Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-05-18

hopes to see both OF them constructed at
no late day.
II don't know Of anything that has APP
pealed to me more favorably than has
The Atlanta Journal-New York Herald
road building contest" said Mr.. Bell II
am doubly interested in the project; first.
because the proposed route will pass
through a portion Of my district: second.
because the benefits OF the contest will
be reflected throughout the district, and
communities remotely located from the
route will be moved to renew their efforts
at road making.
The very fact that The Journal Her
aid contest has revived the agitation for
military highway from Chattanooga to
Atlanta is proof positive OF the good ef-
fects Il will have, and the further fact
that localities and communities other
saaz SSosa along the immediate route
viii &c benefited by the contest"
SENATOR ]. B. FRAZIER TALKS.
Senator james b. Frazier. of Tonnes
see. a citizen OF Chattanooga, evidences
keen interest in the project presented
by the New York Herald and The At
Ianta Journal. He thinks il will have a
tendency TO arouse the people OF the
south TO the condition OF their highways
and move them 10 improve old roads and
build new ones. He doesn't profess to
be familiar with all the details of the
il has created widespread interest in the
good roads question. since 1t has revived
the agitation Of a military highway from
Chattanooga to Atlanta.
II have long been interested I'm good
roads" said Senator Frazier. because l
regard them Of the highest value and
Importance to the development OF the
country. have been studying the legal
phases of the question, trying to ascer-
H,,,-
the constitutional right 10 appropriate
money for road building and road inn
provement. I am stiu working on this
question.
u rather believe the government has
the right to construct military roads and
post roads. but I have formed no opin-
ion as to its right TO engage in an indis-
eliminate road-building campaign.
However. all this has no bearing on
the contest of The Atlanta Journal and
the New York Herald, which has for its
purpose the improvement of the road
ways by the several counties of the diff
ferent states. 1 am not as familiar with
all the details of the contest as I would
Ike to be, but l feel confident that it
will prove a good thing. 1t will, in my
opinion. create a widespread interest in
the sections to be affected, and will
cause many communities to expend
highways and construct new ones.
ANY contest that will revive and give
renewed impetus to the talked-of mill
tary road from Chattanooga to Atlanta
is certainly creating interest, and inter
est is one of the important steps to sue
cess. There can be no success unless
there is interest, as a general PROPOSE
ton"
TO ENLARGE PARK.
Harmonizing in purpose with the move
ment 10 have the federal government
construct a military road from Chatta-
nooga to Atlanta, Representative Gordon
A. Lee. of the Seventh Georgia district
and Moon, of the Chattanooga, Tenn,
district. have introduced a bill to enlarge
the Chickamauga national military park
by the addition of thirty-one thousand
acres of land situated in Catoosa and
Walker counties.
The bill has been referred to the COM
mittee on military affairs. where It is now
pending. 1t carries an appropriation Of
$4,000 Mr.. Lee entertains no hope for
the passage OF the bill at the extra
session Of congress. but he is sure that
1t will become a law during the life of
the sixty-irst congress, II not next De-
, cember, certainly the following year.
81 am quite sure that the Chickamau-
ga national military park will be en-
larged by the federal government" said
Mr. Lee tonight. THE bill may not be
passed next December. but 1 am conf
dent that IL will become a law during
the life OF tn epresept congress. The
committee on military affairs, to which
the bill has been referred, will report
I. favorably and the house will pass it."
SURE OF SUCCESS.
Representative Lee is not a man to
make idle claims. He knows enough OF
congressional affairs to hesitate before
he makes a prediction about the fate of
any measure, so that his confidence in this
instance means something. The govern
ment, 1t appears. now has an option on
! 1900 acres of land i'm Walker and Ca
toosa counties, adjoining the national
park. and the bill introduced by Messrs.
Lee and Moon provides for the acquire
ment of this land. The options, it is sta
ted will not expire for some time, and
the government has the right of renewal
upon expiration. The Chickamauga ma
tional park now contains about seven
] thousand acres and the war department
regards IL as one OF the best reservations
and maneuvering grounds in the coun-
/ try. 1t is anxious to enlarge 1t by the
requirement of the additional land, and
will support the measure offered by
Messrs. Lee and Moon.
The bill provides that the land shall
be purchased by the Chickamauga Ma
tionsl Park Military commission, ol
which Major J. B. Cummings, of Au-
gusta, Is a member. 1t is further pro-
vided that such lands as are not COW
/ cred by options may be acquired by
condemnation proceedings.