Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1919-08-17

reaching the City of Roses" will have improved highways to Hot Springs. Today they enjoy motoring over the Little Rock-llot Springs highway. A year from now they can now being constructed from the Spa to the Capital City, which, it shoull be remembered, is the official part of the Bankhead highway from Little Rock to Hot Springs.
 Government Recognition
 No sooner had all agreements been made for the selling of the bonds to enable getting work started than the United States entered the world war and what appeared to be an un- surmountable barrier to the project materalized Labor was demanded for other work. The bonds could not be marketed because of government orders. Neither would the govern ment release the material necessary.
 There was but one thing to do and that was to go to Washington and impress officials with the importance of this road. Selecting a strong delegation of those who had assisted him in the promotion of the district, headed by Governor Charles H. Trough, and backed by the press of the state, Judge Toney took his dele gation to the nations capital.
 Government Impressed.
 It was no easy matter to secure the attention of the cabinet officers. Interviews, however, were arranged. They were made to see that this highway would be valuable and speed connecting link between Camp Beauregard, Louisiana, and Camp Pike, at Little Rock. It was shown that, in the event of long war and the further handicapping of the rail roads, this great concrete-asphalt highway offered the surest and quickest medium for the transporta- tion of all kinds of products, whether commercial or agricultural from 1, points in Arkansas and Texas to Ar kansas City, which, being on the Mississippi river, assured immediate delivery to New Orleans, big ship ping center, and the gulf.
 Cabinet officers recognized the inn mense value of this project to the government, and, seeing it's worth, gave it their immediate and unqualli- fled endorsement The official en- bargoes, so far as they pertained to the Arkansas Louisiana highway were removed Judge Toney and party were told to Ego to it."
 Contractors Chosen.
 The contract for work in Lincoln county was given to Healy & com. pany of Dallas, Texas, and Meridian Miss. Burke & company, of Fort Smith, received the Ashley county contracts, while the commissioners White & company, of Chicago. The Bryant Pavement company of Water loo, Iowa, has charge of the work in Chicot county.
 In the early summer of 1918 the work of cutting out the right of way was started. Since that time, save for inclement weather, the work has gone steadily forward. By Novem- Der 1920, the road will be finished. Toney's Other Big Project.
 No sooner had he put over the Ark ansas-Louisiana highway, than Judge Toney launched another big improve ment district. Beginning at Luna Landing, in Chicot county, and ex- tending east to west, distance of 38 miles, to within 10 miles of Ham, burg, in Ashley county, there will be constructed the same type of high way, concrete base and asphalt sur face, as constitutes his other great undertaking. That will cost $400,000 The bonds, bearing 5 per cent inter est. have been sold and brought $410,000. Work on this road is now going forward.