The Initial Step. Wording of the First Public Document Authorizing the Beginning of Work on the National Road. Thomas Jefferson, President of the United States of America. To all who shall see these presents, GREETINGS. Know Ye, That in pursuance of the Act of Congress passed on the 29th day of March, 1806, entitled "An Act to regulate the laying out and making a road from Cumberland in the State of Maryland to the State of Ohio" and reposing special Trust and Confidence in the Integrity, Diligence and Discretion of Eli Williams of Maryland, I have nominated and by and with the advice and consent of the Senate to appoint him a Commissioner in connection with Thomas Moore of Maryland, and Joseph Kerr of Ohio, for the purposes expressed in the said Act; and to Have and to Hold the said office, with all the powers, privileges and Emoluments to the same of right appertaining, during the pleasure of the President of the United States for the time being. In Testimony Whereof, I have caused the Letters to be made. patent and the Seal of the United States to be herewith affixed. Given under my hand, at the City of Washington the Sixteenth day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seven: and of the Independence of the United States of America. the Thirty-first. (Recorded.) TH. JEFFERSON. By the President. JAMES MADISON, This Commission dated 16th July 1806, was issued in the recess of the Senate who have since ratified the appointment and this Commission issued in consequence of that ratification. Dedication To the Loyal Members of this Association who made possible the greatest achievement of its kind in the world's history. Few, if any, realized the bigness or the scope of our project, launched on that April day, thirteen years ago, but we were then thinking along the lines since embodied in that song which so thrills the heart with its sweet melody: "There's a long, long trail a'winding Into the land of my dreams, Where the nightingales are singing There's a long, long night of waiting Our "night of waiting" is well nigh spent, and our dreams have come true. To those who participated in this achievement, and who have held up our hands through the trying ordeals through which we have passed, this book is lovingly and respectfully dedicated. "Attempt the end, and never stand to doubt; FROM THE HOUSE OF DAWN. "Impervious to pain, I walk! With beauty before me, I walk! Happily may the roads all Find the way of peace, And the ways all end in beauty!" -MARSH ELLIS RYAN. National Old Trails Road Conceived by George Washington..... .1784 Financed by Act of Congress admitting Ohio into the Union....1802 Established by Act of Congress .1806 Established and Extended by Congress to Santa Fe, Mexico....1825 Constructed and Extended by Congress to the Mississippi River and Maintained until 1837 Its Restoration and Construction advocated by "The Missouri Old Trails Association" in Convention assembled............1907 Taken over, adopted and named "National Old Trails Road" at Kansas City, Mo., in convention assembled.. The section from Santa Fe to Socoro, N. M. (150 miles), is the oldest road in America........... .1912 .1606 Length of Road, Washington to Los Angeles, 3,096 miles. The National Old Trails Road passes through 3 cities of more than 500,000 population 25,000 population or a total of 411 cities, towns, villages and hamlets, practically all of which are shown on accompanying maps. The National Old Trails Road traverses 12 States-six east and six west of the Mississippi River, touching the U. S. Capital and five State Capitals, traverses 85 counties-touching 67 county seats. These 89 traversed counties and the District of Columbia have a population of 7,048,333. 161 adjoining counties have a population of 5,467,597, making a total population of 12,515,930 directly served or adjoining on this transcontinental road. The Grand Canyon Route, open 365 days in the year, through the heart of America to the all-year-round play ground of America. The Backbone of a System of National Highways Proposed by the National Old Trails Road Association. |