Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1903-04-09

reau, with a scientific trfaf1ic leader at
its head, could engineer these matters
and avert any such injury to the city
as is contemplated by Memphis. II
There IS one other lever by which
the Gould roads could be held in check
i'll granting concessions to other cities
which would be hurtful to Pine Bluff.
and that is the~Pine Bluff and Western
railroad, built by the Sawyer and Aus.
TN Lumber ompany from Pine Bluff
to Benton, Saline county, which places
it in a position to affiliate with the
Rock Island system, and be of untold
advantage to Pine Bluff. as il means
competition to the Cotton Belt and
Iron Mountain, both Gould roads and
practically under the same manage.
ment by one of the biggest railroad
systems i'll the country 1t would af
ford strong competitor of the Gould
interests, which now enjoy an unmo-
Tested monopoly of the extensive bust.
ness of Pine Bluff. The Graphic has
heard a rumor to the effect that the
Pine Bluff and Western people are not
altogether pleased with the treatment
they have received at the hands of the
Pine Bluff people. The city, 1t is true,
granted some concessions but the rail
road has suffered severely during the
past six months from the tremendous
rains, and their expense of construc-
ton and maintenance thereby
rendered very great. The road is also
at disadvantage because it has no
freight and passenger depot within
easy access of the business section
of the city. The company has asked
for the grant of site at some point
within the city that would give them
some kind of showing to get por.
tlon of the business. 1t is a reason.
able request, especially as it comes
practically from home people who
have made a heavy outlay of money
in local road which can be utilized
as fine feeder for. the city as we'll
as to open up another big competing
system. The people should not leave
a stone unturned in assisting the pro-
curing of road like the Rock Island
No matter over what track it enters
TIE city. # the aid asked by the p b.
and w. in the way of depot site is
not granted, it has been limited that
ioad will hitch UP with the Iron Noun
tair. # that takes place, Pine Bluff
is greatly the loser. and loser on the
very thing that it an lily afford; for
cheap railroad freight rates do more
- Guild cities than any other one
thing -
This matter of the Pine Bluff; and
Western serves as another example to
show the necessity of a freight bureau
with a live railroad man at the head
of it. He would keep abreast with all
these moves in railway circles. and be
.ct'iN 10 NUtCkUldle any move III IUS
!Et rieacy tn;>, indicated detrimcnt
H. the business interests of the city
tie could handle the railroad business
much better than the Commercial
League, as the league does not repre-
~ent Il consolidated business in it's
dealings with the railroads, and the
league people can not keep in touch
with railroad matters as freight bu-
rcau could. nor can the members of
the league spare the time necessary to
do effective work. competent rail
road man at the head of freight bu-
reau could do more for the city than
thousand commercial leagues com
posed of business men who are active
ly engaged in business up to their ears