Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1912-07-16

there was as great or greater opposi- tlon to 1t than there is to vour bridge, but 1 can truthfully say now that there is practically no opposi- ton since the bridge is built. ;n fact all of the Knockers concede that they were wrong and that it is the best investment by far our county eyer made. Property or real estate values in this county have advanced at least one hundred per cent sine the contract was let to build this bridge There is lots of real estate changing hands both country and city, and there is more building going on and healthier condition here than has ever been in the history of the town and county. These conditions in my opin- ion have all been brought about by the erection Of our free bridge, and if you have any citizens who doubt this invitation to them to pay us a visit and investigate for themselves.
 "I personally am extremely anX- ious to see Pine Bluff follow our ex- ample, and build without further de- lay a bridge at that point. My iNter- est in this matter is not of per sonal nature, but is brought about by the interest 1 have in the welfare of the great state of Arkansas. 1 dcn t believe there is anything that will enhance values and develop the coun- try like good public highways. If l can serve you at any -,infe~by furnish ing you further information 9ou will please command me-"
 In reply to a similar inquiry MT. C. B. Wildman, superintendent of the Missouri Pacific Railway Company at Van Buren, says:
 q have your favor of July } in re- gard to Free Bridge recently con- structed across the Arkansas river between Fort Smith and Van Buren. T. beg to state that l have no know ledge of any such action being taken by any of the railroads as indicated in your letter.
 The Taxpayers Protective Assccla- t;on also stated in the same article that "The history of the interurpah line all over the United States is that where a larger city or the capltal ol a state is connected with smaller town that the larger town increases in number and assessed values while the smlaler town constantly decreases. Iittle Rock, with larger stores ana greater assortments would draw from Pine Bluff and Pine Bluff could not oxnect to draw from Little Rock.
 They also stated that the connect ing of Little Rock and Pine Binh py an interurban line would, if carried out make Pine Bluff "only a 1las ,+ot;op', on the Cotton Belt and Iron Mountain roads.
 To further ascertain the correct
 a, ~. ;ncorrectness of these letter statements, letter was sent 'o 'he ,novors of numerous cities, now con- nected with larger cities by lhlerur- han railways, explaining that it was nro,osed to connect Pine Bluff wlth 1T ;+t,a Rock, the latter being 'he capital of the state and the larger city and asking the following aueS- tions: ;,+or,,r.
 First-Do you consider an interu,, han railroad beneficial to sliiai citv when it is located twenty to iof' tv miles from a larger city:
 socond-poes it have tendency . 4.ho trade from the smaller city te the larger one? .,o1,o, ~ Th;rd-Does it benefit the smaller city by drawing from the country trade? roo. ro i The mayor of Galveston Iexas' re. niles to question one, fes'
 onestion two he writes: "lt VIII nell both' To the third query ne says "such a road tends to develop all 'n' surrounding country just as a rali'o'' would.'' s;.,.
 The mayor of Richmond Indiana answers question one, "Yes =; e"es''ol two, "No,' and question ~ "Yes."
 The mayor of Fort Worth Texas makes similar answers to 'ho'@
 mayor of Richmond.
 Three other mayors of in'erurua' : towns, Springfield. Ill., zanes'