Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1874-05-01
Tho Road to Jefferson,
BRANDON, May /, 1874

BRANDON, May l, 1874.
Ed. BULLETIN:-Therc is perhaps nc
one subject that has called forth SO much
thought and discussion from the people
Of the southeast part of the county, since
tho hanging OF John Brown or the assas
sination Of Honest Old Abe, as the diago
nal road case. No 81, which is now pen.
ding before the Board of Supervisors
1t is the great theme of conversation
among the citizens of this townehip, for,
on the permanency or impermanency Of
this road turns the question with many
of US, whether Independence shall he our
future trading and marketing town OF
not. With your permission, will lay
the facts before the business men OF your
city, rs it is case in which they are vi
tally interested:
Six years ago the citizens Of Indepcn
dence held meeting to devise mean and
adopt plans, by which they could draw
and hold the trade of this part of the
county. After proposing various plans
they settled down on the road question,
for it was we'll known fact that owing
to the diagonal course and the number
of sloughs, that there was but few locali
ties in the county, but what had better
access to Independence than this. They
raised a fund, appointed committee
who came on, and with the assistance OF
few men Of this township. sought
out the best possible ground and survey.
ed diagonal road across the then unoc
cupicd prairie, (which was mostly held
by speculators) from about the center OF
the north line of this township, to your
city. This road was then established by
the Board, has been Travelled over extern.
sively ever since, and proves to be OF
great benefit to both the farmers in this
locality and the business of your city.
But now comes up a petition to have a
part Of this road taken up and placed en-
right angles. We were not among those
who thought the Board would grant it,
after the facts that were presented to
them, together with remonstrance OF
over fifty names. But it seems that af
ter the case had been dismissed, one of
your city lawyers brought some influence
to bear on the Board, causing that body
to reconsider the case, and lay it over to
the June term.
Now, this is considered by all parties a
test case, and there are three or four 9th.
er farmers whose land this road passes
through, who are watching for the decis.
ion in this case, with great deal of in
tercst. They argue, if one man can by
employing counsel, have the road thrown
around his farm, they can do likewise.
Now, then, if this road be taken up
and placed at right angles, thus incrcas
ing the distance some four miles from
the center of this township TO Indepen-
dence, it will, as natural consequence,
cause large portion of the trade of this
locality to seek for other markets, for it
is no farther from the center of this town.
ship to Vinton, than it is to Independence
and the former is standing with out
stretched arms and fair promises in her
mouth. inviting us to come on her turn
piked roads to her markets, and trade
with her merchants. 1t is also several
miles nearer to La Porte City, from the
center of this township than it is to indie
pendence, and La Porte IS now bridging
the Cedar and preparing to invite us to
tors, and do our trading with her mer-
chants.
Last season, I, with several Of my
neighbors hauled quite portion OF our
produce to the latter point. This was
not done, however, on account of the
better price, but it was owing to some
five or six sloughs on this diagonal road
Now, we have thoroughly tested the
three points above named, both as re
CARDS buying and selling, and know
whereof we speak when we say that In
dependence is by far ahead yet when the
farmers in this vicinity want to haul off
their produce, they will first consider the
markets, second the distance, third the
possibilities of getting there. And on
this score, if the distance to Independence
is to be increased, and we are forced to
travel zigzag route through the sloughs
to get there, it will certainly prove to be
unfavorablc to Independence.
No, gentleman Of the Board, instead of
dlsregarding the rights of $50 farmers in
the southwest part Of the county by the
removal of this road, which will only ac-
commodate and enrich some eight or ten
whose land it passes through, and who
bought their land subject to this road,
make it as permanent as the city. Bridge
Lime Creek, ana we will soon turnpike
the sloughs, so that we may for all time
to come, have direct and easy access to
your elevators, your merchants and the
big mill, as the latter has turned over a
new leaf. A. MCGOWAN.