Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-11-16
Ehrtttnn G1at

highway routes to follow next summer
In seeing Pennsylvania, now that 1t
has become the recognized thing to do,
nave been surprised at the antiquity of
many of the roads. Some of the roads
are, as matter of fact, older than the
province of Pennsylvania, and II their
history could be traced 1t would be
found that they were in large measure
Indian trails which antedated some of
the more famous travel routes in Euro
pean lands where Americans were
wont 10 spend their money before the
great war. Before the days of the
Dutch and the Swedes on the Della
ware there were we'll defined Indian
roads leading to Philadelphia, and
probably when Hudson nosed into
delaware bay on his expedition Indians
had been travelling across Pennsylva-
mia from the Allegheny Valley to the
lowlands of the Susquehanna for many
years, while the settlers who followed
the routes from Reading and Lancas-
ter to John Harris ferry and thence
on TO the west were simply going along
ways that Indian feet had trod for
generations, although not dignified bv
the name of road. Many of the men
who Will be here this week for the
conference at the Capitol will be able
to tell of rehabilitation of old high
ways and of linking of historic spots
by the reconstruction or repair of
highways which have become State
property. Some of these roads have
played great parts in the annals of
PennsylVania, some being roads over
Mhlch the eastern counties sent iron to
Flttspurgh and others highways over
which the first anthracite coal was
| hauled and still others which were
useu Tor military purposes Some have
incidents that remind one of Dick Tur-
pin and of darker deeds.
one of the interesting roads which
| is rapidly being put into shape is one
WhlCh is OF importance to Harrisburs-
ers because someday it may be a part
OF the great north and south highway
winch is to connect New York State
| with Maryland and Virginia and the
| national capital as we'll. The Lincoln
and the William Penn highways are
almost accomplished and the Susque-
| hanna highway will be next, The road
particularly referred to is the Couders-
port and Jersey Shore turnpike, now A
| State hlShway, and being put into con-
| ultlon by the men of the State High
way Department. AS early as 1924
the road was partially started by the
Jersey Shore Turnpike Company but
not until 1929 did the real work OF
cutting out and grading begin, under
the supervision of an English surveyor
and land agent by the name of John
Sing The road originally had width
OF twenty feet, the timber being
! slashed for ten feet on each side and
uraWh away with OK teams. Five
| years OF arduous labor made the road
passa6le and the first wagons went
over the East and West Road" as II
was then called by some, in the sum
mer of 1884. AS early as 1905 this
route was traversed, but at that time
II was little more than trail through
| the wilderness and wild game was
plentiful. Deer, elk and wild game of
! every description were in abundance
ana 1t has been said that while work
ing on the road in 1893 it was no un
common thing to see as many as
twenty herds of elk cross the road i'm
a single day. This road has the dis
tinction of having more game hauled
over it than any other road in the
State.
=. The road, like many others in the
| Susquehanna valley, was kept in a fair
state of repair until about twenty
years ago, when it was neglected, and
the active work of repair was begun
| during the past summer, when work
| was commenced by the Highway De-
partment. The width has been ex.
tended to sixty feet, the body rounded
with plows, scrapers and drags, and
|
| that now 1t has the appearance of a
vast boulevard. The grades are grad
ual and even and 1t traverses one of
| the most picturesque areas in Pennsyl-
Vania. For distance of fifty miles il
passes through an almost unbroken
forest area, on which is excellent fish
| ing and hunting. The majority of the
forest land is now owned or controlled
by the State Forestry Department. On
| its holdings reforestation is taking
| place by the planting of seeding trees,
/ the opening of fire lanes, the erection
of fire observation towers and the i'm
provement and carea of the natural
| regeneration. This route will be used
extensively by tourists from all over
the eastern states. 1t means direct
| route from Williamsport to Buffalo
! and is decidedly unique in itself i'm
that it passes through virtually an un-
inhabited region. Game is free to roam
where II pleases and at present one
| travels sixteen miles without passing
| a dwelling. The water is pure and
abundant and the scenery is beautiful
] When on the summit one can look for
miles and see nothing but unbroken
mountains. clad in the verdure of
beech, birch and maple. In the au-
tumn the scenery is especially beauti-
full and the many and varied hues pre-
sent picture that no artist can begin
to initiate. Coudersport the county
seat of Potter county. is situated within
an hours run into the heart of the
fishing and hunting region and this
vast and varied territory shouts its in
vitation to the tourist and true sports
man to enjoy 1t over one of the States
Oldest highways.
III. A. Beale. the Parkesburg iron
manufacturer. who is prominently
mentioned for national delegate i'm the
Chester county district, was formerly
at Steelton. He was connected with
the big plant for time and then went
| to take charge of the family iron
|