Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-06-11
A RURAL JAUNT.
7gq BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS IN
SPgOTS TIE NATIONAL ROAD.
r,, Pike Found to b in Fair Condition But
Great Many Bridges Unsafe-Incldenis
Of the Trip.


.se. in the twentieS, was at the time of
... construction and for years afterward,
.ss main artery connecting the East
.s-h the West. This great thorough
,,r. i'm its palmy days, was the scene
,, continuous hustle and activity, but
Oh. stage coach and hoStelry of "ye
,risn time have been superseded by
enc improved facilities for travel of the
crescent dag, and the modern hotel is a
,e.ace i'm comparison. Years ago the
-,,5 passed from the hands of the
81. National Government since which
..,,a it has been maintained by the
S-.-e OF West Virginia. The LegiSla-
...~s of IS passed an act giving Ohio
.,.rtv the privilege of assuming the
-..,.rsbip of the road within its con-
s.,. and nj the last session Of the Leg
...s-yre an act was passed authorizing
county 10 issue bonds TO the amount
NJ -o5 900. To be paid out OF tolls col
,s..sd from the road, for the purpose Of
....rinc the pike in good shape.
,r,a ~oad is the main thrOughtare OF
OBJ. county with arms branching off at
..-io.ls points, and is conceded 10 be
.t. hast bike i'm the State. The Board
commissioners went over the ground
~.-.rIav aad examined the condition
-s.... rad and also the bridges, cul-
.s~.> and retaining walls. The road
he'd with the exception Of few short
.--.-.ne, was found TO be in good condl-
.,. The macadamizatiOn i'm some
...,s> was badly worn, but on the
f.... the bed of the pike was found to
t... excellent shape. The width OF
pin. road was originally 66 feet, bat TAR
nor, have been gradually encroachlng
-.st in some places 10 is not one
.t.-Irbat width. In one place farmer
n5gau,ed fence poles preparatory 10
-.r1,.rr his fence about ten feet
,r-,bsron the pike. The pike IS mac
,4,r.,.i 10 an average width OF twenty
ha- Probably the best portion OF the
ff..4a miles Of the road in Ohio county
b., between this city and Wheeling
p,rk The Baltimore and Ohio Kali
road Company has in several places
dgmDed dirt along the sides OF the
tracks. enc. oaching upon the space
which should be occupied by the pike
Insufficient aud improper drainage mas
probably done more 10 ruin the ROAD
bed than anything else.
While the read-bed was ofound TO be
i'm good condition, the same cannot De
said of the bridges and retaining walls.
The frequent freShetS of the past few
wears have done more or less damage TO
almost every bridge along the road from
Elm Grove 10 the State line. Some were
washed away and replaced with tenn
pOrary structures, which are unsafe at
best In some places the course OF the
creek was changed by the Hood OF IS,
and part OF the road washed away,
while the gradual encroachment Of that
stream upon the pike has rendered i'm
u.-stiye The necessity of constructing
retaining walls, rip-rapping, or plhng,
D resist the force of the water. 1t was
estimated by members of the Board
thar between S4O,O 900 and $50, 0O0 will be
required 90 build the new bridges, and
c0ns,rl.- retaining walls, sufficient TO
ultthe pike in first class condition,
and % was also the opinion OF the mem
bers ,lat the county should accept the
proposition of the State, one reason
being thai it's refusal would establish q
precedent which would ultimately work
gr.a. injury Go the county. Some oil
the bridges. how aver, will last for a
number of years without repair, ana IL
was suggested that portion OF the
work could be doue each year, until IL
was finally accomplished. Superinten-
dent OF Roads Hutchinson thought all
the culvertS were too small TO carry OIL
the immense volume of water from
small streams which has been charac-
,eriStic of the recent freshetS.
The gentlemen who were 90 examine
the road left on the s:2O b. *. O. train
Yesterday morning for West Alexander,
Pa. the country Commissioners board
,hc train AT their homes. MitchelIS
big picnic wagon had gone out early In
the morning, and was ready at the sta
zion for the Board The party was
composed of the following members Of
.le Board: Koch, OF Washington dis
uct: McGregOr. of Madison; Hall, OF
Cay. Mckinley, OF Union; Nollinger, Of
Center: Cruise, of Webster; Fritz, of
Richie: Bates, of Richlaud; Babe, OF
Naielphia and Blayney, of Liberty.
They we're accompanied by Henry Pen
te.a. clerk OF the Board; Sheriff Louis
>enr1d. superintendent of Roads
Wa. VI. Hutchinson, County Surveyor
". q smith. Assistant County Survey
'rCcm Smith, and representatives, OF
,ae REGISTER and Iatclligcaccr. Little
Mss Nernie Cruise, bright daughter
o' President Cruise. was the only lady
Che party.
The first stop was made at bridge No.
This had formerly been an arch
bridge, bG' was replaced with wooden
structure. which was found TO be in
ia.r condition. The next stop was made
az bridge No .. a double arch stone
bridge, the a5utmentS of which were
>e,,l nS, and the structure in bad shape
generally. This is one Of the Oldest
bridges along tae pike, having been
scanning about thirty years. 1t was
'-Nlty 90 construction originally. About
>-.' w'.i be required to make the bridge
'@1 At bridge No. 3, Sign bearing
'"e inscription this bridge is danger
olS has been up for several years. 1t
single arch stone bridge, which is
-DSaie, the stones falling out and the
@oltmentS giving way. The estimated
NJ Tor repairing il was $3.50. Bridge
w. y AZ SUNDAYS, was washed away
IT. The - Frasbo+ oDd tho