Good roads have always been the foundation of good trade. Since Caddo’s first store opened there have been men involved in improving the roads in and out of the “city”. They have met, planned, worked, raised money, made proposals to the government, and rallied the local residents.
You will recognize many of the names on this meeting list. Most owned prominent businesses. Mr. McPherren was Caddo’s first mayor. Mr. Alexander was my great-great grandfather and later one of Caddo’s constables. Mr. Crossett was the newspaper editor. It’s not like these men had nothing else to do. They were already busy on other committees and other tasks. They were already donating their money to worthy causes. But they recognized the need for expansion and improvement in Caddo and knew that the way to do that was by improving the roads.
The Caddo Herald
June 13, 1902
Good Roads Meeting
Last Friday evening a meeting of business men was held at the offices of the Choctaw National Bank for the purpose of making some disposition of the matter of fixing up the roads leading to Caddo. The meeting was called to order by President Dunlap for the Board of Trade. The object of the meeting was stated and everyone present was convinced of the necessity of fixing up the roads and a committee consisting of A. C. Pace, T. A. Alexander, G. W. Phillips, and Clem E. Bates was appointed to further solicit funds to be used in bridging, filling, and working the roads leading to Caddo. It was the opinion of the meeting that a large amount of work was needed and a majority agreed to pay three month’s assessment at one time in order that the fund would be large enough to at once begin on the work. Amounts already subscribed equaled about $40 per month; this sum trebled would make something over a hundred dollars to begin on. The committee will begin work at once, and we know ere long a vast improvement will be made in these at present bad roads.
Those present at the meeting were: A. C. Pace, P. W. Arnold, Barlow Roberts, H. M. Dunlap, H. T. Chiles, C. E. McPherren, W. P. Wood, G. W. Phillips, Sam’l Walker, T. A. Alexander, W. J. Moon, W. T. Smith, J. F. Lamb, I. G. Abney, Ben Siegel, Clem E. Bates, J. L. Rappolee, and G. A. Crossett.
This is a good move, and much good will result. If we are to hold the trade we have we’ll have to offer inducements and make traveling easy.
Comments