The Republican., 1925-06-25


legation was incurred by the State to
expend any money in keeping the
road in repair. except what could be
realized from the tolls collected upon
it. The assent of the United States
to the acts of the States, in 1892.
was not unconditional and irrevoc-
able, but by its terms. was only 'to
remain in force during the pleasure
of Congress- And in the act of 1895,
Congress stipulated only for the con-
er, the United States should not be
in repair; thus leaving the State to
keep it in repair, as best they might,
by the collection Of tolls"
Partly as a result of this opinion.
the effort to have the State appropri-
ate money to restore the Cumberland
Road failed and the bill was defeat
ed.
In 1897 at the beginning of Van
Buren's administration, a fast mail
service was put on the Cumberland
Road. 1t was regarded as an ex-
pertinent, and was continued only
about a year. Nothing was carried
but government mail matter, and only
in small quantities in a small pair Of
saddle bags or pockets. Once in "a
hours it started from Washington, d.
c., and was sped westward by way of
Frederick and Hagerstown over the
Baltimore Turnpike. then from Cum
berland over the National Road to
Wheeling; and thence by the same
road or route through Ohio, Indiana
and Illinois to st. Louis, about $50
miles.
The Aeetest horses were purchased
by the contractors for the rapid
service, with Is to II year old boys
for riders. The horses were put upon
gallop and not less than 10 miles
per hour had to be made. A fresh
horse was in waiting at the end of
every six miles, and the route, about
25 miles to be made, forth and back
each day. This would be 80 miles
per dav for each rider. The first
stage west from Cumberland reached
to Red Ridge, and the next to a few
miles beyond Smithheld, Pa. There
was not an instant of delay in chang
ing the weary horses for fresh one,
which would be saddled and bridled
ready for the position, who would
slide over from one horse to the Other
The pike at that time was in its very
best condition.
OF these positions, Elijah Fuller
was living in Cumberland in 1897, at
the age Of IS years. Tom Wiley, once
conductor on the B. & O. railroad,
was also in the service. The young
positions received S6 month in
silver for their wage.
In the middle and latter eighteen
forties, daily fast express wagon
was run upon the National Road from
Cumberland to the Ohio River. II
was drawn by four powerful horses
upon a strong wagon, at about the
stage rate Of speed. Its freight was
OF light line of goods-canned
oysters being large item to be dis
tributed along the road. The box
upon four wheels was an immense
concern about u feet long, to 7 feet
high and about 5 feet wide, danger
! Gus, and very liable to topple.
This concern frequently carried q
passenger on two by the side Of the
driver, OF upon deck.
George W. Cass was chief Manager
OF this line. He was a nephew of Gen
Lewis Cass, a very intelligent gentle
man, many years later, president of
the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne and Chi
cago Railroad. But this mode of car
lying merchandise vanished upon TIE
completion of the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad to Wheeling.
We have, in the Cumberland Civil
ian of May ), 1878, an account by a
correspondent Of trip he made from
Cumberland to Baltimore in the 30's.
There stood before the door of the
old Columbian Inn in South Ne
chanic street, one bright morning in
October" the writer said, "the fast
mail coach General Marion carrying
the great United States mails. As
this was my first trip to Baltimore,
with a light heart and lighter step,
| bounded on the box and took my
seat beside that famous whip, c. H.,
who, gathering up his reins and
touching his leaders lightly with his
silken cord, in an instant we were
turning round the little square, and
soon the village Of Cumberland. con-
tanning less than 1000 inhabitants,
was lost to view by the intervening
hills. Charley gave me the gratifying
information that he would make the
road level to Capt. Mann's, 33 miles.
the length of his route; that is, his
team would go up hill as fast as
down and make all things lively in
the hollows.
"His famous four gray horses ap-
peared to enter into the spirit of
their master, for, taking their bits in
their mouths, they carried us over hill
and dale with such swiftness that we
arrived in Flinstone, II miles, in one
hour and twenty minutes.
" The U. S. mail was carried at that
time from Baltimore to Wheeling in
the unprecedented time of 81 hours,
or at the rate of miles per hour. The
coach carried but three passengers,
two in a small box fastened to the
rear of the stage and one beside the
driver, whose law, like the sea cap
taln's, was supreme. What a peculiar
class of people these old whips were!
They were liberal to a fault, full of
fun and mischief, never fearing dan
ger and always ready to sacrifice
their lives for the safety of their pas
sengers or mails; would give ride to
a poor sore foot or take 'divvy.' This
word 'divvy' is a corruptive of divi-
dcnd, perquisite they claimed and
pocketed from such passengers as
they would pick up on the road and
carry for half price. Sometimes the
stage owners would send a detective
who would travel from Wheeling to
Baltimore as 'diyVV' and tha do