As we drive down our fine highways today, it is difficult to understand the thinking of some of our forefathers in the 1840s and ’50s who were saying that gravel and paved roads were inadequate. Some thought the best thing you could build of was wood. The idea wasn’t bad. But the execution was impossible. The rough wooden roads were called “corduroy roads” for obvious reasons. It was a noble experiment in Missouri which failed miserably. But the wooden reads were the first major attempt at highway improvements in this state.

AOWM – February 27