The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-10-02


| time be proper under existing con-
ditions." The bill was approved on
March 20, 1906 by President Jefferson
and the Cumberland or National road
was assured.
The news of this action was receiv.
| ed with much rejoicing by the people
and the commission after examining
ground from Cumberland to the Ohio
| river in a space of two square miles
| wide reported that the inhabitants
80. .severally conceived their ground
entitled to preference"
The commission reported on the pro-
posed route. From Cumberland, Brad
docks road was to be followed to
Brownsville; thence to Washington
over the Indian trail and from there to
Wheeling. w. Va, or Steubenville,
Ohio. The former city won after a
spirited rivalry, through the influence
OF Henry Clay.
Maryland Was First.
Maryland was the first to grant per-
mission to the Federal government to
construc. the road, Pennsylvania fol-
lowed but conditioned her permission
| by providing that the road should
touch Washington and Uniontown.
Ohio followed in 1924.
Thus the Cumberland road. so man,
ed from its starting place in Mary
land. had its beginning. Congressman
and senators who had backed the bill
returned to their constituents and
were not only vindicated, but Toasted
on ham and eggs"
Not until March 3, 1926 was the
!, question of the extension of the road
finally acted upon by congress. At
that time bill appropriating $4,000
for building the road to GAINESVILLE,
Ohio and the extension of the surveys
to the permanent seats of govern
ment Of Ohio, Indiana and Illinois was
introduced. In 1927, $175,O00 was ap-
propriated to complete the road to
GAINESVILLE and two years later 800.
900 was appropriated by congress for
opening the road westward from
GAINESVILLE. The road entered Column.
bus, Ohio on Friend street. Then the
survey was completed and the Cum
berland road was pushed across the
Ohio-Indiana line into Wayne county,
in 1882.
J About this time an interesting dis
cussion arose In the halls of congress
and. had 1t been favorably acted upon.
would have changed the political and
economic history of the United States.
The movement and migration of PEG.
pies continued from the frontier to
the states of Indiana and Illinois
, hAta
; the farmer relied more upon the coun-
try store. Transportation was increas.
, ing across the Cumberland road in
: Ohio: and was even greater from Gin.
cinnati to Richmond. and thence west
The question was the government con
, struction of railroad.
Advent Of Railroads.
Transportation was indeed an i'm
portant thing especially now that the
construction Of a few railways had
given fresh stimulus to traffic
, The National road to be completed
needed funds from the Federal gov
eminent. Should the funds be voted
!, for the completion Of the Cumberland
road or should the money be voted
| ~
across Indiana and Illinois? Such a
. question agitated congress. The house
: committee reported favorably.
, The effects Of this legislation can
not be accurately enumerated. How
: ever. II seems probable that had thu
, National government embarked upor
, this means OF transportation, a grea'
. deal OF the fight against the railways
{ which came later, would have beer
, minimized. The road would certain
r ly have succeeded, as the Pennsylva
MIA railway did a few years later
I With the success of government
railroad innumerable effects woult
: have been produced. But the bill was
I voted down In the senate and fund.
Z for the finishing of the National roat
1 were forthcoming.
!. Bids were advertised at indianapolis
. for the construction OF the road. botf
. east and west. to the Ohio and Illinoi.
: state lines. The government, almos
, as fast as the road was completed. hat
1 given II to the several states and In
!. diana and Illinois received it from tn,
: federal authorities before 1t was com
y pleted. although it had been graded
l and bridges had been constructed I,
( vandalia. then the capital of Illinois
Here the "Old Pike" ended. Durin,
J. more than forty-five years OF nationa
: expansion. the National road. piece b.
e piece was constructed from Cumber
4 land. TO vandalia at a cost of abou
{ 100000.
4 One hundred. forty-nine and one
o quarter miles across the state of lndi
= ana stretched the king OF Roads
which had been partially constructe,
!. by the Federal government and com
I pleted by state and county organiza
, tons. The federal government spen
$5lS.099 on the road in Indiana in
!, GLIDING the expenditure on. bridges
: and masonry.
al Entrance 70 Indiana.
The National road enters Indian,
. about four miles east OF Richmon,
: and continues almost due west to In
dianapolis. 1t forms the Main stree
+ In Richmond. passes across the White
}, water river to Centerville. where /
, again forms the main street. West o
II this place 4 pesses through German
uuu.,n ~ iu .,usasi...