The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1907-04-04

At an epoch when the automobile Is
assuming something OF the Importance
for long distance travel that formerly
belonged 10 the post-chaIse and the
stage-coach. there seems no doubt that
great highways. for the increasing traf-
&c OF this nature. such as existed until
long psst the middle Of the last cen
tury. stretching across hundreds Of
miles OF territory. viii again be estab-
iiShed or viii be restored throughout 10
serTlceable condition. Tours In motor
cars extending across dozen States.
aud Ia Europe across several independ-
enf countries. are not unusual There
Is plenty Of reason 10 believe that they
Will grow more and more 4 matter OF
course. Now Is moofed. also. the run
cling OF public motor coaches over popu-
lar scenic routes and meanwhile In
vention Ia constantly raising the maxi
mum OF speed OF auto vehicles
A macadam highway across the
American continent. and one length
wise OF II. Too. win be constructed
sooner or later. A strong movement
toward an Initial step in this direction.
a specially well built road from the At
lantic seacoast TO the Ohio River or
even 20 Chicago. has attracted much
attention AT banquet given In Phiia-
dsiphia. under The auspices OF the Good
Roads League. a project was unfolded
for such a road beginning at the
schuyikill. passing through Lancaster,
Gettysburg and Bedford. and terminal
Ing Professionally at Pittsburg. The
distance 10 29T miles. the proposed
width OF the roadway 10 100 feet and
the estimated cost. utilizing. OF course.
existing routes IL between 100000
and S3.5oo.oo0.
The ola -xstiensi 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 1888.
This IL a work which.in excellence is
In some degree comparable TO those
splendid military tboroughfares created
by the Romans. not only throughout
Italy. but In practically every country
OF Europe in which they set foot as
ccDquerors Even In England to-day
the finest roads are those that are
chiefly composed OF the old Roman
upon which MscAdsm him
self. that exceedingly useful Scotch
man. does not appear to have been able
10 improve.
The Cumberland road. although built
under contract and with Congressional
which now would
make an investigator doubly inquisi-
tive-is said TO have been a thorough
IL honest piece OF work. II 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
20 the Mississippi at East
st. Louis. and II cost So.s24.919.SS. Ger
tain portions OF Il have been maintain
ed In good condition to the present
day. In spite OF the fact that the rail-
way train more than ferry 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 |
East.
Pine BASIS for Modern Highway.
The Cumberland road. with supple
mentary roads connecting II with the
great Eastern cities. Affords the best
basis for the proposed modern high
way from the Atlantic TO the Missis-
rippi and 10 utilize IL as such would
vastly lessen the cost
,f construction. Throughout nearly Its
whole length the original foundation
remains II was laid out by commits
sions appointed by authority OF Con-
zress and was built under the supervi-
ZION OF approved engineers OF the Reg
aIar Army. From Cumberland, ma.