Letter 8, Wanderer published in The Press, Philadelphia, PA, Wednesday, November 16, 1859, page 1.
Gum Springs, Choctaw Nation, Oct. 15, 1859. (An extraction)
“The other streams between Fort Smith and Little River are crowned with the substantial Murphy-Whipple iron bridges sent out from the contractors in Philadelphia,
A. & P. Roberts. Mr. Edwards has his men now engaged upon the double-span bridge over the Poteau, which will be completed ere long. The Choctaws have commenced to improve the road over the Winchester mountain, and a project is a-foot to turnpike the road from the new bridge through the fearful boggy bottom of the Poteau and Arkansas to the village of Skullyville. Thus will there be a good wagon road, or road for any kind of travel, from the East to California.”