ocr: Internal Improvements. In 1806 Congress approvedfunding - to starta National Road. By 1818the road was being usedas: a mailroute from Cumberland, Maryland, to Wheeling, Virginia. Future stretches of the road were fundedby the U.S.government and local agencies. By - the mid-1800s the road stretched from Cumberland, Maryland, to Vandalia, Illinois. By the time construction of the road was completed, however, rairoads hadbecome the primary mode of long-distance transportation.
