The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1912-08-01

''The Cumberland road was at one
time the most widely known and heavily
travelled road in the United States. One
evidence of this is shown by the fact
that during the year 1889, $50, 900 in tolls
was collected in the State of Ohio alone,
although the road had not at that time
been completed west of Springfield.
The year 1889, however, seems to have
been the banner year for this great
highway, as Ohio collected in that year
$62, 446 10 in tolls. The total amount
collected in Ohio from 1881 to 1877
amounted to nearly a million and a
quarter of dollars.
at is generally thought that Henry
Clay originated the idea of building the
Cumberland road, but speeches deliver
ed in Congress in 1929 gave the credit
of its conception to Mr.. Gallatin, Secre-
tarY of the Treasury from 1901 to 1913
under the Jefferson and Madison ad-
ministrations. While Mr. Clay may
not have been the originator of the
scheme for building the road, he was its
ablest friend in Congress, leading most
of the debates for its construction and
preservation. To commemorate his
services in behalf of the road a monu-
ment was erected near Wheeling, w
Va. Henry Clay was regarded with
great admiration and esteem all along
the line of the road. This magnetic
man not only made friends of the
drivers, but of the tavern keepers and
persons in other employments.
The road was greatly renowned for
the number and excellence Gifts taverns.
On the mountain division nearly every
mile had its tavern. Some of these
hostelries were perched on elevations
near the roadside, while others were
sheltered behind clumps of trees, with
inviting seats for oilers and wayfarers,
and all with cheerful fronts toward the
way-worn traveller. The tavern signs
were usually elevated on posts, giving
promise of good cheer. while the drip
ping of the overflow water from the
horse troughs on the growing mint beds
below lent charm to the scene. Stage
houses, where travellers took their
meals and stage horses were kept and
exchanged, were located all along the
route at intervals of about II miles.
The bill of a wagner, with six-horse
team, for putting up over night, did
not exceed $l.75. and this included the
feed for the horses as well as meals for
the driver and all the drinks he saw
proper to take.
THE taverns and stage houses often
entertained motley crowd; statesmen
and teamsters, homeseekers and ma
gicians. fortune-hunters, actors and
actresses and others of greater or less
prominence. Circuses and minstrels
were constantly travelling over the road,
giving performances at the principal
towns, and rowing bands of gypsie5 and
fortune-tellers pitched their tents and
built their camp fires along the wayside
In fact, between the years 1920 and
1850, nearly everything, whether the
necessaries or Injuries of life or the
things intended merely to amuse, found
Its way into the west by way of the old
pike, and it is still common in Ohio,
Indiana and Illinois, when anything is
especiallynovel, remarkable or peculiar
to speak Of it as having come down the
pike.
The National road was not turn
pike in the literal sense of the word,
which means a road upon which pixies
We're placed to turn travellers thereon
through gates to prevent the evasion of
toll rates, for toll-gates were not needed
on the National road, as it was usually
kept in good condition and travellers
paid their toll without complaint. Toll
houses were located about Is miles apart
and were all supplied with strong iron
gates, swung to massive iron posts.
These gates were placed on the road in
1885 to enforce the payment of tolls
when necessary. The tollhouses were
of uniform size and were usually round
or octagonal in shape.
Continued next week.