DAYTON ROAD INTEREST
Business Men Are Awakening to the Importance of the Inlet

The importance of good roads leading into Ottawa was never so urgent as in the fall of 1895. A considerable portion of the city’s usual population having been deprived of employment and departed to other centers of activity, it has become necessary that every effort be put forth by the business men and citizens in general to attract a larger trade from the country.

Some weeks ago Supervisor Perkins and the road commissioners of the township of Dayton began to agitate the subject of an inlet to the city from the north. A good gravel road now leads to the northern villages and hamlets, but the country north of the Ottawa line, taking in the townships lying directly north of the city, as far as Earlville, cannot be reached save in very dry weather. As a consequence all of the trade north of Dayton goes to Earlville over the new gravel road in Freedom township.

Dayton is too poor to pay the cost of the six miles gravel needed to connect Ottawa with these northern townships, but her people are willing and have already contributed $1,500 in work and money. The exact cost of the road cannot at this time be closely estimated, but it is probably that it can be built for less than $5,000.

Supervisor Perkins and a committee are now soliciting subscriptions among local business men. They should meet with every encouragement, as Ottawa is the natural market for the farmers and can have their trade if she makes it possible for them to reach her at all times.¹

1. The Ottawa Free Trader, October 11, 1895, p. 10, col. 3