1941: Arkansas

Area and Population.

Arkansas. 'the Wonder State,' situated inland in the south-central part of the United States, is the smallest state west of the Mississippi River, though it is larger than the whole of New England. Admitted to statehood June 15, 1836, Arkansas ranks 26th in size among the states, with an area of 53,102 sq. mi., including 377 sq. mi. of inland water surface, according to remeasurements of the United States undertaken for the 16th census in 1940.

In population the state ranks 24th, numbering 1,949,387 according to the 1940 census. Of this total, whites number 1,465,687 and Negroes, 483,700. In 1930 the state had a total population of 1,854,482, the increase for the 10 years from 1930 to 1940 was, therefore, 94,905, or an increase of 5.1 per cent. The foreign-born element of the population is negligible, less than 10,000, or about one-half of one per cent. The largest cities are Little Rock, the capital, 88,039; Fort Smith, 36,584; Hot Springs, 21,370; Pine Bluff, 21,290; and North Little Rock, 21,137.

Education.

The prestige of education in Arkansas is at a new high. Leadership is organized and aggressive, perhaps as never before; popular support is liberal and progressive. The people, with the means they have, are doing, as they have always done, as much for education as they can well afford; they, too, are getting as much in return for the money they put into their schools as the people anywhere in these United States.

In the fiscal year 1939-40, Arkansas spent for common schools something more than $6,000,000. This was the largest sum ever spent on elementary education in Arkansas in a single year; it amounted to an allowance for the year of $6.65 towards the education of every child of school age (6 to 21 years) in the state. The total investment in education by Arkansas for the same year, for elementary schools, high schools, vocational schools and colleges, added up to something more than $15,000,000. This huge sum was sufficient to support 4,545 elementary schools, having 9,417 teachers and 398,846 scholars; 900 high schools, having 2,470 teachers and 65,000 scholars.

Agriculture.

The mild climate and excellent soil of Arkansas make it an agricultural state of importance. Over half of the land area of the state is farm land, and half of the farm lands are improved and under cultivation. Upon its fertile soil the cotton ripens its flowers of silky white; from its fields come tasty strawberries worth over $1,000,000 annually; and much of the rice for the country's chop suey and puddings grow in this state. In cotton production, Arkansas usually stands fourth among the states, and only Louisiana and Texas exceed it in the production of rice.

The rich delta lands of the state produce a long staple cotton of tough fiber and high luster, much sought after by the textile industries. Rice-growing has been developed in recent years, increasing with the growth of irrigation. The rice is planted and harvested very much as is wheat in the Northern states, the plant being under water only during its growing period. Corn is an important crop, ranking, perhaps, next in value to cotton. Apples, peaches, strawberries, cantaloupes, sweet potatoes, and watermelons are some of the state's staple fruit and truck crops. Arkansas realized a gross income from all its farming operations, in 1940, estimated at $200,000,000.

Stock Raising.

Stock raising has made great strides in the past few years, the hills and plains country being especially well adapted to the raising of hogs, beef cattle, and to the production of milk and cream for marketing. The winters are mild, and the grazing season long. The fever tick has been eradicated; other infectious diseases are under control. As a result of these remedial measures, it is no longer hazardous to bring to Arkansas finely bred animals from elsewhere, for the improvement of the quality of native herds. The Arkansas Live Stock Show, held annually at Little Rock, is now a regular event. The total value of all live stock on Arkansas farms in 1940 was nearly $75,000,000. This was an increase of about 5 per cent over 1939. The farmers of Arkansas received from livestock sales in 1940 a cash income estimated at $40,000,000.

Mineral Resources.

Arkansas stands high in the list of the states for its yield of valuable minerals. Its most valuable mineral product is petroleum, which was discovered in the southern part of the state, near the older Louisiana oil field, in 1921. The production for the first year placed Arkansas fourth among the states in yield of oil, and with this new field much extended, it has since outranked Pennsylvania, the pioneer oil state, in total annual production. This amounted to 25,583,000 bbl. in 1940. Natural gas is found in two separate fields, in the oil field of southern Arkansas and in the coal-bearing area of western Arkansas. The total flow in 1940 was 22,409,000 M. cu. ft. Next in importance is coal, of which the state produces very fine grades both of bituminous and semi-anthracite. The latter is exceptional for its nearly smokeless quality. The coal fields extend from Russellville westward to Fort Smith and the Oklahoma line.

From Arkansas is obtained about 92 per cent of the world's supply of bauxite, the basic ore of aluminum. This had a value in 1940 of $2,501,393. The only diamond mine on the North American continent is in Arkansas. The stones are of the finest quality, the equal in purity to those of South Africa, and one gem has been mined which weighed seventeen carats.

Forest Resources.

Arkansas is one of the most heavily wooded of all the states. Except for the several extensive areas of prairie lands in the eastern and southern parts, originally the state was almost one continuous forest. The mountain regions were overgrown with oak, hickory, and cedar; the valleys with red gum, cypress, sycamore, and white oak; the southern plains, with soft yellow pine and many varieties of hardwood. There are more than one hundred different kinds of trees; about sixty varieties are of commercial use.

Arkansas is seventh among the states, in most years, in lumber production, and although it leads all the states in the production of red gum, hickory, and other important commercial timbers, almost sixty per cent of its total cut is yellow pine. Arkansas leads in the production of staves for tight barrels, and uses more timber in the manufacture of veneers than any other state. There are two national forests, the Arkansas Reserve and the Ozark Reserve. The present forest area is about 22,000,000 acres.

Manufactures.

Being abundantly supplied with raw materials and possessing vast stores of cheap fuel, including oil, natural gas, coal, lignite, and wood, and with exceptional water-power possibilities, Arkansas is becoming an important manufacturing state. As might be expected, the most important industry is the manufacture of lumber and timber products, such as furniture, with the production of cotton-seed oil and cotton-seed cake usually second in value. Railroad car repair work comprises an important industry, employing a great number of workmen.

Highways and Parks.

Arkansas has a vast network of improved highways. There are 10,000 miles in the system maintained by the state; more than half this mileage has been hard-surfaced with concrete or asphalt; the rest is gravel. These good roads put all parts of the state in close touch, and unite the people in mutual good understanding. They make possible the consolidation of the country schools, and the maintenance of traveling libraries. The trunk-lines, and national highways, from north to south and east to west, are crowded by the trucking traffic, tourists, migrations, and the comings and goings of people in the everyday affairs of living.

The Arkansas park-system includes six separate units, strategically situated in as many different sections of the state for the accommodation of the people. Arkansas Post Park, of historic interest, is in the east; Crowley's Ridge Park, situated in the northeast, is good for fishing and camping; Devil's Den Park, in the northwest, is enjoyed for its scenic effects; Donaghey Park, in the south, offers good fishing and hunting; Mount Nebo Park, centrally located, is high and invigorating; and Petit Jean Park, west of central, is famous for the incomparable beauty of its mountain scenery.

State Finance.

Arkansas had a total income in revenue from state tax sources, during the fiscal year 1939-1940, of $29,369,552.77. This amount was augmented by the receipt of $8,364,553.26 from nonrevenue and Federal funds. Thus, the total sum received for all governmental purposes amounted to $37,734,106.03. At the close of the year there remained a cash balance on hand of $1,985,970.59. Since Jan. 1, 1937, the state's bonded debt of $165,000,000 for highways has been reduced by nearly $30,000,000: the remaining highway debt of $135,000,000 has lately been refunded at a substantial saving. The total assessed value of personal and real property for 1940 was about $500,000,000.

Legislation.

In the general election of 1940 the people of Arkansas approved by referendum the following legislation: Providing funds for and regulatory laws governing the payment of workmen's compensation for injuries incurred in line of duty as employees: and an act regulatory of the change of venue, as a bar against its abuse to bolster the 'damage-suit racket.' Two amendments to the Constitution were adopted in 1940: Authorizing cities of not less than 5,000 to tax themselves for the support of public libraries; authorizing cities of the first and second class to tax themselves to pay policemen and firemen retirement salaries and pensions.

Government.

The Legislature, comprising the Senate of 35 members and a House of Representatives of 100 members, is officially known as the General Assembly. By amendments of the Constitution and by legislative acts, certain distinctive features have been added to the governmental system. In 1893 an amendment of the Constitution was adopted making the right of suffrage conditional upon payment of a poll tax; in 1911 an initiative and referendum amendment was added to the Constitution. Other constitutional amendments and legislative acts have liberalized the government and kept it in step with changing conditions as the need arose. The state has been Democratic since 1874.

State Officers.

Governor, Homer M. Adkins; Lieutenant Governor, Bob Bailey; Secretary of State, C. G. Hall; Auditor, J. Oscar Humphrey; State Treasurer, Earl Page; Attorney-General, Jack Holt; Commissioner of Education, Ralph B. Jones.

United States Senators:

Hattie W. Caraway; Lloyd Spencer.