Arkansas Blog

" timber value and the increase in worldwide demand for American hardwood - particularly from builders in Europe and China."

Don't know why it would happen in Arkansas. Sawmill across the state are shut down, loggers are out of work and prices have dropped. A reflection of the W. economic miracle?

This is part of Arkansas history. Few people know that a whole lot of Hangin Judge Parker's time was spent trying to round up tree thieves around Fort Baptist. The story is told very well by Brad Kidder, Sr., in the most excellent Fort Smith Historical Society Journal, starting in the September, 2006 edition and finishing up in the April, 2007 edition. In the near future all past issues of the Journal will be available online thanks to the hard work of the history and library students at UAFS.

At one time Fort Baptist looked like Pine Bluff. We were surrounded as far as the eye could see by pine forests. That there is hardly any pines to be found now should be the battle cry of all tree huggers. I always thought maybe our once giant furniture industry ate up all the pines, but Mr. Kidder shows it was the railroad that took the trees. A good number of fortunes were made stealing trees back in Judge Parker's time...whooda thought? Looks like history is repeating itself again here in the '00s.

In case Herbert Hoover Bush gets us in another Depression, I'm already casing a little jewelry store near my house....but for the rest of you, keep in mind there is good money if you're strong enough to steal a tree. Just keep in mind next thing we'll hear is Clinton Lied....and a Tree Died. Count on it!

Cato, I think when the Neo-con game really hits, about a year after Darth and Monkey boy exit, there will be many more tree thefts, just to stay warm. They have set up one helluva a recession and it will be just about as bad as the Great Depression. Effectively WPE and Darth have put the U.S. into debtor's prison and getting out is not going to be fun. Again, I hope a wingnut wins POTUS because Sound-Bite America is going to blame who ever is occupying the office while the criminals are enjoying the fruit of their destruction and theft.

Meanwhile my partner must keep an eye on her river bottom lands for gravel theft. They get a permit for one spot and, wouldn't you know it, the loader is scraping it up 200 yards away from the property line. I'm not so glad that many realtors must go back to being assistant managers at McDonalds and Hardees, and contruction folks must migrate, but so glad the die-off in NWA construction will leave some stream beds unscraped.

Cato, dbi, eLwood,

I agree most, if not all, of the next administration's time will be expended in cleaning-up after Hocus-Potus and his Gepetto, Cheney. I over posted, on the open Saturday thread, a good analysis of why we're are saying "RECESSION" when the Bush tax cuts are still in effect and what happened to the "trickle down?" by Larry Beinhart. I think you all will be interested in reading it, but it is long.

http://www.alternet.org/workplace/74262/

When the NWA boon began a couple of decades ago the most insidious theft was tombstones from rural cemeteries. In ages past there was no marble or granite available (few could afford it) so locals used large rocks from the river (sandstone) and rock masons carved them into tombstones. When the rich people began overpopulating NWA there wasn't enough large sandstones for their gardens and walks. Thus, rural cemeteries became the target for stepping stones for the elite.

They are cutting down all the trees, hills, mounts in Hot Springs to build row upon row of
overpriced condos and apts, that no one can afford to rent/buy.
If I wanted to live on flatland I'd move back to south Louisiana or south Florida.
The Natural State is losing its natural state.

Anybody remember, "Crystal Hill?"

My neighbor strayed over onto my place and cut 12 large Red Oaks on one corner. I thought I was going to have to hide my rifle from my wife. She would have taken a couple shots at the old boy for sure.

But, I parlayed the transgression into a 1/2 mile right of way for my electric service and moved the access road to my property to a more attractive approach.

Wife had found out that there is a $20,000 fine for logging un surveyed land in Arkansas. When the neighbor found out we knew a little about logging laws he got VERY AGREEABLE to our desires.

"...lands for gravel theft."....eLwood

Now that I understand, since it has happened to our property on the Ouachita River. I got the state officials in, etc., and got it stopped in a hurry. I bought a load of gravel last week and paid $175.00 for it. Good prices bring theft of property.