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In 1869, there were over 2,000,000 acres of improved land in the State. In the same year the principal returns were:

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In 1870, the cotton crop amounted to 375,000 bales.

COMMERCE AND MANUFACTURES.

Arkansas has no foreign commerce, but possesses a profitable river trade with Memphis and New Orleans.

It has no manufactures of importance, and will, probably, never attain the position of a manufacturing State.

ments.

INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.

As late as 1868, the State was very backward in internal improveIn that year it contained but 191 miles of completed railroads. The cost of construction was $4,400,000. The great abundance of water transportation in the State enables it to dispense with railroads to a very great degree. Since 1868, a number of new lines. of railway have been begun, and are being built at present.

EDUCATION.

In 1860, there were in Arkansas, 4 colleges, with 235 students; 109 academies and private schools, with 4415 pupils, and 727 public schools, with 19,242 pupils. The war completely convulsed the State, and closed all the schools. By the return of peace a large number of the school-houses had been destroyed, or rendered unfit for occupancy, and the educational funds had been scattered. A more melancholy condition of affairs cannot be imagined.

The new Constitution makes provision for a system of Public Edu

cation, which is placed under the supervision of a Superintendent of Public Schools. Free schools are to be established and maintained by the State, and a permanent school fund set apart. Attendance at school is made compulsory upon all children between the ages of five and eighteen years. Measures are being taken for the establishment of a State University, with a Department of Agriculture.

In 1860, there were 115 libraries in the State, containing 23,221 volumes. In the same year, 36 weekly newspapers, with an aggregate annual circulation of 2,122,224 copies, were published in the State.

PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS.

The public institutions of Arkansas were greatly injured by the war. The Penitentiary, at Little Rock, was used as a military prison until the readmission of the State into the Union, and was very greatly injured. In 1870, 346 prisoners were confined here.

The Institution for the Blind was established in 1859. It maintained a feeble existence, owing to the want of funds, until 1863, when it was closed, and the property sold.

RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS.

In 1860, there were 1008 churches in Arkansas. Many of these were destroyed or greatly injured during the war.

FINANCES.

In 1868, the debt of the State amounted to $4,577,081. We have no accurate returns from the State Treasury.

In 1868, there were 2 National banks, with a capital of $200,000, doing business in the State.

GOVERNMENT.

The present Constitution of Arkansas was adopted in 1868. By its terms, every male citizen of the United States, and every male foreigner who has lawfully declared his intention to become a citizen, who is 21 years old and has resided in the State one year, and in the county six months, is entitled to vote at the elections. Persons in the military and naval service of the United States, convicts, idiots, lunatics, and persons who participated in the rebellion, are excluded from the ballot.

The Government is vested in a Governor, Lieutenant-Governor,

Secretary of State, Auditor, Treasurer, and Attorney-General, and a Legislature, consisting of a Senate (of 24 members), and a House of Representatives (of 82 members), all elected by the people. The State officers and Senators are chosen for four years, and the Representatives for two years. The Legislature meets biennially in January. The courts of the State are the Supreme Court, Circuit Courts, and County Courts. The judges in this State are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate. The Supreme Court is composed of a Chief Justice and four Associate Justices, appointed for eight years.

The seat of Government is established at Little Rock.

The State is divided into 55 counties.

HISTORY.

Arkansas was first discovered by De Soto, in 1541. He reached the eastern bank of the Mississippi nearly opposite the present town of Helena, and after halting there 20 days to build boats, crossed the river, and marched 200 miles west of the Mississippi. He sought gold, but failed to find it, and wandering south to the Washita, descended it in 1542 to its mouth, and passed down the Red River to the Mississippi, where he sickened and died, and was buried by his followers in the great river he had discovered.

Arkansas was next visited by Father Marquette, during his voyage down the Mississippi, in 1673. In the next century, trading-posts were erected in the lower part of the present State.

Arkansas was included in the purchase of 1803, and after the admission of Louisiana into the Union formed a part of Missouri Territory. In 1819, it was erected into a separate Territory, with its present name, and in 1820, the first Legislature met at Arkansas Post. In the same year the seat of Government was removed to Little Rock. The population increased rapidly, and in 1830 numbered 30,388 souls. On the 15th of June, 1836, Arkansas was admitted into the Union as a State. In 1840, four years later, the population was 97,574, of which 19,935 were slaves.

At the commencement of the civil war, a State Convention was held at Little Rock. This body, on the 4th of March, 1861, adopted an ordinance of secession, and the State soon after became a member of the Southern Confederacy. It was occupied by both armies during almost the entire period of the war. Several severe battles were fought on its soil, and the State was literally torn to pieces.

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In 1864, an attempt was made by the Union men of Arkansas to reorganize the State Government, but Congress refused to recognize it as a legitimate government, and organized the State as the Fourth Military District. In 1868, a new Constitution was adopted, and on the 22d of June, of that year, Arkansas was readmitted into the Union.

CITIES AND TOWNS.

Besides the capital, the principal places in the State are, Helena, Napoleon, and Camden.

LITTLE ROCK,

In Pulaski county, is the capital of the State. It is situated on the right or southern bank of the Arkansas River, about 300 miles from its mouth, 155 miles west-by-south of Memphis, 905 miles by water from New Orleans, and 1086 miles west of Washington City. Latitude 34° 40′ N.; longitude 83° 10′ W.

The city is built on a rocky bluff, about 50 feet high. This is the first bluff that occurs in ascending the river, and commands a fine view of the stream and the surrounding country. Little Rock is built principally of wood, and is in some respects a handsome city. The principal buildings are the State House, a handsome rough-cast brick edifice; the State Penitentiary, which has been several times burned down by the convicts; and the United States Arsenal. Some of the

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residences are elegant, and have handsome grounds. The city contains 6 churches, several good schools and seminaries, and 2 newspaper offices. It is lighted with gas, and is governed by a Mayor and Council. In 1870, the population was 12,380.

Little Rock lies in close proximity to a fertile cotton region. It is connected with Memphis, Tennessee, by railway, and large quantities of cotton are sent overland to that market. Being the principal town on the Arkansas River, it possesses a considerable river trade, and is connected by steamers with Memphis, New Orleans, and the important towns on the Mississippi. Slate of a fine quality, good clay, and granite, which resembles the Quincy granite in appearance, but is not so hard, are found in the vicinity.

The city was founded in 1820, and owes its name to the rock on which it is built. It was seized by the State troops at the outset of the civil war, but was captured by the United States forces in 1862.

HELENA,

The second city of the State, is situated in Phillips county, on the right bank of the Mississippi River, 80 miles below Memphis. It is a well-built town, and contains the county buildings, several churches and schools, and a newspaper office. It is the most important commercial town in the State. It is connected with Memphis and Little Rock by regular lines of steamers, and conducts an important trade along the St. Francis, White, and Arkansas rivers. In the rear of Helena is an extensive and fertile cotton country, and large quantities of this staple are sent here for shipment to Memphis and New Orleans. Helena was almost entirely destroyed by fire in the summer of 1852. In 1862, it was captured by the United States forces, and held by them until the close of the war. In 1870, the population was 2249.

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