Arkansas intelligencer., 1849-05-26
CAPTAIN DENTS REPC r.

The report of Capt DENT, on the opening
road from Fort Smith to Choleuu's Trading Ho
is by no means satisfactory to the commul
who interested in establishing the overl4
emigration to California, on the Arkansas 70,
1t does not show, as the public had a right to
pect, a thorough exploration, nor does it pree
TO furnish the best route, but the contrary :,
tablishes what has some time been charged up(
the Military at Fort Smith, as being ntereS}1H =
making that starting point without regard7tof
public interest. The whole business is "packed
concern, as must appear to all persons whenHsHeS
take into consideration the pecuniary in.eresf fe
in the enhancement of the value of real estate IN and
about Fort Smith, by those officers who have
figured so largely in the matter. in connectionswith
to open road, continuing throughout on the
South side of the Canadian river" Z
No fault can be found with Capt. Den. for the
manner in which he performed his duty; that he
done ably and faithfully, but he was restrained
from making an impartial survey, by his instrnc.
tions from Gen. Arbuckle, TO keep on the south
side Of the river. Capt. Dent, no doubt, opened
as good road as the country would admit of, on
the South side of the Canadian-It NAV be The
"the shortest and best - on that side. But .me
must regard the whole affair as one. sided 9,
matter. ON
=. yisi
If we understand Alright, the wants Of the coun-
try demanded, and the intentions of the govern
ment, we're, that the " shortest and best j." road
from this frontier TO the Plains should be cut odt
but it seems that Gen. Arbucke mistook the de-
mands of the public or intentions of the govern,
ment, and had a road cut out from Fort Smith,.
whether 1t is the best route or not, 1t may be-
asserted that the South side is the best and hence
General A. decided TO have the road opened on
that side. Such defence will not do. Both
sides asserted 10 be the best, and that diffe-
renee Of opinion could not be settled until both
sides were explored and the officer who would
decide upon an important matter of this charac-
ter, before such an exploration, upon the mere
statements Of interested persons, is hardly quail
fled to occupy such responsible position. These
are our sentiments in regard to the subject of high
military officers devotng the influence of their
stations to the promotion Of schemes of private
SPeN'"'ioh' "Ho a. luluIo udy we SllaH III we
have OCCASION show the amount" of zecuniary
interests, which each of those high officers have
in forestalling public opinion, turning the tide of
emigration and packing" public improvements.
Capt. Dent is entitled to much credit for having
persevered and finally, by meanderng through
flats. rotten prairie-and over hills and rocks,
serpentining sometimes almost North. then for
miles S. w., and again, West and South, to gel
out to The Plains at all. The majority of the
emigrants, however, could not push through over
many obstacles, abandoned the South side of
the river and crossed over, preferrng to leave
their escort rather than encounter the difficulties
any longer which they had found on this new
road. Here we have an instance of the military,
endeavoring to force the emigration through
certain route, first by cutting out road and die
tating to them the course they should 60, and then
by instrucling the escort to 60 the South side
whether the emigranis went with them not.
We have been Informed that Capt. Marcy had
instructions to keep the South side.
We regard the whole business as an imposition
and an outrage upon The public. that sooner or
later will meet with exposure and rebuke in the
proper quarter.
n