The Arkansas banner., 1849-10-09
Correspondence of the Banner. Little Rock and Fort smith Road.

Fort Smih s1rkaRsas, Oct. ,. lSt9.
 DKAR Sra As the time approaches for, the meet ing of the Memphis Convention. it Is proper that inc advantages of the different routes to California should be discussed. The experience of the last emigration has shown that the Fert Smith, or rsth- CT she Arkansas route is the best although most of our emigran.s went by way of Santa Fe. at least three hundred miles out Of their course.
 Emigrants leaving here by keeping on the South side of the Canadian. will find an excellent country aforaing sufficient wood water and game. with obstruction. will strike the Rio Grande at near Soeoro, the place where the copper mine route to the head of the GIa leaves the valley of that rver Soeoro Is at least hundred and fifty miles south of santa Fs, and is that distance perhaps near, this place than fl is from here Santa Fe by the for the return of Captain Marcy. who will explore this route, and in whose report the public may havB confidence. By reference 10 the maps it will be at once demonstrated that from Fort Smith or Mem phis to Soeoro is the shortest route to the head of GiIa. While the Independence emigrants have encountered unheard of suffering, the emi- grafton from here have rolled on a health and com. fort By letters received few days since we learn that the Fort Smith company were near the head waters of the Gia in July last
 In connection with this subject, it would be pro- per to speak of the progress of the new State road from here to Little Rock on the south side of tho rver Last week, in company with an intelligent gentleman from Missouri. who was locking at the country, travelled some forty miles upon it. The road is far better than had hoped to fad it, being cut out from 90 io 70 feet in width, and Yu nnipg through a' beautiful a country as ever the eye of man rested upon. The soil is equal to the best up lands in any portion of the State and owing to the want of road heretofore, these lands have been un- seen by the emigrant, and hence the most of it is still vacant and rnentered. Hundreds of families could find comfortable and heai;hfuI homes on or near the road My travelling companion was charmed, and will bring with him number of wealthy farmers this winter to settle in this and Franklin counties Thus, you see. that one good re- suli is already attained by road-s in itseL is sufficient 10 demonstrate the practical advantages of little en.- rpFise in opening the channels of com muneation through our land. All who are at all acquainted with the general surface of our State, will admit that all that Arkansas Hee,s to make her Pi"Spe'ods anu NcathV+ IS population to cultivate the soil and deveoPe the richness Of it's agricultural wealth Every enterprise which tends Co attract attention to our long neglected and so much sian dered State should te encouraged. This road, pass ing through beautiful and fertile section of coun- try, will charm many weary traveller and open to him visions of health aud competence which may be realized by industry. He will bear the report te his aeghbors who will soon "sp-stakes" and move at once, destiuced to become good citizens of our State. The distance from here to your city will not exceed 40 miles, perhaps will be something less. 1t is not much the shortening of the dis tance to be travelled between the tesmni, but the demonstration of the entire praetcability of the route. and opening channel for emigration into this long neglected region Il may be called the tap ping and mine of inexhaustible wealth.
 In conclusion, permit me to express the hope tha. the example set here of making internal improve ment by the enterprise cf private individuals. may be emusted in different sections of our State until Arkansas become as celebrated for good roads it Is now for bad ones. CaawFoRD