Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1853-03-29
TIE RIVER ROAD.

lEE NttEh kOiCs
The roa. along tn. Obi, Ryer, which
forms circle exlen.i ling nearly hall
way arourd Lawrence County, is for the
principal part Of the ,'m:, taking on'
wear wilh another, in on unsafe an i'm.
practicable con li.ion, for the ,ran:it oI
common wagons. cyeA in the daytime
much less in the nj .ht. Such has Been
for the las, SIX or seven years, anl such
now is tho condiion Of this roaI,
We DO not presume to dictate as TO what
should BE- done for the improvement OF
this important ii hway, bat as' citizens
hay;n. common interest in the matter,
we merely speak Our own sentiments,
aal give expression 10 what we telicSe
TO be the o!l.repea,ci views Of citizens
resiiin. along the river o. well as in b.
or porions Of our County. We have
travelled over this ROAD st al! seasons
ofthe year, both in the night, and in the
c!ay time, an, We believe THAT all who
hfc acquainted with its present and past
condition, WI! unite with US in SAL ing
the. i, is very difficult to keep it Up in
eny ,olerublc condition, where i, now
runs. TIE contirua! washing away,
and cayin5 in of the banks Of h. Rive,
make it in,prncticable. inlecl one wouij
suppose, in tgavel!ing over this roa !,
TN seeing the nnrrow passages in some
p!uces, OF not more :han seven feet, be.
tween fence an the vet;e Of the bank
Of the river, al in following the ,ortu.
Gus wind ngs Of The roa !, AMI the steep
pitches at each cnl Of its numerous tri!.
res. which IN the nigh, are but SO many
dcsih traps anl pi, falls, tha. the in.
hab!ian,s had abandoned in utter de.
spar olbeing able TO keep up. In lis
prcsen, condition i. is shame, and bur
lesIue on this county, which is more
notorious for:t ba! roSls and bridges,
than any other county on the southern
border Of The State.
Cool wagon roads on which people
ron travel with sccuti,y, at all hours
an,i seasons, arc OF far greater utility
than any other mode Of conveyance -
They ruci'tn.e social intercourse, be.
sides, as u mate. cf econoay, i: ii
poor policy for the farmer, WHO ordinarily
Sscps horses aul vehicles, when he wish
cs 70 20 few miles from homc, 20 pay
ha iar. on o steamboat, AMI leave his
horses at home lille.
Iae inhabitants a!onG tho River. ore
10. as 4 general thing deficient in enter
prise, they have built anl navigate n
sraa: many !Siea,nboa.s anil other water
crafts. Among ,hcm are en,erprising
merchants, AM some Of the bes; class
of !armess, YET they are w.lhou; roa
on which they can travel ten miles, any.
where, in carriage even 10 viSi, irlenl
in safety.
We often hear this matter spoken Of
by citizens along the river, AMI we
f.avo hoarI bu, one opinion, which is,
that the road SHOULD b, relal, and for
most of tho way laid back. In many
places The mos. eligible location for the
.oal will be on the scconl rise or ridge
along The bottom land, while in o,he.
places it shonll 20 to the h.l.
We are we'll satisfied lha, read on
tho river bank, eSccp, in a few places.
can usTlT DC Kept up, because the banks
are constantly casing, AMI SO many more
bridges are rc9pite! than would bo nc.
sessaty if the road was placed back,
"hcre they would no, be SO iioJis TO be
swept away by the foo is.
The matter resis with the people q.
long the r.ver 10 determine whether they
";li 'onsc' rsnain w'hou. am pass,ble
roal; or whether they will take action,
locate and bui!d such roa rs will an.
swe. ther wants. no roa,l can be safe
on III; rive, bank. even il there was no
washing, without railing or fsnce to
prevent accidents By running of.
II our ffeads are satisfied that thew
have not 6ot such a road as they need, =,
we are, sure they are a6undantly able to
make one, and We believe that If a NOV.
ment is made in favor eft, that The gres,
majority Of the rroprietors Of the lanI =.
long the way, will open route without
ceremony.