[Note: In 1887, Dorsey Creek (Doss' Creek), Bremen, and Arkadelphia were still a part of Blount County.] The Blount County News, Thursday, January 27, 1887 Arkadelphia, Blount Co., Ala. January 17th, 1887. Messrs. Editors-If you will allow me the space in your spicy and interesting home paper, I will let the people of Old Blount know that we are thriving pretty well in this part of the earth; and that Arkadelphia is in the advanced guard of progress. May this communication furnish your readers with valuable information. Arkadelphia is situated in a delightful valley, at the foot of an elevated table land country extended far to the north, and a mile toward the southwest; around this plateau from the north to the southwest runs Doss' Creek; which towards the south is about a mile from town. The country, from Arkadelphia gradually slopes towards the Mulberry river and Doss' creek; which is a southeast decline, only distinguishable by the running of the branches. The Mulberry is about four miles east and three southeast of Arkadelphia. The country north, east and south of town is comparatively level; soil is good, and easily cultivated; 25 to 30 acres is considered a one horse crop; half in corn, half in cotton. Average land will yield from 20 to 30 bushels of corn, and from 800 to 1,000 lbs of cotton per acre. The lands lying along the creek and river are much more prolific. Most of our land is cultivated by renters, that class being numerous in this part of the County; we rent on halves, thirds and fourths in the customary manner; and industrious men do so well and are so well treated by the owners of the land that there is but little migration. As this part of the County becomes better known, greater is the influx of immigration. We bid them welcome and our hospitality is generally reciprocated. Arkadelphia is 14 miles northwest of Warrior, 12 miles from Blount springs, and 9 miles from Reid's Gap. Blount Springs road by the "Ferry" enters town from the north; (via the bridge) from the east, as does the Warrior and Reid's Gap road. Bremen road leaves toward the northwest, and Jasper road towards the south. All are good country roads. We have two churches, Baptist and M.E. Church, South. The Baptist church is a commodious building; comfortable, well seated, and has one of the finest toned bells in the State. It is situated on a small eminence 200 yards north of the centre of town. It has done and is doing a noble work in the Master's glorious cause, may it continue to prosper. The Rev. Seaborn Sloan, the pastor, is a good worker, a fine preacher and a pious and God-fearing man. The Methodist church is a time-honored edifice, standing majestically in our midst as a herald of salvation. It is well seated, has a fine stove and is a comfortable house, well lighted, and has a fine large bell whose tones can be heard for miles, bidding worshippers come to the house of the Lord. Bro. Tucker was the late pastor, who is now located at Blount Springs. The Rev. L.M. Powell, a talented and able preacher, is his successor and the people are well satisfied. We have two prayer meetings every week; on Wednesday and Friday nights. We have also two Sunday schools. In the M.E. church in the morning; Baptist in the afternoon. Prof. Joe Lovett is the superintendent of the first named; Mr. G.W. Abbott, of the second. The Academy is an extra good structure, recently built, well ceiled, heated properly, and furnished with all the improvements of the present day. Its location is about 300 yards from the business part of the town, has a nice yard, fenced in, and a good well of pure water. Prof. Joe Lovett is Principal, Miss Victoria Callahan, assistant teacher; there are about seventy students. The town has four stores, but no dram shops; all keep a good supply of general merchandise, buy goods cheap, and sell them at a small profit. The merchants have a warehouse at Reid's Gap, for receipt of their goods and the storage of their cotton; wagons are constantly passing to and from there to this place. This is a good cotton market; the merchants purchase at fair, remunerative prices; they also buy all kinds of country produce. There are two excellent physicians, and boasts of two drug stores. The public must not surmise from this that Arkadelphia and vicinity are unhealthy, for both are famous for good health; the doctors have a wide scope of country, thickly populated, and reside in Arkadelphia because it is an excellent centre, nearest point to the railroad. There are two steam cotton gins, and two grist mills. One ginned 167 bales of cotton, the other 170 bales; each have several bales yet to gin. They have also ground since the 1st of January, 1887, nearly 600 bushels of corn, which shows that this community uses 13,000 bushels of corn annually for household purposes, besides what is fed to our stock. There is still an overplus to sell at 55 cents per bushel. There are 2 blacksmith shops, one wood-work shop and a steam saw mill located here. The latter is now sawing lumber to rebuilt A.R. Griffith's house recently burned. There are several other things that I meant to touch upon, but as this communications is longer than I intended I forebear, and will close by wishing the editors and the "devil" a prosperous year for slinging printer's ink, as no doubt you will, for the "Wild Irishman's" paper is highly appreciated in this sector. I myself feel that way, and expect to continue so until I shuffle off this mortal coil. Yours truly, A Subscriber.