The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1891-12-20

constructionists saw in the building of this
road the destruction of the sovereignty of
the States. while those who sns-
right OF the State to local self-govern-
ment and TO the regulation of It's own at
fairs denied when tho federal government
should assume tho power to collect tolls
and punish those who burned bridges on
the national roads. Seventy years later.
however, two judges of the United States
Supreme Court belonging TO the same State
rights party. declared that no State could.
under the interstate-commerce clause of
the United States Constitution, restrain
the sale of liquor in original packages in
one State by the citizens of another with
ont the specific permission of Congress.
When the Adams administration came in,
in 1875. the Nationalrcad enjoyed whatever
executive assistance firm believer in the
policy of internal improvements by the
federal government could render it. With
the advent of Jackson came the restoration
of the policy of building and turning over
the road to States to maintain. AS theyears
passed the people III the entire West were
anxious Tor the completion Of the road to
the Mississippi river at st. Louis. Without
such thoroughfare they were practically
smut out from the East and the national
capital, and in fact from all the rest of the
world. unless they were so fortunate as to
live near a navigable river. upon which. In
$780, steamboats, of n rude character and of
dangerous possibilities began to appear.
And no State was delay ed more in develop
ment than Indiana. 1t was for the most
part heavily wooded. so that the settler
had all he could do to make a clearing. with
out building highways over which travel
could be expeditions The roads were
simply wretcbed in Indiana when the State
was yet new. from 1920 10 1910. Indeed.
perfect highway Tor all seasons Is
yet stranger III most parts of Indiana. as
In the greater part of the country. Speak
ing OF the early roads of Indiana-aloDg III
1S35-Hon. w. III. English said TO the writer.
few days since, that he was three DAYS
coming from Scott county, seventy-hve
miles. to INDIANAPOLIS on horseback, to at
tend a convention, and three days return
Ing. Now the distance can be made in
three hours. The ways through the low
lands were known as corduroy roads.
Corduroy would indicate the kings cord.
but in the case of the road 1t was made by
laying logs on stringers side by side. max
ing "A road as rough as the streets of West
ern city, but that the r0ughDess was
regular.
from the world by such roads took an IN
tcrest In the construction of a permanent
road of stone and gravel, over which car
rage could pass. and were impatient at the
tard ness of the government In pushing the
great national work Now, only here and
there an old man has any recollection of
the interest taken in the National road"
phrase which now has no meaning to
most people. Then, that is from 1880 to
est TO the people of this section. 1t was
talked about as much as was the first rail-
road. because 1t meant way ont to the
world beyond, thOrOughfare over which
could be brought. at less cost and no
danger. the few products of the outside
world which the general poverty of the
people would enable them to purchase.
CONSTRUCTION IN INDIANA.
The road was In process of construction
through Indiana from about 1888 to 1887 or
1885. At the same time the State was en-
gagged in quite important internal improve
ments. making quite boom until the col
lapse of the great speculative movement in
1881. In this State. in 1886, when Van Buren,
was elected President. the attitude of that
statesman toward the National road" and
internal improvements in general, was dis
cussed in Indiana. As it might involve
the extension of the road it was question
of no little Importance TO the people herea-
bout. Inasmnch as Indiana gave William
II. Harrison. Wing. her nine electoral votes.
and he received only half as many in the
country as did Mr.. Van Buren,, it is possi-
BILE that the well-knOwn championship of
internal improvements by "old Tippeoa-
noe" had some influence with the people of
this State.
But the possibilities of railroad trans
portation dawned upon the world in 1850,
and became probabilities soon after 1855 IN
this part of the country. In May. 1883.
Congress made the last appropriation for
the road, and when the border of Illinois
reached the great enterprise. which
had occupied so mucb attention and been
under construction over thirty years. was
abandoned. 1t had been overtaken by
new pOwer-the steam railway. First and
last. S6.S21.246 was expended on the Ma
tional road in construction and repairs.
1t was n well-built road. stone being
used largely for foundation, and
macadam in some sections One appro-
prIstion bill required three layers of stone
The eastern portion of the road. particu-
larry that east of the Ohio river was for
years great thoroughfare. Opposition
stage lines carried many passengers. and
eight-hOrse teams moved the merchandise.
Scores of villages sprang mp on it's line.
and hundreds of Oid-fashiOned taverns
fourished during the quarter of q century
that it was the great thoroughfare between
the East and the West. When the railroad
superseded the National pike. these viii
la ges and taverns fell into decay, and doubt
less the old resident whose face is turned
to the past. and whose mind is filed with
the local prosperity and even the glory of
stage-cOach days. points them out rs evil
dences of the desOlatiOn which came to the
country with the iron track and the iron
horse.