The log cabin Democrat., 1921-11-19
HIGHWAYS ESCAPE DAMAGE BY FLOOD PROVES SAFETY MARGIN Nine Inch Deluge Shows Worth of Construction-Work Going
 Forward Rapidly.

Although severely tested by the fall of 9.45 inches of rain, the three highways under construction in this county have withstood serious dam age by the elements, it was shown on close inspections made yesterday and today. In the case of a short stretch of the Cadron bottom fill, the severe test will be of great value to the contractors and engineers.
 From the standpoint of traffic, the high water at Stone Dam on the Pa larm road was the most serious. Flood stage reached at this place yes terday and last night was the top of the old wooden bridge, which was be- ing used while the steel and concrete span for the highway was being built and it's approaches made. Water went over the old bridge and traf- flee for some time was detoured over German Lane. However, a temporary approach was built today to the new bridge and i was placed in use.
 Crossing the new bridge is danger ous, it was said today. The approach is made of plank and is very unstable. Traffic is warned to be very careful in it's use.
 On the Conway and Damascus road, the heavy downpour provided the needed settling for a stretch of the Cadron fill, this side of the long trestle. This stretch was completed recently and has had practically no settling. When this weeks heavy fall came, the shoulders of the fill settled slightly and a part of the surface for the roadway on which the base rock had been put down. M. Nichol- son, district engineer, said this would be an advantage to the contractors and was far more satisfactory than to apply the top course of rock and asphalt surface before the grade had withstood hard rain.
 Drainage facilities on the three highways have proved ample, except for one small stretch on the Palarm road where the watershed from a hill side to the west caused it to be partially covered This will also be turned to advantage by the engineers and drainage facilities enlarged.
 Asphalt has been placed on the PalarmX road past Sturgis Hill near ly to Gold Creek and courses of rock and screening all the way to May flower with the exception of one gap. There is also a gap between May flower and Palarm. Forms on the Gold Creek bridge were removed yes terday and traffic will be routed over lit soon. Three crushels are at work to supply rock for this highway
 Traffic from Conway is now using the Damascus highway straight through to Greenbrier Creek. The long trestle across the bottoms is in use, and temporary bridge has been thrown across Beaver Fork. Besides putting on the base courses of rock, the contractors are extending the old fill leading to Kings Bridge and are pulling the old cut down to grade. Two quarries are supplying rock of satisfactory grade for this high way.
 With asphalt laid on the Vilonia highway about two miles east from Conway, the asphalt crews have left a gap of about one mile, then laid a continuous stretch to quarry No. ?. The base course of rock has been put down from No. ? to Big Palarm. Another gap has been left before reaching the point where rock from quarry No. 8 has been laid from Holmes store toward the east. The new bridge across Little Palarm has been finished and floored, and floor crew is now on the Big Palarm bridge.
 Breaking and repair of machinery has slowed down the contractors dur ing the past few weeks. In view of this and other handicaps, the progress made has been good.
 The belief was expressed today that the state and federal road bureaus will finally select the Conway and Damascus road as the trunk line from Little Rock to north Arkansas, in which event greater federal aid would be granted and better type of high way evolved. Its use as the trunk line to the north is logical, and would offer the most direct route. Such a move would be of strategic advantage to Conway as a trade center.