The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1849-12-14

EVANSVILLE AND JASPER PLANK ROAD
1t is really surprising to notice the efforts
and action of different communities in Indi-
ana, to obtain for themselves the benefits Of
valuable public improvements. We venture
the remark, that there is not another State in
the Union, no more thickly settled than Indi-
ana where the same enterprise is shown gen
orally by the zens-by the people of the
smallest towns as well as Of the largest-to
build those substantial internal improve
ments" calculated to benefit particular com
munities of the State at large. There has
been recent and remarkable change in pub
lie sentiment in this State, as to the nature
of those improvements which should attract
public atGption, whefe the means cannot be
Obtainedt build Improvements 50 expensive
as railroads or canals. A few years back
our numerous towns and villages seemed de-
sprived of all ambition for improvements, or
of all hope for future growth, except from the
slow and gradual filing up Of the country by
emigration. They knew the value of rail-
roads and of canals, but their limited means
preclHded all thought of reaping the advan-
tages for themselves Of such expensive i'm
provements, at least for a great number OF
years to come. The Macadamized Road
was suggested, but the constant repairing re-
Quired by such a road, the absence of stone
or gravel in certain sections with which to
build it, and the original cost in the most ia
vorable regions compelled those communities
in the greater part to abandon even this kind
of road. ~
But new era has dawned. This has be-
come the-Pank Road age as well as the rail
road and Telegraph age. A new light has
broken into the minds ofour fellow citizens Of
Indiana, and of the West generally. 1t has
been discovered, that tile Plank Road, while
its cheapness places it in the power Of almost
every community to connect itself with an
other by pleasant, route Of communication,
combines in its nature, many Of those advan-
tages most,desirable in any Improvement in
tended to increase the trade and travel of a
point. The consequence has been, that a
number of towns and villages throughout our
State, which felt themselves unable to ven
ture upon a railroad, or even turnpike, are
now making vigorous efforts to build Plank
Roads. These roads are intended as much
as an opening way to Railroads in future
years. as for direct benefits at this time we
predict that where there are five Plank Roads
built now, in ten years there will be four
Railroads in their stead. The Plank Road
finds its strongest supporters in the farmers.
They are free to their use as turnpikes-m-
mense loads can be hauled upon them by
small teams-there is no wear and tear Of
horses and wagons-and the tax is small
The fact of this species of road being always
popular with those farmers who understand
its nature, is strong proof that the principal
towns of the State will soon be linked togeth
er by Plank Roads.
Speaking of Plank Roads, we are glad to
perceive that several townsin the interior seem
determined to connect themselves with Ev-
ansviIle by this kind of improvement. We
conversed yesterday with Col. Phar of Boon
vile, who told US that the right spirit was
taking hold ofthe people, to carry such an en-
terprise through from Jasper via Hunting
burg, Taylorsville, Boonville and Newburg,
to this Place-and that they are now acting
IN the matter. Hon. Rob't Dale OWENS ex-
pected to address the citizens of those places
on the subject next week. We shall publish
the time and place of the meeting. This
road if carried through-and it only needs a
little energy and liberality on the part of the
citizens for guccess-wiIl open to the above
towns, by an easy and pleasant route, the
Evansville market, and the Ohio river. The