Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-11-19
THE NATIONAL ROAD.
What It Cost to Construct the Famous
Cumberland Highway.
OVER FIVE MILLIONS EXPENDED.
Curious Things in the History of the Many
Appropriations.
IT NEVER WENT TO THE FLORIDA LINE
WRITTEN FOR THE DISPATCH


Grafton to know what it cost the Govern
ment to build the old National road. The
subjoined statement of appropriations made
by Congress, from time to time, can be re-
lied on as accurate. Persons familiar with
the history of this once grand old highway
will no doubt observe some curious things
in the recitals Of these appropriations, and
the most striking will be the appropriation
for continuing the road in Florida
1t is not known that the National road
ever entered the territory of Florida, or
that it was ever the intention of its pro-
jectors to carry it to that section of the
country, yet by act of March 3, 1887, given
below, the sum of s2O,319 was appropriated
"for continuing the road from the northern
boundary of the territory of Florida by
Mariana to Appalachicola." What is
curious about this is the fact that no
previous appropriation providedfor carrying
the road to the northern boundary of
Florida. The remotest western or south
western point indicated by any previous ap-
preparation was the capital of Missouri.
The little appropriation for Florida was no
doubt expended, but the road never went
there.
Money for the Cumberland Road.
The following are the appropriations by
Congress for making, repairing and continu-
ing the Cumberland or National road:
l-Act of March 20, 1s06, appropriates for
laying out the road from Cumberland to q
point on the northern bank of the river Po-
tomac, in the State of Maryland, between
road leading from Guinn's to Winchester, in
Virginia, crosses the river to strike the Ohio
at the most convenient place. between a
point on its eastern bank opposite to the
northern boundary OF Steubenville and the
mouth of Grace creek, provided the states
through which the proposed road passes
give their consent thereto. $4,000.
be expended under direction of the President
in making the road between Cumberland
and Brownsville, $50 900 90.
3-Act OF March 3, 1911, appropriates to be
expended under the direction of the Presi-
dent in making the road between Cumber-
land and Brownsville, and provides that no
deviation shall be made from the principal
Cumberland and Brownsville, $50 COO 90.
4-Act of February 26, 1912, appropriates
balance OF n former appropriation, not used
but carried to surplus fund, $3,7s6 go.
expended under the direction of the Presi-
dent for making the road from Cumberland
to Brownsville, $4,000 90.
f5e Of March aGsG 5 1sl flor for
State of Ohio general appropriation bill
for the support of the Government),
$40 COO co.
7-Act of February IA, 1915, appropriates to
be expended under the direction of the
President for making the road between
Cumberland and Brownsville. 100000 90.
s-Act of April l6, 1916 appropriates for
making the road from Cumberland to the
State or Ohio appropriation bill for support
of the government,) $500 900.
9-Act of April IA, lsls appropriates to
meet claims due and unpaid and demands
under existing contracts, $3l2, ,as4 go.
What the Wheeling Division Cost.
10-Act Of March Is. 1890 appropriates for
laying out the road between Wheeling, Va,
and point on the left bank of the Mississippi
river between St.Louis and the mouth of the
Illinois river-road to be so feet wide and on
q straight line, and authorizes the President
to appoint commissioners to lay out $4,000.
11-Act of February g. 1912, appropriates
for repairs between Cumberland and Wheel
ing, and authorizes the President to appoint
a superintendent at q compensation of So
per day, S25,OG0
opening and making road from the town
of Canton, in the State of Ohio, opposite
Wheeling to GAINESVILLE, and for the COM
pletion Of the surveys of the road directed
to be made by the act of 25th May, 1920, and
orders its extension to the permanent seat
of government of Missouri and pass by the
seats of government of Ohio, Indiana and
Vile, O., and from the sum appropriated by
this act, $4,000 is to be taken to defray the
expenses Of completing the surveys men.
toned, $780, 200.
3.-Act of March 25, 1926. a bill making
appropriations for the military service OF
Government, appropriates for the continue
ing of the Cumberland road and for repairs
during the year 1886, (The sum Of s449 for the
latter.) $ll048.
4-Act Of March 2, 1927, appropriates for
repairs between Cumberland and Wheeling,
and authorizes the appointment by the
a compensation to be fixed by the Presi-
dent The language of this Act is: "For re-
pairing the public road from Cumberland to
Wheeling" $50 900.
Completed to GAINESVILLE.
15-Act Of May 19, 1928, appropriates for the
completion of the road to GAINESVILLE, O.,
sl750oO.
le-Act of March g. 1929, appropriates "for
repairing bridges, walls and other works on
the road east of Wheeling 500, 900.
17-Act of May 81, 1880. appropriates $780,
600 tor opening, grading and making the
road west of GAINESVILLE, o., and 100000 for
the State of Indiana, commencing at Indian
apolis and progressing with the work to the
eastern and western boundaries of said
bridging in the State of Illinois, and $4,000
''for claims due and remaining unpaid on
account of the Cumberland road east of
Wheeling. To this act is appended the fol-
lowing note: Il approve this bill and ask
reference to my communication to Congress
OF this date in relation thereto" ANDREW
jackson. $4,000.
$l0O, 900 for opening, grading and making the
road west of GAINESVILLE, o.; $3.50 for repairs
during the year 1880: 50, 700 for work hereto
fore done east of GAINESVILLE; s275 s5 for ar
rearages for the survey from GAINESVILLE to
the capital of Missouri, and s75, 600 for open
ing, grading and bridging in the State Of
Indiana, including bridge over White river,
grading and bridging in Illinois, $244, ,925 50.
19-Act of July g. 1882, appropriates $l5O,OCO
for repairs east of the Ohio river, 500 600 for
tinuing the road in Indiana. $4,000 for con-
tinuing the road in Illinois; $4,000.
The Road Carried Through Ohio.
20-Act of June "a, 1884, appropria tes 100000
for continuing the road in Ohio, s15O, 900 for
the road in Indiana, 500 600 for
the road in Illinois, and $500 900
for the entire completion OF repairs east of
Ohio to meet the provisions of the acts of
Maryland and Virginia, ac-
cepting the road, and surrenders the road to
the States, tile United States not thereafter
to be subject to any expense for repairs,
2I-Act of March 3, 1885, appropriates $780,
DOB Tor continuing the road in the State OF
State of Indiana, and s346 1856 5s for the entire
of repairs in Maryland, Penn
sylvania and virgfnia-but before any part
Of this sum shall be expended east of the
Ohio river the road shall be surrendered to |
and accepted by the States through which it |
passes, and the United States shall not |
thereafter be subject to any expense in re- |
alton to said road, $546, 1856 SO. |
22-Act of March 3, 1885, AN item in the An |
oropriation Tor certain roads, appropriates |
70 pay for work heretofore done by Isaiah |
Frost on the Cumberland road, $500.
23-Act of July 2, 1885, approprlates for |
continuing the road in Ohio, 500 600; for con- |
.fnuing the road in Indiana, $3.50, ,0OO includ- |
ng materials for II bridge over the Wabash 1