Pioneer press. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1882-19??, 1914-10-03
SEEK TO RESTORE
CUMbERL.AN ROAD
=. -. n. urge Government to Take
over Famous Mail Route Csot-
ing 100000.

Inc women Of the Society Of the
daughters of the American Revolu
ton are confident, they say. that some
time the United States Government
will take hold of the movement to
improve the ateway from the Atlantic
to the Pacific. This movement. which
would use as basis for a national
continental highway the cele-
brated old Cumberland road, built by
the United States a century ago in
response TO the demands Of the peo-
pie living west Of the Alleghenies,
started with Kansas City, Chapter Of
the ID. A. r.. and has since received
the cordial Endorsement Of the ma
tional organization.
The d. A. r. has no objection TO
the building of the proposed Lincoln
high way across the country along a
more northernly route, but are con-
WINGED that the Cumberland road and
the historic trails which led from
the Mississippi river to the Pacific
were selected by the pioneers be
cause they were the natural highways
Offering the least resistance, and for
that reason were the best routes
known to the hardy settlers Of the
early day.
Uncle Sam spent $7,OOOOOO on the
Cumberland road, which was complet
ed for distance of about 500 miles.
one of the longest straight roads
ever constructed by any government
Il the world. The original plan was
build this famous pike from Cum
oerland Md, to st. Louis, but a Dor
ion of the Western end never was
nacadamized. The survey was run
Jefferson City, the capital of Mis-
Curl. 1T was the plan to have the
cad run through. the capitals OF Ohio
ad1ana and lllinonis 70 ST. Louis. Pa,
ally surveyed in 1906, this road wa
lot thrown open until 1918. From
hat tine until 1852 the Cumberland
cad was the great artery of trave.
ITO the Western country. In the
ifties the railroads took from it the
'Ulk OF the traffic, as well as the mails
between the East and the West. usher
Eg in the period Of it's decline.
Was Highway For Mails.
feature Of the road are the
many ponderous and handsome stone
';dges and culverts, striking in ap-
pearance. The pike boys" believed
hat the stage line Of the National
road had never been equaled for dash
and spirit on any road in any age or
country and they declared that the
golden chariots Of the celebrated AID
plan Way, drawn by the fastest
horses OF ancient Rome, were but
dismal cortege in comparison with
the sprightly procession Of stage
coaches on the great American high
way. They were especially proud of
the finely equipped mail coaches.
While the road served as the great
artery Of travel for the hardy pion.
GERS, and gave the people of the west
ern country a sense of security which
could not have been afforded by any
other means, one Of the most impor-
tant functions Of the $7,O0O,OOO high
way was to provide easy, quick and
safe means for the transportation of
the United States mail. Contracts
were made for carrying the mail with
stage coach companies much the
same as they are now made with the
railroads. The most important mails
carried over the road were those be
tween Washington and ST. Louis.
Many other lines of mail coaches we're
operated.
The express mail correspondent to
the fast mail train Of today. The
time made by some Of these express
mail lines was regarded as a won
der. For example the Governments
fD hn 81 &c