SOLON ROBINSON, 1841 245 



The editor of the Indiana Farmer, after having actu- 

 ally sunk his own small fortune in the attempt to do good 

 to his fellow creatures, was compelled to abandon the 

 enterprise. Oh, Indiana! when will she arouse from 

 her lethargy? 



Between Indianapolis and Madison, 80 miles, the coun- 

 try is older and more improved, and in places not so bad 

 and in others worse affected by the drouth. 



Like a great many individuals, this state of late years 

 has been so engaged in "great works," that minor ones 

 have been much neglected. Consequently, whoever has 

 occasion to travel by stage here, must make up his mind 

 to have a great deal of riding for a little money. Not 

 but what the charges per mile are ample, yet in crossing 

 miles of pole bridges, one gets a vast amount of per- 

 pendicular movement without any extra charge. Strange 

 as it may seem to Yankee ears, and as discreditable as 

 it is to Hoosier enterprise, in traveling 250 miles upon 

 one of the most prominent stage routes in the state, I 

 did not see the indication of a tithe of $250 worth of 

 work having been done upon the roads this season. I 

 therefore have a suggestion to make to agricultural so- 

 cieties; that they offer a premium to that road district 

 which shall keep the roads in the most perfect repair 

 during the year. Nothing gives more character to a 

 country than good roads. And I am firmly impressed 

 with the belief that with very few exceptions, good com- 

 mon roads are more advantage to the farming community 

 than rail-roads. Between Vernon and Madison is one 

 end of a rail-road between the capital of the state and 

 the Ohio river. 



It is a good piece of work, but poor stock to the state, 

 and not half as useful to the people as a good turnpike 

 would be. But I found it a great relief in traveling, 



meeting in the Hall of Representatives on February 9, 1841, to 

 consider the best means of promoting the agricultural interests of 

 the state. The establishment of a state agricultural society was 

 recommended. 



