The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1912-1984, 1915-04-06
COMMISSION TO BE NAMED
TO SELECT DIXIE HIGHWAY
Delegates at Chattanooga Have
Stormy Debate Over Route
McCreary On the Job

Delegates from this section of the
state who attended the Dixie High
way Conference at Chattanooga,
Tenn, late last week, have returned,
well pleased with the res Its of their
work. A dispatch to the Cincinnati
Enquirer from Chattanooga Sunday
told of the work of the meeting as
follows:
Chattanooga, Tenn, April "a
commission of IA men, two from each
of the seven states which sponsored
the Dixie Highway movement, will Sc
1ect the route of this epochal road
way from Chicago to Miami, Fla. The
Governors of the seven states, Indi-
ana, Illinois, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennes-
see, Georgia and Florida, are author
lied to make the selections.
This was decided upon at the final
session of the Dixie Highway confer
ence here today after a stormy de-
bate, during which a plan supported
by various Chattanooga interests,
who sought to leave the selection of
the route in the hands of a commits
sion composed of two representatives
from. each of the seven states and sew
en- founders of the idea residing in
Chattanooga, met decisive defeat.
The motion to include the seven
founders was introduced by former
United States Senator j. B. Frazier,
of Tennessee, as an amendment to the
original motion, providing for the
board of control of IA. Frazier said
that the seven founders residing in
Chattanooga, who already had pledg-
ed 81 600 for five years, should be
given special recognition.
Governor McCreary, of Kentucky,
and Governor Ralston, of Indiana,
were promptly on their feet with
vigorous objections. McCreary stated
that the $4,000 pledged by each of
the pioneers was a negligible quantity
in comparison with the thousands of
dollars which would be spent by each
state Interested. Governor Slaton, of
Georgia, concurred in their views
Governor Ralston declared that
several states, now members of the
Highway Association, would with
draw if not allowed to determine the
route to be followed within their own
confines.
Senator FraZier's amendment was
tabled on his motion.
A resolution passed provided for
the appointment of a committee to
wait upon Congress and secure, ii
possible, the service of three Govern
ment engineers to aid the commission
in making the preliminary survey for
the highway. 1t was moved further
than the committee petition Congress
for financial aid both for construc-
tion and upkeep.
The convention closed tonight with
a dinner. H. Clay Evans, former Con-
sui-General to London, acted as
POSTMASTER. Addresses were made by
Governor Ralston, Governor Nc
Creary and Governor Slaton.
President Wilson today wired the
convention his congratulations.
The Cincinnati delegation worked
iraconjuactIon with the Lexington,
lKy.), Hartman, (Tenn.), and Day
ton, (Tenn.), delegations for what
they called the Blue Grass route. This
soute includes Indianapolis, Cincinna-
ii, Lexington, Hartman, Dayton and
Chattanooga, and is opposed to the
Nashville to Chattanooga.
Delegations supporting the Blue
Grass route asserted that if they did
not get the Dixie Highway they would
build competing one between Gin
cinnati and Chattanooga, TO be
known as the Robert L. Lee Highway.
DG<<gatiops from Lancaster, KY,
hea} ~ - l@upr L. G. Davidson,
and <rod . dsburg, KY, headed
byA6 EjLII also worked in con-
III 81 lHf1Xhe Cincinnati and Lex