Arkansas True Democrat [Little Rock],
August 8, 1861
There are three or four cotton factories in this State, but we do not know of the number of spindles driven, or their capacity for turning out thread and cloth. If not now in operation, we hope to hear soon that they are under full headway. If they would be profitable at any time, it will be now and during the continuance of the war. We will be glad to receive information concerning this and other branches of industry in this State.
As a great deal of coal was floated down the Mississippi river, which is now closed above, and none can be brought up to New Orleans and other points, it appears to us that the coal beds of Arkansas can now be profitably worked. Those on the Ouachita river will, probably, be managed by a company from New Orleans. There is excellent coal up the Arkansas and plenty of it; that at Spadra being on the bank of the river and easily obtained.
Salt will become scarce and valuable unless we avail ourselves of the many salt springs in our State. Some of these salines are worked now. Others give a strong brine which would yield sufficient salt to pay for the erection of pumps, boilers, etc. And it should be remembered that the invariable rule is “the deeper the well, the stronger the brine.”
Every man who has a good tannery now, has a little fortune. We are afraid that there will be a great scarcity of leather and shoes next winter, unless more tanneries are established and better care taken by our farmers of the hides or skins of animals. We must economize in this respect, not only from patriotism, but from necessity. We have within ourselves a full supply for all our wants, and only need a development of our resources to make us independent. Let any man count up the amount paid by Arkansas to the North, in a year for the single articles of boots and shoes. At three dollars to each person, it would largely exceed a million of dollars.
Now is the time to set about these things, and by cold weather we can be prepared to supply those wants heretofore supplied by importations. We urge upon the farmers to be careful of the furs and skins of all wild and tame animals, and have them properly tanned. Let none be thrown away or nailed to barn doors and suffered to dry up and become worthless. A large tannery has been, or will be, established in the eastern part of the State. There is room for such a one in the west, as large numbers of hides can be procured from our Indian neighbors.
As regards salines and coal beds, those desiring information on that point will find it in the reports of the geological survey. The second report, though printed and delivered, has not been distributed, but, no doubt, any gentleman seeking information of that kind, can procure one by applying to the Governor, or Secretary of State.