Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1907-12-27
EARLY DAY PLANK ROAD
When the Railroads Came This Mis-
souri, Highway WaH Ahandoned


souri, Highway Was Abandoned
This talk about a highway across
the State recalls to mind a similar en-
terprlse prosecuted in the interior OF
the State in the steamboat days." says
the Kansas City Star. 1T was a twen-
ty-tive-mlle plank highway between
Glasgow and Huntsville" recently re-
marked Milton c. 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 1t then, but we do
now, that those mathematical 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 50 many difficulties that
something had to be done. Various
kinds Of road material were discussed
and timber decided upon because 1t
was plentiful and most of the pioneers
were skilled In It's use. The hills were
cut through and the bottoms raised 80
the roadway was fairly level. Oak
plank, twenty feet long, two inches
thick ana eighteen inches wide were
nailed on heavy strlngers laid close to-
gether. There were five tollgates, with
tariff rate Of a cent head for stock,
5 cents for man on horseback and 10
cents IL he Travelled in vehicle. A
footman paid the same as other ami
mails cent.
There was keeper at each tollgate,
and his job with the road company, to-
gether with n 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
In April, 1853 and the last spike was
driven in October, 1854. 1t was a gigan-
.. tic enterprise for that day and the peo-
pie thought it solved the transportation
problem for all time. They didn't dream
that within four or five years steam en-
gines would be cavortlng around in
these parts and that the bulk of busl-
ness would sweep by regardless Of the
) river
{ AT Huntsville the arrival Of the first
: coach on the new road was made a gen
eral holiday by official proclamation.
[ The schools were dismissed and but lit
tie of anything was done until the
mail coach got in. | was among the
e crowd Of youngsters that gathered
1 around in admiration too deep for
1 words.
1 '1rhe Glasgow and Huntsville Road
: Company was a duly incorporated con-
= Germ and had its officers just like a
; railroad company. William Smith, who
: is yet living at Moberly, ran the stage
line, A coach left Glasgow and Hunts
4 vile about the same time each morning,
8 furnishing daily mail each way. Ancil
;. Bros. operated large freight vans and
: did a healthy business. The late w.
g X. (Bob) Samuel of Huntsville was
l secretary for the road, an important
l position which paid quite well during
: the days of the roads activity.
r Roanoke, in Howard county, was the
Y biggest town between the terminals. 1t
t grew up into quite IA place during the
plank roads prosperity and many
> stores were operated there. But by and
: by the railroads came the old road was
| torn up for firewood and Roanoke was
B., marooned far back In the country,
3 swelling a long list Of once good towns
! that have become lost or forgotten"