The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1894-07-25
An Interesting Book.

EDITOR liEKALE-N iih your peftiti7-
sion / desire 10 notice Colonel 4. Il. Seat
RIGHTS interesting book, called The Old
Pike, history Of the National Road
Evidently the author has spared neither
time nor labor in gathering data and col
lating the vast number of facts and incl
dents with which the book is filed.
The volume contains ~ pages, and
opens with detailed account of the orr
gin of this great national enterprise, Civ
ing President JeffersOn's message Of jan
uary 81, ls07, on the subject, also, those
of Monroe and Jackson at later dates.
Then follows an account OF the eontinu-
Gus efforts of Albert Gallatin, Henry
Clay and Andrew Stewart in securing
favorable congressional action for this
famous road, the only one OF the kind eV-
er constructed by the national govern
ment-a road that has but few equals in
the worlds history. In many respects il
surpasses Rome's Appian Way, which
has been noted for over 200 years. From
Cumberland, Nd. on 20 Wheeling, West
Va. it cuts its way through strata Of
earth and rocks, thence over deep deiiles
by stone bridges whose substantial ma
sOnry defies the ravages of time and
scales mountains that rise nearly 300
feet above the level Of the sea, thus,
working for many years one Ofthe grand
est and most useful thorOughfares Of the
nation. Ii was the boast Of ancient Rome
that the Appian Way was 50 wide %
feet) that two charriOts could go side by
side. and yet our national pike, with its
% feet width, would allow six chariots 10
be driven abreast What road Macsid-
aInized with nine inches of hard lime
stones, broken small enough 10 60
through a three inch ring, it became as
solid as a granite rock and smooth as
floor.
The history of its construction figures
conspicuOusly among the most interest
ing facts connected with the progress Of
our country. President Jefferson in 1877
appointed Thomas Moore, Joseph Kerr
and Eli Williams, all OF Maryland, 10
lay out the road from Cumberland to the
Ohio line. Il was not opened for travel
however, until ISIS When that part Of
it running through Pennsylvania WAS
transferred from the general government
to the State. the Governor i'm 1851, ap-
pointed Thomas Endsley, of Somerset
county; W. F. Copeland and I. Downer,
Fayette county; :. Hill and b. Anderson,
Washington county, for the purpose Of
keeping it in repair.
Down to lS52, when ii was Supplantcd
by railroads crosSing the mountains,
il was the greatest Of the worlds thor
oughf,res. One living on it WAS always
in sight Of either long lines Of wagons,
stages, carriages, people ON horseback.
and droves of horses, cattle and hogs. IL
was no unusual thing to see a string Of
- four-horse coaches, filled with passeu-
gers, going both east and west. To a--
cOmmodate the travelling public taverns
were 10 be found within a mile of each
other-taverns that We're taVerns. whose
tables We're the delight OF such men rs
Jackson. Monroe, Clay. Benton. Ewing.
Cronin, Harrison, Taylor, Crittendon and
Polk.
The book gives history of all the old
taverns and their keepers: Of the old
wagoners and stage drivers. many Of
whom are yet living and nearing the
hundred line OF their earthly careers.
Many incidents pertaining 10 runaways,
and upsets Of wagons and stages. with |
injuries and killing Of passengers and |
drivers are given. \ full account of |
robberies of mail stages, and a grand lar |
ceny of two whole wagon loads of goods /
in transit from Baltimore 10 a point in /
Ohio, makes mighty interesting reading |
TO Somerset county people, inasmuch as
the goods were stolen 10y parties at Sails /
bury who were tried in our court in lSa4. |
The parties were arrested by sheriff |
Philson, some of whom afterwards e.
capel. some convicted, and one commit |
ted suicide.
In addition to such interesting reading |
matter the book contains ~ capital illus |
tratiOns. such as flc-similes Of old tav- |
erns, bridges and iikenesses Of old was- /
Oaers. stage drivers and tavern keepers. |
During the time materials were being /
gathered for the book Hon. james G. |
Blaine. whose early life was spent on the |
old pike, in a note to the author, wrote: |
Il have read and re-read the sketches |
sent me, filed with familiar scenes and |
names forever endeared to my memory |
and. referring to the grand old public |
houses that lined the pike. he wrote: I'VE !
did not use the high sounding word hotel. |
but the good old AnglO-Saxon, farern.
with its wide open fire in the cheerful |
harroOm, and the bountiful spread in the |
dining room 3. How real and vivid it |
all seems at this moment All the remi- |
niscences of the old pike, for which You
are an enthusiast, are heartily shared by |
me-"
Under date OF July :, Hon. +. Stake. |
judge of the United States Supreme !
Court, living at HagerstOwn. Md, wrote:
Il have just read every word of '',The |
Old Pike" and enjoyed it very much. I |
am the grandson of the Miller who kent 1
the old Miller tavern, described on page |
l9s. The history Of the old pike is well |
worth preserving for the instruction and |
qualification of the coming generation"
The foregoing outline indicates that i; /
is a book Of rare merit. and Is sure to in !
terest every reader. am informed the |
price i Sk0Q per copy, and can be had in |
a few days from an authorized agent.
Somerset, Pa.
July 3ith, ~. \. J. ENDsLEY.