The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1912-03-15
THE STATE HIGHWAY
MAY COME THIS WAY
ENCOURAGEMENT
INDIFFERENCE OF THE coUN.
TIES ALONG THE NORTH
ERN ROUTE.
SECRETARY GILBERT so THINKS
Largely Depends on What Is Done
Between Maury and the Tennessee
River Whether Southern viii BE
Chosen In the End.

NASHVILLE, Tenn, Mar. IA
There is a probability that the west
ern route o. the Memphis-to- Bristol
highway may be changed to the
southern route as presented to the
commission of eleven when the Of
hcial route was selected last August.
After carefully considering the three
routes presented, the northern route
was selected as the one Offering the
greatest advantages. This decision
Was based, however, on the fact that
the counties through which it would
pass would construct the road accord
ing to the plans and specifications
of the commission. Some of these
counties have thus far made no pro-
vision for the construction of this
highway, while at least one of the
competing routes has been actively
at work for some time improving
road conditions. In speaking Tues
day Of this probable change, Charles
C. Gilbert, secretary of the commits
SIGN, stated that he could not say
whether the commission would con-
slider changing the official route or
not, but he was convinced the COM
mission would not agree to approve
a great state highway through Sec
ton of country where no effort had
been made to construct one. The
northern route was selected in good
faith, but the action of Dickson coun-
ty in refusing to issue bonds, for the
purpose of building a road across
that county, and the fact that thus
far Cheatham county has made NO
provisions for the building Of tho
road, indicated that, whether the
commission made a change or not
the travelling public would 60 some
other way, provided a road was built
Much depends upon the action OF
Lawrence county in the coming bond
election stated Mr.. Gilbert. III
that county votes bonds and builds .
fist class road from Maury to Wayne
counties, that will give first class
road to the border of Wayne county.
Wayne county stands ready to COM
llete the pike roads to the Tonnes
see river. Decatur county has an
enabling act for the purpose Of issu-
ing bonds, and should it be shown
that there is probability of getting
the highway, it is reasonably believ-
Ell that bond election would be CALI
ed at an early date and that 1t would
pass by a large majority. Henderson
county is able and ready to complete
the road to the Madison county line.
This would give a first class highway
from Nashville to Jackson, and from
there OF there has never been any
doubt about the building of the road.
When the commission met in Au-
sust representatives of the southern
route presented some very convino-
ing facts why the road should go that
way, and, while the distance is near
ly forty miles farther. yet the other
route won by a majority of one vote.
There is no better country in tho
world than that which the highway
would pass should this southern
route be selected. Davidson, WIZ
Hanson, Maury and Lawrence coun-
ties have ebeen termed the 'dimple
of the universe and this highway
shows each Of them to the best ad-
vantage.
1.-THE efforts on the part of the
good roads enthusiasts representing
the southern route have never ceas-
ed, and 1t looks now as If they are
about to be rewarded by finally So
curing the highway"