Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1824-10-07

| held at the court house on MONDAY 2Itn
September, 1924.
John Wayt, Esq. was called TO the
chair, and Erasmus Stribling appointed
Secretary.
The committee appointed at former
meeting presented memorial accom-
panied by sundry resolutions which, on
motion, were unanimously adopted, and
are in the words following, viz:
MEMORIAL.
To the Post Master General Of The U. S.
The Post Office Department having
manifested disposition 10 collect all the
information within its reach, as TO the
best practicable route for National
| Turnpike from Washington to New Or
leans, the undersigned hope that they
will not be considered presumptuous or
obtrusve, in briefly submitting their
views of subject in which they feel
both general and local interest.
Your memorialsts will abstain alto
gether from any remarks with regard 10
the expediency of establishing and con-
strueting such road. The eonsidera--
tons of policy which relate to the mea-
sure, are so obvious and SO perfectly ia
, miliar to the General Government, that
an attempt to discuss them would he
| entirely useless. And with regard to the
route to be selected, your memoriallsts
| will confne themselves to few gene
raj observations, referring for minute
D l. Al al oadxy
municated by the Staunton post master.
In ascertaining the proper location,
every one will at once perceive that
the following considerations are impor-
tant-that is TO say, directness OF the
route, facility aud economy in the con-
structon and repairs of the road; the
most substantial and extensive benefits
in the transportation OF the mai; and IN
the travelling and commercial inter-
course. It's believed that no route can
be selected, which would combine all
these advantages in the most eminent
degree; and the question must OF course
be decided from due regard 10 each,
the minor necessarily yielding to those
Of greater consequence.
1t is obvious that mere directness of
route, ought not to be lntlexlbly adhe-
red to, if cheaper, better and more
extensively beneficial road can be OBJ
tanned by suitable deyIatons; and these
advantages would amply compensate
for an increase of the distance of ilftyv
or even an hundred miles. Your me-
morialists conceive that perfectly iii
rect line can never be contemplated by
the Government, because 1t must pass
through the most rugged, mountainous,
barren and uninhabited parts OF North
Carolina and Georgia, and across innu-
merable streams and arshes IN Aiaba-
ma and Mississippi They can scarcely
doubt that Knoxville and Huntsville,
though somewhat out of a straight line,
will be two of the points fixed upon,
which will insure location OF immense
| importance to fertile, popuious and
wealthy parts of Tennessee, Alabama,
Mississippi, kentucky, Missouri, and
Arkansas.
Such location will make it necessa-
~ to cross the Blue Ridge mountain be-
| fore leaving the state OF Virginia, and
the difference in the distance will not be
material between crossing at some po mt
north east, or at some point south west
of the town of Staunton, though the pro-
liability is, that the former would be the
nearest.
Your memorialists respectfully sug-
eest that the contemplated road ought
to strike the Valley Of Virginia formed
by the Blue Ridge and North Mountains
as far north as is compatible with an
adequate directness of the route; and
in support of this opinion they beg leave
to submit the following reason drawn
from comparative view of this Valley
and the country Immediately east OF the
Blue Ridge.
l. The general surface of the country
is more even. the hills not being so nu-
merous and abrupt, and Of course less
digging would be requisit
.. The soil is more suitable for turn
pike road, it is generally speaking firm,
and gravelly, and where there is devil
alton from this character, vegetable
mould is found on the surface few IN
ches deep, adapted to the production OF
grass, and Immediately below thick
stratum of hard earth intermixed with
gravel, which upon being exposed to the
sun and air becomes very firm.
The soil between the Blue Ridge and
tha head of tide water is materially diff