The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-03-27
DAYS OF INDIANS
RECALLED BY
ROAD CLOSING
No. 29 to Be Paved, Decided
to U. S. in 1926 by
POttaMatomieS.

Announcement of the state high
way department today Of the clos
ing of state road %, from the
Marion county line to three and
one-half miles north, and estab-
lishment Of a five-mile detour,
while the stretch Is paved, recalled
some Of the early history of this
old Hoosier highway-the Michigan
road.
The road, which extends from
Michigan City to Madison, through
South Bend, Plymouth, Rochester,
Logansport, Indianapolis and
Greensburg, Is the first and only
road in the state to have a 100
foot right-of-Way.
It's history goes back to 1926, when
the 100-foot right-of- was pro-
cured by treaty with the Pottawa-
tonne indiana. The treaty is in
the historict achives Of the fed
eral Capitol and is known as the
'Alississinewa treaty"
Treaty With Indians
1t reads in part as follows:
"As evidence CT the attachment
which the Pottawatomie tribe feels
toward the American people, and
particularly to the soil of Indiana,
and with a view to demonstrate
their uberality and benefit them
selves by creating facilities for
travelling and increasing the value
of their remaining country, the said
tribe do hereby cede to the United
States strip Of land, connecting
at Lake Michigan and running
thence to the wabash river, 100 feet
wide, for a road; and also one sec
ton Of good land contiguous to said
road for each mile Of the same, and
also for each mile Of road from
termination thereof, through Indi-
annapolis, to some convenient point
on the Ohio river, and the general
assembly Of the state Of Indiana
shall have right to locate said road
and apply the said section, or the
proceeds thereof, to the making of
The SINE, or any part thereof, and
t'ao said road shall be at their sole
disposal"
Government to Give Salt
This treaty was concluded by
United States commissioners and
chiefs and warriors Of the Potta-
watomie tribe. Real purpose of the
treaty was to open the new terri
tory for settlement, although this
rcason, Of course, was not in pl cd
in the treaty itself.
Under its terms the Indians were
TO receive $4,000 in silver for a
q term of twenty-five years. The gov
eminent was to provide black
smith shop for the Indians and to
furnish the $4,000 sum for educa-
ton. The government was also to
build grain mill on the Tippe-
canoe river and operate 1t for the
Indians. This was done at what is
now the city of Rochester. The
government was also to give the
Indians 160 bushels Of salt each
year.
Few Bridges Built
President John Quincy Adams
signed the treaty in 1927 and con-
gress authorized the state of Indi-
ana to locate the 100-foot road.
In 1928 the state legislature,
which met annually, passed law
providing for appointment of COM
ri1iSSioners to plan the road con-
struction. Subsequent legislatures
dealt with financing and construc-
ton and the 100-foot right-of-
was made permanent by law.
Construction consisted of cutting
timber to open the right-of-way
and building of few bridges over
the stream. Total cost was $242, 900.
National Road Next Widest
Then came the panic Of 1887 and
further work on the road was cur
tailed
During the present depression one
of the plans for overcoming it is
to increase road building and i'm
provement.
Although old Michigan road right
of-way still holds at 100 feet, there
have been many encroachments,
highway officials declare.
Next widest is the eighty-foot
right-of- Of the old National
road GU. S. 40, which also has a
historic origin. Most Hoosier right.
of-ways are now at sixty feet, but /
the commission has adopted eighty
feet and may extend to 100, it is
e,{J