Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1824-10-21
NATIONAL ROAD MEETING.

80 60
NATIONAL ROAD MEETING.
AT an adjourned meeting of the citizens
of Frederick county, convened at the
court house in Winchester, October
II, 1924, to take into consideration the
expediency of presenting to the pre-
sidrnt of the e. S. memorial on the
subject of the contemplated national
road from Washington city to New
Orleans; the former chairman and
secretary appeared and took their
seats.
Mr.. Powell, from the committee APP
pointed at the former meeting, presen-
ted the following memorial, which was
read, and unanimously adopted:
Tie memorial Of lie citizens Of Ere
derick county, respectfully represents -
That your memorialists feel a deep
and Lively interest in tire execution of
the law of the last session Of congress
authorizing surveys for roads and canals,
and particularly as itresards the route
of the national road contemplated be.
tween the city of Washington and New
Orleans. Your memorialists hope tl.ey
may not be considered obtrusivs b
briefly submitting the various cons
atlons that induce them to believe that
the national benefit and their local in
terests will both be consulted and pro-
NOTED in locating the road through the
valley formed by the Blue Ridge and
North Mountain. They are aware that
the considerations calculated to fix and
determine the route of the road, should
and will be regulated by an enlarged
and liberal policy.
In ascertaining the proper location
of the contemp ated road, the motives of
policy calculated to influence the deci-
sion of those appointed to recommend
and fix such location, may be classed
under fhe following heads: The facility
and economy in the construction and
repairs OF tie road, keeping in view
proper regard to the directness of the
route; the most extensive and econo-
mical advantages in the transportation of
the mails; the facilities OF travelling and
commercial intercourse.
Your memoriaiists have too much res
pect for themselves and for those by
whom the result must finally be deter
mined, TO urge arguments in support of
their iavorite views, not sanctioned by a
due regard to those considerations.
DiIectness ofroute is unquestionably
of primary importance; but departure
from this rule ought always to be adop-
ted if a cheaper, better and more ex-
tensively beneficial road can be obtained
by judicous deviations. 1t may well be,
that advantages may be secured by de.
viatioi from this rule, that would more
than compensate for partial and incon-
siderable increase of distance. To this
as a general, like all general rules, ex-
Ceptions must and will present them
selves. A perfectly direct line can me-
yer be followed judiciously in a noun
taneous country, in the location of any
road. as all experience testifies. When
the road is long, passing over diversi-
fed country, presenting rugged noun
tains, barren and uninhabited districts of
country, morasses & impetuous streams
of water, the efforts of art must neces-
sarily yield TO natural obstacles, upon
principles Of economy as well as policy.
An examination of direct route, upon
the map, from Washington to ew'0r-
leans, will fully satisfy the inquirer that
such route will be encountered by all
the obstacles here enumerated.
Assuming, therefore, as a postula.e.
the impractieability of a dlecl route,
but keeping the principle in view as will |