The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1910-06-02
A GREAT NATIONAL HIGHWAY.
Rehabilitation and Extension of Ma
tional Road Projected

the Washington Post, which he says is
neither chimerical nor Utopian but
practical and probable and it is of espe-
cial interest to our section of the
country. 1t is that a great national
highway, 100 feet wide. be constructed
from New York to San Francisco. 1t
is suggested that some great American
multimilEonaire, like Mr.. Rockefeller.
construct as a memorial with the pro-
viso that it be kept up by the states
through which it passes, but in the
event that no man of wealth responds
to the call, then the $75, 900, 900 neces-
sary to construct the great thoroughfare
shall be furnished by the national and
state governments.
The project is Of especial interest to
US because, beginning at New York it
runs to Philadelphia, Baltimore, Wash
ington, Cumberland and then follows
the old pike, or Cumberland road TO
St Louis. Thence the proposed highway
would be built on through Kansas. Colo
RADIO, Utah, Nevada, California to San
Francisco. The only national highway
ever constructed in the United States
was the Cumberland road. 1t was not
such highway as is being proposed, be-
ing only about one-third as wide, but it
was a stimulus to trade and a great
flood Of traffic passed over it from the
time of its completion 70 Wheeling in
ISIS until it was abandoned Few rail.
roads DO as much business as the old
pike did in its paimy days. And if traf-
fc was so great with the old time meth
DDS of transportation. what wonderful
business, prosperity and pleasure the
proposed new highway from coast TO
coast would bring, The Cumberland
road cost from Sg,-4j TO $1,000 per
mile.
The article referred 20 contains some
fine picture, Of the old Cumberland road
and in closing the author quote, Archer
Butler HurlDut in his work on American
roads, Historic Highway Of America.
Mr. Hubert IS an enthusiast upon the
subject of the old days o. the road. 3D.
and not only longs for. Hltr really be-
Heyes there viii eventually bca revival
of The glories that have departed Here
Is wha, be says a the end of bis volume
dealing with the history Of the Cumber-
land road
What Of the future? The dawning
of the era Of country living is in sight.
Itis being FASTENED by the revolution in
methods Of Iocomouon The bicycle
and automobile presage an era Of good
roads, and Of an unparalleled country
ward movement Of society. With this
era is coming the revival Of ian and tav-
ern life, the regeneration OF a thousand
ancient highways and all the happy life
that was ever known along their dusty
stretches.
by lts position with reference TO the
National capital. and the military and
commercial key Of the central west,
Pittsburg and the great cities Of OHIO,
the Cumberland road will become. per
haps, the foremost Of the great road
ways of America The bed is capable
Of being made substantial at a compar-
atlyciy small cost, as the grading is
quite perfect Its course measures the
shortest possible route practicable for a
roadway from tidewater % the Missls-
sippi river. As trunk line its location
cannot be surpassed. Its historic asso-
Citations will render the route OF increas-
ing interest to the thousands who. in
other days. will travel, in the genuine
sense of the word, over those portions
of its length which long ago became
hallowed ground
The Shades of Death will again be
filed with the echong of the horn which
heralded the arrival Of the old-time
coaches, and Winding Ridge again be
crowded with the traffic OF a nation A
hundred Cumberland road taverns will
be opened, and busting landlords wei
come, as of yore, the travel-stained
visitor. Merry parties will again fill
those tavern halls, now long silent,
with their laughter
And all this will but mark a new and
better era than is predecessor, an era
of outdoor living, which must come.
and come quickly. if as nation we are
to retain our present hold on the world s
,rreat a fairs -