Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1915-07-01
THE DIXIE HIGHWAY
AND THE BOND BILL

Editor News:
It is said that "Old Hickory" Jack
son one time swallowed Il diminutive
mouse in some preserve served TO him
rather than embarrass his hostess.
That was a heroic act-possibly the
most heroic act ever performed by the
old General. but an emergency de-
manded it and be met it. So it often
IL with all of us In some experiences
in life
Our real manhood and soldiership
are not always in doing the things
that are just according to our likes or
dislikes, or in being free from object
ions to which our Judgement cannot
be wholly reconciled, but in heroical-
| ly doing these things in spite of our
dislikes and objections.
| We shall assume that there are OBJ
| jectionable features to the proposed
measure to bond Marion County for
aiding in the building of the Dixie
Highway. We shall assume that they
are of a somewhat serious nature in
some of their aspects But this is not
the main or primary question. The
!
considered in its practical and benefic-
ial results and independent of object
ions to the means or measures of Sc
curing, worth the investment? Men
who found and construct our great
arteries and institutions of commerce
never let their preiudices obscure the
Importance Of their investments or
forfeit opportunity on mere bubble
Of cost They look ahead to what they
will secure In return
| / take it that no one will question
but that the Highway alone will be
fully worth the entire bond bill.
take it that this must be true when
small towns of four or five thousand
along the route raise by private sub
scription fully one fourth the amount
Marion County is asked to put up to
secure the Highway. And in every
instance headed by men who are not
in the business of throwing away their
money. Then, in addition to what
will be the indirect benefit of securing
the Highway, is the direct or imme-
date benefit to every citizen and en-
terprise in the county. Surely, In it's
practical and beneficial aspects, it
looks like child's play to halt for even
moment In what is really offered at
80 small cost.
There is another aspect of this whole
matter to be considered. A wonderful
Improvement has taken place in pub
lie road construction since Marion
County invested in such a venture
some years ago. We shall not say that
Marion County got as much out of the
investment as should have been. That
was the one misfortune-that the
county did not. But let that be the
warning for greater caution in the
present proposition rather than the &C.
casion for non -action. But the main
fact or point in considering this feat
ure, rs previously stated, is the great
and wonderful Improvement in ma
chinery for road building since that
time. By way Of practical illustration
and demonstration, II Marion County
will send committee of some three
| or four Of her citizens to Tullahoma,
they will see some road and street ma
chinery at an investment of only
| IS. 600, 90, doing work in a day that
| likely required week under the old
system, and we believe at much less
than half the cost. If skeptical, come
and see We have seen each system.
OF course we have no personal in
terest in this matter, save the pride
one naturally has in their native coun-
ty and their native state From no
personal or selfish consideration, can
we write or speak.
Sincerely yours,
T. A. HAVRON,
Tullahoma, Tenn.
P. s. As we concluded this epistle,
we picked up our Chattanooga Times
Hastily scanning the pages we found,
"Quick Work On a Pike-Rebuild
three-quarters Of a mile in day, only
four hands and the machinery" This
Is just what we are reminding the peo-
Pile Of Marion County in the way of
improved road machinery. You are
facing new conditions and wonderful
opportunities. Let there be no obscur-
ing. T. A. Fl.