Year: 1877

Confer a Benefit.

 In a late number of the Arkan' kansas Traveller we, find the letter appended hereto We reproduce it simply to show that what we clam for the Arkansas River valley is true and real. Parties who stand off and doubt and hesitate will find out after while that they would have done well to have done just as MT. Jamison has done. Come right along, and take hold:

 CONWAY, ARK, June 6, 1877.

 EDITOR TRAVELLER: On. the 24th of last month 1 left the Buckeye State on prospecting tour, with Arkansas as tho objective point.

 Correspondence with various par ties, and meagre general knowl- edge of the geography, climate, etc, of your State, led me to this decis- ion, and also prejudiced me strongly in favor of the Arkansas Valley, west of the capital. 1 can truthful ly say that, from personal observa- tion, previous opinions in reference to this section have been fully con firmed.

 From Little Rock to Ozark, the western terminus of my explora tions along the line of the Little Rock and Fort Smith railway, is, in my humble opinion, the finest coun try, all things considered, for the energetic man of limited means, in the United States. This is not written to deceive any person, or to serve my individual purpose, but to lay facts before your readers, and to inform them where they can, by a small investment of capital, and the proper amount of energy and brains, secure for themselves and their fam lilies comfortable and pleasant homes.

 This can be done in this valley, as any man who will visit it and make personal observations can readily satisfy himself, beyond a doubt.

 The farms already under cultiva- tion, and the crops of corn, wheat, rye, potatoes and cotton now grow ing, are enough to convince the most skeptical of the truth of the above statements. The lands are cheap and productive; market facil- ities are fully equal to many sec tions of the older settled States, and undoubtedly more healthy than a majority of the Eastern and North ern States were at the same stage of development.

 Of the advantages of the various points on the line of the railway it is not my present purpose to enter into detail, except with reference to vicinity of your town. There is not a point on the road, so far as l have travelled, that does not present an inviting field to the skilled iaborer, but while this IS the case, there are some points especially favored, and the vicinity of Conway is one of these. And the best evidence of my honesty in expressing this senti- ment, is my determination and de- cision to pitch my tent here. The advantages of this locality may be briefly stated as being those of su- perior quality of soil and timber, and easy access to markets furnish Ing remunerative prices for all pro- ducts ot the soil, of whatever nature they may be; and at the same time insuring the settler a reasonable degree of health, by proper ob- servance of the laws upon which health depends, and without which no one can escape disease in ANY locality.

 In reference to the society, I can only say this: that in no place in the United States have I ever been more courteously treated, or receiv- ed better welcome, than here. All seem willing to let difference and drop out of the mind and unite in building up the material interest of the community, State and country at large.

 The resources of this valley, and this section of it, are almost illimitable, and only want develop ing to make it one of the most pro- ductive in the State. The man who can succeed anywhere can certainly do so here.

 This country does not need or de- sire spectators, bnmmers, office seek CTS, nor any of these classes of men, who are curse to any country, of whom, unfortunately, we have al. ready too many; but to the wide awake, energetic man, who is not afraid of toll, and desires to identify with the interests of the country, l say come along. You will be welcomed here, and will com pei success, which you can never hope to attain where land is dear and labor cheap. And before look ing farther and faring worse, stop at Conway, investigate this matter thoroughly, and my word for it, you will coroborate the above statements. Beg your pardon, Mir. Editor, for having occupied so much of your valuable space. In closing, would say, as Nathaniel did when asked if