The Mena weekly star., 1911-09-21
Good Roads at Rich Mountain.

Editor Star:
 Knowing that reports of happen ings beyond the ordinary are de- sired, l take this opportunity to ac- quaint your readers all over the lcounty, and elsewhere, of the ad- vanced step that was taken in Rich Mountain township and road dis trict for two days the past week.
 Yes sirl the citizens here were de- termined to be in the vanguard of progress, as we'll as other sections of this county and state. The
 enthusiastic road-building spirit of some of our citizens, which had been repressed and dampened by the outspoken and lugubrious tongue-talk of a few doubting Thomases,' was fostered and famed into a flame by the timely presence of Berry Davis, the veteran road builder. The occasion was the trial demonstration of new road machin- cry, rooter and grader.
 The roads hereabouts have the Ireputation, noted or notorious, of being the stoniest and grubbiest, by reason of nearness to mountain
 ranges, of any, suppose, that Polk
 county contains. Hence the basis
 of reasoning of the ultra-conserva- tives and fearful.
 But Mir. Davis, undaunted, showed evidence of the faith that was with in him by procuring power, and to- gether with the cooperation of the citizens who were not afraid to 'cut the wires" on the freight, and ship lped in, unauthorized by overseer or commissioners set up said machin- cry prior to arrival of boss" thus saving a half days delay, thorough Iy demonstrated what taking the- animal by the horns would be pro-
 ductive of. The sceptical ones, at the end of the first day, were placed in the attitude of the old moss
 backs from away back in the
 sticks" who saw the railroad for the first time, and said: They'll
 never start 'erl" and a little later,
 they'll never stop 'er." I cannot
 refrain from possibly exceeding
 my authority" just here, as doubt less the commissioner would much
 rather have had this portion left
 out. But "honor to whom honor Is
 due" Yours truly, being of an ob- servant turn, somewhat, couldn't
 help but size up" to some extent the man who is at the head of road
 affairs of this county. I hope he will pardon if seem to write ill-
 advisedly-this road enthusiasm is
 liable to prompt just and candid
 and lengthy reports, trying to ed itors' patience, but we believe we
 have the right man in the right place. First, he is unswerving to
 official duty. Our opinion is that
 contemplated graft, if ever attemp- lted, well-nuff sed. Second, he is
 enterprising and active, (proof, 10,
 i2 or more hours hard labor daily,) lquick motioned and mechanical eye.
 Third, broad-gauged figuring, es-
 timating and handling diplomatical- fly his assistants, overseers, ct al. Fourth, he finds time to do little
 missionary work toward the fS-
 year-old "skinners," who, by some lmethod of reasoning, have become Iimbued with the idea that emphat- lie, if not elegant, talk is necessary
 10 secure the best results from the
 four-footed critters of contrary lproclivities. He has high hopes of seeing some of these hoist iase...ss ls llsss,,S aSS Isome day in the pulpit. Boys. have Iregard for religious mans feel lings, to some extent, at least, and
 quit certain per cent. However
 some day an inanimate engine oi
 some description may obviate this Idisagreeable feature.
 | In summing up the road improve
 ment ledger, besides the tangible
 results of movement of rock, dirt
 etc.. please give credit of some
 amount not represented intangible
 as the breaking of the crust of non-
 progressiveness, etc.
 | Yours for the future automobil-
 ing days.
 \, Grand Summit Hill Billy.
 |