davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1916-10-17

boundaries. This means that it costs
us more to transport our materials
than it does to buy them.
"In 1910 the second road district was
formed, and in this district there were
built ten miles of gravel pike. This
pike was built at an average cost of
"a 500 per mile. By acts OF the 1918
Legislature there were formed two
road districts in jefferson county, and
by the construction of the two
pixies we feel that jefferson county
has been placed on the map from a
highway standpoint. Road improve
ment district No. 5 was established
for the purpose of building 25 miles
of highway, southeast from Pine
| Bluff, to the Lincoln count yline.
"This road was constructed of a
3-inch rock base and 5-inch gravel
surface. The rock base gives the
/ highway a solid foundation, and the
/ clay gravel, which was obtained at
Benton, set up almost as hard as con-
crete. The smooth surface obtained
by the gravel makes automobiling a
pleasure, and withstands perfectly the
steel-tired wagon traffic. This road
was built at an average cost of $500
per mile.
A Concrete Pike.
Road Improvement district No.
was created for the purpose of i'm
proving % miles of highway north
west from Pine Bluff toward Little
Rock. In the construction of this
| highway we have diverged from the
general methods of highway improve
Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1916-10-17

ments in the south.
''The territory through which this
pike passes is the poor land of Jeffer-
son county, and is thinly populated.
Realizing that the majority of travel
on this road would consist of auto
traffic between Pine Bluff and Little
Rock, the commissioners realized that
they must build road to withstand
this traffic, it being a generally con-
coded fact that continued auto traffic
is source of destruction to a macad-
am or gravel road.
Consequently the commissioners
after thorough investigation, decided
to build a concrete road, and taking
into consideration the limited amount
of money expended, $1,000 per mile,
we think we have built an ideal pike.
"As engineer for these two road dis
tricts, | have watched with interest
the results which have been obtained
!, by their construction. The land val
| ues have increased wonderfully, es-
ipecially along the concrete pike,
where the values before it's construc-
ton were as low as S. per acre. These
lands are selling now from $25 to $50
! per acre.
Using the words OF farmer who
lives on the. concrete road, it seems
that the size of a load has ceased to
depend on what the mules can haul,
but rather depends on how much you
can load on the wagon, and the ability
! of the mules to keep out of the way
Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1916-10-17
S12 LAND YIELDS
RETURN OF S124.W

H. P. Tate, who recently estaolshed
himself at Grady Lincoln county, has
made record with a 40-acre tract
that proves conclusively that immense
profits can be made on farms IN this
section. Among the land purchased
by Mr.. Tate was q tract of 10 acres
for which he paid $12 an acre. Tie
spent $40 an acre in clearing 40 acres
and So an acre more for fencing.
He planted Triumph cotton on the
40 acres Mr.. Tate, who was In Pine
Bluff several days ago, says he obtain
ed bale to the acre. The cotton was
of a good grade, and be received ~
cents per pound. With seed at SA8
a ton, the return from this land, at
that rate, is approximately $124 per
acre.
And the land, cleaned and fenced,
cost Mr.. Tate only $27 per acre.
Mr.. Tate is confident that Jetfer-
son and Lincoln lands will continue
to increase in value for long time,
and is backing his judgment with
money. Last January he purchased
500 acres of bottom land, paying $14
an acre. Recently he refused $50 an
acre for the tract.
Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1916-10-17

.que's place, three miles below Pine
Bluff, was used. An election was
held in August of that year, and the
majority voted for Pine Bluff.
Antoine Barraque, who resided at
New Gascony, was among the very
early settlers. He had seen service
as an officer in the armies of Napo-
leon |. Barraque street was named
for him. Euclid Johnson was the first
circuit Judge.
Marvellous Development in Recent
Years.
The first railroad to be built was
the Little Rock, Mississippi River &
Texas, constructed in 1880, and now
Part of the Iron Mountain. Previous
to that time all goods were trans
ported by boat and overland by teams.
The St. Louis & Texas (now the Cot
ton Belt) was constructed thru JEFF
ferson county in 1885, and in 1887 the
branch from Altheimer was construct
ed, mainly thru the efforts of Louis
Altheimer, now residing in Little
Rock.
Marvellous changes have been
wrought as years have passed. Areas
once covered, by mighty monarchs of
the forest have been cleared and are
producing great crops of cotton, corn,
hay, oats, rice, alfalfa, cane, wheat and
all kinds of vegetables and fruits. Ma
cadam reads have taken the place of
trails thru the forests and autos
speed where once the indian treaded
his way; levees keep out the waters
that once drove the aborigines to high
ground. and great drainage canals
carry the waters from what was once
cypress brakes, and keep dry for Gull
tivaticn soil as fertile as any of the
famed valley of the Nile.
When one pauses to consider the
adaptabilit CT the soil and the gentle
climate CT Jefferson county, he does
not wonder that the Quapaws, back
yonder in 1918, placed greater value
on these 100000 acres than they did
on the remainder of their lands, COM
prising more than 29,000,000 acres.
No further proof is needed of the ac-
curacy of the historians statement
that the "Quapaws are the most high
.ly civilized" Indians. The Quapaws
finally obtained $500 in cash and
trade for the 100000 acres. Today
the lands of Jefferson county alone
are valued at more than $35, 100000,
and are worth more.
Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1916-10-17


Jefferson county is located a little
southeast of the center of Arkansas
AID intersected almost through the
center by the Arkansas river. It is
prevalent opinion tl9t river bot
tom farm is about the best class OF
farm q man can acquire, but in order
to cultivate this class of land, salts
faGtortly there are vast improve
ments necessary. and these improve
n'ents cost "a great deal of money
Unfortunately Jefferson county is a
land of plantations and the burden
of taxation for these improvements
necessarily fall ON a few men. I am
glad to say that in most cases these
estates are owned by progressive men
wac realize that in order to supply
the increased demand for foodstuffs
and cotton fabrics u is necessary to
cultivate everv possible acre.
.eT'opogr,p hicall Jefferson county
is divided into three sections. name
ly-the western portion IS in the hills,
and heavily timbered; the central
portion and the land lying immedi-
ately along the Arkansas river in
cludes the cultivated lands. witch
have been in cultivation for many
years: the eastern portion includes
the swamp lands which are heavily
timebered.
Flood Protection.
Very naturally the first improve
ment which was brought to the at
tention of the laad owners was the
proposition of protecting their cult
waited lands from the high waters of
the Arkansas river. which were de-
stroying q crop every three or four
years.
Now then, TO remedy THIS condi-
ton of affairs, it was necessary to
build approximately 100 miles of levee
and to mortgage the lands in the
overlooked region fora million dol
lars Very naturally there was oppo-
tea to this movement but the perse-
verance of the. parties interested won
out, and today there is not one prop
erty holder in the levee districts who
would be willing 10 tear down the
leyees and again subject his lands
to the ravages of this. river, even
though his assessments were doubled
or trebled. Right here let me impress
on the the minds of the representa-
tives from those counties where le-
wee and drainage work are not nee
essary. this fact: Here is limited
territory. not half the area of your
county. spending s1,000.000 just to
keep the river water Off Now how
many miles of permanent highways
in Your county would an expenditure
Of ic civ hfJi1dC xx-n11ld h.1irI yn1
a complete system.
Drainage Investments Profitable.
After the levees were built, the
Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1916-10-17

Social conditions in the country are
GOOD. There are 128 rural schools
representing an investment of $685.
12O. and which cost about $40, 900 an
nually to maintain. Pine Bluffs
schools meet every requirement. Both
rural and city schools are devoting
greet attention to agricultural work
cooperating with the two federal
farm demonstration agents and the
canning club agent.
More than 100 miles of macadam
and concrete pike have been construct
ed, and dirt roads are maintained in
GOOD condition.
Nearly every religious denomination
is represented among the churches,
which are active, energetic bodies
Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1916-10-17
II TONS OF CORN
SILAGE PER ACRk

A record yield of corn for silag
was procured by C. F. Faucet on hill
land. From one small tract, Mr.. Eau
cett cut IT tons an acre, the aver
age yield for the entire tract being
IA tons. A yield of eight and ten
tons an acre is about the general ay.
erage.
Mr.. Faucet, who utilizes the ad.
vantages of the farmers cooperative
demonstration service Of the govern
ment and University of Arkansas, has
obtained a yield of 492 bushels Of
sweet potatoes to the acre
Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1916-10-17
s35 LAND EQUAL
TO THE 5000 KIND

L. B. Cheney, who recently pur-
chased the Gocio place at Reydel, is a
keen business man and progressive
farmer who has had experience in sew
eral other states. Consequently, his
opinion on comparative land values is
worthy of consideration. Mr.. Cheney
declares that Jefferson county land
which can be purchased for S35 and
$40 an acre will produce as much as
Ohio, Kansas and Nebraska lands SELL
ing for 5000 an acre.
Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1916-10-17

| land owners in the northern and east
realize the serious need of futtneg
Improvements in the nature o. drain
! age canals to carry off the surplus
waters. Consequently plans were
drawn to relieve practically all Of the
wet lands of the county through one
large drainage system. Unfortunate
| ly this movement met with so much
opposition that after the expenditure
of about $4,000 IN plans, surveys,
etc. the project was abandoned, but
let me say, this money was not vast
ed. 1t brought the attention of the
people to the contested WAGER cond1-
tons that existed in these portions
of our county. 1t made our citizens
study the drainage problem from all
standpoints, and by looking into the
results that had been obtained thru
comprehensive drainage systems IN
our more progressive states both
from a standpoint of health and in
creased productivity of the soil, they
began to dig drainage canals.
sit has been my good fortune during
the past four years to have been con-
nected with the construction Of about
200 miles of drainage canals In Jeffer-
son and Lincoln counties. | have gone
into these territories when about the
only inhabitants were mosquitoes,
snakes and a few negroes. Now what
does proper drainage do for these
territories?
IN the first place, the lands are
now possible OF cultivation. They
are cleared up, ard instead OF being
a continual source of expense to their
owners, they are now q source OF
revenue. / need not say that these
lands after proper drainage are much
which have been in cultivation for
many years.
Lake Becomes Mine.
"Just to show the immediate finan-
cial results obtained by the construc-
ton of drainage canals | will take
for an example the drainage of
Grassy lake, which lies in the Water
loo drainage district of jefferson. coun-
ty. Due to the peculiar topograph-
zeal conditions that existed in this
territory, we were enabled to build
our main canal II feet below the bot
tom of the lake. The land comprised
in this lake amounted to about 1900
that it had never been sectionized.
This land, since the construction of
this canal, is worth at the very low
est conservative estimate, 500 per
acre. Now here is 100000, or two
thirds the cost of the entire district,
saved in the drainage of just one lake.
"Now, gentlemen, here is another
expenditure of over half million dol
lars, to get rid Of surface waters and
we have only started to drain our
lands. This means that we have
spent one and three quarters millions
Of dollars before we could begin to
build good roads.
Building Good Roads.
"The first attempt at road building
in our county was made about 1909,
at which time there was constructed
ten miles of macadam road south
from Pine Bluff 1t was built at
cost of about $4,000, or $1,000 per
mile. The reason for the excessive
cost of our roads was due to the fact
that Jefferson county has absolutely
no natural road materials within her
Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1916-10-17
IL BALES OFF II
ACRES HILL LAND

Eleven bales of cotton off II acres
of hill land is the achievement of Mar
win Webb, who is farming the old
Lynn place, in the Faith neighbour
hood. Mr.. Webb sold the II bales of
lint for about S375. He still holds the
seed, which is worth about $3.50. This
brings Mr. Webb's total gross rev.
enue from the II acres to approx
mately SLIPS, which makes hill land
at from $40 an acre up very profit
able investment.
The yield is far above the average,
and was obtained by the use of hunlus.
which cost Nh Webb nothing except
the labor of hauling ITO loads from
the woods adjacent to the place.
Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1916-10-17
GROWING BEEF AND PORK.

The article headed Green
Pastures for Cattle and Hogs
Twelve Months in the Year in
Southeast Arkansas" for Inc
Graphic by w. C. L2ssetter, as
sistant director of farmers CO.
operative demons ration work
under the direction Of the eX-
tenn division of the University
of Arkansas and the United
States department of asrlculte.
Nj. Lassetter deals plainly with
conditions in this sec ion, which
combine to make pork and beef
growing profitable.
Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1916-10-17
IRISH POTATOES PAY WELL.

Irish potatoes grow we'll in this sec.
ton of Arkansas, as demonstrated by
the experiences of all farmers who
have cultivated this crop. Markham
brothers at Madding produced several
cars of potatoes this year, and had no
trouble disposing Of them in the big
markets at profitable prices.
Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1916-10-17
An Ideal Place to Live

With good schools, churches aid
roads; fine water, healthful climate
soils adapted to any crop, progress.
i've people, low-priced lands, and net
subjected to drouths, billiards. or cy-
clones, Jefferson and the territory
contiguous offer more advantages to
the home-seeller and investor than anv
other part of the country.
Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1916-10-17
Ranks Are Progressive.

There are seven banking institutions
in the county, six in Pine Bluff, and
one each at Altheimer, Sheriff. Wab.
baseka and Humphrey. The officials
CT these institutions take more thana
selfish interest in the affairs of the
people, and will always be found ready
to accord liberal assistance to the
farmer.
Pine Bluff bank clearings total about
S35, 100000 a year.
Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1916-10-17
HEAVY SORGHUM YIELD.

J. D. Cox, who is on the S. c. Alex
ander place, on rural rail route No. L,
estimates he will obtain about 16 tons
of sorghum silage per acre. This land
was recently purchased for $3.50 an
acre. A part of the tract was de-
voted to peanuts, which produced in
peanuts and hay $2S an acre, the
profit more than double the price of
the land
Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1916-10-17
WHEAT PAYS WE'LL
TN JEFFERSON co

The acreage devoted to wheat in
Jefferson is gradually increasing. The
yield runs from eight to 80 bushels
per acre, averaging about 20 bushels,
which is as good yield as is obtain
ed in the so-called s'wheat belt Land
values here are far below those of the
states recognized as wheat produc-
ers.
Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1916-10-17
RIBBON CANE PROFITABLE.

Many of the farmers of Jefferson
county have found that ribbon cane
is profitable crop. The cane is
ground, the juice boiled down to syrup
and the product disposed of locally
for about 81 gallon From $50 to
$50 gallons of syrup per acre have
been obtained.
Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1916-10-17

Arkansas mineral resources are
unsurpassed. Coal, marble, slate, OIL
stc.e, bSux:te. Of, ard diamonds are
2s-orx tie mineral products.
Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1916-10-17

Arkansas this year will produce ag
cicultural products worth $300,000.000
Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1916-10-17
WEALTH Of this
SECTION BROUGHT
SETTLERS EARLY

Continued from page oneD
Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1916-10-17
FARMING FACTS
PROVE JEFFERSON
CONDITIONS IDEAL
great state of ours.

Continued from page one.l
Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1916-10-17
JEFFERSON FOLK
MOST PROSPEROUS
OF ANY PEOPLE
Good Schools; Fine Roads.

Continued from page oneD
Meade County news. [volume] (Meade, Kan.) 1900-1918, 1916-08-24

The farmer too often considers only
the local and immediate uses of
wOodlot, Overemphasizlng them and
disregarding other functions that
might ultimately prove to be more lni-
portant. For example, where agricul-
ture is entering heavily wooded re-
gions, timber is likely to be considered
only an incumbrance. In long-settled
farming regions, where most of the
timber has been cut and only few
trees are left, the farmers may prefer
TO save the remnant for the shade it
gives to stock or buildings or because
it improves the appearance Of tile
farm. In prairie country, protection
to grain crops, orchards, stock, or
buildings, together with service as a
convenient supply of wood for far
consumption, may cause owners 70
place high value on their wood
lots. In mountainous regions near
thickly populated manufacturing cen
tiers the woodlot may be valued for its
wood-prOducing capacity alone. The
temptation Is to forget or undeNsti-
mate those functions which are not
obviously and Immediately beneficial.
AS matter Of fact, the less obvious
functions are often the very ones
which are likely to prove of the great
est value in the long run. For exam
pie, many Of the Minnesota farmers
who totally cleared their lands would
be glad to have their woodlots back
again for protective and other pur-
poses; and farmers in the Central
states already regret the abuse which
Meade County news. [volume] (Meade, Kan.) 1900-1918, 1916-08-24

made, but for a reason Of his own the
photographer contrived to be the last
to leave the mapping room. When he
found himself alone he returned has
tily to the desk and pulled out the
drawer of portents, rummaging in it
until he was fully convinced that the
little buckskin bag of nuggets was
gone. Then, instead Of following the
others, he took fieldglass from its
case on the wall and went to the south
window to focus it upon the Massin-
gale cabin, standing out clear-cut and
distinct in the afternoon sunlight on
its high, shelflike bench.
The powerful glass brought out two
figures on the cabin porch, woman
and man. The woman was standing
and the man was sitting on the step.
Grislow lowered the glass and slid the
telescoping sun tubes home with a
snap.
Good God!" he unused, "its unbe-
lievable! He deliberately turns his
thing loose on us down here and then
takes an afternoon off to 60 and make
love to a girl! He's crazy; it's the
seven-year devil he talks about. And
nobody can help him; nobody-unless
Amy can. Lord, Lord!"
Meade County news. [volume] (Meade, Kan.) 1900-1918, 1916-08-24
By Francis Lynde

Cspyrisht BY
Charles Seribnsr's Sons

Of figures that you understand best,
Mr.. Cartwright" Brouillard said half
musingly. Then, with sudden vehe-
mence: 1T is altogether a question Of
motive with me, Mr.. Cartwright; of a
motive which you couldn't understand
in thousand years. II that motive
prevails, you get your railroad and a
little longer lease of life. If 1t doesn't,
Mirapolis will go to the devil some few
weeks or months ahead of it's schedule
and I'll take my punishment with
the remainder of the fools-and the
knaves."
He was on his feet and moving to-
ward the door of exit when the pro-
moter got his breath.
Here, hold on, Brouillard-for
heavens sake, don't go off and leave
it up in the air that way!" he pro-
tested.
But the corridor door had opened
and closed and Brouillard was gone.
Two hours later Mirapolis the phre-
netlc had new thrill, shock so cleo
trifying that the rumor of the rail
roads hating decision sank into inslg-
nificance and was forgotten. The sud-
denly-evoked excitement focused in a
crowd besleging the window of the
principal jewelry shop-focussed more
definitely upon square of white pa
per in the window in the center Of
which was displayed little heap of
virgin gold in small nuggets and coarse
grains.
While the crowds in the street were
still struggling and fighting to get
near enough to. read the labelling pla-
card, the Daily Spotlight came out
with an extra whicl, was all headlines,
the telegraph wires to the East were
buzzing, and the town had gone mad.
The gold specimen-so said the pla-
card and the news extra--had been
washed from one of the bars in the
Niquoia
By three o'clock the madness had
eliminated in the complete stoppage
of all work among the town builders
and on the great dam as well, and
gold-crazed mobs were frantically dig
ging and panning on every bar in the
river from the valley outlet to the
power dam five miles away.
Meade County news. [volume] (Meade, Kan.) 1900-1918, 1916-08-24
SYNOPSIS.

BrouiIlard. chief engineer of the Niquoia
AETigation dam, meets j. Wesley Cort-
wright and his daughter. Genevieve, and
explains the reclamation work to them.
Cartwright sees In the project big
chance to make money Cartwright or
ganizes company and obtains govern
ment contracts to furnish power and ma
terial for the dam construction. busy
city springs up about the site. Steve Mas
singale threatens to start a gold rush II
Brouillard does not influence President
Ford to build a railroad branch to the
place, thus opening an easy market for
the ore from the Little Susan" mine. On
n visit to Amy Massngale at her fathers
mine Broulllard tells her of his need for
money to pay Off his dead fathers debts
and that to be free he would sacrifice
anything save his love for one woman.
Though his influence Is vital to the build
sing OF the railroad extension she tells him
TO be true to himself. He decides for 1t.
Mirapolis the city of numbered days.
bOoms. Cartwright persuades Brouillard
TO become consulting engineer OF the con-
turn for 100000 stock. Rumors that the
government will call halt on the dam
cause Grislow to tell Brouillard that he is
leaning to the Cartwright side to make
the city permanent. Brouillard denies II.
Permanent building In Mirapolis and n
real estate boom are in full swing when
the stoppage of work on the railroad
threatens panic Brouillard spreads the
Massingale story of placer gold In the
river bed and starts a gold rush.