The Brinkley argus., 1909-02-26
Writes About Brinkley

am certainly glad to see 50 many good things in store for Brinkley, all of which and more it is hoped will soon be realized by her enterprising and deserving citizens.
 This writer helped to roll the logs on the ground on which now stands some of your magnificent brick build ings and have watched the steady growth for thirty-seven years. Brink ley was born on the eve of one of the worst financial panics that has ever passed over this country-that of l873-and though some of her early settlers, became discouraged. sold out and left. through the efforts of Major Black. John Baxter, the Salingers, and other stalwart men whose faith never faltered. Brinkley. veathered the storms and emerged from under the cloui of that financial depression with sails spread to catch the first breeze of prosperity which is steadily waiting her on to a harbor of safety among the great cities ct the South.
 Brlnkley has never had boom, but like the body of strong man. she has put on strength from year 10 year. In fact the growth has not been commensurate with the demands Of her business opportunities. This Is not the first time that there has not been spare room in Brinkley.
 want especially to commend your citiz,ns for the interest they have talk en in the Piney Drainage District. Behind this enterprise lies the true spirit of prosperity of your town. Im- prove the country and the towns will HAVE TO grow.
 The only basis upon which you can estimate the business strength of your city is the number of families in and arouni the city multiplied by the num- ber of dollars it fakes to run an aver age size family.
 believe that with proper drainage of the lani around Brinklsy there would be ten families for every one that now resides on the same territory.
 If $, then the volume of business in the city of Brlnkley would te in- creased tenfold. You couldn't take care of it with your present dimsn- sions. could youl Brinklsy would have to grow. See3
 Then the only saluticn of the good roa is problem Is drainage. ] have lived in Monroe county forty years and trave.ed nearly every road in the county, but do not remember ever having sesn wagon begged down on dry grouni.
 Now 1 am going to jot dowa few things that think would help Brinkley and if this don't faq into the capacloc:s nav of your waste basket. maybe your boosters can use some of them for future reference. Here they are:
 After drainage of Piney, then a ditch down Big Cypress from Its head, 15 mile east of Brinkley to Its mouth at Cornells Point. 4 miles west Of Indian Bay.
 Then ditch down Choctaw Creek
 
 from the middle of Black Swamp to Bayou DeViev and the territory ot Brinkley east. south and southwest will be drained. So much for drain- age. Now about roads:
 Did you ever think the nearest way from BrinkIey to Clarendon Is on an air line1 The Cotton Bolt railroad Is on an air line between the two places That public road running on a para lel with the railroad from the crossing of the Cypress Ridge road. to Claren- don, would be only IA miles and would Be as convenient for the farmers liv- ing on each side of the road as the 37 miles of road now In use for trave xH