The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1909-10-28
in PROMISING SHAPE.
Seveniy.fIve Per Gent Below Richmond
Permanently Geod.

Permanently Go0d.
Mr. Frank Weldon, secretary Of the
capital Highway commission, Is In the
citv for stay of several days and
Yesterday went over Durham's roads
IN Mr.. Il. b. Lyons Buick.
The party was composed Of Mr.. Vel.
don exMayor Graham, Mr.. Rastns
smith and Mr.. Lyon. They went over
the Durham roads and ran into por-
lion OF the new Granville macadam.
Granville IS grading near the Durham
line. about half way between this city
and oxford. Durham win In short
time grade to the Granville line and
oxford and Durham VIII have transit
more rapid than can be made by rail
now.
There VIII be very little grading"
Mr.. Weldon sad yesterday. .and when
that gap u completed and another In
the southern section of the county.
Durham will have one OF the best Ines
On the entire route. Your roads VIII
be appreciated by all tourists and
every one who trave:s them will sing
the praises OF your city and county.
The Importance OF this route lies in
The fact that northern tourists can
ship their cars by water at a low rate
from Boston, New YORK. Philadelphia
and washington to Norfolk. then have
a straight shoot by Weldon or Roam
oke Rapids and Henderson to Dur
ham"
Private enterprise Is doing much by
example TO hasten the long road which
Is to JON the big cities Of the north
by direct and permanent line to those
OF the south. Mr.. Leonard Tufts has
contributed $1,000 TO the roads Of his
own county and this project which Is
merely an incident to his own interests
al Pinehurst. He said when here last
week that hs intends to give as much
more. and yesterday Mr.. tjeorge W..
Watts made a handsome contribution
10 the movement upon the assurance
that the highway is to come through
Durham.
n there has been lack OF popular
interest In the movement i Is largely
because the newspapers have failed N
their mission to spread the works
progress. II has been regarded. for
the most part. a sort OF dream that
lacks practicality. But already there
have been contracts for al; CT the mile
age except IN Chatham county and
Mlddlelex in Virginia. ana as the routs.
every mile OF n. lies along the san
clay and gravel belt. every NILE OF II
can be lad for 5000 and II can be used
every day In the year. This road -
below the snow line and II would be
the only winter auto tour In the world.
There are / ZOO summer routes dotted
and charfed In the route boards. but
the Capita: Highway Is undoubtedly
the only possible tour upon an invest
ment no greater than Is proposed.
One OF It's chIefest virtue is the
ability 10 travel this road In the win.
ter all the way from New York. The
tourists can motor down and step along
lie line, becoming thus acquainted With
the people CT this state and community,
an acquaintance that IN the nature CT
thugs must result In bus ness invest.
ment AMI development The class Of
people who sDend ihsir time In the
Fioridian winter resort are the kind
who have money and spend Il. They
never see this country except from the
windows OF fast flying yes;lbuled trains
and live In utter ignorance OF the
beautiful country through which tbs
highway r. 10 pass.
Mr. Weldon said yesterday: This
enterprise got under way lass than I'VE
months ago. but with such men as
Leonard Hufts. Of PInehurt. Col. ..
r. Johnson. Of Raleigh. ID. l.. Cooper.
n Henderson. n. W. Lassiier, Of Ok
ford. the Eycretis, Leaks and Sieeles.
OF Rockingham. improvement has been
rarried forward 50 steadily that today
IS per cent OF The entire mileage south
~ Richmond N In excellent cond ton.
The Improvement II permanent, too.
II has not been the plan TO do mere
repair or patch work. but substantial
construction has been tne plan The
Highly commendable and expensive
Journalism OF the HeraldJournal par
ties has been a great thing. but II has
been forced 70 rush it, plans and pull
on lis spectacular stunts before the
clay roads become quagmires and the
SHOWS make the valleys and mountain
passes impossible wrth the deep
DRIFTS.
along the Capita Highway every
mile OF improvement - either macad.
am. sand chy or gravel The result
will be good roads any part OF the
year. II will be permanent road.
and. by the way. good roads have prov
Cd 10 be among the most enduring mon
uments built by mankind. True. tho
pyramids and the sphinx have outliv'
"a the fplendid highways over which
Their materials were transported. but Of
what practical value 3 this huge pEe
~ Cheops7 Good roads saved Semi
ramis. Of Babylon. from obllvin. the
AppIan Way has preserved the name
u the Roman censor, Appius Claude
Us through she centuries. u every