The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1912-04-06
REBLAzINe MOHAWK TRAIL
New Highway Which Crosses Hoosac
Mountains


about from valley to valley in search
of good hunting grounds. They pick
ed out the fords through the rivers
and discovered the mountain passes
that afforded them the most direst
means Of travel When the white
people moved into the region they
naturally followed the Indian trails,
and as the time of vehicles arrived
they built their roads along those
trails regardless of grades, provided
they were such that horses and oxen
could scrabble up and down without
too great danger This probably ac-
counts for the laying out of the road /
over Florida mountain between the .
valleys of the Deerield and the Hoo
sac, with grades which are among
the worst to be encountered in the
state.
With the coming into general use
of the motor vehicle, and the realiza
ton OF its possibilities for long dis.
lance travel the Florida mountain
road has become famous for it has
caused more trouble to touring motor
lists than probably any other stretch,
unless it was Jacobs ladder road over
| the Hoosac mountains little farther
south, now happily replaced by a
new state highway. With its grades
rising II to is feet in 100 feet, its
circuitous route and its narrow path
way, the Florida mountain road has
been the one great obstacle that has
prevented the development of the
northern through route from Boston
to Williamstown, and has kept tour
lists from enjoying the grand scenery
Of the trip between Greenfield and
! Williamstown.
But a way has been found which
will bring the Florida mountain coun-
try into the scope Of the motor tour
list, for acting under directions Of inc
legislature, the highway commission
has recently completed a survey for
new road to connect the Deerfed
and the Hoosac Valleys, which will
have a maximum grade of per cent
and which will take the traveller
through some Of the most delightful
mountain scenery in New England.
The survey has been an expensive
one, costing about $500 and it has
demonstrated that the original appro-
priation of $4,000 for the Florida
mountain road will have to be sup
plemented by an additional appropri-
alton of 100000 II this highway is
to be constructed.
There is now a fairly continuous
line of state highway from Boston to
Fitchburg and along the northerly
boundary OF the state as far as Green
field. From Greenfield westerly work
has been done in Shelburne and in
Charlemont Here the Florida noun
tain problem is encountered but once
this road is constructed there will be
good going through North Adams to
Williamstown and to the New York
border, thence westerly into New
York state or northerly into Vermont.
And the motorist it is estimated, will
be able to save at least an hour and
a half time in travelling the less than
forty miles between Greenfield and
North Adams.
In making the survey for the new
Florida mountain route the highway
commission engineers started on the
westerly side of the mountain and
worked eastward They found that
from the boundary line between North
Adams and Florida there are about
two miles OF existing road that can
be improved so as to be satisfactory
But from Whitcomb Hill at a 22O0-
feet elevation the present road drops
COO feet TO a mile, with grades as
much as rs per cent From the east
end of the Hoosac tunnel the present
| road follows the Deerfeld river, and
the tracks of the Fltchburg division
OF the Boston and Maine railroad "a
Charlemont a tentative survey near
the present route was attempted but
found impossible.
Finding that they could not get
across the mountains near the HoosaC
Tunnel. the engineers tried both
sides Of Todd mountain, south OF
Florida mountain. but they encounter
ed precipitous clins and had TO give
up this route. Then they went back
TO the old road near Whitcomb Hill
, and proceeded to run new line of
highway for two and one.halt miles
TO the white church" This bit OF
road as planned has n maximum grade
OF only seven per cent. From the
white church" the survey follows an
existing road to the Drury postoiiice,
whence another new road rs planned
down Manning Brook to It's junction
with Cold river. and crossing Cold riy
er to an old logging road that ev.
tends along the stream TO It's mouth
in the Deertield river This stretch
is one OF the most picturesque sites
for n road in New England Manning
Brook is a mountain stream that goes
tumbling down over rocks into Cold
river, which Itself is fast water. The
heavily wooded mountain slopes rise
from the sides Of the streams precip.
ltously to n height OF 1900 feet. The
timber Is largely evergreen.
| In the Deerfleld valley two routes
are under consideration One Is
south OF the railroad tracks and In.
J wolves new location OF about a mile
and bridge near the site OF the ford
used by the Indians. which was q
!, part Of the Mohawk trail The other
route involves crossing the river fur
Their upstream and improving the ex.
faffuW hfWhWnV an tho unrfhurit. nINn