Year: 1878

The St. Louis Commercial Review not many weeks since sent report CT to this State to gather informa- tion for publication in regard to our merits as home for immigrants, for manufacturing enterprises, 2sc. The following extract freq that paper shows what the Reyie~ man thought of our State:

 Although as many inducements have existed for the encouragement of immigration to the State of Ar kansas as any other State in the Union, and more, perhaps, do now present themselves to the artisan, capitalist, mechanic, laborer, and farmer than at any previous period, yet comparatively little effort has ever been made to have clearly un- derstood by all who are seeking to establish new homes the really great advantages that Arkansas possesses to advance and encourage this object It is not proposed to exaggerate or gild, bat state frankly and candidly ] what can plainly be seen by any per son who will make trip through the State. It is not our purpose to mislead any one. We shall coniine ourselves to facts as we know and believe them. It is our duty to say at the outset that Arkansas is not large aims house where people are l fed and clothed gratultously, nor do we wish to convey the idea that a 1 livelihood can be secured without an effort. Any who indulge in such illusions had better remain where they are. What is wanted is mus cle, capital, industry, brains and common honesty The road to such is so plain that the wayfaring man, though a fool, need not err therein. We therefore propose to show as clearly as it has appeared to us where there are better opportunities offered to begin life to those in the older and more 2ensely populated States who desire to remove to some new country. To this class of per sons, who are anxious to carve out l for themselves a career of usefulness, we assert, without fear of contradic- tion, that no State offers so many in ducements to the seekres for new 1 homes as Arkansas taken as q whole. To be sure, there are portions of the State where it will need the hand of the farmer and laborer in draining and clearing away to render them pefectly healthy habitations; but we know whereof we speak when we say that this labor will be com pal atively light when placed along side of that which was required in the preparation of the lands of In diana and Illinois not many years since, and which have been changed into the richest and most productive gardens of the country, and the re- munerative profits consequent there upon prodigious enough to justify the indulgence of the most sanguine hopes. Tn briefly presenting the resources of Arkansas we shall en-

 deavor to give faithful account Of the present condition of Arkansas so far as home rule and good gov. ernment are concerned. It has been a common and prevalent impression in the minds of thousands outside the State that Arkansas was noted for it's outlawry, and that law and order were disregarded. This never was strictly the fact as applied to the whole State, hut admitting that it may have been in some localities to some extent before the war, now It is not so. For several years after the war partisan strife and dlssen- tions were destructive to the peace, dignity and material welfare of the States. Arkansas had her share of these troubles. She has passed through them. The reins of the government are in the hands of peo- pie whose material welfare hereto fore has been at stake, and peace and happiness now reside within her borders. The people believe the war to be over, and agree in the com mon sentiment of an uniteu cour- try-one flag, one constitution, and one government for all. No State has ut the present time better gov ernment, and Tn no State are the lives and property of her citizens more safe and secure than in Arkan- sas The subject of education is now receiving more attention than ever heretofore, and the constitution of the State provides that the Gen .eral Assembly shall require by law that every child of sufficient mental and physical ability shall attend the public school during the period be tween the ages of , and IS, unless educated by otaer means, and the Legislature has provided a very efficient school law to provide for all the State ample school privileges The number of school houses in lSTf in the State was 1899. The white and colored children are taught in separate schools. Besides these pub lie schools there are q number of pri' vate schools, seminaries and colleges and Bhnd Asylum and Deal Mute Institute.

 Arkansas may be properly classed