The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-11-18
PATHf|NOfRS' TRIP
A GREAT SUCCESS
Highway Report on Route
VIII Be Ready Within
Sixty DayA

Especial to The Richmond vfrginian. }
Birmingham. Ala. Nov. 1T.--One Of
the greatest good roads tours for the
purpose OF inspecting and locating
the most feasible route from Wash
ington to Atlanta for the Bankhead
National Highway association which
travsrses from Washington to Los
Angeles, Cal. started om the steps
Of the Capitol on October 3o, and
came TO close at the Capitol steps
in Washington on November 8.
The oficiai party that made the
tour consisted of the three pathfind-
ers. Messra. John Oliver La 0rooa,
managing editor. National Geographic
Magazine, Washington. d. c.: 4. q.
Batchelder, chairman executive COM
mittee, A. A A.; Maurice O. Eldridge,
L. 8. government engineer. accom-
panied by Senator Bankhead. for
whom the highway was named: ex-
Congressman r. s. Piowman. prest-
dent, and J. A. Rountree, secretary.
Bankhead Highway association: DR..
H. NJ. Rowe, president A. A. A.: Con-
gresham e. J.. Webb. OF North Caro-
lima: c. e. ireland. assistant to the
secretary. Bankhead Highway Assoc
tIiHAioAit ALL - rum TAI aA1CIs AHCutp0E
of the woman's board, United States
Good Roeds association. and Miss Sc
lene Rountree. of Birmingham, Ala
The official party was escorted by
state highway commissioners and DEL
egations through the states OF vfr-
ginia,- North and South Carolina and
Georgia
The pathnnders twaversed from
Washington to Fredericksburg, Rich
mond, Petersburg. South Hill, Boyd
ton. ClarksviIle. Va. to Raleigh. Dur
ham, Hillsboro. Mebane. Graham.
Burlington, Greensboro, High Point.
Concord. Charlotte. Carlo
MIA, Kings Mountain. Shelby. N. c.,
to Gazing, 6partanburg. Greenville.
Anderson, s. c.: Hartwell. Royston,
Athens. Winder. LAwrenceville, Stone
Mountain, on to Atlanta. arriving
there Saturday night. November 8,
travelling a distance of Ss4 miles.
After the party arrived in Atlanta
they boarded the Southern train sun
dav afternoon, November 1, and re-
turned to Greensboro. N. c., where
automobiles were In waiting to es-
cort the party over the Piedmont
route to Washington via Reedsviile.
N. c.: Danville. Alta Vista. Lynch
AobCI tuAs OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
Culpeper. Manassas. Fair
fax. Va, on into Washington. q dis
lance OF 342 miles. stops were made
at all principal towns and cities.
1t In estimated that over one hun
bred thousand people greeted the
on their Journey of twelve
miles in automobiles. Ban
quets, luncheons, public meetings
were held. Thousands Of school chill
dren lined the streets and roads in
many places waving flags and sing
Eng patriotic songs. The pathnnders
were escorted by committees from
one town to another. frequently there
would be as many az a hundred and
Atty cars in line. One Of the fea-
lures Of the trip was that OF Senator
who is seventy six years
old, and ex-Congressman Plowman,
who Ii seyenty-three years old, max
ing the entire trip and delivering an
average of ten speeches daily with
out the least Inconvenience.
The three pathhnders, Messrs. La
Groce, Batchclder and Eldridge. took
notes. data. and maps
Of the two routea--the Eastern and
Piedmont routes: they will study the |
same. and within the next sixty days
or more they will make a report |
the most feasible route |
and will report to President Plowman.
who will call meating Of the board
Of directors to pass upon the same.