Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1915-04-01
EDITORIALS

of the two proposed routes through
Tennessee for the Dixie Highway:
"The die has been cast and the
movement is now under way for the
construction of the so-called Dixie
Highway an interstate road to start
from Chicago, running through the
States of Indiana. Kentucky, Tonnes
see, Georgia and Florida, terminating
at Miami. There is to be a conven-
ton called by the Governors of these
States. which is to be held in Chat
tanooga on April 8, when it is expected
that definite route for this road will
be agreed upon and settled.
1.-TWO routes are now being consid-
cred through Tennessee, namely the
Nashville route, which is the one so
wisely planned and outlined by the
originators of this great undertaking,
and the route proposed by Mr.. c. r..
James, of Chattanooga, who, in behalf
of the interests he represents, proposes
to contribute $4,000. Both of these
routes originate or start from Chicago,
passing through South Bend, Ind, In
dianapolis and Louisville to Bards-
town, KY. At this point they diverge,
and the Nashville route passes through
Buffalo. Glasgow, Scottville, Gallatin,
Nashville, Murfreesboro, Manchester,
Wonder Cave, Monteagle, Tracy City,
Jasper and on into Chattanooga. The
route proposed by Mr.. James runs
from Bardstown down through Ken
lucky, entering Tennessee through
Pickett County, and thence along the
west brow of Walden's Ridge through
Bledsoe and Sequatchie County into
Hamilton County and Chattanooga.
1T is here proposed to give some
sledge hammer reasons as to why the
route via Nashville and. Murfreesporo
should be chosen in preference to the
so-called James route, which come
via Crossville over Waldens Ridge.
We want to look without bias, preJu-
dice or jealousy to the facts just as
they are, nor do we want to be unduly
influenced by the glimmer of $4,000.
The peoples interests are first, none
other should be considered. The
route. when adopted, should be deter
mined on a sound business basis, Tor
upon the proper location OF a route
depends largely the ultimate success
of the whole undertaking. The in
terest of the whole people and the
greatest possible development OF the
States through which the road passes
should be weighed and carefully con-
sidered rather than any private COM
munity or corporate interest. We
should look not only to the financial
ability of the citizenship along the
nroposed route to build and maintain
a road, but also their willingness TO
do SO. We can best Judge what the
people in any locality can and VIII 40
in this respect by observing what they
have done in the past and what they
are now doing. Acts speak louder
than words"
The Nashville route is the logical
and only feasible one, and the only
one that will subserve the greatest
good to the greatest number OF peo-
pie. This is particularly so in its ap-
plication to Tennessee. On the other
hand the James route across the
State of Tennessee is remote and
somewhat visionary, to say the least
If not wholly possible from a financial
standpoint. Both of these routes pass
through Hamilton County, wherein is
located the city of Chattanooga There
is already good macadam road over
that part of the county traversed by
the Nashville route; over the James
route there are about ten miles OF
good road already built in Hamilton
County, with approximately fifteen
miles to be built through the noun
tains. Further than this reference,
Hamilton County will be eliminated
in any comparisons that may be made
by me.
In Tennessee, between the Ken
lucky State line and the Hamilton
County line, the Original and logical
.oute passes through the counties OF
sumner, Davidson, Rutherford, Coffee,
5rundy and Marion, and through the
county seats of every one OF these
counties. These counties are I'M
among the very best in the
State, with population according to
he latest United States census OF
,51, 065 They are populous, abound
ng in resources, rich in scenery and
POINTS of historical interest. They
Ilready have good roads almost
their entire distance, and
hey are making them better every
ay.
The James route passes through
'ickett, Fentress, Cumberland, Bled-
oe and Sequatchie Counties, and it
asses through only two of the county
eats. The counties just mentioned /