Arkansas intelligencer., 1849-10-13
For the Arkansas Intelligencer.
FAyErrEvILLE. October 5th, lS49.

Col. GEO. w. CLARKE-Dear Sir:-In es,imat-
ing the advantages that would arise from public
improvements in the North western portions Of our
State, am satisfied that the establishment Of a good
road from this place to Van Buren, would prove
of greater and more lasting benefit than any that
is practicable, within the compass OF our means.
Much has already been said on the improvement
of this road, little effect. But the time has
when we must act, and in good earnest, no work
ing at arms length. Our country has been rapidly
advancing, our population daily increasing, and
our citizens becoming more settled, Identifying
their interests more closely with our country and
its general welfare.
BY our industry and economy, we have arrived
at that point in our history advancement that
requires greater amount Of public spirit and zeal,
than formerly, for the enhancing and sustaining
our wealth and happiness; we can behold the tide
which, taken at the flood leads on to fortune."
From the ,hrudom and embarrassing condition
into which our State was thrown by her banking
system she is gradually recovering. The estab
lishment of mills and other machinery has given
us certain market for our produce at fair price,
Our farmers are blessed with abundant harvests
in all parts of the land, and need but the facilities
Of exporting it 20 a market TO be handsomely paid
for their labors. In fact our country has hereto
fore been burthened with grain, fruits, and vegea
bles, which could all be disposed of at good price
at market within our reach if we only had road.
to promote and sustain them. We must remember
that we are no longer a frontier peopIe--but form
the centre of great republic extending from the
Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. We no longer
draw our subsistence from the Forest but from the
field. We have been metamorphosed into the en-
terPrIsing Citizen Forming portion of one of
Ne twenty mine States of the Union fast advancing
in the arts, sciences, and public improvements, we
too. must be up and doing. Our State possesses
natural wealth and facilities, which rightly occu.
pied and possessed, will place her on an equality
witb bihe first States Of the Union. Her rich mi
neral, and already discovered mines, are attracting
the attention Of miners and capitalists abroad, and
will soon be more assiduously sought after, and
more extensively worked.
Our convenience, our credit, and super. abun.
dance of produce for transportation, require this
road. Let Us have it.
BY an act Of the last Legislature "the Van Bu.
rem and Fayetteville Turnpike Company" was
incorporated. This embraces the road of which
| speak. Cannot this act be put in operation
Will not The Commissioners proceed once more to
act as they can do under the law. In addition to
our individual means we have the right to appro-
pirate all any portion of the internal improve
ment fund.- that has or may come TO our counties
to that purpose. Let each county, by their Com
mssioners, subscribe fair portion Of this. Let
every one individually subscribe literally for stock
and something will be done.
This road would not only be Of infinite advan.
tage to every farmer and trader, but it would give
character TO this portion of the State and certainly
we will not any longer sumber, when our interests
call SO loudly for action. K