The Old Pike: A History of the National Road, with Incidents, Accidents, and Anecdotes ThereonSearight, Thomas B. (Thomas Brownfield)
History
The Old Pike: A History of the National Road, with Incidents, Accidents, and Anecdotes Thereon
Searight, Thomas B. (Thomas Brownfield)
Cumberland Road; Pennsylvania -- Biography
_Sir_: The undersigned commissioners, appointed by the Governor of
Pennsylvania to erect gates and superintend the collection of tolls on
the Cumberland Road "after it shall be put in a good state of repair by
the United States," respectfully represent:
That, from a full and careful examination of the subject, they are
satisfied that they are not authorized, by the terms of the law under
which they are appointed, to accept the road from the United States, or
erect gates for the collection of tolls, until provision is made by
Congress for completing the repairs on the plan already adopted by the
agents of the United States, and sanctioned by several appropriations to
carry it into effect. Without this it is evident that a considerable
portion of the road, which has received but a single stratum of stone,
will be left in a condition so weak and imperfect as soon to become
again totally impassable for a considerable portion of the year.
The law of Pennsylvania expressly requires that, before the road is
accepted by the Commissioners, it must be put in good and complete
repair by the United States. To this act and all its provisions,
Congress, on the 3d of July, 1832, gave its assent; an appropriation was
made, and a plan of repair was accordingly adopted by the agents of the
government, and two subsequent appropriations made by Congress to carry
this plan and compact into effect. The complete repair of the road is
made by the compact a condition precedent to be performed by the United
States. It is not performed, as appears by the report of the agents of
the United States, and, until it is, the Commissioners appointed by the
State cannot be justified in accepting the road or exacting tolls.
Besides, it is evident that the tolls established, even if raised to the
maximum, will be totally inadequate to the preservation and repair of
the road, unless first put in a state of complete and substantial
repair. This, a statement of a single fact will fully demonstrate. It
appears by a report lately received from the superintendent of that part
of the road which lies between Hagerstown and Cumberland, that the tolls
there collected amount to $312 per mile per annum; of this $45 is
required to pay gate keepers and superintendents, leaving $267 for
repairs. The tolls on that part of the road are more than three times as
high as those proposed on this, so that the amount of tolls applicable
to the repair of this road will not exceed $89 per mile per annum, a sum
barely sufficient to preserve the road after it is put in the best
possible state of repair. The undersigned do not presume to prescribe a
plan of repair; they are satisfied with that adopted and partly executed
by the agents of the United States; and they now distinctly declare and
pledge themselves, that so soon as Congress shall appropriate the sum
required by the Secretary of War to complete the repair of the road on
the plan adopted in his report at the last session, we will, with all
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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