Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1865-11-22
- GraYeI-Rnads.

better.
Asa eE Gravel Roads.
One of the worst hinderances to the
growth OF our city, and the prosperity
of the surrounding country, Is the
difficulty experienced by the farmers
in reaching the city during the
Spring, Fall, and Winter months with
their produce. The soil of Vanderburgh
is an obstinate, sticky clay, which, when
it is saturated with water, presents a
barrier to loaded wagons that is almost
impossible. During the winter season,
when the farmers are comparatively at
leisure in other departments of farm
life, they would devote their time to
cutting and hauling wood to the city
were II not for the execrable roads. In
rainy weather there is not solitary
thoroughfare out of our city, if we ex-
cept the RAILROAD, that is not absolutely
intolerable, if thus thing might be
called which niece ssity compels US to
tolerate and endure Denied free inter.
course with the farmers by reason Of
bad roads, our citizens are placed at the
mercy of few spectators who devote
their time and attention to laying in
supplies of wood during the pleasant
days OF Summer and Autumn, and Of
those grocers who have been fortunate
in laying in a good supply Of produce
before the reign of mud sets in. Thou-
sands Of dollars every year are spent by
the people for eatables in advance Of
what they would be compelled to pay
were the roads in such condition that
farmers from Posey, Gibson, Warrick,
and Spencer counties could come with
the fruits of their farms and sell directly
to them. OF course, where these
products have to pass through several
hands before they reach the consumer,
the increased cost of the same must be
considerable.
Other cities in our State have suf-
fsred similarly with our own in this par
ticular, but many of them with energy
and tact are remedying the difficulty by
constructing good, substantial gravel
pike roads. We are aware that the
impression extensively prevails that no
gravel exists in any quantity within the
limits of our county, but we feel certain
that the Impression is an erroneous one.
We are confident il the beds of our rivu-
let's and small streams were explored, or
our hillsides penetrated, that good gravel
would be found, and in sufficient quaint
ties to give US good roads from Evans
vile through every part of the county.
These gravel-pikes are cheaply and rap
idly made. The grading is not heavy,
but little effort being put forth to cut down
the hills and fill up the valleys. The road
is made to conform to the country, the on
ly grading attempted being designed to
throw the water off the road bed and
keep it dry. II is surprising how rap
idly these roads become solidifsd, and
how little time is required to keep them
in repair. The roads entering Indian
apolis in former years were as muddy as
it is possibls 20 conceive. The soil was
apparentiy - appropriations for gravel
as our own, aud many thought gravel
was not to be found. But, to the sur
prise of many of the old settlers, an
abundant supply of gravel has respond
cd te proper search and now good dry
roads are taking the place of the mud
and corduroy denominations which for
merly diagraoed the capital and out
ragged the farmers.
We should Ike to see our farmers
take hold of this matter. At least the.
experiment ought to be tried. As We
said before, careful investigation, we
feel confident, will reveal in our hillsides
large quantities of good gravel. A
stock company might be organized, and
some prominent route from the city
selected as the scene Of operations. As
fast as reasonable amount of road is
placed in good travelling order, toll
gates could be erected, and those enjoy
ing the benefits of the road be made to
contribute to its completion and keep
ing it in repair. All that is necessary
to accomplish the work is for some en-
ergetic and intelligent farmer to take
hold of It. Indeed, We heard a gentle
man from the interior ofthe State, who
had considerable experience in con-
structing and operating turnpikes, say
that at one time he had serious thoughts
of coming to Evansville and going into
the organization of gravel turnpike
companies and the construction of gravel
roads as speculation. We have had
much to say to our town people con-
corning public enterprises calculated to
build up their city. What say our coun-
try friends to an enterprise SO well cal
culated to improve and add to the value
of their farms?