Publisher's Synopsis
Excerpt from Modern Road Building: Being Reports of the Transactions of the First Congress of American Road Builders Held at Seattle, Washington, July 4, 1909
In about 1852 the development of the railroads took from the National Pike the bulk of travel and traffic, as well as the mails between the East and West. Thus began the period of decline of the most famous road in our history.
Many interesting debates took place in Congress in relation to the construction Of the National Pike. Henry Clay was one Of the most ardent advocates of the measure. An argument used in one of his speeches was that when the Cumberland Roads and the State Road from Baltimore to Cumberland should be completed the journey from Baltimore to Wheeling would be reduced from eight days to three days.
In 1804, 1805, and 1806, through the favor Of the National Con gress, the Lewis and Clark Expedition was organized, for the pur pose Oi establishing a route from the 'atlantic to the Pacific by following the Missouri to its source, and crossing to and following to tidewater the great river which forms the southern boundary of the state of Washington. Great credit is due Meriwether Lewis and Captain Clark and their company Of explorers in carrying out this work. Praise is also due to John C. Fremont, the eminent engineer, who in 1844 surveyed a route to these Shores through what was then named the South Pass of the Rockies. While not road builders in the strict sense Of the term, these determined men made the famous trails Of history that were primarily important factors in the establishment Of avenues of traffic, thereby making possible the magnificent development of the Pacific Slope.
In his book on Road Building in the United States, General Roy Stone says that few are aware that, while the construction Of the Cumberland Road was in progress, twelve national roads were laid out in the states and territories, making what was regarded then as a complete system of highways, and that more or less work was done in opening and constructing these various highways.
The plank road came into existence as a rival Of macadam con struction in the year 1835. The first road of this sort to be built in the United States was constructed at Syracuse in 1837. A large number of plank road companies were organized, and within fifteen years from the introduction of that method of road construction miles had been constructed in the state Of New York. These roads were usually built single track and Of planks eight by three inches, laid on stringers resting on more or less well laid founda tions. The average cost in New York was less than $2, 000 per mile, and their cheapness made them popular. During the period of cheap lumber plank roads were built extensively from the larger cities. Some Of them remain, but the gradually increasing cost of lumber has led to other methods of construction. Their usefulness has survived in one respect, however. NO community, after once having had a good plank road, could ever go back to the muddy and rutty earth road without strenuous protest.
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