Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-11-18
SENATOR BANKHEAD
GOOD ROAD BOOSTER
Father Of Federal Aid Act,
Though Seyenty-Six, Makes
Auto Trip to Atlanta.
SPEECHES EXCEED 100

What one man can do in promoting
good roads was emphatically demon
strated by Senator John H. Bankhead.
post offices and post roads, in the recent
road trip over the Washington-Atlanta
leg Of the Bankhead highway, which
ultimately will extend from Washing
ton to the Pacific coast
Though the father Of the federal aid
road act is in his seventy-sixth year.
he talked day in and day out during
lated a speech-making total III excess
Of a hundred. President T. S. Plow-
man of the Bankhead Highway Asso
citation is another who has exceeded
three score and ten, and his record Of
educational talks nearly equaled that
IF his fellow Alabanan.
These two made the journey from
Washington to Atlanta in a car driven
by President H. M. Rowe of the Ameri-
can Automobile Association. who not
only sat at the wheel day after day,
but also contributed convincing argu-
nlents in favor of the linking together
of this great highway through the
sunny southland Secretary j. A. Roun-
tree Of the Bankhead Highway Asso-
citation served as the accelerator of the
expedition.
A Good Road Prediction.
Senator Bankhead predicted that IL
the present partnership between the
national government and the several
states produced real roads that will
weld the country together. it would be
possible at the expiration Of the five
year period during which the $4,000
900 is expended to obtain a yearly ap-
preparation of from $50,000,000 to
800, 100000
Between Washington and Atlanta
there are two contesting routes in Vir-
ginia-one via Richmond and Peters
burg and the other over the Piedmont
route, which includes Danville. Lynch
burg. Charlottesville and Culpeper. A
route selecting committee consisting Of
John oliver La GORGE. chairman. of the
National Geographic Magazine; NJ. o.
Eldridge OF the United States Office OF
ecutive Chairman A. q. Batchelder OF
the American Automobile Association,
will pass upon the merits of the two
Virginia routes and make a recommen-
Bankhead association. The opinion 10
generally shared that the delinquency
Of Virginia in providing herself with
connected highways traces to an in
ability to recognize the problem as
statewide in its character and requir-
ing state-built and state-maintained
roads. This fact was emphasized in
the addresses Of the speakers.
Piedmont Route Shorter.
The Piedmont route to Atlanta is 77.s
miles shorter than the Richmond
Petersburg route. which is ss4.s. The
Piedmont route possesses scenery in
great quantity. but the roads generally
are not the equal of the Richmond
route. From Greensboro. N. c., to At
lanta there Is only one line followed.
Between Atlanta and Memphis the
route has been ofI1cially passed upon
and recommended to the board Of d.
rectors. which will meet in Birming.
ham the latter part Of the month. Next
spring the route across Arkansas VIII
be decided. Two routes are possible
across Texas. with the TexarkanA-Dal-I
ias-Fort Worth-El Passo line having
an undoubted advantage. II the Texas
state highway department holds to Its
present plan for expanding a goodly
quantity Of the federal aid money on
this thousand-mile stretch. Beyond Ell
Paso to the Pacific coast slope several
routes are under consideration.