_The U. S. vs. John F. Braddee, Application to be admitted to bail,
Jan. 28, 1841._
The following named persons being sworn, depose, That they are worth
severally as follows: Hugh Graham, $20,000; Benjamin Brownfield,
$18,000; Isaac Hague, $5,000; Henry Smith, $5,000; R. Laughlin, $4,000;
Emanuel Brown, $3,500; B. Brown, $3,000; D. S. Diamond, $1,000; Thomas
Moxley, $2,000; Michael Franks, $2,000; Abraham White, $800; Jacob
Humbert, $200; Peter Humbert, $1,000; Andrew McClelland, $3,000.
_Coram_,
T. IRWIN.
These amounts were taken from the property lists in the Commissioners
Office of Fayette county, Pa. Abraham Brown, $3,400; Benjamin Brown,
$4,050; Emanuel Brown, $2,925; Benjamin Brownfield, $6,869; Michael
Franks, $1,400; Henry Smith, $2,272; Andrew McClelland, $1,170; Peter
Humbert, $1,200; Isaac Hague, $3,170; Isaac Brown, $3,552; *Hugh Graham,
$3,868; Samuel Hatfield, $4,500; Thomas Moxley, $2,000; *David Chipps,
$200. Names marked with a star, are already security for Hugh Keys,
Canal Commissioner, with Wm. Searight, for $50,000, and also on the bond
of Thompson McKean, late Road Commissioner, for a large amount.
POINTS RAISED BEFORE THE COMMITTING MAGISTRATE:
Quere.--Can bail be given on any other species of property than real
estate?
Quere.--Are not these persons indemnified? If so, how? Would it be
policy to recognize them as witnesses on the part of the United States?
Quere.--The order is that two sureties in $25,000 each should be
furnished--will any other members be taken?
* * * * *
_The United States vs. John F. Braddee._
In the Circuit and District Courts of the United States, for the Western
District of Pennsylvania, charged with the larceny of the U. S. mail or
mails and stealing therefrom. Hugh Graham, Benjamin Brownfield, Isaac
Hague, Henry Smith, Robert Laughlin, Emanuel Brown, Daniel Diamond,
Thomas Moxley, Michael Franks, Abraham White, Jacob Humbert, Peter
Humbert, Andrew McClelland, Lewis Williams, James McLean, David Chipps,
James Douglass, John Hague, Abraham Brown, Daniel Franks, John
McClelland and William Hague acknowledge themselves to be held and
firmly bound unto the United States in the sum of sixty thousand dollars
each, lawful money of the United States, to be levied of your goods and
chattels, lauds and tenements, upon condition that the said John F.
Braddee be and appear at a session of the Circuit Court of the United
States to be held at the city of Pittsburg the third Monday in May next,
to answer the said charges, and such other matters as shall then and
there be preferred against him, and that he shall not depart the court
without leave. Taken and acknowledged. _Coram_.
T. IRWIN,
_District Judge._
January 28, 1841.
THE INDICTMENT.
In the Circuit Court of the United States of America, holden in and for
the Western District of Pennsylvania, at May sessions, in the year of
our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty-one. Western District of
Pennsylvania, to-wit:
The grand inquest of the United States of America, inquiring for the
Western District of Pennsylvania, upon their oaths and affirmations
respectively do present and say: That John F. Braddee, late of said
Western District of Pennsylvania, a practitioner of medicine, did on the
twenty-fifth day of January, in the year eighteen hundred and forty, at
Uniontown, in the said Western District of Pennsylvania, procure,
advise and assist Peter Mills Strayer to steal, take and carry away the
mail of the United States of America, then in progress of transmission
from the postoffice in Washington City, in the District of Columbia, to
the postoffice at Wheeling, in the Western District of Virginia,
contrary to the form of the act of Congress of the United States, in
such case made and provided, and against the peace, government and
dignity of the United States.
C. DARRAGH,
_U. S. Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania_.
True bill--JAMES RIDDLE, Foreman.
* * * * *
May 24th, 1841.--The Grand Jury came into court and presented a bill of
indictment against Wm. Purnell for stealing a letter from the mail and
other offenses. Same day John F. Braddee by his bail, Hugh Graham, is
surrendered into Court and Hugh Graham discharged from his recognizance.
Same day, on the motion of Mr. Austin, and affidavit of John M. Austin,
filed, habeas corpus ad satisfaciendum, issued to the jailor and Sheriff
of Fayette county for the body of William Collins. United States vs.
John F. Braddee, No. 3 of May Term, 1841. Stealing from the United
States mails. And now, to-wit: May 25th, 1841, a jury being called came,
to-wit: George Fortune, William Plummer, Samuel Cooper, William Raymond,
Edward A. Reynolds, Arnold Eichbaum, James Stewart, John Clemens, Joseph
Alexander, Thomas F. Mitchell, Thomas S. Cunningham and Samuel A.
Roberts, twelve good and lawful men, duly sworn, summoned and balloted
for, and sworn and affirmed, do say on their oaths and affirmations that
the defendant is guilty on the first, second and fourth counts in the
indictment, and not guilty on the third count. Verdict given on the 4th
day of June, 1841. The jury was polled at the instance of defendant's
counsel.
EXCEPTIONS.
The Court referred to the trial of Robinson, which had taken place at
the present term, and in which some of the jurors now empanneled had
rendered a verdict of guilty. It was not pretended that this trial had
the remotest connection with the mail robbery at Uniontown, or that the
case of Robinson involved any principle of evidence, or consideration as
to the credibility of witnesses, analogous to the case under
consideration; yet the Court asked the jury to reflect how it would
look, out of doors, after the conviction of a poor friendless boy like
Robinson, to acquit such a prisoner as was then on trial; that it might
countenance the reproach which had been cast upon the law of permitting
big fish to escape while little ones were caught, and that the Court
would be deeply mortified at such an appearance. These remarks, which
could afford no possible grounds for salutary reflection, were
calculated to make the jury forget their oaths; to lead them away from
a conscientious and fearless examination of the testimony to
calculations upon the probable opinions of others, founded not upon oath
or upon a full hearing of the testimony. This, too, in a case where it
had been made to appear that the most infamous attempts were resorted to
for the purpose of inflaming the public mind by falsehoods through the
press. The jury to reflect that if they took a course unpopular at the
moment, the whole odium must rest upon them, and that their characters,
motives and conduct would be placed in striking contrast with the more
popular tone of the Court.
2. That the Court whilst forbearing altogether to notice, or noticing
very slightly, the considerations which took all weight from the
testimony of Corman and Strayer (witnesses for the prosecution), told
the jury it would be a farce to pay any attention to the testimony of
Collins and Owens, witnesses for the accused, although the latter stood
infinitely fairer before the jury, and had no such powerful inducements
as Corman and Strayer to give false testimony.
3. The offense, if any, established against the prisoner, was that of
taking the mail with the consent of the person having charge thereof.
Yet the Court declined to give the prisoner the benefit of this
discrimination.
4. The charge of the Court that the testimony of Turk, as to the
non-arrival of the mail at New York, derived from the register, was
sufficient, without the production of the register or any copy thereof,
or extract therefrom.
* * * * *
United States _vs._ Braddee. Reasons in arrest of judgment.
1. The indictment did not pursue the language of the Act of Congress,
but mingles together words which in the act are intended to describe
different offences. The accused is consequently not apprised of the
clause under which he is indicted, and the especial character of the
offence which he must prepare himself to meet. These crimes being
statutory, must turn altogether on the language of the Act of Congress.
Suppose the same count had charged the accused with robbing, stealing
and taking?
The indictment does not allege that the mail stolen or taken contained
any valuable thing.
Overruled.
THE SENTENCE.
United States vs. John F. Braddee. May sessions, 1841. Sentence on the
first count of the indictment: That you, John F. Braddee, be imprisoned
in the Western Penitentiary of Pennsylvania, at hard labor, for and
during the term of ten years, and in all respects be subject to the same
discipline and treatment as convicts sentenced by the Courts of the
State; and that you pay the costs of this prosecution, and stand
committed until this sentence be complied with. And while so confined
therein you shall be exclusively under the constraint of the officers
having charge of said Penitentiary.
DOCKET ENTRIES.
May 27th, 1841.--Test. for United States: J. H. Phillips, J. H. Dicus,
Henry H. Beeson, Frederick Byrer, John Keffer, Samuel McLean, Peter
Mills Strayer, Amos Jolliff, Samuel Costello, William Wagner. May
28th--Test. for Defendant: John Warner, Thomas Moxley, Adam George, John
Hendricks, Uriah Hoke, Aaron Wyatt, James McLean, James Smith, Jacob F.
Brant, Robert Carr, Thomas Rowland, Abraham White, Isaac Hague, Jacob
Eckel, Decatur Wolfe. May 29th--Test. for Defendant: John Haney, William
Collins, Francis Wilkinson, Jesse King, H. Mitchell, David Chipps, Wm.
D. Swearingen, Henry Hally, Margaret Collins, William Purnell, John
Imbre, John Campbell, John M. Crane, Alfred Core, Seth Holl, John
Woodward, Henry Smith, Matthias C. Baker, James Marinder, Madison
Mooney, James Owens. May 31st--Test. for Defendant: Jesse Jones, Wm.
Hall, T. Shaw, William Ebert, Gideon John, Alexander I. Fowler, John F.
Sangston, Benjamin Brownfield. June 1st--Test. for United States: Brown
Snyder, George Meason, Robert L. Barry, John Keffer, Alfred McClelland,
Ellis Baily, Isaac Nixon, William Nixon, Samuel Nixon, Geo. Rider, J. T.
Williams, Jas. McGayen, Wm. Reddick.
June 1. Court took a recess for half an hour. Mr. Black (Col. S. W.), on
behalf of the United States, addressed the Court and jury. Mr. William
Austin, for defence, addressed the Court and jury. Mr. Darragh, district
attorney, addressed the Court and jury. June 2. Mr. Darragh continued
and concluded his address. Mr. McCandless, for defense, addressed the
Court and jury; Court took a recess for half an hour. Mr. McCandless
continued and concluded his address. Mr. Biddle, for the defense,
commenced his address to the Court and jury. June 8. Mr. Biddle
continued and concluded his address. Mr. Loomis, on behalf of the United
States, commenced his address to the Court and jury. The jury, having
been charged by Judge Baldwin, retired. Same day rendered a verdict as
before mentioned. Mr. McCandless moved the Court in arrest of judgment
and for a new trial.
June 5. Affidavits as to the ownership of a portion of the money in the
hands of Messrs. Darragh and Kennedy filed. Mr. Finley for Edward H.
Brags, moves to take the money out of Court found in the mail stolen,
and identified by the affidavits filed. Same gentleman makes the same
motion for John J. Young. Both motions referred by the Court to Messrs.
Darragh and Kennedy as auditors. Amos Jolliff discharged from his
recognizance to attend as a witness. The following report was made to
the Court by Messrs. Darragh and Kennedy viz: Pittsburg, June 5, 1841.
The undersigned beg leave to report that they have paid out on
affidavits to individuals claiming, or their order, the following sums
from the money recovered on the premises of John F. Braddee: E. H.
Pandell, $250; Timothy Goodman, $1,060; Silas D. Force, $100; James
Sproul, $690; H. S. Abbott, $647.10; Sibbett & Jones, $1,127; Haney St.
John, $1,455; B. S. Williams, $30; G. G. Moore, $170; A. H. Bangs,
$934.90; John S. Young, $190; Chas. S. Bradford, $300; in all $7,154.60.
Whole amount recovered, $10,398.60, leaving $3,244 undistributed.
Report of auditors confirmed, and claimants who have been paid are
directed to give receipts, and the balance unclaimed be deposited in the
Bank of Pittsburg to abide the further order of the Court.
United States vs. William Purnell. Wm. Freeman, James McCune, O. T.
Moore, H. H. Turk, A. McClelland and William Crawford each bound in a
recognizance of $500 to appear at the next term of the Circuit Court of
the United States for the Western District of Pennsylvania, on the 3d
Monday of November next, to testify in the above case. J. M. Austin
moves the Court to direct the Marshal to pay the witnesses subp[oe]naed
on the part of the defendant in the case of the United States _vs._ John
F. Braddee. Court refused, and ordered that the expenses of compulsory
process be paid to the officers by the United States.
United States _vs._ William Purnell. Defendant tent in $4,000 on
condition that he be and appear at the next term of the Circuit Court of
the United States, to be held in the city of Pittsburg, on the first
Monday of November, next. James L. Bugh, Benjamin Watson and John
Hendricks each tent in $1,000 on condition that defendant be and appear
as aforesaid.
June 7. The Court overruled the motion for a new trial in the case of
the United States _vs_. Braddee, and also a motion by John M. Austin,
esq., to postpone sentence, and the Court sentenced the defendant as
before mentioned.
November 16, 1841. The United States vs. Margaret Collins. Stealing from
the United States mails. Witnesses sworn before the grand jury: E. S.
Harris, Johnze Dicus, A. McClelland, D. H. Phillips, William Ebert, John
P. Sturgis, Henry H. Beeson, Abraham Alexander and Dr. Howard Kennedy.
Same _vs._ Same. Charged with receiving a $500 Treasury note, stolen
from the mail, knowing the same to have been stolen.
November 17. Recognizance of William Purnell and his sureties called and
forfeited, and the witnesses in this case discharged from their
recognizances. The grand jury came into Court and presented true bills
of indictment against Margaret Collins.
November 22. Defendant pleads not guilty. Tried and jury could not
agree, and were discharged. Margaret Collins was Braddee's
mother-in-law. Purnell and Corman were pardoned by the President before
trial.
* * * * *
Thus ended the great Braddee trial; an affair that caused more
excitement than any local event that ever interested the people of
Uniontown. The actors are all dead. Judges Baldwin and Irwin, who heard
the cause, are both dead. All the lawyers who were concerned are dead;
some of the witnesses are still living. The bondsmen are all dead.
Braddee died in the penitentiary about ten years after his
incarceration. Many persons believe that he did not die in the
penitentiary, but in some manner escaped therefrom. There can be no
doubt, however, that he died in the penitentiary.
[Illustration: THE GERMAN D. HAIR HOUSE.]
CHAPTER XLVII.
_John Quincy Adams visits Uniontown--He is Welcomed by Dr. Hugh
Campbell--The National Road a Monument of a Past Age--A Comparison
Between the National Road and the Appian Way._
"We hear no more of the clanging hoof,
And the stage coach, rattling by;
For the steam king rules the traveled world,
And the old pike's left to die."
The foregoing lines were written by one who mourned the departing
glories of the old road. When they were written the steam car had taken
the place of the four-horse coach, and the writer was giving vent to his
grief over the change. Steam has since encountered a formidable
competitor in the shape of electricity, and the time is coming when the
steam car will follow in the wake of the old stage coach. Progress is
the inspiring watchword of the hour, and while there may be nothing new
under the sun, old things are certainly presented in a new light, and
old agencies applied to new work.
No sound greets the ear of the pike boy now, like the clink of other
days. The glory of the old road has departed, but the memory of its
better days fades not away. The old tavern has gone with all the rest.
The incidents and anecdotes, accidents and episodes of the road have all
passed to the domain of history.
In the month of May, 1837, John Quincy Adams visited Uniontown, on his
return from Cincinnati, where he had gone to participate in the
inauguration of the observatory on Mount Adams, near that city. Dr. Hugh
Campbell was appointed to deliver the address of welcome to Mr. Adams on
his arrival at Uniontown. The following opening sentences are quoted
from Dr. Campbell's address:
"_Venerable Sir_: I have the honor of being the organ of this community
to express for them and myself our hearty welcome of you among us. You
see here, sir, an assembly of people of every political faith, come
together spontaneously as one man to express their respect and
veneration for one who has filled so large and distinguished, and I may
add, beneficial space in the history and councils of this nation. We
stand here, sir, upon the CUMBERLAND ROAD, which has, to some extent,
broken down the great wall of the Appallachian mountains, which served
to form so natural a barrier between what might have been two great
rival nations. This road constitutes we trust, an indissoluble chain of
Union, connecting forever as one, the East and the West. As a people
directly interested in this great national work, we are glad to have the
opportunity of expressing our acknowledgments to you in person. It is a
part of that great system which has always received your support, known
as the American System, the happy influence of which you have recently
had the pleasure of witnessing in the rapid and extraordinary
development of the resources of the West."
Dr. Campbell proceeded at some length in a well conceived and happily
expressed address, and concluded as follows:
"Again, sir, I bid you welcome to the hospitalities of our town, and may
the God of all grace prolong your existence, and finally receive you to
himself."
It is noteworthy, because out of the ordinary line, that two of the
ablest debaters and most popular public speakers of Western
Pennsylvania, fifty years ago, were physicians--Dr. F. J. Lemoyne, of
Washington, and Dr. Hugh Campbell, of Uniontown, the first named an
Abolitionist and the other a Whig. Those who have heard them on the
stump aver that they never heard better speakers. They were both highly
educated, masters of logic, forceful in delivery, and in the modern
phrase, "clean cut" in all their utterances.
In the latest map of Fayette county, Pennsylvania, there is a sketch of
the National Road, written by the late Hon. James Veech, in which that
able man said:
"It is a monument of a past age; but like all other monuments, it is
interesting, as well as venerable. It carried thousands of population
and millions of wealth into the West; and more than any other material
structure in the land, served to harmonize and strengthen, if not to
save, the Union."
There was a popular belief, in the olden time, that the National Road
was a bond of union between the States, and that it served to harmonize
and bring together on friendly terms, people of remote sections, and of
different pursuits. This will be seen by the quoted remarks of Dr.
Campbell and Mr. Veech. The generation of to-day regards the affection
of the old pike boy for the old road, as a mere memory, the recollection
of the animated scenes of trade and transportation on the old highway.
It is something more. The old pike boy sincerely and truly believes that
the old pike was a bond of union, that for years it kept the peace
between discordant interests, and prolonged the evil day when the
outbreak of disunion came.
[Illustration: DR. HUGH CAMPBELL.]
The Appian Way was a great road, and is invested with much classic and
historic interest, but, unlike the National Road, it did not yield its
place to greater lines of progress and improvement. The Appian Way was
designed to gratify the pomp and vanity of consuls and pro-consuls,
kings and princes, emperors and empires. The National Road was designed
to meet the wants of a free and progressive people, and to aid in
building up and strengthening a great and growing republic. The Appian
Way had more vitality than the government that built it. It outlived its
country. The National Road served its purpose grandly, was a complete
success, the pride and glory of its day and generation, and when it lost
its place as a national thoroughfare, the government that made it was
all the stronger because it had been made. The average width of the
Appian Way was from eighteen to twenty feet, so as to admit of two
carriages passing each other, and the expense of constructing the first
section of it was so great that it exhausted the public treasury of
Rome. The National Road was sixty feet wide, and eight carriages could
pass each other within its borders, while the cost of its construction,
although a very large sum of money, made so light a draught upon the
resources of the public treasury of the United States, in comparison
with subsequent appropriations for other objects, as to be scarcely
worthy of observation. The Appian Way derived its name from Appius, who
was consul of Rome at the time of the undertaking. Its initial southern
terminus was Capua, distant from Rome one hundred and twenty-five miles,
very nearly the same as the distance from Cumberland to Wheeling. It was
subsequently constructed as far as Beneventum, and ultimately to
Brundisium, a seaport town of the Adriatic, distant from Rome three
hundred and seventy-eight miles. We are informed by Anthon, an ancient
classic author of high renown, that the city of Beneventum derived great
importance from its position on the Appian Way, and the same can be
truthfully said of the towns and cities which were so fortunate as to be
located on the National Road.
Paul the apostle traveled over a portion of the Appian Way on his
journey from Jerusalem to Rome to carry up his appeal from Agrippa to
Cæsar. He intersected the Appian Way at Puteoli, where he remained seven
days, and his brethren having learned that he had reached that point,
came to meet him as far as Appii Forum and the Three Taverns. The Appii
Forum was a station, and the Three Taverns a house for the entertainment
of strangers and travelers on the Appian Way. The latter may have been
three distinct houses moulded into one, as is sometimes done, or a
cluster of taverns consisting of three. That they were taverns, or a
tavern, is unquestionable. There was an old tavern on the Mountain
division of the National Road, in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, called
the Three Cabins. The cabins were put up for boarding and lodging
workmen engaged in the construction of the road, and when the work was
finished, united and made one. This grotesque old tavern enjoyed a large
patronage, and was a source of no little profit to its old-fashioned
proprietor.
Horace, as before intimated, was an occasional traveler on the Appian
Way, not infrequently accompanied by Virgil, and apparently with no
other object than the mere pleasure afforded by the jaunt. These
illustrious authors of classic verse were, it is said, given to
convivial habits, and we have the word of Horace himself that the wine
on the Appian Way was "thick." From some other things said by Horace, it
is very evident that the taverns of the Appian Way were inferior to
those of the National Road. As an instance, he says that "the bustling
landlord of the inn at Beneventum almost burned himself in roasting some
lean thrushes." Lean thrushes never entered the well stored larders of
the old taverns of the National Road. Fatness was the leading feature of
flesh and fowl and bird of every kind that passed inspection of the
old-time landlord of our National highway, and fatness distinguished all
the surroundings of his overflowing hostelry. Nor was it the habit of
our old tavern keepers to do the cooking and roasting of their
establishments. All that pertained to the dominion of the landlady, who,
as a rule, was tidy and robust, and felt a just pride in her calling.
Horace also complained that at an inn at Canusium, on the Appian Way, he
was served with "gritty bread." Shades of John N. Dagg, Joseph Hallam,
Daniel Brown, Charles Miller, James Workman, Alfred McClelland, Joshua
Marsh and Boss Rush, defend us forever against the thought of gritty
bread! Horace, in further deprecation of some things on the Appian Way,
mentions a little town where "water is sold, though the worst in the
world." Generosity was a leading trait of the old tavern keepers of the
National Road. There was an inexhaustible supply of water along its
line, the best and purest in the world, and no man ever heard of a cup
of it being sold for a price. One of the most attractive features of the
National Road was the big water-trough that stood by the side of every
tavern, filled with fresh, sparkling water, and absolutely free to all
comers and goers.
[Illustration: THE BIG WATER-TROUGH ON LAUREL HILL.]
APPENDIX.
_A Digest of the Laws of Pennsylvania, relating to the Cumberland
Road--Unexpended Balances in Indiana--Accounts of Two Old
Commissioners--Rates of Toll--Letters of Albert Gallatin, Ebenezer
Finley and Thomas A. Wiley--Curiosities of the old Postal Service._
1807. Act of April 9th gives the State's consent to the making of the
road within its limits, provided the route be changed to pass
through Uniontown and Washington; also gives the United States
authorities full power to enter upon lands, dig, cut and carry
away materials, etc., for the purpose of completing and
_forever_ keeping in repair said road. Pamphlet Laws, page 185.
1828. February 7th. Joint resolution authorizes the Government of the
United States to erect toll gates, enforce the collection of
tolls, and to do and perform every other act and thing which may
be deemed necessary to insure the PERMANENT repair and
preservation of the road. Andrew Shultz, Governor, Nerr
Middleswarth, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Daniel
Sturgeon, Speaker of the Senate. Pamphlet laws, page 500.
1831. Act of April 11th. Preamble: "Whereas, that part of the
Cumberland Road lying within the State of Pennsylvania is in
many parts in bad condition for want of repairs, and as doubts
have been entertained whether the United States have authority
to erect toll gates on said road and collect toll, and as a
large proportion of the people of this commonwealth are
interested in said road, ITS CONSTANT CONTINUANCE AND
PRESERVATION, therefore, etc." The act then goes on and
authorizes the erection of at least six gates, designates
classes and persons exempt from toll, provides for the erection
of directors (boards ordering teams, etc., to pass to the
right), establishes rates of tolls, regulates the manner of
collecting the same, etc. Pamphlet Laws, page 419. For a
judicial construction of this act, see case of Hopkins vs.
Stockton, 2 Watts and Sargeant, page 163.
1835. Act of April 1st requires supervisors of highways to make paved
valleys or stone culverts where other roads intersect the
Cumberland Road and this act also signifies the State's
acceptance of the road from the General Government. Pamphlet
Laws, page 102.
1836. Act of June 13th provides for payment of half toll by persons
carrying the United States mail, and fixes penalties for
attempts to defraud the State of toll. Pamphlet Laws, page 534.
This act declared inoperative by the Supreme Court of the United
States, in so far as it levies toll on mail coaches.
1837. Act of April 4th exempts persons hauling coal for home
consumption from payment of tolls. Pamphlet Laws, page 353.
1839. Act of February 5th in form of a joint resolution requires
Commissioners to give bond in the sum of $6,000. Pamphlet Laws,
page 637. Changed by subsequent acts.
1839. Act of June 17th, in form of a joint resolution, fixes the
compensation of Commissioners at $3 per diem, not to exceed one
hundred and fifty days in any one year. Pamphlet Laws, page 679.
Changed by subsequent acts.
1840. Act of March 24th authorizes the appointment of one Commissioner
by the Governor for a term of three years, at a compensation of
$3.00 per diem, requiring him to give bond in the sum of
$10,000, to keep an account of receipts and expenditures, and
publish the same; and further provides for auditors to adjust
accounts. Pamphlet Laws, page 207. Partially repealed by
subsequent acts.
1843. Act of April 5th authorizes Commissioners to stop mail coaches
to enforce payment of tolls. Pamphlet Laws, page 164. This act
held to be void by the Supreme Court of the United States, and
supplied by act of April 14th, 1845, _postea_.
1845. Act of April 14th (Omnibus Bill).
"Preamble: Whereas, it has lately been decided by the Supreme
Court of the United States, that the acts of assembly of this
Commonwealth, relating to the collection of tolls on that part
of the Cumberland Road which is within this State, passed June
13th, 1836, and April 5th, 1843, do not authorize the
collection of any amount of tolls whatever for the passage
upon said road of any stage, coach, or other vehicle carrying
passengers with their baggage and goods, if such stage, coach,
or other vehicle, is at the same time carrying any of the
mails or property of the United States; and whereas, the said
court sanctions the power of Pennsylvania to provide for the
repairs of said road by a general assessment of tolls upon
persons traveling thereon, which it is deemed just and right
should be paid; and whereas, also, it is found to be
impracticable to keep said road in good repair and out of
debt by the tolls collectable under the existing laws of this
Commonwealth, as interpreted by said Court, therefore," &c.
This act then goes on and in section 12 imposes a toll of not
less than two nor more than fifteen cents, as shall be fixed
and determined by the Commissioner, upon every person riding
or traveling in any vehicle carrying the United States mails,
for every fourteen miles over which such person shall have
been a passenger or traveler, and in proportion for shorter
distances, provided that no toll shall be demanded from any
guard to the mails, agent of the postoffice, bearer of
dispatches for the General or State Government, nor any naval
or military officer of the United States or this State,
traveling in the discharge of official duty. Section 13
provides the manner of collecting tolls under this act.
Section 14 imposes a penalty of fifty dollars on any driver
who neglects to report at every gate the number of passengers
in his carriage or coach. Section 15 provides that in case of
refusal of passengers to pay or neglect of drivers to report,
collectors shall charge in a book all unpaid tolls and sue for
the same. Section 16 provides that in every case where a
collector may be unable from omission or neglect of drivers or
passengers to ascertain the number of passengers liable to
toll under this act, he may charge and recover for so many as
the carriage shall be capable of carrying. Section 17 provides
a penalty of twenty dollars for every fraudulent attempt to
evade the payment of toll imposed by this act. Pamphlet Laws,
pages 430-1. This act is still in force, though mail coaches
(rather hacks) have been carrying passengers and freights for
many years without paying toll.
1847. Act of March 16th authorizes the Governor to appoint a
Commissioner on each side of the Monongahela river, at a salary
of $350 each. Pamphlet Laws, page 477. Subsequently repealed.
1848. Act of April 8th provides for the appointment of trustees by the
courts of Somerset, Fayette and Washington counties (one in
each), said trustees to appoint one or more Commissioners.
Pamphlet Laws, page 523. Repealed.
1850. Act of May 3d authorizes the Commissioner and the Court of
Quarter Sessions to determine what travel and transportation
shall be in part or in whole exempt from toll; also authorizes
the imposition of toll upon persons using the road who do not
pass through the gates thereon, and prescribes the manner of
collecting the same; also authorizes the Commissioner to change
the location of gates, and to sell and convey toll houses and
grounds, and to purchase sites. Pamphlet Laws, page 682. This
act remains in force.
1856. Act of April 22, authorizes the Courts of Fayette and Washington
counties to appoint superintendents. Pamphlet Laws, page 523.
Prior to the date of this act, the officer in charge of the road
was invariably called Commissioner. This act repealed as to that
portion of the road east of the Monongahela by Act of May 1,
1861. _Postea._
1861. Act of May 1, authorizes the Governor to appoint one person as
Superintendent for so much of the road as lies within the
counties of Fayette and Somerset, and repeals part of the act of
April 22, 1856, _supra_. Pamphlet Laws, page 678.
1864. Act of April 13th, requires Superintendents to appropriate fifty
per cent. of the tolls to the payment of old debts. Pamphlet
Laws, page 408. Repealed.
1865. Act of March 21, repeals so much of the act of April 13th, 1864,
_supra_, as requires Superintendents to apply fifty per cent. of
tolls to the payment of old debts, and provides that _bona fide_
holders of certificates of indebtedness for repairs shall be
allowed credit for tolls on their certificates. Pamphlet Laws,
page 474.
1865. Act of November 27th, provides for the adjudication and payment
of certain claims against the road. Appendix to Pamphlet Laws of
1866, page 1,226.
1867. Act of January 7th, repeals outright _in toto_ the act of April
13th, 1864, _supra_. Pamphlet Laws, page 1,543.
1868. Act of March 20th, authorizes and _requires_ the Superintendent
to repair the road, and keep it in repair, where it passes
through any town or borough forming a street thereof in the
county of Fayette. Pamphlet Laws, page 444. In force.
1877. Act of April 4th, authorizes the Governor to appoint a
Commissioner for that portion of the road lying between the
Monongahela river and the line of the State of West Virginia for
a term of three years from the termination of the term of
incumbent, at a salary of $3.00 per diem, not to exceed $300 per
annum, to account under oath to the auditors of Washington
county. Pamphlet Laws, page 53.
1893. Act of June 2d, appropriates $1,500 to repair the great stone
bridge at the Big Crossings. Pamphlet Laws, page 213.
The following communications and statements show the unexpended
balances in 1834 of appropriations made by Congress in preceding
years, for constructing the road through the State of Indiana:
WASHINGTON, Jan. 20th, 1835.
_Sir_:--I have the honor to transmit herewith a report from the
Chief Engineer respecting the unexpended balance of the
appropriation for the Cumberland Road in Indiana, in answer to the
resolution of the House of Representatives, of the 17th instant.
Very respectfully, your most obedient servant,
MAHLON DICKERSON,
Acting Secretary of War.
TO HON. JOHN BELL,
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
* * * * *
ENGINEER DEPARTMENT, Jan. 19th, 1835.
_Hon. Lewis Cass, Secretary of War_:
SIR:--In obedience to the resolution of the House of
Representatives of the 17th instant, I have the honor to hand you
the enclosed statement, explaining the difference in the amount of
unexpended appropriations on account of the National Road, in the
State of Indiana, and furnishing the information called for
therein. I beg leave to remark that it is often necessary to close
the annual statement of the fiscal operations of the Engineer
Department before the returns, &c., from all the work are received.
The Department, therefore, can only act on the information before
it. This was the case in the present instance, as well as some
others included in the same statement.
I have the honor to be, sir, your most obedient servant,
C. GRATIOT, Chief Engineer.
* * * * *
In the tabular statement of the fiscal operations, under the Engineer
Department for the year ending the 30th of September, 1834, the
unexpended balance of former appropriations is thus stated, relating to
the Cumberland Road in Indiana:
Amount undrawn from the Treasury, 30th of September $160,882 00
Amount in the hands of agents, 30th of September 17,631 09
-----------
Total $178,513 09
Which amount was ascertained from the statement of
balances from the Treasury, on the 30th of Sept $160,882 00
And an acknowledged balance in the hands of
Captain Ogden, on 30th of September $1,925 79
And from the accounts of Mr. Milroy,
which had been rendered only to
the first quarter of 1834, inclusive,
which showed a balance in
his hands, after deducting $7,218 38
Paid over to Capt. Ogden, credited in
his account current for the 3d quarter
of 1834, of $15,705 30
----------$17,631 09
----------
$178,513 09
Since preparing the annual statement and its transmission to
the War Department, Mr. Milroy has rendered accounts for
the 2d quarter, and part of the 3d quarter of 1834, by
which he shows a balance due him of $1,147 89
So that, had Mr. Milroy's accounts been received to the time
of preparing the statement, the amount in the hands of
agents would have been, instead of $17,631 09, only 777 90
Which added to the amount in the Treasury,
on the 1st of Oct., 1834 $160,882 00
===========
Would make available for the service of the 4th quarter of
1834, and the year 1835 $161,659 90
===========
The balance in the Treasury on the 1st of October, 1834, was $160,882 00
Since which there has been drawn and remitted to the Superintendent,
as follows:
October 21, 1834, to Captain Ogden $30,000 00
November 25, 1834, to Captain Ogden 17,520 00
January 10, 1835, to Captain Ogden 30,000 00
$77,320 00
----------
Remaining in the Treasury on the 19th of January, 1835 $83,562 00
The following accounts of two of the old Commissioners are interesting
as showing the amount of tolls received and disbursements made for
repairs and maintenance at the dates covered, and disclosing the once
familiar names of many who had contracts and were otherwise employed on
the road:
ACCOUNT OF WILLIAM HOPKINS,
_Commissioner of the Cumberland Road in Pennsylvania, from Nov. 10th,
1840, to Nov. 10th, 1841._
EASTERN DIVISION, EMBRACED IN FAYETTE AND SOMERSET COUNTIES, VIZ:
DR.
To cash received from the National Road Stage Co $2,378 12
" " " " Holt & Maltby, supposed 113 94
" " " at Gate No. 1, Wm. Condon, collector 1,758 87
" " " " Gate No. 2, Hiram Seaton, " 1,948 24
" " " " Gate No. 3, Wm. D. Beggs, " 769 27
" " " " Gate No. 3, Jas. Reynold, " 1,125 29
" " " a fine collected by Wm. Bradley 5 00
" " " " " " John Tunsell 5 00
Total amount received from Nov. 10, 1840, to Nov. 10,
1841 -------$8,103 73
BY DISBURSEMENTS, VIZ. CR.
Cash paid Thompson McKean, late Superintendent $50 00
" " Henry Woolery in full for work 15 62-1/2
" " Thompson McKean, late Superintendent 40 00
" " Jackson Brown in full for work 20 75
" " George Hensell ditto 8 22
" " Jesse Sachett ditto 90 00
" " John Smalley, hauling stone 34 20
" " Peter Leonard, quarry leave 8 62-1/2
" " Elijah Crabb, work 197 95
" " Samuel Dean 15 00
" " George Colley, quarry leave 100 00
" " J. & W. W. Woolery, work 242 40
" " Hugh Wilson, " 2 50
" " William Jeffries, " 83 37
" " Isaac Brownfield, " 59 85
" " Thos. McKean, " 300 00
" " John Brownfield, " 41 25
" " John Risler, " 3 90
" " John Dean, " 106 88
" " James Spears, " 23 25
" " Isaac Nixon, " 125 22
" " Elias Gilmore, " 168 20
" " Ephraim Conway, " 20 00
" " A. McDowell, " 94 63-1/2
" " McClean & Emberson, " 28 92
" " C. Rush, " 4 89
" " John Deford, quarry leave 9 04
" " Rich'd Beeson, costs, Com. vs. Stockton 11 83
" " S. D. Skeen, in full for work 4 60
" " Thomas Prentice, " 6 00
" " James Amos, " 135 31
" " Jno. Hatzman, " 52 84
" " William Reynolds, " 982 66
" " Michael S. Miller, " 38 37-1/2
" " James Watkins, " 2 20
" " Jos. M. Sterling, " 60 00
" " Samuel Rush, " 881 89
" " Hiram Hanse, " 8 00
" " Thomas Brown, " 324 60
" " Upton Shaw, " 314 37
" " John Bennington, " 130 00
" " William C. Stevens, " 5 18-3/4
" " Hugh Graham, work $300 00
" " " " toll house 200 00 500 00
" " James Snyder, on account for work 235 41-1/2
" " same in full 28 06
" " Charles Kemp, jr., " 32 00
" " I. & R. Hill, " 39 64
" " Wm. H. Graham, " 395 67-1/2
" " George Colley, " 80 80
" " James Marlow, " 651 70
" " John Bradfield, " 1,508 64
" " John M. Claybaugh, " 107 63
" " Henry G. Brown, " 24 69
" " Joseph Dillon, " 49 64
" " Charles Rush, " 23 85
" " Sam'l McReynolds, " 29 33
" " M. H. Jones, " 23 32
" " Hiram Hayney, " 50 00
" " Morris Mauler, " 69 47-1/2
" " Huston Todd, hauling stone 20 00
---------$8,722 41
The foregoing items of expenditures were contracts made by Thompson
McKean, Esq., late Commissioner, and paid on his certificate.
Cash paid Adam Speer, for work on road $ 5 00
" " William D. Beggs, do 1 50
" " same do 1 00
" " same salary for keeping Gate No. 3 83 30
" " James Reynolds, work on road 1 50
" " E. Crable, do 2 00
" " Rush & McCollough, do 25 00
" " E. H. Showalter, on account of work on road 100 00
" " N. Bradley, " " " 2 50
" " William Milligan, " " " 14 00
" " A. L. Pentland, Esq., costs, Com. v. Stockton 5 00
" " Wilson McCandless, Esq., Prof. services 20 00
" " same " " 30 00
" " R. P. Flenniken, Esq., " " 56 62-1/2
" " John Irons, for advertising 4 00
" " Upton Shaw, work on road 30 62-1/2
" " Samuel McReynolds, work on road 1 25
" " Samuel Lazure, " " 25
" " Robert McDowell 20 00
" " John Bradfield 67 50
" " William Reynolds 273 00
" " John L. Dawson, Esq. 33 62-1/2
" " Nicholas Bradley 58 75
" " William Condon, Gate No. 1, salary 200 00
" " George Farney, for work on road 2 62-1/2
" " John Nelson, " " " 1 50
" " Jas. Reynolds, Gate No. 3, salary 116 66
" " Hiram Seaton, Gate No. 2, salary 200 00
" " McCollough & Rush, for work on road 169 55-3/4
" " Robert S. Brown, " " 169 90-1/2
" " Anthony Yarnell, " " 150 00
" " Sam'l Dean, " " 50 00
" " Henry Showalter, " " 137 50
" " Jackson Brown, " " 65 00
" " John H. Deford, Prof. services 20 00
" " John Risler, for stone 6 40
Total amount of expenditures on Eastern division -----$10,847 98-1/4
WESTERN DIVISION, LYING IN WASHINGTON COUNTY.
To cash received from Good Intent Stage Co. $4,246 25
" " " Moore & Henderson 512 16
" " " Wm. R. Cope 70 00
" at Gate No. 4, Stephen Phelps, col. 1,694 23
" " " No. 5, Wm. Hill 1,773 36
" " " No. 6, David Guinea 1,569 44
" " " No. 5, in Oct, 1840, under R. Quail 150 41
" " " No. 6, Sept. and Oct., 1840, R. Quail 304 67
" a fine collected by John Freeman, Esq. 5 00
Total amount received -----$10,325 52
BY DISBURSEMENTS ON WESTERN DIVISION, VIZ:
Cash paid Egan & Dickey, in full for work on road $1,387 00
" " John McDonough, " " " 249 22-1/2
" " John Dickey, " " " 50 62-1/2
" " Henry Murry, " " " 889 04
" " same, alleged error in settlement 150 00
" " Morris Pursell, in full for work on road 215 87
" " Bradley & Morgan, " " " 234 27
" " Daniel Ward, " " " 746 66
" " Brown & Valentine, " " " 287 00
" " David Guinea, Gate No. 6, salary 133 18
" " Wm. Hill, Gate No. 5 66 72
-----$ 4 409 49
The above items of expenditure were on contracts made by R. Quail, late
Commissioner, and paid on his certificate.
Cash paid T. H. Baird, Esq., Prof. services $ 5 00
" " I. P. Morgan, digging well 32 50
" " Joel Lamborn, building chimney 11 00
" " William Craven, smith work 15 80
" " J. T. Rogen, powder 5 60
" " Amos Griffith, pump 40 50
" " A. J. Harry, stove pipe 2 96
" " Robert Bradley, in full work at well 60 12-1/2
" " Griffith Taylor, wheelbarrow 1 75
" " John McMath, in full work on road 8 59
" " John Bausman, printing 4 00
" " Grayson & Kaine, " 10 25
" " H. Winten, in full for work on road 27 00
" " Samuel Adams, " " 4 50
" " James P. Morgan, " " 35 31
" " J. Worrell, on account 7 30
" " same, in full 2 75
" " J. McGuire, on account 57 70
" " Jacob Shaffer, stove pipe 1 37
" " Robert Sprowl, on account work on road 253 00
" " Thomas Egan, in full 253 68
" " Henry Murray, stone 36 86
" " Jacob Stillwagon, on acct. stone 227 00
" " Anthony Rentz, " " 59 84
" " David Andrews, work 128 00
" " Joseph Miller, in full, stone 62 50
" " John Huston, work 42 00
" " Joseph T. Rogers, powder 5 50
" " Isaac Leet, Prof. services 10 00
" " William Watkins, acct. stone 15 00
" " Stephen Phelps, Gate No. 4, salary 200 00
" " Robert Bradley, work in full 122 96
" " same on account 81 16 204 12
" " William Hill, Gate No. 5, salary 200 00
" " David Guinea, Gate No. 6, " 200 00
" " on acct. book for Superintendent 3 00
" " counterfeit money received 11 00
" " Superintendent, for his services, per
account filed, 309 days at $3.00 per day 927 00
" " Auditors, for settling and stating this
account, viz:
H. Langley $2 00
J. K. Wilson 5 00
S. Cunningham 5 00 12 00
Total expenditures on Western division -----$7,594 09-1/2
RECAPITULATION. DR.
To amount received on the Eastern Division $ 8,103 73
To amount received on the Western Division 10,325 52
------$18,429 25
CR.
By cash paid out on the Eastern Division,
per statement $10,847 98-1/4
By cash paid on the Western Division,
per statement 7,594 09-1/2
------$18,442 07-3/4
Balance due Wm. Hopkins, Esq., Superintendent, on the
10th Nov., 1841 $ 12 82-3/4
The undersigned, auditors appointed by the Court of Common Pleas for the
county of Washington, Pennsylvania, on the 9th day of November, 1841, to
audit, settle and adjust the account of William Hopkins, Esq.,
Commissioner of the Cumberland Road, having carefully examined the
accounts submitted to them by said Commissioner (a full statement of
which is herewith presented), and having compared the vouchers with said
account, do find that the said William Hopkins, Commissioner as
aforesaid, has expended up to the 10th day of November, 1841, the sum of
twelve dollars and eighty-two 3/4 cents more than came into his hands,
and that said sum of twelve dollars and eighty-two 3/4 cents was due to
him on said day.
In testimony whereof, we have hereto set our hands and seals the 22d day
of January, A.D. 1842.
SAMUEL CUNNINGHAM, (SEAL)
JOHN K. WILSON, (SEAL) _Auditors._
HENRY LANGLY, (SEAL)
WASHINGTON COUNTY, 88.
THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA.
I, John Grayson, prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas for said
county, certify that at a Court of Common Pleas for the county
aforesaid, held on the 9th day of November, Anno Domini 1841, Samuel
Cunningham, John K. Wilson and Henry Langly were appointed by said Court
auditors to settle and adjust the account of William Hopkins, Esq.,
Commissioner of the Cumberland Road, as appears of record in our said
Court.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal
of said Court, the 22d day of January, 1842.
[SEAL] JOHN GRAYSON, _Prothy._
ACCOUNT OF WILLIAM SEARIGHT,
_Commissioner of the Cumberland Road in Pennsylvania, from the 1st of
May, 1843, to the 31st of December, 1844, inclusive._
TO TOLLS RECEIVED ON THE EASTERN DIVISION, VIZ: DR.
To tolls received from Thos. Grier, Gate No. 1 $4,466 24
" " " " Robert McDowell, Gate No. 2 4,102 70
" " " " James Reynolds, Gate No. 3 4,410 43
" " " " National Road Stage Co 3,200 00
" " " " Express Co 254 00
--------
Total amount received on Eastern Division $16,433 37
TO TOLLS RECEIVED ON THE WESTERN DIVISION, VIZ:
From David Mitchell, Gate No. 4 $3,509 32
" Wm. Hill, " No. 5 3,843 87
" Wm. McCleary, " No. 6 4,105 81
" Good Intent Stage Co 8,447 30
Cash received from John S. Brady, on account of Quail's
securities 769 44
---------
$20,675 74
----------
Total receipts $37,109 11
CR.
By cash paid Thomas Grier, collector at Gate No. 1 $333 33
" " Robt. McDowell, " " " No. 2 333 33
" " Jas. Reynolds, " " " No. 3 333 33
" " Dan'l Kaine, for certifying auditors 1 00
" " D. Kaine, Wm. P. Wells and Joseph Gadd 12 00
" " William Jeffries 65 62
" " Geo. Craft, costs 6 60
" " Thos. and Robert Brown 330 63
" " Wm. Hager 3 00
" " Elias Gilmore 2,737 40
" " George Palmer 55 25
" " William C. Stevens 16 80
" " Peter Kerney 1 50
" " James Dougan 42 77
" " Thomas Brownfield 1,922 98
" " Robert S. Henderson 150 00
" " John Malone 30 62
" " Sam'l Shipley, admr. of S. Rush 216 03
" " Andrew Bryson 3 00
" " John McCalpin 7 50
" " Thomas McGrath 485 94
" " Samuel Harrah 4 87
" " John Bradfield 1,748 82
" " Robert McDowell 1,041 80
" " Calvin Perry 44 25
" " Wilson Fee 79 93
" " Thomas D. Miller 403 66
" " James Dolan 92 25
" " Upton Shaw 65 75
" " Elijah Crable 36 00
" " Samuel Shipley 833 38
" " Matthew McNeil 107 44
" " Fall & Herbertson 24 53
" " James White 8 80
" " Jackson Brown 50
" " J. L. Wylie & Co 1 44
" " Byers & Gregg 35 00
" " William Reynolds 698 87
" " James Marlow 65 15
" " Rudolph Brinkman 82 12
" " William Spaw 99 90
" " Sebastian Rush 92 75
" " John McDowell 809 14
" " Edward G. Roddy 49 84
" " Isaac McLaughlin 5 25
" " George W. Cass 70 00
" " John Irons, printing 21 50
" " Samuel McDonald, printing 10 00
" " J. & G. S. Gideon 24 00
" " James Veech, professional services 100 00
" " R. P. Flenniken " " 100 00
" " Edward Kerven 140 73
" " Thomas Hougan 30 00
" " Thomas Dougan 51 75
" " John Powell 37 75
" " George Parmertor 71 75
" " Daniel Cannon 329 75
" " Hugh Graham 233 95
" " Morris Whalen 118 28
" " Nicholas Bradley 91 78
" " Perry White 116 06
" " Simon Deal 96 39
" " William McClean 73 23
" " James Collins 27 37
" " James McCartney 82 08
" " Anthony Yarnell 192 65
" " William Conard 1 25
" " Thomas McCoy 33 00
" " James Reynolds 9 47
" " John M. Claybaugh 20 43
" " Robert McDowell 300 44
" " Gadd & Henderson 2,531 50
" " Francis L. Wilkinson 12 29
" " Kerney & Redfern 44 62
" " Matthias Fry 442 67
Depreciated money on hand 10 00
Balance due Commissioner on former settlement 1,580 00
Salary of Commissioner, from May 1st, 1843, to 31st
of December, 1844, being 513 days at $3.00 per
day 1,539 00
Whole amount expended on Eastern Division -------$22,066 53
BY THE FOLLOWING SUMS EXPENDED ON THE WESTERN DIVISION.
CR.
By cash paid David Mitchell, collector Gate No. 4 $ 333 33
" " William Hill, " " No. 5 333 33
" " Wm. McCleary, " " No. 6 333 33
" " E. L. Blaine, for use of Patrick Egan 34 96
" " J. S. Brady, on account of Wm. Paull 41 84
" " William McCleary 7 00
" " James Denison 213 90
" " Henry Masterson 307 87
" " Hiram Freeman 1,402 37
" " Charles Kern 136 72
" " Thomas Egan 263 32
" " John McCollough 956 58
" " Robert Sprowl 2,995 38
" " Adam Fishburn 1 50
" " John Robinson 303 07
" " Joseph Lawson 1,962 50
" " Patrick Egan 203 00
" " John Bradley, admr. of R. Bradley 221 25
" " Thomas Hagerty 87 95
" " John Huston 20 25
" " George Irvin 162 07
" " William Hill 2 81
" " William Paull 161 00
" " Samuel Rodgers 3 00
" " Michael Monahan 55 00
" " Thomas Finley 36 25
" " John Curry 6 00
" " Michael Dougan 9 00
" " McCollough & Gilmore 980 22
" " Charles Murphy 70 00
" " Charles Stillwagon, 75 00
" " Jacob Stillwagon 305 21
" " Jacob Daugherty 229 00
" " Anthony Rentz 534 25
" " Baldwin Miller 3 75
" " William Pepper 13 41
" " Henry Murry 170 66
" " James Thompson 291 17
" " James Hurley 280 63
" " J. J. Armstrong 58 12
" " B. Forester 25 00
" " John Mitchell 62 71
" " Mark M. Passmore 33 75
" " Grayson & Kaine, printing 17 00
" " John Bausman " 15 00
" " Richard Biddle 60 00
" " Michael Price 21 00
" " William Scott 15 00
" " William Hopkins 52 50
" " E. L. Blaine, costs 11 01
" " Thomas Sprout 14 94
" " John Wheeler 62 87
" " Robert Patrick 45 95
" " Cornelius Daly 37 85
" " James McIntyre 226 50
" " William Hastings 125 62
" " Jacob Dixon 6 10
" " Michael Bail 16 00
" " Keyran Tolbert 55 52
" " David Butts 2 00
" " James Redman 160 00
" " John Gadd 1,556 53
" " Thomas Hagan 34 50
" " James Gainer 185 56
" " John Whitmire 150 00
" " Peter Kerney 51 50
Depreciated money on hand 5 00
Whole amount expended on Western Division -------$16,655 41
Whole amount expended on Eastern Division 22,066 53
---------
Whole amount expended on both divisions $38,721 94
Balance due Commissioner, December 31, 1844. $ 1,612 83
FAYETTE COUNTY, SS.
We, the undersigned, auditors appointed by the Court of Common Pleas of
Fayette county for that purpose, having examined the accounts and
vouchers relating to the receipts and expenditures of Wm. Searight,
Esq., Superintendent of the Cumberland Road, from the 1st day of May,
1843, to the 31st of December, 1844, inclusive, have found the foregoing
statement of the same to be correct and true.
H. CAMPBELL,
JOHN HUSTON,
RICHARD BEESON.
_Auditors._
NOTE.--Gate No. 1 was located at the east end of Petersburg, Gate
No. 2 was near Mt. Washington, Gate No. 3 was near Searights, Gate
No. 4 was near Beallsville, Gate No. 5 was near Washington, and
Gate No. 6 near West Alexander.
RATES OF TOLL.
The following were the rates of toll fixed by the act of April 11th,
1831, which were subsequently, however, changed: For every score of
sheep or hogs, six cents; for every score of cattle, twelve cents; for
every led or driven horse, three cents; for every horse and rider, four
cents; for every sleigh or sled, for each horse or pair of oxen drawing
the same, three cents; for every dearborn, sulky, chair or chaise, with
one horse, six cents; for every chariot, coach, coachee, stage, wagon,
phaeton, chaise, with two horses and four wheels, twelve cents; for
either of the carriages last mentioned with four horses, eighteen cents;
for every other carriage of pleasure, under whatever name it may go, the
like sum, according to the number of wheels and horses drawing the same;
for every cart or wagon whose wheels shall exceed two and one-half
inches in breadth, and not exceeding four inches, four cents; for every
horse or pair of oxen drawing the same, and every other cart or wagon,
whose wheels shall exceed four inches, and not exceeding five inches in
breadth, three cents; for every horse or pair of oxen drawing the same,
and for every other cart or wagon whose wheels shall exceed six inches,
and not more than eight inches, two cents; for every horse or pair of
oxen drawing the same, all other carts or wagons whose wheels shall
exceed eight inches in breadth, shall pass the gates free of tolls, and
no tolls shall be collected from any person or persons passing or
repassing from one part of his farm to another, or to or from a mill, or
to or from any place of public worship, funeral, militia training,
elections, or from any student or child going to or from any school or
seminary of learning, or from persons and witnesses going to and
returning from courts, or from any wagon or carriage laden with the
property of the United States, or any canon or military stores belonging
to the United States, or to any State. The reader will note that the
exemptions provided for by this act are changed by force of the act of
May 3, 1850, which authorized the commissioner and the court of quarter
sessions to determine who and what shall be exempt from the payment of
toll. A large wide board, having the appearance of a mock window, was
firmly fixed in the walls of every toll house, displaying in plain
letters the rates above given, so that the wayfarer might not err
therein.
MR. GALLATIN DEFINES HIS ATTITUDE AS TO THE LOCATION OF THE ROAD, AND
GIVES INSTRUCTIONS TO DAVID SHRIVER, SUPERINTENDENT.
When the road was authorized to be constructed by Congress, Mr. Gallatin
was Secretary of the Treasury, and a citizen of Fayette county,
Pennsylvania. His home was "Friendship Hill," in Springhill township,
near New Geneva, about fifteen miles south of Uniontown, afterward the
home of Hon. John L. Dawson. It was intimated in various quarters that
Mr. Gallatin was desirous of having the road located through or near his
place, and that he used his official influence to further his desire in
this regard. The following letter, however, to his old friend David
Acheson, of Washington, Pennsylvania, shows that the intimations
mentioned were without foundation:
NEW YORK, September 1, 1808.
DAVID ACHESON, ESQ., Washington, Pa.
_Dear Sir_: On receipt of your letter respecting the Western Road, I
immediately transmitted it to the President at Monticello. I was under
the impression that he had previously directed the Commissioners to
examine both routes and to report to him. It seems, however, that it
had not then been yet done. But on the 6th ultimo he wrote to them to
make an examination of the best route through Washington to Wheeling,
and also to Short Creek, or any other point on the river offering a more
advantageous route towards Chillicothe and Cincinnati, and to report to
him the material facts with their opinion for consideration.
That it is the sincere wish of the President to obtain all the necessary
information in order that the road should pursue the route which will be
of the greatest public utility no doubt can exist. So far as relates to
myself, after having, with much difficulty, obtained the creation of a
fund for opening a great western road, and the act pointing out its
general direction, it is sufficiently evident from the spot on the
Monongahela which the road strikes, that if there was any subsequent
interference on my part it was not of a selfish nature. But the fact is
that in the execution of the law I thought myself an improper person,
from the situation of my property, to take the direction which would
naturally have been placed in my hands, and requested the President to
undertake the general superintendence himself. Accept the assurance of
friendly remembrance, and of my sincere wishes for your welfare and
happiness.
Your obedt servant,
ALBERT GALLATIN.
* * * * *
TREASURY DEPARTMENT, March 9th, 1813.
_Sir_: You will herewith receive the plot of the road as laid by the
Commissioners from the 21st mile to Uniontown.
I approve of having a stone bridge across Little Youghiogheny, and the
measures necessary to secure masons should be adopted, but the site
cannot be fixed until you have examined whether any alterations in the
course be practicable. In that respect I beg leave to refer you to my
former letters. As soon as your examination of the ground has taken
place, and the alterations you may have found practicable shall have
been received and approved, public notice may be given inviting
proposals to contract for completing the road as far as Big
Yioughiogheny river; an additional appropriation of $140,000 having been
made by Congress. You will therefore perceive that in every point of
view your examination of the ground is the first object to attend to.
I have the honor to be, respectfully, sir,
Your obt. servant,
ALBERT GALLATIN.
D. Shriver, jr., Cumberland, Md.
* * * * *
TREASURY DEPARTMENT, April 17th, 1813.
_Sir_: Your letter of the 3d inst. has been duly received. The principal
object in finally fixing the course of the road is its permanency and
durability without the necessity of perpetual and expensive repairs. To
select, therefore, the best ground which that mountainous country will
afford, avoiding, as far as practicable, cutting along the side of steep
and long hills, always exposed to be washed away, appears to be one of
first importance. The other considerations, subordinate to the selection
of the best ground, but to be also attended to, are, the expense of
making the road, the shortness of the distance and the accommodation (by
intersecting lateral roads) of important settlements not on the line of
the road.
As an erroneous location would be an irreparable evil, it is better that
the contracts for the ensuing twenty miles should be delayed, than to
make them before you have had time to take a complete view of the
ground. Examine it well before you decide and make your first report.
This is more important because it is probable that I will be absent when
that report is made, and that it will be decisive, as the acting
secretary, to whom the subject will be new and the localities unknown,
cannot have time to investigate it critically, and will probably adopt
it on your responsibility. If a decisive advantage should arise from an
alteration in the last sections already contracted for, and the
contractors assent to it, you may, in your report, propose such an
alteration. You are authorized for the purpose of facilitating your
review of the road, without neglecting the duties of general
superintendence, to employ John S. Shriver, or some other able
assistant, with a reasonable compensation. You have not stated what this
should be, but it is presumed that you will not, in that respect, exceed
what is necessary for obtaining the services of a well qualified person.
You are authorized to draw for a further sum of twenty thousand dollars;
whenever this is nearly exhausted you will apply for a new credit.
With respect to details, they are left at your discretion. You are
sensible of the great confidence placed in your abilities and integrity,
and I am sure you will not disappoint our expectations.
With perfect consideration and sincere wishes for your welfare, I have
the honor to be, sir,
Your obedient servant,
ALBERT GALLATIN.
* * * * *
TREASURY DEPARTMENT, April 20th, 1813.
_Sir_: You are authorized to employ a surveyor to view the most
proper road from Brownsville to Washington in Pennsylvania, and
thence to examine the routes to Charlestown, Steubenville, mouth of
Short Creek and Wheeling, and report a correct statement of distance
and ground on each. If the county road as now established
from Brownsville to Washington is not objectionable, it would be
eligible to prefer it to any other which might be substituted. The
surveyor thus employed will meet with every facility by applying to
the gentlemen at Washington who have this alteration in the western
road much at heart.
I am respectfully, sir, your obedient servant,
ALBERT GALLATIN.
D. SHRIVER, JR., Cumberland, Md.
* * * * *
TREASURY DEPARTMENT, April 23rd, 1811.
_Sir_: Mr. Cochran has signed his contract and bonds for the third and
fourth sections of the road at the price agreed on, that is to say, at
the rate of twenty-two dollars and fifty cents per rod for the third
section, and of sixteen dollars and fifty cents per rod for the fourth
section.
I now enclose the contracts and bonds for the first and second sections;
that for the first in the name of Henry McKinley, and at the rate of
twenty-one dollars and twenty-five cents per rod. The proposal of Mr.
Reade was at the rate of thirteen dollars for a road covered with a
stratum of stones twelve inches thick, all the stones to pass through a
three-inch ring. He did not stay here or return here to complete the
business and was not present when the road was altered to a stratum of
stones fifteen inches thick. The same additional price, viz: one dollar
and a half per rod, is allowed him for that alteration which was by
agreement given to all the other contractors, making fourteen dollars
and a half as set down in the contract, instead of thirteen. The
contracts and bonds are in every respect (the names of sections and
difference of price only excepted) verbatim the same as both those
signed by Mr. Cochran, and they were as you will perceive all executed
by me, and signed by the President. After they shall have been signed by
the contractors respectively, they will each keep a copy of their own
contracts, and you will return the other copy, together with the bond
(both being signed by the contractors respectively) to this office.
If either of the contractors should for any reason whatever refuse to
sign the contract, you will return the same to this office, notify the
person thus refusing that he is not considered as a contractor, forbid
his doing any work, and immediately advertise in Cumberland that you
will receive proposals for making the section of the road thus not
contracted for. You will afterward transmit the proposals which may
accordingly be made.
I also enclose a copy of the contracts for your own use in order that
you may in every case be able to secure the additions agreed on.
I have the honor to be with consideration, sir,
Your obedient servant,
ALBERT GALLATIN.
The dates were the only blanks left in the contracts and bonds
and must be filled at the time of signing, by the contractors.
A. G.
MR. DAVID SHRIVER, JR., Cumberland, Md.
* * * * *
TREASURY DEPARTMENT, April 30th, 1811.
_Sir_: Your letter of the 22d inst. has been received. The President has
confirmed the alteration in the first section of the road. It will be
proper to have a short endorsement to that effect entered on the
contract with Mr. McKinley, and signed by him and yourself.
You are authorized to contract for the bridges and mason work on the
terms mentioned in your letter, with the exception of the bridges across
Clinton's Fork of Braddock's Run, which may perhaps be avoided by the
alteration which you contemplate, and which, if necessary, we may,
perhaps, considering other expenses, be obliged to contract of cheaper
materials. It is left to your discretion to contract for the other mason
work as above stated, either with Mr. Kinkead or with the road
contractors.
If you shall find it necessary to employ a temporary assistant, you are
authorized to do it, provided he shall be employed and paid only when
actually necessary. I should think that one dollar and twenty-five, or
at most, fifty cents, a day, would in that part of the country be ample
compensation.
Respecting side walls no decisive opinion can be given until you shall
have matured your ideas on the subject, and formed some estimate of the
extent to which they must be adopted and of the expense.
I have the honor to be respectfully, sir,
Your obedient servant,
ALBERT GALLATIN.
MR. DAVID SHRIVER, JR.,
Superintendent of the Cumberland Road, Cumberland, Md.
LETTER FROM EBENEZER FINLEY.
RELEASE, September 1, 1891.
HON. T. B. SEARIGHT,
_My much respected friend_: In our conversation the other day, I spoke
from memory entirely, as I had no statistics from which to quote. Your
father bought the stone tavern house at Searights from Joseph Frost. It
was unfinished when your father bought it. I knew Joseph Frost, but have
no recollection of the family he came from. Your father was a single
man, when he bought the house, but married shortly after.
In relation to Mr. Stewart's and Mr. Benton's colloquy about the
National Road, Mr. Stewart said that "hay stacks and corn shocks would
walk over it." Mr. Benton replied that "he could not conceive how hay
stacks and corn shocks could walk over this bowling green road." "Ah!"
rejoined Mr. Stewart, "I do not expect to see them walk in the shape of
stacks and shocks, but in the shape of fat cattle, hogs, horses and
mules from the Western and Southern States." This was in a discussion in
Congress, over an appropriation bill for repairing the road. Another
conversation with you at some time, would be very much enjoyed by your
unworthy scribbler.
P. S. Now, Colonel, since writing the above, many things have come
crowding on my memory, and I will mention some of the principal hotels
with which I was more or less acquainted. I frequently traveled over the
National Road in my younger days. I went often to Cumberland and
occasionally to Baltimore. I will begin at Big Crossings (Somerfield).
Coming this way, Thomas Brown kept a tavern on the hillside. Next Daniel
Collier, then Inks, and next Widow Tantlinger (Boss Rush's place). Next
James Sampey at Mt. Washington, then several stopping places before
reaching the Stewart stone house, a hotel that was not largely
patronized by travelers on the road. Next the Chalk Hill house and then
Jimmy Snyder's. Next the first house to the left as you come to Monroe,
built by Mr. Deford. Then several other hotels before you come to
Uniontown. In Uniontown, the Walker House (now Feather's) was well
patronized. Then James Seaton's and Thomas Brownfield's wagon stands.
Next the Cuthbert Wiggins wagon stand (later Moxley's), and next the
Searight house. Over the hill, next was a house kept by Samuel
Woolverton and Hugh Thompson. Then the Robert Johnson (later Hatfield)
stone house. Next old Peter Colley, father of Abel, Solomon and John
Colley. Then the Bowman house, kept by John Gribble, and next the
Brubaker house. Then the first house to the left as you go into
Brownsville, kept by Darra Auld, and next the Workman House. But I
presume you have all these.
Respectfully,
EB. FINLEY.
LETTER FROM THOMAS A. WILEY, A NATIVE OF UNIONTOWN, WHO RODE THE PONY
EXPRESS.
BALTIMORE AND OHIO R. R. CO.,
GEN. TICKET AGENT'S OFFICE,
BALTIMORE, July 16, 1892.
T. B. SEARIGHT, ESQ.--_Dear Sir_:--I have been receiving from some one
the _Jeffersonian Democrat_, a paper published in my old favorite
Uniontown, and have read with great pleasure your publication of things
that transpired along the National Road. I knew a great many of the old
wagoners, stage drivers and tavern keepers you mention. When I was
working for the stage company the Baltimore and Ohio railroad was only
completed to Frederic, Maryland, and I used to travel the old pike very
often. I hope to be able to come once more to Uniontown before I go
hence, where nearly all the rest have gone, and would delight in a long
talk with you about old times on the road. In looking over the paper you
sent me I scarcely see any names that I used to know in Uniontown. When
last in Uniontown I met William Wilson, Ewing Brownfield and Greenberry
Crossland, and did not get a chance to see my old friend and shop-mate,
Philip Bogardus. He and I worked for the Stockton stage company. The
shops were on Morgantown street. I understand that since I was out my
old friend, Bogardus, has passed away. I recollect the lady he married
was a Miss Lincoln, and I also recollect his boy, Winfield Scott. I have
been with the Baltimore and Ohio company since October 10th, 1852, and
am still in its service. Again thanking you for the paper you sent me, I
close, in the hope that God will bless you and spare your life and mine,
that we may meet in old time-honored Uniontown, and talk over the
glories of the old pike.
Yours most respectfully,
THOMAS A. WILEY.
PROPOSALS FOR CARRYING THE MAILS.
WASHINGTON CITY, September 26, 1831.
We will agree to convey the mail on route No. 1,031, from Philadelphia
to Pittsburg, daily in four-horse post coaches, agreeable to
advertisement, for the yearly compensation of seven thousand dollars.
Or we will make the following improvements: To convey two daily mails
from Philadelphia to Pittsburg: First mail to leave Philadelphia at two
o'clock A. M. and arrive at Pittsburg in two days and five hours, so as
to arrive in Pittsburg at seven o'clock A. M., and extend the route to
Wheeling so as to arrive, including route 1,170, at Wheeling the third
day by nine o'clock P. M., from the first of April to first of December,
and, from first of December to first of April, to Pittsburg in three and
Wheeling in four days; and return from Wheeling by Washington,
Pittsburg, and Chambersburg, to Philadelphia within the same time;
changing the mail as follows: at Lancaster, Harrisburg, Chambersburg,
Bedford, Somerset, Mount Pleasant, and at any other office that is or
may be established on the route. The second mail to leave Philadelphia
at seven A. M., or immediately after the arrival of the New York mail,
and reach Pittsburg in three days and five hours, so as to arrive in
Pittsburg by noon, changing the mail at all way offices.
We will agree to carry the mail on route No. 1,198, from Bedford to
Washington, Pa., via White House, Somerset, Donegal, Mount Pleasant,
McKean's, Old Stand, Robbstown, Gambles, and Parkinson's Ferry, to
Washington, Pa., as advertised, for the yearly compensation of
twenty-nine hundred dollars.
We do agree to carry the mail on route No. 1,230, from Bedford, Pa., to
Cumberland, Md., three times a week in coaches, from the first of April
to the first of October, and once a week on horseback from the first of
October to the first of April, so as to connect with the Winchester mail
at Cumberland, and the Great Eastern and Western mail at Bedford, which
is much wanted during the summer season, for the yearly compensation of
thirteen hundred dollars.
JAMES REESIDE,
SAMUEL R. SLAYMAKER,
J. TOMLINSON.
To the Hon. WM. T. BARRY,
Postmaster General.
CONTRACT.
This contract, made the fifteenth day of October, in the year one
thousand eight hundred and thirty-one, between James Reeside, of
Philadelphia, Samuel R. Slaymaker, of Lancaster, and Jesse Tomlinson, of
Philadelphia, contractors for carrying the mail of the United States, of
one part, and the Postmaster General of the United States of the other
part, witnesseth, that said parties have mutually covenanted as follows,
viz.: The said contractors covenant with the Postmaster General:
To carry the mails from Pittsburg to Harriottsville, Cannonsburg,
Washington, Claysville, West Alexander, and Triadelphia, Va., to
Wheeling and back, daily, in four-horse post coaches, the first mail to
be changed at each county town through which it passes; the second mail
at every office on the route; and to furnish armed guards for the whole,
when required by the department, at the rate of six thousand seven
hundred and fifty dollars for every quarter of a year, during the
continuance of this contract; to be paid in drafts on postmasters on the
route above mentioned, or in money, at the option of the Postmaster
General, in the months of May, August, November, and February.
That the mails shall be duly delivered at, and taken from each
postoffice now established, or that may be established on any post route
embraced in this contract, under a penalty of ten dollars for each
offence; and a like penalty shall be incurred for each ten minutes'
delay in the delivery of the mail after the time fixed for its delivery
at any postoffice specified in the schedule hereto annexed; and it is
also agreed that the Postmaster General may alter the times of arrival
and departure fixed by said schedule, and alter the route (he making an
adequate compensation for any extra expense which may be occasioned
thereby); and the Postmaster General reserves the right of annulling
this contract, in case the contractors do not promptly adopt the
alteration required.
If the delay of the arrival of said mail continue until the hour for the
departure of any connecting mail, whereby the mails destined for such
connecting mails shall miss a trip, it shall be considered a whole trip
lost, and a forfeiture of one hundred dollars shall be incurred; and a
failure to take the mail, or to make the proper exchange of mails at
connecting points, shall be considered a whole trip lost; and for any
delay or failure equal to a trip lost, the Postmaster General shall have
full power to annul this contract.
That the said contractors shall be answerable for the persons to whom
they shall commit the care and transportation of the mail, and
accountable for any damage which may be sustained through their
unfaithfulness or want of care.
That seven minutes after the delivery of the mail at any postoffice on
the aforesaid route named on the annexed schedule, shall be allowed the
postmaster for opening the same, and making up another mail to be
forwarded.
The contractors agree to discharge any driver or carrier of said mail
whenever required to do so by the Postmaster General.
That when the said mail goes by stage, such stage shall be suitable for
the comfortable accommodation of at least seven travelers; and the mail
shall invariably be carried in a secure dry boot, under the driver's
feet, or in the box which constitutes the driver's seat, under a penalty
of fifty dollars for each omission; and when it is carried on horseback,
or in a vehicle other than a stage, it shall be covered securely with an
oil cloth or bear skin, against rain or snow, under a penalty of twenty
dollars for each time the mail is wet, without such covering.
_Provided always_, That this contract shall be null and void in case the
contractors or any person that may become interested in this contract,
directly or indirectly, shall become a postmaster or an assistant
postmaster. No member of Congress shall be admitted to any share or part
of this contract or agreement, or to any benefit to arise thereupon; and
this contract shall, in all its parts, be subject to its terms and
requisitions of an act of Congress, passed on the 21st day of April, in
the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eight, entitled, "An
act concerning public contracts."
And it is mutually covenanted and agreed by the said parties that this
contract shall commence on the first day of January next, and continue
in force until the thirty-first day of December, inclusively, which will
be in the year one thousand eight hundred and thirty-five.
_In witness whereof_, They have hereunto interchangeably set their hands
and seals the day and year first above written.
(Signed.) JAMES REESIDE. (Seal.)
SAM'L R. SLAYMAKER. (Seal.)
JESSE TOMLINSON. (Seal.)
Signed, sealed and delivered in the presence of
ROB'T D. CARSON.
JACOB SHEARER.
BOND.
_Know all men by these presents_, That James Reeside, as principal, and
Richard Morris and David Dorrance, as sureties, are held and firmly
bound unto the Postmaster General of the United States of America, in
the just and full sum of two thousand nine hundred dollars, value
received, to be paid unto the Postmaster General or his successors in
office, or to his or their assigns; to which payment, well and truly to
be made, we bind ourselves, our heirs, executors, and administrators,
jointly and severally, firmly by these presents. Sealed with our seals,
dated the seventeenth day of December, in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and thirty-one.
The condition of this obligation is such that whereas the above bounden
James Reeside, by a certain contract bearing date the fifteenth day of
October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and
thirty-one, covenanted with the said Postmaster General to carry the
mail of the United States from Bedford to Washington (Pennsylvania), as
per contract annexed, commencing the first day of January, one thousand
eight hundred and thirty-two, and ending the thirty-first day of
December, which will be in the year one thousand eight hundred and
thirty-five.
Now, if the said James Reeside shall well and truly perform the
covenants in the said indenture expressed on his part to be performed,
and shall account for all penalties, and shall promptly repay all
balances that may at any time be found due from him, then this bond is
to be void; otherwise to remain in full force.
(Signed.) JAMES REESIDE, (Seal.)
RICHARD MORRIS, (Seal.)
DAVID DORRANCE, (Seal.)
Signed, sealed and delivered in the presence of
(Signed.) R. C. WHITESIDE.
A true copy from the original on file in the General Postoffice.
MW. ST. CLAIR CLARKE, Secretary.
CLAIM FOR EXTRA ALLOWANCE.
WASHINGTON CITY, December 28, 1831.
_Sir_: For the four years which I have been your contractor for
transporting the great Eastern mail from New York to Philadelphia, it
has happened almost every week, and several times in a week, that
arrivals from foreign countries have brought thousands of ship letters
to the office of New York just before the time for my departure, and the
importance of their being forwarded without delay to the Southern cities
has required my detention from one to two hours beyond the ordinary time
for me to leave New York. This detention I have been required to gain in
speed, and that increased speed has required me always to keep on that
route two extra teams of horses, at an extra expense of not less than
one thousand dollars per year for each team. During the first year your
predecessor made me an extra allowance for this expense, but during the
last three years I have received nothing for it. I now submit the
subject to you, in the expectation that you will allow the claim; it is
certainly but just that I should be relieved, at least in part, of this
burden, for the last three years it has subjected me to an expense of
not less than six thousand dollars, which I hope you will direct to be
paid to me, at least in part, if you do not think me entitled to the
whole. I have also, within the same time, transported to New York all
the large mail bags which are made in Philadelphia and sent to New York,
not with mails, but to be used in New York, and to be sent from New York
to other places. These within three years will amount to about five
hundred pounds a week, as will appear from accounts of the manufacturers
in your office. Wherever I could procure transportation for those bags
in wagons, I have uniformly paid $2.50 per hundred pounds for carrying
them, rather than overload my coaches in which we carry the great mail.
For this service, I hope you will not consider my claim unreasonable, if
I charge ten dollars per week for three years. All of which is submitted
to your sense of justice for decision.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
JAMES REESIDE.
HON. WM. T. BARRY.
Endorsement--Allowed. Allow $4,500. The residue of the
claim is reserved for future consideration. Allow the remaining
$1,500.
COULDN'T AFFORD TO CARRY NEWSPAPERS.
WASHINGTON, July 12, 1832.
_Sir_: When we entered into contract with you to run two daily mails
between Philadelphia and Pittsburg, one with unexampled rapidity, and
the other in three and one-half days, we had no idea whatever of
carrying the newspaper mail in our most rapid line, nor do we suppose it
was ever contemplated by the department. It was our intention and we so
expressed it in all our conversation with you, and with the
superintendent of mail contracts, to carry the principal letter mail
only in the most rapid line, not believing it practicable to carry the
heavy load of newspapers sent to the West with sufficient rapidity to
reach Pittsburg in the shortest time specified. Indeed, if we could have
supposed that it would ever become necessary to carry the newspapers
with that rapidity, we should not have undertaken it for less that
fifteen thousand dollars a year beyond what we now receive; but
experience soon taught us that great complaints were made against the
department and ourselves when the newspapers were not received as soon
as the letters, and that these complaints were not confined to
Pittsburg, but extended all over the West. To satisfy the public, and
sustain the credit of both the department and ourselves as its servant,
we made the experiment of trying to carry the newspapers with our most
rapid line. We have partially succeeded, but with very great loss. For
three days in the week we are compelled to exclude all passengers, to
the loss of not less than one hundred dollars a day. We are willing to
perform our contract to the full extent of its meaning, but we must
relinquish carrying the newspaper mails by our most rapid line, unless
we can in part be remunerated for it. If, however, the Postmaster
General is willing to silence the public clamor, which is so great when
we carry them in our slow line, we will carry all the newspaper mails,
together with the letter mail, in our most rapid line to Pittsburg and
Wheeling, in the shortest time specified in our contract, and so arrange
the connection of the Baltimore mail at Chambersburg with our swift
line, as to carry the newspapers as well as letter mail, from Baltimore
to Pittsburg in two days, for the additional allowance of ten thousand
dollars per year, from the first of April last. The increased expense to
us will not be less than fifteen thousand dollars a year, and for our
own credit and for the credit of the department, we will make one-third
of the sacrifice and perform the service for ten thousand dollars a
year. We would gladly do it for a less sum if we could afford it, but we
cannot, and at that rate our sacrifice will be as much as we can bear.
It would be much more gratifying to us if the public would be satisfied
without it, but they will not, and our own feelings will not suffer us
to perform a service in which we cannot give satisfaction to the public.
Very respectfully, your obedient servants,
JAS. REESIDE,
SAM'L R. SLAYMAKER.
To the HON. W. T. BARRY,
Postmaster General.
A true copy from the original on file in the General Postoffice.
(The above letter is marked "Granted.")
MW. ST. CLAIR CLARKE, Secretary.
MR. REESIDE DEFIES ALL COMPETITORS.
PHILADELPHIA, January 25, 1833.
_Dear Sir_: Your favor dated the 22d inst. has just come to hand, which
I have examined with much care, but must confess myself at a loss to
come to the exact meaning it is extended to convey.
That there is at present, and has been for some time back, an express
carried on horseback between this city and New York, is a fact which is
well known, and which is publicly acknowledged by the newspapers in New
York. That it is impossible to carry the whole of the great Eastern mail
through in coaches or otherwise with the same speed as a small package
can be carried through on horseback is a fact that requires no comment.
Not having pointed out this matter clearly in your letter whether it was
the wish of the department that a certain portion of mails should be
sent by express to New York at an earlier hour than it now does.
Should it be the latter, I would at once assure the department of the
impossibility of having it carried through in as short a time as it is
now carried by express on horseback.
In either case the department may rest assured of my willingness and
determination to use every exertion in order to meet the views and
wishes of the department. Should you desire it to be sent by express, I
have no hesitation in saying that I can have it sent through in a
shorter time than it can be done by any other individual in the country.
This will be handed to you by Mr. Ewing, whom I have sent on with
directions to ascertain from you personally your views of this matter,
and who will give you all the information respecting the express that
has been sent from this place to New York alluded to in your letter.
With respect, your obedient servant,
JAMES REESIDE.
N. B. I will say to a certainty I will go from this city to New York in
six hours, or faster than any other one can do it.
JAMES REESIDE.
To Hon. O. B. BROWN,
Superintendent of Mail Contracts,
Washington, D. C.
TEAMS READY FOR THE NATIONAL ROAD.
TRENTON, February 25, 1833.
_Dear Sir_: You will perceive by the enclosed that I have attended to
your directions as far as practicable. It is their own exposition of the
matter, and such as they gave me.
I neglected to mention to you in my letter of yesterday that the cause
of the private express beating that of the Government alluded to in Mr.
Mumford's letter, was owing to but one cause.
Their express came through from Washington.
The Government express from Philadelphia, after the arrival of the
steamship, giving the newspaper express the start of six hours in
advance of that of the Government. The lateness of the succeeding
arrivals originated from the cause mentioned in the enclosed letter. No
mail having arrived from the South, they supposed, from the lateness of
the arrival of the express the following night, that there would not be
any more.
This was caused by the late arrival of the steamboat, and no preparation
was made on the road for taking it on. This is their excuse; whether it
will pass current is for you to determine. I have just received a letter
from Mr. Washington on the subject. He attaches the blame to Thompson's
bad horse, &c.
I think we shall be able to get the mail through in time to connect with
the boat, should the roads not get worse than they now are.
The mail arrived in Philadelphia this morning at 6 o'clock. I have good
reasons for believing that it will continue, unless a change should take
place in the roads.
The mail has left Jersey City the last few days at a few minutes past
three o'clock P. M., and will continue to leave at that hour unless you
direct otherwise: that is three o'clock.
The teams intended for the National Road are here to-night, and start
to-morrow for the West; they are twelve in number, Jersey stock.
Yours respectfully,
D. EWING.
COLONEL JAMES REESIDE.
P. S. No opposition express for the last four days. Your express horses
are in good order, with but two exceptions.
D. E.
COPY OF AN ACCOUNT AGAINST COL. JAMES REESIDE.
COL. JAMES REESIDE, TO HUTCHINSON & WEART, _Dr._
1833.
January 31.--To one horse on express $ 5 00
February 1. " two horses " 10 00
" 2. " two horses " 10 00
" 3. " two horses " 10 00
" 3. " horses and gig, Eastward, making arrangements
for regular express 5 00
March 7.--To two horses on express 5 00
" 7. " running express one month and four days, from
February 4 to this date, inclusive, between
Trenton and New Brunswick 1,885 71
--------
$1,970 71
The above is a true copy from our books, so far as relates to expresses,
and has been paid to us by Col. Reeside.
HUTCHINSON & WEART.
BEDFORD, PA., GETS A DAILY MAIL.
February 14, 1833.
_Sir_: The citizens of Bedford, Pennsylvania, desire that a daily mail
be run between Bedford and Hollidaysburg. The latter being a place of
great importance, being at the junction of the Pennsylvania Canal and
Railroad, and an intercourse of communication very great between the two
points, I will agree to perform the service for a pro rata allowance,
and put the arrangement into effect in ten days.
Very respectfully, etc.,
JAMES REESIDE.
HON. W. T. BARRY, Postmaster General.
No. 1215, Pennsylvania. James Reeside proposes to run daily for pro
rata; Postmaster General says within "granted;" James Reeside written to
25th February, 1833.
Transcriber's End Notes
Several illustrations ("ROAD WAGON" and "STAGE COACH") appear in the
table of illustrations but do not have captions in the images
themselves. These have been added. The table of illustrations indicates
that a portrait of Ellis B. Woodward was to appear after p. 119, where
he is mentioned. In fact, the portrait was bound between pages 132 and
133. It has been placed in its intended position.
In Chapter XIV and in the Appendix, accounting reports include balances
carried over to the following page. Since this text will not contain
page breaks, these are superfluous, and they have been eliminated.
The spelling of place names vary locally, e.g., Allegany / Allegheny.
The word "phaeton" appears both with and without the "ae" ligature. In
both cases, the spelling here is "phaeton".
Hyphenation can be variable and is retained as found. Where the sole
instance of a hyphenated word occurs on a line break, modern usage is
followed.
For Chapters XXIX, XXXII, the chapter summary fails to consistently use
the conventional '--' separator between topics. These omissions have
been corrected.
The following list contains typographical or spelling errors which were
noted, by the original pagination: (29) excelerating, (145) sapplings,
(155) ignominously, (157) wood-be robber, (166) Gautemala, (252)
whatsomever, (269) germaine, (290) Abram, (297) from widow Goodings,
(323) Tennesse, (327) mint julip, (328) Butting, (333), beleagured,
(349) empanneled.
Punctuation and spacing errors have been corrected to follow usage
elsewhere in the text.