Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-11-12
1.-THE NATIONAL ROAD"
A FORGOTTEN PROJECT OF SEW
ENTY YEARS AGO.
Uncle Sans Experience I'm Building
Mammoth Highway Before
the Era of Railroads.

How few know anything of "The Ma
tional Road? 1t has been so eclipsed by
railways that many well-informed people
don't know that such a structure was eyer
built.
Away back in 1918 there arose serious
apprehensions that the growth of the West
would cause disafected politicians to want
a different capital-"a Western union y
and during Monroe's administration Con-
gress, under the advocacy of Henry. Clay,
"Tom" Benton, General Lewis Cas-,
Thomas Ewing and Andrew Stewart, made
appropriations from the National Treas
urv. and the work was vigorously exc
cuted. Beginning at Cumberland noun
Gain. it extended across Pennsylvania,
Virginia. Ohio and Indiana westward.
The design was to connect the National
canital with St. Louis. "The Democracy
opposed such appropriation of the Nations
Treasury, but in vain. State rights were
ignored" The road-bed was reduced to a
grade of five degrees, was made thlrty-tve
feet wide. and macadamized. The under
part was chiefly of stone, placed on edge,
as is now the case in cities, and covered
with pieces that would go through an inch
and half ring. The national road was
free to all. 1t was maintained by the
General Government, for dozen years,
but in 1880, i" through Difference to Cen
eral Jackson's idea of State sovereignty
it was turned over to the States through
which it was built.
Much interesting Renaissance might be
given of this great thoroughfare and Its
wars. In 1887, when war was threatened
between this country and France, there
was such suspicion of sympathy between
the French in Louisiana and the enemy
that a quick mail route was established via
this road, and the Mississippi contracts
were let with the requirement of speed to
average ten miles per hour The entire
highway was laid off into sections, three
BOYS and nine horses being required for
sixtv-three miles, and the time given for
the trip was six hours and eighteen min
utes.
Whether legal or not, the national road
was popular thoroughfare. There were
soon as high as $50 "great Conestoga six
horse" teams per day. That is the same
number as the railroad trains that pass
over the Pennsylvania Railroad now daily
to and from Jersey City. There were four
or five four-horse mail and passenger
coaches each way daily.
Presidents frequented this highway, and
on such occasions men were posted at hill
tops by the roadway to wave their red
bandanas as a signal of, approach for the
distinguished travellers. The people would
assemble and render both vocal and inStru-
mental music.
Much of the national road is still in
good condition, and its many historic asso-
Citations are enhanced by modern progress
While the old cast-iron posts yet remain
to tell of distances to places, etc, telegraph
wires are abundant, and there is combi'
nation of things ancient and modern
which give to travellers by the old road
much of rare interest.
OF noted passengers over this road there
are recorded the names of james Monroe
Andrew Jackson, William Henry Harri
son, John Tyler, Dick johnson Vice
President under Tyler, James K. Polk
Santa Anna, and the Marquis de Lafayette
James K. Polk! How the name stand
out in the list To be assured about tn
stories told on the subject l called on tn
venerable Mrs. Polk At my greeting sh
said she was feeble, but had never in tn
several years it had been my fortune t.
know her appeared quite so bright, 81
graceful and so elegant.
"Ah, yes; | have often been over thu
great national road, as it was called, anC
it revives many pleasant "reminiscences
Friends used to ask me if | were not ia
tigued in making those trips, but | woulC
tell them that in those days | knew not tn,
sensation of being tired. Why, we didn'
travel in the ordinary stage coaches oftha
day. True, we did travel in public car
riages, but gentlemen. could make arrange
ments to travel exclusively, and would
stop over at night. Mr. Polk was four
teen years successfully in Congress, anC
we often iourneyed that way not al
WAYS. We went to Washington twic
in our private carriage. Our rout
would be down the Cumberland to tn
Ohio and up that to Wheeling, and theme
across by the national road to Cumberland
Nd. The cars ran from thence to Balti
more When Mr.. Polk was elected Presi
dent we went that way and changed car
at the Relay House. the junction of tina
road and the one leading from Baltimor
to Washington. There was great crow,
there and he made a speech. What mag
nificent scenery on that thoroughfare acros
the Allegheny mountains! l had an ex
perience on our journey that often CAV
amusement to our friends. Our team RAJ
away, and we might have been much NOR
unfortunate, but one OF our horses fell an
the driver checked the others. But tn
carriage was upset, DIR. Linn, Senate
from Missouri, was especially attentive t
me. Mr.. Polk and Others had emerge,
from the carriage and DR.. Linn propose
to help me, and he asked me to put m.
foot in his hand. did so, and he helpe'
I. me gracefully in that way. He was
courtly gentleman. '-NashCiite Americar
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Delicate Diseases