Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-04-18
CENTRAL ROUTE CHOSEN FOR BIG HIGHWAY
Extension Includes
Cordele, Triton
and Intervening
Cities
Macon,
ValdOSta
Georgia

The Tifton-Valdosta route, called
the Central Route, wins The Jour
nal-Herald national highway extern
sion into Jacksonville.
This announcement, made stimuli
taneously today by The Journal and
the New York Herald, will bring
glad tidings to many. but disap-
pointment TO many more; for there
were six routes competing for the
national highway and only one
coull be chosen.
The national highway extension,
which is hereafter to be known as an
integral part of the national high
way, is shown in detail above and
in the map published herewith From
Perry to Valdosta it is just as the
Central Route association defined 1t.
At Valdosta, however, it departs
from the more direct route, going
toward Madison instead of toward
Lake City direct; and from Madison
ii turns east to pass through Live
Oak and Lake City.
1t was chosen after close first
hand investigation of all the routes
and an impartial consideration of
every. fact and note gathered by the
scout car.
1t was chosen notwithstanding the
fact that it is not the shortest. The
Waycross route is that.
It was chosen notwithstanding the
fact that it is not the best today.
The brownsville route is that
Why IL Was Chosen.
1t was chosen because, everything
considered, 1t was believed to offei
the best and shortest way in COM
bination between Atlanta and Jack
sOnyille: and because it is backed
by an organization which is pledged
Ito its completion from end to end
Within a reasonable time there will
be no better route. II is sure to
equal the Thomasville route in re-
gard TO roads.
1t was chosen because, moreover,
when Macon was made fixture on
the highway route, the Tifton-Val-
dosta route became the second of
lall in point of distance, figuring via
Macon Still another reason is that
lit traverses almost the geographical
middle north-and-sou line or
Georgia, and is convenient of access
Ito the motorists on all other routes
liz they care to use it into Florida.
lStill another reason Is that it passes
Through the best section of Florida,
along the northern border west of
Jacksonville, though the regret
able fact is true that 1t omits Month
cello, which is on the Thomasville
route and is one of the prettiest and
most delightful towns of the whole
state: and moreover, it omits Green
VILE, another very pleasing point on
the brownsville route.
SELECTION OF MACON.
1t was decided, after thorough con-
sideration OF the subject. that the ma
tfonaI highway should include Macon
because it is Macon and one OF
Georgia's principal cities. This was
one of the first matters to be decided
fyhen the finalities were taken up for
consideration In order to include Ma
con. it was necessary to take into the
highway the 26 miles OF very poor
road II Monroe county on both sides
OF FORSYTH. But it was believed that
would more than compensate for these
and that the Monroe county road win
some day be improved.
The inclusion of Macon Immediately
excluded the very best route fby Al
benv and Thomasville) from further
/ reconsideration, because the alreaiv great
distance was thereby too much In
creased. It also excluded the Albany
Moultrie route which lis between tie
T-nomasville and the Tifton-Valdosta
routes in point OF distance, and which
lis as good today in point of roads as
| the p4l1on-V aldosta route.
Thus the selection was narrowed
down TO ..e Tifton-Valdosta route and
the waycross routes
ABOUT THE WAYCROSS ROUTES.
/ The waycross trunk route, from
Douglas through Wayeross via King
Ferry to Jacksonville was then elm
mated because of the ferry on that
route and the poor roads between Way
cross and Jacksonville. This acsion
had to be taken Notwithstanding the
i strong organization which has pledged
the construction of that trunk. ~ Is
very probable that the sfaycross rourc
I will be built some day, But, everything
considered, it was believed that in COM
parison with the Tifton-Valdosta route
the latter is better and offers bet
ter future.
The elimination OF the Waycross
trunk route threw out OF further con-
federation the very excellent roads be-
tween the Ware county line and Perry.
Int also excluded, necessarily, the Dub
lin branch, which, however. would
have suffered under a detailed study
because OF the poor roads and the
ferry south OF McFae, between That
1 point and the main trunk. 1t also
illuminated the Ocilla branch.
This left the TIrton-Valdosta route
alone in the field And even that route
was not believed to be all it should
be.
The roads of Berrien and Lowndes
county are by no means good today
But they can be made good and the
two counties named are financially
! able TO develop them. and are at work
4 on them.
PENETRATING NORTH FLORIDA.
South of the Georgia line there re-
manned the poor roads through Hamil-
ton county, in Florida. This stretch
was regarded very unfavorably, because