The Mena weekly star., 1919-07-17
HIGHWAY DECISION
 SEPTEMBER 29
Irdpe J. |. Alley, Representing the Polk County District, Receives As surances From Supreme Court Jus
 tsces-Polk County Gets Trucks.

County Judge H. w. Finger, Mayor Ira o. Smith, Judge J. l. Alley, En- gineer Coker and V. W. St. John reached home Friday night from Lit tie Rock, where they went in the in- terest of Polk county's big highway. Judge Alley filed with the clerk of the Supreme court the papers and briefs in the appeal from the verdict of Cir cult Judge J. s. Steel, in which he de- clared the district legally formed.
 The important feature of Judge Alleys conference with Judge Me Cullough and other members of the court was the securing of assurance that the court, in order to care for this and other highway cases, will con yene on September 22, and will render decisions on such cases September 29, thus saving to our district and possi- bly to others the federal and state money which, after October 1 would be lost to us by being re-apportioned to districts where the projects were definitely organized and approved.
 With the assurance obtained there will be no slowing up of the prepara- tory work being carried forward by the engineers, and everything will be ready to build roads with rush when the decision has been handed down.
 The Mena party called on State Highway Commissioner W. B. Owen, where the members were received like good old-time friends. MT. Owen showed much pleasure over the Polk county situation, and gave unquali- fled assurance that his department would leave no stone unturned to pro- mote the work and to give Polk coun- ty as much financial aid as circum- stancse would permit. He was also much interested in the project to form the district from Mena west to Okla homa.
 Mir. Owen then announced that two auto trucks, formerly in use in war work, had been assigned to Polk coun- ty and that they would be delivered to Judge Finger at Mena. It was at first announced that these trucks, which are intended for road use, would be allotted to counties on payment of cost of delivery, and Judge Finger had expected to make arrangements along those lines, but this was made unnecessary.
 Engineer Coker had a conference both morning and afternoon with off cials of the Highway Department over matters pertaining to the Polk coun- ty work.
 The party left Mena Wednesday afternoon with Judge Finger and his family, and Miss Edreth Finger, his niece, in one car, and Mayor Ira o. Smith and the balance of the party in Diamond Joe" the Ford used in handling highway work. All arrived safe and sound in Hot Springs be- fore night. Thursday morning Judge Finger, leaving his family to enjoy the day at the famous resort, joined the party in the Ford, and a most en- joyable drive was made to the stae capital, and, with business disposed of returned to Hot Springs in the after noon, all returning home Friday. Judge Fingers car, however, got cranky about something, and for it's behavior, was left at Big Fork, service car bringing the family to town.
 The roads are all in rather excep- tionally good condition, there bs.ag no places where they cannot be driven in fair comfort and speed. But it has to be confessed tha in each county traversed they are in better shape than those of Polk county, tho the latter have been greatly improved in recent months.
 It is fair to estimate that the trip from Little Rock to Mena, approxi- mately one hundred and fifty miles as the roads go, can be driven safely in ten hours running time.