Ligonier, PA "Echo" issue of 9 December 1893

Old Roads.

Mr. Editor: -- There being much talk and discussion on the subject of country roads, I will give history and my opinion in the hope of it being a benefit to some extent. In doing so, I will begin at the early settlement of the country. When all the hills and valleys were clothed with heavy forests of timber of all kinds. The ground was well chosen for the first state road over the western end of the state and no doubt but the engineering of the same was by "father of the country," General Washington as he was in the army at that time commanded by General Forbes.

From Cumberland county and the town Londen foot of Path Valley is where they commence and the mountains and the lowest gap of the mountain was aimed for, in every instance by heading for it without regard to the steepness of the grade, as they seemed to have no idea of running around and digging a road out of the side of the Hills to secure more level road, even so late as making the turnpike in 1817 as you may see striking examples both east and west of Ligonier. How well they could have escaped many steep hills by going round near the banks of Loyalhanna. The state road enters Westmoreland county on top of the Laurel hill and comes straight down and enters the valley on the noted McIntire land Hotel, and perhaps the only one from the John Stoler tavern on top of Allegheny mountain. This descent of the mountain entered high lying ground and the watershed of that part of the valley whence part runs north to the Millcreek and part south to the Loyalhanna. This road was used in preference to one afterwards made by the urgent agency of Col. Ramsey, Henry Reed and prominent men of Laughlinstown that left the one in operation before entering the county on eastern side of the mountain and passing over the highest knob and coming straight down to Laughlinstown, 4 miles steep grade. When they reached the bottom of Furnace run and Loyalhanna they found awful bad roads in the spring of the year, and where Arthur St. Clair, son of the noted General said the teamsters often spent 2 or 3 days getting over this bad road and before they came to General Ramsey fine large establishments, then soon was the large brick tavern house built on the next high hill and fine farm of Henry, for a business on the old state road, but the turnpike soon after being made he had to move to Ramsey's town, now Ligonier, and erect a fine large frame house for tavern, where the Markers have for a long time done a mercantile business. Col. McFarland told me the old state road crossed the creek first where the bridge was and after the mill and dam was erected they crossed below until the first bridge was built and that the first state road went straight up over that high hill west of the mill and then down and across the two and four mile runs and then straight up and over the Ridge.

From Fort Ligonier, roads branched off up and down the valley, in very early times, of a primitive nature truly and without any bridges. I can remember when there were no bridges on any of the streams, not even in Laughlinstown, for pike travel and only one on pike over Millcreek, and one over mill dam of the Loyalhanna, by town, and one on pike before entering the Ridge. There were about three main roads passing up, as well as down the valley; one in center and one at either sides of the valley, in both directions. The one on eastern side of lower end, while old Ross furnace was in operation was very much the most used, in conveying supplies to that place, and the best market, to sustain man and beast, especially before Johnstown became noted for marketing, and after that fine improvement, the Johnstown pike was completed, the drawing of supplies to furnace was not only extensive but much metal hollow ware and pig iron was wagoned on that road to Pittsburg in the winter time when canal was frozen up, and even before canal was made as large floats in high water on the Conemaugh river was a risky business, as any one will remember that has read the reminiscence of the noted ex Editor Thomas Reed in former times in the passing the river falls as well as short curves in many places on the route. In the matter of improving country roads which thing is now the prime object throughout the state. My opinion would be to construct, as much every year as the people or state could stand in taxes without grumbling, and do it by having not less than 30 feet of width for public roads and devote not less than 20 feet in centre for traveling on half of that completely piked with stone of good depth to remain solid and in wet time and the leveled up side of clay to use in dry time, as not only more pleasant for horse and rider even in buggy or carriage but save the picking for wet time when most if not the only time needed and thus save and cause the stoning to last the longer and thus constructing you have plenty room on both sides for drainage.

I will say a few things respecting your interesting subject of water supply of your town, as I have greatly admired the system we have here, we have what is called stand pipe that raises 80 feet high and is 8 or 10 feet in diameter, bedded firmly on heavy work sixteen feet in ground and about that many feet square so there is no possibility of it being blown over by the storm and it distributes water with tremendous force wherever needed and soon puts out fire. You could have one erected on the highest part of Ft. Hill and engine not far off and throw water into this pipe with not heavy expense and be a fine protection and supply of the pure mountain water. It would be well for some of your men to come to see this one at Mt. Pleasant.

A NEIGHBOR