For a balanced economy a resort town needs a few small industries. With the coming of the lakes it should be possible to locate a few factories here that will provide substantial pay rolls. These industries should harmonize with the recreational background. Homecrafts should be encouraged. The unofficial reports of the population of Eureka Springs in the 1880’s and 1890’s range from 5,000 to 15,000. Old-timers say that the population peak was reached about the year 1888. The official census records at the Bureau of Census in Washington do not agree with these unofficial reports, being considerably less. It is possible that the unofficial count took in people who lived outside the city limits, or who were not permanent residents. At any rate, here is the report from the Bureau of Census: 1880, 3,984—1890, 3,706—1900, 3,572—1910, 3,228—1920, 2,429—1930, 2,276—1940, 1,770—1950, 1,958. These figures show that the town had its largest official population in 1880, its first year, and gradually decreased, reaching an all-time low at the end of the depression in 1940. Then an increase began. The city limits have been extended and a conservative estimate of the population at this present time is around 2,100. This increase should go to 3,000 by 1960, and to 4,000 by 1970. When the town reaches its Centennial in 1979, it should have a sound economic basis and a population about double what it is now. FOONOTES [1]The Eureka Springs (Eureka Springs, Arkansas, May 15, 1884) Page 5. [2]Ibid., Page 8. [3]The Eureka Springs by W. W. Johnson, M. D., Eureka Springs, Arkansas, 1884, pages 6-8. [4]The Healing Fountain: Eureka Springs, Ark.: A Complete History. Eureka Springs, Arkansas, 1881, page 4. [5]Volume 1, pages 163-167. [6]The Healing Fountain: Eureka Springs, Ark. 1881. Pages 3 and 4. [7](Eureka Springs, Arkansas) 1952 pp. 18-20. [8]We acknowledge credit to Mr. Sam A. Leath for the historical data of this narrative. [9]The Eureka Springs, (1881), pp. 10-11. [10]The material for this story was supplied by the late Louis Hanecke, Sam A. Leath and Steele Kennedy. Mr. Kennedy and others wrote feature articles about it which appeared in Sunday newspapers a few years ago. [11]The Healing Fountain, Eureka Springs (1881), p. 12. [12]The Healing Fountain: Eureka Springs, Ark. pp. 22-24. [13]Pp. V-VIII. [14]Rayburn’s Ozark Guide, No. 33, Summer, 1952, p. 31. [15]The Healing Fountain: Eureka Springs. p. 7. [16]Life and Adventures of John Gaskins. p. XII. [17]Rayburn’s Ozark Guide, No. 15, Spring, 1947, pp. 7-10. [18]See my Ozark Country. pp. 283-286. (Note. The tavern operated by the uncle of the James boys was located at the spot now occupied by the Phillips 66 station and grocery on U. S. Highway 62.) [19](New York), 1952. pp. 42-43. [20]Compare with the chapter on Hog Scald in my Ozark Country, pp. 244-246. Transcriber’s Notes