The courier-index. (Marianna, Ark.) 1917-current, 1918-11-01
QUORUM COURT
CONTINUED from Page One)

other items from the farm. Owing
to the drouth last year the farm
made a very short crop. We planted
nothing but corn and other forage
no cotton whatever, and raised quite
lot of hogs. The hogs we are now
fattening so as to sell them. The
land comprising the county farm is
very poor and is badly washed We
are spending quite lot of labor in
trying to redeem the soil by terrac-
ing the hills AS recommended by
the grand jury, we expect to build a
large shed to take care of the i'm
plements Also contemplate having
a deep well made. This is especially
needed This year we had to haul
water from Mariana during fully
two months of the summer, which
was, quite expensive.
The commissioners of accounts sug-
gest that separate accounts be kept
of the receipts and disbursements OF
the farm, which will be done.
Bridges
We cannot but feel proud of the
county bridges that have been built.
1t has been our policy to build them
to stand-not just for a short time,
but for years, and with this end in
view, they have been built heavier
and stronger than the usual county
bridge. You will see by the finan-
cial report that we have exceeded
our appropriation, having spent
S,46S.31 and had an appropriation
of $500. The extraordinary advance
in the prices of all materials and
extra cost of labor has been RESPONSE
Bile for this extra expenditure We
now have under contract and con-
struction the bridge across L'Anguille
river near Canaan, one south of Cody,
one across Messy Lake Drain in Lib
erty township and one across East
Alligator bayou in Council township.
The bridge across East Alligator at
Raggio will soon call for quite an
expenditure A steel bridge is badly
needed at this point, but owing to
the high price of steel and the almost
impossiblilty of getting the material
a steel bridge at this time | consider
out of the question. But good, sub
stantial wood bridge will have to be
built during the coming year. With
the above bridges under contract
completed and the one at Raggio. the
county will be we'll supplied with
bridges and will need only very
few new bridges on the new public
roads There is now a move on foot
to construct a new road from Gassett
north to the county line. When this
road is completed it will call for a
long bridge across Frenchman bayou
at Bledsoe However, it is not my
intention TO ask for an appropriation
for this bridge now.
Township Assessors
Under the present assessment laws
the county judge is required to APP
point two assistant assessors for each
township to act with the county as
SCISSOR The law says that these as
sistants shall receive $3.50 per day
for the time they serve, unless the
quorum court makes a different fee.
proposition to get competent citizens
to do this work for the sum specified
and those who have acted have done
so more from duty as citizens. than
for the small fees. ! would ask that
this small fee be increased to S5
per day for the time actually spent
and that the county clerk be author
rra TO ~
pay these township assessors for
their work this year and that the
same fee be paid the ensuing year
without this increase in fees your
county Judge feels that he will have
great trouble in getting competent
citizens to perform this important
duty.
You made an appropriation of SO.
00b to make needed repairs and ad
ditions to our present jail | appoint
ed c. ~ Houck to act with me as
commissioner for the work to be
done on the Jail. We advertised fol
bids after having plans drawn. The
lowest bid received was far in excess
of our appropriation, something like
$4,000 being the lowest We reject
ed all bids and have been doing the
work by contract and piece work
So far we have only strengthened
the walls of the old jail room, put
new concrete floor in it, overhauled
the plumbing, made this room safe
and sanitary. Have had concrete
floor laid in the kitchen We have