Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1826-05-25
Fran carter's to Frankfort

Frankfort 10 Springfield
Springfield to Forks of 'Capon 10
Forks of 'Capon to Winchester %
Winchester to Alexandra 20
l.o
By the proposed road to Shepherds Town,
and from thence, the existing roads to George
Town, the distances viii be-
From Cumberland to Shepherds
Shepherds Town TO Boonsboro'o
Hoonsboro' to Frederick Town IS
Frederick Town to Geo. Town 20
l22
But the people OF George Town have for
some time contemplated the making of a road
from that place, by the mouth ol Monocscy to
Williamsport with view of striking the line
of Western communication at the polns sup
Losed to be the most advantageous to Them
selves. Their own zeal and energy furnish
guarantee that they will soon accomplish this
object. II IS obvious that i the proposed road
from Shepherds Town to Cumberland shall be
made, that the road from George Town will be
directed TO Shepherds Town instead of Will
Transport. What then Will be the length of
the rosdl We are not IN possession of the ma.
terias for answering this Question with all the
accuracy that ~ desirable. But we have II IN
our power TO come to CONCLUSION sufficiently
certain for our general purpose 1t is under
stood that survey has beeH recently made
from Georgetown to Wilbamsport. On the su.
tbority of gentleman acquainted with the re
suits ofihis survey, corroborsted BY a compari.
son of the distances on the existing roads with
the relative situation Of these places. the utmost
confidence is felt that road direct from George
Town to Shepherds Town, would be less-thsn
&c 4 IL. - a. j.
the whole contemplated route from Cumber
land TO George Town win be as follows
From Cumberland to shepherds Town SO
Shepherds Town to Geo. Town 80
l08
It results that the projected middle route will
be % miles shorter than the actual Maryland
route. and l6 miles shorter than that by Win
chester to the District of Columbia.
There is another advantage, believed to be
much greater than that derived from distance
which this road will possess over those THAI
compete with il. and espec ally over that BY
Hancock and Hagerstown. From Cumberland
to Hancock this last road passes over cont
nued mountainous and sterile country Provi-
sions of all sorts must forever be dear upon it.
as II must forever depend almost entirely upon
the low lands of the Potomac for its supplies
from considerable distance. The projected
road from Old Town and Martinsburg will pass
directly across the fruitful valiies of the Poto
mac of Cacapeheon. Sleepy creek, and Back
creek. single fact will at once illustrate this
idea, and ensble us to form some estimate OF
the advantage referred to. When the price OF
corn at Old Town, in the month Of October
last, was fifty cents per bushei, its price on the
turnpike road, ten miles distant. was one dollar
per bushel The business of supplying that
road, from the Potomac, was becoming regu-
lar one. Already it is stated, in recommended
tion of tavern stand on that road. offered by
its owner for sale, that 't is only three miles
from the Potomac, from whence provisions can
be had IN abundance
The route in question, from Cumberland,
will possess the further adv vantage OF being
common for great part of the way, to the ira.
weller destined for either the District or Balti-
more.
In finc, careful examination of the s..sjee
VIII result IN a conviction, to which no doubt
can attach, that in reference to baltimore the
proposed route possesses decisive advantages
over that of MARYLAND and in relation to the
District of Colu rnbia, in connection with the
proposed road by the mouth OF Monocacy, that
II will be greatly superior to all existing routes,
and inferior to none that can be made.
Ii wauld seen to result, to the exclusion OF
all possibility OF mistake, that if the proposed
road from Shepherds Town to Cumberland
were based and the water-courses that cross it,
bradged, il musf become the great thoroushtar
between he East and he Hest. To pare and to
bridge It, IN the present state OF the country,
would be 3 vain attempt. The law lately passed
by the gislature of Virginia, opens the way
for the accomplishment of this object at ft-
ture day. Want of means, at present. forbids
any attempt to do more than TO make zveH
graduated road.
whai portion of the advantages that we seek
will be secured by such roadl
The observation and reflection of most per.
sons will readily form the proper estimate. 1t
is known that when dry an unpaved road is pre-
terred by all descriptions of travellers to stone
capped road. And as to the uncertainties of
| foods. ard the wan of security against deten.
| tons on this account, the evil is, for three
fourths of the year, so rare as scarcely to be
worthy of any precautIon to remove il. The
remedy of ferries is. however, at all seasons Of
easy application, 1t is believed that for nine
months in the year, this road would be univer.
sally preferred if the distance were the same
and the expense OF travel equal The actual
advantages, however, in these respects, being
taken into the account. it may be assumed that
this road will be preferred at all seasons, except
at those periods of unfrequen; recurrence, and
very short continuance. when floods and frosts
combine materially to affect unpaved roads.
The expense of making such road is csti-
mated not to exceed loco dollars per mile
making for the whole distance, from shepherds
Town to the Potomac, the estimated sum that
y,iu ha reouired about An 600 doItare sub.