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

the starting point. TO the Ohio there
were only two artificial restrictions as
10 its course The Commonwealth or
Pennsylvania. In granting permission
TO the Federal Government 70 construct
the road In its domain. made the pro-
viso that II must pass through Wash
; ington. the seat OF Washington County.
and Unlontown. the capital Of Fayette
County. The first commission was EN-
powered 10 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
ana Wheeling. the route was laid as
straight as possible. In reasonable con
formlty TO the face OF the country.
But beyond the Ohio IL was even more
direct. Congress requiring that. except
for its touching the capitals OF the
three States, Ohio. Indiana and I'LL
nols, distance must be economized as
much as possible II crosses. there
fore. a great part OF the rolling lands
between the Ohio aud the Mississippi.
especially the prairies OF Indiana and
Illinois In an almost absolutely
straight line
state. Proud of the Highway.
The width OF the thoroughfare was
fixed by Congress at four rods and its
greatest grade az five degrees. The
average cost per mile from the Poto-
mac to the Ohio was $4,000. far ex-
cceding the estimate OF the commits
sioners. but through the comparatively
level region b. ond TIE latter river II
was less than half as much. The road
was not fully constructed beyond Van
dalla. III. The last appropriation was
made for IL BY Congress In 1885. The
railways had rapidly encroached upon
Its traffic until. two years before that.
Congress had seriously debated wheth-
er IL would not be wiser to substitute
railway for II between Columbus.
Ohio, and the Mississippi. II was the
original policy Of Congress TO turn the
road over to the States In which II
ny, on the condition that they repair
and maintain IL. and this was carried
out There was at the same time.
charged with the supervision OF the re-
pairs. The States took very great
pride In the highway and established
toll houses for the collection OF reve-
nue. to be used toward its maintenance.
These toll stations were at a greater
distance apart In Pennsylvania than
they were in the three Western States
In the early days In Ohio the gate
keepers were considered OF such I'M
portance that the Governor appointed
them
Immense Bcnect 60 the Country.
The material benefit which the coun-
try derived from this great national
highway. however. was quite unmeas-
urable. A writer who Is an authority
on the subject says that the construc-
don OF the Cumberland road was one |
OF the most important steps In that |
movement OF national expansion which |
followed the conquest of the West II
Is probably impossible for us TO realize
fully what 1t meant to the West when |
that vanguard OF surveyors came down
the slopes OF the Alleghenies hewing a
which should In one gen
GRAFTON bind distant and half-acQuaint-
ed States together In bonds OF common
Interest, sympathy and ambition. I'm
til that day travellers spoke OF going
into and coming out OF the West as
though IL were a Mammoth Cave. The
growth and prosperity OF the West
was impossible until the dawning OF
such convictions as those which made
the Cumberland road reality"
The national highway was con-
,eption OF the youthful Washington.
about the time when he was with
Braddock's Inflated expedition against
he savsges. He adhered TO that dream
throughout bis life; but II was not an
IL seven years after has death. In the
administration OF Jefferson. thai any