The Spectator., 1915-04-02


 the advantages and desirability oe works, sewer systems. street paving and the like, because other cities that are forging ahead have them. Now that they have investigated the matter. looked into both sides of the question. the cost and the acruing benefits, they are convinced that the Improvements should be made as 8 matter of bust ness investment for their respective communities They will now go ahead and secure the improvements no mat ter whether they are allowed to issue municipal bonds or not The big thing was an understanding of the needs of the Improvements. That realized. the method will be incidental and the means forthcoming.
 This explains why cities like Darda- nelle, Harrison, Pocahontas, Lake Vil- lage and others, upset at first by the blow to Amendment No. IA, have re- formed their plants and with genuine vigor are now coming back with a de- termination to secure for themselves modern municipal conveaiences. They decline to be sewed up by little con. stitutional prohibition on bonds.
 Harrison, in Boone County. is typi cal of the fine spirit that the progress give towns are showing. This city had arranged for an issue of municipaj bonds, so certain were her people that the 15,0OO majority of those voting on the question at the last election, had sealed the approval of the issue for municipal bonds. With the amend ment killed, Harrison about faces and comes right back with an improve ment district plan to provide the city with needed $10O,000 system of wa terworks.
 Lake Village has set its face stead lily to the front on the proposition of paving and sewer improvements, and has chosen committees of business men to provide an improvement dis tr1ct in place of the anticipated muni- cipal bond plan. Dardanelle is going ahead on the same plan, and Poca- hontas will secure her waterworks sys- tenn if she has to appeal to the busi- ness men in a donation way. Heber Springs will work out her improve ments under the district plan.
 Other towns, such as Fayetteville. Malvern. Bonneville, Leslie. Benton and Black Rock. which had planned municipal improvements, have not had time to make definite arrangements, but it is believed all of them will go ahead under the improvement district plan Only few minor projects. such as municipal buildings, will be held up ultimately by the defeat of tho municipal bond issue.
 An important fact also Is the halt of the past two years in a building way, many communities having waited to see what would be the outcome of the municipal bond issue before going ahead with Improvements. These ci- ties are now at that point where they can delay no longer and the improve ments must be made to meet increas- ing needs For two years they have been educated by a campaign showing the value of Improvements to the community by way of attracting desir- able investors and giving their own people the advantages of modern liv- ing. Now the state will begin to reap the harvest of this splendid sowing. The friends of Amendment No. IA, if they receive no other commendation from the state at large, are to be con graduated for leading the hundreds of municipalities of the state into the light of improved city conditions. Incidentally. should 1t be desired to again revive the municipal bond issue, through an amendment to the state constitution, this can be done at the election in 1918. But it is highly prob able that, in the meantime, the stead fly growing demand for a new consti- tuition. as shown by the almost unani- nous House vote on the Yarger Bill in the last legislature, will force the adoption of a more workable state con stitution, adapted to the growing needs of the state and with more discrimi- hating regard for the rights and priv ileges of communities-an organic law interpreted in the light of the changed economic and social condi- tions of the past twenty years. Another and final consideration of the highest importance. to take the place in way of the loss sustained under the defeat of the bond amend ment, is the prospective work under the new general road law of the state, the Alexander Bill. which has already prompted activities in the formation of no less than 300 miles of pike roads in dozen different counties, and which, within the next two years. will probably develop millions of dollars in high grade construction work and add infinitely to the values of the