The Tupelo journal., 1917-11-30
BANKAEAD PATHFINDlNc TOUR

Birmingham, Ala, Nov. 16.-One
of the greatest good roads tours for
the purpose of inspecting and locat-
ing the most feasible route from
| Washington to Atlanta, for the
Bankhead National Highway Asso-
citation which ~traverses from Wash
ington to Los Angeles, CAL, started
from the steps of the Capitol on Oc-
tober 3Oth, and came to a close at
the Capitol steps in Washington on
November 9Th.
Before the party started, impress
sive ceremonies were held in the
rotunda of the Capitol. Represen-
tatives from the State, Treasury
War, Navy, Post Office, Interior,
Road Department, were present to
lend dignity and to give their infiu-
ence and approval to the Bankhead
National Highway, which reaches
from Washington to Los Angeles,
Cal. Speeches were made by Sen
ators j. H. Bankhead, Hoke Smith
of Georgia, D. U. Fletcher of Flor
ida, Congressman E. j. Webb OF
South Carolina, w. P. G.. Harding,
Governor Federal Reserve Board,
John Shelton Williams, Comptroller
of Treasury, and others.
After the ceremonies were con-
Quoted the Pathfinders in special au-
tomobiles accompanied by fifty au-
tomobiles started down Pennsylvania
Avenue from the White House on
their journey South under the lead
ership of Mr.. ]. A. Rountree, Sec
reatry Bankhead National Highway
Association, who had charge of the
party and conducted the ceremonies
of the tour.
The official party that made the
tour consisted of the three pathfin-
ders. Messrs. John Oliver LIE Gorce,
managing Editor National Geograph-
ical Magazine, Washington, d. c.,
Chairman A. G.. Batchelder, Chair
man Executive Committee A. A. A.,
Maurice o. Eldridge, U. S. Govern
ment Engineer, accompanied by SEN
ator Bankhead, for whom the high
way was named, Ex-Congressman L.
S. Plowman, President and j. A.
Rountree, Secretary Bankhead High
way Association, DR.. H. M. Rowe,
President A. A. A., Congressman E. j..
Webb, of North Carolina, C. E. Ire
land, Assistant to the Secretary
Bankhead Highway Association, Mrs.
Ruth Kramer, member of the Wo-
mans Board United States Good
Roads Association, and Miss Selene
Rountree of Birmingham, Ala. The
official party was escorted by State
Highway Commissioners and delega=
ton through the States of Virginia,
North and South Carolina, and Geor-
gia.
The Pathfnders traversed from
Washington to Fredericksburg, Rich
Petersburg, South Hill, Boyd
ton, GAINESVILLE, Va, to Raleigh,
Durham, Hillsboro, Mebane, Graham,
Burlington, Greensboro, High Point,
Thomasville, Lexington, Spencer,
Salisbury, Concord, Charlotte, Gas
tonia, Kings Mt, Shelby, N. c., to
Gafing, Sp~artanburg, Greenville, An
derson, S. c., Hatwell, Royston,
Athens, Winder, L~awrenceville, Stone
Mountain, on to Atlanta, arriving
there Saturday night, Nov. 3rd.
Travelling a distance of 834 miles.
After the party arrived in Atlanta
they boarded the Southern train Sun
.ay afternoon, Nov. 4th, and returned
to Greensboro, N. c., where auto
mobiles were in waiting to escort the
party over the Piedmont route to
Washington via R~eedsville, N. c.,
Danville, Alta Vista, ~Lynchburg,
Fairfax, Va, on into Washington a
distance of 342 miles, Stops were
made at all the principal towns and
cities.
1t is estimated that over n hun
bred thousand people greeted the
Pathfnders on their journey of
twelve hundred miles in automobiles.
Banquets, luncheons, public meetings
were held, thousands of school chi
dren lined the streets and roads IN
many places waving flags, and sing
ing patriotic songs. The Pathfind-
ers were escorted by committees
from one town to another, frequent
ly there would be as many as a num-
dred and fifty cars in line. One OF
the features of the trip was that OF
Senator Bankhead, who is seventy-slx
years old, and Ex-Congressman Plow-
man, who is seventy-three years old,
making the entire trip and delivering