The Washington herald., 1907-08-04
By CORA BACON FOSTER.


agitation of the same subject by the far
seeing men OF the American colonies and
nation Of the eighteenth century. Then
it was for the purpose Of opening COM
mercial relations with the great little
known West in order to secure for East
ern markets a probable future trade; now
after the old highways canals, steam
boats, and more modern railways have
proved inadequate for the moving OF the
immense bulk of the products Of the
Mississippi Valley to waiting markets. it
is to ascertain if the navigation of the
various river systems may not be so i'm
proved as TO relieve. in part at least. the
existing congestion It has been an
nounced that President Roosevelt win in
person investigate a portion of the Mis-
sissippi River this fan In doing so he
will but emulate the example Of our first
great President, who. alcne and unpro-
tected made many excursions into the
uncharted wilderness, following the
courses of mountain streams, seeking
feasible route for a portage highway over
the mountains that separate the east
ward-dowing from the westward-fowing
rivers.
One result of the young Washington's
mission in 1853 TO the camp of the French
COmmandant on the upper Allegheny was
70 awaken his abiding and absorbing in
terest in the trans-Appalachian country.
then almost unknown to the people Of the
Atlantic coast colonies. English eXplor-
ers were few, and only occasional Indian
traders or hunters had ventured through
the mountain passes into the forests be
yond, threaded only by the trails of the
red man and the buffalo, The French
were more enterprising and had estab-
lished a chain of settlements extending
from the St. Lawrence down the Nissis-
sippi to the Gulf OF Mexico, and were
about to take possession of the Ohio
country in the name OF King Louis By
her original charter from the English
crown. Virginia claimed al the territory
west Of Pennsylvania. and was much in
censed by this invasion. hence the mes
sage of warning, which, disregarded,
eventually cost France her North Amer
Jean colonies.
Urged Importance of Comunica ton.
Upon his return to Williamsburg the
youthful diplomat, after reporting IN full
to the governor and council, and giving
them copious notes ne had taken on the
character of the country he had traversed
urged the importance of opening way OF
communication between the Eastern set
Elements and the Western valleys, to Sc
cure the possession of frontier posts.
In I754 military road was cut over the
mountains by Gen. Braddock, and used as
q thOroughfare for many years after
After the years devoted TO the defense
OF the OUTLYING farms OF Virginia from
Indian depredations. Washington took his
seat in the House of BUrgesses in los He
soon began quietly to agitate the subject
OF opening ways Of communication with
the Western country. which he persist
emily urged till his death. The large
tracts OF land on the kanawha given him
for his military services merely added a
personal interest. II was for his beloved
Virginia that he would secure the trade
of the rich valleys beyond the mountains
TO which he. with that rare foresight OF
his would have the way opened. From
Detroit, the great trading post on the
Lakes, through the Ohio and its tributa-
ries, and over the mountains by a-shor'
portage highway to the Potomac, the bay,
and the sea. was natures opportunity
which Washington would have his fellow
citizens improve.
Inspected Mountain Passes.
In no he made a careful inspection OF
the passes in the mountainous barrier
noting in his methOdical way the result
of each days journey. These notes, widely
published in the gazettes Of the time, at
tracted much attention. and doubles:
largely influenced the considerable emf
grafton 10 that region which presently Sc
in and continued without interruption
throughout the Revolutionary War. II
1772 and IVA he made further investga
tions of the sources of the differen
branches Of the Potomac and Western
rivers, in search of a good portage route
that should avoid Pennsylvania territory.
Western trade was beginning 10 as
sumo considerable proportions; it should
be secured without delay for Virginia
and Maryland. whose interests were mu
tual So in 1774 he brought a bill befor,
the burgesses for the Improvement o.
the navigation of the Potomac and tn,
construction Of a highway from the heaC
of navigation on that river to connec
with the headwaters of some branch O
The Ohio within Virginia territory. Afte
considerable modification the bill wa,
about TO pass in the Virginia legislature
but there were delays in Annapolis
where a similar bill had been introduced
despite the good Offices Of Thomas John
son. owing 10 the jealousy Of the Bal
tinOre merchants Of Georgetown rivalry
The revolt of the colonies in 1775 put
stop TO all matters of internal improve
ment then pending in the several cOlOnia
legislatures. After the cessation of hoe
tilities and before returning 10 pTivat
life. Washington, in company with Gov
Clinton. made a tour up the Hudson an,
Mohawk rivers over the short portage [,
Lake Ontario. He was much impresse,
with the feasibility of this route, an,
returned TO Virginia with the determine
ton, doubtless. to rush matters ther
and have the navigation of the Potomac
and MonOngahela improved, and a gOot
road opened between the two river sys
tens before the shrewd New Yorker
should realize the natural advantages o
their State and proceed 10 act.
Took Up Project Again.
So when the mature Washington cam
again to Mount Vernon, in 1884, he a
once took up the old project of publ
highways for the mutual interchange o
trade and travel He saw clearly. toe
the precarious political situation OF tn
Kentucky settlers, subjected as they wer
10 the intrigues OF both English and Span
ism emissaries, and realized the necessit
of bringing them within closer touch O
the parent State. In September he mad
vet another perilous tour Of over IS
miles among the mountains of the water
shed, following which he addressed a me