Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-08-31
SIGNS WILL POINT THE WAY
FROM BROADWAY TO WHITEHALL

NEW YORK, Aug. &.-Contracts were
closed yesterday for the manufacture and
delivery TO the Herald and The Atlanta
Journal of $500 porcelain enameled iror
signs to be used in the permanent mark
ing of the new national highway at cor
venient points between New York and Al
lanta It is intended to erect 1900 of theS
before the dedicatory reliability contes
which is to be run over the route durin
the last week of next October, so that
that time every mile Of the entire jour
ney will be so plainly bulletined that the
tourists may follow it almost as easily as
ne follows Broadway.
AS the distance between the two termi-
nal cites by the national highway is lit
tie more than 1000 miles, this will permit
the placing of an average of about two OF
these signs to each mile of the itinerary.
The remaining 500 signs of the total of
$500 will probably be held in reserve for
the purpose of replacing such signs as
may suffer deterioration for one cause or
another along the line.
1t should be understood, however, that
the average of two signs to the mile Is
not to be maintained arbitrarily. The
purpose will be rather to erect the signs
at points where they will be likely to be
of the most practical service as guide
posts along the journey. and particularly
at road forks, crossroads and such STRAIT
egic points.
STEEL POSTS BOUGHT.
In selecting material and designs for
these signposts the Herald and The At
lanta Journal have sought to combine the
requisites of legibility, stability and per-
manency with neatness and artistic eff
feet worthy of the highway that is to be
the pioneer artery of traffic for tourists
between the north and south. Despite
the expense involved, the aim has been
to provide a series of guidemarks so
worthy Of the magnitude of the enter
prise that the communities through which
the highway is to pass will take pride,
not only in cooperating for their proper
placing and erection, but also in their
maintenance and protection from vandal
ISM
The signs will be made with a porcelain
enamel surface baked in a temperature Of
500 degrees, on 1S-gauge charcoal iron.
The weight of each sign, exclusive of the
posts, will be about three and half
pounds, and the material and workman
ship throughout will be Of the very best
known for outdoor purposes. These signs,
under the terms of the contract, which
was awarded after competitive bidding,
are guaranteed for eight years neither to
fade, rust nor chip off. Except that they
are larger, they are identical in character
with the best of the street signs used in
New York for marking such thorough
fares as Fifth avenue and are to be made
by the same concern which has done
much of that kind of high grade work
for the municipalities of New York.
Pittsburg, Cleveland. San Francisco, MIL
waukee and many other cities and towns
and which has filled large orders from the
telegraph and telephone companies and
the automobile clubs.
HE WHO RUNS MAY READ.
Uniform in style and dimensions, the
signs will all be "a by inches in size and
each will bear in plain lettering across
the top the legend. National Highway"
so conspicuously displayed that ''he who
runs may read" over the northern half
of the route. or between New York and
some such point as Roanoke, Va. there
will appear the lines, New York Herald
Atlanta Journal" the names of the two