The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1849-10-13
Road Meeting.

report upon the expediency of an effort
construct road from Marietta up tn
Duck Creek Valley, large and enthus
astic meeting Of citizens interested in tn
subject convened at the Salem Town Ha
on Thursday the goth of September, an
organized at II O'Clock by the appoint
ment OF A. T. NYE, ESQ.,, Chairman, an
Noah L. WILSON, Secretary.
On motion Of j. w. L. Brown the meet
ing adjourned to the Methodist Church
the Hall being insufficient to accommodate
all present, to meet at o'clock p. M.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The meeting was called to order by tn,
Chairman at the Methodist Church..
Prof. l. w. Andrews in behalf Of thu
committee made the following
ta REPORT:
The committee appointed to examine
the valley of Duck Creek with view tc
the construction of road, having made
personal examination of the country
and obtained what information respecting
the different kinds of roads they could
present the following report:
No country or section can attain any
high degree of prosperity without an easy
intercommunication between its different
parts. The natural facilities for such in
accommodation are greatly diversified.
In some sections little expenditure of mo-
ney is required in order to effect all that is
desired for the easy interchange of pro-
ducts. In others again less favored by
nature, heavy expense must be incurred
for the accomplishment Of the same object.
But whatever be the character of the obsta-
cles, they must be overcome before the in
habitants can make their labor available
to any considerable degree of prosperity.
The south eastern portion of our own
State presents two difficulties to be over
come One is the unevenness of the sur
face, and the other is the character of the
soil. The first prevents the construction
of good summer roads even, for any con-
siderable distances, without some expen-
diture-the other renders absolutely me-
cessary covering of wood or gravel or
stone for all roads that are to be used in
the winter.
Our roads then are naturally poor, as
they are indeed in most parts of our coun-
try and of the world. To make them good
will requie an expenditure ofmoney. Will
the. end to be accomplished Justify that ex-
penditure! Were the country entirely
new, or the population very sparse, the
case might be doubtful. Were the soil
sterile, or large portion of it so rugged
as to be unfit for cultivation, the question
might admit of different answer. But
the land is good, and scarcely an acre in
Thousand is incapable of being made pro-
ductive. The population has already be-
come so dense that the yearly produce of
the soil is far beyond the estimate of any
one who has not made a special examina-
ton of the subject. Both in extent of pop
ulation and in natural fertility of soil this
whole region compares very favorably
with other sections where much heavier
expenditures have been thought justifa-
BILE.
But there is another consideration wor-
thy the attention ofthose who propose to en-
gage in the construction of a road through
this valley. 1t is that the proposed road
if iudiciously located and properly con-
structed must prove thoroughfare for a
large section of country The condition
of things warrants the construction of
rood roads; much more than does it war
rant the construction of q rodd-of one
which may do the work of a number.
The topography of the region is pecu-
liar. There is a large area from which
there is no one natural outlet. In two or
three directions roads might be made with
sufficient expense, but at present, there
exists no easy channel for transportation
TO market. In whichever of these direc-
tons good permanent road shall be built
it will drain almost the entire area. As
an investment then, it appears to possess
all the desirable requisites. And the same
circumstances, the same combination of
circumstances which led US to suppose
such an investment would be profitable,
make the construction Of a good road a
matter of the first importance to the inhabi-
tants themselves. There is an enormous
waste of time and money in making sale
of their agricultural products. Good mar
.ets can be reached but with the greatest
difficulty. A good road would lessen the
distance at least one half.
The resources ofa country must be con-
siderably developed before heavy expen-
ditures can be justified by the necessities
Of that country. But when the point has
been reached, the neglect to furnish the re-
luisite facilities stops the growth and de-
velopment of the country. That such
point has been reached by this valley, no
one can doubt who has passed through it.
Any further advancement, at least to any
great extent. seems absolutely impossible
without an improvement in the means Of
transporting to market the products of the
earth. The whole region must stand still
till something be done.
In view of these considerations your
Committee are strong in the conviction that
measures ought Immediately to be taken
for the construction of a permanent road