Arkansas intelligencer., 1849-07-21
THE MISSOURI AND RED RIVER ROAD.

ings of meeting held in this place on last Tues
day, for the adoption of arrangements for
Convention, to be held next September. with
view to the construction of road leading from
the Missouri line, somewhere opposite to Benton
vile, direct south through the counties the
Western frontier, via Bentonvile, Fayetteville,
Van Buren, Waldron, and Dallas, to Lanesport
on Red River.
In the absence of means to construct fine State
Road on this route, it is intended by the friends of
the measure TO make a good passable road on the
whole route by connecting the best roads that lead
to the terminus, fixing upon said line of roads as
the general thoroughfare, and bestowing our linn
tied resources On a certain route, trusting to the
labor of the increased population on it to keep it
in passabIe condition.
BY adopting this course, will concentrate
public attention to one route, and thus, by ncreas.
ing the travelling on it. enable the citizens living
on it TO exPend more in keeping it up. We at the
same time lay off the skeleton of great thorough
fare, to be worked up into State Road, when we
can command the funds for that purpose.
A road from the Missouri line to Red River will
combine larger interest than any measure of in
ternal Improvement we now hear Of being in con.
temptation, and greater amount of benefit is to
gained by it than by any measure now on foot
The citizens of the Valley of the Arkansas, having
the great advantage of river that is navigable
over two.thirds of the year, and also two roads
running down the country parallel with the river,
actuated by spirit Of enterprise, are determined
still: to increase those advantages by cutting an-
other road on the same route. Now, if the inte-
rest of tho community demand such an outlay
when too they have navigation at their very doors
for such an enterprise, how much more do the in.
terests and necessities Of the interior portions of
the country require The construction of n road
across the country? A fine road from Little
Rock to Fort Smith would be travelled only a
part of the year-during the low stage of the RI
yer, whilst the road across the country would be
travelled oil the year round-t would be the only
thoroughfare. There would be no river 20 facili.
tate the transportation Of the produce of the less
favored inhabitants Of the mountains and the prai.
ries. Then, if necessity require road parallel
with the river, the necessity is tenfold stronger 10
have one across the country. The wants Of the
country require at our hands this measure of so
much moment. Letters have been received al
this place from all the counties interested, and
they have signiied that their hopes rested in the
citizens Of Van Buren, taking the lead in the mat
ter, and in pressing it onward. Our citizens have
been called upon, and they have responded--they
are determined to 60 into the measure with willing
hearts and strong hands and if they have the CO.
operation of the other communities interested, n
good passable road along the whole route will be
the result of their labors.
All parts of our own county are interested in
this great measure, more particularly those direct.
ly north and south Of this place--Moun,ain, Lees
Creek, Lafayette, Jasper, on the north; Marion
and Sugar Loaf on the south, ure especially inte.
rested, and we hope their respective neishborhoods
will be represented in the Convention. The citi
zens of those Townships are strong witnesses to
the necessity of this road, and We re sure if they
regard their true interest," they will attend to this
matter.
We are requested 10 say tha, the Correspond.
ing Committee, Messrs. WARD, OGDEN and JOHN
SON, who were appointed al the meeting on last
Tuesday, will cheerfully communicate with any
person dcsirous of information on this subject
W The Scholars of the Sa bbath Schools of
roTt Omltn nad celeDratlOn on last Saturday.--
The festivities were participated in by the Van
Buren Sunday School. Organized under their
teachers, the pupils left here on the Van Buren,
Steam Ferry Boat, and arrived at Fort Smith in
time to join in the procession, which was formed
at the landing. The procession moved to the
Grove on the Public Grounds at tho Garrison,
where sumptuous dinner had been prepared by
the ladies of Fort Smith, who are over foremost ia
acts of benevolence and display Of taste.
Tho exercises Of the day we're as follows: A
Prayer by The Rev. H. A. SuGe Address by the
Rev. VIM. X. MARSHALL; Benedction by the
Rev. c. c. TOWNSEND. We are Informed that
everything went off admirably, and all wero high
ly pleased. The Van Buren Sunday School,
teachers and pupils speak in the most enthusiastic
terms of The manaer in which things were done
up by our neghbors of Fort Smith.
Payments to Cherokees.-Gen. Brown, the Che
rokoe Agent, has given notice that he will make
another payment at The Agency, on the 18th
August next, when the balance of the Treaty
f,rpd d,o olor 81. r.