The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1911-05-02
Dr.. A. Cheafham Replies
To Durham Sun Editorial

Editor Durham Sun
There appeared few days ago a
editorial in the Durhdm Sun unde
=" the heading. "Plan Monmouth High
way. in which you made referenc
to the capital to capital highwa,
saying, Yet If movement wa
launched to build capital to capita
highway as was talked OF about
year ago, we would not be in position
TO make ripple upon the wave o
progress through any organized boar,
or secretary, for the very simple rea
son that we do not have either. Thi
is the situation that confronts Dur
ham today.
The capital highway keel was lai'
at Columbia, S. c., June 10. 1909 ant
WIS launched September 16, 1908 a
Columbia. and Durham county was
part OF its structure.
Durham county has a good road
association and there has been Z
group Of men at work and watching
road matters, although not organized
under any special name they have
worked together. The article refer
red to implies that II was only talk
III such was the case it would also
imply that good many OF our citi-
zens who contributed so literally to
the call of Mr.. Leonard Tufft, the
president. and Mr.. Frank Weldon,
the secretary. had not been treated
fair BY them.
In order that you and others may
understand the capital to capital
highway, j will give You a history
OF this highway as | understand it.
in reference to Durham county:
In the winter Of I90S-1s09, Jack
sonyille, Fla, and other southern pa
pers were advocating great thruagh
highway from Boston TO Jacksonville
Sometime in May 1909, II was learn
ed that Mr.. Frank Weldon, then pres
ident OF the International Highway
association was advocating route
from Atlanta 70 Columbia. Raleigh,
Richmond. and Washington. On the
Goth Of May, 1909. letter was sent
20 him telins him OF Durham and its
reads. Granville county was also
informed Of the steps We had taken
and asked 10 join in the night
Durham and Granville county com
missioners were consulted and they
endorsed the movement in June 1909.
A convention was called BY the
president OF the Interstate highway
association 70 meet June 10th, 1909
at Columbia, S. c. Durham and
Granville counties were invited to
send delegates At this meeting the
capital 10 capital highway was form
ed, with three members from each
state forming the executive commit
tee-whose duties il was 10 select
the route. Durham and Oxford
routes got one Of the three for North
Carolina. This was the first ripple
upon the wave Of progress Of the
capital TO capital highway coming by
Durham.
When the officers Of the associa-
ton were named letters we're sent to
them telling Of our route. Letters
were also sent TO all the towns be-
tween Durham and Petersburg, va,
that would likely be on the route.
ClaEksyille Joined in. and the North
Carolina ~ Virginia papers and the
washingtoa Post The Tfmes-Dis-
patch sent its good roads correspon-
dent and speaker out on the routes
In Virginia.
After some time Secretary Frank
Weldon promised 10 visit Durham,
and got as near as Raleigh and was
told Il was no use and he returned 70
Atlanta But when he came to Dur
ham, via Henderson and Oxford he
had no trouble getting here, on July
22. 1909. Finding the roads he did
was a great surprise to him and we
were assured that Durham and Ok
ford would be on the route. saying,
think Durham Is certain 20 be In
eluded. " When President Leonard
Tufft was ON his first tour of Inspec-
tion 20 Durham he said. -The run TO
Durham was quickly made, there be-
Ing not bad place on IL" Leaving
Durham the road was as nearly per-
fec that the automobiles could de-
sire until the Wake county line was
reached"
September is, 1909, the officers
end directors met In Columbia, s. G..
and selected routes. Durham. OK
ford and Clarksyille route was made
psrt Of the capital highway. octo-
Der ~. 1910, Messrs Tunt and We'll
don again visited Durham. A few
days later Mr. Weldon returned.
spending some days, and taking up
Subscription for advertising pur-
poses which amounted 10 ss77 so.
All subscriptions were payable 70 r.
" Robertson. treasurer, Columbia.
q. q, the conditions Df the ssbscrip.
ton being, III the said capital high.
way does not pass through Durham.
n s., the respective sums are 20 be
refunded IN full BY said association
~ the undersigned. Durham has
been 10 all maps and in all articles
II me capital highway appearing IN
news papers. journals and magazines,
both north and south, that / have
seen and many Of them carrying cuts
q Durham roads Has the capital
highway kept faith with Durham
Contributor ] am sure they have
i may be Of interest 70 Durham
people p know lust what progress
has been made on this one hundred
and sixiy-iise niles Of road. q part 81
the capital highway, from Apex. N
II. q Petersburg. va, Durham