most appropriately named, For while nearly all other parts of eastern Arkansas are gathering only about one- fourth of bale of cotton per acre, the farmers about Cotton Plant picking from half bale to a bale per acre, and corn is correspond inpIy good. So the farmers and merchants and people generally of this part of the world are riding on the top wave of prosperity Nearly every farmer will have more or less surplus money after paying all expenses for the year.
 Business, notwithstanding the temporary money stringency, is fairly good with all the merchants, and the oil mill which employees number of men. is running day and night.
 The two gins of the town are run ming almost up to the limit of their capacity, and with the new Missouri & North Arkansas Railroad building through the town, no man who wants work need be an hour without employ ment at good wages.
 | A fine district court house, built of beautiful brick, and in accordance with the latest method of architecture, adorns a neat lawn, on the main street in the west part of town. This building is a more substantial and pretentious affair than the central court house of many counties and Is monument to the push and energy of the citizens of Cotton Plant
 Another building winch should be the joy and pride of every patriotic citizen is the new brick high school building. just completed this year. It is also located in the west part of town, and must have cost twenty or twenty-five thousand dollars, if one can judge from appearances. It is a two-story structure. fronting the south, beautiful in architectural design. com modious in every particular, and pre- sents most imposing appearance. It is adequate to the needs of a town of much larger size, and therein is displayed the wisdom of those who designed 1t; for allowance is made for a much larger growth of the town, and we preJict that this growth will be realized in the very near future.
 Another institution that should command the respect and support of every person, whether white or black, who loves his country and its moral, intellectual, and temporal advance ment and uplift, is the Cotton Plant Industrial Academy. This is an in- stitution founded by the Presbyterian Church for the industrial intellectual, and moral training of colored youth, and its work has been going on for a number of years The. present head of the school is Rev. w. A. Byrd. who is graduate of Princeton, and a most successful educator of his people. He is also. at present, pastor of the colored Presbyterian church of Cotton Plant.
 The Academy has two dormitories, one for girls and one for boys. That one for girls Is neat and substantial orick structure, newly finished and with modern conveniences such as steam-heating, etc. It has ac. commodations for about forty girls, besides the rooms for the President and his family. Other buildings are the dining room. kitchen and the laundry room. Ample grounds with a farm adjacent thereto afford plenty of room for recreation and opportunity for work. All the manual labor, such as cooking, washing, ironing. sewing, farming, dairyIng, wood-cutting. etc.. is carried on by the students them 1 selves under the supervision of the teachers. Thus. the school very wisely and properly trains to habits of industry and skill in common. every day employments. So that while gain ing in knowledge. the pupils at the same time are taught the dignity and importance of manual labor. An education that trains hand and heart