The Van Buren press., 1870-03-22
Roads, Fayetteville. ETC., etc.
" The song of songs, whieh is Solomon's'
The road of roads which il the Fayetteville road

! Whether any one is TO blame for the mis-
cradle condition Of the roads between
Van Bun en- and Lees Creek going North
| am not prepared to say, but it is gene
rally supposed the County Court appoints
overseers, and also requires them to do
their duty. That the oversecrs have fail
ed in their duty is more than evident to
any one who is 50 unfortunate rs to be
compelled to travel the road, but whether
the County Court has performed its duty
by calling the overseers to account for
their neglect of duty, i am not informed.
But one thing is certain, the road is a
disgrace to the county and to the town of
Van Buren-and 50 far rs | can sec no.
thing is doing To remedy the matter.
And if the Court has any doubt as to the
true condition of the road, hope the
community will send it over the road on
pleasure trip in Col. Wallacc's two
wheeled buggy, without springs, in order
that they may know " the certainty of the
things whereof we speak" Nearly all
the produce we get from Washington
and Benton counties, and from the north
ern part of this county comes over this
road, and the town rs well as the county
eampromise their interests by suffering
this condition OF unings " cAist. IL it 10
desirable to draw trade to any point it
must be made accessible, and the easier
it is of access the more trade it will com
mand In going to Fayetteville | had Sc
'lected the Cove Creek road, being told it
was the best. The water of Lees Creek
had scarcely drippcd from the wheels of
our vehicle when we plunged into Cove
Creek. We had scarcely reached level
ground when we began again to descend
into the stream, and 80 we crossed and
recrossed until it seemed the stream was
on both sides of the valley and all
through the middle. No traveller has yet
had the forttude and patience to count
the number of times he crosses Cove
it is generally supposed a bird cannot fly
across the creek and light on the oppo-
site bank except by accident.
But we were told when we crossed the
mountain we should have good road to
Fayetteville, 50 after making the weary
and toilsome ascent and seeing the point
where the waters divide we began the de
scent over rocks and powders until we
reached the lower lands, and now our
hearts bounded within us we could at
last find road to trot on. But our Joy
was soon turned to mourning-as far as
the eye could reach the farms had been
rearranged and the formerly excellent
roads all fenced up and turned to the
foot of rocky ridges, where the stump5
of trees and saplings fresh cut, were left
standing from SIX TO ten inches high,
which threatened to upset the dignity Of
both horse and traveller every moment.
We reached the prairie at last and went
rloriously for n few minutes when we
went up to the hub into mudhole, from
this we got into q " slough of despond-
ence" until in our desperate efforts to
reach our destination the shades Of night
closed around us and we came to whore
four ways met, not knowing which to
take our horse evidently smelled fod-
der stack and turned with determined
persistence into what seemed the plain
est. We fortunately met a gentleman on
his way home and asked him how far it
was to Fayetteville; he replied, about
six miles; but if you want to get there
the way you are travelling, you will have
to 90 around the world first and come to
Fayetteville on your way back, as the
town is east from here and you are tray
cling west We turned about and soon
came to another fork in the road and not
knowing which to take we turned toward
the barking of some friendly dogs and
found shelter with a kind family and were
soon lost in pleasant dreams. When
about to take our departure in the morn
ing, we asked for our bill.
I'VE don't charge anything" was the
reply.
"How can you furnish corn and oats
for horses and provisions for travellers
without pay?' asked.
lie replied; ave are not allowed UNI
der any circumstances to entertain tray
clers and charge them anything without
taking out license to keep n hotel, which
we cannot afford to do, as only occasion
ally traveller would stop here Several
Of our neighbors have been arrested and
fined for entertaining travellers, not as q
source of profit, but rs a matter of ac
commodation to persons who could go
no farther"
Oh land Of Liberty, whore u man for
an act Of charity is hunted down by the
lynx-cyed officers of the revenue and fin
ed fifty dollars and costs, one half going
to the informer.
Fayetteville is "city set on a hill, which
cannot be hid"-and is approached from
the south by crossing branch which, at
any point | have yet attempted to cross
it, is formidable mud hole. Aud the
citizens Of Fayetteville are as innocent Of
any attempt to improve its condition as
our own county authorities arc to i'm
prove the almost impossible mudholc
near the seminary.
The town is pleasantly situated. and is
q place Of boisterous winds and magnifi-
cent distances, no inconvenient crowding
of houses, no looking over into each
others kitchens, and in muddy weather
they cannot trouble each other with ire-
auent visits, rs side walks are not in fash.
ion, except upon the public square.
The houses are neatly built, in good
style and show the taste and good sense