Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1912-08-02

VIII pl ouqce greater yield and hlgher priced product.
 Will not attempt to discuss the cost and taxation associated with the fort Smlth-Van Buren free bridge. I
 VIII speak of it as an adjunct to the development of the counties of Se- bastian, Crawford, Franklin, Benton, Washington, and the enhancing of the
 land values the marketing of the produces of the farm. The idea that our bridge was constructed to connect TWO Cities is absurd-they are merely lhcldental by location to the bridge.
 Before the building of our bridge almost every farmer and fruit grow CT each year suffered heavy losses by Delng unable to dispose of the prod ucts of their farms. While they sold III carload lots, it is also true that at the end of each season they found themselves burdened with fruits. vegetables, etc, that they could nos snip away Today is all changed, and there is not farmer but what has maid ms slight bridge tax out of the pro- flt accruing to him from selling fruit and vegetables to 'he families of Fort smith after he had sold the bulk of hls crops to wholesale buyers. With out this free bridge to bring him quickly into Fort Smith he would be compelled to see his fruits and vege- tables rot on his farm instead of en- toying he right of access to a market that insured him quick delivery and quick sales
 While ii is true there were farm CTS who fought the project to build a free bridge, and who went into court 10 restrain the efforts of more far seeing nelghhors 10 put a burden upon them, as they termed the free bridge enterprise, today these same farmers are the stauncheSt advocates of the free bridge. They have lived to realize in one season that the sur plus sales of their farm products not only paid the small bridge tax but also gave them ready cash for crop surpluses that in past years have gone to waste.
 The Graphic can assure the farm CTS of Jefferson county that they too will within year after the opening of the Jefferson county free bridge will be among the most ardent boost CTS, although today they try to make themselves believe that wrong is being done to them. Rather are they doing serious wrong to themselves by opposing the free bridge plan. What would they do if demand was made to take away from their locali- ties the steam railroads, or an effort m de tc close up their public h:ghwayS or take away every modern tool now so indispensable on the plantation, or to deprive their wives of their sew ing machines, wash wringers and cook stoves? There would he gen eral revolt, and yet because progress sive men are attempting to give them another modern trade-building, land developing enterprise they permit a few obstructionists to induce them to oppose he free bridge. Don't they realize that with such an enterprise, bringing them more directly in touch with a modern city, that their farms will be greatly enhanced in value? The tax will be so insignificant in with the real lasting hene- fits that they will yet be ashamed Of their opposition. Not a single object or in Jefferson coun,y can fail to pay his bridge tax out of a load of pro- duce hauled to Pine Bluff over the new free bridge that today is permitted to rot on his farm because he lacks an easy and quicker method of transpor- tation to the nearest marke'.