down from Kansas in light-draught steamboats, in 1878. It is 309 miles by river from Fort Gibson to Wichita, Kansas. In January, June, and November disastrous floods sometimes visit this great valley. The White River, 700 miles long, is navigable from the

Mississippi up to Batesville, 280 miles; and in spring boats can ascend to Forsythe, Missouri (502 miles). The bottom-lands are rich in cotton, corn and wheat. The Ouachita may be ascended at high water to Arkadelphia, 445 miles; and at other seasons to Camden, 369 miles. Black River is navigable to Poplar Bluff, 311 miles; the St. Francis, to Wittsberg, 135 miles; Red River, for 120 miles; the Saline, to Mount Elba, 125 miles; and Bayou Bartholomew for 175 miles. The rivers and lakes abound in perch and suckers, buffalo and catfish, bass and trout, crappie and salmon, pike

The world-renowned Hot Springs of Arkansas are 55 miles southwest of Little Rock, and reached by a branch railway from Malvern, on the Iron-Mountain route. The main street lies in the narrow gorge between Hot-Springs Mountain and West Mountain: and has on one side a long line of hotels and stores, and on the other nearly a score of bath-houses, some of which are large and costly brick buildings, with many enamelled porcelain tubs. The little valley is about 600 feet above the sea, and near the Ouachita River, whose vast valley is overlooked from the Government observatory. Ten thousand people come here yearly, to seek benefit from the remarkable curative waters; and a city of 12,000 inhabitants has risen here, with many small villas and cottages occupied by chronic invalids. The springs up on the mountain-side are piped down to the bath-houses, so hot that cold water has to be added in the tubs. Heated vapors rise from the water, and carbonic-acid gas bubbles up through it. Thick layers of tufa have been deposited by the springs. The hot springs along the creek are used for drinking. The waters are beneficial in cases of diseases of the skin, blood and nerves, and for rheumatism and syphilis, but often prove harmful in acute diseases of the heart, lungs and brain. After three weeks of daily bathing, the patient rests for a week, and then takes another three weeks. The medicinal virtue of these waters has been ascribed mainly to their high temperature and their purity. They carry some silica and carbonate of lime, and

very small proportions of some other minerals in solution. The 73 springs vary in temperature from 93° to 1680, (hot enough to cook eggs) and pour out daily 500,000 gallons of clear, tasteless and odorless water. The United-States Government owns the springs and a valuable reservation at this Arkansas Bethesda, and has established here a large Army and Navy Hospital, where hundreds of disabled officers and soldiers are sent every year, generally returning to the service cured and fit for duty. The Senate has under discussion a proposition for founding here also an immense hospital for the ailing veterans of the Soldier's Homes. The Hotel Eastman, the chief of the Hot-Springs hotels, opened in 1890, is a magnificent semi-Moresque structure, practically fire-proof, heated by steam and lighted by electricity, and partly surrounding a pleasant park and grounds. It can entertain 800

guests, and has accommodations as low as $3 a day. All the resources of modern hotel science have been drawn upon to make this great inn as luxurious as possible. The value of the property exceeds half a million dollars. The parlors are grand, and so are the diningrooms, ordinary and rotunda. For the men there are special parlors and reading-rooms,

card-rooms, and the billiard-hall; and the ladies also have their own parlors and reading-room. The 500 guest-rooms are furnished in antique oak and cherry. A short bridge across a street leads to the hotel bath-house, with its eight parlors and forty bath-rooms, abounding in brass and marble and Roman porcelain. Immensely broad verandas look out over the park, and there are broad balconies on the roof. The observatory tower rises like a minaret, 200 feet above the city, and looks out over the mountains and the far-away Ouachita River, flashing

along its dreamy valleys. The Eastman is one of the model resorts of the world.

Within a few miles of Hot Springs are the Potash Sulphur, Mountain-Valley, Gillen's White-Sulphur and other celebrated springs, each with its hotel and other accommodations. Eureka Springs, founded in 1879, in the White-River Mountains, is now a city and healthresort, visited by invalids suffering from rheumatism, dyspepsia, cancer and Bright's disease. The surrounding country is picturesque, with its high limestone cliffs and deep caverns and mountain-views. Ravenden Springs flow from a high cliff, in the north, cold and clear, and beneficial in cases of dyspepsia. The Searcy Springs are white sulphur, chalybeate and alum. The Electric Springs, near the Frisco Line, and the Indian Springs, near Neosho, are among the other health-resorts of Arkansas.

The Climate of the hill and plateau counties is one of the most temperate in America, being free from the droughts of Southern summers and the rigors of Northern winters. The equability of the temperature has been likened to that of the south of France. Chancellor Eakin pronounced the State, as to climate, "The Italy of America." It is favorable for the relief of bronchial and pulmonary complaints, rheumatism and catarrh. The short open winters are succeeded by long and balmy seasons, kindly to agriculture. The climate of the lowlands, especially in the uncultivated regions, is malarious. The summer mean temperature is from 76° to 80°, rising to 80° and 88° in the southeast; and the winter mean is from 28° to 40°, north of the Boston Mountains, and from 40° to 52° southward. The summer average at Little Rock is 71.5°; the winter average is 48.4°. The average for 20 years at Fort Smith is 60.910.

LITTLE ROCK: LAND OFFICE ST. L., I. M. & S. R. R.

Farming employs 83 per cent. of the people of Arkansas, which is the most exclusively agricultural State in the Union. It has 100,000 farms, with a larger percentage of products to value of farms than in almost any other State. Among the articles produced yearly are 600,000 bales of cotton, valued at $26,000,000; 900,000 bushels of sweet potatoes; 1,000,000 pounds of tobacco; 42,000,000 bushels of corn, valued at $20,000,000; 2,000,000 bushels of wheat; 5,000,000 bushels of oats; and 25,000 tons of hay. The State also yields molasses and sorghum, honey and wine. Five per cent. of the land is not tillable, and 32 per cent. is in cultivation. The tillable lands are divided into the alluvial plains of the river valleys, the prairie land, and the uplands. The river bottoms are remarkable for fertility. Most of the upland regions have a fertile though thinner soil. The agricultural implements are generally crude, as are the methods of cultivation, especially in the remote districts. Marked improvements,

however, have been made in this line in the last few years by the introduction of improved machinery and a more thorough system of cultivation. The hilly and mountainous northwestern region is admirably adapted to fruit-growing. Apples as fine as any in the Union are raised here, and peaches are an almost spontaneous crop, while grapes, cherries and other small fruits flourish. It is only in recent years fruit-culture has received much attention, and this promises soon to be one of the most productive fruit-regions in the country.

There are about 30,000 square miles of timber land in Arkansas, the most abundant being the yellow pine, which is commonly sold in northern markets under the name

of "Georgia pine." There are 15,000 square miles of pine land.
The cypress is found in the swamps of the east and south.
Different species of oaks abound, the white oaks being the
most numerous and valuable. Yellow poplar occurs in
the east, and cedar is abundant in the northern moun-
tains. Other valuable woods are walnut, cherry, sweet
gum, hickory, beech, maple, elm and ash. Persimmon,
pecan, catalpa, sycamore, buckeye, dogwood, and locust
are some of the other common varieties.

From these forests, $20,000,000 worth of lumber is cut yearly, large shipments being made to Europe. The woods are well-stocked with game, the deer and wild turkeys of the Deer Range, beyond Black River, the foxes and deer of the Pine-Bluff country, the bear and deer of the Pennington Forest, the panthers and wolves, bear and deer of the FortSmith region. The domestic live-stock is valued at $25,000,000, and includes 320,000 horses and mules, 825,000 cattle, 225,000 sheep and 1,600,000 swine. The winterless years of Arkansas are peculiarly favorable for farmers, since the plough need never be idle. Their fruits and vegetables are the first in the Western markets. The apples raised here have no superiors for beauty and flavor; and grapes and peaches are equally successful in this land of temperate and long-enduring sunshine. Arkansas is fourth among the States in the value of her crops per acre cultivated, being surpassed only by Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Louisiana. There are UnitedStates land offices at Little Rock and Dardanelle, Camden and Harrison. Large

LITTLE ROCK: STATE INSANE ASYLUM.

areas of land are still open, 5,000,000 acres of United-States domain standing ready for grants to actual settlers. The State has 2,000,000 acres; and the railroads also hold enormous tracts of land-grants, ready for sale at low prices and on easy terms of payment.

LITTLE ROCK : DEAF-MUTE INSTITUTE.

In 1853 Congress granted a vast area of land to the St.-Louis, Iron-Mountain & Southern Railway; and after the Secession storm, this grant was confirmed, in 1866. On these millions of acres, stretching like a baldric from northeastern to southwestern Arkansas, the railroad has settled a great number of farmers, selling their lands at low prices, and on long time. The climate is favorable for agricultural pursuits, with a season of cultivation extending from February to November; and the fertile soil offers unusual inducements to immigrants. Another great tract of 800,000 acres now open to settlement pertains to the Little-Rock & Fort-Smith Railroad, whose line it follows up the beautiful and broad Arkansas Valley, productive of cotton and oats, corn and wheat, and the best of fruits and vegetables. This rich belt lies between the Magazine Mountains

on the south, and the Boston Mountains on the north, in the heart of the State, and is fast developing into a populous and prosperous farming region. The land offices of these companies are at Little Rock, under the superintendence of Col. Thomas Essex.

The Finances of Arkansas were seriously affected by the profligate expenditures of the carpet-bag governments during the Reconstruction era, and in 1874 Gov. Garland found the treasury empty, and a great public debt outstanding. The rising tide of prosperity throughout the State has swept away this unfortunate condition of finance, and brought in a securer and happier condition of affairs. The entire debt, outside of that owed to the United States, will be retired in a few years. The oldest incorporated bank in Arkansas is the First National Bank, whose building at Little Rock is the finest for the purpose within the borders of the State. The First National Bank is under the presidency of H. G. Allis, one of the foremost public men of the State, and a firm supporter of every wise enterprise. The institution has grown with the growth of the LITTLE ROCK: FIRST NATIONAL BANK. community, and now has a capital of $500,000, with a surplus fund and undivided profits exceeding $100,000, and resources of $1,750,000.

Minerals. A geological reconnaissance of the State was begun in 1858-9, under Dr. David Dale Owen, and resumed in 1887, when a complete geological survey was undertaken under the direction of Dr. John C. Branner. This survey has shown that the chief minerals are coal, lignite, manganese, marble, limestone, granite and other building stones, Mexican onyx, novaculites, aluminum ore, gypsum, chalk, fertilizing marls, saline and mineral waters, china and pottery clay. Slate has been quarried; and the iron ore of Lawrence County was once utilized. Zinc occurs in the north, and antimony is mined in Sevier County. A copper-mine has been opened in Searcy County; and steatite is found in Saline County. The gray, pink and variegated Arkansas marble is of the same character as the Tennessee marble, and occurs in great quantity and in good condition for quarrying. No marble industry has been attempted here. The manganese region is one of the most productive and valuable in North America, the ore being especially adapted to the manufacture of Bessemer steel. The blue granites cover twelve square miles, and the stone is remarkably beautiful and strong, being well adapted to architectural work, as well as for paving. The novaculites (or whetstone rocks) are found only in this State, where they cover a large area, in Hot-Spring, Garland, Montgomery and Polk counties. The finer whetstones used by dentists, jewelers and engravers, and all our razor-hones, come from this region. Chalk, such as that used in Europe in making Portland cement, occurs in Little-River County, while the finest of plastic, refractory and alum clays abound in the centre and south. The coal is especially valuable, and available for many uses. Some

is bituminous and some semi-anthracite. It occurs in

workable quantities in eight of the western counties. The
coal industry is being rapidly developed. The total
product for 1887 was 129,600 tons, while that for
1888 was 276,871 tons. Lignite abounds in the
south, especially about Camden. The distribution
of Arkansas minerals is given in detail in the reports
of the Geological Survey.

Government. The governor is elected every two years. The Legislature meets biennially. There are 32 senators and 92 representatives. The Judiciary is composed of the Supreme Court, with five justices; the chancery court; and 16 circuit courts. The Eastern District United-States Court sits at Little Rock; the Western District, at Fort Smith. The State

House is a small classic building, with wings, looking down on the Arkansas River, at Little Rock. It was founded in 1833. At Little Rock stands a monument, erected by legislative order, to commemorate the public services of Ambrose H. Sevier, delegate of Arkansas in Congress from 1827 to 1836, and United-States Senator from 1837 until 1848. The State Insane Asylum, Deaf-Mute Institute, and School for the Blind are on the beautiful pine-hills south and west of Little Rock, viewing the city, the river, and the distant mountains. Here also is the State Penitentiary, whose 600 convicts are managed on the lease system, in convict-camps, except about 75, who remain in the prison.

Education.-Arkansas is paying more for free-school education, in proportion to its taxable property, than any other State. One million dollars is spent yearly for schools, and many buildings have been erected recently. Between 1874 and 1890 the property of the State increased 100 per cent., but the school-appropriations increased 2400 per cent., and the enrollment of school-children rose from 59,000 to 205,000.

LITTLE ROCK: FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH.

The

Arkansas Industrial University, founded in 1868, with the United States land grant of 1862, has 30 instructors, and 85 students (of both sexes) in the regular college course, and 348 in the preparatory departments. Provision is made for 1,000 beneficiary students, to be sent from the various counties, in proportion to their population, with appointments from the county judges. The courses are engineering, classical, agricultural and normal, with manual training shops. The young men are uniformed, and form a battalion, commanded by a United-States Army officer. The University buildings are spacious and modern, on a breezy plateau near Fayetteville, in northwestern Arkansas, and overlooking the picturesque Boston Mountains. The Branch Normal College is a department of the University, established in 1875 at Pine Bluff, with several buildings in a twenty-acre park. It has about 180 students. The medical department of the University began its career in 1879, in Little Rock, and has 70 students. At Little Rock, also, are the Little-Rock University (Methodist), PhilanderSmith College (for colored people) and the Arkansas Female College, occupying the former residence of Gen. Albert Pike, the poet and author. Cane-Hill College is at Boonsboro, and Hendrix College is at Conway. Among other institutions are Ouachita College (Baptist) at Arkadelphia, with 250 students; and the colleges at Batesville (Presbyterian), Judsonia, Searcy, Morrilton, Altus and other towns.

Chief Cities.-Little Rock, the capital and chief commercial city, is near the centre of the State, on the broad and noble Arkansas River, which here winds through a rich rolling country. A little rock near the shore here was the first bit of stone to be seen on the western bank from the Mississippi to this point, and so the old voyageurs called the place for this landmark. It is a healthy, handsome and high-placed city, with broad granitepaved and electric-lighted streets, lined with fragrant magnolias and traversed by horsecars, a spacious wharfage for the packet-steamers, and 30 churches. The city has an active Board of Trade, and by its various railway and river connections receives 70,000 bales of cotton every season, to be handled in its compresses. The local trade reaches $25,000,000 a year. The United-States and Pulaski-County Court-Houses are handsome and costly buildings. The United-States Arsenal, where two companies of artillery are stationed, is celebrated for its noble old trees, and has one of the finest parade-grounds in America. Fort Smith, on the upper Arkansas, has four newspapers and 16 churches, with several railways. At the old frontierpost on this site Gens. Taylor, Hancock and Arbuckle were stationed. Helena is a railway terminus

LITTLE-ROCK UNIVERSITY.