The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1908-05-28
The Old National Pike the Leading
Thought.
THE GREAT NATIONAL HIGHWAY.
Improved Carriages and the Great In
crease in Their Number and Varie-
ty Require Improvement in the
Roads-An Established Basis.
To the Editor of The Republican.


the extent of causing the phrase to
be a slogan. But l do not mean to
say, by any means, that too much
is being said or written upon this
very important subject. This pop
ular term is applied to the old
time country, or county roads, and
properly SO. For a time the vast
progress and powers Of the rail
roads of thisscountry almost put
quietus to the country road sys-
TEN, especially the ones of length,
as the old Cumberland road, and
Baltimore Pike road. They were
in times past large carriers of both
passengers and freight. No one
sorrows for the change, but there
is still room and need of good roads
to reach and contribute to the rail-
roads. They are simply common
carriers, and not producers ofcom-
modities for market and for the
use Of the people.
The great wealth in this Coun-
try lies in its agricultural produc-
tons, and all know they are of
great bulk and weight. Not pro-
duced on or near the railroads, but
mostly considerable distances,
the vast annual products are to be
conveyed from the millions of
farms to the railroad depots for
transportation to the many mar
kets. Now is 1t not plain to be
seen that country roads-good ones
are necessary to carry these ag-
rlcultural products to markets?
These products are on the increase
all over the country, while Our
road system for some time has been
on the decline.
1t is time for the good of all that
renewal should be made, not
merely for the pleasure seekers, but
for general accommodation. 1t is
a fact in many instances in times
past the money appropriated for
the roads has not been wisely and
fairly SPONTANEOUSLY and self
ishness INDUCED in.
Our Legislature at its last SEES
sion thoughtfully and wisely pro-
vided for allosn of $4,000, 900. to
be used in the Improvement of the
roads throughout the State. 1t is
to be hoped this large sum of the
peoples money will be wisely,
carefully and properly used for the
intended purposes, and that there
be no gratis or favoritism or parti-
sanism in it.
Now few words about the old
Cumberland (somtimes called Ma
tionaD road. I have on hand
much matter of my own procure
ment in regard to it, but only a
small part need be given here. The
first appropriation for its making
by Congress was $4,000 in 1906,
followed by some twenty others, at
intervals, till the last in 1898.
amounting in the aggregate to the
sum of 81, 284 ,oS6. 81. Its begin
ming was at Cumberland, following
the general line or course of the
Braddock road through Maryland,
Pennsylvania, Virginia, Ohio, In
diana and Illinois, till it reached
East St. Louis. 1t was the most
lengthy highway in our country.
The Maryland part of it was
from Cumberland to Winding
ridge, at the Pennsylvania line,
about IS miles west. In the year
1893 the United States turned the
road over to the different States
through which it passed. Since
then the local authorities had
charge of it, and treated as an or
binary country road. Such has
been the case in Allegany and
Garrett counties. 1t has for some
time been in quite a worn or de-
iapidated condition. 1t needs re-
pairs badly and ought to have
them. 1t is the most lengthy road
in the two counties and the most
important. It's foundation and
grades are superior. 1t ought to