The Mena weekly star., 1919-03-20
OWNS VALUABLE MENA
 PROPERTY-WANTS ROADS
And Jos. Krikac of Chico, Cal, Evi- dentIy Would Gladly Increase Tax
 es in This Cause.

Jos. Krkac, who owns what IS known as the Harman or Opera House block, perhaps Mena's largest business structure, wrote The Star re- gently that he wanted to sign up for paving Mena street, and for any other proposition that meant good streets and good roads. And now this Polk county taxpayer comes back with an- other good roads boost-this time largely devouted to the efforts being made in California, and indicating further what he wants to do here;
 Chico, Cal, March IA, 1919.
 Editor Star: sIn reading your pa per l get some information on the activity of the people of your state in the matter of building highways. It does me good to see the awaken ing. Still as a whole the interest of your people does not seem to be as ln- tense and as general as it is manl- fested in all of the western states. For instance, six years ago the state of California voted $18,000,000 of bonds fer the construction Of state highways. A board of state highway commissioners was providel by the legislature at the same time the bond issue was authorized, and it built in all some 1900 miles of paved roads, but the sum proved to be too small to complete what was started and four years later we voted bonds to the amount of $15,000,000 more. The ad- vance in prices of material and labor during the war made the last issue only an aggravation, is it did not complete the roads already started, and so thiEfall we are going to vote for $35,000,000 of bonds to complete the highways already started and build numerous new ones. This vast mount of money will build and com plete a system in addition to that all ready in use of at least 5000 miles, and with that now in use will give California a road system of 5000 miles.
 "Then, in addition to State High ways, each county, at least some counties, have voted bonds to build lateral and local roads running into millions of dollars. The coming fall election in this state will be one full of interest and enthusiasm in road building. It should be noted that Cal ifornia is first in point of the number of automobiles as per capita of her population. The number is touching the mark of 100000 automobiles, with population of some 31a millions. To show you what the state collects each year from automobile licenses, just figure that we pay 40 cents per horse power of each car run over our roads. This sum of money is used for the maintenance of our highways, etc, and the bonds are to be paid for when due from taxes collected from public utilities corporations and their fran chises.
 "To show what other people think of our roads, am calling attention to the following:
 After trip to San Francisco and return over your good roads it is no longer a wonder to me why Califor- mia buys so many motor cars. Your roads are a genuine revelation to an Fastener such as myself who makes the trip to California for the first time"
 This was the declaration last week of Edward s. Yer Linden, president of the Olds Motor Works, upon his return here after a motor trip to Los Angeles with J. w. Leavitt, head of the California Oldsmobile distribut- ing firm which bears his name.
 "It is estimated that during the years 1919 and 1920, over $500 ,000,- 900 will be expended by the nation and different states on roads. Illi- nois has voted $60,000, ,000; Pennsyl- vania, $50,O00, ,000; Georgia has a bill before its legislature for 0,0OO ,O00; Colorado, $20,000, 900; Oklahoma seeks $40,000,000; Minnesota, $50,- 100000; Virginia, 0,000 OO0; Alaba- ma wants $10,00O,000; Michigan $5O,- 100000, and on down the line. And Arkansas ought to come in with at least $25,000,000 as her roads are undeniably in the worst condition of any of the states mentioned above.
 Good roads in community are like a good circulation in the body. Bad roads mean sick and blue com munity. Without roads there can be no traffic, no circulation of life blood