12th Congress. - 2nd Session
No. 339 CUMBERLAND ROAD

Communicated to Congress, March 2, 1813

March 1, 1813

To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States:

I lay before Congress a report of the Secretary of the Treasury, containing a statement of proceedings under the "act to regulate the laying out and making a road from Cumberland, in the State of Maryland, to the State of Ohio."

JAMES MADISON.

February 26,1813.

The Secretary of the Treasury respectfully submits to the President the report made by the superintendent of the load from Cumberland to the State of Ohio, of the progress made towards completing the same during the last year.

ALBERT GALLATIN, Secretary of the Treasury.

Cumberland, December 21,1812.

Sir:

The contracts for the first ten miles of the western road are completed, with but few exceptions, those of little importance, and such as are common on work of this kind. The contractors are paid, except a small sum reserved from each, sufficient to ensure the final completion next spring. The road is open, and used daily by travellers. On the second letting, comprising nearly eleven miles in addition, the contractors (for the time) have made considerable progress, and are now at work, each with a considerable number of hands, and there is every probability the contracts will be completed within the time provided, viz: the first of November next. It is now sufficiently ascertained that the estimates heretofore made, viz: $150,000, will be sufficient for the completion of the first twenty-one miles, embracing every expense, probably a small surplus of from three to five thousand dollars. The next ten miles it is expected will cost, on an average, nearly the same as the preceding; a small sum in addition may be required, on account of several large bridges which will be wanting. If it be desirable that the work should progress with more expedition, ten miles or more might be let the ensuing spring; it would be well, at all events, to contract for four or five miles more on account of building a bridge across the Little Youghiogany river, as it must be a considerable building, and, to lessen expense, it would be necessary to take advantage of low-water, and the spring season, for procuring sawed timber, as there is but one sawmill convenient, and that during three-fourths of the year unemployed for want of water.It is expected the Legislature of this State will pass a law, authorizing the President to receive toll, for the purpose of repairing the road, and likewise against abuses which are common on all roads of the kind, to prevent which laws have been found necessary.

I am, &c.

DAVID SHRIVER, Jun., Superintendent of the United States Western road.

13th Congress. - 2d Session.
No. 356. CUMBERLAND ROAD.

Communicated to Congress, January 19, 1814.

January 18, 1814.

To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States:

I lay before Congress a report of the acting Secretary of the Treasury, containing a statement of proceedings under "the act to regulate the laying out and making a road from Cumberland, in the State of Maryland, to the State of Ohio".

JAMES MADISON.

Treasury Department, January 14,1814.

Sir:

I have the honor to transmit the report of the superintendent of the Cumberland Road of the progress made in that work during the last year.

I am, very respectfully, sir, your most obedient servant

W. JONES, Acting Secretary of the Treasury.

The President of the United States.

Cumberland, December 31,1813.

Sir:

The first ten miles of the western road is finally completed. The banks and sideways are dressed, and the whole of the accounts settled and paid.

The second letting, eleven miles, has not been finished, as was expected and provided for by contract the 1st of November last; four miles thereof are now used by travellers, and require but little dressing to the sideways to be complete, four more are nearly so, and it is confidently expected the whole will be finished next summer.

On the third letting, about eighteen miles, there is but little done; the time fixed by contract for its completion is the 1st of November next. Judging from the little progress made, it will not he finished within that time; but as the contractors are making great exertions to procure laborers, and a number of persons, from the evident utility of the work, have become anxious for its speedy progress, and are giving their aid to procure hands, and the contractors having in view to employ slaves, it is quite possible this letting may be completed within the time.

Provisions for keeping the road in repair, and for the prevention of abuses to the work, similar to that of other turnpikes, are every day becoming more necessary.

The distance from the end of the last letting to Uniontown is about twenty-one miles. A sum of from one hundred and fifty to one hundred and sixty thousand dollars it is thought would be sufficient to make the road to the latter place.

I am respectfully, sir, your obedient servant,

DAVID SHRIVER, Jun.

To the Hon. William Jones, Acting Secretary of the Treasury.

13th Congress. - 3d Session
No. 379. CUMBERLAND ROAD.

Communicated to Congress, January 2, 1815.

January 2, 1815.

To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States:

I lay before Congress a report of the Secretary of the Treasury, containing a statement of proceedings under the " Act to regulate the laying out and making a road from Cumberland, in the State of Maryland, to the State of Ohio."

JAMES MADISON.

Treasury Department, December 31, 1814.

Sir:

I have the honor to transmit the report of the superintendent of the Cumberland road of the progress made in that work during the present year, and the state in which it now remains.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, sir, your obedient servant,

A. J. DALLAS.

Cumberland, December 19, 1814.

The President of the United States.

Sir:

In my last report of the progress of the Western road I informed you that the first ten miles were completed, since which the side roads, banks, &c. have been repaired.

The second letting, four sections, about eleven miles in length, is now generally used by the traveller. The pavement is complete, except from a half to three-fourths of a mile, and the side roads are much in the same state of forwardness. This part of the road would have been entirely completed early this fall but for the very uncommon rainy and wet summer we have had, which has impeded the progress of the work very considerably.

On the third letting there is nine sections about eighteen miles in length. On the two first, ninth, and tenth, containing about four and three quarter miles, little progress is made. On the 11th, about one and three quarter miles, nearly the whole of the leveling is done, and the greater part stoned. The twelfth, thirteenth, and fourteenth sections, containing about five and three quarter miles, are in a state of great forwardness, nearly the whole of the leveling done, and at least two-thirds of the paving is completed. On the remaining three sections, containing about six miles, hut little is done. Taking this part of the work into view, it may be understood that about eight miles is in great forwardness and nearly completed, and on ten but little progress is made, except the mason work, which is nearly finished. Adding the whole of the work done together, it may be considered about twenty-eight miles, and eleven yet to be made, which will complete the whole of the work contracted for. The eleven miles are unequally divided between three contractors: one of them, it is expected, will complete his work early next spring; another, early in the fall, and the third may not complete his before late next season. With a view to show that some of the contractors will be thrown idle, if more work is not let early next season, I have been induced to be thus particular in stating the situation of the work at present, and the probable state it will be in early next summer.

I had nearly completed a location from the end of the work contracted for, to Uniontown, about twenty-one miles, and should have reported the work; but as the contractors did not proceed with that speed I expected, 1 thought it prudent to defer this report, and take time to re-examine the ground. As much time, pains, and care is necessary in fixing on the best ground, and shortest distance through this mountainous country, I wilt have the notes ready early next spring, when more work can be let, if thought advisable; we shall cross the present travelled road about eleven miles from the end of the present work. This distance would give us another year's work, or we might contract to the west foot of Laurel Hill, about eighteen miles; the old road, and the location, will not be more than thirty to forty perches apart at this point, and the ground quite level and firm between them.

Thirty-nine miles is the end of the work now contracted for, and places us on the east bank of the big Youghiogeny River, which must be bridged, and ought to be commenced as early next season as the weather and the water will admit. This work has been put off with a view to ascertain with what success we should succeed in building the bridge of eighty feet span across the little Youghiogeny River, which we have now so far completed, that no doubt exists as to our ability to build bridges of any size that may be thought necessary on this road. The cost of a stone bridge (which I prefer on roads much travelled) across the big Youghiogeny, will be about $40,000; of wood it may be built for the one-half of this sum; but, as it is probable all the bridges to the Monongahela will be of stone, and permanently built, I would advise building this bridge likewise of stone, unless it should be found that the necessary materials cannot be had.

As I have no knowledge of the sum appropriated, of course cannot say what additional appropriation will be necessary to complete this work to any particular point, and, therefore, recommend calculating the road at about $7,500 per mile for that done, and that yet to be made. This sum, it is expected, will include every expense on an average, when nothing but common bridging is required.

No difficulty, as yet, presented itself requiring legislative aid. except for keeping the road in repair, and to prevent abuses to the work by mischievous persons, and for which immediate provision ought to be made. On reference to a bill, forwarded on the 29th ultimo, my views, and the provisions thought necessary, will be fully explained.

All which is respectfully submitted by yours. &c.

DAVID SHRIVER, Jun.

To the Hon. Alexander J. Dallas, Secretary of the Treasury.

14th Congress - 1st Session

No. 403. CUMBERLAND ROAD.

Communicated to the Senate, March 13, 1816.

To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States:

March 12, 1816.

I lay before Congress a report of The Secretary of the Treasury, containing a statement of proceedings under the act to regulate the laying out and making a road from Cumberland, in the State of Maryland, to (he State of Ohio, with a statement of past appropriations, and an estimate of required appropriations.

JAMES MADISON.

Treasury Department, March 1, 1816

The Secretary of the Treasury has the honor to lay before the President of the United States the annual report of David Shriver, jun., the superintendent of the western road from Cumberland to the river Ohio.

The Secretary, having respectfully submitted to the President propositions for accelerating the completion of this great national work, deems it proper, upon the present occasion, to add the following statement and estimates of the appropriations which have been made, and which will be required for that purpose.

A.J. DALLAS, Secretary of the Treasury

Cumberland, December 30,1816.

Sir:

In my last report of the progress of the western road, I stated that twenty-eight miles had been nearly completed. At the same time, we have in a similar situation upwards of thirty-five miles, and on the remaining three miles, (which complete the distance to the Big Youghiogeny river,) the contractor is now engaged. The state of the road is substantially as follows:

The 1st, 2d, 3d, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, and 11th sections are finished, embracing a distance of twenty-three miles. The 9th, 12th, 13th, and 14th sections, about eight miles in length, are so near completion as to have admitted travellers upon it for some time past. The 10th and 15th sections (about four and a half miles) are in a state of considerable forwardness, and on the 16th and 17th sections (about three and a half miles) the work is progressing. The mason work upon the whole road to the end of the 17th section (Big Youghiogeny river) has been finished, the accounts adjusted and paid. The contractors on that part of the road last let out, to the end of about forty-seven miles from this place, have made considerable progress, and, from present appearances, I conclude they will be enabled to finish the work within the time specified in their contracts, by which time I confidently believe the whole of the turnpike east of the Big Youghiogeny river will be finished, if it be not sooner.

The contractors for the bridge to be built over the Big Youghiogeny river have commenced the undertaking. They have obtained a rock foundation for the west abutment, about fifteen to eighteen feet below the surface of low water, and have raised the abutment to the ordinary height of the water, in the river. This is the chief part of what has been done, except providing materials for recommencing the ensuing season.

The repairs made the past summer upon the first six sections (comprising about sixteen miles) have cost $1,200. These repairs have rendered the road nearly as perfect as when first made. Early next summer a considerable extent of road will be received from the contractors, when the expense of repairs will be much increased, and when it appears to me essential that some regular plan be adopted, as well with a view of keeping the road in perfect order, as to diminish the probable expenditures by the timely application of a remedy.

If this great national undertaking does not progress with a rapidity equal to the wishes of Government or the anxiety of individuals, the cause may be easily traced to their primitive sources, without involving the crimination of any one. The two most prominent of these I shall proceed to name the inefficiency of the existing mode of letting out contracts, and the very inadequate supply of hands. To the last of these causes is mainly chargeable the tardy completion of that which is now finished, and the incomplete state of some of those sections which are of the old letting. A road thus made by contract may and must frequently get into the hands of men without adequate means, but with every disposition to fulfil their engagements; they are desirous of doing the work, underbid others, and perhaps contract for what will be an eventual loss to them. The consequences are, the retarding the work by the failure of the contractor; the hands lose their wages, and are thus deterred from labor, and in a manner driven from the road. Then, again, contractors, in order to obtain the work, are obliged to do it so low that they cannot offer any advance of price to the laborers, be the demand for them ever so pressing. Thus, men who prefer lighter labor, also prefer the labor of the farm; consequently, the work drags on heavily, and the contractors fail to perform their engagements in the specified time.

I am sensibly alive to the importance of a speedy completion of the road, but have no hope of accomplishing this object under the present system of contracting. If rapidity be desired by Government, a plan more likely to produce that effect, in my estimation, would be to abandon the mode of separate contracts altogether, and substitute day labor. In this way, rapidity of execution would be combined with faithfulness in performance. All inducements to fraud or deception would be done away; and, from my experience in very extensive repairs on other work, in which from two to three hundred men were employed, I do believe the work could be done belter, certainly with more speed, and with a considerable saving of lime, and perhaps of money. The effect of the organization of the whole number of laborers under one efficient head, aided and assisted by the subalterns, may readily be conceived, by making the comparison with a properly organized military force. By this organization, the vigorous and salutary hand of public authority is immediately felt in tho security for the prompt payment of hands, and the certain and speedy means of supplying any want of labor by increasing the per diem. An increase of twenty-five cents per day, or at most fifty cents, I suppose would produce as many men as we could employ. This price, and the security of the Government for its payment, would give us a choice of all the spare labor of the adjacent country. These are mere suggestions of my own, submitted for your consideration, if the idea is properly embraced by my expression, and you approve of the alteration. If any further explanations are required, I shall attend to your request with promptitude and pleasure.

The ground between the end of the last letting (forty-seven miles from this place) and Uniontown, a distance of about thirteen miles, I have examined; but little time would be requisite to prepare the location. This part of the work might be commenced early next spring. A sum of about $90,000, it is believed, will be sufficient to complete it.

Frequent abuses take place upon the road, such as throwing down the walls, digging down the banks, felling trees, dragging along it, locking of wagon wheels, placing fences within the sixty-six feet, and many other improper acts are done; to prevent which some means ought to be speedily provided. Should it be deemed advisable to make the location near the Ohio, the wish of Congress ought to be expressed. If the road is to be extended beyond the river Ohio, the ground on the other side ought to be viewed, and the bearing known, before the location on this side is made. All which is respectfully submitted by

Sir, your obedient servant,

DAVID SHRIVER, Jun.

To the Hon. A. J. Dallas.

15th Congress, 1st Session

No. 458 CUMBERLAND ROAD.

Communicated to the House of Representatives, APRIL 20, 1818.

Sir:

In obedience to a resolution of the House of Representatives of the 14th instant, requiring various statements concerning the Cumberland road, I have the honor to submit the enclosed papers, marked A, B, and C.

In addition to these statements, it is my duty to observe that the road is cleared of timber to the width of sixty-six feet; that the bed of the road is levelled to the width of thirty-two feet; that twenty feet is covered with stone, eighteen inches in the middle, gradually diminishing to twelve inches at the side. The road east of the Monongahela is graduated so as nowhere to exceed an elevation of five degrees. That part of it which is west of that river is graduated to four degrees and a half.

It will be seen, by comparing statements A and B, that the expense of mason work east and west of the Monongahela is extremely different. This difference has been pointed out to the superintendent of the western part of the road, with a request that he will curtail that part of the expense. There can he no doubt but that a considerable saving will be effected upon the estimate which he has furnished. No special appropriation has been made for repairs. The expense has been defrayed out of the general appropriation for the road.

I have the honor to be your most obedient servant,

- WM. H. CRAWFORD.
Treasury Department, April 20, 1818.

(To:) Hon. HENRY CLAY, Speaker of the House of Representatives.

TABLE A

TABLE A - Part 2

TABLE B

TABLE C

17th Congress - 1st Session

No. 511. CUMBERLAND ROAD.

Communicated to the House of Representatives, January 15, 1822.

Treasury Department, January 14,1822.

Sir:

In obedience to a resolution of the House of Representatives of the 20th of December last, directing the Secretary of the Treasury to lay before that House "a copy of the report made to the commissioners appointed to view and inspect the Cumberland road," I have the honor to submit the said report, plat of survey, and field notes, recently forwarded by the commissioners to this Department.

The originals are transmitted because much time would be taken in copying them. It is, therefore, respectfully requested that they may be directed to be returned when no longer necessary to the object for which they have been required.

I remain, with respect, your most obedient servant,

WM. H. CRAWFORD.

The Hon. Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Wheeling, Va., January 2, 1822.

Sir:

To show the progress made in the location of the western road, the commissioners appointed for that purpose, in addition to their former report, make the following:

The draught of the work, and the book of field notes accompanying this report, will, on examination, be found to explain the nature and extent of the services performed by the commissioners, and leave but a few facts and explanations necessary in a formal report.

When the bill which passed the Senate of the United States at the last session, proposing a modification of the law under which the commissioners were appointed, had failed in the House of Representatives, as they were informed, for want of time to consider it, the commissioners were at some loss to judge in what manner it was their duty to proceed, keeping in view the objects for which they were appointed. The law, as proposed to be modified, made Columbus, and the other seats of Government, points in the location; and the commissioners have already stated that, under the law as it now stands, they, in all probability, could not be embraced. In this situation, they considered it expedient, with the balance of tho appropriation in their hands, to prosecute the location as far as the Muskingum River at Zanesville, believing it highly probable that, whether the law were modified or not, from the nature of the country on both sides of that river, a point at or near that place must be selected at which to pass the stream; and, also, that their labors must be ultimately bestowed on this ground, whatever might be the points fixed or agreed upon westward of it.

They have, therefore, employed their time, until the appropriation became expended, between Wheeling and Zanesville, a distance of about eighty-one miles on the present travelled road. The ground throughout the entire distance is very hilly and broken; the principal streams run nearly at right angles with the course of the location; and the hills bordering those streams have to be passed in a lateral direction, and making a considerable angle with the general direction of the location, otherwise a descent and ascent sufficiently gentle could not be had. Several of the larger streams crossed by the location fall into the Muskingum River above Zanesville, run a great distance generally in an opposite direction to that river, and are sluggish, with little or no fall, pursuing a crooked course, and are often obstructed by rafts of drift-wood that assist, particularly in spring floods, in throwing the water to the depth of several feet upon the bottoms, that are frequently of considerable width, and of a rich alluvion soil. Hence it is found difficult, except in particular places, to cross the bottoms and streams without incurring great expense in bridges and causeways. Another difficulty to be overcome in locating a road through this tract of country arises from the nature of the ground itself; this should be mentioned, because a peculiarity in some measure confined to the western country. The substratum, particularly on the sides of hills, is generally a lime or rotten slate stone. The superstratum, of different depths, consists of the decomposition of the one below, combined with the decayed vegetation on its surface. This seems to be continually increasing, until its accumulated weight, with a growth of heavy timber, is too great to be held together by its own tenacity, and, in the spring seasons particularly, the surface of the hill sides arc found sliding into the valleys below, or stopping in their course where the ground becomes more level. These landslips (as they are called) become more frequent after the ground is cleared and cultivated than before, owing, perhaps, to the decay of the roots that before assisted in keeping the ground together. The necessity of avoiding ground of this nature is obvious; for, if a road be made on a side hill where the ground is of this description, the support is cut off by the road, and the surface, perhaps charged with trees and rocks, will force itself upon the road and destroy it. Ground subject to these accidents may generally be discovered; for, although the slips be ancient, and trees many hundred years old are seen standing, yet its broken and distorted surface discovers the anarchy it has once undergone.

Hence, it will be easily seen that, through a country where so many difficulties present themselves, great care must be taken before a location can be said to approximate to perfection; and such a one the commissioners have been anxious to make, believing that the erroneous location of a road, designed for permanent national purposes, would be worse than a useless expenditure of public money; for as the location must be made the basis of all future contracts for constructing the road, if left imperfect, the Government would either have to be at the expense of a new location, or make the road on the old one; and, in the latter case, the public would probably be at the inconvenience of occupying it for a great length of time without attempting an alteration.

In finding the best ground on which to locate a road between any two given points over a rough country, the mode of procedure to obtain, in tho first instance, a correct delineation of the surface, by topographical surveys, of the region to be examined, would be too tedious and expensive; there remains, therefore, no other way but by repeated experiments (many of which will be found unsuccessful) upon the ground, and by laying down and comparing different routes, until, by such examination, you arrive at the fact. Such an examination the commissioners have endeavored to give the ground between the points mentioned. They do not pretend to say that the route represented as the shortest is brought to that state of perfection which is practicable; some necessary trials yet remain to ascertain whether better ground cannot be had, and the distance diminished; but the labor, it is thought, will be inconsiderable compared with what has been bestowed the last summer. The routes have all been graded at an angle of not exceeding 4-1/2 degrees with the horizon, with the exception of 123 chains 28 links, (see the book of notes, pages 1, 17, and 18.) The distance from Wheeling to Zanesville has been shortened from the State road at present travelled about five miles.

The commissioners would remark that, from the knowledge they have of the country west of the Muskingum river, the difficulty of making a location will considerably diminish. Tho surface of tho earth is, in general, gently undulating, and the highlands bordering the largest streams are much less elevated. But the probability is, that, in some considerable part of that region, a difficulty in procuring stone convenient for a turnpike will be experienced; but pebble or gravel was discovered in some places, of excellent quality, a small depth below the surface. Between Wheeling and Zanesville, but little difficulty, they apprehend, will be found in procuring stone for the road.

The commissioners would further observe, that that portion of the national road between Uniontown and Washington, Pennsylvania, including about thirty miles, was contracted for in the year 1819, and since completed, including mason work and other expenses, for $6,400 per mile. Taking into view the scarcity of money in circulation, and the reduced price of labor and provisions, they have no hesitation in saying that the probability is that the road between the Ohio and the Muskingum rivers, including culverts and bridges, with stone arches, could, at the present time, he contracted for, and completed in a similar manner, for a much less sum.

On the subject of the appropriation, it is proper to state that the expenditures have exceeded it by a small amount; the surveyor and assistants have, however, been paid.

A. LACOCK,
DAVID SHRIVER, Jun.
WILLIAM McREE.

To Wm. H. Crawford, Secretary of the Treasury.