The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1915-05-20


Way" route. Who placed her there?
That live bunch composing the Com
mercial Club of the Land of Now.
II they had done nothing else, in tbs
useful career of that well managed
institution, beside routing this. to be. a
great highway thru their city and
county, the club would and should re-
ceive high commentator for having
been brought into existence. Indica-
tons are, however, that, like Mt.
Vernon's hustling boosters. there will
be no let up in the good work done and
being done but will keep pushing
ahead.
A short history of Boone WAY and
its originator may be of interest to the
many Garrard friends of the latter.
James Msret was born near Wallace's
Mill, two miles north of Lowell, in 1855.
went to Texas in 1872 with his fathers
family. learned telegraphy, returned to
Hyattsville and remained something
over a year in employment of Will A.
Burnside. Was appointed railroad
agent at Mt. Vernon August 1877, which
position e.filled for eighteen years.
Started first newspaper in Rockcsstle,
the Signal, in 1887. Sold newspaper
but later, 1896. repurchased and ran it
three years and sold to present owner
Els. Albright. Entered telephone bust
ness with A. H, Basin of Lancaster,
and ran lines from Stanford and Crab
Orchard to Mt. Vernon in 1918, re-
manned in telephone work until Autumn
of 1898 since which time he has devot-
ed his time to Boone WAY work.
Back in 1912 the idea of a National
Highway to be constructed from Cum
berland Gap to Grab Orchard. occurred
to Mr.. Maret. who advised with friends
on the subject. A Commercial Club
was formed in Mt. Vernon January
1918 and OF 9TH. of same month an
auxiliary to the club was organized and
named the Boone Way Booster Band.
They Immediately set TO work on plans
for National aid. Many encouraging
letters from Congressman, Senators,
Governors, Commercial Clubs of the
larger cities etc. and bills were introduce
ed in Congress asking an appropriation
for engineers to make a survey of the
route.
At the request of Senator Bradley,
the Agriculture Department sent James
T. Voshell, Senior Highway engineer.
over the route in June 1918, whose re-
port of estimate placed the cost of the
IS miles at Sl,O24, 949, 10. Matters
drifted along, Senators Bradley and
James had done all that could be done
toward securing Federal aid. 1t was
discovered that We were just few
years ahead Of times. The time for
government aid to highways had not
arrived but the sentiment of our
country is growing strongly in that
direction and after our thru highways
is established II is confidently claimed
that the National Government will take
over and maintain them
After the Bosworth State aid bill
passed the legislature our Boone Way
friends resumed operations with renew
ed vigor. Letters, road literature and
newspaper articles almost made the
mail carriers life misery, so voluminous
were his loads made up of Boone Way
stuff. A speaking campaign was ar
ranged for in November 1914 with Robt
L. Woods and James Maret. (Mr. M.
did no public speaking but boosted) who
toured several times all the counties 10
the south east and fired the hearts of
the Mountaineers with enthusiasm for
good roads generally and Boone Way
in particular. The result is known.
Bond issues have been voted as fol-
lows Bell county $3.50 900 Knox $780,
900; Whitley $3.50, 900; Laurel 500, 900;
Rockeastle $40. 900 and Lincoln Fiscal
court has appropriated sufficient funds
TO build four miles of the road from
Crab Orchard TO the Rockeastle line.
We, Of the mountains, and Mr.. Maret