Year: 1876

best way. Tor a roau along the old trace known as the Old Mountain road between the middle and north forks of the Illinois bayou, to some point below the junction of the East and Middle forks of said stream, and on via Dover to Russellville. Or, 1 will donate as above, and 40 acres additional land toward the above road on the line suggested as far as prac- ticable, and thence to Atkins. It is useless for me, in this article, to say anything about the neces- sity of the above road, or its ad- vantages to the citizens of the counties through which it would pass, or, to mention the fact that large amount of trade that nat. urally belongs to our own impov- erished state and people, now goes to Northern marts. These points have all been ably and truthfuliy set forth in the Dem ocrat in past numbers. 1 think, however, that our friends will yet unite and concentrate upon some practicable route for this thor ough fare of our common country, and adopt some plan by which this much needed enterprise may be consumated. If we cannot complete it this year we surely can, by a pull altogether, get road opened which will be far superior to our present almost impossible track, which does not deserve the dignity of the appel lation of a road.

 l find upon examination of a map of the state which 1 have be- fore me that Dardcnelie, Russell vile, Dover and Hairson are all in Range 20 west, and the line for the road that l have suggested will divcrge from the Range line to the East some six or eight miles, to the mouth of Richland which is about the middle of Range Is and township l5 north. Thence the road will approach Dover in south western course. Now 1 contend that this slight deviation from a straight line IS necessary; first as being the nearest practicable route to a straight line; Second, because a greater number of our citizens would be accommodated by this ronte than by any other further west.

 But enough on this part of my communication for the present.

 l will take the liberty of sug- gcstinG to the county courts of Boone, Newton, Searcy and Pope, at their next respective terms, to appoint some suitable man of their respective counties to eX- anime the route, and if q majority of them can agree upon a line for said road,.t ito mark, lay off and measure the distance of tbe same in each county. Said viewers should be allowed such ctmpen- sation as the court may think right for their services and expcn- ses incurred during the time necessarily engaged in the per formance of these duties. Their report, l think wodld be a good basis for tile action ofthe citizens of each county.

 Before closing this letter l will tax you with provision of bill for repairing and keeping mp common roads, that failed to pass in the House of our last general Assembly. l think the require ment was good one and could be carried out by ovcrscers. It was this:

 That each overscer shall cause as much of his road district to be finished according to the provis- ions of this net, as his force and tools will allow each day that he appoints for the working of any road, until the entire length of the same shall be finished.

 Now suppose that ] or even ] of . mile be finished each day, it would not be a great while until our roads would be straight and good. Only think of the satisrac- tion of passing over road without stump, rock, root or mudhole in it, but a straight smooth road, slight L.. I,.,.,l .,. .t,a ,.o.,...a ~. A..