234 GEOLOGICAL RECONNOISSANCE 



The alluvial bottoms, above overflow of the rivers and creeks, are very 

 productive and easily cultivated. The elevated land between St. Francis 

 and Cache rivers, known by the name of Crowley's ridge, is somewhat 

 broken, but highly susceptible of cultivation, producing all kinds of grain; 

 it is particularly noted for its adaptation to the growth of wheat. Mr. A. 

 Muckelroy, who lives on section 19, township 21 north, range 8 east, 

 informed me that he had raised six consecutive crops of wheat on his 

 land without any apparent diminution of fertility; in fact, all the farmers 

 with whom I conversed, spoke in great praise of its wheat growing pro- 

 perties; and when by continued cultivation it may require renovation, 

 there lies close at hand, in the gypsiferous clays, a supply of mineral ma- 

 nure that will keep it in good heart. 



The settlers in this part of Greene county, are just beginning to turn 

 their attention to agriculture; heretofore, the great abundance of game 

 seduced them into a thriftless way of living; depending almost exclu- 

 sively, for a livelihood, on the sale of furs and peltries, which constitute, 

 at all times, a critical and uncertain means of support. As game is now 

 becoming scarce, they are compelled to devote their time to agriculture, 

 or move farther west, where wild animals are more numerous. 



The projected railroad, from Fulton, in Texas, to Cairo, at the junction 

 of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, runs through township 21, range 6, and 

 if completed, will prove of incalculable advantage to a region of country 

 rich in fertile lands; as the want of a ready market for the surplus pro- 

 duce of the country, is one of the greatest drawbacks to its progress. 



A plank road from the Chalk bluff, to Point Pleasant, on the Mississippi 

 river, twelve miles below New Madrid, is under construction and will soon 

 be completed. 



This road will prove highly beneficial to Greene county, and is the best 

 route for emigrants coming from Kentucky, Tennessee, and the Carohnas, 

 who wish to locate in the northern part of Arkansas. The emigration to 

 and through Greene county, during the fall and winter of 1857, was very 

 great; and as the people of this and the adjoining county of Pvanuolph, 

 receive, from this emigration, no small amount of money, in exchange for 

 produce, it is to their interest to improve the road from the Chalk bluif to 

 Pocahontas, particularly the crossing of Cache river, which is in a wretch- 

 edly bad condition, and could be made passable at very little cost. In at- 

 tempting to cross this river, our mules mired down and came very near being 

 drowned in trying to extricate themselves from the deep mud. We were 

 compelled to obtain a?sistance, and after disengaging the team had to get 

 the wagon out by hand. 



