The Van Buren press., 1912-02-24

county ranked high in permanent road
building in the U. S. Arkansas as
whole ranked thirty-eighth in the list
of states. The statistics for 1910 show
that during that year 40 counties in
Arkansas did not build a mile of per
manent road.
THE system of road overseers with
citizens paying their road tax IN la
Dor, has been proven to be wrong in
every state that has tried it, No
road oyerseed will force his neighbor
to do an honest days work on the
roads. and he couldn't force him TO
do if he did insist upon it." Mr.. Bur
ell said
Mr.. Burell explaintd to the dele
gates how the government stood ready
TO assist any well organized move
ment for road improvement. He said
men would be sent on request to sur
vey the proposed road and after the
road was ready to build engineers
would be sent to build the first mile
for demonstration purposes. County
bond issues were also advocated by
Mr.. Burell.
In many of the addresses that were
delivered a demand that counties be
given the right to issue bonds for the
construction of roads was voiced.
Special emphasis was laid upon this
point by Attorney General Hal Nor
wood who spoke at the morning ses-
sion on State Aid to Good Roads"
MIR. Norwood declared he Is opposed,
under present conditions, TO the state
aiding in the construction OF roads.
He said the financial condition OF the
state at present would make state aid
impossible, even if it were desirable.
He declared however, that he is high
ly in favor of the state creating and
maintaining state highway depart.
ment, under whose supervision the
money raised by the counties for good
roads could be expended wisely. He
said the money paid to the state in
automobile license fees, which amount
ed last year to $4,000, and will in
crease from year to year, could well
be used in the support of state
highway department.
Another interesting address was
that Of County Judge Joe Asher OF Pu-
laski county, who spoke on Road
Construction
Judge Asher said he had found It
profitable to work state convicts and
he believed that the best way to dis
pose of them.
Judge Asher stated that, with the
that, with the use of the conyicS, he
has built about ten miles OF good
roads at cost OF about $500 per
mile and that he belived 1t would cost
between $1,000 and $4,000 per mile
II It had been done under contract
The convention adopted a resolu'
ton authorizing the president to APP
point nine delegates, two at large and
one from each congressional district,
10 the meeting of the National Drain
age Congress, which will be held In
New Orleans, April 10, and urging
each county Judge to appoint one del.
egate and provide for the payment Of
his expenses out Of the county funds.
President Cook will be ex-ofiicio OF
the delegation from Arkansas, and he
named the following as the delegates
from the Good Roads and Drainage
Association, Judge w. NJ. Kayan-
augh and II, l.. Remmel, Little Rock;
First district, ]. +. Coston, Asceola;
Second district, Parker c, Ewing,
Clarendon; Third district, Geo, A.
Cole, Fayettoville Fourth district,
Geo. Sengol, Fort Smith; Fifth dis
trict, Joe Asher Little Rock, Sixth
district, Ben j. Altheimer, Pine Bluff;
Seventh district, |. Nj, Worthington,
Eudora
a number OF resolutions were adopt.
ed by the convention.
one Of them, introduced by former
state Senator Frank DeRost Of For
rest City, memoriall2es senators and
representatives In congress from Ark
ansas to insist upon n provision In
any bill authorizing the construction
OF bridge across the Mississippi riv'
er at Memphis for n roadway and suit
able approaches. This is desired for
the purpose Of providing connection
for the great east and west highways
that are proposed through Tennessee,
Arkansas and oklahoma,
with the election OF officers and
the selection Of Little Rock az the
next place Of meeting, the Arkansas
Good Roads and Drainage Association
adjouned
Harry u, Cook, county Judge OF
Chicn county was elected president;
w. H. (CoIn) Harvey OF Monte Ne
was elected vice president and Geo,
Il, Brown OF Little Rock was ro-
elected secretary,
After the adjournment Of the con
yention, Judge Cook, the new prosl'
dent, announced the appointment OF
the following executive committee,
composed Of one member from each
congressional district, First district,
w, NJ, Nixon, Mariana; Second dls'
trIct, W, D. Folsom, Brlnklcyi Third
district, p, bee Guthry sulphur
Springs Fourth district Jesse A,
Harp, Fort smith, Fifth district, Joe
Asher, Little Rock, sixth district, c,
NJ phIlnot Pine Blun. Seventh dis