Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-05-14

were improved upon plan, which provld-
ed the county to bear forty per cent of the
cost of Improvement, the state bearing
fifty per cent and the property owner by
whose land the road passed ten per cent.
That plan was highly satisfactory, and
the results accomplished were of such
benefit that the state felt justified in TAX
ing hold of the entire question.
Il mention these things because 1 be-
lieve their knowledge will be of interest
to the people of the south, and will let
the counties that compete in The Journal
Herald contest understand that Mary
land will make a strong bid for recogni-
ton in the awarding of the prizes that
have been offered.
LAS 1 understand it, The Journal and
Herald hope to stimulate such an inter-
est in road making thar a grand highway
connecting New York and Atlanta will
result. / commend the idea, and l trust
that success will crown the efforts of the
enterprising newspapers
A Capital Idea
Senator Overman, of North Carolina, is
a good roads advocate. When a mem
Der of the legislature of the old North
state he introduced a bill providing for
the construction by the state of a public
highway between Charlotte and Danville,
Va. 1t failed of passage, but Senator
Overman has never abandoned the idea.
He welcomes The Journal-Herald contest
because he believes that it means the
realization of this dream of a highway,
connecting not only Charlotte and DAN
vile but Atlanta and New York.
Il regard the contest proposed by The
Journal and the Herald as one of the
most practicable ideas that has been sug-
gested in a long time" said Senator
this account. The progressive newspa-
pers of the United States have been an
important factor in the development of
the country, but nothing any of them
has attempted impresses me more favor
ably than does this New York-Atlanta
contest.
81 have long dreamed of a highway
connecting Charlotte, n. c., with Dan
vile, Va, and when a member of the
legislature of North Carolina introduced
bill to construct the road, il was de-
feated, but l have never abandoned the
hope. 1 believe now that this dream
will be realized. The highway from At
arta to New York should, in my judg-
ment, pass Charlotte and Danville. The
route is picturesque and practicable. and
would develop one of our richest sec
tions.
But The Journal-Herald contest means
more than a highway from Atlanta to
New York, in my judgment. 1t means
general reawakening in road construc-
ton all over the south. 1t will stimulate
interest in many sections, and the peo-
pie will appreciate as they have never
done the manifold advantages of good
roads,
Will Benefit Indirectly.
Representative Gordon Lee, of the
Seventh Georgia district, is for The
Journal Herald contest. He commends
it highly EIe thinks il will be a sue
cess. He believes that it means much
more to the people of Georgia than a
single highway from New York to At
lanta. He believes that it is the initial
step toward a net work of highways in
Georgia and adjoining states, one of the
most important of which will be a mag
nificent boulevard from Chattanooga to
Atlanta.
Representative Lee has long cherished
the hope of having the federal govern
ment build a military road from Chat
tanooga to Atlanta, via the Chickamau-
ga national park and Peachtree creek.
He has already succeeded in interesting
President Taft in this project. He con-
ferred with Mr.. Taft while he was Sec
rotary of war, and was pleased with the
assurance he received.
81 am heartily in favor of the con-
test of The Atlanta Journal and New
York Herald" said Mr.. Lee. 1T means
a whole lot to the people of Georgia. II
means, in my judgment, net work of
magnificent highways through the state.
highways that will be of material bene-
fir to the farmer and the merchant. and
a joy to the pleasure seekers.
81 hope that the route to be selected
will bring the highway down by Chatta-
nooga and Chickamauga park and thence
to Atlanta, but even if this isn't done, I
am sure that the contest will result in.
the eventual construction of a road from
Chickamauga to Atlanta, which 1 have
long cherished.
IT notice from The Journal that the
road from Chickamauga to Atlanta has
already been suggested as a result of the
contest that has been inaugurated and
/ believe 1t will receive such an impetus
from this that its construction will be
assured
1.-The federal government has been in
terested in a highway from ChicKamau-
ga to Peachtree creek, and the realiza-
ton that the people of Georgia are so
heartily in sympathy with the good roads
movement will, of course, have a ten
dency to strengthen the governments
interest i'm the project. on the theory of
helping those who evidence a desire to
help themselves"