The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-10-12
PATHFINDER COMES
 BY CHATTANOOGA Another Route Picked Cut 10
 Birmingham CONDITION OF THE ROADS Chattanooga People Are Eager to Co., operate With Birmingham In
 Getting a Good Route to
 the Magic City.
CONDITION OF THE ROADS
BY JAMES B. KEELING.

Chattanooga, October n.-(Special. )-The Age-Herald pathfinding car arrived in Chattanooga this afternoon from Rome, Ga., where last night was spent. To- morrow the trip to Birmingham will be started and a record of that route made, and arrival should be made at Birming- ham tomorrow night.
 At the urgent invitation of a number of Rome people as well as several Blr- mingham autoists. the return trip from Atlanta to Birmingham was routed by Rome, assurance being given that it was a splendid route. It does not, however, compare with the route running from Cave Springs to Marietta via Taylorsville, there being a splendid roadway all the way from the state line to Atlanta this way, while 1t is also considerably shorter than the Rome route. Having come to Rome it was decided to cut over to Chat tanooga and look over the route to Bir- mingham.
 Chattanooga has a large number of au- tomobiles and a rather live automobile association. The Chattanooga Times is a strong advocate of good roads, and will cooperate with The Age-Herald ir the building of a splendid highway be- tween here and Birmingham.
 c. D. James, a boosting millionaire and probably the livest man in Chattanooga, is anxious that a good road be built between these places. He owns large properties here and is also the main man in Chattanooga's ssOOo,Oo0 electric power proposition. This company is building a huge dam across the Tennessee river some distance from Chattanooga and an illustration of MT. James enthusiasm was shown when he took upon himself to put into perfect condition the road leading to this place, distance of about 22 miles. He spent about s15,000 out of his own pocket on this work and did it so quietly that no one in Chattanooga knew what was going on until an impossible country road had been turned into a splendid pike.
 We are told in Chattanooga that the route from here to the state line Is in great condition, but that when the Geor- gia line is reached it will be over horrible roads,
 This is the only Georgia county on the way between Chattanooga and Birming- ham. The line in Alabama from the Georgia line into Birmingham is said to be in fair shape.
 II county, Georgia, is the place where people will have to be walked up. Last year one of the county commissioners was ar rested on warrants sworn out by Chat tanooga people. charging him with ob- structing the public highway. # was shown that he had let the road get Into such shape that there could be no travel over it, and the judge placed heavy fine upon him. Chattanooga people have been endeavoring to stir this county up on the good roads proposition for several years, and with the interest and enthusiasm that may be aroused by the working to- eether of The Age-Herald and the Times they should be stirred up
 The Birmingham -Chattanoogta route will also be affected by the roads Of St. Clair county, as this one joins the Bir- mingham- Atlanta at Attalla.
 st. Clair county officials gave the path finders assurances, however, upon our trip through there last week that they would do everything possible to put this road into good condition They will be furnished with a report of the territory Tn their county by Secretary G. T. Braz- elton of the Birmingham Motor club upon his return to Birmingham.
 Tn MT Brazeltons 90 horse power Buick, No. 16 model car. which has been the of- ficial Age-Herald car on this tour, are MT. Brazelton Mrs. Brazelton. who Joined the party at Atlanta. and A. D. woods of Drennen & Co.,, and the writer. The car has made a good record on the run, having met with some hills that were not only very steep. but exceptionally rough, and never baking for a second.