Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1915-04-01
CONTINUED from page 80

factory features OF the proJecl MAJ N
ing il as practical and tangible, is thai
roads do exist over the greater portion
of the tentative route This is true
to such an extent that with improve
ment along certain stretches fairly
good if not permanent, route VIII DC
Afforded tourists all the way from chi
cago to Florida, to accommodate the
traffic during the time that will be re
uuired to convert the entire route into
a permanent highway. For instance
between Nashville and Chattanooga
there is a road which, with reasonable
improvements in two counties, would
compare favorably with roads that
carry a great deal of automobile and
other traffic yearly. There is road
between Chattanooga and Atlanta
which, while it leaves something to be
desired, from standpoint OF perma-
nency. is used great deal. The same
applies between Nashville and Louis
Vile. where there are two routes,
weather conditions determining which
is better for any given season of the
year.
Topography of the country to be
traversed by the Dixie highway,
scenic, historical and industrial i'm
portance of certain cities therein, nat
urally fix to some extent the route.
However. in several localities there
is possibility of choosing from several
routes in making links of the highway.
Wherever possibility of competitive
routes is found, there is found also
keen rivalry among the communities,
some of which are to be pierced by
the highway, others of which inevita-
bly must be left to one side, with
the consolation of tapping the high
way and gaining practically all its
benefits.
This competition between counties,
cities and towns for the highway is
having an exceedingly healthy effect,
doubly forcible in that it creates in
terest in the Dixie highway, and in
the general proposition of good roads.
Communities competing for the honor
and benefits of having the highway go
their way. are arranging strong dele
cations to attend the conference, April
8. and present their various claims.
In some localities, ectual work for
good, roads-in some instances con-.
struction. in others the preliminaries
of bond issues, or creation OF special
taxing districts--is being done prior
to the conference, and directly trace
able to the agitation for the Dixie
highway.
At least two reasons carried weight
in the selection of Chattanooga for the
conference of Governors and general
mass-meeting in behalf of the Dixie
highway. The Chattanooga Automo-
bile Club seized the suggestion made
by Secretary Gilbreath that such a
through road is needed, with ayidity.
and went Immediately to work on the
proposition in the characteristic Chat-
tanooga style that made the United
Confederate Veterans Reunion and
Grand Army Encampment in 1913 such
great successes. Chattanooga is just
about the halfway point between the
termini of the highway aside from
possessing such wonderful profusion
of scenic and historic interest, max
ing for good attendance at all meet
ings there. Delegates and incidental
visitors to conventions are glad of a
chance to visit Lookout Mountain,
Chickamauga Park, Signal Mountain,
Ridge etc.
Secretary Gilbreath has delved into
the practical benefits that the Dixie
highway would confer on the South,
and his findings are expressed in the
from his pen:
There are million motorists
north of the Ohio River who are ready
and willing to tour into the South this
winter, next winter and every winter.
Their number is increasing rapidly.
Do you want your share of this tourist
rattle? Yes! You do. Here is the
'eason you do:
Let us take, for example, the States
If Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Mis-
ouri, Michigan, Illinois and Ohio,
seven of the great Central
Western States nearest the center of
population and north of the Ohio
liver; they have a population of over
{, 426, 1866, and own over 616,744 auto
mobiles.
/ "The average owner of car starts
ut on short tours. Gradually his hori-
on is extended, his country has grown |
mailer, and he seeks broader fields.
irst, it is the township; next, the
ountry; then the State, until finally
e seeks to see his own country, to
DUR in his own way and enjoy his
,uring, far from the noise and clatter
the train, cinders and the cooped-
!, COO nf a prYlIroop ont IL, tha oman