The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1865-07-17
The superintedency Of the National
Road.
OFFICE OF SUPERINTENDENT
Cr-AfRERLAND ROAD. ,July. lS6,

| CUMBERLAND ROAD, July, 1900.
Having rendered my resignation as SUI
perintendent of the Cumberland Road, y
to take effect the 18th inst, l wish to
make statement of the facts in the case.
On the 9th of November, 1861, without
any solicitation on my part, | received
the appointment. On entering upon the
duties of the office, found the Road
S2,543 in debt The Road wass kery
bad state of repair, in many places worn
to the bed, or original paving, and side
roads, and drains filed up and obstruct-
ed. Out of the tsceney.fom bridges on the
Road, twenty-three were either down or
needed repairs. Taking charge of the
Road in this condition, have by the
most rigid economy been enabled to pay
off the debt, and there is now a balance
on hand of Sl,33l.9l.
In addition to paying the debt, every
bridge with one exception, as far as Sec
ton thirteen, has been rebuilt or repaired,
and the material for the construction of
that one is now upon the Road The
first eight miles from Wheeling is well
drained, with good side roads, &c, &c
And undertake to say that the Road is
in better repair than at any previous
time for the past twenty years. And the
amount of cash now on hand is sufficient
Off judiciously eXpended) 10 make all he
cessary repairs, including bridge, mason
work, side roads, sc.
Since | have held the position of Su-
perintendent continuous efforts have
been made for my removal by two diff.
ferent parties or factions. The first are
those who have been and still are tres
passers upon the public highway, and
there are over one hundred of this class,
as shown by the report now on file in
the Office of the Board of Public Works.
of Walter c. Smith, Esq, who was en-
ployed to make u survey of the road
These encroachments upon the road vary
from five to thirty feet. This class, with
zeal rarely surpassed, have, from per-
sonal motives, sought to have me remov-
ed, as had, by direction Of the Board, ia
ken some steps to have the distractions
removed. The other class were equally
clamorous for my removal, because the
distractions 'rere not removed. / was
thus kept between two fires.
The former Board of Public Works,
aware Of the circumstances and satisfied
with my official conduct, paid no heed to
their grumbling. There is at this time
1,,,f g h. Al I'd
to him am deeply grateful for the many
courtesy to me.
From the many tiattering compliments
OF the prominent gentlemen of the city
aud county, who are conversant with the
facts, / am led to the belief that my off,
cial conduct receives the approval of ev-
cry intelligent gentleman who passes
over the road.
Believing that the foregoing state.
ment was due the public as we'll as my
self, / will only add, that as for those
Gentlemen who testified before the Board
ofPublic Works" that had not passed
over the eastern end Of the Road" but
once in four years, and over the ives
tern end" not oftener than once month";
either wilfully or ignorantly testified to
a falsehood, as contemplate as it was
little. And while christian charity re-
quires my forgiveness, self respect re-
quires l should hold them in utter con,
tempt.
To the many gentlemen of city and
county, who have extended to me their
courtesies and assistance, I am deeply
grateful T. IJNSFORD