Build the Road - Minco Minstrel, Minco, Indian Territory

Submitted by:  Sheri Hammons hammons@shertech.net
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MINCO MINSTREL 
 
24 August 1894 
 
Build the Road 

There is quite an agitation going on now between Minco and the farming
locality about Union City, north of the Canadian river, in reference to 
building a good and more direct road from the country to Minco. We have 
investigated the subject pretty thoroughly, and the MINSTEL is in favor of 
building the proposed road, though the route most spoken of will 
necessarily have to be abandoned. It is talked generally that the old road 
between Minco and Union, along the west side of the railroad track, could 
be easily re-opened. That is a mistake. Since the railroad was completed 
the big fill near the bluff had dammed up the string of lakes lying west 
of the track until that route is out of the question. A road on that route 
would be obliged to veer off west from the track about one-half a mile, 
which would throw it out in the middle of the Campbell farm, and cost more 
than it would be worth to the people who pay for it. And beside the 
necessary cost to the people, Mr. Campbell refused to have his farm cut up 
in that shape under any consideration. So that settles the old route, and 
we may well dismiss that part of it. But the road can be made along the 
eastern side of the track, following that along till near the bridge when 
a crossing can be made over the railroad track so as to cross the river 
over the bridge, on the western side, Mr. Campbell is willing to make the 
necessary concessions on right of way along this route, ad as a 
consequence it would cost much less and still be as effectual as the other 
route. There will be not water of any consequence on the east side of the 
track, and the principal cost would be the making of a lane of posts and 
wire from Minco to the river, and the digging down of the bluff on the 
south side of the Canadian valley. The cost of the road is yet 
problematical of course, but a conservative and fair estimate so far as 
the cost can be know, places the price to our people at about $250. This 
is for wire and posts, digging down embankments, setting the fences and 
the crossing over the railroad near the Canadian bridge. On the other side 
of the river the people will take the matter in hand, and work with us in 
order to get to a better and steadier market for their produce of all 
kinds. As the people on the Oklahoma side are anxious for the road to be 
built it will pay Minco to look after the matter and see that they can get 
here on the shortest and best route possible. The present roads are out of 
the way and much farther than is necessary to get to Minco. Rally to the 
subject and let us have the straightest route and the trade of the 
Oklahoma County.