The Mena weekly star., 1908-07-09
THROUGH THE
 COSSATOT VALLEY
Good Roads and Bad Ones Beautiful Mountain Country With Happy. Prosperous and Hospitahle
 People.


 portions of Polk county and in some ways the most delightful. Any lover of the beauties of green mountains, clear flowing streams and wooded hills and valleys could but relish such journey. and both Mir. Parker and the writer are among that class. Incidentally the country referred to, Faulkner and Gap Springs town ships, were the old home grounds of MT. Parker for many years, he hav- ing lived there and taught school and hunted the game with which the section then abounded immediately after coming to Arkansas from the swamps of Mississippi, where the health of himself and family had made living well nigh out of the question. Let it be here stated that but few months in the mountains of Polk county brought back bound ing health, strength and happiness to one and all.
 The first nights stop was at the home of J. s. Lawrence near Eber- son City Shady postoffice). Here the travellers found fried chicken, green beans, milk and honey snd lots of good things to eat, and all prepared by the young men of the family, Mir. Lawrence having been a widower for more than seven years, and all of that time save the lst two, before his oldest daughter married, living with his boys and two little daughters of 8 and II years, each sharing the household duties according to their strength and ability. Their success is re- markable. Mir. Lawrance is a pros porous, wide-awake farmer and has been constant reader of The Star for more than ten years.
 The assessment work here was at Gap Springs school house, and then the journey was taken up down the beautiful Cossatot and over the rug ged hills toward Hartley.
 A short stop over night was made at the home of J. M. Watkins, who has one of the very best farms on the Cossatot river. This year he has 45 acres of cotton and a good acreage of corn, all looking fine. Mir. and Mrs. Watkins are blessed with a family of bright boys and girls, the nearness of the fine noun tain stream being only a benefit. not the least of which is a supply of fine fish.
 A Fine Mountain Road.
 The road between Shady and the Cassatot at the Watkins farm was so to that usual in the hills of Polk county as to cause frequent re- marks and inquiry. It was learned that it was built six and more years ago under the direction of F.. T. Avants, at that time road overseer for that district. This is the best road found in Polk county, and stands today a monument to Mir. Avants and the industrious workers of the district. It has withstood the rains and use of six years with but little repair work.
 Soon after crossing the Cossatot for the last time on the way to Hartley and Holly school house the roads become very bad indeed, being in places all but impossible for and there was much com plaint of the inactivity of the over seer, but it is promised that work will soon begin.
 In addition to the heavy grades on these roads they wind about among the hills in wonderful fashion, but all made necessary by the hills and valleys. In one instance it is said that in going eight miles as the crow flies. one travels g miles over the roads, but the old mail trail saves half the distance. It may we'll be said that the more one becomes ac- quainted with these old trails the greater respect one has for the en- ability of the early settlers who choose their routes through the It is doubtful if the best of the graduates of the engineering schools with modern instruments could have selected shorter routes or easier grades.
 Two stops were made for assess ment work in Faulkner township, the night intervening being spent with s. k. Parsons and family, where the travellers were made most well come by all.
 Mir. Parsons is an old Confederate soldier, having lost an arm in the battles for the cause he loved. With A. A. Bearden, his son-in-law he still conducts the farm from which he has