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Arkansas Timber.
Consisting of Hard Wond and Pine,
Estimated at 250,000,000,000 Feet Beard
Measure;
Os Which 80,000.000,000 Feet is Mer
chantable Pine.
Numbar of Railroads in Operation 29, Leng-th
2,000 Mlles.
Length of Navigable Waterways of the State
3,470 Miles.
Number of Counties in the Slate With Both Rail
roail and River Outlet 39.
Number of Counties Without Raii or River Outlet
Only 23.
Superficial Area of the Coal Fields of the State
2,500,030 Acres.
Superficial Area of Iron Fields 1,593,000 Acres.
Number Acres U. S Land In the State Approxi
mately 7.000,000.
Number of Acres of Land For Sale by the State
1,500,000.
Area of the Marble District of the State 2,300
Square Miles, Etc.
7Y ZKZ tCSt S ASr
Compiled by D. Mcßae.
* P n r A
' By Direction of Hon. Simon P. Hughetf,
Governor of Arkansas. >"
SKETCHES OF COUNTIES-
Continued from last Number,
SCOTT COUNTY.
CONTRIBUTED BY J. C. GILBREATH, ESQ;
Became a county in December, 1833. Its bound
aries have been changed repeatedly until 1881, when
its boundaries were fixed as they are at present,
Bounded on the west by the Indian Territory, on
the north by Sebastian and Logan counties, on the
east by Yell and on the south by Montomery and
Polk counties. It has an area of about 1,000
square miles, is a typical Arkansas county, and one
in which are found all the elements foi a prosperous
and progressive community. The following are
statistical data from county and United States
records:
Area, acres, 700,000; assessed valuation, $1,125,-
000; average value of assessed land per acre, $4;
acres of land belonging to the United States and
subject to homestead law, 278,000 acres; acres be
longing to the State, subject to donation, 12,000;
school lands, 16th sections, acres, 12,000; individual
lands, acres, 150,000; annual rent of land, $3 to $6
per acre. The present population is estimated at
17,000, of which about 40 are celored. There are
G 4 sehool districts in the county, in all of which are
school-houses.
The face of the country presents an undulating
timber hills, valleys and table-lands, the titles being
unquestionable and prices for lands ranging accord
ing to quality from $2 per acre upwards. Home
steads can be had by paying the United States fees
and complying with the homestead laws, or can be
entered by purchase at the price of $1.25 per acre,
which is being done rapidly, and it is believed that
Scott county has increasedin population more than
any other part of the State, owing to the superior
opportunities of obtaining homesteads and cheap
lands.
The roads ot the county run generally east and
west, on account of the contour of the country.
One of the main roads runs north and south, and
is called the Line road on account of its close prox
imity to the line of the Indian Territory, being the
principal route for travel from the Arkansas river
to Texas. *
Four streams and their tributaries cross the
county, viz: Petit Jean* flows an easterly course
close to its northern boundary, Dutchess creek
traverses for twelve miles its eastern pa> t. flowing
northeast, and Poteau river, flowing thirty miles
through the center of the county in a westerly di
rection, and the Fourche le Fave river, which rises
in the extreme southwestern corner of the county,
and flows for fifty miles through, on its way to
the Arknansas river, being bordered by rich valleys,
with as good and productive land as in this or any
other State.
TIHE NEW WESTERN RAILWAY GUIDE.
The average elevation of the county is about 700
feet in the valleys, and the highest mauntain point
is about 2,000 feet above the sea level.
Water is abundant for all purposes, including
manufacturing, and water can be had by sinking
wells from 12 to 15 feet, and there are many noted
minerel springs equal to any in this State except
Hot Springs.
The soil is generally a sandy loam, and will pro
duce anything which is indigenous between the
tropics and the Canada line. Corn, wheat, oats,
rye and barley grow well here, and so do all kinds
of grasses, and as for fruit and vegetables the world
cannot beat it. Many large orchards and vineyards
in the county give evidence of the prodvetiveness
of fruit in this county.
SHARP COUNTY.
(CONTRIBUTED BY SAM DAVIDSON, ESQ.)
Is situated in the Whit® river valley, joins in its
northernmost point the State of Missouri, and is
bounded by Randolph, Lawrence, Independence,
Izard and Fulton counties, has an area of 590 square
miles and a population of 12,000, about 200 of which
are colored people-
The general face of the county is rolling, one-half
of the county is hilly, the balance level and undu
lating. Nearly one-forth is alluvial formation, but
there are no prairies. The soil in the bottoms is
alluvial and very fine, in the uplands it varies from
the best to poorest. Two hundred thousand acres
of all the lands are improved, of which 72,000 acres
are in cultivation. The United States owns 136,440
acres, the State 20,000 acres, and 7.000 acres are the
property of the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & South
ern Railroad Company. Improved lands can be
bought from $2 to S2O, and unimproved lands from
50 cents to $5 per acre. The crops generally grown
are corn, wheat, oats, rye, cotton, Irish and sweet
potato 's, sorghum and some of the cultivated
grasses, such as redtop, clover and German millet.
Tie average yield per acre of cotton on hill lands
is 550 pounds, on bottoms 1,000 pounds of seed
cotton per acre; of corn, from 30 to 50 bushels; of
w k at. 11 bushels; oats, from 16 to 30 bushels; rye,
from 10 to 12 bushels; Irish potatoes, 160 bushels;
s.veet potatoes, 225 bushels; bushels;
field peas 16 bushels per acre, and sorghum realizes
about 110 gallons of syrup to the acre. Timothy
and redtop bring about 2,000 pounds, clover, 2,600
pounds, and millet and Hungarian grass nearly 2
tons to the acre.
Apples, peaches, cherries, plums, apricots, quinces
and pears produce well, but peaches seem to suc
ceed be Her than any other fruit, a failure in the
peach crop being very rare. Os grapes the Con
cord, Delaware and lona succeed best, but the Ives
seedling, Salem and Martha have also been grown
with success.
Considerable attention has been paid for the last
five years to the raising of cattle, horses, mules and
sheep. The country is well adapted to stock rais
ing, and a head of Durham and Hereford
breeds have beei4 introduced. Sheep thrive well
and are free from disease.
Pine, all the varieties of oak, walnut, hickory,
ash, sycamore and ceder are found in the county;
a belt of pine timber in the southwest portion is
covering an area of 15 miles in length and from 2
to 5 in width. There are as yet no facilities for
the marketing of pine, but the railroad passing
through the northern portion of the county affords
good facilities for the marketing of oak, ash and
walnut, which abound in that region.
The Kansas City, Springfield & Memphis Rail
way passes through the northern portion of the
county.
Cotton, corn,wheat,oats and all other farm products
are grow n and make good crops. Cotton yields
from 500 to 1000 pounds of seed cotton on hill and
b >ttom resepctively, corn produces from 25 to 40
bushels, wheat and rye 10 bushels, oats 25 bushels,
Irish and sweet potatoes and turnips from 100 to 250
bushels, and sorghum about 100 gallons to the acre.
Timothy, redtop, clover and millet as well as other
of the cultivated varieties of grasses produce well,
and yield from 2000 to 3000 pounds per acre. Live
stock receives increased attention, but the Durham
is the only breed of cattle so far introduced.
Fruits of all kinds succeed well here. Os grapes
the Concord does best, Nearly all kinds of oak
are found in the forests. The white oak grows all
over the county in abundance, and pine cedar, wal
nut and hickory are in some localities, but there is
no cypress. The only facilities for shipping are
furnished by the White river, the only navigable
stream, there being no railroads in the country.
Os minerals, we have iron and manganese, but
these have never been developed.
Water for domestic purposes, obtained from wells
and springs,is both hard and soft. The Bon Air min
eral springs, containing iron, are recommended for
all diseases for which iron is used.
Common free schools are in every district, and at
Mountain View we have a high school. Bapiist,
Methodist and other denominations have churches
in every neighborhood. Our principal town is
Mountain View, with 140 inhabitants, and the pop
ulation of the county is 6000, of which 100 are ne
groes.
ST FRANCIS COUNTY.
(CONTRIBUTED BY J. M. STEWART.)
Situated within six miles of the Mississippi river
on its eastern boundary, and in the St. Francis riv
er valley, is bounded by the counties of Crittenden,
Lee, Monroe, Woodruff and Cross, contains an area
of 397,018 17-100 acres, and a population of about
12,000, 4000 of whom are colored people. The
country is generally level,with about seven per cent
rolling uplands, 88 per cent being alluvial and five
per cent prairie.
Twenty-five per cent of all the area is improved.
440 acres belong to the United States, and only 10,-
000 to the State, but the Memphis & Little Rock
R’y owns about acres.
The crops generally grown are cotton, corn, oats,
wheat, rye, potatoes, turnips, peas and pumpkins;
fn fact, everything which this latitude produces,
The average yield of these crops is, on hill lands,
for cotton, 1000 pouuds seed cotton, on botron s
1500 pounds; corn, 25 bushels on uplands and 40
bushels on bottoms; wheat from 10 to 18 bushels;
oats, 25 to 35 bushels; rye, 15 to 25 bushels; Irish
and sweet potatoes, 250 bushels; turnips, 400 bush
els; field peas, 60 bushels, and sorghum, 180 gallons
syrup per acre. All varieties of culivated grasses
do well. Timothy and redtdp produce 4000 pounds,
clover 5000 pounds, and millet 6000 pounds per
acre.
Pears, apples, peaches, quinces, plums, cherries,
grapes are cnltivated extensively. Pears, apples
and plums succeed best, and of grapes the Concord,
scuppernong and Martin produce most abundantly.
Very little attention is paid to live stock. The
country seems well adapted to this business, having
abundant water and grazing privileges, and some
improved breeds have been introduced with marked
success, the Jersey cattle doing well here.
Our timber is abundant. Cypress, white oak, red
gum, walnut and hickory grow everywhere, and the
facilities for marketing lumber are also abundant.
The Memphis & Little Rock R. R. intersects the
center of the county from east to west, and the St.
Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern crosses the cen
ter of the county in a northerly direction. The St.
Francis and L,Anguille rivers, running parallel to
each other in a southerly direction, are navigable,
and have many excellent tributaries in the county.
On the Memphis & Little Rock, about two miles
and a half east of Forrest City, is an immense mar
ble bed, covering about 320 acres of land, and from
8 to 20 feet deep, producing a fine article.
The general soil of the country is productive. In
the bottoms we have buckshot and black sandy loam.
Improved lands can be bought from $5 to S4O, and
unimproved from $1 to $lO per acre.
There are forty common schools distributed over
the county, kept open from three to ten months, ac
cording to the vote in the district in which they
are located, and the Helena district high school is
located at Wheatly. Thirty Methodist, Baptist,
Cumberland Presbyterian, Old School Presbyter
an and Catholic churches are found over the coun
ty and generally in all neighborhoods.
Our water is principally hard, and is obtained
from wells and springs, but a good deal of cis
tern water is used for domestic purposes. The
Stewart and Davis mineral springs have some rep
utation as a cure for dyspepsia and diarrhea.
The principal towns are Forrest City, with 2500,
Wheatly 300, Madison 300, Melbrook, Goodwin,
Palestine and Colt’s Station, with about 150 popu
lation each.
UNION COUNTY.
BY S. B. BAIRD, ESQ.)
With an area of 1080 square miles and a popula
tion of about 15,000, one half of which belong to
the negro race, is situated in the southern part of
trje State in the Ouhchita river valley, which river
forms its northwestern boundary. Other boundar
ies are, Ouachita county on the north, Columbia
county on rhe west, and the State of Louisiana on
the south.
The general face of the country is comparatively
level, with no mountains, and only a few hills
draining well towards the Ouachita river.
About one-sixth of the county consists of im
proved lands. 43,400 acres belong to the United
States, 80,000 to 100,000 to the State, and 12.000 to
15,000 acres to the Mississippi, Red River & Texas
R’y Co.
The general character of the soil in the bottoms
is sandy mixed with alluvial, in the uplands sandy.
The prices for improved lands are $1.25 to $5, ior
unimproved lands, 50 cents to $1.25 per acre.
The principal crops of the county are cotton,
corn, oats,peas and potatoes; of which cotton yields
on Dill lands GOO to 800 pounds; on bottom lands
800 to 1.200 pounds seed cotton to the acre; corn
from 12 to 15 bushels on uplands, on bottom lauds
20 to 25bushels; oats, from 15 to 25 bushels; tobac
co, from 800 to lOOOponnds; rye from 7 to 10 bush
els; Irish potatoes, 100 to 300 bushels; sweetpota
toes about the same, peas about 7 to 12 bushels per
acre, and 100 gallons of sorghum to the acre. Os
cultivated grasses few are grown in the county.
Peaches, apples and grapes are grown for domes
tic purposes, the varieties of grapes grown being
principally the Scuppernong.
The timber of the county is abundant in all vari
eties. Pine and whiteoak abound on all unimproved
lands, and cypress grows along the margins of the
streams. We have no facilities for shipping lumber
to markets except along the northeastern boundary
of the county, where the Ouachita river furnishes a
navigable highway for all purposes. So far no rail
roads have been built in the county, though it is
expected that facilities of this character will exist at
no distant day.
While coal and iron ore is found along the mar
ginal hills, no development except for private pur- (
poses has so far been made.
The educational advantages here are as good as
generally in thecountry. About 120 common schools
are distributed in the different school districts,
which are kept open about three months in the
year. In addition we have the Eldorado and Blan
chard high school, and another high school at Mt.
Holly. The Baptists, Methodists and Presbyterians
have about 60 churches.
The principal towns are : Eldorado, the county
seat, with a population of 500; Hillsboro 100, Blan
chard Springs 150, Mount Holly 150, Lisbon 50,
Three Creeks 75, New London 50, Champagnolle
75, Caledonia 50. '
Tne county is well watered by constant running
streams and branches, which intersect nearly every
portion of its territory. Water for domessic pur
poses is obtained both from springs and wells, and
is generally soft. Os mineral springs we have Blan
chard’s, Wooley’s and Perdue’s Springs, the waters
of which have been analyzed, and show valuable
medicinal properties.
VAN BUREN COUNTY.
Bounded on the north by Searcy and Stone coun
ties, on the east by Cleburne county, on the south
by Faulkner and Conway counties, and on the west
by Pope county. Area about 460,890 acres. Pop
ulation nearly 10,000, about 100 colored. The south
eastern part of this county is a plateau, some 400
feet high, while the balance of the lands are hilly
and mountainous, with a few bottoms along the
streams.
To the United States belong 248,980 acres in the
county, and may be entered under the homestead
act. The Iron Mountain R’y owns now no land in
the county. There are about 60,000 acres under
improvement
The principal crops raised are cotton, corn, oats
and general farm products, the highlands in the
south being especially adapted to the growth ot
oats and wheat. The soil is generally good, of a
silicious character, , and having, a clayey, retentive
subsoil, is not affected by drouth. Cotton produces
well, and will yield, on the table lands, from 600 to
800 pounds of seed cotton to the acre, and in the
uplands, where the soil has an admixture of sandy
loam, it will produce 800 pounds on an average,
which increases to 1600 pounds in some of the mere
fertile bottom lands. Corn yields in the same pro
portion 20 to 35 bushels to the acre, and wheat 15
bushels. Cultivated grasses do well anywhere in
this county, and will harvest from one to two tons
per acre. Fruits of all kinds, especially grapes, do
equally well.
For stock raising this county seems especially
adapted, and though but little has been done to try
the improved breeds, wherever the Jersey, Durham
and Holstein were brought it has shown the climate
and condition of this section to be favorable to their
growth and continuance.
The timber of this county is varied and abund
ant. In the southeastern part of the county are
luxuriant forests of pine, and oak, hickory, sweet
and black gum are found along the streams in large
belts. Van Buren has no railroad or navigable
stream, and the marketing of her timber resources
is therefore out of the question. Otherwise the coun
ty is well watered, being intersected by numerous
clear and beautiful streams, bordered by rich pas
ture lands. In the northern portion we have o*l
Fork of White river with its numerous little tribu
taries, flowing in an easterly direction. In the cen
tral portion, running east, we have Little Red Riv
er. In the southwestern part are the headquarters
of Point Remove creek, and southeast the north
fork of Cadron creek heads in the county, flowing
twelve miles towards the south. There are many
good mineral springs of good healing qualities.
Those named the White and Black Sulphur and
the Price springs are most favorably known among
them.
Coal is found in the county,and is used for black
smithing and other purpose*.
We have fifteen common schools, and many
church houses are distributed throughout the
county.
The county seat is Clinton, with about 200 popu
lation, towns arid villages.’ are Liberty
Springs, Chdctaw, Scotland, Oak Flat and about
12 postoffices.
WASHINGTON COUNTY.
(CONTRIBUTED BY J. P. CARNAHAN AND
F. R. EARLE, ESQ;)
The area of this county is 890 square miles. It
is situated in th£northwestern corner of the State,
and is bounded on the westby the Indian Territory,
on the north by Benton, on the east by Madison
and on the south by Crawford counties. The gen
eral features of the county are broken, being about
one third mountainous, one-third hills andone-third
level land. Originally about one-fifth of all the land
was prairie, including the highest hills. About one
third of the level lands are alluvial, especially all
the valleys of the streams. One-half of all the
lands of the county are improved. 35,000 acres be
long to the United States and 10,000 acres to the
State. Practically no lands in Washington county
belong to railroads. A few scattered forties, how
ever, were selected by the Little Rock & Fort Smith
R’y Co. The soil of the county is generally good,
in the bottoms alluvial, in the uplands a clay loam
with a red clay foundation, and in the mountains
sandy loam and clay loam. The prices of land are,
for improved, $4 to $25 per acre, and for unimprov
ed from $1.25 to $lO per acre.
This is strictly speaking the grain raising portion
of Arkansas, but nearly all crops which are raised
between the cotton lands and the British possessions
will grow here. Corn will yield from 20 to 50 bush
els, wheat 8 to 16 bushels, oats from 30 to 40 bush
els, rye from 8 to 15 bushels, Irish potatoes 150
bushels, sweet potatoes 200 bushels, turnips 200
bushels, and sorghum 150 gallons to the acre. The
cultivated varieties of grasses do first-rate. Redtop,
red clover, timothy, blue grass, millet and Hungar
ian yield abundant returns. Timothy 1500 pounds,
redtop 1500 pounds, millet 4000 pounds, clover 3000
pounds, and Hungarian grass 4000 pounds per acre.
Where alfalfa has been cultivated it has produced
3000 pounds to the acre.
This county by its climate aud soil is one of the
safest and most productive fruit ragions on the con
tinent. Apples, peaches, pears; plums, strawberries,
cherries, raspberries, gooseberries, yield handsome
crops and profits. Grape culture is being tried with
success. The Concord and Norton’s Virginia are
doing best, but others, such as the Neosho and Del
aware, have been tried with promising results.
Stock raising receives more attention from year
to year, and the country is well adapted to this pur
pose, especially to tne raising of hogs and sheep.
II )gs have been improved generally. Horses, cat
tle, mules and sheep have been improved only par
tially. Shorthorns, Jersey cattle, Berkshire hogs,
Norman horses and Southdown and Leicester sheep
are among the breeds imported.
Whiteoak,cherry and walnut are found in paying
quantities, but whiteoak timber is more abundant
than any other. There are no facilities for ship
ping. Freights on the railroads amount almost to
prohibition thus far, except on railroad ties, millions