The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1907-12-12
4 SKETCH OF THE
OLD NATIONAL PIKE
From Indian Trail by Evolution to
Great Highway.
TIE OLD CUMBERLAND ROAD.
Commenced in SOo-Varlous ATpro-
priatiOnS by the Government
Question OF Public Road Improves
ments a Political One.
To the Editor of The Republican:

10 the Editor of The Republican:
Good many years ago I took lone
horse back ride upon the old Cumber-
land road for number of miles for the
purpose of refreshing early recollections
of that old highway, which was COM
monty. but not correctly called the Ma
tional road or Pike no doubt because the
national treasury furnished all the mon
ey or means to build it.
l propose in this paper to give an
authentic and accurate history in suit
able form and space of this old historic
highway. Every person who knows
something of the Braddock's old road
that it was hastily made from Cumber-
land over the Allegany mountains in
1855 by General Braddock as military
way, in his disastrous expedition to
capture Fort Pitt. He however, fol-
lowed the route or way of Col. Wash
ington with his 120 men, the previous
year across the mountains in his unfor-
tunate expedition.
Before these times it was a mere
pathway of the Indians, but later used
by footmen, and horse men of the white
race to reach the frontier regions to
traffic with the Indians in their print
tive commodities. This now historic
road, when it was first made, was in
sufficient to pass vehicles carrying bur
dens. Articles of necessity were car
ried on 'packhorses, with tremendous
saddles upon them, almost weight en-
ough for horse to carry. l saw one of
the antiquated articles in early days.
The sight of one now would be wonder
to enlightened persons. In those early
times there was no appropriation Of the
engineering science in making this road.
The Indian pathway was the guide,
grades were not thought of or cared, for
way or outlet was the object.
The first public notice of this road
was by an act of the Maryland Legisla-
ture in 1898, which provided for the
Strengthening and amending the road
leading from Uniontown, Pa, to Wind
ing Ridge at the Maryland Zine. This
meant the Braddock Road. The com
missioners named in the act were George
Dent, grandfather of Mrs. Gen. Grant,
VIM. Mcmahon and Evan Lynn.
The road was not to be over 40 feet
wide and the expenses Of the improve
ment was to be paid by the parties ask
ing for it.
AS the eastern part Of our country in
creased in population and wealth. its
accretions moved to the opposite places
over Braddock S road, and in time it be-
came the most important thoroughfare
in the country to the inviting West. Its
now dim lines in places can still be
identified, but upon general view it is
not visible. Full grown trees now stand
in its track in many places where years
ago trenches existed. The .obhterated
road was entirely abandoned as thor
oughfare nearly century since; and
every tavern and building that once
lined it at least in Maryland has entire
ly disappeared. The Tomlinson Inn,
the most noted of all, wa. ruthlessly
torn down, fifty years ago, and after
wards the ground made truck patch.
In this famous house splendid family
was reared, all passed away long since,
with but few descendants.
After the organization of the general
government in 1889, the tides from the
East to the West, mainly over this way,
increased rapidly, so much 50 that it be-
came worn out and utterly inadequate
as the public artery and was the first to
receive national treatment. AS early as
1906, the year Of the advent of Henry
Clay to the U. S. Senate, Congress
saw, and acted on the necessity of max
ing internal Improvements. This year
the sum of $50, 200 was appropriated to
open and make the Cumberland road
to the Ohio river.
From this time its legal name was
Cumberland road. In 1910, $50, 900 were
appropriated to be spent between Cum
berland and Brownsville, Pa. In 1911
$50, 600 were appropriated to be spent
between Cumberland and Brownsville,
Pa. In 1913 $50, 200 were appropriated
to be applied between these two places:
in 1915, $50, 900 in the same manner; in
1918 the sum of $685. 84, and $3.50, 900
for the Cumberland road, generally. In
1920, $4,000 were appropriated prelim-
mary to the extension of the road West
OF Wheeling. In 1923 $3.50, 600 appro-
priated for the road between Cumber-
land and Wheeling.
This law for the first time authorized
a superintendent to be appointed by the
President. David Shriver, of Cumber-
land, was appointed. In 1926 $3.50, 900
were appropriated to be spent between
Canton and GAINESVILLE, Ohio; in 1927,
$50, 600 between Cumberland and Wheel
ing; in 1929 $1,000 to extend the road
beyond GAINESVILLE, Ohio; in 1881, the
aggregate sum of $24l, 915. IS was ap-
propriated for the road in Ohio, Indiana
| opJ IIl;Dnie. -, 1000 ptro nnn l. g,