Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1821-04-03

sibIy vie with the well-establishcd village
would even induce those still more re-
mote than an equal distance, to irequcn
the latter.
Roads. AS the great roads OF coun
try will not deviate from their proper
direction on the mere account OF passing
through a small village; and as but lit
tie dependence can be placed on the cor
rectness of calculation along what line
they will pass, no stress should there
fore be laid on their influence until thoii
courses be firmly established. Where
minor roads, however, may with con-
yenience be made to contribute their aid
let it be done; and where two roads run
ming towards certain public point can be
brought together by bending the course
QfMe longer one, it should be preferred
as in this case the angle being more OBJ
fuse, the increase of distance by the de-
Walton will be less cons ldcrablc.
x..xxxxxxxs
In enumeratlng the local and relative
advantages for country village, VIC have
concluded that the most healthy spot at
an equidistant point for general business
should be selected. The artificial di-
visions into counties cannot materially
change that point; and therefore, al
though the location of a county seat will
be Of service to its growth, yet it is moi
absolutely essential. The tricks, how
ever, of town Spectators so often contri-
butte to divert and divide the resources Of
the people, by dragging the nominal i'm
porance of a seat of justice to one ex-
IRENE limit or the other Of population
that l respectfully submit this rustic es-
say to the attention of the honorable
commissioners appointed to fix the seats
OF Justice for the counties lately formed
COUNTY SEATS.
Although village should be the spon-
tancous growth of the country, yet it is
undeniable that town and country mutu-
tually contribute to each others prospe-
rity. The object in fixing county seat
ought always to be the good efthe coun-
ty and this is most eifectually promot-
ed by whatever increases the prosperity
of the county generally, among the most
prominent means of which must be
reckoned flourishing village at the cen
tre of general business. Should not this
consideration, then, be sufficient motive
for disinterested commissioners to be-
stow the imposing appearance Of i'm
portance connected with a county seat,
upon some site in the centre of popula-
ton.
The centre Of a county is contendcd
for by some, but it may want all the To-
cal and relative advantages enumerated;
if it should not be healthy spot, in the
centre ofbusiness, why not reject it T? If
those few inhabitants on the extreme IL
mits of county, who make adjacentyil-
lagos their seats of business, should be
obliged to travel three or four miles fur
thertwice year for judicial transactions,
how incomparably less grlevous than for
the large majority of effective population
to have that additional daily or weekly
travel to transact their general concerns.
The centre of county, then, unless at
tended by the proper circumstances,
should not be taken into view. BIZ But
when the very petition on which the d.
vision or formation of the county was
founded, prays for the centre ofhohula-
ton, the question is entirely at rest.
TOWN sPEcULAToRs.
Nevertheless, there generally exists
fear that justice may not take its course
that the seat Of justice may be made
to incline to one side or the other of po-
pulation; and this arises from the COM
parative ignorance Of the centre OF po-
pulation necessarily attending distant
commissioners and from the crafty, dis
honorable intrigues of town spectators,
or their friends, towards blasting the
minds ofthose honorable men.
To prevent any deception on account
of ignorance, it will be advisable for
commissioners to summon respectable
disinterested men from distant parts of
the county, to obtai6 from them, upon
oath, the necessary knowledge to deter
mine the spot most central for the peo-
pie, together with all such collateral cir
cumstances as may be deemed neccssa-
ry. To prevent any bias by the intrigues
of town spectators, let the ears of the
commissioners be shut to the represen-
tations of every such person, connexion,
relation, or any otherwise Interested in
his success, or treat their opportunities
with the suspicious contempt they merit,
The articles OF such men can scarcely
be glanced at. Boosting of healthiness,
when reason and fact both oppose the
assertion; oftheir fine start not equal
in value to Pennsylvania barn or stable
To confirm this assertion, Just before
the commissioners meet they strain
every nerve; post and rail fences adorn