The Mena weekly star., 1922-02-09
Over and About
 Arkansas
By CLIO HARPER


 Little Rock, Feb. 2.-Hon. Jim G. Ferguson, Commissioner of Agricul- ture, estimates that the value of Ar kansas mineral products now aggre- gates close to $10O,000,000 annually. This stupendous amount is one-half of the value of all the factory products of the state and one-fourth as much as is derived from all agricultural activi- ties.
 Mir. Ferguson says:
 Arkansas has elbowed Pennsylva- mia, the parent of petroleum. out of fourth place in oil productions; she produces twice as much bauxite as all the Western hemisphere; she was first to discover Fullers earth; she has the largest and best deposits of whet- stone; she has a superior grade of smokeless coal; she has the purest de- posit of chalk in North America; she has the only deposit of soap-stone west of the Mississippi river; she has 1 in Magnet Cave the most wonderful aggregation of rarest and purest min erals known to the geologists, and at Hot Springs, the hottest thermal wat CTS in the world.
 ''These facts, backed up by the gov ernment authorities, are grouped here to get the attention of those who are unfamiliar with the states min eral resources and to prepare their minds for a lot of other big things that can be said about Arkansas un- derground wealth, developed and un- developed. The world is beginning to take notice of Arkansas, the myster- | ious stranger in the mineral world.
 More than thirty useful minerals can be mined or quarried in abun- dance in Arkansas, and there are a hundred other minerals for which the future may find some economic use. At the great worlds fair where all the states bring for display specimens of their mineral products, Arkansas demands more exhibit space than any other states in the Union and sur prises the stranger not only with the great variety of it's minerals, but with their superior quality"
 The 1923 session of the legislature will be forced by the very weight of public opinion to devote much time and attention to a consideration of questions affecting the development of the states mineral resources. The tre- mendous impetus given during the last year to this industry by the dis covery of the Fl Dorado oil field is att tracting the attention of the entire world to Arkansas as never before. More and more the need of per manent and active geological survey | is being emphasized and Commission CT Ferguson expresses the hope that the next legislature will make liberal provisions for the reestablishment of the survey which for the lack of funds | has been unable to conduct any field work for several years. Dr. John T.. Branner in a letter to Commissioner Ferguson suggests the following ten big things that should be done for the geology of the state:
 1. Bring up to date the work on coal lands and publish the report. | 2. Report on the petroleum and natural gas resources.
 8. Report on the fertilizer.
 4. Report on the soils of the state, their origin, distribution and treat ment.
 5. Report on the clays, kaolins, and Fullers earths.
 6. Revise and publish the report on the Lower Coaly measures. 2. Report on the structural mater ials including Portland cement. 8. Report on the State water sup ply including underground water. 9. A comprehensive work on the general geology and geologic history of the state.
 10. The preparation and publica- tion of large scale topographic and | geologic map of the state. A book entitled "William M. Me- Combs, the President Maker" by Maurice F. Lyons, his secretary dur ing the prenomination and presden- 1 tial campaigns of 1911-1912, will shortly be published by the Bancroft J Company, Mercantile Library build 1 ing, Cincinnati, Ohio. MT. Lyons states that he retained voluminous notes, in addition to diaries and other memoranda bearing on the relation ship of President Wilson, William Jennings Bryan, Col. E. M House, William c. McAdoo and others, to Mir. McCombs during the campaigns and thereafter.