FOR THE ARKANSAS GAZETTE.

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ARKANSAS.

Mr. Printer – As you have attempted the establishment of a press at the Post of Arkansas, a place hitherto almost Unknown throughout the United States, I shall endeavor, through the medium of your paper, to give the public a short sketch of our village and its vicinity.

The Village of Arkansas stands on the north side of the Arkansas river, in N. latitude 33° 58’ 18”, about 55 or 60 miles by water above the confluence of said river with the Mississippi, near 40 miles from the Mississippi by way of the cut-off and White river, and about 25 miles by land to the mouth of the latter river, which is passable at low water.

The Village of Arkansas is a French establishment, settled as early as the American Revolution. Two places on the river below were attempted for the establishment of Spanish garrisons, but were drowned out by the high water.— The present village is entirely free from inundation; it is situated on a high tract of country that puts into the Arkansas river, say fronting the river for about two miles, and running back to the prairie, a distance of three miles. The prairie runs back, high land, ninety miles; dividing the waters of the Arkansas and White rivers. The site of the village is extremely level – no undulations whatever. The soil in the village and its vicinity, is a clay, mixed with a fine sand, which causes it to wash with the heavy rains into gullies, that injure the village very much. There are at present but few buildings, and those principally in the French style; or rather since the change of government from Spain to the United States, many houses have been suffered to go into decay, and but few new buildings have been erected lately. Arkansas is at present the seat of Territorial Government for the Arkansas Territory; but the local legislature have the power to remove it to any other place in the territory they may think proper.

The present village of Arkansas will always be a place of mercantile importance, it being the first high ground above the mouth of the river; the land at the mouth of the river being subject to annual inundation, will not admit of permanent mercantile establishments, and will of necessity make this a place of deposit. The Arkansas river has sufficient depth of water to admit steam-boats to pass many miles above this. – There is at present much mercantile business done at this place considering the small population of the country.

Our Judicial system is at present borrowed from that of Missouri, a Superior and Circuit Courts.
There are a sufficient number of lawyers in the Territory – more than make fortunes from their practice.

There are probably a sufficient number of physicians for the present population – when that increases, particular districts may require additional physicians.

Farmers, men who cultivate the soil, are the men whom we need; to them are the greatest inducements held out, of acquiring property. The soil is good – the climate mild – the river never freezes up to prevent boats from passing – the citizen of Arkansas can always go to market when it suits his convenience, and may always be first in the market where his produce will demand the highest prices.
A Citizen.

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