The courier-index., 1918-01-11

fire prevention lines. " is CSu-
mated that there are in Arkansas at
least 1900 losses annually. nos IN
Guiding losses of 5000 or less.
Agents take issue with the state
| fire marshal in his statement that
over insurance is general and pre-
| valent. and do not agree with his
declaration that the comparatively
small number of fires in which over
| insurance has been a factor indicate
a laxness on the part of the local
agent which is truly alarming"
The Salvation Army is being quite
! firmly established in several of the
larger cities of the state. 1t is not
generally known, but it is fact that
the Salvation Army has been and is
doing a great and important work at
the front in connection with the
prosecution of the war This work
has been recognized by President
Wilson, who has directed the follow
ing letter to Commander Miss Booth:
Il am very much interested to hear
sof the campaign the Salvation
Army has undertaken for money to
sustain its war activities. and | want
Ito take the opportunity to express
my admiration for the work that it
has done and my sincere hope that
1T may be fully sustained"
1 Col. F. G. Lawton of the NATIONAL
army declares that the Salvation
Army has done more for the enlisted
smen of the First Division than any
other organization or society operat-
ing in France"
Officers of the Salvation Army are]
preparing to put on a drive this
week for the raising of a fund of
one million dollars for War Work. ]
The Little Rock quota is only $1,000,
and it is hoped this can be raised
next Friday. Saturday and Sunday /
The work will be presented at con-
ference of business men Thursday
evening with Evangelist Wheeler
and officers of the Army
Arkansas friends of Louis Dodge
of st. Louis have observed with
pleasure the publication in the Janu-
airy number of Scribner's Magazine
the first chapter of his new serial, |
"A Runaway Woman" Mr. Dodge,
formerly in the newspaper business
in Arkansas, is making a name for
himself in literature. His two pre-
vious books published by Scribner's,
Bonnie May" and Children of the |
Desert" have had a splendid run, |
the first being ranked among the
best sellers
The government has taken a long
step toward the government owner
ship of railroads when, as a war
measure, it takes over the manage |
mept of all the railroads. 1t is said |
that the general public will see very /
little change in conditions. but they
will be made, however. and a new
when the war is over. it is believed i
by many that the old condition will |
never return. |
One of the conditions brought about |
by the change is the elimination OF |
competitive offices. such as soliciting |
freight, passenger and commercial |
agents. Since all traffic is to be |
routed and controlled by the Railway |
Administration, along lines that win |
accomplish the highest efficiency or l
service. These offices are being !
closed By practically all the railroad |
systems and the men are being
transferred to other cities and other /
positions, wherever practicable. In |
some Instances the men. who have !
been on the job for years, do not
know just where they will be placed |
or what their future will be.
Another phase Of the possible gov
eminent ownership of railroads.
which some are predicting will fol-
low the war, is the reduction in |
revenue that will follow the change.
The total property assessment OIL
the state is about $525,000, 900 for
last year of which approximately /
$50. 100000 is on the railroad prop-f
critics Of the state. In addition to
the advalorem taxes. the railroads
Pos dOOut $1OU,uVO Al IRAN
chise tax. I is estimated that the |.
withdrawal of these properties from
taxation would reduce the general !,
revenue OF the state from II to 20 |
per cent, The county and ,municipalj
taxes would also be reduced in about I
the same proportion. except for the
franchise taxes.
The government pays no taxes onj
its property. and il the railroads, \
were owned by the government the /
states would be deprived of one of
its most prolific sources OF revenue.
The government would. of course,
buy the railroads, paying for them
full value, but comparatively small /
part of the stocks are owned in Ark 1
ansas and a majority of the states.
The bulk of the securities is owned L