The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-01-17
WANTS THE HIGHWAY
Westminster Alive to Pro-
posed Lincoln Memorial.
MERCHANTS TAKING ACTION
Advance Reasons Why the Road
should Pass Along Pipe Creek
Difficulties and Affords Best VistaH
Of the Adjacent Country.

/ BUSINESS men OF v estfninSteT, Nd, are
alive 20 the advantages that would &C
crue TO that city by the construction OF
/ the proposed Lincoln memorial highway
through or near il The Merchants and
/ Manufacturers Association Of Westmin-
ster is sending out widely a circular ad-
vocating the construction Of the highway
/ as q fitting memorial 10 Lincoln and set
ting forth reasons why It should pass
{ through their city
I They say Congress should and probably
viii pass a bill providing for some it
ting memorial 20 Abraham Lincoln com
memorating the centennial Of his birth.
The suggestion Of J. T McCIeary, Of the
Lincoln memorial commission, outlined in
his article in the Review Of Reviews Tor
September, 1908. that this memorial take
the shape not OF a monument OF park in
the Capital City. 70 the benefit OF the
comparatively few, but OF a great LIN
coin memorial highway. from Washington
TO the battlefield Of Gettysburg. seventy
miles distant. with which the immortal
name Of Lincoln is insepsrably connect
I ed. has crystaIlized IL the bill introduced
u
Der :, 1893. by Congressman Lafean, OF
Pennsylvania, and in the Senate, Deem
Der 10, 1898, by Senator Knox
Think Road should Come There.
The Westminster merchants say they
are desiroUs that the highway be con
stTUcted, BY whatever route may be de-
cided upon as the best. but the citizens
Of Carroll County and of Westminster
believe the route apprOximating the
meridian Of Washington is the best, his
torically. sentimentally, practically. and
economically, and they call attention 10
substantial ground for this belief
II is well known that the collision Of
the two armies was expected to take
place at Pipe Creek ridge. which crosses
the northern section OF Carroll County
between Westminster and Gettysburg
The movement OF the Army OF the Pc
tomac was toward the whole length Of
this ridge.
The route fer the boulevard, by way Of
Westminster. passes along the very
track Of the commands Of Hancock and
Sl0cUm, the former OF which marched
by way Of Taneytown and the latter b.
way Of LittlestOwn, Pc. The Sixth
Corps crossed Carroll County from west
TO east, by way of Westminster 10 Man
chester, and northward into Pennsyl-
vania- II was from Westminster, as d
base OF supplies. that the wagon trains
OF the Federal army moved 10 Gettys-
burg. It was thither that the COnfeder-
ate prisoners taken at Gettysburg and
sent to the rear were brought
Skirmish in Westminster.
The battle of Gettysburg really began
in the streets Of Westminster. A squad
ron Of Delaware cavalry was encamped
at the west end OF the town Its COM
mander was informed that a troop Of
Confederate cavalry was approaching the
east end without hesitation, the boys
in blue, only eighty strong. galioped
down Main street and charged an army
for they found awaiting them the whole
body Of Stuart's cavalry. Thus occurred
in Westminster the first collision on
Maryland soil in that campaign between
the Federal and Confederate forces. the
real beginning Of the battle Of Gettys-
burg, and the shedding OF the first blood
in Maryland One of the boys in blue,
killed in that fight Hes In the graveyard
OF the little Uncovered Ascension Prot
estant Episcopal Church; one IN gray
sleeps in the Westminster Cemetery.
The advance nOrthward Of Stuarts cav
airy, after crossing the Potomac, vas
along the route from Washington to
Westminster
Along this route there are no historic
associations unconnected with the field
OF Gettysburg; none TO detract from the
great purpose OF the memorial, the hon
Oring OF him whose name is inseparabiy
linked with Washington and Gettysburg.
This the Logical Route.
The route proposed lies for almost its
entire length on PARIS Ridge. which
forms the watershed between the sec
lions made fertile by the streams that
flow nOrthward into the Patapsco River
and southwark into the Potomac.
Such road as contemplated should be
constructed on such a ridge. with a view
to ease OF construction. to its future
maintenance and to its scenic beauty.
By no other route either to the west OF
east Of the meridian OF Washington.
which this approximates. Is there an
other ridge Of such length inviting the
Of the great way.
On either side are deep gorges. and
from time to time the eye looks out on |
vide distances presenting vistas Of won-I