The Republican., 1925-07-30

Philadelphia turnpike, that then was
extended for only twenty-three miles
Follows Direct Course
The National road follows as direct
a course across the Allegany Noun
tains as the nature of the country
will permit. 1t is a wonderfully seem
ic route and possesses unrivaled his
toric background. 1t is the most di-
rect route Of its length in the United
States, only deviating here and there
to reach some important town and in
ascents and descents of numerous
ridges of the Appalachian chain.
In the original survey the route was
so carefully planned that the loss of
distance in the mountains between
Clear Spring, Nd, and Uniontown
Pa, is small, the road seeming in
stinctively to discover the shortest
and least difficult way across from one
mountain summit to another.
From the time the road was thrown
open to the public in 1918 until the
introduction of railroads west of the
Allegany Mountains in 1852, the Ma
tional road was the one great high
way over which passed an unceasing
pageant of trade and travel between
East and West.
Veech said of the National road:
1T is monument of a past age. 1t
carried thousands of people and mil
lions of wealth into the West and
served to harmonic and strengthen,
| if not to save, the Union"
Inns For Man and Beast.
The old National Pike was a mag
niticently constructed highway, with
massive stone bridges, whose masonry
is standing yet; with milestones that
recorded distance covered and yet to
be traversed; with tollgates at inter-
walls Of fifteen miles, the iron gates Of
which lifted or lowered to speed or
halt the passing traveller. Tollhouses
were built of brick and were often
octagonal.
There were wagon stands or tav-
erns or inns set wherever needed for
man and beast. Here wagoners, stall
wart men who drove six-horse teams
| across mountain ranges regardless of
wind and weather, rested overnight,
sleeping rolled in their own blankets
on barroom floors. They lay in half
circles before huge hearth fires of
| logs brought from the nearby for
ests, that cracked and burned briskly
or crooned a sleepy lullaby.
The jovial, welcoming landlord of
the inn frequently added the gift of
fiddling and the social art of story
telling to the creature comforts sup
piled the guests, and spirited dancing
was usually jolly prelude to the
| nights sound sleep.
Overnight Bill S1.75.
The overnight bill of a wagoner
with a siX-horse team was $1.75. 1t
included meals for the driver, grain
| and hay for the horses and all the
drinks of whiskey the former desired
to take.
The earlier and most primitive of
the hostelries were called wagon
stands and were patronized mainly
by wagoners, while the taverns were
called stage houses where those trav-
cling by coach were entertained and
where relays Of horses were obtained.
At both places the best of food was
obtained. The price Of a drink of
whiskey at wagon stand was three
cents, while five cents was charged at
the tavern because Of the greater ele-
gance of environment.
In the mountain region nearly ev-
cry mile disclosed some inn or wagon
stand perched upon an eminence
above the pike or sheltered amid the
green and restful foliage along the
road.
Sometimes a spring supplied cold,
sparkling water to the thirsty. More
often a moss grown pump was near
at hand whose cool waters gushed
forth to fill the dripping horse trough
where tired horses buried their noz-
zles and drank their fill, while drivers
exchanged items of political interest
or local news and where the arrival
of the mail coach brough host as we'll
as guests to participate in the distri-
button of papers and letters.
Names Picturesque.
The signsboards of the inns were
elevated upon high posts and their
golden letters, cleaning in the sun,
lured the wayfarer from the hot and
dusty road with promise of good
cheer.
The names Of the taverns were pic
turesque. Pioneer life is suggested
by "The Indian Queen" and who
would not rest and seek refreshment
at The Temple of June? The "Sign
Of the Rising Sun" must have many
windows, where "the sun came peep
ing in at morn; and there is that
hint of the tropics in THE Orange
Tree" and "The Golden Swan"