Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-12-26


MAP OF
sii At an epoch when the automobile Is
! assuming something Of the Importance
Tor long-distance travel that formerly
belonged to the post-chnise and the
stag e-coach, there seems no doubt that
great highways. for the increasing traf-
fc of this nature, such us existed until
I long past the middle of the last CEN
fury, stretching across hundreds OF
miles of territory, will again be estab-
: hshed or will be restored throughout 10
serviceable condition. Tours In motor
cars extending across dozen States,
and In Europe across several independ-
ent countries. are not unusual. There
ts plenty of reason to believe. that they
will grow more md more u matter of
conrse. Now Is mooted, also, the 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.
a 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,
4 specially well built road from the At
ssaantic seacoasts to the Ohio River or
even to Chicago. has attracted much
attention. At u banquet given In Phila-
delphia, under the auspices OF the Good
koads League, a project was nnfolded
Tor such road. beginning at the
schuylkill, passing through Lancaster,
Gettysburg and Bedford, and terminate
ing Professionally at Plttsburg. The
distance Is 237 miles, the proposed
width OF the roadway is 100 feet and
the estimated cost, utilizing, of course,
existing. routes. is between $1,000, 600
= Tss Old aNasionuiis II 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 rs the Cumberland
road. built by the United States govern
ment between the years 1906 and 1889.
Thisiis 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 MS
conquerors. Even In England to-day
the finest roads are those that are
Chiefly. composed of the old Roman
foundations, upon which Mac dam him
T 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
ropriations-facts which now would
make an Investigator doubly induisi-
tiye-is said to have been a thorough
aly honest piece of work. 1t was the
first and greatest highway Of Its Kind
constructed by the United States gov
eminent; Is 100 miles in length, reach
Ing. as laid out, from the Potomac Mt
/ Cumberland to the Mississippi at East
st. Louis, and 1t cost $685., 919.s3. Ger
. tain portions Of 1t 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 carrted 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 1t with the
great Eastern cities. affords the best
basis for the proposed modern high
way from the Atlantic to the AIissis-
sippi. and to utilize 1t as such would
unquestionably vastly lessen the cost
sof 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 surfing point, to the Ohio there
were only two artificial restrictions us
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 Cniontown, the capital of Fayette
County. The first commission was en-
4 powered to locate the terminus of the
Eastern section of the road anywhere
between the mouth OF Grave Creek,
near Wheeling, Oh 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
straight Us possible, In reasonable con-
fornity to the face of the country.
But beyond the Ohio 1t was even more
direct, Congress requiring that. except
for Its touching tho capitals of the
three States. Ohio. Indiana and ILL.,
nois, distance must be economical as
much as possible. 1t crosses. there
fore, great part of the rolling lands
between the Ohio aud the Mississippi,
especially the pralrles of Indiana and
Illinois. In an almost absolutely
straight line.
states Psend Of the Highway.
The width OF the thoroughfare was
exsd By Congrsss at four reds and IL
q