The log cabin Democrat., 1920-07-16

parts OF the country and by Monday
of this week the entire issue was sold.
Investment bankers have a high re-
gard for the securities of Faulkner
county," he said, land the acts under
which the districts were formed are
regarded as among the best in the
state"
The construction of the system of
highways radiating in three directions
from Conway is believed to be the be-
ginning of new era Of growth and
prosperity for both the city and coun-
ty. 1t is thought that these roads will
mean the breaking away from the one
crop system, as when they are fin
ished it will be possible to market in
Vulnerable classes of produce which
it is now impossible to haul over the
present roads. Dairying, fruit, ber-
ry and truck growing industries are
expected to be rapidly developed and
to bring to the county additional in
come far in excess of the cost of the
roads.
The final contamination of contracts
for the three highways in this coun-
ty marks the end of a ong-continued
effort in the way of preliminary or
ganization which began with the 1919
regular session of the legislature,
when, upon petitions from a large
majority of the citizens, bills incor-
porating the districts were introduced
and passed through the efforts of
State Senator George F. Hartje and
Representative l. NJ. Campbell. On
account of minor defects in the acts
it was found impossible to proceed
with construction last year, and it
was largely through movement mi
tiated in Faulkner county, in which
an offer was made to pay the ex-
penses, that Governor Brough was in
duced to call a second special session
of the Legislature to cure the defects,
the first special session, called to
ratify the suffrage amendment, hav-
ing failed to act on road matters.
When the necessary legislation was
secured, number of legal attacks
were brought against the districts
by the railroad and other corporations
and friendly suits testing the validity
of certain provisions were also brought
in chancery court. The case with the
railroads was also fought and won
in the federal courts and various points
in connection with the districts have
been before the supreme court on ap-
peal in at least four different cases.
In every instance the districts were
upheld by the courts and it is now be-
lieved that they are entirely proof
against legal attack, although no sug-
gestion of any fight upon them has
been heard from any quarter.
After these proceedings had been
completed costs of construction had
greatly advanced, the value of munni-
cipal bonds had considerably depre-
ciated, so that it was found impos-
sible this spring to obtain satisfac-
tory bids for either contract or bonds
and the letting was deferred. Re-
Gently, however, numerous road dis
tricts over the state have from one
cause or another been forced to aban-
don or postpone their work and sew
eral of the many contractors attract
ed to the state by the enormous road
building program found themselves
temporarily without work. On this
account Faulkner county was able to
secure perhaps the lowest price for
its work Of any of that has been
awarded in the past year. A recent
Improvement in the financial market
also made a more advantageous sale
of the bonds possible Looked at from
every angle, and with the prospect of
getting lower prices for construction
and higher prices for bonds very
slight, and with the need of improv-
ed roads so urgent, the commission
ers were unanimous in deciding that
1t was for the best interests of the
county to award the present contracts.
Assisting the boards at the letting
today were Major W. J. Parkes of the
Parkes Engineering Company, sup
cruising engineers for the district. B.
u. Wilson, engineer, and r. w. Robins.
attorney / .laas
CHINA EXPORTS RICE
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