The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1915-11-25
THE GOOD OLD TIMES.

The pessimist is constantly bewall-
ing the present condition Of things
and referring to the good old times
as a summer day without a cloud.
We will recall few incidents OF that
golden age.
In 1921 commissioners were in
structed to find the central point in
the state and survey the ground for,
a future CITY,. A circle was first form.
ed from which the streets should, ras
diate like spokes- froM-t the -hub off,
wheel.
. The ground was covered by dense
forest when immigrants began to ar
rive and purchase lots. Then the
work of clearing the ground began.
Cabins were built and more immi-
grants came to the new capitol; but
1t was not until 1924 that the records
and documents were transferred from
Corydon through the wilderness.
They were carried in a wagon and the
Journey was made in ten days, dis
tance of 124 miles.
There was no road connecting the
capitol with any other town or set
tlement The legislature early made
an appropriation for surveying and
opening a road from Indianapolis to
the eastern state line. This road
passed through Richmond. 1t was
merely an opening through the wild
erness from which the trees were re-
moved and the large stumps were
burnt to the ground. many smaller
stumps remaining. There was no at
tempt at drainage and the tall trees
on each side Of the road prevented
the sun from drying the ground, con.
sequently corduroy bridges were
placed over the worst mud holes and
the road was impossible for any kind
of vehicle during the spring and fall
rains.
An equinoctical storm was expected
about the goth of March and again on
the Goth of September, when the whole
country would be flooded with water.
This road reached the western bank of
Whitewater and descended to the
valley by way of road cut in the
hillside and which terminated just at
the ford below where the Starr Piano
factory is situated. This was one Of
the most reliable fords on the White
water. At this point the river flowed
over bed of limestone and as the
east bank was low a freshet caused
the water to spread over the valley
without making the ford impossible.
The road crossed the valley to the
east side and ascended the hill at a
steep incline, thence east to Front
street, (now Fourth street,) north on
Front to Main and east to the State
line: All the travel on this road pass
ed in front of John Smiths house.
Before the state road was opened
the early settlers at Indianapolis came
to the mills on Whitewater for their
flour and meal This had to be trans
ported through the wilderness on pack
horses.
In 1929 a gentleman left Richmond
for Indianapolis. He was leading a
horse that carried a side saddle. His
neighbors shrewdly suspected that he
would return with a bride. He was
married the last of April. but did not
attempt the return journey for several
weeks as there were many streams
to ford and the muddy road was al
most impossible even for horses. Two
nights were spent on the road and
almost three days consumed by the
journey. detour had to be made by
way Of New Castle in order to find {
safe ford for crossing.
Finally they reached their cottage
home on the south side of B street
near the bluff. overlooking the river
On the opposite side Of the road the
gentleman owned and operated a tai
yard.
This bride had been reared in Ken
lucky and knew nothing of the diff
culties that confronted her in her new
home No permanent help could bs
secured for the household. Thers
we're about so negroes in the village
but not a trained household servant
among them She had to learn to per