1506 LAWS OF MARYLAND.

limits of the State of Maryland, having been made such owners by an
Act of the General Assembly of Maryland, said road originally beginning
on the west side of Will's creek, in the city of Cumberland, Maryland,
a short distance from the site of Fort Cumberland, and following In a
large measure the route of the road built by General Braddock in 1755,
in his expedition to reduce Fort Duquesue, now the site of Pittsburg,
Pennsylvania; and

Whereas after the organization of the general Government in 1789,
in the development of the "Western" territory of the United States, as
the country beyond the Allegany Mountains was then known, this road
became the main and most important thoroughfare in the transporta-
tion of people and supplies to the West, and its constant use caused It
to become worn out and utterly inadequate to the public necessities;
and

Whereas of all the primeval roads of the nation, this road, so far
back as the year 1806, when the first step was taken by the Federal
Government towards making internal improvements, was the initial
road to receive any consideration and appropriation from the Congress
of the United States, when $30,000.00 was appropriated to open and
make the "Cumberland road" (as it was designated for the first time)
from that point to the Ohio river, and from year to year down to 1834,
appropriations were made by said Congress aggregating over $3,000,-
000.00 for the maintenance and improvement of the said highway east
of the Ohio river; and

Whereas in said year of 1834 said road was the finest in America, and
for a score of years thereafter, although the Baltimore and Ohio Rail-
road had been built to Cumberland in 1842, this road was the main thor-
oughfare between the East and West and remained so until the exten-
sion in the year 1853 of said railroad to the Ohio river, when the use of
the road was nearly abandoned and it was permitted to grow unfit for
public travel and has never since been in condition approaching its
former usefulness and adaptability as a means of transportation; aud

Whereas said road was in the year 1834 changed in course from the
west to the east side of Wills creek, in the city of Cumberland, so as to
begin at the intersection of Baltimore and Mechanic streets in said
city, and follows said Mechanic street and after several miles distance
connects with the old route and passes through Frostburg and other
towns in Allegany county, Maryland, on to Grantsville, Garrett county,
Maryland, and from said last-named county into the State of Pennsyl-
vania ; and

Whereas the said "Cumberland" or "National road" in Maryland has
intimately linked itself with the development and improvement of the
nation and was the first to receive national recognition and support,
and is still an important artery of travel between the above points, but
through lack of attention on account of the financial disability, the
respective counties of Allegany and Garrett, through which it passes,
have been unable to give it the attention it requires and preserve it in
the excellent condition which its antiquity and famous history would
justify the pride of the people of the United States in keeping it; and,
therefore, be it

Resolved, By the General Assembly of Maryland, That the Senate and
House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress
assembly, be and they are hereby respectfully requested to pass a bill
taking over as the property of the United States, that part of the "Cum-
berland" or "national road" lying in Allegany and Garrett counties,
Maryland, and keeping, maintaining and preserving it in the same