Year: 1877

The people oI Boone county are at last awakened to the fact that il they ever get road to tap the l.. R, x F. $. Ry., they themselves must go to work. This is the only way they will get it, for to depend upon one's neighbors when we want any thing done means a failure. When the good people of Boone once de- termine Tn their own minds that they NEED AND WILL HAVE a road South, the work is half done and they will get it. Let there now be some work done on this road; there has been talk enough. We like the tone of the following article on this subject taken from the Harrison Times:

 We are pleased to hear our busi- ness men talking so strongly of a turnpike road to Russellville. We are badly in need of better outlet, and at last we are awakened to the fact that we must have one soon. We have begged and waited for Springfield to help us in such an enterprise, but instead of stretching forth a helping hand to assist us build a better road from here to that place, Tn return for the many thousands of dollars we have left in their town, she ignores us entirely. Springfield is fourishing town, made so by the trade of Northwest Arkansas. They seem to think us their rightful property and try to hold us with a grip of iron, but they will soon find they are starving the goose that laid the golden egg, and they will soon have to do without the goose and the egg too. When we once get a road to Russellville the tide of trade will soon flow southward, and then brighter day will dawn for the people of our own and surrounding counties.

 We can get better prices for our corn, wheat, tobacco and dried fruits, from the cotton growers of the South and keep the money in our own State. Our farmers are daily grow ing more and more prosperous, and will have a larger amount of grain and stock to sell this fall than they have had any fall heretofore. With a good turnpike road to some point on the railroad south of us, we will have the benefit of the competition between St. Louis, Little Rock and Memphis. We have heard a mer- chant of this county say he could get freight one third cheaper by the way of Russellville than by the way of Springfield. After all the bene- fits of the Southern route have been summed up we will suggest to the farmers and merchants of Boone and surrounding counties, let two or three men be selected out of every township and meet at Harri- son or some other central point and talk the matter over, and appoint a COluuiItSC tO COllSSpOuo WtVu tAC counties south of us and see what they are able and willing to do, for do somsthing we must and that soon for our own preservation. We are awake ned to the fact that we will have to build the road by work, not talk. Now let us see who will be first to set the ball rolling, and who are willing to keep it going until we get good thorougfare to good market. Drop us card with your own and neighbors' names, who are willing to meet at say Harrison some time soon and talk the matter over, for remember that good road from thls place to the point suggested will enhance the value of property and real estate :n this section of country to twice its present value, and then the outside world will begin to see us in our true light. We must make ourselves heard, if we expect to be recognized.