“ The hill country of the northern part of the State has little land of agricultural value, the soil being sandy and thin; but the bottom lands, having a heavy black soil, are very productive. In the limestone regions are found much red clay and loam, the residual materials from the decomposition of the limestone. The higher lands of the Arkansas Valley, from Indian Territory to Little Rock, are composed of a dark, sandy loam. ”

“ The cereals and temperate zone crops predominate in the northern division; while cotton and representative southern crops predominate in the other. The cotton product of the State yields nearly half of the total crop receipts, though the acreage is less than one-third of the total cultivated area. In 1900, 819,000 bales of cotton were marketed, giving the State fifth rank among the cotton-growing commonwealths. Corn, wheat, and oats are the most important of the cereals. Hay and forage crops are also of considerable value. Peas are raised in the southwest ”

“ There are about 6 miles of line to every 100 square miles of territory, and about 24 miles to every 10,000 inhabitants. A State Railroad Commission has been recently created, which examines and revises the rate sheets of the railways, and fixes rates for such roads as may fail to furnish rate sheets. The foreign commerce is carried on largely through the port of New Orleans, and consists chiefly of cotton and lumber. ”

“ Below Little Rock a sandy, sometimes clayey, soil borders the river, and this grades toward the south into black, sandy, and 'buckshot' soils, which are the richest in the State, and which yield from 2000 to 3000 pounds of seed cotton to the acre. The bottom lands of the Red River Valley contain a black, sandy loam or a red, sticky clay called "gumbo." ”

“ Those at Hot Springs are famous for their medicinal qualities, and have led to the foundation there of a renowned health resort. The Ouachita Mountains have been shown to be the westerly extension of the south end of the Appalachian mountain system, and to have been formed at the same time and by the same causes that upheaved the Appalachians. ”

“ The State maintains a lunatic asylum, but it is inadequate to meet the public needs. There are also a deaf-mute institution and a penitentiary now located in Pulaski County. There is no reform school, and juvenile offenders are confined in the county jails and the State penitentiary. ”

“ Of recent years the prosperity of the State has increased with the development of its rich mineral resources. Since 1876 the Democrats have been victorious in State and national elections; the congressional delegation as a rule is solidly Democratic. ”

“ Of the 6959 teachers employed, 4152 are males, a larger proportion than in any other State. There are twenty-four secondary schools in the State. A State University is situated at Fayetteville. There are no State normal schools, but private enterprise has provided several answering their purpose. Private and sectarian interests also maintain several small colleges, six of which are for the education of the colored race. ”

“ It is nearly square in form, each side measuring about 250 miles, and covers an area of 53,850 square miles, of which 805 square miles are water. It ranks twenty-third in size among the States of the Union.
Topography. With the exception of a few high bluffs, the eastern margin of the State is subject to inundation from the Mississippi River, causing an overflowing of the numerous lakes, bayous, and swamps. But the region to the westward attains a higher elevation, and the surface is broken by numerous ranges of hills and low mountains, which have a general trend from east to west. ”

“ Six per cent. is the legal rate of interest, and all contracts for a greater rate than 10 per cent. are void, both principal and interest being forfeited. The property of the wife is not liable for the debts of her husband. The principal causes for divorce are adultery, habitual drunkenness, cruel treatment, or desertion for one year.
Legislative.—The representatives to the State Legislature are elected for a term of two years, and cannot exceed 100 in number, each county being entitled to one member, while the extra members are distributed among the more populous counties. ”