The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1905-04-03
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G GREAT NATIONAL Pr<E. o
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FROM The Dayton lo) Herald
ln those days when steam railways ANA
naction foads hrancn ont from the city
ia an directions ike tAe icss OF a spider
iho commtp highways of the country fe-
ceivc ntgc attention from tho general na-
'ofny of the people because the travelling
ubiic no lonscr needs themNas la former
DAYS. and tire history of these roads is
consigned 10 oblivion as an hngs must
be when tney iinyv served their day and
generation. 0ut in the days OF our fathers
before the solvent 90 the steam engine
cr ia swift whnr OF thc electric car these
highways were the only route of travel
and were priced and famed accordingly.
Some eight on uine miles north of the
city Of Dayton. running through the nor-
u,cm part nf Montgomery county Is the
great National road. tho only highway Of
hs Kind ever wholly constructed by ,hD
government of the United States To IS
more than 500 miles m length aad passes
through several states Of the Union 10
was built from Cumberland. Md, Co
Wheeling W. va. and afterward was
extended through OHIO into n.diaua
from Cumberland TO washington. u. c..
other parties had built a stage road and
this wis arloiwurd operated in conncc-
uon with the great National road.
eight Carriages Could co Abreast.
IN Montgomery county The road passed
through the villages of Tadmore. Vanda-
ln and Harrisburg. and thence on into
Indiana. The road was constructed sixty
eight carriages at a time. From its In
ceptlon until 1854 it cost Uncle sam So
S2sgi9.38. Is number Of expensive bridges
having been built and at some places 1e-
nle. had to be cut in the mountains. The
funds for She building of the road were
raised from the sale ~ public lands One
twentieth OF such proceeds being used
for the construction, IN each Of the states
through which the road passed.
In 1S06. during the administration Of
rhomas Jefferson. the second President Of
the United States. the project took shape
and In ISIS. nearly a century ago. the
road was opcaed TO The public, and FROM
that late until The coming OF the rail-
WAYS west OF the Aleghanies In 1924.
The National road was the one great
highway over which passed the bulk of
trade aud travel and the mails OF the East
ara West and many illustrious statesman
and heroes OF the early period Of our ma
tional existence travelled over the road
to tile capital and back at the opening
ono closing of congress. General Jackson,
General William Henry Harrison Heary
clay General sum Houston. President
POLK. President Taylor. Crittepden shell
by Scott Euuer Davy Crockett and
many contemporaries ia the public SER
vice were fnLlihar figures in the eyes o.
the dwellers OF the roadside and many
amusing incidents arc told of the happen
ings on the road
Jackson Wanted Ham and Eggs.
a bach containing Henry Clay. tho
great statesman. was upset on "a pile OF
limestone on the Main street Of Union-
town. Pa, but ho escaped uphurt EN-
Treating himself from the wreck he
flcctiousiy remarked. "rhnt IS mix
ing the clay OF Kentucky and the lime
stone of Pennsylvania
General jackson on .his way TO the
capital had occasion 10 stop at Brown
viile. Pa, ard the citizens equal to the
occasion decided to give him grand
reception. lie was escorted TO the
Presbyterian church TO receive the greet