The copper era and Morenci leader., 1914-04-17
DELL POTTER BACK FROM CONVENTION
 ATLAKE CHARLES

III IIuAE OIIHIIEIO Southern National Highway is Chosen
 by Big Southern Convention of
 Gulf States From EI Paso to San
 Diego via Duncan, Clifton, Gila Val
 ley, Globe and Phoenix.
 Hon. Dell M. Potter returned home on Saturday afternoon from a trip to Lake Charles, Louisiana, where he went as delegate from Arizona to the Gulf and Interoceanic National Highway Association convention last week. MT. Potter and Hon. c. L. Rawlins, of Globe. represented Arizona at this convention and it was owing to their efforts that the Southern Nation al Highway, of which MT. Potter is President, was designated as a part of the Gulf and Interoceanic Highway This route will follow the Southern National Highway from New York City to Durham, North Carolina Leaving Durham the Interoecanic Highway goes thence to Atlanta, New Orleans, Houston, San Antonio and Fl Paso. At this point the Inter oceanic again joins the Southern Ma tional Highway, coming via Silver City, Duncan, Gila Valley, Globe. Phoe- nix, Yuma and on to San Diego.
 As distinguished from the Inter oceanic Highway, the Southern Ma tional Highways Association, route leaves Durham, N. C., and comes across by Memphis, Tenn, Hot Springs, Ark, Dallas and Fort Worth. Roswell, N. M, and thence to Fl Paso. Of interest to this section of Arizona is the fact that both southern routes have endorsed and designated the eastern and western link of the Southern National Highways Associa- tion and the solid southern delegation in Congress can be depended upon to give their support for Federal aid.
 The convention at Lake Charles was presided. over by Governor L. E. Hall and was largely attended by dele gates from the Gulf states, also Ari- zona, New Mexico and San Diego.
 At the Lake Charles convention the fact was brought out by Southern National Highways leaders that since the convention held at Ashville year ago, that $1O,000,O00 had been raised through bond issues and direct tax ation in Virginia, West Virginia and North Carolina, and Arizona for build ing connecting links in the Southern National Highway.
 In discussion conditions east and west before the Lake Charles conven-
 
 the Southern National Highways Asso- citation work. He told the convention that Gov. Hall of Louisiana had shown interest in the Asheville convention e year ago and had appointed delegates to that convention but the failure of those prominent men to attend the first convention of he Southern Nation al Highways Association resulted in Louisiana being. left out of the route. I To ho16 hot 1sI -ns tained and showed how the meeting meant more than any held in fifty years. He discussed the present poli- tical situation and quoted President Wilson as promising him personally to sign any Good Roads Bill Con- gross would pass. He gave figures to show how good roads paid the west. 5000 autos being shipped across the continent annually to tour there. Col. Potter continuing told the convention that if these toured the south instead of passing through by rail they would leave millions in the state. The open ing of the Panama canal would be the century's event and good roads would bring thousands of autos this way, ad- vertiSe the south's resources and de- velop the sections. He then showed the justification for government aid and believed the demand of business mSH WOuIu get CHe money The pros perity of the country depended upon it..
 MT. Potter told the Era this week that the Lake Charles convention was the most enthusiastic gathering of good roads boosters he has ever at tended and he has been at all of them during the past five years.
 The early completion of the Gila and San Carlos bridges, for which government appropriation has already been made, will be an important step in permanently establishing the South ern National Highway through Ari- zona. It is matter for congratula- tion that the activity of Col Potter and MT. Rawlins at Lake Charles de- feated the emisaries of the Borderland route through Arizona via Douglas and Bisbee.
 Organization of the new association means that national highway through this section will be completed and opened to the public by next sum- mer. Practically all that remains to be done on it now is the construction of the 13 miles of road between the reservation bridge sites and the building of thirty miles of road be- tween Duncan and Silver City
 Col. Potter this week received letter from San Diego saying that the heavy sand hills in Imperial county would be avoided by building a board road for a distance of six miles and the money for this purpose has al- 'eady been raised.