The Washington times., 1902-09-07
A LII countries have had their his
N toric roads; great arteries
y through which beat national

life. along which have flowed
enterprise and progress until the rail.
road consigned them to desuetude ant
practical oblivion.
| Greatest of all these highways Of his
tory, in the eyes Of true Americans
was our own natural road that crossed
the United States from the Atlantic tC
the State of Ohio, and from there
| trailed en- until lost in the Western
prairies. 1t has frequently been COM
pared to the Appian way, but our great
highway was much nobler. since the
former was designed to crafty the van
| ity of consuls. proconsuls, kings and
emperors, while the latter was planned
for free and progressive people. to aid
in building up great and growing ma
| tion.
| The old national road was one OF the
most important steps in the evolution
cf modern trade and travel. At time
| when the great tide Of emigration was
pouring into the Mississippi Valley. ii
was, more than other institution, the
means of fastening the development OF
| the great West. This grand old high
way, now almost ruin, almost un-
known to the citizens of our country,
was instrumental in turning the course
of emigration from the South to the
West. Over it were carried an almost
countless population and millions Of
actual wealth, and the Middle West was
by it's clasp linked to the new and
boundless acres of the North.
The story of this wonderful trail of a
free people is full OF interest to every
citizen. From it's hopeful beginning,
through the height of its fame and glory.
even to the day of its decline. it has a
claim upon this age and generation. and
must ever be tie which binds the pres
ent to the past In early times 1t served
to harmonize and bring together the Diff
ferent States, and no doubt did much 10
strengthen and save the Union. This Did
national road was the first and only
highway that was built by funds from
the National Treasury.
The question of internal land and wa
ter communication was in the Minds OF
our fathers even before the Revolution.
George Washington was one of those
most interested in the matter, and as
early as ITO he visited this part Of the
country, examining the lay of the land
and the trend of the streams. There
was then an Indian trail leading through
this section, over which he was guided
by noted Indian Nemacolin; and still
later he cut road through the same
forest. This was called the "Braddock
Road" and was displaced at length by
the national highway. which threaded its
path over the same route. All OF this
section is classic ground, and about the
hills and valleys linger the mighty mem
cries of the French and Indian wars
fon
1776.
The question of a road between the
East and West was agitated very early
in our national history, but without ac-
tual results until after the Revolution.
The question of it's construction came up
at the first session of our Continental
Congress. 1t was then decided upon, and
operations at once planned. When Ohio
was admitted as a State in 1902 Congress
set aside per cent of all moneys re-
ceived from the sale of public lands
within the State to be used in the con-
struction of road from the nayigable
waters OF the Atlanti: to the Ohio River,
and this was the nucleus OF our great
highway.
Early in 1906 Congress passed bill
authorizing the appointment of COM
missioners to lay out Q road over the
mountains. and President Jefferson ap-
pointed Thomas Moore and Eli Williams.
of Maryland. and Joseph Kerr. of Ohio
These men did noble work, and by the
close of the year had laid out definite
plans. The road was located on exact
ly the route they first selected. which
speaks well for their wisdom. 1t ran
from Cumberland to Wheeling, dis
tance of 100 miles, and from there ex-
finally was lost amid the prairies of
primitive Illinois. 1t was constructed
under direction of the War Department
with Brigadier General Gratiot in charge |
of 1t. The road was cut through the
forest four rods wide. graded and piked |
with stones. which covered the roadbed |
from twelve to eighteen inches. Its |
original cost was more than s1.00G,000. |
which was then thought n vast sum to |
be spent on public improvements.
AS soon as ii was opened it became the |
great link between East and West. and |
the mountain barrier between |
he States. 1t continued under the care |
Of the National Government for many
years. but finally 1t was put into good
repair and turned over to the several |
States through which it passed. Then
hey built tollhouses and tollgates along |
he route, and many funny anecdotes
ire told about the old-time conven-
iences. Every kind Of cattle or beast
vas taxed: also all sorts of vehicles
and freight. Persons going to church
Or to the mill or to election were ex-
smpt from toll. as we'll as those going
o school. to fur erals, or from one part
If the farm to another.
What the overland mail route became
o the West in later days, the old ma