The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1910-03-17

uSSluIHSSS OI the IKE was sound
ed when the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad was completed to Wheel
ing. From the time it was thrown
open to the public in the year 1918,
until the coming of railroads west
of the Allegheny Mountains in
1882, the National Road was the
one great highway, over which
passed the bulk of trade and travel
and the mails between the East
and the West. Its numerous and
Stately stone bridges with hand
somely turned arches, its iron
mile-posts and its old iron gates,
attest the skill of the workmen en-
gagged on its construction and to
this day remain enduring monu-
ments of its grandeur and solidity.
Many of the most illustrious states
men and heroes of the early period
of our national existence passed
over the National Road to the Cap
ital and back, at the opening and
closing Of the sessions of Congress.
Jackson, Harrison, Clay, Sam
Houston, Polk, Taylor, Critten-
den, Shelby, Allen, Scott, Butler,
the eccentric Davy Crockett, and
many of their contemporaries in
public service, were familiar fig
ures in the eyes OF the jewellers by
the roadside. Once a coach in
which Henry Clay was proceeding
to Washington was upset on pile
of limestone. Mr.. Clay was un-
hurt, and upon being extricated
from the grounded coach, remark
ed facetiously: This is mixing
the Clay of Kentucky with the
limestone of PENNSYLVANIA"
The ten mile walk from Cum
berland over the Old Pike and
back by the National Pike is more
than worth the trouble. As you
leave the bridge over Willis Creek.
you pass under the foot of Fort
Cumberland, around to the north
bank of the Potomac; on the op-
posite bank, in West Virginia,
begins the the long range of Knob
ley Mountains, where lurked the
Indian maidens who seduced so
many of Braddock's relocated
soldiers. A little farther on you
pass the old Dent House. where in
1877 was born the first white child
in the town of Cumberland, who
grew I'D TO be the father-in-law of
President Grant. \ mile more
and the road begins the ascent of
the mountain, just after passing
an old vineyard-for years the
source Of local grape wine. The
top dressing is all washed away
and the large heavy stones of the
foundation appear-each a little
less than seven inches in diameter,
as the contract required. The
best foot path is at the side, in the
gutter of the old road, now filled
up with its wasnings.
A half-mile up you reach an old
bouse-in the early days of the
Pike fashionable boarding school,
but now occupied by tenants who
supply the milk for the family of
Lloyd Lowndes. the late Governor
of Maryland. Here is where you
may trace the original Washing
ton Road as it turns to the right,
straight up the mountain, return
ing TO the Pike halfway through
Sandy Gap. Barely out of sight
OF this house you pass over one of
the splendid culverts crossing one
of the numerous mountain brooks;
it still standS-solid and graceful
despite ninety years of inatten-
ton. Around it hover many ira
ditions of crime, as terrifying as
those
Where Mungo's mither hanged herser,
WI MAR of horrible and awful
Which even to name would be unlawful"
On up you mount by even grade
and sloping curves, through scrub
pines and laurel, noticing that
sometimes a row of small pines has
sprung up in the middle of the
road, as if the forest glorles in its
triumph over the road builders.
Such growths make You realize