Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-06-01
SCOUT CARS FORGED
THE FIRST BIG LINK
IN GREAT HIGHWAY


during the long arduous running over
many miles of rough roads. II was de-
cided to enjoy brief vacation in one
another's company, and to do no more
touring for the day except for a short
run of about fourteen miles southwark
to the little town on the Southern rail-
way known as Franklin Junction.
Throughout this run by the courtesy of
Atlanta party and of Mr.. Lamar. the own
err and driver of the big Oldsmobile, the
Herald correspondent was invited to ac-
company them while Mr.. Gray took the
vacant place in the Herald's White
steamer.
Though hotel accommodations at
Franklin Junction were neither extensive
nor elaborate. the combined scout par
ties passed the night there. This morn
ing a comfortable start was made again
at 10 o'clock, The Atlanta Journals car
taking the lead as pilot over the roads
which ii had already traversed on its
journey from the south and the records
of which had been faithful kept in de-
tail at every point. The White steamer
followed far enough behind to escape the
dust of the big Oldsmobile. the Herald
party flying from their car two of the
pennants which had been presented to
them by their southern confreres 1t was
decided that no attempts at long runs
should be made on Sunday.
The two parties therefore contented
themselves before luncheon with an easy
advance at moderate gait into Danville,
Va, nearly twenty-nine miles away,
where the hotel accommodations were
greatly superior to those they had left.
HERALD's FIFTH DAY.
The Herald's White steamer started its
fifth days run at o'clock Saturday
morning from in front of the picturesque
~ 10 rfy,.,
much of the run to Bedford City, Bedford
Springs and beyond. the roads were found
somewhat rough, though the sun had
dried them so that the going was not so
hard as on the previous day. At 19 miles
out from Roanoke, a fine cinder road
stretches for several miles, which afford
ed as perfect touring while it lasted as
did the famous turnpike down the north
ern part of the Shenandoah Valley. At
the termination of this stretch, however,
a series of Indifferent highways follow
ed. To avoid turning northward again
and to save a detour of some Is or 20
miles into Lynchburg the White steamer
took a cut off through what is known as
the old Lawyers road, leading past the
railway station of Lawyers on the South
ern railway.
This road, the local inhabitants say, de-
rived its name from the interesting his
rick Henry, in the early days of the
republic, used to ride habtually along it,
mounted on their good saddle horses. to
meet and confer in a little cabin which
then stood not far from the junction of
Lawyers road with the broad highway
locally known as Wards road, but more
commonly designated as the LynchburG
stage road. Near the spot where the his
toric cabin formerly stood, there is now
IL
by a negro family.
ON LYNCHBURG PIKE.
One the steamer struck the Lynchburg
pike 1t made fast progress down to the
Staunton river. which was crossed on a
long steel bridge. 1t was at this point
that the Atlanta party had figured on
meeting the northern tourists, and they
doubtless would have been able to cross
the bridge, and to have advanced con-
siderably further before the meeting, had
they not been detained at various points
during the morning by the necessity OF
interchanging telegraph and telephone
messag es to prevent the possibility of d
failure to meet on ther'same line. Two
night-wearied police officers and a ne
gro porter were the sole witnesses of The
Journal cars start in the gray of morn
ing, Saturday for the final run that would
bring 1t to meet the southbound automo-
bile of the Herald. From Greensboro
n c., the point of the days start, Il
Reidsville, The Journal car found some
fair road that was ruined by frequent
mudholes. Their road to Reidsville seem
ed to be one that needed attention more
than II did rebuilding.
Along partC of the route, however, The
Journal cars road was upon the abandon
ed roadbed of some former railway. Here
the car found, excellent travelling for d
few miles, upon a smooth and we'll grad
ed highway topped hard with elders
HAD THRILLING EXPERIENCE.
On this part of the road The journal
car had the only thrilling experience oil
its long journey from Atlanta. Clipping
along at a 30-mile gait, the car swung
around a wide curve and seemed to have
the highway straight ahead when sud.
denly II was seen that a new railroad
track had been cut down through the old
roadbed, and that a yawning lapse OF
some forty feet lay in wait for the car
1t was stopped within a few feet Of
the edge, and was backed about hundred
yards to the point where the road left
the old rail embankment to cross the new
railroad further to the right
All day The Journal car rode hard t
meet the visitors. At every telegraph
station and every long distance telephone
Office a stop was made that the course
of the Southbound car might be deter
mined. Due to these delays, and further
TO the fact that the Herald car did no
go by Lynchburg, but cut short of Their,
to the old stage road leading south, The
Journal car did not meet the northern
automobile at Staunton river, as it strov'
to do. but instead greeted it on the lone
some stretch three miles south of thu
river, marking there the spot that will
| be known to history as the point whert
the two ends of great highway wer'
tied together.
Mr.. Lamar's car the Oldsmobile, com
/ pIeted it's five hundredth mile without al
/ adjustment after II left the factory jus
! before the meeting and Mr.. Lamar wal
| complimented with three cheers by tn
members of his party.
The woodland road on which the odo
! meter figures made their significan
/ change echoed with the enthusiasm o
/ the moment. while the car sped on arounC
sharp curves and through obscure turns
| To meet the Herald automobile.
! LIKE OCEAN LINER.
! Like an ocean liner passing through tn
! Inland Sea of Japan in a fog, with it,
whistle monotonously sounding its SLOW
progress and the easing of the nerves o
/ its passengers, did The Journal car cove
! the last fourteen miles OF its journey af
| ter il left Franklin Junction, where tn,
| final word had been said by the wire tina
! had kept track of its southbound Wis
! tor during the lay.
/ Fearing a sudden encounter in one o