Evening star., 1909-06-13
PLANS FOR NATIONAL HIGHWAY
STEPS FOR AUTO ROUTE FROM
NEW YORK TO ATLANTA.
pecial Correspondence of The Star

! Special Correspondence OF The Star
RICHMOND. Va. June II. 1000.
| Considerable interest is felt in Rich
mond and throughout Virginia In the pro-
posed national highway between New
| York and Atlanta. Ca. Acting in con-
| junction with the Richmond Chamber Of
Commerce and the Richmond Automobile
| Association. the various automobile clubs
| and business organizations in Virginia.
: North and South Carolina have been en-
| deavoring for more than two weeks TO
| have the pathfindng automobiles which
| recently went from New York TO Atlanta
| through the valley of Virginia return 10
| New York by way of Richmond The
proposed route. a general outline of which
embraces Athens and Elberton. in Geor.
! gia; Abbeyville, Greenwood Columbia and
Camden. III South Carolina: Rocninlha n
jackson Springs. Southern Pines, Sanford
and Raleigh, in North Carolina and
thence on to Richmond, ashington, Bal.
tlmore and New York. is said TO be an adj
mIrable one. with good roads all OF the
way.
The roads from Richmond to Washing.
ton, however, are almost an unknown
quantity. but the lay OF the land is such
that an improved highway would be easy
| of construction and admirable in effect
The Richmond Automobile Club recently
sent out pathfinding car on its own &C.
count TO trace proposed route through
Hanover, Louisa. Culpeper. Prince vii.
liam and Fairfax counties to WASHINGTON
over the old Alexandria turnpike, this
route having been chosen by the club be.
cause the roads in these counties have
been recently improved by the state con.
vlct road force and are said 10 be now in
excellent condition. The old telegraph
road between this city and Washington
by way of Fredercksbu is very much
shorter, but 1t is reported to be in a very
| bod fi1., u
certain points.
Between Richmond and Washington
The investigation of the roads by the
Richmond automobile scout car is for the
purpose of securing exact information a.
to the condition of the highways betweeE
Richmond and Washington. so that ar
accurate report can be made. II is the
purpose of the Richmond Club TO make
every effort to have the proposed highway
run through this city instead of along thu
valley road route.
The route now about to be Investigated
is said by Virginia automobists to be ia,
superior to the valley route as a nationa
automobile highway so far as the road.
leading into Virginia from North Caro-
lima are concerned. The proposed route
will cross the state line at or near En-
poria and makes practical bee-line from
Richmond to Raleigh, taking in Peters
burg and Pinehurst. The only hitch in tft
plan is the possible condition of the road.
to the north between Richmond ane
Washington and with the recent improve
ment along this route by the state convic
force there is scarcely any doubt tha'
the roads will be found superior to the ole
route through the valley. These are tn,
roads that the scout ear OF the Richmond
Club is now exploring.
Selection of Route.
Reports from North and South Carolina
as well as Virginia. are to the effect thai
a great deal of interest is being taken IL
the selection of the route via Pinehurst
Raleigh, Petersburg and Richmond foI
the proposed great national highway foi
automobiles. A meeting was recently hel,
in Columbia. S. c.. with this end in view
with representatives from the various
towns in North and South Carolina pres
ent, the Richmond Automobile Club beinl
unable to send delegates on account o
the. short notice given. 1t was proposed
at this meeting to perfect a permanent
organization which will have Tor its objec'
the establishment of an automobile high
way betweenS Washington and Columbia
taking in Richmond Petersburg, Raleigh
and Pinehurst with the end in view o
establishing great national highway
from New York into the Cracker state. II
this connection it is stated that the es
tablishment of a permanent route foi
automobiles to the south will bring many
touring parties into this section.