Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-01-05
Effort Will Be Made to Improve Ma
tional Pike.
BRIDGES ARE GOING DOWN
Pennsylvania and Maryland Both
Interested in Project.
HISTORIC INNS ON LINE.
Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star.

CUMBERLAND, Nd, January l. 1900
An effort will be made to interest both
the state authorities of Maryland and
Pennsylvania in the preservation of the
national road as monument to the eff
cacy OF early engineering, and at the same
time provide a good road in consonance
with the latter day movement for smooth,
durable highways. In Garrett county. es-
pecially, the fine stone bridges on the old
national road are being permitted to go
gradually into a state of decay. Some
have been dismantled OF coping stone.
while in the case OF others the parapet
walls have been thrown into ravines which
the bridges span. 1t is claimed by engt-
neers that the bridges could be restored
to the former state at very little cost. and
that as the road bed Is still intact, maca-
dam could be put on and the road brought
up to the high standard IL once possessed.
The bridges on the old national road are
built mostly In rubblo work. very littlo
cut stone being used in their construction.
The finest specimen Of this rubbe stone
work spans Castleman river, In Garrett
county. The bridge has clear span OF
eighty feet. The magnificent semi-circu-
lar arch rises nearly fifty feet above the
water level With its span and approaches
the bridge measures :07 feet long by 81
feet wide. The bridge was designed and
built in 1913 by Daniel Shriver, jr.
Has the Original Plat.
His grand nephew. Robert Shriver. presi-
dent of the First National Bank of cum
berland and president OF the Cumberland
city council. now has the original plat OF
the road from the twenty-flrst mile TO
Uniontown, Pa. in his possession. Daniel
Shriver Jr., was instructed to proceed with
the bridges and mason work on this
tion-from the twenty-hrst mile Cumber-
land) to Cniontown by Albert Gallatin, tho
Secretary Of the Treasury under President
Jeffel son. A letter from Secretary Gala
tin to Mr.. Shrlver. dated March 9, 1913,
says: Il approve Of having a stone
bridge across the Little Youghioghcny,"
meaning the structure now spanning the
Castleman river 1t is said this excel
lent piece OF engineering could be placed in
as firm a condition ever at a cost Of
not over $1,000, while not over several hun
bred dollars each would have to be spent
on the smaller stone structures.
The Maryland Legislature, at the term
about to convene, will likely be asked to
create a commission TO look after the res
toration Of the road with its bridges. There
seems to be a growing spirit, which civil
engineers are fostering, to maintain this
highway as monument TO the skill OF the
early surveyors who gave their brightest
thoughts and consideration to the construc-
ton of the great national highway, which
is now treated as an ordinary county road.
II is at present worked by supervisors APP
pointed by the county commissioners just
any ordinary dirt road Is looked after.
Generally, instead OF crushed stone, dirt
dug from the sides of the road is thrown
on the bed. This. during rainy weather,
makes the thoroughfare almost impossible.
Fine Scenery Along Road.
The primitive grandeur of mountain and
valley along this highway in a large meas
ure remains. AS the automobile is coming
into fashion It Is claimed that the restora.
ton of this road would bring great fame
to this section of Maryland and would
cause the spirit of reverence for our fore,
fathers to be increased. The builders OF
this road were cotempOraneous with tht
signers of the Declaration of Independence.
1t is confidently believed that Pennsylvania
will follow the pace which Maryland viii
set and there are many in this section whd
nurture the opinion that the great and his
toric thoroughfare will be restored 10 its
former state of utility. II is claimed that
this is a rare case where sentiment and
practical utility can go hand In hand.
On Saturday night last one of the fas
nous inns Of the old national road, known
the 'Spook House." which stood on THO
crest Of Red ridge, one-half mile west 81
Shade mills. in Garrett county, was totally
destroyed by fire. 1t is believed the bulds
ing was Internationally fired by a tramp
who had sought shelter within Its walls,
There is theory that the man persisted
and Is buried under the great stone chms
ney that stood in the center of the house.
The chimney fell during the fire.
Built with the Road.
This house was built soon after the CONF
pleuon Of the turnpike, and was a noted
inn in its day. Many of the statesmen OF
the early days OF the republic stopped there
going to and from Washington. One Of the
landlords was Isaac Beall, son OF Thomas
Beall Of Samuel, known in history as
the ancient proprietor of Cumberland
town" John Yeast, landlord of the
inn died in 1894. 1t was believed that
he was poisoned by his wife. Morti-
more Cade, another keeper Of the inn, died
in 1913 from a fractured skull. caused by
runaway slaves whom he unsuccessfully
attempted to capture. In later years, il is
said, a murder was committed in the house.
while in a cabin in the neighborhood two
colored children were burned TO death The
house. in its windowless, dismantled condi-
ton, during the past few decades, was
a grewsome object, and stories that made
people shudder were told about Il. Many
ghost tales were related Of It, whence the
latter-day name, 'Spook House" Very few
n the original of he old ruf ,,tly