Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1911-01-21
J. (. TAYLOR SAYS KNOCK THE BRIDGE Prominent Local Citizen Writes of the Much Talk
 ed of River Bridge. RIDICULES, THE IDEA Says Rob Roy Ought to Be Bigger
 Than Pine Bluff If Claims
 Are True.

Editor Graphic:-Why not? If it cannot be built it should be knocked dead. That it cannot be built only at the cost of mill ons has been shown time and again for the last thirty years. The Cotton Belt tried 1t and had to go several miles from town; got on river that had not changed in fifty years, stayed there twenty years then were washed away, so new draw had to be put in, mak- ing the bridge cost over million dol lars. M ssouri Pacific built one near Watson on selected ground. It was left on one side of the river before it was finished and had to be extended at great cost, so it is not practical for either Pine Bluff or Jefferson county to build bridge on SO changing a r.ver. The cost to build and main- tain same would be enormous. Then there is not sufficient demand for same. There is only about 1000 acres of land on the other side of the river in a radius of five miles from the court house, as can be seen by any one on examining the map. Very little of this aO00 acres $ in cultiva tion. If the bridge is put at Rob Roy or up the river at McFadden's g ferry it would be too far away No city can use bridge a mile from it, much Jess one seven miles as con- templated by some in this case St. Louis, Kansas Cty and other large cities had over 100000 inhabitants before bridges were put ill. There is none at Louisville, Kentucky. Mem- phis put one in. but weeds and grass grow up in it's approaches, so little of use IS it, and there are 10000 acress across from Memphis better land than opposite Pine Bluff and still the ferry boat runs. The the country opposite Pine Bluff is a cotton growing coun- try and mans cotton crop can be hauled off in one night, in one wag- On as $500 worth is load. All the provisions he uses in one year can he hauled back n the same wagon. II is not the river that builds up Al.
 theimer as we have the same condi-
 tions on this side. There is goo6
 store at Fairfield, another and larg' CT one at Noble Lake and as big one
 as you desire at Moscow. The plan tation trade does not belong to Pine Bluff, nor can they handle even wha
 ;s on this side without great loss. |
 belongs to the plantation. Mr. Col
 Her at Altheimer brings his cotton tt
 Pine Bluff on the railroad for 25 cent.
 per bale. This is cheaper than ht
 could hire a driver even if wagon ant mules were furnished free. The negro
 that sold him the cotton gets~1lfs mon.
 ey in cash, gets on the train and for B cents fare is in Pine Bluff spending lit, cheaper than he could feed horse if one was given. hire free. Then i
 is known fact that cotton sells high fer at the small railroad stat ons thar
 in Pine Bluff The 5000 inhabitnat are enough to take care of all the cot , ton trade here, the other 12000 in
 habitants get the'r livelihood iron , the industries, such as railway shops
 saw mills, oil m. Ills, furniture factor , ies, etc.
 Towns are built up from within ant
 mot from the immediate country.
 not so Rob Roy would be larger thai Pine Bluff for it has more country
 This agitation of free bridge b.
 those who are ignorant of the cond tions does great harm. The peopl
 here have already lost s10,000 on thi worse than wild cat scheme and ar , in little humor with it. It is lik shaking red rag in a bulls face t many of our most substantial citi zens. They remember too we'll wha } has gone before n this matter.
 'l Then graft is abrcad so knock th'
 bridge. J. c. TAYLOR.