Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1826-12-28
CONGRESS

referred TO the Committee on Roads
aud Canals, and ordered to he printed.
DgPARrMENT OF WAN,
December 5th, 1926.
SIR: | have the honor to transmit
herewith, a report of fine chief Engineer
of this date, accompanied BY copy of
the report of Captain McNiell, relative
TO reconnaissance made by him, of a
route for the extension of the national
road, from its Eastern termination at
Cumberland to the District ol Col1ni-
bia.
have the honor to be, sir, with the
greatest respect, your most obedieRt
servant,
JAMES BARBOUR.
The Hon. JOHN W. TAYLoR,
Speaker Of tie House Of Representatives..
The letter from General Mac Cub, en-
closed the report of Capt. McNiell, from
which it appears, that he has examined
the following four routes.
lst route. From CnmbefiaDdto Mar.
tinsburg; whence it would be directed,
. either through Shepherdstowa, and by
the mouth Of the Monocacyyto George.
town, or by Harpsr's Ferry to George.
town.
Cd route. From Cumberland by old
Town and Titles Gap, in tie Siding
mountain to the Bloomery Gap, in the
great Cacapehon mountain; thence, by
either Winchester, Guadeloupe or Ger.
-ardstownto Georgetown
Sd route. From Carter's Tapera on
the National Roads miles west OF Cum
'berlaud, BY Cressup Town, Frankfort,
and Springfield, TO ihtersect the second
route at the Bloomery.
4th route. From Carter's Tavern to
Springfield. and renee, by ,ieiskill's
Tavern in Gap, of the Connolly noun.
tain, through Wmcaestsr to George
town.
After going into the details of each
route the report thus concludes:
Such are the general results afforded
by the reconnaissance, from which il APP
pears, that only those routes by Hin
chester and Gaudaloupe can compete for
the preference for that by Gerrardstown
and Harper's Ferry hss developed no
advantages to compensate for its greater
length; on the cortrsry,~;t does not pro.
mise SO favourable a graduation, and
the construction of road in that drec-
ton would doubtless be the mos, expeu-
saive.
As to military and politica considera-
'flonsthev can have, should suppose,
Dat little weight in this discussion, for
where all the routes are so contiguous
TO each other, l know not, what can
have any material advantages not COM
mon to all, unless it be that affording
Igreatest diIecthess, opposing fesoest
|d,gicutties to its construction, and ira.
|vsrs'ng tie most popuioas section.
Such advantages will be found united
[onty in the Manchester routes, for they
ARE more practical than any, except
lshose by Keese's Gap; one of the Win
chester routes is shorter than the other,
and both are equally practicable ia ae-
'tual distance the routs direct from
Smokers TO Georgetown, is about ~
miles longer than that which crosses the
|Blua Ridge at the Shannondale Springs;
land in point of time. for the reasons
previously given, il could DE travelled
equally as sooE, and therefore equally
direct.
The Winchester route, then, IS from
iSnickersville direct to Georgetown, ~
superior to route from Guadalupe.
whether It cross the Blue Ridge at The
Shannondale,S Springs or ct keese's Gap:
for in the one case is more direct and
the other more practicable and as direct
1t would accommodate more immedi-
sately FROM its passing through the most
populous town, between Cumberland
and Georgetown. greater number of
persons, than either of the Guadaloupe
routes; and this circumstance combined
with the other advantages that il posses
ses, think warrants the concIusioe, that
the best route, for the continuance OF
the national road 10 Georgetown, will be
that through Winchester; and as be.
fore remarked, X after having passed
the Blue Ridge at Smokers Gap, the
accommodation OF the inhabitants of
Leesburg, be Thought equivalent to an
otherwise unnecessary increase of
miles in the length of the road, It can as
readily be prolonged through Leesburg
to Georgetown, as or direct route frem
Snic ke:svllle.
The Speaker laid before the House
communication from the Secretary of