Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1846-04-02
ron ms MAnrlssnuna aAzrrrE.
70 the Citizens OF berkeley and Morgan
Counties:

Some twenty -liye years ago, a vigorous ef-
fort was made to construct a Turnpike road.
from Cumberland. across the Sleepy Creek,
Third Hin and North Mountains, to Baltimore
and Georgetown, as a substitute for the route
through Hancock and Hagerstown. This I'm
pfovcnenl, lraught with special local beneftto
The residents of the Back Creek valley, IN
Berkeley. the Sleepy Creek valley, in (now)
Morgan. and the Northwestern portion Of Fred
eFics. was defeated BY the overwhelming en-
baraSsnenis OF the period, a, a moment when
success was about 70 reward the enterprise OF
its projectors Since that time. tie construc-
ton Of the b. s O. r. Road has effec,ually
dissipated all hope &c its prosecution, in future
That grand Schene--the most benaficIent,
which the energy and liberalltv of State or in
dividual action could have been comprised, TO
advance the condition Of Northern Virginia
has furnished, at not one dollars expenditure
by the Commonwealth, 10 the people Of Fred
erick and Berkeley. East Of the North Noun
tain, of the Northern and Western parts of
Morgan and of the Northern portion OF the
Back Creek valley, cheap and prompt means
Of transportation but. TO the Southern section
of the Back Creek and Sleepy Creek valleys
and the Northwestern potion Of Frederick,
encompassed by mountain barriers, save at
points which provide outlets by long and cir
cuiious routes, IT is, comparatively, o. little adj
vantage.
1t comes up, then, for consideraton--Shal
This state Of thugs continue and be perpetual p
Shall the inhabitants of so large a region be de
barred the enjoyment Of facilities, which 9TH
ers possess The inquiry is one interesting to
all Of you. 1t is vain TO hope, and perhaps
wrong to desire State aid for so small and,
purely, local an object You must depend up
on your own exertions; and will venture to
remark that il IS a short sighted policy to give,
TO such projects, and not more
short sighted than heartless and contemplate,
the mean jealousy Of neighbours prosperity,
or the parsimony, which withholds the gener-
al aid from those who are helpless
| propose only to present the outlines Of a
plan, sufficient, as think, for the present, and,
as trust, entirely practicable.
AT the period 10 which have adverted, a
survey was made of route. in direct line,
from Martinsburg across the North, Third Hill
and Sleepy Creek Mountains. The line Of
the. then. proposed road, crossed the North
Mountain, at point, a short distance North
of Boyd's Gap, passed little South OF Robin
sons mill and struck the Third Hill Mountain
at Everhari's Saw-Mill The. distance from
Martinsburg to the Western base of Sleepy
Creek Mountain, by this straight llne, was as
certained to be t,ceire miles From that point
il is two or three miles to the centre of the Slee-
Ply Creek valley.
The North Mountain, at 50, may be passed,
it is supposed, at, not more. than two and one
fourth miles. The increase Of the distance
thus, and by the like divergence from the
straight line on Third JEH and Sleepy Creek
.Nola,tains, will, ii is estimated, make the dis
lance from Martinsburg 10 the central part of
the Sleepy Creek valley, some sixteen or sew
entRen miles.
Third Hill and part Of Sleepy Creek
Mountains may be surmounted by this route,
without any serious difficulty. Ii is suggested
that the work need only be so far prosecuted
now, as TO grade so much of the road, as will be
upon emountan-merely laying out, by order
Of Court, the residue of the route. Nor, is it
very important, that Bridges should be con-
structed, at once. as the streams are rarely i'm
passable.
The distance, that would thus be saved, to
the larger portion of the residents of the Back
Creek and Sleepy Creek valleys. who, now,
for the most part, take their produce to other
points, would be from five to ten miles, at least
These valleys, throughout an extent of ten
or fifteen miles, in length, and from three TO
six miles in breadth, would, instantly, upon
the opening of the road, realize its Importance
The lands, although not very fertile, yet Sus-
ceptlble of high culhvation.-and portion of
them, in the Back Creek valley, being of lime
stane-would, at once, be enhanced in value
and that disproportion in price, which now ex-
lists, with the lands, East Of the North noun
tain, be diminished Their products would
necessarily, be increased in price and quantity,
and an identity OF interest, with that quarter
which is their best and most natural market
be promoted. At Martinsbsrg, the costs of
transportation to Baltimore, are less than from
any other point, TO which their produce could
be conveyed at the same distance, and supplies
can be procured there, for the use of the farm
er, at perhaps a cheaper rate, than they can be
furnished in any other market town, at which
they would trade.
1t IS deemed unnecessary to say word to
the citizens Of Martinsburg, upon the subject
They have, do not hesitate 10 say, more in
terest in this scheme, than in any other single
project Of County advancement, that can be
devised
The subject, am happy to learn, is attract
ing your attention. Considerations, that refer
themselves to the prosperity Of your Counties
Intimately associated as that is with the inn
provement Of every part Of them-demand
that the shackles of geographical thraldom,
constraining the energies of these people, and
crushing the hope of day of thrift and album
dance, shall be removed, when il may not i'm
poveriSh the hand, that is extended to their re-
lief
What viii it cost? A rough estimate fixes
the expense Of the work on the Mountains
and there will be no material amount expended,
at this time, elsewhere-at about 5000.
Can that sum be procured and how The
man reliance must, necessarily, be upon indi-
vidual subscription.
The subject is thus. briefly, brought to your
notice. 1t remains to be seen, whether that
spirit of advancement, which marks. so Strik-
ingly, the people Of other quarters, in affairs,
as well of general as local character, has in a
matter of comparatively, so little effort, and so
much benefit, reached this region of the County
March 20, lSl6. p.
MAIL ROUTE TO OREGON.
The Committee on the Post Office and Post
Roads in the Senate Of the United States has
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