The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-02-17

be 1854 miles long, through Ashley, Drew,
Chicot, Desha and Lincoln counties.
The government gave $SOO, cog toward
to end. Another big project is in the
same vicinity. A single contract was
let for SO, III 500 for part of the work
on 100 miles of fine roads connecting
Arkansas City, McGehee, Dumas, Yon-
copin and Walnut Lake. The whole
road will cost, when finished, $S,9SO,00O.
From Jonesboro to Newport, Ark, is
another SO miles Of road that will cost
nearly So, 900, 900.
One of the biggest slngle-county prof.
ects in all the lower Mississippi valley
is in Crittenden county, Arkansas, Just
across the river from Memphis. Six
districts are building $50 miles of roads
which, with bridges and other work,
will cost SIS, 200, 900. These roads are
highly important, not only because they
include sections of the big trunk high
ways, but because all converge or con
tribute to the n crossing over the
Mississippi river. Crittenden county IS
the neck of the funnel of Arkansas
ksystem leading into Memphis.
Close behind her work is that being
lone in Mississippi county, Arkansas.
The greater part of 200 miles OF high
ways are being built.
Phillips county, with Helena as the
chief city, has nearly $4,000, 600 worth
Of improvements under way. part COM
pleted, part outlined. Marianne, Ark,
Is the hub of a splendid system that
Lee county has fully provided for.
1.-THE whole east half of Arkansas,
most Of it delta land, is making ehor-
nous strides in road building, ? each
| county having big projects In hand,
ranging from a half million to several
millions.
Use Concrete.
In Mississippi the work is little be-
hind that of Arkansas. Washington
county is spending upward of $3,OOo,o0O
for fine highways, The concrete sys-
Ting pushed vigorously. Road work also
is f%lourishing around Clarksdale and
throughout Coahoma county. Tunica
| is making fine progress One district in
| Sunflower county recently let a con-
tract for improving So miles Of roads.
The whole state of Mississippi was
behind a movement for a state-Wlde
bond issue Of $25, 900, 900 which was
placed before the legislature when 1t
convened in January. All ~the trunk
lines through Mississippi have been
given fine support and every project
is getting wholesome attention.
In Western Tennessee it is estimated
SIS, 900, 900 will be spent for good roads,
this not including federal aid. Dyer
county has nearly a million for roads,
and Fayette is preparing TO spend n a
much.
1t is estimated by p. B. King, of
the Chamber of Commerce, that Mem
phis territory has $175, 900. 900 worth Of
road projects under way and well
enough provided for that they will be
under way this year.
One of the features very evident now
is the willingness to merge to get road
projects through. There is no dog in
the mangerr attitude as there was a
few years Ago. The property owner
who can not get a road past his own
place is not blocking projects because
they go past the other fellows place,
This is especially true of the big trunk
lines. There is a realization on every
hand that completion of these main
arteries will go far toward relieving
congested traffic which is %hampering
. everything in Memphis territory. The
relief must come and the through roads
offer the means of obtaining it.