Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1906-12-21

At an 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-
1c of this nature, such as existed until
long past the middle of the last CEN
tury, stretching across hundreds Of
miles Of territory, will again be estab-
ltshed or will be restored throughout to
serViceable 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 matter OF
course. Now is mooted, also, the rum
ming of public motor coaches over popu-
lar scenic routes, and meanwhile in
vention is constantly raising the maxi
mum Of speed of auto vehicles.
A macadam highway across the
American continent, and one length
sooner or later. A strong movement
toward an initial step in this direction,
a specially well built road from the At
lanttc seacoast to the Ohio River or
even to Chicago, has attracted much
attention. At banquet given in Phila-
oh ho q tha
Roads League, a project was unfolded
for such 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 100000
and $3,5OO,OOO.
The Old "NatfonaI Road"
4 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 1889.
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
founda tons, upon which MacAdam him
self, that exceedingly useful Scotch
man, does not appear to have been able
to improve.
The Cumberland road, although built
under contract and with Congressional
appropriations which now would
make an investigator doubly inquisi-
tfve-is said to have been a thorough
II 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 $6824, 1898. 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 origina! foundation
remains. It was laid out by commits
sions appointed by authority of Con-
gress and was built under the supery1-
sion Of approved engineers Of the Reg
ular Army. From Cumberland, Nd,