Marion in the year 1910

It's interesting to learn of our past history from the old newspapers of long ago.  From The Crittenden Press files of January 1910 comes these interesting findings. 

January 1910.  Monday dawned bright and clear with the mercury too close to zero for one to be comfortable, and yet the people from all over Crittenden, Webster, Caldwell, Livingston and Union counties were in evidence, so that by noon the street was alive with busy stock buyers and traders.  It was the day for county court and the very popular "Jockey lot" day.

The newly elected officers of the county met in the court house at Marion and duly took the oath of their various offices.  The names of the new officials were:  

• W. A. Blackburn, County Judge
• John A. Moore, County Attorney
• Learner E. Guess, County Clerk
• Joel A. C. Pickens, Sheriff
• Robert . Flanary, Circuit Clerk
• William Wallace, Jailer
• Ewell Jeffrey Travis, Supt. of Schools
• Robert Thomas, Assissor
• J. E. Sullenger, Surveyor
• Dr. George W. Stone, Corner.

Here are three of the newly elected officers.  Left to right: John A. Moore, County Attorney, Ewell Jeffrey Travis, County School Superintendent, and Learner E. Guess, County Clerk.

Fluorspar brings boom in Crittenden.  Recent discoveries causes old mines to be reopened.

The recent developments, aided by the increase from $4 to $8 , and in some instances, $15 a ton for fluorspar has created an interest in mining circles.

The shipment from Marion also in the past couple of months has reached 16,000,000 pounds, or 8,000 tons, which has increased the deposits in the two banks in Marion a little less than $100,000,000.

Some surprisingly rich discoveries have been made in old mines abandoned 50 years ago for the reason that the richness of both lead and zinc was not known.  

Every mine is now working full force and many of them are putting in new machinery and increasing their capacity.

Other activity in the city and county for the month of January included deliveries of tobacco.  During the month of January the deliveries of tobacco here have been quite heavy.  Thirty, forty or fifty loads come into town every day.  The greater part of the tobacco goes to the stemming District Tobacco Association at the Jarvis factory.