The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1891-03-11
Roads Built by Uncle Sam


tirely new TO the United States. That
this idea is mistake is shown by the
following extracts from an article 10y
Gath in The Cincinnati Enquirer
Thomas jefferson suggested the en-
ployment OF the treasury surplus for eK-
tended public Improvements Senator
Pope. OF Kentucky. IS the intro iucer in
lsiO ola resolution TO authorize the gov
eminent TO take half the stock in any
turnpike roads which might be incorpo-
ted by any OF the states, and especially
between the heads OF the eastern naviga-
ble rivers and the nearest western waters
and also the links in great public high
way from Maine TO Georgia, "and gener-
ally to the stock OF all companies which
might be approved by congress for
opening turnpike roads The sill Of
Senator Pope was amended by Senator
Smith, Of Maryland, to increase the na-
iional subscription to these undertakings
from one half or two thirds The bill
was then postponed to the next session
of congress.
John Pope died in 1872. He was gov
ernor Of the territory Of Arkansas six
years under Andrew jackson. lie de-
serves recognition as the boidest and ear
liest proposer Of a comprehensive scheme
ofinternal improvements
At the same time Peter b. Porter, Of
Niagara Falls, introduced into congress a
similar bill, and supported il by an
elboraate speech.
The only practical result Of these joint
endsayors was an appropriation Of S60,-
900 for the national turnpike road from
Cumberland to Wheeling in the year
1910.
Before all those people came upon tn,
stage Alexander Hamilton, as secretary
Of the treasury, had reported TO congres,
y system Of internal improvements.
Again, in Hamilton's examination
bearing date Of December, 1901 he says
The improvement of the communica
tons between the different parts of oul
country is an object well worthy of the
national purse"
In Hamilton's letter TO Eayton, dated
1893, he says: ITO Offset the Nirgini,
factionists the improvement Of our com
munications, as well interiorly as cosst
wise by turnpike roads, should begin
The improvement Of the roads would b
q measure universally popular. Non
can be more 30. For this purpose a regu
lar plan should be adopted. co-eKtensiv,
with the Union, to be successfully exc
cuted, and fund should Inappropriate,
sufficient for the basis of loan of 81,
100000. The future from tolls woul,
more than reimburse the expense an,
further utility would be promoted il
every direction"
Gen. Washington wrote 10 Pstricl
Henry in l7s5: "Our roads should b
Strengthened, shortened and establishe,
by Law, and the power of country court
TO alter them should be Withdrawn"
proposition was made 10 extend IN,
National road from NandaIia, Ills. 1,
the Mississippi river, and thence 10 JEFF
erson City, Mo, which Mr.. Adams sal,
had more sense than all the work of tha
session Of congress
The. cost of the National or Cumber
land road from Cumberland. Md. 10 Tn
ionto"n, Pa, sixty-one miles, was 1896.
O0, or $500 per mile, across the Allie
gheny mountains. The western sectior
had cost up TO 1919 about Sl7 600 a mile
or Sl60Oo for thirty-six miles.
The military opened the great ross
from Nashville 10 New Orleans in 1919
reducing the distance 900 miles The
same year the military road from Detroit
10 the Miami rapids was made, reaching
the Black swamp.
Oen. jackson opened the great militia.
ry road from Florence. Ala. to New Or.
leans
BY 1888 the business of the national
road at Wheeling supported seventeen
steamboats,; the steamboat clearances
were 75S during the year.
Brsddock's original road followed an
Indian trail from Oid;own. Nd, 10 Pitts
burgh
In 1888 Col. James Bard was sent from
Carlisle, Pa, to cut Braddock's road MS
far on as Brownsville.
The national road was undertaken bv
the government in f0ldilment Of con
irac; with the state of Ohio, the state
agreeing not TO tax government sales Of
land in Ohio for five years after sale ,
per cent. Of the sales were TO be applied
10 making road from the Atlantic ray
igsbie waters 10 the lower Ohio. This
P'omise the government has not kept
= I'd merely built from Cumberland. Nd.
Congress passed the act March 20. 1906.
The road commissioner, Eli Williams
and Thomas Moore, of Maryland, and
Joseph Kerr, Of Ohio, located the road
IN lSo6, taking Braddock's route 20 Gst's.
and Burd's route 10 Brownsville. By
IsG7 the site had been chosen from Cum
oerlsnd io Sandy Hollow, the eastern d.
vision. The remainder of the western
q vision 70 Wheeling IVES not fully SET
tiel till shout 1917.
Tho rad was u feet wide; the road
bel fron 20 10 "a feet. II was paved 20
feet vide, Is inches deep in the middle,
I. inches At the sides.
The lower stratum was pavement Of
one, closely set vertically, covered
with broken stones to pass through n
seven inch ring. and then six inches Of
the top laid with stones passing through
three inch ring The highest grade Of
the eastern division is ; degs. :: Of the
western division, I degs
In lSls IS the road was thoroughly re-
paired by the unitel States, and sur
renccred as a toll road to the states
through which it passed.
In i7ss Col. Thurber, OF the British
army, built road from the Cumberland
vslley 10 Pittsburgh.
In 1880, says Hildre,h, the Cumber-
land road had been completed TO Wheel
ing at an expense Of about si,70o6o0.-
Many petitions had been presented for
lie continuance westward, and $1,000
WAS appropriated for survey, but with
a .r-vis" 'isa; ihis was 20 be no piedg.
for any further expense.