The Mena weekly star., 1920-02-19
OPPONENTS OF ROAD BUILDING SEE THEIR MISLEADING AS-
 STATIONS ANSWERED.
ACREAGE BASIS NOT
 APPLIED TO CITY
Specific Examples of Amounts Levied on Well-Known Business Properties and on Farms in Various Local
 ities in the District

The assessment for the Jefferson Highway in Polk county is on file in the office of the county clerk.
 It has been reported turnout differ ent parts of Polk county that real es- tate in the city of Mena had been as- sessed on an acreage basis in fixing benefits for the Jefferson Highway. And the talk has been common that the city would shirk it's part while forcing the farmers to build the highway"
 These statements are in direct con- tradiction to the official report of the fits on ali property within the high way district.
 | In other words the man or men, if such there be, who stated that Mena realty was assessed on an acreage basis told deliberate falsehood, dis played needless ignorance, or both. Assessment Open to All.
 The report of the assessors showing the assessment made on every tract or parcel Of land within the highway ditrict is now on file in the office of County Clerk Will Alexander. It is, in fact, public property, and any in- terested citizen or taxpayer has the the official record. Many have already done so, and between new and the time set by Judge H. w. Finger for the hearing on the assessment roll, March 5, many others will likely follow the | example.
 The erroneous and misleading re- port circulated regarding the assess ment of highway benefits is attribut- ed to various men who have long been pronounced in their opposition to road building in Polk county.
 Former County Judge A. E. Wear, who states he is in favor of building good roads, but who declares he is op- posed only to the methods now being used in building them, is one of those who have been credited with circulat- ing the report concerning Mena's as- sessment. To representative of The Star. Judge Wear, however, emphatic ally declared he did not make any such statement concerning the assess ment in Polk county.
 To set at rest the fears of owners of real estate outside of Mena, and to correct the wrong reports that have been circulated, The Star caused an examination to be made of the assess ors' record now on file in the county clerks office.
 Concrete Examples Given. This examination proved conclus- ively the assessment on Mena real ty was not made on an acreage basis, but was fixed generally at 30 per cent of the assessed valuation of the prop erty, regardless of its size or location. For instance, the buildings and ground owned by the heirs of the late George L. Lochridge at Mena and Maple streets, and occupied by the Duke -Magruder Dry Goods Company, and the Hay Brothers Jewelry Com pany, is assessed total of $3 ,000 for the building of the Jefferson Highway This is the largest assessment on a single piece of property in Mena with the exception of the Krikac building on Mena street, in which is located Badt's Confectionery, the Lyric The atre, the Fair Store and the Mena Bill Hard Parlor This also is assessed $3,000 for highway purposes. Divid- ed into twenty payments the assess ment means $150 will be paid each year.
 The property occupied by The Star at Mena and Port Arthur avenue is assessed a total of $690 In addition the home of the editor, v. W. St. John, at Seventh street and Church avenue, is assessed an additional $450. This consists of a single 50-foot lot and one-story cottage, and is far from be- ling either large or pretentious home, yet it is assessed more than q great majority of farms in the improvement district.
 Other assessments of Mena realty as shown on the official report of the assessors include the following | Elks' Home, S720.
 J L. Hagan's Grocery, $300
 Eugene Cox's residence. Eleventh street and Maple avenue, Sl050.
 First National Bank, S2,700
 Farmers & Merchants Bank, Sl,S00.
 Planters State Bank $900. Kelly-Stratton's office building, $51O.
 Watkins Hardware Company S66V.
 c. w. Petty Store, $750.
 In addition to the assessment on his I tContinued on Page Four