Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1844-04-18
CONGRESS.
Cumberland ROad.

nays on thai question were called for, snd ordered.
Mr.. Crtienden thought some amendment ought TO be
made TO the bill that the grading Of the road with Stone
ought 10 be reduced to 20 feet; otherwise the cost would
he a great deal too much
Mr. White explained that the road had been opened so
feet wide, and the grading with stone proposed IN the orr
ginal design had been est d sied for but he w confident
the work could now he done So much cheaper than when
The estimates were made. tina, a considerable saving IN ex-
pense might be expected.
Mr.. Cruendoa had a sincere disposition to aid the gen.
tlemen in their bill and that could he best done by mod
Grating The expenditure. He explained the cost Of making
roads IN Kentucky, with broken stone, which was about
81 900 or $4,000 a mile; while the cost of this road could
not fall shor, of SIS 600. according to the lowest estimate
of the gentlemen themselves. He believed, If the cost
were not reduced, the road never would I've finished, at
least oy the general government.
Mr. Semple SAID, If the motion was made TO reduce the
grading with stone, and if arguments in lis favor had been
offered TO convince him 1t was right. he did no, know but
he nigh, be induced to cor cur with the senator in It's pro
preiy.
Pending the decision Of this point,
Nj Tappan moved to amend the bill hy n proviso for
constructing a bridge over the Ohio river at Wheeling,
such as would not obstruct the navigation of the river.
Mr.. L. explained that the United States never had COM
plotted the contract Of carrying the Cumberland road to
the State Ct Ohio. II had only been carried to Wheeling
IN Virginia and there was an island, also belonging 10
virg. MIA, between Wheeling aud the Ohio shore. over
which and the river itself, the road should be carried, to
reach Ohio.
Mr.. Jarnagin urged that it would be necessary to have a
wv anu tiuiitt - MS blluIt. It tbDuIIt IL NDutu
be better to have it made a distinct matter in a scrara,e
bill, and not to introduce il here TO embarrass this bill.
Mr.. Tappan said there had been an examination by
competent engineers as would be seen by a report in the
House documents. The amendment be considered pccu-
liarly appropriate to the bill. To show this he repeated
that, as compensation for the 5 per cent furd. the general
government was bound TO complete the Cumberland road
from tide water to the State of Ohio, which was incom-
plete for want of the bridge across the TWO branches OF the
Ohio at Wheeling and the island.
Mr. Buchanan was extremely sorry his friend from Ohio
had offered this amendment. If the bill was properly
amended, he should vote for it but if this amendment
prevailed, ho should undoubtedly vote against the bill, for
he was SO instructed by his State.
Mr.. White entreaied the senator from Ohio TO withdraw
his amendment. and leave the matter 10 be disposed Of hy
The bill now pending in another branch of Congress.
Mr.. Tappan said the Instructions of Pennsylvania were,
that its senators and repres natives should vote agains,
the construction Of any bridge at Wheeling, that would
obstruct the navigation of the Ohio river. This was quite
conditional aud need not prevent the senator Mr.. Buch-
anan from voting for the bill.
Mr.. Buchanan remarked that the legislature Of Penn
syivania had adopted the resolution of instruction upon
he gravest ion. He Admitted that a suspension
bridge. sufficiently high not to interfere with The passage
of steamboats, of the largest class, would not obstruct the
navigation of the river. But the amendment proposed ~
the senator from Ohio did hot propose the construction of
a suspension bridge 1t only said such a bridge as would
not II terfere with the navigation of the Ohio river. He
hoped the senator would withdraw his amendment. He
(Mr. b regretted that his colleague was not present, as
lie understood this matter much better than be did.
Mr.. Tsppan asked. Would the amendment be made ac-
c%eptable to the senator by inserting the words suspension
bridge :"
Mr.. Buchanan said-No, it would not; because he did
not consider it practicable. without interfering with the
navigation Of the river.
Mr.. Porter ef,rIed TO a report made some years ago, n
u c;ch 1t was shown that a suspension bridge would not
answ. Z. because it would have 10 be so high ia tic air that
the prea.Nst danger Of its destruction would be from
storms.
The amendms ct was rejected.
Mr.. Crtienden loved To amend the bill by proviling
hat the width of the rad to he covered with stone shall
not exceed 30 feet.
Mr.. King suggested tina, l6 feet would be wide enough
for the part to be covered with s'one.
Mr.. Crtienden would, if more agreeable, leave a blank
to be filed by the Senate, as to the breadth Of the road to
be covered with stone.
Nh. King pointed out tic folly which hSA been exhibit
ed in spending so much money heretofore OF. :he Cumber-
land road to crafty the mere ambition of making a. a great
and magnificent work. He would propose, as quite sTil-
cient, to fill the blank with l6 feet. He believed the
Maysvillc road. the hest he had ever travelled over, had but
Is feet in width covered with stone.
MI. Breese explained that the proposition TO cover any
part of the road in Illinois with stone had been abandoned
in 1896. There was no hope of ever bing able to apply
stone 10 the grading Of the road in that State. All that
was required was, TO open the road so feet. grade i, 30 feet.
and build bridges and cuIverts; the cost of which. yet
10 be incured) was estimated at $50. 600. SAP. 445 had
already been laid out on the road in Illinois. The cxpend-
iture in Ohio had been S2.O77, 600 in Indiana, SLIPS.
600. He read several extracts from the report on the sub
- diu StDt " Tux idht tindlhlIB IOItiOUS, 20 ~ .
by the secretary of the Senate.
These extracts were read, giving the estimates for the
road in detail.
The blank was filled with l6 fe, and the amendment
was adopted.
Mr.. o.:cple moved an amendment, that the money ap-
propriated by t..s bill for Illinois, be applied to the open
ing and grading Of thc road in said State. before any part
of it be applied to putting SONS on the road.
vi. Crlltenden asked if the senate. would have any OBJ
lection to modifying his amendment, 50 rs 70 say "no part
of the money shall be applied to putting stone on the road.
Mr.. Semple said he had no objection 10 the modInra'ion-
Mr.. King objected to the enormous expense of putting
stone . inches deep on any part of the road now To be
completed. The cost in Indiana alone would yet be 49,
O0O, OOG.
Nh. flanagan replied to the senator from Alabama.
with a view OF showing that the l~avishness of the expeud-
itures on the Cumberland road, heretofore made. bad been
owing to the manner in which Congress itself had pre-
scrbed the doing of the work. All that was guarded
against in the formation of this bill. He was satisfied the
work could be completed through Indiana for 81 400, 600,
instead of s3,0O0,0o0 as supposed by the senator from
Alabama.
Nh. McDuhie considered this a subject of too much i'm.
portanee and magnitude TO he disposed Of while the Senate
was so thin. He hoped the subject would be postponed.
Mr.. Semple hoped the member from South Carolina
would not object TO letting the question on his amendment
be frs; taken.
Mr.. McDrfie asserting.
The question wa taken on Mr.. senple's amendment
and !, was adopted.
The Senate then adjourned.
uThc present tariff went into operation Il, the close
of he thlrd quarter Of iS42 The result was. that the
business Of thai quarter, with that of Tie three succeed
in- ones. proved a years business less than that OF any
wear since the war. The advocates of protection are at
the same time in ccstacy Of delight. because. after such