The Tupelo journal. (Tupelo, Miss.) 1876-1924, 1917-08-31
HIGHWAY PATHFINDERS
COMPLETE TRIP

ofilclally locating and designating a
great national highway has just
come to close by the Bankhead
National Highway Locating Commits
sion which started from Atlanta on
the morning of August 14th to in
spect and officially decide the best
route for the Atlanta, Birmingham
and Memphis division of the propos-
ed highway.
The Bankhead Highway Locating
Commission consisted of DIR. w. M.
Riggs, President of Clemson College,
S. c.; Professor Hale Houston, State
Highway Commissioner of South
Carolina; A. A. Camp, a prominent
banker of Winder, Ga; Hon. Mau-
rice, O. Eldridge, United States Gov
ernn1ent Engineer. This commits
sion was organized with DIR. Riggs as
president and Professor Houston as
secretary accompanying this COM
mission was Ex-Congressman T. S.
Plowman, president, . and J. A.
Rountree, secretary of the Bankhead
National Highway Association, and
A. G. Batchelder, chairnaan of the
American Automobile AsAociation.
The party assembNf in Atlanta on
Monday morning where luncheon
was rendered by the Georgia Auto
mobile Association and banquet at
night at the Ansley Hotel Several
hundred citizens Of Atlanta and the
State of Georgia were in attendance.
On the morning of August 14th,
the pathfinders' party assembled in
front of the Ansley Hotel, Atlanta,
Ca, where moving pictures were
taken of the party. Gov Dorsey
made a short talk wishing for the
party successful tour. A large
number of automobiles representing
towns and cities accompanied the
pathfnders on their trip through
Georgia. The 14th, 18th, and 18th
were devoted to inspecting the three
Georgia ruotes and those in the
counties in Alabama between Annis-
ton and Atlanta, Ga.
Large crowds greeted the party at
the twenty odd towns and cities in
Georgia and Alabama. Refresh
ments were served at every one of
the places. Short speeches were
made by members of the official par
ty. Grand banquets were served at
Carrollton, Ga, and Admission and
Talladega, Ala. Barbecues were
served at Cedartown and Tallapoosa,
Ca, and Leeds, Alabama 1t is es-
timated that $4,000 people greeted
the pathfnders on their visit through
Georgia and Alabama the first three
days of the tour. On the afternoon
of August 17th, the party arrived in
Birmingham en- route to Jasper,
Ala, where great meeting was
held in the public square and ban
quet was served at the leading hotel
of that city. On the morning of the
18th the official party called on Mrs.
j. H. Bankhead, wife of Senator
Bankhead, who greeted them most
cordially and wished them God-speed
on their trip through Western Ala
bama and Mississippi.
The 18th, 18th, goth, and 22nd
were devoted to inspecting the three
different routes in Marion county,
Ala, and the two different routes in
Mississippi. Banquets were rendered
at Guin, Ala, Hamilton, Ala, Tupe-
10, Miss, and Memphis, Tenn. Ele-
CANT luncheons were served at
Pearces' Mill, Ala, by Mr.. and Mrs.
Marvin Pearce and one by the la
dies of New Albany, Miss. All along
the route from Jasper to Memphis
and return to Birmingham, large
crowds greeted the pathfnders, dem
every courtesy possible.
Flag and mottos on banners advocat-
ing Lnelr particular route were dis
played all along the route.
The banquet that was given at
Memphis was rendered by the Cross
County Arkansas Bankhead High
way Association, which has local
branches at several towns in that
county, assisted by the Business
Mems League of Memphis, Tenn.
Every detail of the itinerary was
carried out and the citizens coop
Grated in every way in making the
same wonderful success. 1t is es-
timated by the most conservative
judges that over 10000 people
greeted the pathfnders on their tri-
umphant trip. Flowers were strewn
on the path way, banners and music
entertained the party. beautiful wo-