The New York herald., 1922-01-02
Old National Road in Use Again

A recent dispatch from Columbus,
Ohio, says that the reconstruction OF
the old National Road across the
State has been completed. With a
new roadbed such as the drivers of
century ago never dreamed of the
Ohio link of this historic American
highway is open from Wheeling to
The Indiana line. Eastward through
West Virginia and Maryland the
work of reconstruction was finished
some time ago; in the West, Indiana
and Illinois are building the links to
connect the Mississippi Valley with
the Atlantic.
1t is a modern road for passenger
automobiles and motor trucks. The
linchpin wagons bearing pioneers
to the West in quest of fortunes, the
old Conestoga freight trains, the
gilded stage coaches and fours over
wlich HOMER WEsTovER and REDDING
BUNTING held the reins have passed,
gone with the old roadway
The National Road was in the
height of it's glory from 1926 to 1850.
It was designed by the Federal Gov
ernment for the development Of the
interior of the country and to fur
nish way to the great West for
adventurous settlers. They were the
first to use it. With their wagons
loaded with children, their household
goods and trade implements, and
with the adults walking to tighten
the burden of the horses and oxen,
they moved in an almost unbroken
line into the new land Of opportuni-
ties. Every mile Of the highway was
trodden by the feet of thousands who
became the founders of powerful and
prosperous pioneer families of the
West and Northwest.
With the passing Of the first quar-
ter of the last century towns had
sprung up along the road. Each had
its caravansarylfke stable and tav-
crn, where the liquor was never ex-
hausted as long as the candles could
cast a shadow In the low oak raftered
barroom. The traveller who came
by coach drank his toddy, gambled
and talked politics at the stage
house after his days journey. The
driver and wagner stopped at the
wagon stand, where a meal was
twelve cents and whisky three cents
glass, and where, If the company
was congenial, the night was spent in
drinking and singing and dancing to
the music OF a negro fiddler. Sleep
was the last consideration with these
men; they got what sleep they could
between sunup and sunset on the box
along some level stretch OF the road.
Often as many as two dozen four
horse coaches passed in a line along
this artery OF travel and trade; the
great Conestoga freight wagons were
always in sight; these, with the trains
Of pioneer movers, the unending line
Of pack horses and mules and flocks
OF driven cattle, hogs and sheep, made
the highway, according to a writer of
the time, look more like a leading
avenue OF city than a road through
rural districts"
The Conestoga wagon had its birth
az an institution with the National
Toad and died with it. This great
freight vehicle. with its bottom
curved up at both front and rear, its
ponderous wheels bound by wrought
iron tires six inches wide. and drawn
by six big horses in massive harness.
each jangling bell as large as a small
dinner bell from an iron arch over
nc TOP OF the hames. was n striking
feature Of the highway. The boss
WAGNER was always character,
big eater and drinker. loud in his