What do the people down there think about a transcontinental line of railroad along the thirty-fifth parallel?
Judge Parker. The people of Arkansas are very anxious that a railroad should be built along the thirty-fifth parallel. One thing that is the matter with the whole State is the want of railroad facilities. The people experience great difficulty in getting a fair market price for what they produce, because of the distance from any line of railroad which will transport their products to market. A railroad along the 35th parallel would open up a vast region of productive and fertile country, and would be highly beneficial to Arkansas and especially to St. Louis. Rep. How do the Indians feel about it? Judge Parker. I think the Indians would be favorable to the building of any other lines than those that have been projected. These are what is called progressive and non-progressive Indians. The progressives are those under the lead of Colonel Boudinot and are in favor of opening up the country to white settlement. The others are opposed to it, and a great deal of feeling is manifested. A grea
