The Mena weekly star., 1921-08-11
BROUGHT SWEET MESSAGE ID MENA
Hirhway Commissioner Herbert K WIlson Sees Much in Polk County's Big Road and Promises All Pes
 aibIe Aid in Putting It Thru

ln the language or Caesar Aaiio-7 message of victory: ~Veni, Vidi' viei.' the visit of State Highway Com missioner Herbert R. Wilson to Polk oouuty,s section of the Jefferson high way should be told, T came, saw, l was convinced" ]"
 Commissioner Wilson made t clear that he was convinced Polk county biz road project was not only iInk in one of the most important roads m the nation. but he was further con- vineed the work is being honestly done and should be completed
 So well convinced was he of the ira- ncrtance of the work under way that Commissioner Wilson publicly an nounced he will do everything he can to help complete the project. AS ne k head of the department that nas most to say about the allotment CT federal and state aid, his announce rnent of help is one of the best Dlts of road news heard for some time
 The states official made this an- nopneement only after he had iIl- epected the construction work that has been done on the Jefferson highway and had investigated the books and records of the commissioners and otn- ers who had had to do with the big proiact. After he had made thoro ex- animation of local conditions, Com missioner Wilson made his position known. The announcement was made af a meeting held Wednesday night at the court house, to which the public was invited. but whose invitations were late in getting out.
 Among otkseF things Commissioner Wilson told the small gathering of citizens about the Jefferson highway were.
 sT don't know of a better road in the state. I have ridden over the five miles that have been surfaced and 1t is the smoothest road l know of with possibly one exception. believe the road is a part of one of the most irn- portant in the entire United States, and ought to be completed We all ought to put our shoulders to the wheel and help finish 1t I am going fc try and see that it is finished dur ing my first administration if it can De done. In addition to making the pleasing announcement of providing help for the Jefferson highway, Commissioner Wilson touched upon another phase of road building that is of interest to the residents of Polk county The state official called attention to the criticism of various kinds that has followed nearly every attempt at road 4rfi6:nE f1 .sae staf6 aud he classed these efforts os the ~anti's' as unfor- tsna.a. He told how the building of roads had helped business and labor in a dull time, and then called Attan- tion ta some things he did not believe were right, such as having to buy parts of the right of way, and rocks for the sarfaeing.
 The speaker called attention to the fact that t was impossible to build the road past every mans door and expressed a personal view that he would rather be few miles away from the road than right on 1t.
 Regarding the local conditions Con- missioner Wilson said:
 I have looked over the books of your commissioners and engineer and l don't believe there is any graft or corruption in the building of your road, If could find any I would use the power of my office and fire every commissioner, engineer or contractor that was guilty and not wait for your county judge to act. If you folks can frrvs there is anything crooked in the building of your road, do it and I'll help you send the guilty ones to the penitentiary. If you cannot prove anything wrong better keep still about 1t.
 During the course of his talk at the court house Commissioner Wilson asked the cooperation of auto own CTS and other citizens in seeing that all cars paid their licenses as required and that gasoline tax was collected. He said, according to his observation. most auto owners were not obeying the law that required a tag on both front and back end of cars. and urged that officers see this was done. He pointed to the reason for this--a pro- lection to the public from careless drivers in the way of better means of Identification He also said be saw one car chasing around the roads with but one tag, and this tag for the year 1920. He thought the owner should be penalized in addition to be- Ing forced at once to purchase new tags. The state official also gave considerable detail about the laws re- garding the allotment of state and federal aid and about the work of his department, which he elassed as the best in the state house.
 County Judge II. W. Finger presid. ed at the meeting and Commissioner Wilson took occasion to compliment him for his persistence in asking for federal aid and in going after trucks and other equipment for road inn- provement. If the government knew every county was doing as good work as you are here, there would not he a word said about letting the war stuff go- The government likes to give out tne materials where they are used ike they are here. Judge Finger is doing much good work. !"
 Commissioner Wilson touched a- p.oHtics long enough to voice a criti- elsm of Governor McRae's attack on nm and blamed the executive for failure of the state to get new road iegislation- The official also expressed a hope that for the next legislature Folk county would send represen- tatiye who would represent the peo- pie and not one who was always fol- lowing someone around.r
 G. I. Foster, inspector of govern ment war material, who came over rom Little Rock to cheek up the trucks and other equipment sent to Polk county, was called upon and said that he was pleased to find aIl the