The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-02-23
VIM. J. BROWN.
Jons B. JosSs, Esq, Editor of the Madisonian

INDIANAPOLIS, Feb. 10, 1874
DEAR SIR: We have now an opportunity Of con.
graduating ourselves upon a short release from all
the horrors of bad roads. The ground is now hard,
but judging from past experience, (tbs winter, so
far) we may suddenly witness a renewal of all the
dangers and difficulties in transporting the mails,
that we have had for tho past eight or ten WEEKS
We have been coniending most emphatcally with the
elements in all their various forms, from roads that
no amount Of horse power which could be applied,
could progress more than from one to two miles per
hour, and that too the National Road to streams,
the sudden rise Of which has sometimes rendered it
impossible TO cross to the wind, which, in all its fu
ry, has swept the trees from their perpendicular
position to horizontal one, retarding the progress Of
the mail, in some places, until they were cut and
rolled out of the road. After contending with all
these, have mud holes that NOT un'requeni, and
require the application of stout rail and as stout
hand to exricate the coach. The roads in this State
have not been as bad for many years as they have
been this winter, up to the past eight days. Our
mails on the National Road, $50 Called but not worth
the appellaton,) from Richmond, in this State, to
Tsrre Haute, have been very much retarded in
sequence Of the unprecedented bad condition Of tho
roads, and will venture to say that, the
bers of Congress, (who oppose an appropriation to
complete this road to travel it, in its bad state
they would most unanimously concur in an appropri
alton for its completion.
We labor under various disadva ntages. Many Of
the streams are Of considerable magnitude, and
tirely WiihoW bridges Sometimes have the adpan-
tage Of ferry, but they uncertain that there is
no reliance TO be placed in hsn. There are two
streams west Of Richmond, which frequently cause
considerable delay in the transmission of the mails,
for the want Of BRIDGES, viz Noland's fork Of Eel
river and Ween's fork sometimes formidable
streams We were also, for long time, detained at
Blue river, Knightsown, snother stream crossing
the .Naional Road riLhow bridge, but ns~ bridged
by the hberotiy of the citizens of the county. We
have another still to contend with, west Of this
place, the Walnut fork of Eel river. We sometimes
have mail ferred that stream, but il depends
good deal upon the caprice Of the terrymun who is
sometimes somewhat yranncal in his business capa-
city we are also frequently detained account Of
the ice floating in this stream All these things com.
bine 10 retard the progress Of the mails all for tho
want Of BRIDGES on the NATIONAL RoAp over said
streams. All these difficulties we have to encounter
over road to be completed by the Government, and
over which the great Eastern and Westrn mail, have
10 be transported We have also another stream on
the Southci route, Blue river al Edinburg the ford
very deep one, and twelve inches rise will put ii
past fording and the ferryman rtfu G, sometimes TO
ferry. The direr, are forced TO ferry the mail Orer
themselves, 10y all night The bank Of the river if
the boat chances to be on the opposite side.
On our Northwestern route we have the Wabash
to contend with. The mails have been detained
there several occasions this winter in conse quencs
of high water and floating ice.
Respectfully,
GEO. w. ROBINSON
For J. & 7. VOORHEES, & Co