Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1826-02-04

that it mus, at some future day be OPEN
ed, if not now; and all equally agree
that is en- object that will command the
aid of Congress If the state cannot make
n itself look to il with ihe deepest
solicilude, as an object in which the
Huhole state has deep interest. --And |
am clearly oftbe opinion that IT should
not be injudioiously parted with by the
state.
What will be done in relation to i, by
Congress a, this session, am entirely
unable to say. But the more il IS spo-
ken OF here, the more senslbly do mem
bers become impressed IN It's favor.
Gov. Cass rs here, and from his know
ledge Of the country and the prospective
advantages OF it, he IS able (and is doing
SOY 10 give us considerable aid.
So far Congress has proceeded with
great harmony, and with very few excep-
tons now think the members are dis
posed TO give the administration fair
and candid trial. This feeling seems so
generally to pervade the country, that |
do not see how its represen atives could,
in fact, act differently.
Yours, SC.
D. P. COOK.
Harrisburg Dec. %, 1928.
DANIEL p. Cook,
Member Of Congress from Illinois.
ESTEEMED SIR:
Having been appointed to continue
the location OF the United States Road
from GAINESVILLE TO Missouri, think II
my duty 10 inform lhee as representa-
tive OF one oil The great states through
which the road will pass, and as one oil
the faithful advocates OF the interests OF
the wes,, thai have Just Forwarded to
Washington my report, memoirs, maps,
notes and estimates OF that part OF the
location between GAINESVILLE and Column
bus.
| do not deem it necessary to give
here detail OF particulars, as the report
&c. will show them.
The average cost of the road, between
those points, is estimated at less than
$4,000 per mile, the grading, sc. and
bridging al about half that sum. The
estimates will, however, shew The sums
more exactly.-And whilst this sum is
much less than the cost Of the road will
be east OF GAINESVILLE and west OF Wheel
ing, there is svery reason 10 believe that
it will be still less west Of Columbus.
On tina. part now estimated, there Is
abou, twenty miles quite billy ground,
Gas the Typographical sketching on the
map will show,) which necessarily in
creases the expense of grading much be-
vond that of an equal distance in the le-
vel country. In the level country cast
Of Columbus, several expensive bridges
have of necessay TO be encountered,
which, with the dense and heavy growth
of timer, swells the expense of grading
and bridging much beyond, it is believed,
what the general average will be west
ward.
Wbat Congress may in their wisdom
think proper to do in the way OF addi-
tional appropriations to extend The max
ing OF The road, cannot YET be known. 1t
has struck me forcibly, that it would be
better arst to grade and bridge, and let
the road then be travelled Tor year or
more; before paving or graeelling lac
cording as the one or the other mode Is
adopted) is proceeded in. In this way
as good road as the natural soil, ar'l-
fcially disposed, could produce, would
be enjoyed by the community at com
parauvely small sum; say for 1900
per mile, or less, between Evansville ana
bus, and westward Tor a less sum !;
and where bridging does not occur, and
there is little or no timber, the sum
would be small indeed, compared with
the object to be attained. The road
thus graded and levelled, would be ra-
pidy settled upon by the well known
enterprise Of the western people, and
thus the materials for the subs!ra,um OF
a more permanent road would become
known and developed; stone where
stone should be used, and gravel where
that material should be used. Mate
rails would then be obtsined cheaper,
and the road would be there to haul them
from one point to ano,her-and it would
not unfrequently be cheaper to haul them
three miles along the road than one mile
off it.
There will 10 doubt also be long dis
tances that will require nothing more