Evening star., 1927-10-09
SUMMARY OF IMPROVEMENT OF UNITED
STATES ROITE NO. l.
Many Historic Places.

The motorist travelling the road to-
Ray is reminded frequently of the life
Ind customs OF the early days by the
ancient inns which have survived the
ltassage of time and which now boast.
In many cases with truth of having
sheltered George Washington. AL
Though the present improved condition
hf the ROAD is the result of no more
than 30 years of intensive work by the
highway departments of the several
ftaies and the Federal Government.
The route has been a travelled way of
the first importance for more than
three centuries.
1t was first developed as an artery
pf communication in the five principal
localities from which radiated all the
primary travel movements in this
.ountry. These foci of settlement were
heated in eastern Massachusetts, in
The vicinity of New York Bay and the
salley of that Great River of the Noun
tains which we know now as the Hud-
fon, in the Connecticut River Valley
lnd the shores of Long Island Sound.
IN the country surrounding the shores
tf Delaware Bay and the Delaware and
susuuehanna Rivers, and in the
.'hesa peake Bay region. including the
salleys of the James and other Vir.
sinia rivers.
Road Follows Fall Line.
Much more than mere chance gov
krned the locati of United States
Route No. /. The fact that it follows
The fall line'' from New Jersey to
.ieorgia has both a physical and an
historical reason. Along this line-the
ancient shore line of the continent
he Atlantic Coast rivers tumble down
but of the hills into the coastal plain.
This physical fact influenced the lOca-
hon of Trenton. Philadelphia. Balti-
bore, Washington, Richmond, Raleigh,
columbia and Augusta. all situated at
bhe head of navigation on their re.
tpective rivers.
Colonial settlements were made at
.hese points because they We're the
most inland points to which the colo
hists could penetrate by boat. Later,
bs intercourse began and grew be-
tween the settlements. the road which
r. now United States Route No. ] was
bazed as a trail, quickly Widened into
wagon road and early established as
he most important intercOlOnial read
ss il is now-from the standpoint of
traffic, at least-the most important
Interstate road.
Economically ii is important because
i connects the great manufacturing
tnO lnOuStrlHl cIt1cS OF the Atid0tlC
teaboard and also because it is the
most eastward through road on which
Ill streams are bridged. Consequently.
Il draws very considerable local traf.
&c from the peninsular territory to
.he east.
Popular Tourist Route.
Connecting semi-tropical Florida
Eith north-temperate Maine, the road
Is the principal tourist route from the
arge Eastern cities to the Winter re-
,orts Of the South and the Summer re-
torts OF New England. Its strategic
value as military road in time of war
the conclusive element which stamps
his road as the most important, every.
hing considered, in the United States.
When, finally. the bicycle. the anto.
hobiie and motor truck came to give
hew facility to highway travel and
.ranSporta ton, Route No. was one
bf the first to feel the tingle of new
Lfe
Five nf the States through which it |
passes were among the first seven to
establish State highway departments |
and 1t was consequently one of the |
frst American highways TO benefit |
from the more scientific methods in. |
Produced by these efficient engineering |
agencies.