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published In The Famous white river Country. Where Alfalfa is king
$1 Per Annum
Newark, Independence County, Arkansas, Friday, April 24, 1908
Vol. 8. No. 18
MORE ABOUT OKLAHOMA
•Country is Badly Over-Rated Says
Tom Jernigan, Late of Magness
Mr. Editor: I promised some rel
utives and friends I would write them
from this country through The Journal
so, with your permission, I will state
a few thing's, as I find them at present.
Ab^fut the 2<>th of February I left
Magness for Oklahoma. We arrived
at Rush Springs all O. K., on the 28th.
The weather has been very favorable
for farming although there is quite a
lot of corn planting to do yet. This
climate is just about the same as
Arkansas. This country is broken
prairie. Some of the farms have
scruby post oak and black jack timber.
It will only be a short time until the
people will have to burn coal all the
time. Thailand is very productive in
this neighborhood, making tin an aver
age 10 bushels of corn per acre and
one-half to three-fourths of a bale of
cotton. The soil is black sand and
red shoemake land. There is some
white sand. The black and red land
is the best. The white is worthless
when the sod is broken as it blows so
had. you can’t get a stand of anything
on it. not even grass. The country
around here is a short-life land I am
sure, for it washes and blows so bad.
I have noticed sdrne seven year old
land that lias washed away until it
looks as red and poor as an old red
hillside in Arkansas. I think in twenty
years the cream of this country will be
all gone except the level land. The
country is on a boom and overrated as
a whole. Of course there is lots of
tine land here, but a rich man will
have to get on a fence post to reach
the price with a ten foot pole; (and a
poor man will simply have to rent,
that’s all.)
The land that is broke out or soded
as the people call it, is worth from $30
to $<?0 per acre. Land rents for $3 per
acre, or the third.of corn and fourth
of cotton, which is a, very reasonable
rent..
Corn is the surest crop. There is a
web worm that destroys the cotton here
sometimes in May or June and then
you have to plant June corn. Wheat
and oats are destroyed sometimes by
the green bugs in May or June. This
country is lik>j all others—when every
thing’s right, all is well. There are
lots of people here wanting to sell
their property so they can go to the
good p)ace just ahead.
Mr. Editor, I promised my friends
in old Independence county that 1
would write the facts as I found them
and if the good Lprd lets we live I in
tend to write them as near as I can.
Here I lay my pen down now and go
to church to see and !** seen.
Well. I went to church, but didn’t
see many people but heard a good ser
mon and edsjoyed the services line.
The Sunday schools are very good
here. The literary schools are very
good also. There are different churches
here and a person from other countries
need not he out of a plac^ or church
to worship God. Thank the Lord there
are some good people everywhere.
This is the Eastern part of Okla
homa, and we live just two miles west
of the Chickasaw line, and l*'> miles
east of Fort Sill, where the military
reservations are. and about fifty miles
north of Pauls Valley. **
I He iana omee is ai j^awiown « nere
the settlers will have to go to prove
up on their allottment. All of the land
is taken up in this county. There isn't
any school land or claims here. There
is a tine chance here for some good
yin and mill man. I can think of a
brother and friend hack there who
could make the above business a suc
cess here, and that is Bro. J. U. Mar
tin. The cotton area will cover ten
miles square. The leading men of this
neighborhood say a good gin would
get all it could do. The people here
will give a gin site and there is plenty
good springs for water. The only
consideration is fuel.
Now, IU;o. Craig, I will stop adver
tising and sav we are certainly glad
when Tlte Journal arrives, which is on
Monday and we all make a run for
the mail box.
Bro. Editor, that temperance rally
was all right. The election didn't go
just as I would have liked for it to
have gone, but of course I will Ite sub
missive.
If any of my friends wish to write
me just enclose stamps and I will take
pleasure in waving any information I
can in regard to the country. So
thanking you, kind editor, for this
privilege and wishing The Journal
much prosperity, I will close, with
love to one and all. Your brother
and friend. Tow Jernigan,
Marlow, Okla., It. F. I)., No. 1. Box
JO A.
GRAND JURY'S REPORT
Findings of the Body as Reported by
Them to Judge Fulkerson
Upon completing its labors, the
grand jury submitted the following
report:
To the Hon. F. D. Fulkerson, Judge
of the Third Judicial Circuit:
We, the grand jury of Independence
county, for the spring term, 1908, of
the Independence circuit court, having
completed our work, would respectful
ly submit the following report, to-wit:
First We have inquired into the
case of every ]>erson imprisoned in the
county jail or on bail to answer'a
criminal charge and who has not l*-en
previously indicted, and in such cases
we have found bills where the evidence
was in our judgment sufficient.
Second—We have examined into the
condition and management of the coun
ty jail, and find the same to l>e in ex
cellent condition. We commend the
sheriff for the neat, clean and sanitary
condition of the building throughout.
We lind seven prisoners, five whites
and two colored. They state that they
are well fed and well cared for.
l mru—\\ e nave examined the olnc
ial conduct of both the county and
township officers, and have no adverse
criticism to render. From our obser
vations we cheerfully report that each
county officer is faithfully performing
his official duty. We have examined
into the report of the several justices
of the i>eaee of the county and find
that all of them have made proper re
ports except two, one of them having1
removed from the county, and the other
made no report.
Fourth—We iind that the several
road overseers have made their report,
but said reports being in such vague
and indefinite manner, this grand jury
is unable to obtain much information
therefrom. We recommend that the
county judge require them to Ik' made
in a fuller and more complete manner.
Fifth We find the court house to l>e
ih good repair, except some overhead
ceiling and some leaks in roof, which
should Ik- rapaired at the discretion
of the county judge.
Sixth—We appointed a committee to
visit the county poor farm, which com
mittee reported as follows:
To the Grand Jury: We, the under
signed, your committee selected to
make an inspection of the poor farm,
bCg' leave to submit the following r^g
port concerning our investigation, to
wit.
We find the building in nice, clean
condition, and the inmates well fed,
clothed and cared for. We found
twenty-two inmates, ten white males,
nine white females and three colored
females. We recommend the purch
ase of about two acres of land lying
south and adjacent to the premises on
which the “poor house” and dwelling
is situated, provided the same cun be
done without paying an exhorbitunt
price. All of which we respectfully
submit. •). If. Hoi.okkby,
.T. L». John sox,
F. M. Keri.in,
J. G. Pearson,
Committee.\
And the above report, having been
read in our hearing, the same was by
the grand j>»ry approved.
We have examined into all the crimes
and misdemeanors we had informa
tion hud been committed, and in every
case, where, in our judgement, the
evidence was sufficient, we have found
true bills.
1 lospectfully submitted,
T. II. Dkauing, Foreman.
W. 11. Shei.pmax, Clerk.
Madame Yale's Complexion Cream
and Madam Yale's Face Powder at
The Racket Store.
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ibX \ i&v. Imtifoj: ' - VsjtVL
GOV. JOHN A. JOHNSON.
Minnesota’s Favorite Son, Who is a
Candidate For the Democratic
Nomination For President
CHARGED WITH FORGERY
Rev. F. M. Brannon of Batesvills In
dicted For Alleged Forgery
Rev. F. M. Brannon of Batesville
was placed under arrest in that city
Monday morning by Sheriff Dunlap
on an indictment returned by the re
cent grand .jury charging him -with
forgery.
Mr. Brannon immediately gave bond
in the sum of $1,000 and was released,
the bond l>eing signed by John <j.
Wolf. T.1l. Padgett. C. A. McKaig,
Karp M. Casey, S. A. Hail and R. C.
Dorr.
It is said that the indictment grew
out of a suit tiled in the chancery
court'a bout a year ago by T. J. Raney
of this place, as administrator of the
estate of lien Brannon, deceased, who
was a brother of Rev. F. M. Brannon
and the father of Mrs. T. J. Rdne\.
Shortly after the death of Ben Bran
non, Mr. Raney, as administrator,
tiled suit in the c min eery court for
possession of some valuable land in
Big Bottom which formerly belonged
to Ben Brannon, but which had jiassed
into the possession of F. M. Brannon,
through some alleged misrepresenta
tions.
The indictment alleges that the Rev.
Mr. Brannon forged a deed to some
of this property, transferring it to his
step-daughter, Miss Enoch Perdue,
and had the same recorded, in an effort
to defeat the suit filed by Mr. Raney.
Rev. Brannon has employed Attor
neys Sam M. Casey and Oldlield &
Cole to defend him and it is said that
the case will likely be tried at this
term of the circuit court, the defendant
having demanded an immediate trial,
to which it is said the prosecuting at
torney has consented.
REPUBLICAN CONVENTION
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The Republicans of this township
held a very harmonious convention at
the city hall last Saturday. Geo. F.
Grosser was elected chairman and T.
M. Harrelson secretary.
The following delegates were elected
to the county convention: G. M.
Fields. .1. W. Wayman, J. W. Grigler,
G. F. Grosser and T. M. Harrelson.
W. G. Cason, Lee Foster, G. W.
Price, .1. W Rout and A. I>. Duff
were elected alternates.
The delegates were instructed to vote
in favor of tlie nomination of a full
county ticket.
FAVOR PROHIBITION
Little ltock, April 21).—A poll of the
members of the next legislature on the
state wide prohibition question reveals
the fact that a majority of the members
of the house favors state wide prohi
tion, and twelve in the senate who will
vote for' a hill submitting the matter
to the people, eight in favor of a hill
declaring for state-wide prohibition,
* ten opposed to state-wide prohibition
in any form, and six non-committal.
• Three or four of the senators polled
: stated that they were not in a position
j to express themselves at the preseni
time, as they desired to wait until after
the meeting of the Democratic state
convention and know what action that
body will take before committing- them
selves. Gov.-elect Donaghey an
nounced during the late campaign that
he will sign a prohibition bill if it
passes the legislature. It is not l»e
lieved that Mr. Donaghey will discuss
the matter in his inaugural address.
He will let the legislature settle tlfe
proposition without any interference
from him.
• BIG BAPTIST CONVENTION
Hot Springs Convention, May 14-18,
to be Biggest Ever Held
On Thursday, May 14, at Hot Spring's
will l>e begun the annual meeting of
the Southern Baptist convention, the
lagest delegate convention in the world
to he held under the auspices of any
church. Every' one of the Southern
states is represented at the convention,
and the number of delegates present
will reach far into the thousands.
While the convention proper will be
called to order on the 14th. the two
days preceeding that date will be de
voted to preliminary meetings and
meetings of associated bodies.
The convention itself will continue
Friday, Saturday and Sunday and un
til Monday evening, and the major
part of the time will be given over to
the discussion of missionary matters.
In fact, the convention is for the pur
pose of furthering the work of the
Baptist church in the mission field.
The opening sermon will he deliver
ed Thursday night, May 14, by Henry
j H. Battle, a noted divine from North
| Carolina.
i lie nuraoer 01 delegates irora eacn
state will not be known until May 1,
at which time the information will be
sent the various churches, and they
will proceed with the selection of their
delegates.
The meeting last year was held at
Richmond, Va,, and the attendance
was the greatest in the history of the
convention. This year there is every
reason to think that the meeting at
Hot Springs will exeedkl in point of
numlier present all former efforts.
Newark and Independence county
will likely be well repesented at the
big covention.
BANK ELECTS OFFICERS
The annual meeting of the stock
holders of the Merchants and Planters
Hank was held Friday afternoon.
The reports submitted showed the
bank to be in good condition and do
ing a nice business, there being a
sufficient surplus on hand to declare
a live per cent dividend.
The bank’s deposits have increased
47 per cent during the last year and
its loans have more than doubled dur
ing the same period.
The following directors were elected
for the ensuing year: A. A. Henderson,
.1. M. Martin, W. D. Magness, O. F.
Craig, .1. 4’. Tharp, T. VV. Hulsey
and J. G. Edwards.
All the old officers were re-elected,
as follows: VV. D. Magness, presi
dent: J. T. Tharp, vice-president and
A. A. Henderson, cashier.
EXPLOSION KILLS FOUR
Helter, April 21. An untimed and
premature explosion of a thousand
pounds of blasting powder and several
cases of dynamite at Burkes’ construc
tion eauip, west of here on the M. &
N. A. railroad, resulted in the instant
death of four Italian laborers and ti e
serious injury of a score of others,
some of whom are citizens.
The mangled bodies of the killed
were recovered.
The explosian was caused by sparks
from an iron tamping stick igniting
the blast.
JACKSON REPUBLICANS
The Jackson county Itepubliean con-i
vention. held at Newport Saturday,
nominated E. V. Holt of Tuckerman
for state senator an<l J. M. Gibson of
Newport for representative. No other
candidates were placed in the field.
For Sale Good four-year-old
i; thoroughbred Holstein male, for sale
. j or trade. Apply to N. M. Wilson.
REPUBLICAN CONVENTION
Endorse State-Wide Prohibition—Post
pone Selection of County Ticket
The Republican county convention
was held at Batesville 'Bliesday, the
principal business transacted lieing
the selection of delegates to the state
convention.
The meeting was called to order by
W. P. Jones, chairman of the county
central committee A. A. Webber was
elected temporary chairman and W.
D. Bullington temporary secretary.
A motion that the chairman appoint
a committee of three to select delegate*
to the state and congressional conven
tions was adopted and the* chairman
anpointed L. S. Starnes, T. I*. Craf
lon and H. (’. Wade.
A motion was adopted to instruct*
the delegates to the state convention
to favor a plank in the platform de
claring- for state-wide prohibition.
A motion was adopted to elect it
permanent chairman and secretary
and six delegates-at-large; and dele
gates from each township to recom
mend one of their members for town
ship committeeman.
The chairman appointed W. P. Jack
son, J. P. Huddleston and R. Tal
ley to select above committee.
H. C, Wade and J. W. Scott were
nominated, for permanent chairman.
A vote resulted in the election of
Scott.
( has. F. ( ole was unanimously elect
ed as permanent secretary.
The committee appointed to select
delegate* to the state and congression
al conventions l-eported as follows;
For delegates—Sam Tuggle, W. P.
Jones, (.'has. F. Cole, J. W. Parse,
| Henry Crigler and Jas. F. Huddleston.
Alternates --Curry Talley, J. L. Mc
Daniel, T. ^1. Harrelson, ,T. W. Scott,
A. A. Webber and T. A.„ Bullington.
The repcyt was adopted, the same set
of delegates being elected to attend
both the state and congressional con
ventions, and go uninstruced in each
instance.
The committee on the selection of a
county central committee reported as
follows: Committeemen-at-large—A.
A. Webber, L. S. Starnes, H./ O.
Wade, W. N. Osborne, T. L. Crafton
and J. W. Parse. The report was re
ceived and adopted with the addition
of G. M. Fields, making the seventh
member. The delegates from the
various townships recommended for
township committeemen were as fol
lows: Big Bottom, G. M. Fields;
Black River, W. P. Jackson; Chris
tian, W. D. Johnson; Cushman, W.
H. Wren: Gainsboro, J. F. Huddle- "
ston: Greenbrier, Joe Wells; Liberty,
W. II. Brannon; Relief, J. A. Brown;
Ruddell, W. P. Jones; Salado, J. J.
Fowler: White River, J. D. Wright.
The following resolution was unan
imously adopted: “Resolved, That
we, the Republicans of independence
county, in convention assembled, here
by express our unqualified endorse
ment of the administraliob of Theo
dore Roosevelt.”
A motion to instruct the delegates to
the state convention for Taft for Presi
dent was defeated.
The co vent ion adjourned to meet
again on Saturday, July 11. at 10 a. m.
TAX PAYING TIME EXTENDED
The time for paying taxes without
the penalty expired last Friday, the
10th, but Collector Gray requests The
Journal to announce that, owing to
the high waters, which has perhaps
prevented some from getting to Bates
-ville, he will extend the time until
Saturday, April 25th.
Parties who have not paid their*
taxes can pay until that time without
the penalty, but after that date the 25
per cent penalty will he added.
BIG YIELD OF ALFALFA
For productiveness there is probab
ly no hay grown that beats alfalfa.
Last season J. T. Taylor, a prominent
farmer of the Oil Trough neighbor
hood, raised enough hav from 2J aeres
of alfalfa to feed one cow and three to
live head of horses. He gave one-third,
of the tirst crop to pay for ewtttng and
raking. He lias sold $115 worth and
‘'still has more than enough left to run,
him until the new crop comes in.