Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1909-06-17
TO SOLICIT FOR
 RUTHERFORD ROAD Committee Chairmen Meet at Board of Trade and
 Discuss Proposed Line
LIBERAL PROPOSITION.
Work Will Begin By July 1 and Road Will Be in Operation By Decem.
 ber 1, Says Mr. Rutherford.

At meeting Of the chairmeu Of the ten committees, named some weeks ago at mass meeting to so- ticit funds for the purpose of secur- ing more railroads for Pine Bluff held yesterday afternoon at the Board of Trade Headquarters, D. C. Bell and Dr. J. L. Caldwell. secre- tary of the Board of Trade. were named as committee to draw a new form for subscription list with view to Ia sing S50,O00 for the pur- pose of securing a Rock Island con- nection from Leola or Carthage, Ark. to this city. The proposed road is to be built and financed by John F. Rutherford, the enterprising and pro- gressive local capitalist, who declares that he will have the road in opera ton for freight and passenger busi- ness by December l. The special committee will submit the new form this afternoon at 3:3O o'clock. when another meeting will be held.
 The meeting yesterday was presid- ed over by P. P. Byrd, who was elect ed chairman in the absence of V. o. Alexander. It was attended by Mir. Rutherford, J. F. Simmons, J. B. Speers, J. B. Talbot, D. c. Bell, w. H. Westbrook, W. C. Hudson, S. C. Alex ander and Dr. Caldwell.
 MT. Rutherford stated that his road. the Saline River Railway, is now ex- tending it's line from Clio towards Ip- ola. and would extend to the Pat Henry crossing, where the Princeton road crosses the Saline River rail- road tracks. It would only be nec- essary, he said, after these exten- slons' were made, to build sixteen or seventeen miles into Pine Bluff. If bonus of $5O.0O0 is raised, for which Mr. Rutherford will give stock, he says he will commence work on or about July and the road would be pushed to completion. In addition 70 the $5O,O00 which will be necessary to secure the first iron used in it's construction, s20O,0OO would have to be spent to complete the proposed road. and this in addition to what has already been spent by his con- pany in building that part of the road now in operation.
 Chairman Byrd declared that the Rock Island connection would open a territory for Pine Bluff which thi. city formerly enjoyed as a trade cen- ter, and would be instrumental il giving Pine Bluff direct service to ss,l Dorado. He said the trade of that section of the state naturally belongs. to Pine Bluff and that it would give Pine Huff an advantage of 45 miles distance over Little Rock in that im- mediate section of the state. All of the cotton from the territory north of El Dorado would be brought to this city and the proposed line would also put Pine Bluff in direct touch with Warren and Crossett. The bonus asked for by MT. Rutherford, he said. was a small amount when compared with the benefits to be derived from it here, and the Rutherford road can be built, he said, from eighteen months to two years earlier than any other proposed for Pine Bluff at this time
 The committee chairmen went over the list of the Committee of One Hun dred, appointed at the mass meeting. and after placing amounts opposite their names as they thought would be donated, it was figured that s3S.- 900 could be raised from the big com mittee alone. The propos tion is I liberal one on the part of Mr. Ruth erford, and the committee chairmen are determined to raise the amount without further delay.