Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1906-1908, 1906-12-21
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At IN epoch when the automobile is
assuming something Of the Importance
for long distance travel that formerly
belonged to the post-chaise and the
stage-coach, there seems no doubt that
great highways, for the increasing traf-
hc Of this nature, such as existed until
long past the middle Of the last CEN
fury, stretching across hundreds of
miles Of territory, viii again be estab-
liShed or will be restored throughout to
servlceable condition Tours in motor
cars extending across a dozen States,
and in Europe across several independ-
ent countries, are not unusual There
is plenty Of reason to believe that they
will grow more and more a matter of
course. Now is mOoted, also, tine run
ming of public motor coaches over pOpu-
lar scenic routes, and meanwhile in
yention is constantly raising the maxi
mum of speed of auto vehicles.
macadam highway across the
American continent, and one length
wise Of it, too, will be constructed
sooner or later A strong movement
toward an initial step In this direction,
a specially we'll built road from the At
lantic seacoast to the Ohio River or
even to Chicago, has attracted much
attention. At a banquet given in Phila-
delphia, under the auspices of the Good
Roads League, project was unfolded
for such n road, beginning at the
Schuylkill, passing through Lancaster,
Gettysburg and Bedford, and terminal
Ing Professionally at Pittsburg. The
distance Is 297 miles, the proposed
width of the roadway is 100 feet and
the estimated cost, utilizing, of course,
existing routes, is between $1,000, 900
and $3,5O0,OOO.
The Old National Road
a scheme, however, of much greater
magnitude and of better promise is the
restoration and Improvement of the old
National road,' officially and historic
ally known also as the Cumberland
road, built by the United States govern
ment between the years 1906 and 1899
This is a work which in excellence Is
In some degree comparable to those
splendid military thoroughfares created
by the Romans, not only throughout
Italy, but in practically every country
of Europe in which they set foot as
conquerors. Even in England to-day
the finest roads are those that are
chiefly composed of the old Roman
foundations. upon which MacAdam him
self, that exceedingly useful Scotch
TO improve.
The Cumberland road, although built
under contract and with Congressional
appropriations-fac which now would
make an investigator doubly induisi-
tjve-is said TO have been a thorough
" honest piece of work. 1t was the
first and greatest highway of its kind
constructed by the United States gov
eminent; is 700 miles in length. reach
ing, as laid out, from the Potomac at
Cumberland to the Mississippi at East
st. Louis, and it cost $6.S24919.33. Ger
tain portions of it have been maintain
ed in good condition to the present
day, in spite of the fact that the rail
way train more than forty years ago
entirely superseded the stage coach
and the mountain ship" as the freight
wagon was called, which carried the
early commerce across the Alleghenies.
between the new Middle West and the
thriving East.
Fine Basis for Modern Highway.
The Cumberland road, with supple
mentary roads connecting it with the
great Eastern cities. affords the best
basis for the proposed modern high
way from the Atlantic to the Missis-
sippi, and TO utilize it as such would
unquestionably vastly lessen the cost
of construction. Throughout nearly its
whole length the original foundation
remains. 1t was laid out by commits
sions appointed by authority of Con-
gress and was built under the supervi-
sion Of approved engineers Of the Reg
ular Army. From Cumberland, Md,
the starting point, to the Ohio there
were only two artificial restrictions as
to its course. The Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania, in granting permission
to the Federal Government to construct
the road in its domain, made the pro-
viso that it must pass through Wash
ington. the seat of Washington County,
and Uniontown, the capital of Fayette
County. The first commission was en-
powered to locate the terminus of the
Eastern section of the road anywhere
between the mouth of Grave Greek,
near Wheeling, on the Ohio River. and
the northern limit of Steubenyille,
From one to another Of the four points
Cumberland. Uniontown, Washington
and Wheeling. the route was laid as