The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1911-03-17
OLD NATIONAL PIKE
Historic Old Highway Begins Al
Cumberland.

tumuetldau.
A movement has neen started
that has for its purpose the putting
\of the historic old National Pikeu
" Cumberland road, in thorough
repair ronghout IFS entire length
If 800 miles.
The Cumberland road has an
unusual claim on our interest be.
cause of the fact that it is theionly
highway ever built by the Federal
government 1t starts at CnDber
land, Md ndexfends to Vandalia,
I'll distance of over 800 miles.
Ii was the great emigrant route
over which thousands travelled 10.
breaking prairie schooners or in.
lighter rigs from the Atlantic
States to the rich lands "beyond
the horizon which heckoned 0nr
grandfatbers to give up lives Of
comfort in this East to see what
lay beyond the mountains and the
great rivers
The s.National Pike was begun
III 1906, but as government enter
prises were as tardy of completion;
then as now. in fact more so, it was
not until 1910 that it was finished
The Federal authorities, whatever
other sins may be charged against
them, always believe in having a
thing done well and this thorough
fare was finely constructed. 1t
may be said to rival the old Roman
roads of Europe, some of which are.
ia existence today. So ably was ii
built that it is still spoken of as an
example Of the best in roadmaking
Government enterprises are
usually very costly; SO it was with
the Cumberland road. 1t was
originally planned to build it from
the proceeds Of the sale of public
Mands, but in the thirty four years
of construction the Federal govern.
meat was compelled to add to this
fund and to make additional appro
priations Of not less than $6.82l,
600. Vast as Is this amount, ii
cannot be considered as wasted as
the road helped to make smoother
the travelling Of SO many thousands
who followed the star of empire
westward and it still remains as
monument to its builders.
Westerners can agree with the
cry that the great HNational Pike
having done it's share in national
development, deserves perpetuation
as the first and greatest monu.
ment Of American road building 90
scientific principles. Good Roads
Associations throughout the county
are being appealed to join III a
movement which has as its object
the restoration Of this road to its
old time glory. 1t il further urged
that the ancient thoroughfare
should be preserved ia such a con
cition as to serve as the model
highway of the United States,
That this view appeals to some of
the States through which the SEQ
miles extend is shown hy the fact
that Pennsylvania recently has re-
stored to IT'S former excellence the
portion of tine highway within its
borders and sections of Ohio are
following the example. So far the
matter has not been taken up in
!. the latter regions as State affair.
Various counties are acting on
their own initiative without any
concerted action Thus Clark
county has set apart funds to put
III first class shape the stretch Of
Ikwenty five miles which comes
under its Jurisdiction. Other
counties are being asked TO ssgo
and do likewise The object is 4
worthy one; certainly the original
'sgood road should he kept on the
map, and should be made what its
name implies. A highway, part Of
which is century old. deserves ia