Agriculturally

the most valuable soil is found in the river bottom-lands, and as the surface rises from these bottoms the soil becomes le productive. There are large submerged tracts that only require proper drainage to make them valuable to the farmer. The uplands generally are well timbered and well watered. The most ‘valuable production is cotton. Of cereals, corn has the largest yield. In 1900 there were 4,794 manufacturing establishments reported, employing $35,960,640 capital and 28,150 persons; baying $9,937,387 for wages and $23,963,768 for materials; and having a combined output valued at $45,197,731. The principal articles were lumber, sawed and worked; flour and grist; cotton-seed oil and cake; foundry and machine shop products;. and brick and tile. The public schools are liberally maintained and well attendea, For higher instruction there are 48 public high schools; 24 private secondary schools; 1 public and 6 private normal schools; 8 universities and colleges for men and for both sexes; and the Central Baptist College for Women, at Conway. The gee universities and colleges are Arkansas College (opened 1872, Presb.); Arkansas Industrial University ale non-sect.); Philander. Smith College (1877, Meth. Epis.); Hendrix College (1884, Meth.