The Forrest City times., 1913-02-21
A Bill For A Viaduct.

1
Rock Island railroad, just east OF the
city, where it crosses Forrest street,
between the old waterworks plant,
where the city's teams are now kept
on the South side, and the headquar-
ters of the fire department on the
north. For time it was thought
that this viaduct matter had been
allowed to die out, but at meeting
of the Forrest City Retail Grocers
Association, held last Friday night,
the viaduct was brought to life again.
Among those citizens who have al
ways been very actively interested In
this viaduct proposition The Times
notes its friends, Mr.. w. L. Lawrence,
of the City Grocery, Mr.. Chas. Nor
ton, OF the law firm OF Norton &
Hughes, Judge S. II. Mann, OF the
firm Of Mann, Rollwage < Morrow,
and Mr.. A c. Bridewell, bookkeeper
for Pettus & Buford.
When the matter was first agitated,
something over three months ago, 1t
was carried up before the city council
and thoroughly discussed there be-
fore the aldermanic body, which re-
suited in Mayor Scott turning the
matter over to Citizens committee,
made up Of Messrs A. c. Bridewell,
w. l.. Lawrence and Chas. Norton.
These gentlemen organized by select
ing Mr.. Norton as secretary, and Mr..
Lawrence, chairman. These gentle
men set TO work Immediately to get
the yiaduct matter before the proper
authorities, and numerous letters
were written to the Rock Island
officials, all seemingly to no avail.
Superintendent A. B. Copley, Of the
| Rock Island, who came down to For
rest City on October 10, to attend a
mammoth good roads meeting, was
approached by the Citizens commit
tee, but this gentleman left town
without being convinced that the
viaduct over Forrest street was
necessary.
| The Citizens committee, which
seemingly has been resting upon its
oars for two or three weeks, has only
been planning all the time, and now
comes the statement that the plan
for the Hiaduct has been revived with
renewed interest and vigor before the
Forrest City Retail Merchants Asso-
citation.
This association has had Judge S.
IL. Mann prepare bill requiring the
railroad company to construct this
viaduct, and this bill has been for
warded 10 our representative In the
legislature, Hon. Sam Sulcer, who is
being urged by number OF friends
here 10 introduce the bill and work
for its passage at the very earliest
possible date.
Several weeks ago We wrote an edi-
! torial calling attention to the fact
that we still stood where we had
| stood 10 the beginning, and were still
OF the opinion that in line with the
progress and numerous public i'm
provements that were being made.
this yiaduct should be built.
When the viaduct plan was first
brought up before the council, there
vas a disposition on the part OF some
| or tie gentlemen who favored It. to
employ drastic measures In getting
the railroad 10 take it up and con-
slider it. The Times, at that time,
| said the proposition should be take n
up in friendly manner. and upon
the logical ground that 1t was some
thing that the railroad company
needed. We argued Conservatism up-
on the theory that wien the railroad
company could be convinced that this
improvement was needed, it would
make 1t. The Times is convinced
that it is needed, and we are strong
Tor the proposition. Scarcely a day
passes that the crossings through the
center OF the city are not blocked by
long Rock Island freight trains. Citi-
zens residing south Of the Rock Is
land railroad, and In the southeast
part OF town, who have children at
tending school, are anxious about
them every day, because it is neces-
sary Tor them TO cross the railroad
tracks going TO and from school. If
The Viaduct were built, these children
might pass over in safety above the
tracks and out OF danger Of trains. On
Front street at almost any hour OF
the day, you may hear people exclaim:
Somebody's going to get hurt on
thosecrossings one OF these days."Cuts
OF cars and engines working in the
yards, often barely miss vehicles that
are crossing the tracks, and thus we