Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1911-10-20
CITIZENS CHEER
 FOR FREE BRIDGE
RAILROAD OFFICIALS READY TO BRING ROCK ISLAND AND IN-
 TERURBAN HERE.
MASS MEETING HELD
Free Bridge Measure is Defended By Judge kerwin-Attorney Cole
 man Says People are Supreme.

At mass meeting, held under the auspices of the Pine Bluff Chamber of Commerce last night at the Court House. attended by more than five hundred business men and other prop erty owners of Jefferson county, prop osiitons were submitted by the off cials of the Pine Bluff and Northern Railway Company and the Little Rock, Pine Bluff and Eastern Trac- tion Company for the build ing of Rock Island connec- ton frs i'll McCreanor, Ark, and an in- terurban line from Little Rock to this city. The acceptance of the proposi tions depend solely upon the building at this place, which the interurban people offer to finance, if necessary.
 The meeting was presided over by President Edgar Brewster, of the Chamber of Commerce. Addresses were made by former Congressman C. C. Reid, of Little Rock, attorney for the Traction company; w. ]. Miller of Lamar, Mo, president of the Pine Bluff and Northern Railway company and the First National Bank Of La mar; President c. Cl kavanaugh, of sthe Traction company; r. H. Peters, d prominent railroad civil engineer; George R. Brown, secretary of the Little Rock Board of Trade; Carl J. Baer, secretary of the Little Rock Chamber of Commerce; Sheriff Burt l.. Roberts and F. w. Gibb, of Little Rock and many others, including d number prominent Pine Bluffians.
 The Free Bridge sentiment ran strong at the meeting and every speaker was literally .applauded. No action was taken at the meeting as it was announced that the mass meeting was to give the property owners an opportunity of hearing the proposi- tions in detail and to review the many advantages that accrue from the building of Free Bridge, that will attract railroads and ether things of a town and county building nature to this section.
 President Miller read the proposi- tion of his company that had been sent to the Bridge Commission last August The readers of the Graphic are familiar with the details of the proposition and MT. Miller stated last ul6It Ciul Aio SOAAPoAy Wdo T Od0y IO comply with it's contract with the peO- plerof Pine Bluff and will begin work of building the road to this city city within thirty days, if the prop osition is accepted. The road is al ready built for short distance this way from McCreanor.
 President w. D. Hearn, of the Bridge Commission, announced that the proposition, as read by MT. Mill CT. was the same as that presented to the Bridge Commission last August. He said that the Bridge Commission, through the Chamber of Commerce, is presenting the proposition to the peo- pie of this county for their considera- tion and approval.
 Congressman Reid declared that it is certain that the interurban line will be built from Little Rock, down the north side of the river, Eastward. Men of means had organized the com pany last Spring with view to build- ing the interurban line, after legisla- ton was secured, making bridge Ov- CT the Arkansas river at Pine Bluff possible. It is entirely business proposition with the men behind the movement, he said, because they be- lieve t,.is territory offers great Op- portunities for such an investment. He said if the bridge is built the in-