The Republican., 1925-10-29
NORTHWEST TURNPIKE
RECALLS MUCH HISTORY
Famous Old Highway Was the
Scene of Many Interesting
and gnificant Events.

rebuilding of which is being rushed
from Parkersburg on the Ohio river,
east across West Virginia to the Vir-
ginia line, is a road of more historical
interest than any other highway in
the United States, according to wri-
ter at Charleston, West Va, the capi-
tai of the State of West Virginia
Long before its completion in 1888,
1t was the scene of many battles be-
tween the Indians and white men as
the latter pushed westward over the
Allegheny Mountains.
It is said, by some historians, that
the first suggestion Of the Northwest
ern Turnpike was recorded by Wash
ington, who, in 1874, sought a route
10 the west located wholly in Virgin
ia. Returning from a trip TO his west
eln lands, he crossed the north branch
nf the future route Of the great Viz
giuia highway which was first parti-
ally realized in 1856.
The turnpike was planned and
constructed by Virginia from Win
chester, Virginia. which was a COM
mercial center at that time, partly as
q result Of the rival activities of New
York, Pennsylvania and Maryland to
secure the advantage of transporta-
tlon facilities for the trade Of the
west, and was especially regarded as
d rival ior the National Road opened
from Cumberland to Wheeling in
1918.
An act Of the Virginia legislature
in 1927, authorizing subscriptions
with which to construct the turnpike,
made the mistake of arbitrarily locat-
ing the route through important
towns that had subscribed to the
building fund, without proper consid-
Grafton of the physical features Of
the country over which it was to pas e.
'N3s a result of this, aftc. finding IFS
:, T.fft'S:--2 's,,-..;;inrp nrpsnI'T tTouSy w
It.A Greek Mountain and pushing into
Preston county with the intention Of
going to Kingwood, the engineers en-
countered obstacles which caused the
project to languish.
The enterprise was saved by an act
OF the Virginia legislature in 1881,
Which authorized the organization Of
a road company with the governor
as its president with power to borrow
S125,000 on the credit of the State
for the purpose Of constructing Il
turnpike road from Winchester to Il
point on the Ohio river.
The chief engineer was Claudis
Crozet. French officer of artillery.
under Napoleon Bonapartc in the
Russian campaign, and later profes-
sor of engineering in the L. S, Mill
taly Academy. He was assisted by
George ". Shaw and large number
Of deputies. According to information
obtained from old note books kept by
Colonel Crozet, it is believed that he
spent four years making the prelim-
mary survey for the turnpike.
1lGlc Ilt" SLdllNtS an piNi NOONlCll
bridge across Cheat River seven miles
south of Rowlesburg that will remain
as a monument to Colonel Crozet and
his workmen for years to come. The
bridge is still in good condition and
will be used after the road is rebuilt.
It is built of poplar and the arches
and general structure are in good
condition, notwithstanding the fact
that it was built before 1888. The
only change that will be made in the
old bridge is TO strengthen the floor
system in order to take care of the
modern day heavy traffic.
Col. Crozet was not burdened with
many plans. When making the sur
yay, anything pertaining to the engi-
naering and construction of the turn
pike was drawn by him in one note
book. Whenever he came to a stream
where it was necessary to build a
bridge, drawing Of the proposed
bridge was made in this book
An old act of the Virginia legisla-
lure Of 1892 fixing the time Of year
wagons could pass over the road and
the tonnage they were permitted to
carry was passed.
This statute provided that 40 Wag-
T. would be allowed to pass oTec the
load between November 1st ard May
1st or any othe~ ,imo Of the yeal
when the road was rendered scfj by
rain. 1t also provided that no wagon
with width Of wheels exceeding four
inches could carry load over th2
road to exceed tw, ard one.Gsf tons
and no wagon vas perr1itted to carry
more than enree tons at any one time
One Of the penalties for violating t)li:
law was tre payment Of additional
toll.