The Mena weekly star., 1919-01-02
BIG AUDITORIUM
FOR LITTLE ROCK
Is One of the Tasks Set for 1919 in
Our Capital City-Effort to Save
Livestock Win Be Continued
Food Regulations OF.
Special to The Star.

Special to The Star.
Little Rock, Dec 91.-One of the
big things to be undertaken in Little
Rock during the year 1919 will be the
erection of an auditorium that will
be credit to the city and state. The
plans are not yet perfected, but
enough is known to announce that the
campaign will soon be started, and
that there are enough interests back
of 1t to insure its success.
1t will likely take the shape of a
combined auditorium and armory,
costing $150,000 to 100000. and ca
pable Of seating at least 5000, be-
sides furnishing all conveniences for
the drilling of Home Guards and the
storage of their equipment.
1t will probably be called Liberty
Hail, and as such may stand as a per-
manent memorial of nearly 100000
men who went from this state into
the various branches Of government
service. Bronze tablets might be pro-
vided for thruout the building on
which might be inscribed the names
Of all who enlisted from the state.
with a special tablet for those who
made the supreme sacrifice.
Upon the rehabilitation ofSthe ar
my, there will be in the paper organ
ization of the Arkansas National
Guard, recognized by the Federal
government, eighty-seven different
units, infantry, artillery, motor
truck and artillery.
Eleven of these units will be locat-
ed in Little Rock. AS the officers and
men in the National Guard, under the
National Defense act, receive half the
pay of the regulars, it follows that
each company viii receive in the
course of the year an average of
about S150,000 1t has betn estimated
that the eleven companies viii be
about sl50000. It has been estimated
Of Little Rock. There is a consider
able sum available for armory rent,
which may be applied to the construe-
tion of the common armory building.
The Board of Commerce. the city,
the state, and the War Department
would each have a hand in the prof.
ect, and since it would be for the use
Of the citizens of the state at large,
assistance might be expected from
outside the city.
The live stock conservation pro-
gram of the Council of Defense is so
be continued by the Council as long
as it maintains its existence, in CO.
operation with the railroads, which
are employing men to look after the
practical application Of its regula-
tions and the popular edu, ,ational
features Of the campaign.
Statistics compiled by the railroads
show that the losses of live stock in
killed on railroad rights of way are
the heaviest in Arkansas compared
with any other state, a distinction Of
which the state should not be proud.
1t is estimated that the present toll
of live stock, horses, mules, cattle and
hogs, is about 10000 head annually.
Pledge cards have been signed BY
thousands of stock owners thruout
tile state, and conservation chairnen
have been appointed in the various
counties to look after the enforce
ment of regulations and the educa-
tion of the people.
America is being called upon TO
furnish food supplies to 120,o00,900
allies in Europe-not to be donated,
but to be sold them-and this need
will continue for perhaps two years,
or until such time as the inhabitants
of these devastated territories can be
put on self-sustaining basis. The
propaganda for food conservation
must, therefore, be continued. and
the people must be requested to keep
their stock off the right of way.
Conditions are rapidly resuming
their pre-war status, and it is be-
lieved the year 1919 viii see all Of
them practically wiped out with the
possible exception of the railway ad-
ministration, which has become a po-
litical question since it has ceased TO
be military problem.
Tie Food Administration has been
reduced to little more than a name,
and one by one the regulations are
being lifted. The Councils of Defense
ere rapidly being abandoned since
their mission is over. The Funei Ad-
min;snation will scarcely last beyond
the present winter.
Effective January ali the rules,
regulations and directions of every
nature whatsoever issued by the pri-
critics division of the War Industries
Board are cancelled, and all pledges
made on the suggestion or request of
the division are revoked.
OFFICERS ON LONG. WET HIKE.
]. w. Howard and G. c. Latch Walk
From Hatfield to Mena in Night.