The morning times., 1896-04-26
Ruins Line the Road.

western and Western Congressman and
officials found this the quickest and best
way To Was hington and the East.
Ruins Line the Road.
The two wheelmen saw many ruins and
well preserved stone buildings along the
way to Illustrate the tales of those bygone
days, when they beard at all country
places where they stopped.
The numerous stone "taVernS,' with walls
two feet thick and as solid as the da they
were cemented together, are frequently
met west of Frostburg, and many Of them
are still in service as accommodations OF the
wa ytarer.
on the evening Of the fourth day from
Was hington the two riders put up at one
OF these substantial hostelries at the
picturesque village of Summerfield, on the
bank of the Youghio gheny river. Its
octogenarian keeper was wholesouled
man, and while his register showed but
slight patronage, he gloried in the fact that
III was not always thus, and in nSubstantiation
he showed huge books dated in the fifties,
showing the names of the numerous arrivals
at that time.
He was In reminiscent mood, and since
he had been acquainted with all the prom
1nent men who Travelled in those days,
soon began telling of those palmy days
before the railroad era.
SItVibs III tuS luli SlOW Ol IUC OpSh
fireplace in big easy chair be pictured
again the scenes of long ago.
II remember it as if it were yesterday"
ne began after silence. Jim Collins was
driving an easthound stage, and among
the passengers happened to be Mr. Clay.
Well, out yonder," pointing to the oppo-
site side of the road, LAY a stone pile.
Jim had horn or two too much, L guess.
and as consequence he ran over the
pile and upset the coach. Fortunately no
one was hurt. and when they were again
ready to go Mr.. Clay said: We'll. gentle
men, that is what l call mixing the clay
of Kentucky with the limestone of Penn
6 ylvania.' ?"
TINS may not be new story, for
any one journeying over the pike will hear
It, The people who remember it delight
in telling it to a stranger. and the varia-
tlon is slight except ahat it happened
right out yondeE,' all the way from Frost
burg to Brownsville, and the words ''lime-
stone of Pennsylvania" are changed to
limestone of Maryland to suit the To-
cality.
Relics of the Past Vanishing.
The men who were actively enga ged
as drivers. contractors, and tavern keep
ers In those good old days. are now fast
passing away and in a few more years
none will remain to relate those stirring
events.
The old relay stables. the smthies, and
the quaint vine covered. octagonal toll
houses are like wise passing away. They
Will continue to tell their silent stories
awhile longer, and the rusting pyramidal
mllestones will continue to mark the dis
tances from Cumberland to Wtieeling for a
few years yet. then little else will remain
to mark the glory of this westward path.
The road itself is in a dilapidated con-
dition. Where it was once well graded.
smooth, faultlessly macadamized and well
cared for it is now stony grass grown and
full of dangerous gullies that wash deeper
with every rainfall. The great iron toll
gates have long since disappeared, but the
splendid stone bridges are as solid as they
ever were, and the stone watering troughs
at the numerous springs still show part
or Its once great splendor. But, generally
speaking. it is neglected, and particularly
In that portion Of the very mountainous
region which was turned over to the
counties in western Maryland. .
There the dccadence is almost complete;
at places the farmers cncroa ching upon it
make 1t almost impossible for two vehicles