Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1915-02-18

was first laid out BY the buffaloss il
their migration arro-s the Cumber
land mountain, before any white
man ever put foot uuon the territory
now embraced by the great State oi
Tennessee. 1t was next naturally fol
lowed by the Cherokee aud Chicka
mauga Indians, whose homes were in
the territory, where is now the hust'
ling and historic city of Chattanooga,
on their trips to the common hunting
grounds in the great basin of Tennes,
see. 1t was over this route, also, that
the tens of thousands of live stock
! we're driven from Kentucky and Ten
nessee to supply the needs of the South
before the days of railroads. 1t was
along this route, also, that tue old
stage road was located, over which the
tens of thousands of travellers before
the building of the N c. and st, L
railroad. Later, along, came the Civil
War, when the cOntending hosts that
fought upon Tennessee soil, marched
and remarched for the most part over
this identical route The section
along this route laid to waste by
War, is not the home of peace, pros
perity and cool fellowship. Then
came Carl Fisher and his most valua-
BILE coadjutor, W. S Gilbreath, who
planned and outlined great National
Highway, connecting the Central
North with the Central South, How
wise it was that they should follow
the route laid out by the bnffaloes and
tue Indians, which embraces, not only
the many points of inter est, but also
the famous Wonder Cave, which Is
ackno wedgau by tourists and travel
ers, scientists and geologists to be the
most remarkable and beautiful natur-
al phenomenon in the whole world.
1t also touches Monteagle, the play
ground of the South, and the home Of
a nation wide Chautauqua.
From the Times we learn the fol-
lowing regarding the discussion
The report Of the committee appoint
ed to prepare data on the various
routes leading into Chattanooga for
submission to the conference of gov
ernors in Chattanooga April 3 precipi-
tated the discussion as to tue best pos
sible route. G. Z james was request
ed to inform the members of the club
present of the progress which had been
made in securing uata on the direct
line to Louisville Mr.. James stated
that engineers vera now engaged in
going over the road to CrOss7ille, aud
that the results of their investigation
would be reported at toe next meeting
of the club Mr.. James said that
there are several lOutes possible which
would connect up the road over Signal
mountain with the Sequatchie valley
vest of Paramount through Pikeville |
This statement was further elaborated |
later by E E Belts, who had been
requested by the club to prepare a
map, on which Mr.. Belts explained |
would be- plotted the information |
which is being gathered in the inves-
tigation now being made hy the engin-
Mr.. james stated that it was not his
idea, nor did be believe it was the
idea of the club to throw cold water
on any route for the Dixie highw way
He strongly ulged that it be con-
structed with concrete base, which
ever route was accepted at the con-
ference of governors. He stated that
New York state alone is spending
5000 a mile for the maintenance Of
lin, tone mlcadam rOaGs, which haJ
cost hundrds of millions of dollars to
construct, He called attention to the
pres ent conditions of the roads in
Hamilton county, which be said, are
the best in the state, yet at the pres
cut time it is hard to get FIVE miles
out of town on account of the damage
done to tha roads by the winter rains
and frost This could have been av-
erted, be claimed, had the roads been
of concrete at big saw
ing to the county. He stated that
recent inquiry made by him had
brought out the fact that Hamilton
county is spending 500, 600 annually
On the maintenance of the roads.
A. N. Sloan, commissioner of streets
and sewers, heartily indorsed Mr.,
James plea for permanent road con
,truction, and the position Of every
good roads advocate in Chattanooga :
As favoring the co operation with all