Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-05-14
BIG HIGHWAY WILL
MEAN REALIZATION
OFFONDESTD DREAM
REPRESENTATIVE f. Y. WEBB,
OF NORTH CAROLINA, SAYS
THE JOURNAL-HERAID PRO-
JECT FULL OF POSSIBILITIES.
BY Ralph Smith

the New York Herald, is commanding tLt
attention and challenging the admirauo
of many public men in Washington, VIII,
are interested in the growth and develop
ment of the south. The mention OF lht
contest suffices to invite commentator
and applause
'@rhe Atlanta Journal-New York Herald
contest will prove a great thing for the
south." volunteered Edwin Yates Webb,
representative in congress of the Nlnth
North Carolina district today to the rep
resentative of The Journal. Mr.. Webb
then explained that he had read the de-
fails of the contest in the Charlotte pa
pers, and had been very much impressed
with the possibilities of the AFFAIR
1.-THE contest deserves the encourage
ment of the people of the south, and
the counties should, in my judgment CO.
operate with The Atlanta Journal and
the New York Herald in this laudable
undertaking. continued Mr. Weob
feel sure that the counties of North Car
DINA may be depended upon In tnls
instance. and / of course entertain hopes
that the first prize will be won by one
of the counties of my state.
1.-The hope of reward to North Car
olina county, however, is secondary TO
NV interest in the success of the contest
as a whole. 1t is fraught with great pos
sibilities for the development of the south
Atlantic states. 1t means, In my OPINION
the realization of the dream OF con-
tinuous public highway through Virginia
the Carolinas and Georgia, with shorter
though equally as good highways radiat-
ing in every direction from the mann
thoroughfare. 1t means also that interest
IN road building will be awakened In
communities located from the route to be
selected. 1t is indeed the beginning OF
new era in the south"
A Virginian Talks
One of the tentative routes that has
been suggested for the highway traverses
the valley of virginia, much of which is
located in the Seventh congressional dis
trict. James Hay, Sr., represents the
Seventh district in congress. He is much
interested in the projected road' ana
looks upon the New York-Atlanta road
building-automobile contest with much Ia
vor on this account.
Representative Hay boasts on the
best road in the United States In his
district. and declares that if the route
selected takes i'm this road other COM
munitie- will have to hustle If they win
first prize It is known as the valley
turnpike, and extends for distance OF
30 miles from Winchester to Stanton.
1.-THE proposed highway from Atlanta
10 New York should be constructed
said Mr. Hay, land if l understand the
purpose of the New York Herald-Atlanta
Journal automobile road building contest,
I believe that it will contribute much to-
ward the accomplishment of this pur-
! lose. 1t is the biggest step in the right
direction that has been taken lately, and
/ Is bound to rebound to the benefit of the
south, particularly Virginia, the Carolinas
and Georgia
II observe that the probable course will
take the road via Martinsburg, w. Va,
winchester and Stanton, Va. This would
of necessity bring the highway down
through Harrisburg. Pa, and thence
through the valley of Virginia. No bet
ter course could be selected in my judg
ment, though I am not enough familiar
( with the entire route to venture a guess
as to where the Blue Ridge mountains
will be crossed.
"The valley turnpike in my district
one of the finest stretches of road In
the country. none excepted. 1t will COM
pare favorably with the best roads OF
Pennsylvania. Maryland or New York.
It extends for a distance of ninety mile,
from winchester south to Stanton, Va.
The road from Winchester to Martins
burg, w. Va, is also a fine one. It's
length is about % miles, so that should
! the course follow the points mentioned,
there will be one stretch of road lis miles
In length"
South Carolina Interested
! South Carolina is interested in the pro-
! jected road from Atlanta to New York,
and in the method adopted by The At
lanta Journal and the New York Her
aid to promote it's construction. The
route will of course traverse the entire
J state, and will mean a great deal to the
communities through which it will pass
! Asbury Francis Lever, representative
| in congress of the Seventh South Carolina
! district, is an advocate of good roads
/ which is to say that he favors The Jour
nall Herald contest. because he realizes
| that it means good roads Like Mr.
| Webb of North Carolina, Mr.. Lever was
entirely familiar with the details of the
contest. and when approached by the
representative of The Journal pointed to
| recent copy of the Columbia State
giving an account of the proposed con-
/ test and indicating that the citizens of
/ Columbia are Interested in the construc-
! tion of the road.
my firm belief in the value of good
roads and my confidence in The Atlanta
/ Journal and the New York Herald con-
! vince me that the contest is a good thing
deserving of commentator and support, 4"
! said Mr.. Lever. II have observed with
+ a degree of pleasure from the press of
South Carolina that the people are TAX
: ing to the proposition, and that already
several counties have entered the con-
: test.
1.-THE contest will stimulate interest in
road building. Its beneficial effects will
not be felt only by the competing coun-
ties through which the course is to pass,
but will be geenral. in my judgment. IL
will awaken a renewed interest in road
| construction all over the SOUTH"
Should BE Encouraged
! Representative Henry Delaware QIaJ
Flood, of the Tenth Virginia district, is
favorably impressed with the New York.
Atlanta contest. and declares that in
his judgment ii merits the encourage
ment and support of the people generally.
whether they live along the route to be
selected or are remotely located. The ben
| ehcial effects of the contest will not be
confined to any one section. locality or
! community o any state. he thinks.
THE New Yorlt-Atlanta contest should
| be encouraged by everyone" said Mr.
| Flood. Its. good effects will be general
! 1t win arouse a deeper interest in road
construction and road improvement, and
the value of public highways-good pub.
! lie highways-is too patent to invite com
ment here
II haven't studied the details of the