Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1907-11-28
EARLY DAY PLANK ROAD.
When the Railroads Came This Mis-
souri Highway Was Abandoned

When the Railroads Came This Mis-
souri, Highway Was Abandoned
This talk about highway across
the State recalls to mind a similar en-.
terprise prosecuted In the interior OF
the State In the steamboat days" says
the Kansas City Star. ut was TWEEN.
ty-fve-mile plank highway between
Glasgow and Huntsville" recently re.
marked Milton G. Tracy of Macon, Mo-.
whose father was interested in the road
and who used to live in Huntsville.
THE road between Huntsville and
Glasgow was succession Of clay hills
the greater part Of the way and in
muddy weather the Christian religion
made scant headway In those parts
We didn't know it then, but we do
now, that those anathematized red hills
were blessing to Missouri, for they
served to develop the largest and
strongest mules in the world and their
big-boned descendants are now moving
more merchandise than the steam cars
Glasgow was the distributing point
for up-the-country merchandise. A doz-
en- hack lines run out from there, the
main one of which journeyed to Hunts.
vile. The traffic over those molasses
candy hills became so great and was
attended by SO many difficulties that
something had to be done. Various
kinds Of road material were discussed
and timber decided upon because II
was plentiful and most Of the pioneers
were skilled in its use. i he hills were
cut through and the bottoms raised SC
the roadway was fairly level. Oak
plank, twenty feet long, two inches
thick and eighteen inches wide were
nailed on heavy stringers laid close to,
gether. There were five tollgates, with
a tariff rate of cent head for stock,
8 cents for man on horseback and 1C
cents If he Travelled in a vehicle. A
footman paid the same as other ami
mails cent.
There was a keeper at each tollgate, !
and his job with the road company, to-
gether with cottage and garden do ,
mated for his use, made him a fair
living. His rake-off on the tolls was :,
20 per cent.
''Work on the plank road was begun
n April, 1858, and the last spike was
driven in October, 1854. 1t was a gigan-
-ic enterprise for that day and the peo-
Die thought 1t solved the transportation
problem for all time. They didn't dream
hat within four or five years steam en-
yines would be cavorting around In
,hese parts and that the bulk of busi-
less would sweep by regardless Of the
liver.
"At Huntsville the arrival of the first
,oach on the new road was made gen.
.ral holiday by official proclamation.
The schools were dismissed and but lit
lie Of anything was done until the
nail coach got In. | was among the
rowd Of youngsters that gathered
round in admiration too deep for
words.
The Glasgow and Huntsville Road
company was duly incorporated con-
ern and had its officers just like a
abroad company. William Smith, who
J yet living at Moberly, ran the stage
Inc. A coach left Glasgow and Hunts
lille about the same time each morning,
daily mail each way. Ancil
'ros. operated large freight vans and
id a healthy business. The late w.
!. (Bob) Samuel of Huntsville was
ecretary for the road. an important
ositon which paid quite well during
he days Of the roads activity.
Roanoke, in Howard county, was the
iggest town between the terminals. 1t
rev up into quite a place during the
lark roads prosperity and many
torres were operated there. But by and
Y the railroads came. the old road was
)rn up for tirewood and Roanoke was
laroOned far back in the country,
yelling long list Of once good towns
nat have become lost or forgotten" II