The Monticellonian., 1916-05-18

tion. this work to cost $30.00O; the St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Railway is preparing to pave four blocks along it's right of way in the wholesale district, work which will cost approximately s40,0O0; the en- tire Arkansas side of the city has been included in street paving dis trict. and 5 blocks are to be paved, guttered and otherwise improved at an estimated cost of between $300,- 900 and $400.000 This work is to start within the next four to six weeks, it was stated. Other improve ments, either now under way or con templated, include the double track ing of their line to Fulton by the Iron
 Mountain; the building of SO miles of improved highway from Texarkana to the Red River crossing at Fulton; another highway to the Louisiana line, and in Bowie county, the Texas side of the city. an expenditure of more than S100.000 is to be made in the building of public highways, so that TeXarkana will soon be the hub of perfect network of good roads. Four national highways are to pass through Texarkana.
 One of the greatest advantages ac- cruing to Texarkana is the fact that 1t is situated in the very center of one of the greatest producing belts in this entire section. The variety and
 quantity of products cannot be ex- celled anywhere The soils are gray sandy loam, loam and clay, merging into brown and black sandy loans, and clay in the river bottoms Fruits, vegetables, garden truck of every known variety. feed stuffs-all are prolific producers in this soil The growing of grapes is an industry which has had wonderful progress during recent years, and this luscious fruit bids fair to become one of the chief products of the soil in that sec ton.
 Farm lands in the vicinity of Tex arkana range in value probably lower than anywhere in the United States in proportion to their produetiveness. The average value per acre in Miller county is $1413, with a yield of $22 04 per acre, while in Bowie county the average is forty cents per acre higher.
 During their stay in Texarkana the editors were very forcibly impressed with the conviction that Texarkana is on the map, commercially, financially and socially. and that the Twin Cities are well prepared to meet newcomers, entertain them and hold them after getting them there. The Texarkana commercial organizations are working lndustrlously to make Texarkana known to the world as one of the premier cities of the great South by reason of it's natural environment and the aggressiyeness of it's citizens in dividually and collectively.
 A very pleasing part of the editors meeting there was a reception and organ recital rendered the guests in the Congregational Church, Mrs. Co., zia Hynson Case, an organist whose well-earned reputation is not confined to the boundaries of Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana, conducted i the recital on the echo organ, one of the finest instruments ever introduced in this section of the country, and the second one in the entire South, the only other one being at Dallas. MT Edward Johnston. manager of the Little Rock branch of the Western i Newspaper Union, sang several solos
 that added greatly to the occasion, and the ladies of the first families of the Twin Cities were in the receiving l line to bid the visitors welcome. The recital was such as few cities could present. and the visitors and their wives were profuse in their expres- sions of appreciation.
 l Tuesday evening the magnificent Texarkana Country Club was thrown open to the editorial delegation, and dance and reception was enjoyed. The banquet Monday night was one of
 the greatest affairs of it's kind ever attempted by Texarkana, and was a erowning success to the efforts of the local newspaper men there. Hon. Lee J. Roundtree, president of the Ma tional Editorial Association, was among the visitors, and made a brief talk at the banquet, as well as at the 1 business sessions of the convention
 Another prominent visitor at the meet ing was Walter B. Whitman publisher of Hollands Magazine and president of the Texas Press Association.
 The citizens of Texarkana showered themselves with laurel wreaths in their entertainment of the Arkansas
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