The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1931-09-24

with him IN a box IN front OF the
wagon. When it was time to retire
each man simply spread out his bed
on the floor, with his feet to the fire.
That's long step into the past from
private room and BATH"
Henry Clay once spent night in
this tavern, but not with his feet to
the fire. He had a room upstairs.
Henry was a sort of hero all along the
old road, because he fought in Con-
gress for appropriations for it. Dur
ing Henry's time this road was a
constant factor in national politics.
We went over Martins Mountain
the first thing in the morning, right
after leaving Flintstone, and enjoyed
a fine view, as there is very little
intervening shrubbery.
Only a few more miles now to
Cumberland, the halfway point be-
tween Baltimore and Wheeling.
When George Washington, in 1853,
made long journey through the will
derness and over the mountains from
Williamsburg, Va, to the Ohio River,
to warn the French that their pres
ence on that river was undesirable, he
stopped for a few days near pass
Through the mountain, at which place
fort was later erected. Around the
site of that fort has grown up the
city of Cumberland, the second largest
city in Maryland, with present pop
ulation of about $4,000.
The post was called Fort Cumber-
land, in honor of the Duke of Cum
berland, friend of General Brad
dock, and an adviser to the king on
American affairs. By 1855 the set
Element around the old fort, the site
of which is now occupied by the Epis-
copal church, had grown into per-
manent town.
About half a century later the C.
and o. Canal terminated at Cumber-
land, as did, for II years, the B. & o.
R. R. 1t can be readily seen that the
city was an important trade center,
Especially when you take into consid-
Grafton that the main road from the
east to the west came into the town.
The pike between Wheeling and Cum
berland was crowded with stage
coaches, freight wagons and droves
of cattle and swine, all travelling east
ward toward the canal and railroad.
Cumberland today is still a center
of trade, but it is largely in manu-
featured articles. The territory sur
rounding the city is rich in natural
resources, including coal, clay and
sand for brick and glass making, and
natural gas and water.
One of the largest of the several
manufacturing plants is that of the
elly-Springfeld Tire Company, oper-
ating a $12,OOO,OO0 plant. Several
thousand people are employed and
tires are shipped to every part of the
country as we'll as exported to Europe
and South America. Another large
manufacturing establishment near the
city is the Celanese Corporation of
America, manufacturing artificial
silk. This concern operates a $12,-
100000 plant and employs 2,4OO peo-
pie.
Probably the largest single employ
err in Cumberland is the B. & o. R.
R., which has 1000 people on its
payroll there, employed principally in
it's repair shops.
Many of the residences are found
in the narrow valleys leading out of
the level land on which the business
section is located. The residential
sections have penetrated into the
mountains to such an extent that it is
almost impossible to get complete
view of the city from any one hilltop.
1 know of only one place from which
it can be done-the Wills Mountain
Inn, at the north side of The Mar
rows.
From Cumberland westward you
are on the true National Road. There
are two ways out of Cumberland to
the West and both were built by the
United States Government. One is
the old way, which follows Braddock's
trail over Wills Mountain, and the
other is the pass known as the Mar
rows, which goes between two parts
of the mountain. Both come to-
gether about six miles outside the Getty
Most people go through the pass.
But there's nothing like being differ
ent. We went over the mountain
And in case you want to be different,
too, I'll tell you just how to do it.
Turn off the present road at the
church on the site of the fort crossing
Willis Creek and passing little park
on Green street and continuing
right over the mountain. This was
; the route of the original road built
in 1911.
AS you pass the park you may
notice large stone in which is set
n bron1o ,o1ofa br;oAv tallinp the