Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1911-05-14

takes hours to drive through them,
and they are sold readily at from
twenty-five to seventy-five dollars per
acre. 1T has made Little Pulaski
: county the largest city and county in
our state and it is we'll known fact
, that their lands do not compare with
ours in richness of soil.
Van Buren, across the river from
S Fort Smith put up the same cry that
D is being raised here by some Of our
e protesting citizens. Yet today as
their free bridge nears completion
r land values heve increased % per
cent and you can hardly find a man
q in either Crawford Or Sebastian coun-
I ty, in which these two cities are To-
Gated, who is not heartily in favor OF
its early completion.
) 1t has been said in the public print
that this commission will spend
$25 100000 for preliminary surveys
and soundings; and thl)usands Of
dollars for attorneys. AS an evil
dence of these misleading statements
we will say THAT WE HAVE HAD
OFFERED TO US by SEVERAL RE
PUTABBE ENGINEERING COMPAN-
les A PROPOSITION TO Make THE
PRELIMINARY SURVEYS AND
SOUNDINGS WITHOUT COST TO
THE TAXPAYERS, IN THE EVENT
WE DO NO BUILD THE BRIDGE.
Believing that attorneys 'of Jefferson
county are patriotic and just we are
quite sure that the best legal talent
can be employed here to take care oI
our interests at a reasonable charge
In conclusion let us place before
you one or two more important facts.
Most of you have lived here for yeats,
and cultivating the best lands to be
found anywhere i'll the world, yet your
lands will bring on the market less
than SO per cent of their real value,
while farmers in other sections have
NOT only made a handsome profit in
cultivating poorer lands but have seen
their lands largely and rapidly in
crease in value and demand.
1t is our candid opinion that unless
railroads induced to come into our
section (Which we do not believe can
be done unless the bridge is built,
We must net only stand still but must
go backward and see our fertile lands
go begging and u waste, because our
northern and eastern brothers who
are now rapidly immigl ating into this
STATE have settled in the towns and
counties offering them better road
and bridge facilities; counties THAT
WILL GIVE THE FARMER THE
PRIVILEGE OF HAULING HIS PRO
DUCTS OVER GOOD ROADS AND
FREE BRIDGES TO BEST MAR
KETs AND RETURN WITH THE
NECESSARIES BOUGHT IN THE
LARGEST AND BEST MARKETS
FOR THE LEAST OUTLAY.
In this matter, you have all To gain
and nothing to lose. The tax upoa
YOU will be so small that you will not
feel it and the benefit So great that
YOU cannot Dverestimate them. Do
not be prejudiced by Measurements
that are sent to you by a few large
planters on the north side of the riv-
er who have raised a fund to fight
this proposition, regardless OF its ad-
vantages to you, large enough to pay
their own taxes on this bridge for
good many years. Their selfish pur-
pose being u perpetuate their eX-
elusive hold and continue to grow
: rich while you must stand and Your
property deteriorate In value.
The members of the commission
, have ND more interest in the bridge
than any other citizen of the county.
, They Will not derive enc single bene-
fit that is not afforded all citizens
, alike. They are not permitted to
f receive of compensation FOR their la
/ bors, and have no hope OF reward
lie
l in bringing to all citizens that which
= will make you prosper and attain the
wealth your great natural resources
/, entitle you to-
: 1t is not now nor ever was our IN
t tenticn to spend your money useless
/ ly or f)r, preliminary surveys and
a soundings.
= Additional infoIma ton and data
D will be furnished you as we obtain
f them aId at the proper time peuton;
e will be presented to you fer the efea
r ti,n of this Improvement.
a Yours very truly.
: w. D. HEARN,
President.
FRANK b. TOMLINSON,
, Secretary.
q S. C. ALEXANDER,
Vice President.