The Mena weekly star., 1918-08-22
ROAD BUILDING
 MAY BE DELAYED
Commissioner Gardner Finds That Be. cause of War There May Be Diff culty in Selling Bonds-Money Set
 Aside For Polk May Be Used.

J. w Gardner, secretary of the com mission of the road project extending thru Mena and to points north and east of Acorn, has returned from a trip of investigation to Little Rock
 Following is his report:
 "The secretary of the Polk Coun- 1 ty road commission returned from Little Rock Thursday afternoon, and desires to give some account of the trip and tell of the road situation. [ Highway Commissioner, Wm. B. | Owen, discussed the matter fully, and stated that the commission stood ready to turn over to Polk county the full sum promised, a little over s15,- 900. provided the improved road is constructed. He stated, however, that he was afraid that we would experi- ence trouble in disposing of road bonds at this time, as he had been in- formed that the United States gov ernment had not only decided to pass upon all good road projects, or the matter of issuing bonds with which to build them, but had requested all bond dealers not to buy road district bonds, as it might tend to interfere with the winning of the war. He also stated that it was his opinion that all road projects not under construction, should be temporarily postponed un- til after the war was over-that this would not necessarily mean the aban- donment of our project. but simply to hold 1t in abeyance, and that the money might also be kept for it.
 No representatives of Gunter & Co.,, bond dealers, were in Little Rock. and a note was left in the office with request that they write the Polk county road commissioners in regard to buying the bonds, in case it was decided to construct the road
 "The city of Little Rock, the High way Commissioners and the United States Government, having construct ed one of the best improved roads in the country to Camp Pike, eight miles in length, the secretary decided to take a ''jitney" ride over it and make a cursory visit to Camp Pike. This road is indeed a splendid highway. about two-thirds of it made with a concrete base, on top of which is two-inch top coat of asphalt. The re- 1 mainder is of concrete. Total cost of the road was about $140,000. It is a monument to progressive Arkansas, now awakening to the vital need of improved roads.
 'I did not have time to hunt up any of our Polk county boys at Camp
 Pike, simply going out very early
 Wednesday morning before business hours to inspect the improved road and see the camp. A short description of Camp Pike will doubtless be of in- terest to the public It is located up- on large tract of land, some 31a by | s miles in extent, we'll adapted for such purpose, being upon high ground which is we'll drained. It was well laid off and graded so as to facilitate and 1 make soldier life easy and pleasant for our boys It's main thorofares and streets are macadamized, and every modern convenience put in, such as complete water works system, sewers and electric lights There are some ten or more large Y. M. C. A. buildings where the boys are given free of charge desks, pens, ink and paper so they may write home in comfort without noise and confusion to confuse them. Most of the build ings are barracks, about 40x100 feet, f.Nr, .fr housed and well fed. Every soldier 1 boy is given splendid iron cot, with cotton mattress and feather pillow, | and he must take it out every morn ing to be aired and stunned, unless rain prevents. The raw recruit is given physical training for the first 1 five or six weeks, in which every muscle and sinew is brought into live ly use for an hour each day, and they are also marched around the camp for several hours each day. After that they are given guns and the training in the manual of arms begins. These guns weigh seven CT eight pounds and they handle them as if only pieces of stove wood, an apparently easy job. Early in the morning is the best time to witness their training and maneuvers. While some are wag- ing their heads, bending their bodies and limbs others could be seen marching in various forms, and still others standing still and manipulat- ing their guns according to the man. ual of arms. The buildings and grounds are kept clean and sanitary at all times. Camp Pike is certainly fine soldier city, now comprising about 10000 boys in training besides the laborers and helpers. The Mis- souri Pacific railway runs to and from the city quite often This camp will prove boon to Little Rock, as thousands visit the city every day and spend money freely with her mar chants"
 AMERICAN AIRPLANES 0. K.