The Forrest City times., 1900-05-25

the street car lines. Mr.. johnson had juss
passed through whole lot OF trouble
with his men. who had gone out on what
now appears to have been an iIl-advised.
unnecessary and premature strike. and
naturally was not feeling in the best hui
NOR yet appreciated the great work the
newspapers were doing for his native
state and took this means to in a small
way show il. 1t was many years ago
that the press association first met in
Little Rock, and the contrast in many
ways must have been very noticeable to
the old-timers. but in no way more
than In the mode of transportation. Then
there was a small territory covered by
very poor track, with few bob-taii cars
hauled by Mules. run at infrequent in
tervals. While perhaps the service now
is not ali that it should be IL is so far
superior to the old way that should
congratulate rather than condemn. Elec-
tricity has taken the place of the mules.
the rolling stock has been increased and
greatly improved. and the change fur the
better is marked in every way. The
truth is that when you come right down
to facts the service and equipment here
viii compare very favorably with that of
other southern cities of equal size. and
the wages of employees is about the
same. The public Is apt to be too hasty
In condemning corporations that have
hundreds of thousand of dollars invested
IN PUBIC enterprises. jumping at cOnCiu@
sions without due investigation As citi.
zens of the state and city we should en-
courage and help to make better. 1t Is
to the interest of the street car company
to make the service the best IL possibly
can considering the business it does, and
IL is much better to>reason with its man
agement than to attempt to coerce. These
remarks are made as a matter of justice,
and without intending to east reflections
upon any of the parties concerned in
the recent trouble.
The excursion to Hot Springs over the
new line of railway. popularity known
as the Fordyce road but officially as the
Little Rock. Hot Springs and Western,
was a revelation to everybody. We all
expected that the track. rolling stock
and general equipment would be good.
for the very good reason that Col. For
dyce is noted for thorough work. but
we did not look for such perfection in
everything appertaining to the road. The
road bed is remarkably well made, the
steel very heavy, the cars of the latest
pattern and accordingly expensive. cost
ing over s.. 600 each The heavy engines
and long trains are fast, putting the
road bed in good condition. In fact IL
one had not known it he would have
though himself riding over an old road
instead of bran new one. The coun-
try through which this line runs. cover
ing a distance of fifty-eight miles IS
very rich in many ways, and promises
big increase in growth and develop
ment right from the start. Aside from
being a good agricultural fruit and vege-
table country, there is plenty of tim
Der and mineral of the clay varieties,
notably of bauxite and ochres. Town
sites have been laid out every few miles
| in modern shape. and there Is an evil
dence of life and prosperity at each
| point. Inducements are offered to all
oil nfr 10 10 oil &c 1axxy
line, rich in raw material, and to en-
gage in manufacture, trade and farm
| ing. Without question ii is the inten-
| ton TO push the extension of the road to
Mena to connect with the great p. g.
system, of which Col. Fordyce is presi-
dent. AT Little Rock close traffic ar
| rangements are in vogue with the Choc-
i taw people, which is In itself very i'm
| portant, and when the other connection
/ Is made the L. R., II. S. & w. Railway
will virtually be trunk line opening a
new country. Col. Fordyce expected TO
/ be with us, but he is mighty busy man,
and couldn't make it. However. he was
well represented by Mn. Lonsdale. vice
president, and Mr.. Gregory. general pas
| senger and freight agent, who made all
| feel at home. Editor Wadley, of the
Evening News, and Editor Higgins. of
| the Morning Sentinel-Herald, also were
on deck to extend the welcome of the
Fapor CITY, and to see that we did no-
/ get lost. We are authorized by the en-
| tire outfit of publishers to return thanks
/ to their good friend, Col. Fordyee, and
! his assistants for the many courtesies ex-
| tended on behalf of the company. SUI
perintendent Fleming and Auditor Mar
| tin were not seen much, but their guild
/ ing hands were in evidence in many
ways.