The Arkansas banner., 1850-11-26
The InternaI Improvement question

The State Senate was occupied, fr several days of the last week, with the consideration of ihs question of such vital importance to the interests and welfare of our whole State. As yet, nothing
 has been effected; te attempt 10 repeal the old law. distributing the proceeds of the sod, 600 dona
 ton among the counties met with great opposition, aad it rests with the Committee of interual im- provements, 10 whom the matter has been referred, to harmonixe the conflicting opinions upon this subject and bring in such bill will insure to the State some permanen, benefit from the proceeds of this fund. The experience of the past two years has certainly shown, beyond the possibility of a doubt that the act of distribution of the las.
 sion is both inefficient and unpopular. From the report Of the State Treasurer, it will be seen that but thirteen out of the fifty have drawn even the first ustalmcnt due them ndor the provl. siOns of that act Many counties have neglected 10 elect commissioners for the purposs of taking charge of aud disbursing their portion of the money. and mauy more have actually refused to receive it.
 The act of distribution was in direct violation of the spirit and letter of the act of Congress making the donation, aud the multiplicity of officers to be paid. and the many complex requirements of the present law, will eventually consume every install ment, until the whole amount will have disappeared without leaving us a single trace of its beneficial application to the purposes for which IL was inten- ded. The main object to be effected now. is the establishment Of good easy roads from the Missis- siPpi. throughout the whole length of the Stale, which may afford an accessible avenue of ngress to the thousands of emigrants daily seeking a home within our borders Such road would bs ss great artery which will supply life and suste- nance io even the Iemotest corners of the whole State. It would furnish settlers to every county and township which too spa.seiy settled to keep up good roads, and. In lit'le while. by the consequent increase of the population. all these county roads, which, under the present distribution system only be patched and mended here and Ahere would be made and perma uently kept in good condition by the energy and enterprise and the in creased numbers of the nelghbors who make of them.
 Works of this kind. have nothing sectional about them, they benefit alike all classes, the rich and poor, and furnish means of access and new sources of wealth and revenue 10 the whole Stale equally The tide Of emigration that is at present pouring into the State over the dilapdsted remnant of the Military Road from Memphis to this place, no sooner crosses the swamps of the St. Francis and White rivers than it Is scattered into ahundred lit tie streams, branching off in all directions to the " beautiful aud neglected" North. some 10 the rich uplsnds and grain growing vaes of the West and sons to the cotton country in Ihe South. l, would be idle to contend that il affors peculiar ad vaniages 10 one portion of the country over an other, for all, according 10 the inducements they may offsr are equally recipients of the benefits be- slowed Lesus then, do all in our power 10 facili tate the approach of this of new ciiizsns who to assist us in Tightening the present onerous burtIen of taxation; le, us have these main thor. oushfares completed and kept in order, and. as . natural consequence, tho different counties will be- come filled with useful tax payers-ths ratio of taxa lion will be decreased. the branch roads and even neighborhood roads will b. surely and rapidly im- proved, and the whole State become rich and pros- peIous.