Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1907-06-30
Should Have Been Erected Over East End Railroad Tracks and Ready For Pedestrians and Vehicles on Tomorrow.
 HEAVY PENALTIES
: PENALTIES
Railroads Will Fight the Bill in the Courts-SenatOr H. K. Toney, Author of the Bill, Says It Will Hold Good-City Council May Act "A Nebraska Decision.

Monday, July 1, is the last day the two railroads, the St Louis Southwestern and the Iron Mountain have in which to complete the er2c- tlOn of the viaduct, which the legis- lature ordered built at the railroads expense. After Monday thete is due the treasury of Jeffars county $4O0 each day from the railroads, $200 from each until the viaduct is completed and in condition to be used. Tie work, as is well known, has not yet been begun.
 The bili which was passed hy the last State Legislature relative to Athe viasuct question:, provides that |SNhe Iron Mountain and Cotton Belt
 Railroads shall build a viaducr on Dnio street across the shop wards, .runnia5 from Second to Fourth ave nues. The bill provides further that the viaduct sha:l De built of steel, that it shall be well banister- ed and shall have the proper aE- breaches for the use of fo N.men and vehicles. The bill is not a long and complicated one. but very snort, to the point ard plain a..d in ali prob abilities it will be upheld py the courts
 While the bill was being eoNsid- cred by the Legislature of this state, the railroad companies cf- fered to compromise the affair With the city by erecting bridge four feet wide, suitable for the use of pe- destrians only. But the people of Pine Bluff demanded viaduct as specified in the bill, and so Sea;,- tor Toney stood by his gun and gave them what they wanted,' and as result the Legislature refus- ed to compromise with the railroads.
 A large number of business men, iaborers, women and children pass \ daily between the freight car while Erossing the shop yards, which is ANecessitated because there is no street thoughout the whole extent pf the yards. As it is there is not Ean open street between the Cotton Oll Company and Missouri street, and children are obliged to pass through here daily on their way to school and on Sunday to Sunday School.
 The bill provides that the via ouct shall be finished by July 1. according to the penalty which it includes, the railroads owe Jefferson county $4O0 for each day after July that the viaduct is not completed. zach day is considered a separate onense. Besides the City Council of the city of Pine Bluff has the power to bring suit for the amount neces- sary to build the 'viaduct and build it themselves.
 Senator H. K. Toney was very free in expressing his opinion on this subject. He said there was no ooubt in his mind that the railroads would be obliged to build this via duct, notwithstanding the fact that It was very apparant that they would fight it as they have nearly all of the bills passed by the legis- lature in this state at the last ses- them. Relative to them, Senator Toney is interested in seeing this measure carried out, as he is famil- far with the needs of school child ren and merchants and of the resi- dents of the Eastern portion of the city generally.
 Other statees are requiring rail-