PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS

The first road laid out through this township was the Monmouth and Burlington state road. It entered the township near the northeast corner, and passing through to the southwest left the township at Sec. 30, near the southwest corner of the township. Like all other roads in an early day, without any attention being given to lines, it passed from one leading point to another, traversing the most convenient route and fording streams in the safest and most accessible places. The South Henderson creek was usually crossed at a point where the wagon bridge has since been built, on the road leading out north of town from Elm street, and exactly where the bridge spans the railroad cut on the same street, passing through what is now the business part of Biggsville, over ground now known as lots 1 and 2, block 3, and left the village a little to the west and north of the residence of B. H. Martin.

At a point near the stores of G. W. Holmes and John Me Kee, on lots 1 and 2, block 3, corner of Main and Johns street, once stood the "lord of the forest," a massive oak, to which was nailed guide board pointing out the direction of Burlington and Monmouth, and the distance to either hamlet was given in rude figures. But this road, like many of its predecessors in older settlements, is a thing of the past, and exists only in memory.

In speaking of the roads of this township, and. in fact of the county, nothing flattering can be said. A few of the leading roads on which is the most travel are at times fairly passable, yet their extreme narrowness renders it almost impossible to ever make them what might be called good, while in many places they are but narrow lines mean­ dering from farm to farm regardless of lines or directness of route. The excuse generally offered for the poor condition of the country roads is the " elements," which of course should be largely accepted, as it is impossible to keep bridges and culverts in place during a sea­son of rains and floods like that of the summer of 1882.

 

History of Mercer and Henderson Counties.

 

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