The Mena weekly star., 1921-07-14
HIGHWAY PROJECT
 HAS NOT BLOWN UP
Misleading Reports in Circulation Are Corrected by Engineer-Work of Surfacing North End to Start
 Soon.

In different parts of Polk county re- ports have been circulated either in- tentionally or thru ignorance to the effect that Che Jefferson Highway pro- ject has blown up," and that the big road will never be built. These re- ports are misleading, and are not cor rect. according to J. F. Haley, the en- gineer in charge of the work, who is supported in his statements by the commissioners of the district. Engiqeer Haley states that he has given the construction work his most careful scrutiny and has insisted at all times that the different phases of highway building be done according to specifications. He has a voluminous correspondence with different con- tractors to show his position in this regard and also has the approval of federal engineers who have been over the project to inspect the work before approving requests for federal aid Despite his best cndeavors Engineer Haley states that faulty work has been done in some instances, and because he has insisted that corrections be made, there have arisen differences between himself and some of the con tractors. The engineer insists, how ever, that the highway must be built according to the standards approved l by the government and calls attention to the work now in progress. 1 From Mena sou.hward for a dis tance of five nsliss, tne highway has been completed, with all bridges in and the surfacing of gravel in place. Those who have been over this section all agree that it is a fine piece of high way work, tho there are some who be- | lieve it is too expensive.
 There is a short strentch of uncom- pleted grading between the end of the ! finished highway and Potter. This is expected to be completed within the next month or two.
 There are six miles of graded road way leading northward out of Mena and work of surfacing this with gravel will start within the next few days, it is believed.
 In addition to the two sections of l highway that reach Mena, Engineer
 Haley reports that Johnson & Blevins | have almost finished the five mile 1 StlSbCh o1 SidultiS bSbWScii NIdiitlS and Mineral. The Builders are just
 coming into Grannis now. All the bridges are in and as soon as possible
 the surfacing will be put on. It is 1 planned to have this section finished 1 before winter.
 Bert Higginbottom has built the roadway three miles south and two miles north of Wickes, working now | to reach Hatton.
 w. R. Rhodes has built the dump from Vandervoort south, almost to Hatton, and also has put up two miles north of Hatfield Rhodes is one of the subcontraetors who have stopped work for the present.
 There is no roadbuilding being done between Hatfield and Vandervoort at present.
 Jones & Lybrand, who have been working out of Potter southward, have almost completed their work to Hat field. This firm will also finish the section north of Potter which Booth Hope, subcontractor, did not complete. As proof that his work is satisfac- 1 tory to the commissioners, Engineer Haley exhibits affidavits signed by them in which they give him credit for saving the district total of SlO6,0OO by splitting the bids at the original letting This meant loss to Haley of about $70O0 in engineering fees.
 Credit is also given the engineer for the success of the plan of changing the material for the surfacing of the highway. By using native crushed stone instead of all grovel, it is esti- mated saving of $30,0n0 was made to the district In addition the use of
 the crushed stone supplied work to home workmen at time when work was badly needed.
 Affidavits have been made and given Engineer Haley by different contrac- tors stating that they have never paid nor been asked to pay any illegal sums of money to him. Those who have supplied such affidavits are Proctor & Proctor, Lauck & Schott, Independent Rock Co.,, Jeff Johnson, Blodgett Con- struction Company, Lock Joint Pipe Company.