Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-05-04
GOOD EFFECT Of
ROAD-TESTING RUN
WILL LIVE ALWAYS
Senator Bacon Says Automo-
bile Feature Will Survive
Few Days, But Benefits to
Good Roads Viii Last.
BY Ralph Smith

are to be heard in Washington atho"s
public men. The details OF the aiiaAs
have attracted wide attention mere anu anu
II Is surprising 10 note the unanlmlty
vr,th v-btrb men from all sections OF the
country approve the big event IL appears
not only TO IN esenators and representa-
tfveS through whose states the race VIII
take the automobiles. but challenges tils
admiration Of statesmen whose homes are
remotely located from the path 10 DC
traversed in linking the New 1otA h
tropoIis and the Gate City or the sou,n'
The views expressed By Director OF Fuo-
lie Roads PAGE in his recent interview
IN The Journal. are shared by scores OF
others. whose interest in the deVelop-
nent Of the country is equally IS keen as
that felt BY Mr.. Page The New horA-
Atlanta contest has developed surprising
interest in the problem Of good roads-an
interest which in many public men seems
10 have been latent.
The Journal-Hera road building con-
test and reliability run has already as
sumed that importance which renders II
unnecessary to breach the subject by
means Of a preliminary Introductory
statement The mere mention OF the TWO
papers. coupled with a suggestion OF gooo
roads and automobiles. sufflces TO pave
the way for an interesting conversation.
The novelty of the combinauon-and
most natural combination II ts-has mace
a lasting impression and one THINKS
neither Of automobiles nor good ROADS
without also thinking Of the New YORK
Atlanta race
Georgians Indorse Contest
Three distinguished Georgians today
indorsed the contest. They were Senator
A. o. Bacon. Judge Charles l. Bartlett:
OF Macon, representative in congress OF
the Sixth district. and Hon. Dudley NJ.
Hughes of Danville, representative IN
congress OF the Third district The Geor-
gians. each of them. believe in good roads
and their praise for the contest hinges
upon their interest in the development OF
the highways Of the country.
Senator Bacon is not an automobile en-
thusiast He tolerates them because
they are here. He would regulate them
IL he could. and mis- regulations might not
be pleasing to the auto owners. The sem
ator is the friend Of the horse, though
he himself is a great pedestrian He en-
JOYS walking. and walking is one of his
chief recreations. He walks to and from
the capitol every day the weather will
permit, but his walking doesn't detract
from his love and admiration for the
horse He is for anything within reason
that viii help the horse, or the mule. He
was born on q southern plantation, and
lives on his stock farm in the suburbs
of Macon, and he believes that good roads
are a boon. not only TO the horse, or mule.
but also TO the owner Of the horse or
mule. BY the same token, he believes
that The Atlanta Journal-New York
Herald contest viii, in the end. benefit tile
horse. the mule. and the farmer. because
the contest viii stimulate interest in road
building and road Improvement.
Benefits viii Be Lasting"
7 suppose The Journal-Herald contest
will appeal to the automobile people be-
cause Of the possibilities it viii furnish
them for enjoyment" said the senator.
II. too. indorse the contest. but not be-
cause Of the automobile feature. II / had
my way I would regulate the automobiles,
and my regulations might be too strin-
gent to suit some reckless autoists. How
ever. / think the New York-Atlanta run
a good thing because IL will. / believe.
stimulate an interest in road making and
road Improvement.
The automobile feature will survive
for few days and will Of course attract
wide attention. The good roads that will
result will survive for years, and will
probably result in more and more good
roads The automobile feature win invite
attention to the highways between At
Ianta and New York also. and the people
in other sections will. hope. learn much
Good roads are good things for COM
rnunity in more ways than one. This fact
is so well established that further COM
ment would be superfIuous. They are a
good investment, and anything practical
that will tend 10 stimulate interest In
road building should be encouraged. The
: JournaI-Hsrald contest viii stimulate in
terest all right. and it will stimulate the
right kind OF interest, / believe. II will
appeal to local pride. and cause the i'm
provement TO be made by communities
that will later receive the direct benefits
OF their work. whether they succeed in
capturing any OF the prizes 10 be award
ed The benefits win be lasting"
Judge Bartlett for Contest
Judge Charles l. Bartlett thinks Nigh
" well Of the Atlanta Journal-New York
Herald contest He read the details when
they were announced in The Journal
Material benefits will be derived from
the contest" said the judge. II believe
from what I've read and seen of the
affair that many of the counties between
New York and Atlanta viii engage in
active competition for the prizes to be
awarded. Such a contest can mean but
one thing-more roads and better roads.
Then, too. the event Will attract wide
attention. and the condition OF the roads
will be watched by the general public
with as much interest as will the endur-
ing qualities shown by the competing
cars The interest thus stimulated will
be general. and while the immediate sec
ton TO be traversed viii receive more
material benefit at the time, believe
that il VIII awaken a spirit OF emulation
in other sections.
Il am not going TO say anything about
the value Of good roads Everybody ar-
preciates their worth"
Mr.. Hughes Favors Contest
Hon Dudley NJ. Hughes, of the Third
district who is serving his first term In
congress from. Georgia, is farmer-and
a successful one. He is a sure enough
farmer who lives on his farm. who helps
TO work Ii and who has had years of
experience in the rural districts. Mr..
Hughes knows all about good and bac
roads. He appreciates. as few public
men Of today appreciate, what good
roads mean in the country.
Il regard the Journal-Herald contest
with much favor" said Mr.. Hughes. "It
is Bound to do a world of good. and the
farmer viii. I'm the end. be the BENEFICIARY.
/ believe OF course these automobile fel-
lows viii enjoy their race. but the actual
benefits will come u the farmer-the man
who lives In the country. for l believe
the contest viii arouse such an interest
in road building that miles and rallies of
good highways Will be constructed. The
autoists may enjoy the roads for a day.