Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-05-25
OOUGHERTY ROADS
WILL Be IMPROVED
Although County is Far Ahead of
Neighboring Counties in I'm
proved Roadways, Work Will
Be Continued.

\ ALBANY. Ga, May 4.-The good
roads movement in Dougherty county be-
gan years ago. long before there were
any automobiles in this part OF the coun-
l Try TO emphasize the need for great pub
/ lie highway
/ The meaning OF good roads is different
In different localities. II you should ask
/ south Georgia man to explain what
his idea of a good road was. he would
describe a road free from the long
stretches of sand, which come half way
iup to the hub OF a buggy wheel. The
north Georgia man would picture road
free from hills and gullies, while the man
from some other locality would picture a
road which was not made impossible by
mud for several months of the year.
II was with an idea of eliminating the
ldisagreeable sand beds which first started
the good roads movement in Dougherty
county AS far back as 1894 Dougherty
county began working her convicts on her
roads The FIRST step was to remove the
sand and preplacx Il with packed ana
rolled clay, grading the roadbed so as 10
I shed water. Every important roadway In
the county has been worked over in this
way, and there are few counties in the
state which show better roads than those
which lead out from Albany to all parts
+ Of the county.
BEGINNING OF WORK.
( This work was inaugurated by the late
John R. Whitehead, for many years prior
I 10 his recent sudden and untimely death,
chairman Of the commissioners Of roads
and revenues of this county. Mr.. White
head was good roads enthusiast, and ne
gradually impaired his enthusiasm TO 9TH
ers until practically every man in the
county today is an advocate OF good
roads It is largely due TO the judgment
and foresight OF Mr.. Whitehead that
/ Dougherty county is so far ahead Of her
neighboring counties in improved road
ways and that the work begun years ago
Is being extended and carried forward
today on a larger and more permanent
scale.
/ The clay roads have been great i'm
provements over the heavy sand roads
which they replaced, but progressive
county like Dougherty needed more per-
! manent roadbeds than could be made of
I clay. Three years ago the county authori-
ties began experimenting with limestone
! rock as q road building material The re-
suits have been most satisfactory, and
I last year a bond issue OF $4,000 was au-
thorized for the purchase Of up-to-date
road building machinery. A huge rock
/ crusher and a heavy roller. propelled by
gasoline. we're bought and the county
built its first macadam road.
There is now in process Of construction
a macadam road from the Lee county
line on the north to the Mitchell county
line on the south. only few miles OF
the stretch remaining TO be built. Inc
road has recently been treated with an
application OF road oil which made II
dustIess. and II is one of the finest pieces
Of improved roadway in the state.
The work of road building, so we'll be-
gun by the county commissioners under
/ the Craftsmanship of Mr.. Whitehead, is
being continued with renewed enthusiasm
under the direction OF the new chair
man, Mr.. n. F. Tiff. IL was Mr.. Tiff
who suggested the building Of a great
public highway from Atlanta to Albany
/ and on to Jacksonville by securing the
cooperation OF the county authorities
along the route. In order to bring this
matter properly before attention OF the
counties at interest, a meeting OF the
0 commissioners OF the counties along the
route. together with officials from all
counties in southwest Georgia have been
( invited to meet in Albany June s.
The object OF this meeting is two-fold.
I It is for the purpose Of outlining a plan
for the proposed highway and for taking
up with vigor the proposed autmobile
/ race from Albany TO Atlanta. The plan
/ Of having a race from this city to At
lanta was suggested by Mayor H. A.
Tarver. 10 whom the idea occurred when
/ The Journals great Atlanta-New York
/ contest was announced.
/ When the announcement came from At
lanta Of the proposed races from all over
/ Georgia into Atlanta Albany promptly
/ decided to join hands in this movement
/ and help make II a big success. Chair
man n. F. Tiff stated today that he
4 thought Il was a movement for the gen.
eral good Of the state in which all should
/ ioin, and he was greatly gratified that
The Atlanta Journal with characteristic
| generosity OF spirit and liberality of
| purse had added 81 200 to the prizes for
this contest.
| SCOUTING PARTY.
| A scouting party makes the trip from
Albany to Macon Monday in automobiles,
the pupose being TO outline a tentative
/ route for the contest and to meet with
county officials en- route and enlist their
| interest and enthusiasm. The Albany par
| ty will meet a party from Atlanta and
| another party from Fitzgerald, and will
confer with the Bib county authorities
at Macon, the schedule being for the
three parties 10 meet there at 5 o'clock
Monday afternoon.
In connection with the good roads move
ment, the Albany and Dougherty county
authorities Will agitate the wide-tire
wagon law. The plan Is to work up a
state wide sentiment in favor OF wide
tired wagons and have a law enacted
| forbidding use OF narrow-tired wagons
in the state after a period OF 8 or 8 years.
I AS evidence Of the strong hold which this
/ feature OF good roads development is TAX
/ ing in this section. one Of the largest
{ wagons dealers south of Macon Will sell
: only wide-tired wagons in future, every
new wagon which this firm has bought
being OF the wire-tlred type.
In speaking Of this feature of the good
roads movement. Chairman Tiff said:
. 1T would be foolish for a man to build
a fine house and not insure it. II is
equally foolish for a county to spend
thousands Of dollars in road building and
not adopt every possible means for their
protection. Heavily loaded narrow-tired
: wagons cut up tSe roads and soon have
them full OF holes. whereas the wide-tr-
ed wagons pack the road and really help
20 make them more permanent Every
county which advocates good roads
should advocate the gradual adoption Of
, wide-tired wagons"