Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1889-12-26
NATIONAL. ROAD

The writer well recollects when this
road was what its name signifies, Ma
tional thorOughfare, when from four to
eight 4-hOrse coaches passed each way
every "a hours. Great ponderous wag-
ons, drawn by to s horses, with broad
wheels were hardly ever out of sight. In
the spring and early months of summer
side ways were lined with cattle, whose
great bodies represented 100 bushels OF
corn each OH its way to market. Rail
roads came, and the road ceased to be OF
National Importance, and was transfer
red to the State. Soon most of the State
lost interest in it, and it was leased to in
dividuals to run and keep in repair. The
last condition was almost wholly ne
elected.
This was the condition Belmont coun-
ty, which had contributed to make i'm
provements all over the State, received
its only pnblic improvement. Even the
bridges which have been repaired has
been done mostly from tolls, while OF
all the other roads and pixies ofthe cOun-
county, it has been by the county. Nc
wonder the old National highway has
been looking neglected. 1t was opened
in the first place 50 feet wide, stoned
about 10 feet in width \ road of sucl
dimensions is no longer required for the
public needS-neither is the toll sufficient
to keep it in repair, but common sense
would dictate that narrower paved
rOad-bed would answer for the track
now. The writer, few years ago, came
across the men putting on stone. The
foreman asked what | thought of this
way of putting on stone, just making one
track? He said he did not think much
of it. | observed that | guessed it was q
pretty good way, as | thought one track
was all we would be able to keep up. He
said Israel told him to do it that way.
saw the same man putting on stone q
few days ago. After trial of a few
years, he said he was convinced that Is
rael was right about making only one
track, and so was he. The same plan
carried out will in little time make one
continuous solid track.
Let us not, in partisan spirit, con
denim our public servants for doing right
but be willing to mete out justice where
Justice is due. Let us condemn that
which is wrong in both parties. and ap
prove that which is right and for the
public good. INTERESTED OBSERVER.
THE New York World takes pessi
mistic view of Democratic politics il
Ohio. 1t says:
Where is John r. Mclean in this
pecuniary scramble for the Ohio Senator
ship? 1t is easy to explain. Mr.. Mclean
wants to be Senator, but he is not in q
position to make a contest for Mr.
Payne's seat. His candidacy would be
greeted by such howl of indignation
that the practice of auctioneering Sena-
torships would go out of fashion. Mr.
McLean's name is not yet good one
to cOnjure with. He is therefore diSpos-
ed to permit Mr.. Brice to take the goods
Then, two years from now, when Mr.
Sherman's successor is to be chosen the
people of Ohio, having become used tc
the practice, having already seen the
Senatorship twice knocked down to the
highest bidder, can witness with equa
nimity the sale to Mr.. John r. Mclean
Don't worry. After the auction of this
winter when Col. (?) Brice wins there
will be no more of such work. That is
true, for Allen o. Myers says so.