The Arkansian
Saturday, March 12, 1859
Volume 1, Issue 2
Page 2, Column 2
The Arkansian newspaper published this description of the Fayetteville after a new charter was approved for organization of the city government.
FAYETTEVILLE A CITY.
The town of Fayetteville is no more. No mighty tornado has swept over the spot on which it stood; no earthquake has crumbled it into ruin; no devastating fire has consumed it. — in fact, looking from our window at the present moment, many distinctive features of the “old town” are still apparent, and we find some difficulty in reconciling our last first sentence with our conscience. Still we must repeat, “the town of Fayetteville is no more.”
The General Assembly of the State of Arkansas has given to the price of realty, “with the appurtenances thereunto belong,” which erewhile was thus “known and designated” a new title! We find it difficult to realize the plan that we reside in a city! But such is, for the law so declares it, and we must begin to accustom ourselves to the new dignity. Already visions of future splendor and magnificence begin to crowd our fancies, when the clash and [unintelligible] of the Overland Coaches is heard in our streets, and the toot of the driver’s “tin horn” is borne to our ears from the distant environs, we fancy it to be the rush and whistle of the Locomotive, and we find ourselves involuntarily starting for the Depot.
On the first Saturday in April next, the election of Mayor, Aldermen and City Marshall will take place. That first election will have an immense influence in shaping the destiny of our new City. The officers then elected will have to make the first application of powers granted in our Charter, in the wants and necessities of our citizens. They will have to prepare a new set of Ordinances and put them in operation. It will require wisdom and foresight to enable them to pilot their new craft clear of rocks and quick-sands before they get a good “offing.” We trust that the voters of the “City” will all assemble on the day appointed, make wise and judicious selections, and then resolve, individually and collectively, to mantain [sic] and perpetuate the City Government, by cheerfully acquiescing in the rules and regulations made in accordance with the Charter, by those into whose hands they shall commit its delegated powers.
The General Assembly has given to us all we asked; and now if we fail to organize and maintain a good and efficient City Government, it will be the result of our own indifference or factiousness. It is true, we will necessarily have to operate on a small scale, the officers must content themselves with meagre salaries; the revenue will not be large; but if every citizen will do his duty, we can soon establish a good miniature City Government, and make Fayetteville truly a pleasant and agreeable place. It already has an enviable reputation: among western towns it scarcely has a rival. Its Colleges and Schools, its society, location, surrounding scenery, etc., all combine to make it attractive; still it might be much improved by good and wholesome Ordinances vigorously and impartially enforced. Let every citizen therefore, bear in mind the first election day, and go to the polls with his mind made up to choose good and reliable officers, into whose hands the interest and good order of our society may be safely committed.
Our dreams may yet be realised. Pollard’s and Hobbs’ daily lines, Butterfield’s ‘Celerity wagons’ may, in a very few years, be superceded by the Locomotive and its rushing train, and our embryo city become, ere the present generation shall have fretted out its brief term upon the stage of life, a place of consequence as the centre of a great agricultural district and an extensive inland commerce. There is enough in the great movements of the present, to inspire us with hope for the future, and the great shadows of coming events, admonish us to be ready for the rushing tide of progress that must and will sweep over all this western country in a very few years. Some of us may yet live to boast of our efforts to build up the “City of Fayetteville.”
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