Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1919-01-10
FAILURE TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE HIGHWAYS
 INDUSTRIAL SUICIDE
Judge Williams Goes on Record as FayOring a Vigorous Road Build ing Program During Tenure cf Office.

County Judge R. H. Williams will go to Little Rock today to meet with the State Highway Commission to discuss with that body details concerning the improvements of roads in Jefferson county.
 Judge Williams said yesterday that he intended to prosecute vigorous road improvement schedule during his term Of office, and the conference with the Highway Con- mission today will be the first fea- ture of his program.
 The people of this county want roads, he said, "and l am going to see 'that they have them"
 According to statements made by Judge Williams yesterday, there have been numerous voluntary obli- cations from private sources to SUD- ply part of the gravel, and haul the same to the road gratis in the event of the improvement of the Main street pike, and the Sulphur Springs road.
 There is certain amount of money on hand" said Judge W.T. iams, ''for the improvement of these reads. 1 am informed that the State Highway Commission will meet with an equal sum of money any fund which the county will provide. The object to my trip to Little Rock is to discuss with the commission, cer- tain features of that law"
 Free Bridge Road.
 At the last meeting of the city council. the matter of the improve ment of the short section of road known as the Free Bridge road was discussed and committee was er- pointed by Mayor Blo9r to work out some scheme whereby this road could be improved There is a great belt of land on the nor.h side of the river which embraces about Nifty miles Of the richest land in the state. There is a system of pike roaua in this belt which might te likened to the fingers of hand, with the Free Bridge road at the wrst The simile must cease there for instead of the Free Bridge road being a great bread wrist, it is the smallest and weakest feature of the hand All of the travel of these sev- era! roads flows~into the small link which connects Pine Bluff with the north side of the river, and with the voluminous traffic cCnverginc into this one read, it has become so impaired that the north side produ- cers are prone to make some other toww their market, rather than to be subjected to the adverse condi- tions connected with travaI over the Free Bridge road
 It is industrial suicide not to re- pair this road, or build Few one The district itself is not large enough to stand an increase of taxes for further road reverue Pine Bluff is the greatest beneficiary of this road. The answer is obvious. Committee Will Meet Monday.
 The committee which was appoin- ted by Mayor Bloom was composed of three memters of the council, and five business, men. This commit tee will meet Monday in the assem- bly hall of the Chamber of Com merce to give consideration as to the best possible way to make the Free Bridge road a highway instead of { hill top. It is quite possible that Pine Bluff citizens will be asked to help No definite plans have been arranged though members of the committee have tentative plans which they will submit at the meet ing
 , The city alone cannot make this necessary adjunct to the commercial prosperity of the city; nor can the county alone. The state legislature can arrange for the transferral of l moneys from othdr road funds to this one. At any rate. if the i'm provement is made, there must be concerted action by the people of the city and of the county