The Mena weekly star., 1921-05-05

 of Arkansas
By Clio Harper.

sources or Arkansas are many times thricetold tale, and yet it seems nee essary they be repeated over and over again in order that the islanders and the unjust reports which are circulat- ed about it be denied. One of the most hurtful of these reports was that which was recently made current by an Eastern newspaper relative to the good roads securities of the state. Un- fortunately there was just the least bit of truth in these reports and upon this modicum of truth was based fhe most harmful conclusions.
 Fortunately, however, there are those who are more familiar with the actual facts and who are ready and willing to present the truth as it should be and relieve the state of the odium that detracters would bring up- on it.
 Notable among these friends of Ar kansas is Broadway broker, John Nickerson, Jr., who has just published an Illuminating and truthful leafet devoted to the resources of Arkansas It IS his purpose, if possible, to min imize the harm that has come from the widely quoted articles written by the representatives of a New York news paper, who came into the state and from prejudiced sources secured infor- nation which was distorted in the re- tellment.
 Citizens of Arkansas are familiar with many of the facts which have been collected by Mir. Nickerson, and yet many may know them only in casual and disconnected way. Here are a few of the striking facts which will bear relating time and time again:
 Arkansas is first in the production of bauxite and novaculite, 90 per cent of the country's bauxite being pro- duced in the state.
 Arkansas ranks third in the produc- tion of rice, third in the production of peaches, fifth in cotton, and fifth in the production of sorghum cane.
 The state leads the union in the pro duction of hardwood and lumber, 40 per cent of all oak timber of the United States being found here, the industry amounting to about $15O.- 100000 per year.
 
 acre of farm products than any other state in the union. The Federal cen sus giving the amount at S22.04, while Illinois is next with $17.25, and Iowa, which has so great reputation as an agricultural state, is accredited with only $14.25 per acre.
 In ten years the farm wealth of Ar kansas increased 300 per cent.
 The corn crop of 1920 was valued at $53, ,567 ,000 being the second most valuable crop and exceeded only by the value of the cotton crop.
 From 1910 to 1915 the production of rice in Arkansas was increased by 377 per cent, the states of Louisiana and Texas having gained only 126 per cent and 109 per- cent respectively during the same period
 The second largest industry is con- nected with the by-products of cotton seed, there being nearly 50 cotton seed oil mills in the state.
 There is 10,000,000 acres of land in one quarter of which is planted to cotton, one quarter to corn, and one half to other products of the field, meadow and orchard
 The total value of farm products for 1920, as estimated by the United States Crop Reporting Service was s345, ,666, ,000.
 The population of the state has grown from 14.273 in 1920 to 1,S52,- 204 in 1920, of whom 80 per cent are white.
 There were fewer people in the en- tire state in 1920, just 100 years ago, , than there are today in the city of Pine Bluff.
 From 5000, 900 to 4,00O, ,000 tons of coal are produced. annually in the state.
 One of the most recent develop ments is that of oil and gas. Gas has ,een produced for years in large quafi- titles in the Fort Smith district, but not until the first well was brought in near Fl Dorado, was it known hat the state is also underlaid by what Is probably one of the greatest oil pools in the world. That an oil field foes exist has been proved beyond any ioubt, but the extent Of It has not yet been demonstrated. Wells. are being drilled in probably half the counties ,f the state and there is every reason ;o believe that majority of them will i ,e successful.
 With all these material resources, here is no reason why Arkansas ,hould not take and keep foremost | place among the states of the union.