Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1846-04-04
THE NATIONAL ROAD-LETTER
FROM DR.. RELFE. rF
Washington City 9th March io46.

| buoHWSOH guy oAH ho'Sh 'O'O'
To John II Tice, Esq:
SRA few days ago, received letter from
a gentleman writing from ST. Charles county,
with whom have not the pleasure Of personal
acquaintance, asking among other things,
| whether was in favor Of the location of ma.
| tional road upon the north or upon the south
side OF The Missouri river, The letter having
been mslaid, cannot recall the name Of the
gentleman, and Of any rate preerrng to give a
public rather than private answer TO ques-
ton evidently calculated TO do me grea. injus-
tlce, if misunderstood or misrepresented,
choose, therefore, 10 reply in this frank aid
public manner.
Herewith will be found a repor. upon the
Cumber Rand road. from that truly active and
useful member--the Chairman OF the commit
lee on roads and canals--the Hon. Robert
Smith Of Illinois. That report, occupying less
han eight pages, in large type, and which will
make but two or three columns in your paper
in small type, you will much oblige me by pub
fishing II is able, temperate, and iudicicus,
and II adopted, will produce consequences Of an
importance not easy TO foresee or TO predict.
Before writing tina. report, to submit it Ia
his committee for their consideration, Mr.. Smith
addressed q lotier to each member OF the House
of Representatives from the state Of Missouri,
Illinois and Indiana, and 10 several in Ohio, all
Of whom, except perhaps one from Indiana, re-
turned answers in favor OF an appropriation OF
land, as recommended in The very important
report. which | have ventured to hope you
would publish.
That report proposes 10 give to Ohio 344,
600 acres, Indiana go 1000 acres, Illinois L..
399,360 acres, and TO Missouri 1888 1889 acres,
On the condition that the three first named will
finish the Cumbe rIand, road through those
siales, and the last state TO finish it to he city
Of Jefferson within eight years.
This able report meets my heartiest concur
renee. The receipt Of 1882 832 acres Of land
would do much indeed for our Furnishing young
stae-it is an event earnestly to be desired,
and diligently 10 be struggled for For one,
sir, | pledge my best exertlons in behalf OF d
measure fraught with so many blessings To
state by which | have been SO much honored,
and for which feel can never DO enough
And, sir, so that we can obtain so munfcentia
grant Of land for our state, am entirely con-
tent that its Legislature may locate The road
upon the north or upon the south side Of the
Missouri river, as TO ii may seem best. | hope
mysfJends on both sides may be entirely salts
fed with the declaration, that so long as | re-
main in my present station, shall never inter-
iere with the state Legislature, or any member
thereof, 10 procure the success or defeat Of any
measure, OF any nature whatever. would in
repel any improper interference be-
tween me and my constituents, and | dslain
all efforts OF that kind towards others.
As this is Of moment TO others, we'll as 10
the citizens OF my own mediate dls,rict--iu
wings and 10 the natives, as well as 10 the dem.
ocrats-l shall try aud write copy or two OF
this letter for other papers Is it asking too
much OF the press: in Missouri, to whose bcr-
ality and courtesy owe and cheerfully render
my hearty acknowledgements to copy the re,
port, and so much OF this letter, if any part, as
they deem interesting 10 their patrons ?
will only AID, that some Of the estimates
and tables which Nj. Smith most udeiouslv
annexed to the report, will be found of great
interest and value.
have the homer TO be most respectfully
your obed't serv't, JAS. II. RELFE.